It's fortunate that Sega decided to release its new Mega Drive Classic Collection, because I would have never known how much fun I missed out on by not playing some of the games that pioneered in this industry. The meaning of the expression “they don't make them like they used to” has always eluded me, especially because I've always embraced change and the pursuit of new challenges.
Comix Zone is one of the titles that has made it back in this Sega time warp and luckily for us that we have been given the chance to try out something different.
With its comic book graphics and talk bubbles with funny and snappy lines, the game is a lot more dynamic and engaging than you might think.
With a story that depicts a small-time comic writer being trapped in his own created comic book world, you are faced with the task of helping him find a way back by fighting from one comic frame to another.
With villains that are continuously drawn by your (real world) nemesis, you need to solve puzzles and use items to make it all the way to the end of the comic book.
I admit it, Comix Zone is probably the best merge between comic books and beat 'em up games, mostly because it gives you the best of both.
Funny graphics and dialogues combined with violent punching and kicking seems to have been a winning combination (at least for me).
Swinging from comic frame to comic frame is achieved in a very fluid form, really giving you the sense of reading a vivid comic book.
Keeping an objective eye onto the gameplay experience, it's safe to say that Comix Zone is like nothing you've ever played before.
For an old school game, it's carefully balanced between puzzle and action, sprinkled with a little comic book humor.
The difficultly level of these types of games is usually pretty high, making it hard for gamers to come back to it once they've completed it.
However, this is not the case, playing as Sketch Turner (the superhero) will always prove to be a different experience each time.
This might probably be due to the fact that the game comes with multiple endings that intrigue and lure the gamer to play it over and over again.
From personal experience, I've found Comix Zone to be a nice breath of fresh air, from modern times high quality graphic oriented action games.
Who said that nowadays games are better than those twenty to thirty years ago? Surely they lack the graphical sophistication of modern times, but it should be all about gameplay and having good old fashion fun, right?
The same stands valid for Ecco the Dolphin. Aside from a finely woven story and very athletic bottle nose dolphin the game itself is highly addictive.
Most impressions of it have been rather dramatic in interpretation, because there were those that really enjoyed it and those that thought it's nothing more than just a waste of time.
I'm not going to ascertain any of these claims, better yet I'll try to simply stick to the facts. Sega could have brought back to life this retro game because it's been said to have had more success than the Sonic the Hedgehog series.
At any case, controlling a small dolphin can't be that bad of an experience, am I right?
You get to explore the underwater world, solve small puzzles and even at times use your sonar to temporarily stun sharks or other enemies.
By all means, Ecco the Dolphin is by far a very non-violent game suitable for children of all ages.
With its new reinterpretation for the PC, there's nothing standing in your way from trying it out. Hard core gamers that have encountered it in its original arcade style, can now test to see if they still have the patience and the skills to complete the game.
For noobs (such as myself) that encounter the game for the first time, it's the perfect chance to try out something new, from the early beginnings of side-scrolling adventure games.
However reticent you might be about retro games, you are never a true gamer unless you've tared up through some of the classics. Can you prove me wrong?
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