In a recent Nintendo Direct Mini we got word that Square will be releasing the original Gameboy Final Fantasy Legend Saga on Switch this December 15th. The verdict seems mixed on the first Final Fantasy Legend but the series seems to be more loved from the second game to the third. With that, the Final Fantasy Legend series was one I missed originally and this December seems like a great time to jump in to the original Gameboy trilogy on Switch. According to Time to Beat the original Final Fantasy Legend takes about 10 hours, Final Fantasy Legend II is 15 and III is 14 so they aren't very long all told.
It seems to only be getting a digital release at the moment but even so I was wondering who might be picking this up come December?
I know what you are thinking right now. "Hey Jon can you share a 23 minute video about the origin of the sound effects in Doom?" Sure Internet friend I can do that and while you are flexing your finger ready to tap play on the video I encourage you to check all the other Doom content I've posted recently as well.
Doom is one of those games that is historically ported to just about every system you can imagine. Modern gamers joke about the many Skyrim ports but Skyrim has nothing on Doom. I've been on a bit of a Doom binge recently and decided to share this LGR video of Doom running on a very old digital camera from the 90's.
I've been immersing myself in a lot of Doom partly because the world is a pretty dire place with COVID-19 and partly because it's one of the best games ever made. Summer Games Done Quick 2020 just ended and they had a pretty impressive Doom block and speedruns I wanted to share.
Doom 3 by ripchip_ in 1:08:30 - The Doom 3 run by Ripchip is shared above and well worth the hour it takes to watch it. This is a speedrun of the original Doom 3 which is the launch version where you can only have our the flashlight OR a gun and it's a bit more stingy with health and ammo drops. Ripchip tears through the run and even though some view Doom 3 as a poor departure from the Doom franchise I really like it.
DOOM 64 (2020) by ZELLLOOO in 37:37 - This piping fresh Doom 64 remaster by Night Dive Studios came out this year and ZELLLOOO dunks the game in 37 minutes. This is a special run because ZELLLOOO makes Doom 64 look very easy even though what he is doing is quite difficult.
DOOM 64 (2020) - Lost Levels by ZELLLOOO in 12:12 - Night Dive added a new level pack, the lost levels to their Doom 64 remaster that is incredibly difficult. That said you might not tell watching this run as ZELLLOOO kills it in 12 minutes.
Blood by Psych0sis in 20:21 - Blood is one of those classic shooters I didn't hear much about when it came out yet it has an incredibly large cult following (har, har). Night Dive ALSO remastered this recently and as such there is a new resurgence of attention around it. Blood is a really dark game with an even darker premise and if you're not into gory and twisted stories I don't entirely recommend this run as a few times the games Doom style graphics and premise had me slight unnerved.
Last year iD Software released new source ports of Doom, Doom 2 and Doom 3 on iOS, Switch, PS4, XBox One and PC on the Bethesda launcher. I wanted to give these ports a try and was able to because I picked up Doom and Doom II on sale during Quakecon 2020. I also decided to focus my time playing the original Doom and to finally complete the first mission Knee Deep in the Dead. I've played a ton of that first mission as it was released for free as Shareware back in 1993 but, for whatever reason, I never actually completed it. I always had enough fun just playing and replaying the first few levels and never had the desire to actually beat it until recently. Knee Deep in the Dead is a great mission and the only level I really had a hard time with was Central Processing. That said, I was able to complete Central Processing giving it about 6 or so attempts and was able to make it to the end to defeat the two Barrons of Hell bosses to wrap it up. Right now i'm making my way through The Shores of Hell and find it to be a really nice difficulty update from Knee Deep in the Dead. I know Doom has been reviewed a lot already but I still find the original level design to be top notch along with the streamlined gameplay on the Switch.
And the gameplay improvements might be the best part of playing Doom on the Switch because compared to playing it on a keyboard in DOS, the Switch controls are a massive improvement. It's fairly easy to switch between weapons as those are mapped to the L and R triggers. Doom feels like it was made to be played on the Switch, which is a testament to how well the game feels along with the high quality of the port itself.
Many of you have played Doom ports on Steam and the like that essentially wrap the game in DOSBox which, frankly, it's a great experience. You can feel the game down res your monitor and the controls and preferences are the best 1993 had to offer. The new Doom remaster ports are not simply wrapped in DOSBox and it really shows as the games feel like they belong on the Switch.
Doom is one of the greatest games every created and deserves a modern port that gives it the attention to detail it deserves. I've included the DF Retro Doom remake update patch review as originally iD Software launched the new Doom ports to some very negative feedback. Since then iD has not only fixed the ports but improved the considerably to be one of, if not the best way to play these classic games.
Games Done Quick is an incredible speedrunning charity event that has switched to an online only streaming event due to the complications of COVID-19.
"Summer Games Done Quick 2020 Online will not feature a live event in Minnesota. Instead, we will move the event to online-only, broadcasting the event from our studio with participants performing speedruns from the safety of their homes.
SGDQ2020 Online, benefiting Doctors Without Borders, will maintain our previously announced dates, broadcasting live from August 16-23, 2020 starting at 11:30 AM Eastern on twitch.tv/gamesdonequick. "
Games Done Quick always had a very strong streaming presence and this year seems to be no different. If you are looking to watch some incredible runs I encourage you to check out the schedule below and also make a donation.
If you own a Switch chances are you own a few game carts and you might not know that each game cart you purchase can be redeemed for Nintendo Gold Points. Nintendo Gold Points are points you are awarded for games you buy and you get the automatically for digital purchases and need to take another step for physical games. Nintendo hands out more points for digital purchases BUT those game carts are still worth points and if you have enough of them you might earn a new shiny game on sale.
The steps to redeem are pretty simple in that you put in the game you want to redeem and when the game icon comes up hit +(plus) and select My Nintendo Rewards and Earn Points. I had so many unearned points I have about $6.00 in Gold Points which isn't a jackpot amount but should buy something fun on sale. Also those points expire on older games so redeem as soon as you pick up a new game.
If you logged in to the Bethesda.net game launcher during QuakeCon 2020 you got Quake for free. The version included is quite good and mostly resembles the version that launched in 1996 and as such can't go to resolutions much higher than 800x600. It also doesn't include Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails iconic soundtrack either due to licensing issues with the digital release.
iD Software released the Quake source and as such there are a myriad of source ports that enhance the original release that allow you the ability to select a higher resolution and use mp3 or ogg rips of the original Nine Inch Nails soundtrack. On a side note, the Nine Inch Nails site says they are working on making that release available so, for now, you can only legally obtain it on the original Quake CD ROM. That said, I do have the original CD ROM and ripped the mp3 files and am including a link to a Steam Community post on how you can get music into your version of Quake.
I've tried a few Quake source ports such as Darkplaces and Quakespasm and the one I recommend folks use is Quakespasm. Quakespasm has Windows, Linux and Mac ports and the download link for that is below.
One problem I have with nearly all modern Quake source ports is that they smooth over the beautiful old pixel textures of the original Quake. This gives the game a shinier and more Nintendo 64 looks but takes away the gritty flavor of the original. It feels like smoothing over the pixels in Super Mario Brothers or Zelda and likewise is entirely wrong. If you want to bring Quake back to the gritty pixel textures of the original do the following:
1) Open the id1/config.cfg file 2) Change the gl_texturemode to:
gl_texturemode "GL_NEAREST"
3) Make sure you change r_particles to:
r_particles "2"
The modern source ports also increase the enemy animation framerates and if you want to return to the original animations add these:
r_lerpmove 0 r_lerpmodels 0
Quake is a legendary game and modern source ports can breathe life into it but if you want it to feel like the original I'd make those changes before you start playing.
Azurephile Super Member
wrote on 08/10/2020 at 03:42am
Sweet! Thanks for the post! I'm not sure when I'll get to this, but at least I now know it's here.
Azurephile Super Member
wrote on 09/28/2020 at 09:24pm
Hey Jon! I can't remember which post was where we (me, you, and Travis) talked about Quake and the freebies. Well you can get all the games for 50% off at Fantatical. I just bought the Quake Pack. It has Steam keys. It's about $12.50. You can also get the individual games or pieces for 50% off, too. I think Travis said he owns these games anyway. I just thought I'd let the Cheerful Ghosts know. :)
jdodson Admin Post Author
wrote on 09/28/2020 at 09:55pm
Yep. I just picked up the doom original games steam pack for $7.
jdodson Admin Post Author
wrote on 09/28/2020 at 09:55pm
Not entirely sure why. I own them many other places.
HELP GREG I CANT STOP
Azurephile Super Member
wrote on 09/29/2020 at 02:26am
LOL Well, I got the pack for $12.50. I paid with PayPal, but my bank still gave me a fraud detection error. I called the number and the automated system asked if I spent $12.50 to a games company in the UK, I pressed 1 for yes. The receipt I have even shows it's a UK company. Then it asked if I spent the same amount to the same company in CA and I pressed 2 for no. My receipts from Fanatical and PayPal don't show a duplicate charge, so I don't know what's going on. I gotta call the bank tomorrow to get it all straightened out, though I've already redeemed all the Steam keys and got them downloaded.
My email inbox is FULL of notices about games that are on my wishlist that are on sale. I have this for isthereanydeal.com and Razer software does it, too. I see more games that have significant discounts and I feel like getting them when they're really low, but at the same time I try to hold myself back so I don't spend too much money on games I may not yet be ready to play. I guess I've grown that infamous backlog everyone talks about. It's hard to resist, though, when a game is only a few dollars. LOL
jdodson Admin Post Author
wrote on 09/29/2020 at 03:07am
2020. Huge backlog so many games so why not more!
Azurephile Super Member
wrote on 11/16/2020 at 12:20am
I wanted to add some notes here about what I've noticed since I started playing this again yesterday w/ Quakespasm. I was able to get the music files into the id/music directory, but was still confused, because it seemed like they weren't playing. However, I have learned (since I didn't remember) that the music is for the most part a bit ambient. One track is almost just a bunch of whispering. There's a webpage you can visit that covers info about each map, including which track is played, you can find that here: https://www.quaddicted.com/quake/episodes_maps You may have to toggled the "external" music option in the options menu for it to work, but you can visit the maps and listen to the tracks listed on that webpage to verify that you're hearing the music. This confused me at first and apparently others as I did my web search regarding the issue I thought I was having. Since I found my solution, I thought I'd share it here.
To get Quakespasm to work, simply copy the files from the compressed file into the main Quake directory and overwrite what's there. If you want to access Quakespasm via the Steam default launcher then rename quakespasm.exe to Glquake.exe (or the other exe) and then you can select that option when loading up the game. Doing what I just stated, you'll want to select the GLQuake option. The game just looks for certain exe files, it only cares about what they're named, so if you change the name of a file to one that it's looking for then it will run that file.
If you want to cheat use the tilde "~" key and type in a cheat code like "god" or "noclip" without quotes. It's simple and easy and I'm sure other cheats are easy to find on the web. Be aware, though that if you use something like godmode, you'll have to reenter the cheat each time you visit a new map.
Maybe because I loved it so much when it came out, I still think it's a great and fun game.
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Mario Paint was one of the most unique games on the Super Nintendo and it was sad they didn't include it on the Super Nintendo Classic. I know it may have been difficult to include a mouse with the Classic but selling an add on would have been fun. For many, Mario Paint was one of the first experiences they had with any kind of digital creation software and this Gaming Historian video does a great job of showcasing that and it's important history.
"In the early 90's, Nintendo faced mounting pressure to provide more educational games. Their answer was Mario Paint. Learn the story behind the game and how it changed the lives of 3 creative individuals.
Intro - 00:00 Part 1: Mario Paint - 03:03 Part 2: Mario Artist - 28:20 Part 3: Legacy - 32:32
The QuakeCon 2020 live stream & charity event has begun and if you are a Bethesda, iD and Arkane fan tuning in should be required viewing. One piece of fun news to come out of the keynote was that Doom Eternal is getting some story based DLC called The Ancient Gods: Part One on top of other multiplayer enhancements. Not a lot of details emerged in the keynote about The Ancient Gods DLC itself and it looks like a full reveal trailer will drop later this month.
One thing I wanted to highlight was that each year at QuakeCon Zenimax, Bethesda, iD and Arcane markdown their games and this year is no exception. One particular thing I found fun is much of the classic iD catalog on Switch is marked down such as the original Doom($2.49), Doom 2($2.49), Doom 64($2.49), Doom 3($4.99) are quite cheap. Which is to say I picked up 4 incredible Doom games on Switch for about 13 bucks. Those deals are on a lot of platforms right now, so make sure to check them out.
You can watch the live stream on YouTube and twitch below:
Azurephile Super Member
wrote on 08/07/2020 at 09:21pm
I was about to ask, but decided to try to figure it out before asking, so...in order to claim Quake for free you just need to log in to your Bethesda.net launcher. Click on "Games" and scroll down to Quake and you'll see the option to install it. Maybe I should copy this to the event...?
jdodson Admin Post Author
wrote on 08/07/2020 at 09:32pm
It's in the event but it's good to mention it here too BECAUSE I forgot to do that and just picked it up.
Thanks Greg!
Azurephile Super Member
wrote on 08/08/2020 at 12:52am
It's mentioned in the event, but I didn't see instructions on how to get, claim, or install it, that's why I had to look it up. I knew it was going to be free, I just didn't know how to get it. Also noted, if they raise enough $, they'll do the same for Quake II. I'm assuming that these free releases unfortunately do not contain the expansion packs, though I could be wrong as assuming just makes an "ass" out of "u" and "me." LOL Still, the games are quite cheap at the moment, I have them on my wishlist.
jdodson Admin Post Author
wrote on 08/08/2020 at 09:23pm
I got Quake on Beth launcher and installed it and tweaked it some and it runs fairly well. I'm experimenting with Quake source engines right now(modern builds of the open source code) and finding various pros and cons to that. I have the original Quake CD ROM but having it digitally through the Beth launcher is really nice too.
jdodson Admin Post Author
wrote on 08/08/2020 at 10:09pm
And they've raised $13k so we should get Quake 2, let me check the Beth launcher now if they are handing it out. Doesn't look like it but should be at some point.
Azurephile Super Member
wrote on 08/09/2020 at 04:13am
Cool! I looked at the store part of the launcher and didn't see the expansions even mentioned, but you can buy them on Steam. Feel free to let me know when/if Quake 2 becomes available. Man, I really liked those games. I remember playing them when they were new. One thing I liked about Quake was that you could use your own soundtrack. I don't recall exactly how that worked, but I remember listening to different things while playing, like Tori Amos. Granted, I also loved the inclusion of Nine Inch Nails. I also remember how they made a demo for the game that actually contained the entire game that someone figured out how to unlock by hacking it. I think they resolved that later. Quake 2 reminds me of the drink Surge, I drank a good bit of it when I played that game.
jdodson Admin Post Author
wrote on 08/10/2020 at 01:39am
That said, I haven't seen it show up for free in the launcher yet.
Azurephile Super Member
wrote on 08/10/2020 at 03:40am
Ok, but what about Quake II? The article I shared says it would unlock at $10k. I didn't see anything about Quake III, until your comment showing that tweet. Still, neither game is showing up as free at the moment, just the first game. Thanks for the head's up! I'm still interested, so if you find something new (like an update that one or both games is now available for free), please feel free to comment here.
jdodson Admin Post Author
wrote on 08/10/2020 at 04:27am
I'm not sure. I read a Tweet from a person that said they'd unlock after QuakeCon? Who knows. Maybe we get both? I guess well know either way soon enough.
We probably all own all three quakes on steam though right? I mean they've all been around $0.04 at some point on Steam sales.
Azurephile Super Member
wrote on 08/11/2020 at 02:44am
Not me, not yet. Though I'd rather have them on Steam, since Steam definitely has the expansions (mission packs) whereas they seem to be missing from Bethesda.
jdodson Admin Post Author
wrote on 08/11/2020 at 03:48am
I have all of them on CD ROM but I don't think I re-bought them on Steam yet.
Azurephile Super Member
wrote on 08/11/2020 at 04:33am
I had at least some of them on CD, but I don't know what's happened to them. I haven't seen them in decades, but that actually applies to a lot of my old CDs.
jdodson Admin Post Author
wrote on 08/13/2020 at 01:28am
Quake II just showed up in my Beth launcher. So the Tweet was wrong about the game(They said Quake III) BUT it did show up, just a lot later.
I too have Quake 2, maybe Quake 3 will eventually unlock too.
But like Greg said, the lack of expansions in the Beth Quake 2 (plus the amazing RTX port (even if you don't have an RTX graphics card)) mean that I'll be using that Steam copy.
Seriously, that RTX port with RTX turned off is the best semi-third party launcher for Quake 2.
Azurephile Super Member
wrote on 08/13/2020 at 04:13am
Thanks for the notice! I'm thinking that even w/ the RTX features turned off, that (free) version of Quake 2 could still be pretty sweet. I think (perhaps incorrectly) there may be other features that modern GPUs can use for the game. I've hardly played it though, so I can't say for certain from my own experience and memory, it's been a while.
You’re right. That RTX port has some modern features that make it a delight to play.
And the free version can let you play the shareware stuff but if you own quake 2 you can point it at your installation and it will use the original game files for the full game. Just with better presentation
Azurephile Super Member
wrote on 08/17/2020 at 10:56pm
Quake 3 is now available to get for free.
jdodson Admin Post Author
wrote on 08/17/2020 at 11:41pm
That's weird. I have restarted my client a couple times to see if I could jog it.
Azurephile Super Member
wrote on 08/21/2020 at 05:37am
I saw something at the beginning of this give away saying something like if you don't see it show up as free, restart the Bethesda launcher. Perhaps it worked for me, because I'd open the launcher, log in, check, possibly install a game, log out, and close the launcher. I repeated this numerous times and have been able to get all three games. I just keep the launcher closed if I'm not going to use it, no need for it to hog system resources, I need that for gaming! I hope it worked out for you.