Weekly retro game discussion/group playthrough?

I had an idea browsing our fair forums of looking back at a piece of Nintendo history.

Let's say once a week, or maybe even two weeks, we choose a game (could do it via a poll or something?), have a chat about what we remember being good about it/crap about it, favourite moments from it, and then a forum playthrough of said title to see if it holds up today.

Could be any game, so long as we keep it retro. Anyone think this sounds like a good idea, or am I just blethering on here?

This reminds me of a series Retro Gamer Magazine used to carry out amongst their forumites. It was called Let's All Play - they looked back on a classic game from yesteryear and discussed things like their first impressions, the best level, the best moments, the best weapons and why it was a classic in the first place. There was even a section where you could say why you hated it (if you did, natch). They did it for quite a lot of stuff, including Streets of Rage 2, Super Castlevania IV, Diddy Kong Racing and Stunt Car Racer.

It's a good idea, but the problem is that we don't all have and like the same games. In my case, it'll only take the suggestion of some wanky Japanese RPG for me to totally lose interest. Likewise, if I were to suggest Sonic The Hedgehog, I know Balladeer wouldn't be interested, and so on.

Worth a try, if you can support it.

Yeah, the thought of not everyone owning the same games did pass my mind, so I reckon it'd be wise to have a stipulation where we can't choose anything that isn't available on Virtual Console, either Wii or 3DS.

As for taste in games, it's probably something that can't be avoided, beyond doing a poll to avoid the chance of playing a game nobody likes. All that would mean then if you weren't up for playing a particular game is you'd wait till next week. Of course, you might decide to try a game you've never played before because you can remember hating it. I've never been a huge Sonic fan, but I'd be willing to try it again because it's been absolutely ages since I've played the Megadrive Sonics.

Let's All Play is a good name for this, definitely nicking that from Retro Gamer.

Aye I definitely like the sound of this.

Definitely up for this.

Maybe it's be ebtter to do weekly level- rather than full game- playthroughs. Then, if need be, we can distribute emulator snapshots, but shouldn't because emulating is naughty.

Phillips wrote:

Likewise, if I were to suggest Sonic The Hedgehog, I know Balladeer wouldn't be interested, and so on.

Don't worry about me. I am awful at playing retro games, in that I lose interest in most of them very quickly. I'll just watch from the sidelines.

Depending on the game, I don't object to this idea. Chances are I won't get time to play more than a taster of the selected game, though.

Stu_the_great wrote:

Depending on the game, I don't object to this idea. Chances are I won't get time to play more than a taster of the selected game, though.

I suppose it doesn't matter how long you play it for, just so long as you get a feel for the game and can get an idea of why it's considered a retro classic. Some of us might end up playing through to the end in a week, some, just a level.

I reckon we've got enough interest for this to go ahead! So, let's get some suggestions for some games to play.

We'll get a shortlist of 3, then put it to a poll.

Seeing as Balla isn't bothered about retro, how about Sonic the Hedgehog (Mega Drive)? A lot of people here will surely have that in some form or another.

Reaaaaaaaaaaaaaal original choice, but also an accessible one.

I like the idea, and I'd certainly like to get involved, but depending on whether it's intended to be a full playthrough of the game in question or not it may be worthwhile to have a variable time between games.

Darunia wrote:

I like the idea, and I'd certainly like to get involved, but depending on whether it's intended to be a full playthrough of the game in question or not it may be worthwhile to have a variable time between games.

I think if we make it a fortnightly thing, we can all at least play the game a little. I reckon if you've played through it before, then you're probably only going to want to dip into it a little bit, but if you're playing a retro game you've never played before, a full playthrough might be tempting. We can decide that week on week.

I reckon for the first game it should be something that not much time needs to be invested into and most people have. Seeing as I've never actually beaten it, I'll vote for Mega Man 2 for the first shortlist.

Let's keep the suggestions coming!

This is a fine idea. Consider my hat thrown into the ring!

I second Mega Man 2 as the first game, but I'd like to propose that we play DoReMi Fantasy: Milon's DokiDoki Adventure at some point in the future.
Can there be a list kept of nominations for future weeks?

Darunia wrote:

Can there be a list kept of nominations for future weeks?

Sure; I'll keep a notepad file on my laptop of all the nominated games, and maybe through one or two into the poll now and then if we start amassing a huge list.

sounds like a good idead, does it have to be solely nintendo. I can only back to n64 unless i buy off the VC

I'm up for it.

I might have to start blankly for a few months when I don't have the game in question.

masofdas wrote:

sounds like a good idead, does it have to be solely nintendo. I can only back to n64 unless i buy off the VC

No, not at all! Suggest a game and so long as it's retro, we'll consider playing it!

umm not sure I can think off to many games lolo

Just google a best-of list for an old console and pick from there. We're looking for something easy to pick up that most people will have for the first game.

I think I will wait and see what you guys choose

No worries.

We've only got three suggestions right now, so I reckon I'll wait till tomorrow evening, then put up a poll thread so we can start on Monday.

I would prefer mega drive game's to anything

I like the sound of this. If I were to suggest anything right now it'd Wind Waker what with the news about the re-release, although I could see why some wouldn't want that.

I think this should be restricted to games that we remember from when we were young. Of course, my childhood favourites would be different from yours, but I see no value in us looking at a game like DoReMi Fantasy: 'ah, yeah, I remember downloading that in 2010'. It's retro without really being retro, if that makes sense.

Games everyone's played, or everyone can play. Balloon Fight, F-Zero, Punch-Out!! and the rest of the Trail Campaign stuff are perfect fodder for this.

Smurf: Would we be counting last gen as retro? I know it's 10 years ago now, but it still doesn't feel retro.

Phillips: I'm in agreement with you there. Course, it'll be down to a poll each week anyway, so it'll be down to the forum as a whole to pick, not merely one person. Quick question, what do you mean by "Trail Campaign"?