Top 20 Vectrex Games

[digitalpress]

Discuss.

General rule with these lists: if you think a top twenty game is missing, then let us know what game to drop in place of it. Present your argument well, get it seconded, and it could affect the list... nay, the entire cosmic balance! Really.

For the FULL list of Vectrex games, check HERE (http://www.digitpress.com/lists/vectrex.pdf).

Armor Attack
Bedlam
Berzerk
Cosmic Chasm
Gravitrex (homebrew)
Hyperchase
Minestorm
Patriots (homebrew)
Protector (homebrew)
Rip-Off
Rockaroids (homebrew)
Scramble
Spike
Spinball
Star Castle
Star Trek
Tour de France
Web Wars/Warp
Wormhole (homebrew)

[CrazyImpmon]

Wouldn't 20 be about half the entire Vectreex line not counting protos or homemade?

Anyway these are all I have so I can't comment on top 20:
Web Wars
Spike
Hyperchase
Rip Off
Star Trek
Blitz
Cosmic Chasm
and the built in Minestorm

I'm going to vote for Berzerk, Cosmic Chasm, Hyperzone, Minestorm, and Web Wars

[Kid Ice]

Minestorm is hands down the best Vectrex game, and possibly the very best game of the golden age.

It seems almost unfair to include modern-day Vectrex games by John D., but I suggest:

Minestorm
Star Castle
Rockaroids
Berzerk
Patriots
Scramble

the kid

[Nubian]

Here's my top 8 Vectrex games. Some are new some are old:

1) PROTECTOR (Alex Herbert - herbs64.com)
2) GRAVITREX (JohnDondzila - classicgamecreations.com)
3) MINESTORM
4) STARSHIP (PAL version)
5) BIRDS OF PREY
6) SPIKE GOES DOWN (Protector mini-game)
7) WEB WARP (PAL version)
8) SCRAMBLE

Theres 8 but the list is sure to grow as the months go by and more great games are released.

Nubian.

[Videogamerdaryll]

These are the games I play a lot..my top 4

Berzerk
Minestorm
Hyperchase
Spin Ball

[Nubian]

Dear gamers,
I agree Minestorm should be right up there amongst the best ever Vectrex games. Rockaroids comes close, in my opinion, but it is a bit of a spinoff of Minestorm.(though I know Asteroids was the original)
Gravitrex proudly sits in 3rd position and I can see why. Heaps of playability and longetivity and level passwords. Up until a few months ago Gravitrex was the best Vec game but them came along Protector and usurped Gravitrex off it's supremacy.
I'm a big PS2 fan but for me Protector is the game of the year. Iv'e played stuff like GTA Vice City, Burnout 2 and Timesplitters 2 but Protector takes the cake.
Check out the Protector review at Spikes Big Vectrex Page in the Passport Online section. Lets hope the programmers can keep the Vectrex alive for a time to come. Its been 20 years and as John D. says "may the next 20 be even better.
Nubian.

[Arcade Antics]

ARMOR ATTACK should be there for sure. :)

[ManekiNeko]

Allow me to add Wormhole to this list. It's a great reinterpretation of Gyruss... I'm amazed by its quality.
So, just how good is Protector, anyway? It sounds like the designer isn't going to release the ROM to the public.

JR

[Nubian]

Dear JR and others,
Ive never heard of Wormhole. I thought I knew all the vectrex games released but this one must have escaped me. Do you know where I can get a copy? What makes Protector so great, for starters, is the packaging. No commercial game released for any platform Iv'e owned come close. it's in a similar style to the Hobbit (melbourne house - commodore 64) packaging from way back then.
The gameplay is fast and the graphics are probably the best Iv'e seen on the vectrex easily.
It's a perfect rendition of Defender only heaps better. The sound is spot on and the mini-game is a whole new gaming experience in itself. (Imagine Spike but with ecstacy like music and increased graphics.) I suppose as there were only 100 released it makes it all the more special. But I don't want to tell you how good it is until you have played it. Hopefully the ROM will be released by the author so other vectrex owners can see how great it is. Now where can I get a copy of this Wormhole.
Nubian.

[Nubian]

Dear vectrex gamers,
No-one seems to be posting here lately. I thought we had a bit of a group happening. Anyhow, Iv'e just herad that a Battlezone style game isn't too far away. So those who missed out on Protector should get this one while the goings hot. This is top 20 related as I bet it will get in the top 20. Iv;'e just received Starhawk and Fotress of Narzod, I didn't have them before and I'm definately sticking Narzod in my top 10. Say about 6 or 7. I don't have Bedlam, Rip Off, Polar Rescue or Heads Up, does anyone know if these are good games and would be worthy of the top 20? Iv'e heard Bedlam is supposed to be pretty good.
Seeya,

Nubian.

[christianscott27]

#1 rockeroids- easily the most addictive game on the multicart
#2 scramble- great translation, near perfect rate of motion
#3 dark tower- just kidding, but theres something really cool about this one, its so different from everything else on the system
#4 heads up soccer- good gameplay on this and i like the wireframe players
#5 spike- hey its a super early platformer aand it talks!!
________
Subaru transcare specifications (http://www.toyota-wiki.com/wiki/Subaru_TransCare)

[christianscott27]

not to be a nitpicker but nubian- what are you talking about with that PAL version stuff? just think about it for a minute ;)
________
Brunette cheerleader (http://www.fucktube.com/categories/417/cheerleader/videos/1)

[Nubian]

Dear fellow vectrex friends and especially the guy who asked me about PAL,
I suppose I make reference to the PAL version as that is the only version I have seen and I cannot definately say whether the non-Pal version is exactly the same as the pal version. So, sorry to cause confusuion but I only have access to the PAL versions of Starship etc. By the way does anybody no if they are the same versions the world over just with different names?
I don't get how the non-pal Star Trek got away with using the Star Trek liscence, it must have cost a fortune to name the game Star Trek. Anyhow I'm looking forward to the Batlezone clone and I still need Heads Up, Bedlam, Rip Off and Narzod to complete my collection. I am interested in swapping some other vectrex games for them boxed and unboxed. Spike is an 80's punk.
Seeya,

Nubian.

[christianscott27]

ok nubian, i was pulling your chain and testing your game geekiness. PAL and NTSC refer to television standards...the vectrex is more like the gameboy in that it contains its own display system. in other words the vectrex does not require the use of a television set and thus the PAL thing does not apply :)
________
Ass Video (http://www.fucktube.com/categories/5/ass/videos/1)

[Nubian]

Dear Christian,
Right you are but then again I couldn't think of a nice short word that would describe the European and Australasian Vectrex releases such as Starship. I should be more correct and precise with my videogame jargon but it's a pretty relaxed affair with the Vectrex community and everything and thanks for pulling me up anyhow. Do you have Bedlam, Heads Up or Rip Off? And what are they like?
Regards (or is that Yours Sincerely - heh)

Nubian. O_O

[Scoots]

Wow, I'm really surprised Bedlam didn't make the list. And for homebrews I'd have thought Star Fire Spirits (on the Vecmania comp) would've got the nod.

I was surprised to see Blitz and Heads Up on there as well, though maybe the fact that I've never played them against an opponent (a necessary component for enjoying most sports games IMO) is a factor.

[digitalpress]

@Scoots: I don't know why Bedlam wasn't on the list either but it's there now (two Bedlam fans... UNITE!) and I've also added the superbly cool Tour de France. Dropped Blitz and Heads-up. I don't see anyone mentioning those titles - they're good games but top 20? Nah.

[IntvGene]

Fortress of Narzod needs to be on this list! It's a great game. One of my favorites for the Veccy for sure.

Berzerk is way too slow, and Star Trek shouldn't be on this list either.

[50TBRD]

Things might be a little different a decade later....

[Koa Zo]

Things might be a little different a decade later....

Well #1 is unarguably Vector Pilot.