What's this game like?

[Hydroponics Deck]

I am probably gonna get it at this price and with all the praise on the forums. But I was wondering what the game was like. I'm a young whipper-snapper who doesn't have a lot of experience with older games. Maybe compare to some other titles? It looks kind of like Condemned: Criminal Origins or Haunting Ground, but with more action?

[smashsmack]

I have this for the PSX and the graphics, as well as gameplay are pretty terrible even for it's time. I'm quite the avid "retro game" (was born around the start of the NES era, even still have a hand me down Atari 2600 at my parents house), so I've been through it all and I remember having the same reactoion towards the game when playing the game off a demo disc back in the day. I've read that the PSX version was simply a bad port, with all of the other versions getting praised, so I'm kind of on the fence on getting it on Steam, or just tracking it down for the N64 or Dreamcast, but I'm not quite sure what the best version is.

[СֳƷ]

Originally posted by smashsmack:

I have this for the PSX and the graphics, as well as gameplay are pretty terrible even for it's time. I'm quite the avid "retro game" (was born around the start of the NES era, even still have a hand me down Atari 2600 at my parents house), so I've been through it all and I remember having the same reactoion towards the game when playing the game off a demo disc back in the day. I've read that the PSX version was simply a bad port, with all of the other versions getting praised, so I'm kind of on the fence on getting it on Steam, or just tracking it down for the N64 or Dreamcast, but I'm not quite sure what the best version is.

i'm sure the pc version is just a dreamcast emulator.

[DC| TehAgent]

I have this on N64 and it is a fun game. Its hard, and you may get lost a bit (make a map as you go) but its fun. I am considering buying it on PC even though I still have a working N64 and the game.

Gameplay itself is a combination of shooter, platformer and RPG. As said above, there is no hand holding. This is an old game, and you were left to figure things out on your own in those days. Most of us didnt have internets back then either...so imagine not even being able to look up the thing stopping you. Ahhm, the golden age of gaming.

[Bal]

I never got far in this game. It's real difficult.

Probably the only N64 game of mine I never beat.

[phonzeh]

Originally posted by smashsmack:

I have this for the PSX and the graphics, as well as gameplay are pretty terrible even for it's time. I'm quite the avid "retro game" (was born around the start of the NES era, even still have a hand me down Atari 2600 at my parents house), so I've been through it all and I remember having the same reactoion towards the game when playing the game off a demo disc back in the day. I've read that the PSX version was simply a bad port, with all of the other versions getting praised, so I'm kind of on the fence on getting it on Steam, or just tracking it down for the N64 or Dreamcast, but I'm not quite sure what the best version is.

IMO, PSX version was the worst, and the PC version was the best (n64 in the middle). PC had the best sound and video quality, but I think most will need a controller to play this title.


This was one of my most favored games on the N64 back in the day and I still hold a torch for it. It was (at the time) one of the most genuinly creepy games I had played to date. That and the crazy awesome writing (not the best voice actors though) makes this game a very memorable piece.

I love the the monologue Michael gives at the beginning of the game. The horror, the horror. I embrace it.

[Belial]

scary as hell and definetly worth the money i loved this game so much in my childhood

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by MISS.DOOMSDAYS:

Originally posted by smashsmack:

I have this for the PSX and the graphics, as well as gameplay are pretty terrible even for it's time. I'm quite the avid "retro game" (was born around the start of the NES era, even still have a hand me down Atari 2600 at my parents house), so I've been through it all and I remember having the same reactoion towards the game when playing the game off a demo disc back in the day. I've read that the PSX version was simply a bad port, with all of the other versions getting praised, so I'm kind of on the fence on getting it on Steam, or just tracking it down for the N64 or Dreamcast, but I'm not quite sure what the best version is.

i'm sure the pc version is just a dreamcast emulator.

Nope, absolutely wrong, I'm afraid.

The PC version is a proper PC version. It's precisely the same one that was originally available (no source code exists since Acclaim went kaput many years ago).

It is similar to the Dreamcast version, in that they are the 2 versions that didn't have anything cut out due to various constraints.

The N64 and PS1 versions had various small bits from various areas cut out due to these technical constraints. The N64 also had badly compressed sound. Tim and Trevor (two of the creators) have commented on this frequently.

So, if you are going to track it down for console, Dreamcast would be your best bet by far, although that's not without it's share of problems - the sound can be glitchy or missing due to the way the Dreamcast streamed sound.

The PC is well-renowned as being the best version (again Tim and Trevor have spoken of this).

And no, the graphics were NOT terrible for their time. They weren't amazing; they were par for the course, though. I still have the PS magazines I wrote kfor at this time to compare it to others, as well as all the games I still have (I've never sold a game in over 35 years).

[The Phantom Raspberry Blower]

Sorry but still have ps1 game .....it was great, port was good

Originally posted by smashsmack:

I have this for the PSX and the graphics, as well as gameplay are pretty terrible even for it's time. I'm quite the avid "retro game" (was born around the start of the NES era, even still have a hand me down Atari 2600 at my parents house), so I've been through it all and I remember having the same reactoion towards the game when playing the game off a demo disc back in the day. I've read that the PSX version was simply a bad port, with all of the other versions getting praised, so I'm kind of on the fence on getting it on Steam, or just tracking it down for the N64 or Dreamcast, but I'm not quite sure what the best version is.

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by matt1338:

Sorry but still have ps1 game .....it was great, port was good

No, it isn't, I'm afraid.

Even by the comments from the guys who created the game, they've stated that they had to cut the PS1 and N64 versions down quite drastically.

Contrary to what I'd previously thought, after replaying the PS1 version at the weekend, there are framerate issues with the PS1 version too. It's the worst one along with the N64 version (which suffers from some awful sound compression).

The Dreamcast and PC version are the FULL versions, with PC being the best. That's not just opinion, but fact based on the info from the creators.

[Rockhead Gaz]

Originally posted by MISS.DOOMSDAYS:

Originally posted by smashsmack:

I have this for the PSX and the graphics, as well as gameplay are pretty terrible even for it's time. I'm quite the avid "retro game" (was born around the start of the NES era, even still have a hand me down Atari 2600 at my parents house), so I've been through it all and I remember having the same reactoion towards the game when playing the game off a demo disc back in the day. I've read that the PSX version was simply a bad port, with all of the other versions getting praised, so I'm kind of on the fence on getting it on Steam, or just tracking it down for the N64 or Dreamcast, but I'm not quite sure what the best version is.

i'm sure the pc version is just a dreamcast emulator.

Yeah, because Dreamcast was totally the development platform of choice in it's day, that's why Sega's hardware business is absolutely booming at the minute.

As for the game, it's similar, in it's gameplay mechanics, to Ocarina of Time. Darksiders is a pretty fair comparison of a more recent game. It's structured pretty much like a Metroidvania game. It's also very easy to get lost, and the game doesn't hold your hand at all. It's fantastic.

[Hydroponics Deck]

Thanks everyone, I haven't played a Zelda game before either (after getting the Spyro and Jak series my playstation gaming was pretty limited in the late 90's) but I hope I'll like this, it sounds great. Glad to hear the PC version is a good one, though it's tempting to go find a Dreamcast just for the experience of playing it on there.

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by Hydroponics Deck:

Thanks everyone, I haven't played a Zelda game before either (after getting the Spyro and Jak series my playstation gaming was pretty limited in the late 90's) but I hope I'll like this, it sounds great. Glad to hear the PC version is a good one, though it's tempting to go find a Dreamcast just for the experience of playing it on there.

Well, I think you'll have the better time of it on PC, especially (in my opinion) if you use a controller. I personally don't like the mouse/keyboard controls, but each to their own.

I think you'll like it - the atmosphere and soundtrack is amazing.

[Rayvn Madd]

Honestly, I played this when I was a kid using the N64. Honestly, I love the story and I am trying to find the second Shadow Man game for PS because I love the concept. The Skull Head looking snake is one of my favorite characters in the game. It is a must have if you are into adventuring and action.

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by FOCKAirHawke:

Honestly, I played this when I was a kid using the N64. Honestly, I love the story and I am trying to find the second Shadow Man game for PS because I love the concept. The Skull Head looking snake is one of my favorite characters in the game. It is a must have if you are into adventuring and action.

.. and exploration (the long forgotten core mechanic of gameplay).

[durtalique]

I remember this game for the creepy story and difficulty. I was a teen when I played this title, and could only play at night and headphones on... Gave me nightmares for a lot of days.

Like everyone says... this is NOT an easy game. I think this would be one of those games that honor the term "Nintendo-hard".