I've grown soft!

**Orthodox** · 05-11-2009, 09:23 AM

Man.........I believe I've grown soft on years of playing the 'next' generation consoles. I am playing these old NES and SNES games and I am totally getting knocked around! It is crazy! I used to beat these games when I was like 10-13 and now I am just getting nailed! What is up with that? I think the games on the old systems are definitely harder than the current crop of games.

Right now I'm playing Castlevania. I got past the Grim Reaper boss, but I am stuck on the stage after him. And I only got that far because I used the save function in such a way where I could fight the Grim Reaper about a dozen times (or more) so that I could beat him eventually.

Also, I'm playing Battletoads on the SNES, and I'm stuck on the second level! just the second level!! what?!! It is that part where you descend down a hollowed out tree on a metal hovering disc. I do alright until you start to descend rapidly and then I get cut to ribbons by the pointy logs jutting out into the hollowed out tree.

Is there any hope for me?! Or have I 'gone soft' for good?!

**Winnebagel** · 05-11-2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orthodox

Man.........I believe I've grown soft on years of playing the 'next' generation consoles. I am playing these old NES and SNES games and I am totally getting knocked around! It is crazy! I used to beat these games when I was like 10-13 and now I am just getting nailed! What is up with that? I think the games on the old systems are definitely harder than the current crop of games.

Right now I'm playing Castlevania. I got past the Grim Reaper boss, but I am stuck on the stage after him. And I only got that far because I used the save function in such a way where I could fight the Grim Reaper about a dozen times (or more) so that I could beat him eventually.

Also, I'm playing Battletoads on the SNES, and I'm stuck on the second level! just the second level!! what?!! It is that part where you descend down a hollowed out tree on a metal hovering disc. I do alright until you start to descend rapidly and then I get cut to ribbons by the pointy logs jutting out into the hollowed out tree.

Is there any hope for me?! Or have I 'gone soft' for good?!

There is always hope lad. Don't give up. It's true the old games are generally much harder, but you will get back in the swing of things if you keep at it.

In Battletoads it's really memorization more than anything else. If you play it a few times, you should get it down pat. ;D

**Orthodox** · 05-11-2009, 09:41 AM

Thanks, man! I'll keep pluggin' away! My brother and I used to play all of these games together; I just sent him an email asking if he wanted to get together once a week to give these games a crack! It'll be fun to relive the old days, and maybe if we put our efforts together, we'll get 'back in shape.' ha ha!

**sezthemank** · 05-11-2009, 09:58 AM

I totally agree, i have been playing since I was like 5,I used to complete retro games easly but now its harder. WHATS GOING ON!

**Winnebagel** · 05-11-2009, 09:59 AM

That's pretty cool. My brother (Gamenguru) is on Retro Uprising too. We used to do the same thing. We would play all the coop games like TMNT, Double Dragon, Battletoads (which we actually finished on 2 player. That was fun for us.), and the like. Great fun!

I hope you enjoy your time on R.U.!

**Kugyince** · 05-11-2009, 10:35 AM

I was going to tell you that getting past the Grim Reaper in Castlevania is no easy feat in itself. Then I read that you were using save states.

If you really want to get back into the swing of things you must stop the practice of using save states right now. If you have to leave the computer for one reason or another its fine to save the game. But you have to stop using them to go back and fix mistakes.

You just have to take what the game is going to give you. Write down passwords, use your continues, plot a map on graph paper, farm for extra lives, health, ammo, etc... If the game has save ROM such as Zelda of Dragon Warrior, allocate only as many states as there are in the game (usually 3) and only save when the game would allow you to anyways.

**CatalystiCam** · 05-11-2009, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sez

I totally agree, i have been playing since I was like 5,I used to complete retro games easly but now its harder. WHATS GOING ON!

Probably just losing your touch with quick reactions I guess, It happens to me if I don't play a game for a long time, I hadn't played EDF for like 2 years, And then I could barely play it at all, Now I'm just getting better and better with that game ~~except for the gradius like level...~~

**Ragtag** · 05-11-2009, 12:11 PM

I think a lot of my "rusty-ness" comes down to lack of patience and a lower attention span. When I was 13, I'd play a game all day in order to memorize the game-play and still think it was the coolest Saturday ever. Now I'll get frustrated after dying 2 or 3 times. Newer games just aren't very tough on you, usually. However, with these older games, I've noticed that I'm much more satisfied when I finally do beat that level, or whatever. I earned it, son!

**Orthodox** · 05-11-2009, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ragtag

I think a lot of my "rusty-ness" comes down to lack of patience and a lower attention span. When I was 13, I'd play a game all day in order to memorize the game-play and still think it was the coolest Saturday ever. Now I'll get frustrated after dying 2 or 3 times. Newer games just aren't very tough on you, usually. However, with these older games, I've noticed that I'm much more satisfied when I finally do beat that level, or whatever. I earned it, son!

ha, yeah--I think that's it! I get frustrated if I die just a couple of times...and with thousands of other games to offer a few minutes of fun, I find I stray easily and do not 'stick with it'! But that's the 'cheap' way out and will probably even bring my attention span even lower. Ok...I'm just gonna keep cracking on this Battletoads game until I get that good old fashioned feeling of accomplishment!

**Winnebagel** · 05-11-2009, 04:17 PM

That's right. Keep at it. I don't want to have my high score unchallenged forever. Let's compete for it and sharpen both of our skills!

**sezthemank** · 05-12-2009, 03:28 AM

Sonic 2 on the master system -

I struggle on the first Dr robotnic fight where you have to simply jump over he balls.

SEZ ANGRY!

**yoshi_star10** · 05-12-2009, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ragtag

I think a lot of my "rusty-ness" comes down to lack of patience and a lower attention span. When I was 13, I'd play a game all day in order to memorize the game-play and still think it was the coolest Saturday ever. Now I'll get frustrated after dying 2 or 3 times. Newer games just aren't very tough on you, usually. However, with these older games, I've noticed that I'm much more satisfied when I finally do beat that level, or whatever. I earned it, son!

you dont want to see me if i get angry playin a game(not pretty) it took me FOREVER to beat the shadow queen on paper mario 2, but when i finally did i was like "@*^! yeah!"

**david man45** · 05-12-2009, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ragtag

I think a lot of my "rusty-ness" comes down to lack of patience and a lower attention span. When I was 13, I'd play a game all day in order to memorize the game-play and still think it was the coolest Saturday ever. Now I'll get frustrated after dying 2 or 3 times. Newer games just aren't very tough on you, usually. However, with these older games, I've noticed that I'm much more satisfied when I finally do beat that level, or whatever. I earned it, son!

That sense of accomplishment... I know what you mean

I've been playing NES & SNES all my life with newer games. Also, the ultimate sense of completion is beating Krusty's Fun House. Took me three months straight.

**DoctorRyanB1** · 05-15-2009, 10:34 AM

I've been ruined by the new generation of gaming I think. Since I got the internet I keep looking at online guides to help me by instead of figuring out what to do myself.

**jim5cents** · 05-15-2009, 12:39 PM

so in reality, you have been ruined by the internet?

**Shades** · 05-15-2009, 01:14 PM

Everyone's been ruined by the internet.

But I love it.

**Orthodox** · 05-15-2009, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tenser

I was going to tell you that getting past the Grim Reaper in Castlevania is no easy feat in itself. Then I read that you were using save states.

If you really want to get back into the swing of things you must stop the practice of using save states right now. If you have to leave the computer for one reason or another its fine to save the game. But you have to stop using them to go back and fix mistakes.

You just have to take what the game is going to give you. Write down passwords, use your continues, plot a map on graph paper, farm for extra lives, health, ammo, etc... If the game has save ROM such as Zelda of Dragon Warrior, allocate only as many states as there are in the game (usually 3) and only save when the game would allow you to anyways.

I'm taking your advice! I've committed myself to beating Super Castlevania 4 only using the built in passwords.........no more 'cheating saving'!! It's helping! Thanks for the advice!

**laserboy1134** · 05-15-2009, 02:43 PM

Start with easier retro games and then move up. If you start with a game like Super Mario 3 that's pretty easy by retro standards and keep working your way up, you should be able to get to Castlevania soon.

**DrunkN** · 05-16-2009, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laserboy1134

Start with easier retro games and then move up. If you start with a game like Super Mario 3 that's pretty easy by retro standards and keep working your way up, you should be able to get to Castlevania soon.

I think the ending levels of SM3 are harder than the ending levels of Castlevania.

**laserboy1134** · 05-16-2009, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drunkninja

I think the ending levels of SM3 are harder than the ending levels of Castlevania.

I've never beaten Castlevania, but CV is harder as a whole (I can get about 1/4 of the way through it)

**david man45** · 05-17-2009, 10:58 AM

I'd agree with Drunk.

**Orthodox** · 05-18-2009, 07:18 PM

wooooohooooo! I beat Super Castlevania 4 fair and square! No saving, just using the given passwords! I'm on the road to recovery, ha ha ha!

**Kugyince** · 05-18-2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orthodox

wooooohooooo! I beat Super Castlevania 4 fair and square! No saving, just using the given passwords! I'm on the road to recovery, ha ha ha!

Welcome back, brother.

That there is a feeling of accomplishment that would have been greatly diluted through the use of save states.

**Orthodox** · 05-18-2009, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tenser

Welcome back, brother.

That there is a feeling of accomplishment that would have been greatly diluted through the use of save states.

I think you are right, my friend!

Boy, I did have some moments of frustration and near-uncontrollable rage there, ha ha ha, to the displeasure of my wife. I kept dying on that part right before you get to those final mini-bosses: the part with the spinning spike wheel that follows you up the staircases, etc. I got past that part pretty easily---the part that kept on getting me was the section with those final ascending platforms...I kept on getting skewered on those spikes on the ceiling. But, I tried tried again, and I made it!

Good feeling!

**Kugyince** · 05-18-2009, 09:52 PM

Yeah, the frustration adds to the reward you get for finally besting it.

I nearly through my keyboard across the room tonight because of a combination of my hatred for using Dhalism and the cheapness of M. Bison. Beating SFII Turbo with all 12 characters using only a keyboard is not something I'd recommend to anyone who values their sanity. Especially within two nights time.

So, Orthodox, what's next on your list of games to take down?