GravyThief

GravyThief

Catching up on PS1 and PS2 games...

Comments 332

Re: Random: This Decade-Old Nintendo Handheld Is Now Worth Almost As Much As A Switch 2

GravyThief

If you look on their app and filter on New 3DS XL consoles only, and sort by price, you can see the cheapest is £240 (Metallic Blue and Discounted, so no box, potentially aftermarket charger or stylus) and the most expensive is £550 (Hyrule Edition, boxed).

There are loads to choose from cheaper than a Switch 2 (especially if you’re not interested in a box) but yeah, I didn’t realise they’d got so expensive. Of course, checking eBay solds will give you a more realistic view of their worth.

Still, it’s good to know my boxed and complete Majora’s Mask New 3DS XL has increased in value. It even has an IPS top screen which adds to its value.

I really need to hack my 3DS. I don’t want to mess with my Zelda ones, so I’ll probably hack my plain black New 3DS (not XL). It’s really just to play import games, as I have a few US games I’ve never been able to play (stupid region locking), but I’m sure there’s other stuff I’d use too. I need to see if you can play Virtual Boy games on a hacked 3DS.

Re: Nintendo Locking A Screen Filter Behind A Console Upgrade Hasn't Gone Down Well With Everyone

GravyThief

There clearly isn’t a technical reason as to why they can’t have a CRT filter on Switch 1. They could have released GameCube games on the original Switch NSO if they wanted to (Mario Sunshine and Mario Galaxy already exist). So they’re clearly using GameCube games as a differentiator for Switch 2, just seems odd they’d use a CRT filter for similar reasons.

As for those saying nobody cares about it, well yes I wouldn’t buy a Switch 2 just for this reason. But the lack of a CRT filter does stop me playing N64 games on NSO. They look awful as they currently are. They’re too clean and clear, they need to be blurred up dramatically. Although I don’t know yet if the CRT filter is any good or not.

Re: Have You Checked On Your Wii U GamePad Battery Recently?

GravyThief

I feel like I’m leaving this comment on numerous articles and YouTube videos. But it’s about time lithium batteries were standardised, in terms of size and dimensions. So we can easily buy high quality replacements as needed. Too many batteries end up like this. At present, when you can buy third party replacement batteries, their quality is horrendous. And that’s assuming they even fit in the device they’re supposed to be for.

Re: Phantasy Star's 3D Dungeons Were Originally So Convincing They Made People Feel Sick

GravyThief

I had a Master System growing up, but I seem to have missed all the best games for it. Had I had games like Phantasy Star, Wonder Boy III Dragon’s Trap, the Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse games, I probably would be a Sega kid now. But instead I had built in Alex Kidd, World Grand Prix and Global Defense! So unsurprisingly it wasn’t until I got a SNES some years later that I truly got into gaming and became the Nintendo kid I am today (well, adult I suppose).

Re: 30 Years Ago, Sega Took Its Biggest Gamble With Saturn And Failed

GravyThief

I never had a Saturn back then, and I’ve still never played a Saturn either. Sega really isn’t my jam (although I do like the Master System and Mega Drive). And I was more than happy with my PS1 and N64, and still am. Some of the best games of all time released on those consoles, I can’t think of any Saturn game that would make me want to buy one.

Re: Limited Run And Retro-Bit Under Fire For Using Recycled Chips In Shantae Advance

GravyThief

I bought a ‘new’ SNES game from retrobit, those Jaleco fighting game re-releases I think they were. I’ve also had new N64 game from PIKO. I’ve since sold them. They look and feel so cheap I decided buying these new retro games was a waste of money and effort.

Will the rom for this game be available to buy (or ‘buy’ 🤣) so I can just play it on my Everdrive?

Re: Panic's Crank-Based Playdate Finally Has An Achievement System

GravyThief

Super Mario World. I didn’t find all 96 exits because I wanted that star on my save file. I did it because it was fun to discover all of those exits, and play new levels.

Achievements miss the point. Achievements are all about getting that star, and not about the fun journey of getting that star. They’ve formalised that fun to the point it isn’t fun. Achievements are cr@p.

Re: Wii Homebrew Community "Built On Lies And Copyright Infringement"

GravyThief

I’ve had to google ‘virtue signalling’ as I’ve never come across the term before until this very comments section. As I presumed, it’s a term I’ll likely never come across in real life, only on the good ol’ information superhighway. We have so much to thank for it.

Anyway, all I want to know is, can I still hack my Wii with that letter bomb thing? I haven’t got around to doing it yet, I hope I haven’t missed the boat.

Re: Random: Keiji Inafune Believed "Arrogance" & Overconfidence Led To Mega Man Legends' Poor Sales

GravyThief

I’m not a Mega Man fan. I don’t like the platform games at all. Not sure what it is, probably a mixture of no nostalgia, not being able to shoot diagonally or upwards (even though I know the game is designed to accommodate this), and it not really being an exploratory platformer, which I much prefer.

That being said, I very much enjoyed playing Mega Man Legends a few years ago. So I’m probably one of the few people who much prefers the Legend games over the original platformers 🤣

Re: US RetroTINK Shipments Are Being Temporarily Suspended

GravyThief

@MegaManFan yes I get that, but if it goes China > US > Customer, then every customer will get the price hike regardless of whether they’re in the US or elsewhere. So what I don’t understand is why is he stopping sales to US customers only? That’s what I’m trying to understand. I’m obviously missing something.

Re: US RetroTINK Shipments Are Being Temporarily Suspended

GravyThief

@MegaManFan thanks for the reply, but that still doesn’t explain it for me.

If it goes China to San Diego to End Customer, then they’ll have the tariffs on the ‘China to San Diego’ leg of the journey, regardless of whether the end customer is in the US or elsewhere. That’s the part I don’t understand.

If it went China to End Customer (and so never touched the US for customer outside the US), I would understand it. Is that what happens?

Re: US RetroTINK Shipments Are Being Temporarily Suspended

GravyThief

Why does this not impact orders being made from outside the US? I thought the issue with the tariffs meant the cost of the components for the RetroTINKs (from China I presume) will increase dramatically, in which the cost of their products would need to increase to compensate. I don’t understand how this impacts where their customers are based?

Re: What Happens When An Arms Dealer Publishes Your Video Game?

GravyThief

I never knew anything about this guy when the whole Chromatic stories started. I didn’t even know he created the Oculus. I don’t mind a mention of these things in reviews of software/hardware, but I don’t want people’s opinions on the matter shoved down my throat either. I can do my own research (if I’m bothered) and can make up my own mind on the subject thank you. If I’m honest, it wouldn’t change my view of the product (I’d still like to have a Chromatic for example). Although at the same time I won’t say I like this guy or agree with any of his opinions - he sounds like a tool (to put it mildly).

One of the worst examples of someone’s opinion being shoved down my throat in the guise of a review was Eurogamer’s ‘review’ of the first Kingdom Come Deliverance game. They didn’t really cover much of the game, they just ranted on about whatever the controversy was (I can’t even remember what it was). If they’d have tagged the article as an opinion piece or whatever, fine, but no, apparently it was a review of the game.

Anyway, I suppose what I’m saying is I’ve lived long enough on this Earth to be completely apathetic to most ‘controversies’ these days. I’d rather they weren’t forced upon me when trying to gather information about my hobby, but I’m also equally capable in ignoring such pieces and gathering the information elsewhere. I’m not going dictate what people should and shouldn’t talk about.

Re: Nintendo Just Broke The Hearts Of GameCube Scalpers Everywhere With Switch 2

GravyThief

But people paying those prices aren’t buying them to play. They’re buying them to put on a shelf and make numerous posts on Facebook about them.

The rest of us simply burn a copy of the game on to a blank disc. Or in my case, I bought a US copy for £80 (I’m in the UK so US copies are cheaper, although this was a few years ago admittedly) so I can play it and still have a genuine copy.

I do hope the second hand value drops, but not sure being part of the NSO will make much difference.

Re: 30 Years Ago, The Grandfather Of Game Journalism Told 2D Fighting Game Fans To "Get A Life"

GravyThief

I must say the beat em up genre (2D or 3D) holds no appeal to me these days. Back in the 90s I loved them, and spent so many hours with the likes of Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Killer Instinct and Tekken. I don’t know why I don’t enjoy them.

I prefer scrolling beat em ups, but even then I get bored very quickly. I played Shredder’s Revenge and got a fair amount of the way through it, but I realised I was just playing it because it was a present and I felt I had to.

Re: This Mod Brings Crisp And Clear HDMI To GameCube

GravyThief

@Profchaos I have both a PVM and a small no brand (Maxim?) Consumer CRT. I think both look better than the RetroTINK 5x, but obviously this is subjective. I just prefer the colours and the way CRTs smooth off the early 3D games. I would love to try the RT5x on an OLED TV, but as I can’t see myself getting one for a few years (when they’re cheaper and have better options at smaller screen sizes) I guess I’ll never know.

I understand the RT5x is better than most/all other scalers. I haven’t tried many, but I can clearly see the difference against the RAD2X cables for example.

I’ve never really messed around with the settings of the RT5x. It’s not my thing, which is why I always avoided the OSSC and I always love the plug n play aspect of CRTs.

I guess the RT5x (and mods like this one) just aren’t for me. If I didn’t have a CRT I’m sure I’d be much happier, but as I do I can’t feel anything but underwhelmed with it. I just hope my CRTs last another couple of decades!

Re: This Mod Brings Crisp And Clear HDMI To GameCube

GravyThief

I tried my GameCube with component cables to a RetroTink 5x and a 1080p TV, and I must say, I was not impressed by the picture whatsoever. I use a CRT, and I bought a RetroTink to see if I’d be happy using it so I didn’t need a CRT anymore. I’m quite annoyed by all the hype from YouTubers and review sites over the praise they gave the RetroTink 5x (that most received for free). I’m extremely underwhelmed by it, for all the consoles I’ve tried. Especially for the price. Maybe I’m spoilt with CRTs or my expectations are too high, I know it’s better than most other upscalers. But still, it didn’t convince me to get rid of my CRT.

On topic, I wonder if I’d prefer these console based solutions. I’ve never seen one in person, and I probably never will as I’ll never buy one. Would be good to see one though.

Re: Interview: "We’ve Certainly Made Mistakes" - Limited Run's Boss On Winning Back The Trust Of The Community

GravyThief

I just want Shantae Pirate’s Curse for Switch at a reasonable price. I don’t see why they can’t just do another time limited order window for their more popular games. it would still be a Limited Run, just more than one Limited Run 😀

It would stick one up at the people who buy these games just to sell at a future date for an inflated price. Most LRG games I see on the second hand market are still sealed, so clearly a lot of their customers aren’t buying their games to play.

I’d also like them to work with a distribution partner in the UK and/or Europe. To make the total price after postage and duty a bit cheaper for us.

Re: Review: Mega Everdrive Pro - The Best Flash Cart For Your Genesis / Mega Drive

GravyThief

I got the Mega ED X5 a few years ago and I’ve been very happy with it. It’s great value at $60 odd, and I recommend it to anyone who’s interested but doesn’t want to pay $200+ for the Pro. It plays Mega Drive and Master System games flawlessly. It does 32X games, but I don’t have one so not something I’ve ever used. It also does cheat codes too.

So really what you’re paying for is Mega CD support with the Everdrive Pro. I am tempted by it. I’ll never buy a Mega CD myself (too unreliable and I’m not bothered about buying genuine games for it), and I would be able to play Snatcher without forking out over £500!

Re: 24 Percent Of Gen Z Brits Own A Classic Gaming System, While 74 Percent Say Retro Is "More Relaxing"

GravyThief

Is that 24% of all people in this age group in the UK, or just 24% of gamers in that age group? Because there’s a big difference, and without any absolute numbers of either, a % figure is meaningless.

Also, what’s classed as retro? To these whippersnappers, the Wii U might be deemed retro. Does it include the whole gamut of someone played a game of PAC-Man on an Android emulator for 10 mins, right up to those who buy and play on real hardware?

I don’t believe any of these recent stats about how popular retro gaming is to be honest. Not without any specific details provided (in the articles I read anyway, maybe they dumb it down for internet audiences).

On a side note, I hate all this calling different age groups by stupid internet names. I would have had no idea what Gen Z was, without this article providing the age range. Why can’t people just write a few extra words and say “people born between these years” or “people aged between x and y”. I literally have to Google every time these silly terms are used. I suppose it helps the internet folk with limited attention spans.

Re: "This Cartridge Is A Tiny Time Bomb" - Limited Run Accused Of Selling Carts Which Can Damage Your NES

GravyThief

I’ll never again buy new games for old consoles. I bought an N64 game from Piko (40 Winks) and a SNES game from retro-bit (one of the generic fighting games). They just look and feel really cheap and nothing like a proper, original game. The idea is way better than the reality. Whoever manufactures these cartridges for old consoles do not do a good job. Sounds like LRG are no better.

Re: A New (And Cheap) PS1 ODE Option Is Now Available

GravyThief

Over the past week I’ve just set up my PS2 to play games from the hard drive. All I had to do was buy a SATA adapter and freemcboot memory card from Amazon. Delivered the next day, I could return it easily if I couldn’t get it to work, no soldering, and up and running in a matter of hours (most of that time was loading the ROMs).

I wish it was that easy for all disc based retro consoles.

Re: 14 Percent Of North Americans Still Play Gaming Systems Released Before 2000

GravyThief

@Azuris maybe, but even including emulation I still think the number is way off. Retro gaming is a very niche pastime. And using emulators just as much. The increase in popularity of gaming in the last decade is driven by mobile games and a very select few games like CoD, FIFA/Madden and a few of the epics like Witcher, Skyrim etc.

I just find this number hard to believe.

Re: Review: 8BitMods MemCard Pro 2 - Run PS2 Games And Manage Your Saves From This $50 Memory Card

GravyThief

I recommend people watch MVG’s video on YouTube on this. He mentions additional issues with it:

1) This works best on a fat PS2. Similar to this review, he noted mostly flawless performance on games that played.

2) This memory card is NOT suitable for PS2 Slims. FMV sequences stutter really badly. Only games with minimal or no FMV would be worth using this on a Slim. Damo - I see you say you used a PS2 Slim in your review, do you think certain Slim models work better than others? Any word from the manufacturer?

3) Apparently PS1 games do NOT work at all, even if converted to an ISO file. I don’t know if you specifically tested PS1 games Damo and can prove this comment wrong? Again, what does the manufacturer say?

4) He mentioned additional games that wouldn’t play, such as two of the Daxter games.

Personally I’m going to try the SATA adapter for the PS2 fat, which lets you use a standard SATA HDD to play your games from with a free McBoot memory card (which I already have). I can get one got £26 from UK Amazon and I already have a spare HDD. If I can’t get it to work, I can just return it.

Re: 25 Years On, Skies Of Arcadia's Technical Issues Have Been Fixed

GravyThief

@makankosappo I’m guessing RGB on the Dreamcast would be 480i not 240p, so technically wouldn’t be double the resolution, just no interlace flicker.

Also at the time of release you’d have needed a computer monitor to use VGA, consumer CRTs wouldn’t have had a VGA socket.

Even today, if I were to play this, I wouldn’t be able to use my CRT via RGB, I’d either have to use composite or plug the VGA into a flat panel monitor, which never looks as good as a CRT, even at 480p.

Not that it really matters as I don’t have a Dreamcast anyway 🤣 but as an avid retro gamer in the UK I’m always trying to find the optimum way to play my games, which is why I usually go for the NTSC versions via RGB, so I find this interesting regardless.

Re: Review: 8BitMods MemCard Pro 2 - Run PS2 Games And Manage Your Saves From This $50 Memory Card

GravyThief

@Tasuki I just found this from Googling how to do it blind.

————————————

To get the PlayStation 2 into YPBPR (component) mode do the following:

1) Plug the PS2 in with either your component cables or HDMI adapter.

2) Start up the PlayStation 2 without a game in it.

3) Wait about 20 seconds.
4) Press Down.
5) Press X.
6) Wait 5 seconds.
7) Press Down three times.
8) Press X.
9) Press Left.
10) Press X.

The PS2 should now start displaying on your TV.