From: cvafy006@vmsb.is.csupomona.edu (Daniel Rouse, Jr.)
Newsgroups: rec.games.video.arcade
Subject: Re: Worst Game -- Time Pilot '84
Date: 11 Jan 93 22:44:39 GMT
Organization: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Nntp-Posting-User: cvafy006

In article <93011.020507MBS110@psuvm.psu.edu>, Mark 'Mark' Sachs <MBS110@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
> In article <C0IqxD.JyD@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, el27166@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (This Space
> for Rent) says:
> 
>>The original Time Pilot was great, but Time Pilot '84 was just stupid.
>>Usually, if you're a game lasts a long time, you'll keep playing it.
>>I played this for the longest time, and couldn't figure out what was
>>supposed to difficult or fun about it.  Pretty decent graphics, but very
>>bad gameplay.
> 
> I must disagree; I liked both the original and '84 versions. Cruising around
> the gigantic city tossing guided missiles was a real blast. I never got
> terribly good at it, though (I had a hard enough time just finding an arcade
> that had the thing...)
> 
> I'm not sure I have any LEAST favorite games, but there are two things that
> do annoy me:
> 
> 1- Driving games with insane time limits. Basically, if you crash even once
> or slow down on any curve to avoid crashing, you've already lost the game!
> This is unconscionable and I refuse to play anything fixed like that.
> Unfortunately this encompasses most driving games. (This, incidentally, is
> why I like... er, Sega's overhyped 32-bit driving game, the one crossing the
> U.S. with windshield wipers and headlights. While admittedly there was
> absolutely nothing original about it, for which everyone here derided Sega,
> the time limits were reasonable enough that you have a chance to FINISH it.
> Plus it's quite a charge to turn off onto the railroad tracks and see a
> train coming up behind you -- though I braked once to see what would happen
> if it hit me, and the train just vanished! Wimps.)
> 
> 2. Shoot-em-ups that take away all your power when you die; that have
> objects that by all right should be slower than your ship (such as, say,
> trains or tanks) coming up behind you; things coming up behind you, with the
> added concept that you cannot turn around to face them...
> 
	Yes, Sky Shark and Twin Cobra are notorious for this...remember, though
that although you lose your awesome firepower, you still have your bombs!  You
may get screwed over on bonus points for left over special ammunition...but you
can still survive and (slowly and painfully) regain your firepower.  True,
though, that much later in the game, when you die...you are screwed.  You
usually get caught in an impossible setup and your game is soon over.  Again,
though, the challenge is to memorize what happened and what went wrong...and
then plug in another quarter and try not to die there again.  :)

					Daniel Rouse, Jr.
					Sophomore, Computer Engineering


> More's the pity, too, because driving games and shooters are two of my
> favorite genres. Shame they're so often just irritating, though.
> 
> "Thank you, Dr. Science."
> 
> [Your blood pressure just went up.]        Mark Sachs IS: mbs110@psuvm.psu.edu
> DISCLAIMER: If PSU knew I had opinions they'd probably try to charge me for it.