Following on from Dave’s top 5 non-retro games of 2012, here’s my personal top 5 retro games of 2012! This isn’t based on anything more than the number of hours I’ve racked up playing them, so don’t go thinking that this is based on anything like critical acclaim or technological breakthroughs.
5. Space Quest (PC)
I spent many happy hours playing through Sierra and LucasArts adventure games when I was a kid and since then I’ve periodically utilised my time off to re-complete some of the classic titles. This year it was Space Quest 1 to 4 that made it onto my “retro laptop” and I completed all four over Christmas. It was mainly due to the Guys From Andromeda getting back together and promising a brand new space adventure that made me want to take control of hapless janitor Roger Wilco once again and save the universe from the wrath of Sludge Vohaul. If you’ve never played Space Quest, start with the originals, the VGA remakes are no where near as good!
4. Indy 500 (Atari 2600)
Played this for the first time ever at Play Expo 2012 and I now defy anyone to have a two player game after a couple of beers and not completely fall in love with this game. Utilizing the Atari driving paddles this really is a racing game that’s been stripped down to the very basics with no complications, no turbo boosters, no gears, no fancy 3D graphics just 100% zen like gameplay. I actually went on eBay as soon as I got home from the Expo and purchased myself an original Atari 2600 just for this.
3. Berzerk (Arcade)
I’m not sure how this one slipped me by in the past but whilst watching 'Chasing Ghosts: Beyond the Aracde' on Netflix it was mentioned and my brain started ticking. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever played it so I fired up the old MAME cabinet and loaded it. I quickly became hooked and even though it seems incredibly easy at first it’s not long before you realise a couple of hours have just flown by and you’re shouting profanity at the screen with beads of sweat running down your forehead. This a great little 2D overhead shooter with sparse graphics and awesome in-game speech where a robotic voice shouts out stuff like “Fight like a robot!”.
2. California Game (Sega Master System)
I owned this as a kid and it’s now become the default multi-player game when I’m entertaining. It’s the one game that I actually got pretty good at and I’m still pretty handy at it today. In the same vein as Track & Field this 8 bit title involves taking it in turns to play sporting events in competition for the highest score. Events are all California based stuff like hacky sack, surfing and skateboarding etc..Next time you’re having an arcade party fire this one up.
1. Mikie (Arcade)
My most played game to date on the MAME cabinet. It’s incredibly difficult, I still can’t get passed level three and yet I play this one relentlessly. It’s addictive as hell and as far as I know there’s no other game quite like it. You’re a kid called Mike running round a high school head butting staff members, collecting hearts and knocking fellow students out of their chairs. One of my highlights of this month was listening to SoCal Mike on the Retrogaming Roundup podcast play this game in his ‘It Came From Mame’ segment. Go have a listen here: RGR Episode 55