Random Game O' the Day: Williams Arcade Classics

[digitalpress]

The DP Random Compilation Generator (tm) has chosen - of all things, the Game.com version - of Williams Arcade Classics. Since only 14 people actually own a Game.com and only 5 of them are willing to admit they've played it, we'll open the gates and discuss ALL versions of this compliation.

So. What did you think of the compilation? What games still "work well"? What games play better using a modern joypad control, if any? Which version of the game did the best job at the emulation? Did you ever actually play the Game.com version? Discuss the game with us here, write your own mini-review.

DP Guide sez:

Williams Arcade Classics (Game.com, by Tiger) $1/R1
Contains 5 classic arcade games: Joust, Defender, Robotron, Defender II (Stargate), and Sinistar Supports multiple-system linking. EASTER EGGS: Start a game of Robotron, enter the options screen and click on "lives" 50 times to activate God Mode. BOX DESCRIPTION: ''Five of the greatest arcade hits of all time - now available in one portable collection: Joust, Defender, Robotron, Defender II (Stargate), Sinistar! Classic game play, radical fun. -Full versions of the biggest hits in coin-op history! -Animations and sound effects from the originals -Staying power to the max: these classic launched an industry!'' Released 1997. #71-722.

Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits (Genesis, by Midway) $5/R3
Features 5 of the 6 titles that were included on the PSX and Saturn versions: Stargate, Defender, Robotron: 2084, Sinistar and Joust. Bubbles was dropped from this version. Miscellaneous/Compilation.

Arcade's Greatest Hits: Williams (PlayStation, by Midway) $12/R3
a.k.a. Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits
Developed by Williams. Available in "long box" packaging. Released 4/10/96.

Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits (Saturn, by Midway) $8/R3
Compilation disc containing Williams coin-op classics Bubbles, Defender, Defender II, Joust, Robotron: 2084 and Sinistar. Miscellaneous/Compilation. Released 1996. #T-9703H.

Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits (SNES, by Williams) $6/R2
Compilation disc containing Williams coin-op classics Bubbles, Defender, Defender II, Joust, Robotron: 2084 and Sinistar. Features Defender I and II, Sinistar, Joust, and Robotron 2084. Miscellaneous/Compilation. Released 1996. #SNS-AW8E-USA.

[christianscott27]

as the resident game.com fanboy i'll give my two cents.

everything is so-so except sinistar which is really cool.

i love joust but this version is barely better than tigers keychain version

robotron could be fun but theres that control issue

defender/stargate just doesnt work on a small grainy screen

the opening of the game with the arcade is cool and the sound clips are very good, one of the g.c's stregnths.

if you're gonna own a game.com this is one of the titles to have. although i really like the SNES version of this game pack best.

[bargora]

I think I've mentioned it before, but if you're playing the Playstation version and using a MadCatz Dual Force controller, you can use the sticks to play Robotron, as long as the analog light is off. Very cool. But still, I'm only a dabbler. My high score on Robotron is less than 200k. Great compilation.

[davidbrit2]

Gee, I didn't realize there were only 5 of us. Heh.

And stay away from the GBA release. All four games are quite poorly implemented. The control in Sinistar is honestly so bad, I don't know how it made it through play testing. You seriously can't play it. Robotron is the best one of the four games on the cartridge, but even then, the control isn't what it should be.

[SoulBlazer]

I THOUGHT there was a GBA release also....thanks for letting me know I was'nt dreaming. :D

[ubersaurus]

Odd...I don't remember Bubbles being on my copy of the SNES one.



It was on Dreamcast too...compilation really got around.

[digitalpress]

I THOUGHT there was a GBA release also....thanks for letting me know I was'nt dreaming. :D

Oops, sorry if I misled you. For future reference whenever you see "DP Guide", know that the Guide database covers inactive systems only (with the exception of the anomaly PlayStation, whose grave we've been standing near for 2 years now, but it won't go quietly).

[ManekiNeko]

Here are my opinions of the versions I've played:

SATURN: A brilliant collection, with six Williams games so close to the originals that you can actually change settings in the BIOS (it's loads of fun to input your own message that appears on the title screen!). Robotron is possibly the weakest link in the collection, because the colors in the warp between rounds are washed out and the six button control is a little awkward. It's still immensely playable, however, and the rest of the games are even better. It's a must have for anyone with a Saturn.

DREAMCAST: This isn't *quite* as good as the Saturn version... the graphics don't seem as crisp and there aren't as many configuration options. Nevertheless, it's a solid collection and worth purchasing if you don't already own the Saturn version.

GENESIS: Hmm. I don't know went wrong here... in many ways, the five games offered here are excellent translations. Overall, though, this collection just doesn't compare to the Dreamcast and Saturn versions. Robotron is plagued with horrific slowdown, and all the games are much too difficult. They're actually tougher than they were in the arcades, especially Robotron which OVERWHELMS you with enemies and Sinistar which barely gives you time to blink before you're swallowed whole by the game's evil space cruiser. On the plus side, they really do look like their arcade counterparts, and thankfully, Sinistar doesn't suffer from the awful voice synthesis that you'd expect from your average Genesis game (although his voice IS more high pitched, sounding more like Vincent Price than James Earl Jones).

GAME BOY ADVANCE: This game's the big loser of the bunch. Everything that could have gone wrong with this collection did. Sinistar is nearly unplayable thanks to horrific control and a tiny viewscreen, and the rest of the games are only slightly better. The effects in Robotron look awful... they're very choppy, which surprises me because the original game is nearly twenty years old. We're not talking about texture mapped polygons here... the Game Boy Advance could have easily handled a few serpentine laser blasts. The other two games are awful, too... in fact, the whole collection is complete rubbish. I expected better from Midway.

JR

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

I have the PS1 version - love it, love it, love it. With my big twin arcade joystick, Robotron is now sheer bliss (damn near unplayable if you're trying to do it with the double D-pads on the standard PS1 controller), and with my Blaze Pro Shock joystick even Sinistar plays well. This is still one of my favorite compilation games.

[ManekiNeko]

Is it safe to assume that it's the same as the Saturn version, Phos?

JR

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

I haven't seen any options for mucking about with the BIOS, so I'm not sure.

[NE146]

One of the BEST (and one of the original) retro compilations around. Don't forget there was a pc version as well released just around the days when Mame was a baby. :P

The original PS1 version is top notch. The emulation is spot on, and Robotron plays pretty well with the diamond button configuration for the right joystick (ditto for the Dreamcast version). But the kicker is the great text write-ups for each game and the excellent video interviews with Eugene Jarvis and that other guy (who's name escapes me at the moment :embarrassed:) . I forget offhand whether the pc version had these interviews as well.. I think it might have. :? The games are great, but that little "background" history touch gives it just the right setting. :)

Anyone ever notice that if you play Robotron on the SNES and Genesis versions, that it looks arcade like, but the playfield has SHRUNK?? It's real subtle, but you can tell there's definitely a lot less real estate in both those versions.

Arcade SNES
http://www.users.qwest.net/~userid946/robotron.jpg http://www.users.qwest.net/~userid946/robotronsnes.jpg

The only complaint I'd have with most of the versions is with Sinistar because of course one of the big deals with the arcade game was the 49 position optical Joystick. So it's just kind of sucky that we're limited to 8 directions in most of the ports LOL Oh well.. it aint major. :)

What can I say about the atrocious GBA version that hasn't been said already. It really does suck! Yknow the sad thing is the old GBC Defender/Joust plays a much better version of these games than the GBA classics version. Go figure. If you find one, check it out.. I mean, it aint arcade perfect, but the gameplay is smooth and it's an overall great port. It works even better on the GBA screen since it gets stretched out and more closely resembles the aspect ratio of the arcade game LOL

http://www.users.qwest.net/~userid946/jdef.jpg

[The Unknown Gamer]

When I first spotted WAC Playstation version I snapped it up fast.
I love them all especially Sinistar

[SoulBlazer]

Is that why you left out the Dreamcast version also, DP? LOL

No worries. I think, BTW, that we're going to continue to see new PS1 games in the States at least for another year.....it's becoming a good system for 'bargin' games to pop up on. :D

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Eugene Jarvis and that other guy (who's name escapes me at the moment)

Larry DeMar, I think.

[grayejectbutton]

I have Arade's Greatest Hits for the SNES. But...I have a confession and then a plea for help...I don't know how to play Sinistar. :( Will somebody please tell me? I don't have the instruction manual for the cart and I never played it in the arcades, so I have no clue how to play it. None of the "enemies" seem to be able to hit my ship, except this one enemy that comes along later and shoots. And it tells me to "mine crystals" or something, yet I can't find any obvious way to do this. Help!

[Raccoon Lad]

shoot the rocks, collect the dots "crystals" Collected crystals are converted into Sini-bombs that can be used to destroy Sinistar.

[kainemaxwell]

Ps1 version is top notch as is DC, gotta remember that. how's the DC version play with the controller anyhow?

Also I dunno if i can mention it here but anyone play the top-notch PC version of this, with all the extras like video files, marquee shots and the like? Did any of that come with the Saturn, DC or PS1 editions?

[grayejectbutton]

shoot the rocks, collect the dots "crystals" Collected crystals are converted into Sini-bombs that can be used to destroy Sinistar.

Thanks, but...well...what IS Sinistar?? The big bad guy at the end or something? A mother ship? A planet? Plus, what are those ships doing? They just fly around and don't seem to do much of anything.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

The red drones do their own crystal mining and use the crystals to build Sinistar. They can't hurt you.

The grey gunships actively seek you out, especially if you're killing a lot of the drones.

Sinistar is not the boss at the end. Sinistar IS the end is it's completed and begins homing in on you and you don't have enough bombs. He can most certainly hurt you. RUN, COWARD! RUN! RUN! RUN!!!

[NE146]

How to play Sinistar? No problem! here's more Joystik magazine scans to the rescue.. they go a little more in depth in describing the game than usual since it was written at the time the game was the latest and greatest thing around :)

Sinistar Page 1 (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/userid947/sep83-06.JPG)
Sinistar Page 2 (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/userid947/sep83-07.JPG)
Sinistar Page 3 (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/userid947/sep83-08.JPG)
Sinistar Page 4 (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/userid947/sep83-09.JPG)
Sinistar Page 5 (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/userid947/sep83-10.JPG)
Sinistar Page 6 (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/userid947/sep83-11.JPG)

[kainemaxwell]

Was anyone here scared of Sinistar's voice as a kid too?

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Actually, let's save time and come up with a shorter list.

Who here WASN'T scared of Sinistar's voice as a kid? X_x

[josekortez]

I have the Nintendo 64 version too, which you guys forgot to list. I don't think it was called Williams. It was called Midway vol. 1 instead.

It also includes a version of Tapper, which is my favorite game on that compilation.

[christianscott27]

whaaa? nobody else liked the game.com sinistar? shocking!

theres also a version of this package for the palm platform, i'm tempted to get it but the control has got to be awful. you gotta love these games, everybody talks about pac man and space invaders but these are the arcade hardcore player titles. williams was king.

now if only all those fake atari sinistar proto carts were real.

[tssk]

Actually, let's save time and come up with a shorter list.

Who here WASN'T scared of Sinistar's voice as a kid? X_x

"RON!! RON HOWARD!! RON HOWARD!!"

[Mayhem]

I'll take the original coin-ops anyday... which isn't hard when I know someone with all of them ;)

[davidbrit2]

I'm pretty sure there's a code to get to the service menu in the PSX version. I remember seeing it in Game Pro a long time ago.

And the GBC version of Defender + Joust is fantastic. That's honestly my favorite (non-emulated) home version of Joust. It's tiny looking, but it's really the most accurate. Oh, and I think it supports the link cable.

But stay away from the original Gameboy Defender + Joust. That has a terrible version of Joust with lousy control, and I think it only has two types of enemies.

[Cafeman]

I have been playing the Saturn version for years and years, the games seem absolutely perfect. Control is great -- except it can be difficult with shooting in Robotron.

Sinistar is one difficult game. I make it easier, give myself more lives, and I still don't last long. Whatever zone you must be in to excel at Sinistar, I've never found it. I usually kill 1 or 2 Sinistars before I'm toast. I still love the game though, especially that great sinister voice.

Joust may be my favorite game of all time. John Newcomer was the author, he is also interviewed on the disc. Defender and Stargate are great too and also incredibly difficult. I like the simpler home controls, the Reverse button of the coin-op always messed me up. Sometimes I instinctively fly low and shoot, thinking a smart bomb will activate -- and old habit from the 2600 Defender.

I had never heard of Bubbles until I got this home compilation, but the game turned out to be very addicting to me. Once you get used to control it gets to be very manic, trying to move around, grabbing brooms to kill the big bugs, miss the razors , etc.

I think I own the PSX one too. Same game, slightly fuzzier look on my setup, but better Robotron control.

[Arcade Antics]

I'm pretty sure there's a code to get to the service menu in the PSX version. I remember seeing it in Game Pro a long time ago.

I think you can access the service menus by pressing the L2 and R2 buttons. (Or something like that - I think it's listed in the instruction manual).

Anyhoo - my thoughts on this one are probably well known, but in short:

THIS game is the reason I bought a PSX way back when. Not Tekken, not Ridge Racer, not MK3. Williams Arcade Classics. :) Awesome games, cool interviews, and the games are awesome. Also, all the games on the disc are awesome.

[Mayhem]

You NEED the analog control in Sinistar otherwise it becomes rather difficult to handle. Midway have to get that setup right in the new compilation pack or else...

[ManekiNeko]

Nah, analog control isn't of dire importance in Sinistar. You can play the game without it, as the Saturn version clearly demonstrated. However, it can be screwed up quite badly, as the Game Boy Advance version proved.

JR

[kainemaxwell]

Bubbles was the game on the packs that never appealed to me. Something aobut playing that soap guy from the dish-washing commericals didn't appeal to me.

I think i'll look up into investing in the PS or DC versions. How's the DC version play with the controller?

[bargora]

Inspired by the thread, I threw the disc into the PS2 last night and once again got stopped cold repeatedly at 160,000 in Robotron. But I did make it through the tank wave once without dying (a first for me, I believe).

And Sinistar. Heh. Thanks to the 99 ship setting I made it to the void zone (level 4) whereupon I gave up for the sheer ridiculousness of it ("Sinistar has 7 pieces. You have 0 Sinibombs")

And while the game is playable with 8-direction control, I often find it more frustrating to catch the crystals than I did in the arcade. It would be great if Midway would at least implement 16-direction control (or hell, the original 49(?) direction control via the analog stick when they get around to releasing the PS2 consumer whore compilation.

Also, tt seems to me that Sinistar's voice is nowhere nearly as loud in the emulated version as it was in the arcade (compared to the other sounds). Is it just that I was a scared little dude playing the arcade cab back in 1983?

[kainemaxwell]

And Sinistar. Heh. Thanks to the 99 ship setting I made it to the void zone (level 4) whereupon I gave up for the sheer ridiculousness of it ("Sinistar has 7 pieces. You have 0 Sinibombs")

It seems like Sinistar's voice is nowhere nearly as loud in the emulated version as it was in the arcade (compared to the other sounds). Is it just that I was a scared little guy back playing the arcade cab in 1983?
Yeah after level 1 the pace of Sinistar starts getting pretty fast. i think I made it to level 3 once in my life.

[NE146]

And Sinistar. Heh. Thanks to the 99 ship setting I made it to the void zone (level 4) whereupon I gave up for the sheer ridiculousness of it ("Sinistar has 7 pieces. You have 0 Sinibombs")

It seems like Sinistar's voice is nowhere nearly as loud in the emulated version as it was in the arcade (compared to the other sounds). Is it just that I was a scared little guy back playing the arcade cab in 1983?
Yeah after level 1 the pace of Sinistar starts getting pretty fast. i think I made it to level 3 once in my life.

I've said it here a couple of times, and I'll say it again. Sinistar is friggin unmasterable in my opinion. Even if you're not looking to "master", at least in games like Defender and Robotron, you could practice them to a point you can maneuver the ship/guy where you're obviously more skilled and can get further in the game each time with higher scores.

But Sinistar.. man it just gets too tough and to be quite honest, there really isn't that much finesse to the game at least that I could ever tell. x_x You're just jamming that stick in whatever direction you want to go, pounding the fire button (or holding it down), and trying to scoop up crystals while they run away from you LOL

Defender on the other hand.. It's still one of the ultimate tests of co-ordination with great battles when you get real good. Sway round a bomber, swivel to nail a mutant and two swarmers, then straighten out to nix a loaded lander and catch his pack then hyperspace into center stage before smart bombing three pods and a baiter to clear wave 5 WOOHOO! :D

It may look dated as it probably should be.. but hey, it was one of the first classics ever. The feel and gameplay certain haven't aged though :)

You fellas playing the watered down controls where the joystick moves you everywhere are missing out too. I know that it tends to malfunction quite a bit as the Defender game engine doesn't really jibe well with that particular control setup (i.e. a push left means it has to register a thrust as well as your ship pointing left). What I find tends to happen in both Mame and the Williams Arcade classic ports is that if the battle gets ultra intense (think in the heat of free space), you can't do quick reversals. i.e. you're ship will often get "stuck" while you try and move left and right quickly. However, with the default arcade layout, the good old reverse button and thrust works every time. :D

[bargora]

Yes NE1, I agree that Sinistar is most likely "unmasterable". Too huckin' fard.

When I played Defender last night on the PS2, I mapped reverse to the L1 and L2 buttons on the controller (otherwise I get over-excited and miss the reverse :D ), with thrust on the R2, leaving only up/down for the D-pad. I couldn't get anywhere using left/right on the D-pad for a combined thrust/direction change. It worked for 2600 Defender, but that's like "I'm too young to die" Defender, and besides, it worked much better with yer short-throw stick.

Unfortunately, I could not even get near my high of 22,000. Now off to the store for a six-pack of "I suck"!

[Mayhem]

Gotta disagree ManekiNeko, control is EVERYTHING in Sinistar and even the Saturn version isn't perfect and rather off in my opinion. True it's the best currently out there, but it isn't perfect. Hell if I can get to level 5 on the arcade then I must be doing something right ;)

No other version gives me as much control and allows me to get as far... I'm struggling by level 3 normally on all home versions.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

I feel compelled to point out at this time that Joust is missing one vital game play element, even in the arcade: the ostriches should be able to kick. I've dealt with real live ostriches before, and believe me, that's the number one concern with ostriches: getting kicked. They'll freakin' kill you if they manage to get you down on the ground. I'd almost like to see an updated modern Joust that incorporates this. Yowch.

[davidbrit2]

That would rule. Knock the opponent off his bird, then get down there and curb stomp him into pudding. No more of this sissy Easter Bunny garbage.

[ManekiNeko]

Gotta disagree ManekiNeko, control is EVERYTHING in Sinistar and even the Saturn version isn't perfect and rather off in my opinion. True it's the best currently out there, but it isn't perfect. Hell if I can get to level 5 on the arcade then I must be doing something right ;)

No other version gives me as much control and allows me to get as far... I'm struggling by level 3 normally on all home versions.

I was getting really, really good at the Saturn version of Sinistar, clearing over 200,000 points in a game. I don't remember if I was using the default settings to get that far... I'd have to spend a few more hours with it to know for sure. The control wasn't pinpoint precise, but it was certainly playable. In my opinion, the 49-way joystick in the arcade version was a nice luxury, but NOT of such importance that the gameplay was ruined without it.
Now the GBA version, on the other hand... THAT really is unplayable!

JR

[Slipdeath]

i liked the sinistar on game.com which was the only game on there that i liked