[Picks of the Month] April 2018

Hello guys,

Here we are with the usual appointment on the first day of the month. And happy 1st of May to everybody!

I’ve already told you a few days ago I had to return the PS3 I’ve bought for only 30€ since it didn’t load CDs. But the fact that I’ve experienced for a half day this console, new to me, made me wonder if I need to get one, so I’m working to find it. I have no real rush so I don’t want to spend more than the necessary but I will keep my eyes open. In the meantime I’ve secured a copy of Mass Effect 2. Just to have something to test the PS3 once I’ll buy it…

Even though at some point during the month I was almost sure I wouldn’t have found any ZX Spectrum game I stumbled upon some auctions and in a few days I was finally able to buy, along with Titan, two Ultimate Play The Game titles, Alin 8 and Underwurlde. UPTG is for sure one of the 2-3 companies I love the most when we talk about the ZX Spectrum, since they developed some real impressive and successful games like the one I’ve just bought and Jet Pac, Atic Atac, Sabre Wulf and one of the first game I’ve ever played, Pssst. Another thing I love about their game is the care they put in the packaging: the two boxes look like an old deck of cards like Tarot or something and they surely add value to the titles themselves.

In April I’ve bought also two PC games, both very cheap. The first is Eurpoa Universalis IV, I already have installed on my PC (but is not the…ehm…original version…) and the second is a game I’ve heard about many times but never tried, The 11th Hour, sequel of The 7th Guest, one of the first “killer app” for the then new CD-ROM device. The plot and the atmosphere of the game look very promising so I’ll probably install it on my aging laptop very soon.

Three very diverse games instead for the PS1: one is the loved Abe’s Oddysee, one of the games I’ve played the most on the console and, in my opinion, one of the best action-platformers ever, then Formula 1, another game I’ve extensively played in the past, being a lover of the sport and a nostalgic of the 90s and in the end Clock Tower, in version J-NTSC (the PAL version is way too expensive for my finances, since it demand prices above 100-150€).

This month we have again a lot of PS2, Xbox 360 and NES games.

For the PS2 I’ve secured a copy of Resdient Evil Outbreak File #2 that goes straight in my RE games collection to complete the mini su-series “Outbreak” and a trio of survival horror games that look promising: The first two Forbidden Siren and the second Project Zero. I was looking after them since a lot of time becuase the survival games made for PS2 and later consoles are something really cool to me. Now to complete the puzzle I just need the first and third Project Zero. Last game is Sonic Mega Collection Plus, a collection that, if I remember correctly, some of you had recommended in the past (probably you, Mr. Panda???)

Xbox 360 games are becoming a pleasant habitude every month since they’re probably the cheapest games you can find around and they’re destined to increase for sure their value in the future. Among the games I’ve bought I really look forward to try Dishonored, Skyrim and Dead Island. And, of course, Resident Evil 5, another gem in the RE collection. But I also look forward to try Wolfenstein, having loved the very first FPS of the series made for PC in 1992. And Gears of War. Geez that big box is so alluring…

Last but not least the NES. The games this month are not particularly remarkable, with the exception of the infamous Karate Champ that I want to play after the horrible reviews I’ve read about it (I love crappy stuff…) and Gauntlet, which is the first unlicensed game I have in my collection and it’s even one of the games of which I have different versions: Master System, C64, ZX Spectrum and now NES. A good starting point for the long-procrastrinated [Versus] column.

Here’s the monthly recap:

GAMES

NES (Games count: 117):

• Deadly Towers
• Dick Tracy
• Gauntlet
• Karate Champ
• MTV Remote Control
• Narc
• World Class Track Meet

PC (Games count: 10):

• The 11th Hour
• Europa Universalis IV

PS1 (Games count: 16):

• Clock Tower (J-NTSC)
• Formula 1
• Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee

PS2 (Games count: 39):

• Forbidden Siren
• Forbidden Siren 2
• Project Zero II
• Resident Evil Outbreak File #2
• Sonic Mega Collection Plus

PS3 (Games count: 1)

• Mass Effect 2

XBox (Games count: 8):

• Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance

XBox 360 (Games count: 27):

• Crysis 2
• Dead Island
• Deus Ex Human Revolution
• Dishonored
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
• Fear First Encounter
• Gears of War
• Gears of War 2 – Limited Edition
• Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Limited Edition
• Resident Evil 5
• Wolfenstein

ZX Spectrum (Games count: 23):

• Alien 8
• Titan
• Underwurlde

MAGAZINES

• Retro Gamer #178

Games bought this month: 33

Games count: 407

I hope you’ll enjoy what you see!

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