Game Video: Super Pipeline II - C64

I have done 3 reviews on the GP2X forum. 3 games that play like a charm on the gp2x and are great fun. This was my first. Copied and pasted the content and added a youtube link.

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Here's my first review, I thought as I hoped for more emulated games reviews I should take a plunge and write one myself (copied a part from another source) . Hope you like it, keep in mind that English is not my native language.


Super Pipeline II: C64 tested on Vice

The game:















Your objective on each level is to fill the barrels at the bottom of the screen. So long as the pipeline is intact, oil will flow slowly down it and fill the barrels.

However, MEANIES are here to prevent you from completing your task! When facing left or right, you can shoot these meanies with your gun (Press fire to shoot). Lobsters are impervious to bullets from the front, but can be shot from behind... and nails just can't be shot at all.

Sometimes meanies will make a hole in the pipeline, causing your precious oil to escape. This is where your mates come in play. Clad in green, these guys will wander around the pipe aimlessly until you collect them, after that they will follow you. When you've got one following you, you can lead him to a hole in the pipe, and he will fix it for you.

Graphics
















This games graphics are crisp and funny, you can't really expect more from a c64 game like this.

Score: 8/10

Sound

If you can't stand repetitive music it's probably better to mute the sound. I don't really mind and the sound effects are oke.

Score: 7/10

Gameplay

The most important part of a game of course is the gameplay. And the gameplay is great! Our hero moves and shoots fluently on the gp2x screen like he's been waiting since 1985 to do just that. It's easy to get into, but hard to reach higher levels. Can get frustrating if you can't reach the level where you're aiming for. However because you know you can do it, that's a sure sign of good and addictive gameplay :)

Score: 9/10

Overall

As already stated this is a great game. Just pick a d64 of the game and autostart the image with Vice. No need to overclock it or anything else to play this terrific game.

Score: 8/10

And a very nice feature of vice is the ability of making a screenshot
Yep, this impossible to beat score is mine :)














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And last but not least... a video :)

Wiz and Dingoo A320 info

In this article (updated october 11th 2009) I want to give some links and information about the Wiz and Dingoo A320. Although I will probably not buy one of them, they share software with the GP2X and can both be used for retrogaming.
I will add a link to this article on the frontpage and adjust this with new infomation and new links whenever that is needed.

The Wiz is the official successor of the GP2X from GPH. Just as the GP2X it is a handheld video game console and media player. It is smaller than the GP2X and has a clear praised but small OLED touchscreen. Battery life is a lot better than the GP2X.

For an overview of some of the most important capabilities of the Wiz look here

The Dingoo A320 is the Chinese and less expensive brother of the GP2X and the Wiz. Just as the Wiz it doesn't have a keyboard.The Dingoo also lacks a touchscreen. According to some people the gamepad of the Dingoo is better than the Wiz.

For a good overview of some of the most important capabilities of the Dingoo A320 look here

There is a lot of interesting development for both handhelds and I'm pretty sure they both will be able to have a great softwarelibrary. So when you think the Pandora is too expensive and you can live without the keyboard, you could buy one of these. The stuff that I am reviewing can hopefully be played on these handhelds as well. Right now that is not always the case though.

In some cases emulators and games are working pretty good, but more development is necessary. Be sure to check how your favorite emulator works on of them before buying.
If you compare the old GP2X with the GP2X-wiz and Dingoo, good old GP2X still wins hands down. GP2X has an amazing software library, the Wiz/Dingoo are catching up, but the quality and quantity does not come close. Of course that is not very surprising, both are relatively new handhelds.

So if you want to play the most emulators and games full speed without too much hassle you might try to buy a 2nd hand GP2X F200. Eventhough development for GP2X is very low I think it is still the best buy. They are not very easy to find anymore though.
If you like the very good OLED touchscreen and small form factor of the Wiz go for that one.
If your budget is tight go for the Dingoo, you can get a pretty good handheld for less than 100$.


Other links:

Small GP2X-Wiz review. The discussion underneath the review is interesting.

Dingoo A320 forum. Most active forum for Dingoo users, lot of discussions about new releases.

GP32X forum. Discussions about the Pandora, GP2X, GP32X, Wiz, Dingoo. Very active forum but for Dingoo discussions you'd better go to the Dingoo A320 forum.

Open handhelds file archive. Large amount of homebrew, apps and emulators for open handhelds.

Dingux.com Here you can find the information regarding porting linux to the Dingoo.Very exciting stuff for every Dingoo user.

Game Video: Devil's crush - PC Engine

Another pinball game, this one is for the PC engine / TurboGrafx 16. Physics are not as good as Psycho Pinball for Genesis, but the fun-factor compensates that. 6 bonus stages and a lot to discover in this great pinball game. You can choose between slow and fast speed, IMO the fast speed is a lot better and plays more like real pinball.

Review from someone I totally agree with is here

Plays without overclocking on Temper

Game Video: Galaga - Arcade

One of the most well known arcade games of all time and probably played by almost all visitors of this blog. A true classic: Galaga.
Goal is to kill swarms of aliens. One of the best ways to do that is obtaining a double shooter. You are an easier (bigger) target, but the better firing power outweighs that.

This game is in my top 3 for sure, never stopped playing it. Why it is so good?

The graphics - colourful graphics with a black (with some dots/stars) and not disturbing background. You see what you need to see, nothing more nothing less. Everything that moves has to be shot.

Shooting is not an automatic fire, you have to work to kill the baddies. To survive more advanced levels you need adrenaline. Shooting is working and to avoid being hit you need a lot of concentration.

The bonus levels (challenge stages) . You can gain extra points by shooting a perfect score on the bonus levels. Can be frustrating when you miss one alien, but that's part of the fun.

Balanced gameplay. The first levels are pretty easy but soon the levels get more difficult and then you have the bonus levels to keep you sharp and alert. The creators of the game did build up the gameplay perfectly, sometimes playing a longer game feels like a game of sports.
There are a lot of great conversions to consoles. IMO the best is still the original arcade version. There are also some sequels that are not that bad (e.g. galaga '88), but still do not compare to the feel of the original.




Plays without overclocking on MAME4ALL

Game Video: Taz - Atari 2600

Taz or Astrix (the same game, other character) is a simple but fun game. Avoid hitting the dynamite and get the goodies. Like a lot of games from this era, it starts slow and will increase in speed.
After completing a level, speed increases, goodies change and you will get more points for them. The first couple of levels are not too hard, but after a certain level the speed is increased a lot. The game is then in insane mode and only the best will survive (and I'm not one of them ;) )

It's a fast game you play in a couple of minutes, so great for a quick game when you are in a hurry.



Plays without overclocking on GP2X-2600