Experiment: A newcomer's opinion of the O2, before and after

[AB Positive]

Since I just got my O2 package in, I thought I'd share how someone who basically grew up and thrived on the 8/16-bit era feels about the Odyssey 2. Now, I've gotten sort of hyped up about this, reading PDF's experiences and talking to him in person makes me think that this will be a great Video Game experience, and a chance to play history. I'm excited, but cautiously optimistic. This -could- turn me into a pre-crash convert overnight (or... overday I guess) or I could find it immensely boring. We shall see. I'm about to hook the sucker up now, and if anyone actually cares, I'll share my impressions in an hour or so.

...this might be a nice article for the 'younger' generation (12-25, those that were too young to appreciate pre-crash gaming) to see how one of them takes to the true 'classic' experience.

-Adam

[Sylentwulf]

Just my 2 cents. Don't use the O2 to hook you inteo pre-NES gaming, heh.

[AB Positive]

Well, we've come upon our first snafu. How the hell do hook this up to a TV without antenna hookups? I can see it's trying to send the signal through, but I know I have it backwards. methinks this might be a problem...

EDIT: never mind. Good idea for us youngins, first hint: do NOT put three inputs in a box meant for two. Read my subtitle for why I did this.

Be back in a bit.

-AG

[Arrrhalomynn]

This is the only pre-nes system I've ever owned (although I believe it's called the videopac g700 or something here) and I sold it a few days after I got it. Maybe it was because of the games, but it just SUCKED. I couldn't even remotely enjoy it, no matter how hard I tried.

[video_game_addict]

It was not one of my favorites either and it wasn't long before I sold mine off. There are some really good games for it, but the vast majority of them play like crap. :/ It does have some cool box art, the system & accessories, the games, and makes for a nice looking "collection" if you keep it on the shelf most of the time. But for me I just couldn't keep it, as it rarely if ever got any play.

[AB Positive]

Well, I played around a bit more than I expected I would. I wasn't blown away, but I was amazed at just how much fun I actually had! And oddly enough, the game that got me wasn't pick axe pete. Unfortunatly, I can't seem to get the immediate strategy required for it. Two games got the most play for me out of the eight.


K.C. Munchkin (shouldn't surprise too many people)

... and Computer Golf. I really don't know why but this game got me good. with a par 36, I will need a lot of practice to get down below that, as I ended up in the low 70 range. d'oh.


K.C.'s programmable nature is awesome, and I hear Krazy Chase is even better, that's next on my to get list, along with a complete Quest for the Rings (ha ha, good luck to me).

-AG

[ubersaurus]

You know, for everyone putting down the Odyssey 2, ever since I got mine last fall I've been constantly rehooking it up to play it. I've just given up recently and decided to leave it up permanent. Attack of the Timelord is great, I play that one all the time. Hell it was worth the price of admission alone.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Heh heh heh, good lad. Taking over the world, one gamer at a time, the O2 way.

*walks away, his task here completed* :devilish:

[AB Positive]

I would politely ask however that whoever is a big pick axe pete person to tell me just what the hell I'm trying to do with it? I keep hitting boulders, then losing the pick axe. I see keys but I'm usually nowhere near them in order to actually get them. I'm really lost.


But the long and the short of it is, with $10 shipping, I paid $24.50 for this O2 bundle, and definitly got more playthrough then I've gotten with some $50 games. I enjoy it very much, even for someone that only played 4 Atari 2600 games in his life (Pac Man, Video Pinball, Stampede, and *shudder* E.T.)

-AG

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

You can probably get the docs from o2william's site or ozyr.com, but here's the long and short of it - the axe only lasts for a little while. If you'll notice, you can always find a ladder when you have the axe, but when you lose it, the ladders will briefly extend once from each level in ascending order. When two boulders collide, they'll either fling a key toward the top of the screen, or send a fresh axe tumbling to the bottom level. You have a very short time in which to reach either one. When you get the key, LEAP TOWARD ONE OF THE THREE DOORS. Be carefuly, but ALWAYS JUMP INTO THEM, never just walk into them, because if you don't have an axe, a boulder could crush you just as you're about to get there. If you jump, even if a boulder hits you, your momentum might carry you into the door and on to the next level...perfectly intact.

Best to stay on the TOP LEVEL if at all possible...that is where the keys will go, unless you're directly over a boulder collision on a lower level.

With each succeeding level, a portion of the mine vanishes, sometimes drastically altering the physics and dynamics of where the boulders will fall or bounce. For a wild time, try punching "9" to start your game - that's my favorite mine once you get a few levels into it. It'll keep you awake.

If you need any more help, feel free to ask. I'll be holding a class in Advanced Pick Axe Pete later this evening, and seating is limited. LOL

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

I understand that AdamG hasn't posted further on this topic because he is now a Pick Axe Pete junkie.

Perhaps now we can fully understand the correlation between:
Pick Axe Pete - BOULDERS
Crack - ROCKS
...thanks to his tragic story.

Further updates as they are available. LOL

[AB Positive]

*sigh*

I'm weak. Very weak. I've played NOTHING but Pick Axe Pete for the past three days. I am a Square whore with 8 or so unopened games of theirs left to play... but dammit, it keeps dragging me down into that pit

with all the boulders.... and the axes, and keys! GAHHH!

So, end of the experiment states: the 'Ancient' stuff is just as good, if not sometimes better than the new. and if you can, play Pick Axe Pete.

...I should go back. The Mistress calls...

-AG

[Arcade Antics]

I'm weak. Very weak. I've played NOTHING but Pick Axe Pete for the past three days. I am a Square whore with 8 or so unopened games of theirs left to play... but dammit, it keeps dragging me down into that pit...

:D Pick Axe Pete rules.

Now just wait until you bust out KC's Krazy Chase and Killer Bees - you may disappear from the real world for weeks! And try and pick up Turtles as well, nice little arcade-port there. :)

[o2william]

I'm glad to hear that there are still a couple people left out there who are open-minded enough to give the O2 a chance. As I've said before, it's a tough system to love, but there are definitely some gems available for it.

Pick Axe Pete is an all-time great. And while we're on the subject... has ANYONE managed to play long enough so that all the platforms disappear? I've always wondered what really happens -- do they all go? Do they stay gone? Does the game crash? AFAIK, nobody's lasted quite that long.

BTW, I have to recommend one other O2 game nobody else has mentioned: UFO! My second favorite O2 game, after Pete.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

And while we're on the subject... has ANYONE managed to play long enough so that all the platforms disappear? I've always wondered what really happens -- do they all go? Do they stay gone? Does the game crash?

I've never lasted long enough to get everything to vanish, though I did once play a nine-hour session and saw about half of them disappear. The bouncing boulder physics get totally bizarre with all those open spaces - it starts FLINGING stuff at you from below, and slipping and falling into the abyss is pretty much like the suicide you'd normally expect it to be.

[Ed Oscuro]

Back when I started off on eBay I almost got an O^2, with...Quest for the Rings, complete. $40.-$50

I wish I'd won it. I lost enough money off that damned thing and don't have much to show for it :/ That said, I think it would have overextended me financially at the time so...egh.

[Buyatari]

Back when I started off on eBay I almost got an O^2, with...Quest for the Rings, complete. $40.-$50


I'd think you still be able to get this for this price. You most likely can get it cheaper. O^2 stuff hasn't gome up in price at all since I've been collecting.

Adam

[Buyatari]

I didn't care much for the system but it is better than Intellivision.

There are some decent titles out there.

I liked the Rings game.
KC Munchkin
Pick axe pete
Turtles

umm thats about it but I haven't played them all.

How are the Imagic titles?
Anyone know if Activision even considered developing for this console and if not why they didn't?

Adam

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

I didn't care much for the system but it is better than Intellivision.
Hooooooboy. I'm not even getting into that battle. O_O


How are the Imagic titles?
Not half bad - I have reviews of Atlantis (http://www.thelogbook.com/odyssey/at.html) and Demon Attack (http://www.thelogbook.com/odyssey/dat.html) up if you wanna read 'em. Demon Attack is surprisingly good, actually.