Highway Encounter
Talking here about short play games, one can get through in an hour or two at most, where there is no other way to progress except to complete the "next screen", and where there is no way to play it at an easier difficulty "level". But as this is quite a subjective topic, I wanted to ask which games people found were just difficult enough and no more to give satisfaction in completing then, that may mean after a bit they probably seemed a little too easy, or that there was not enough in them. Hope that makes sense, as my brain is a little scrambled.
For me one I would mention would be Highway Encounter. I'd like to say a couple of things in defense of the difficulty of this game, as it is not uncommon to find folks who think there was not enough zones.
So let me say first they are right it could do with a few more zones. :D I recall completing this game gave me a great amount of satisfaction, because its a kind of nerve-wrecking game. If you don't clear up some zones quickly there is the possiblity that things might go pear-shaped for ones remaining sleeping vortons, even if the active vorton under your command can get out of a scrape, and this can occur even if a screen or two back you have put them on hold with a barrel in the way, to keep them from catching up and careering into difficulties. Not sure as to how far the game's "memory" or "updating" of aliens that leave the screen you are on goes on for. But I liked this aspect of hearing explosions in an earlier zone, and then going back to see how much damage there had been :oops: , or to try to rescue those vortons remaining (as I got better at it)
The progressive increases in difficulty had to do mainly with these factors: the number and speed of the floating mines, the predictablity of the alien paths, and again their speed.
To be certain of a smooth roll down the highway one had to clear up all the aliens, or block them in.
It was never certain by any means that once one has completed it one will waltz through it the next time.
I could wax lyrical about the lovely isometric graphics, especially the bridges and the fields.
A truly "hybrid" game to my mind.
For me one I would mention would be Highway Encounter. I'd like to say a couple of things in defense of the difficulty of this game, as it is not uncommon to find folks who think there was not enough zones.
So let me say first they are right it could do with a few more zones. :D I recall completing this game gave me a great amount of satisfaction, because its a kind of nerve-wrecking game. If you don't clear up some zones quickly there is the possiblity that things might go pear-shaped for ones remaining sleeping vortons, even if the active vorton under your command can get out of a scrape, and this can occur even if a screen or two back you have put them on hold with a barrel in the way, to keep them from catching up and careering into difficulties. Not sure as to how far the game's "memory" or "updating" of aliens that leave the screen you are on goes on for. But I liked this aspect of hearing explosions in an earlier zone, and then going back to see how much damage there had been :oops: , or to try to rescue those vortons remaining (as I got better at it)
The progressive increases in difficulty had to do mainly with these factors: the number and speed of the floating mines, the predictablity of the alien paths, and again their speed.
To be certain of a smooth roll down the highway one had to clear up all the aliens, or block them in.
It was never certain by any means that once one has completed it one will waltz through it the next time.
I could wax lyrical about the lovely isometric graphics, especially the bridges and the fields.
A truly "hybrid" game to my mind.
Post edited by dmsmith on
Comments
Some games get better when you learn them. Airwolf is a good example. As many don't get passed the first few screens. But its a game that can be perfected if you learn it. And a challenge enough to have another go even after completing it many times before.
Bouncing Bomb:Redux is one of the few new games I keep playing again, even though its a predictable game. The difficulty/playability is bang on...
My ZX Art Music Page
Carlos Michelis Theme
...Yes haha! just gave that a try, both the redux and the original. I must say I like the original and its playability which the redux builds on.
Yep Beach Head, Ikari Warriors, good picks also. Had a good bash at completing Beach Head.
I should have said, I don't mean that having just loaded Highway Encounter for the first time that it could be figured out and played through in a couple of hours - it took me weeks for sure and a CVG Map/guide beside me - couldn't find it with my Sat-Nav. :-D
Bytes:Chuntey - Spectrum tech blog.
it looks cute.