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Non-NEC Console Related Discussion => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: ProfessorProfessorson on December 01, 2013, 01:01:35 PM
Title: Sini passed away
Post by: ProfessorProfessorson on December 01, 2013, 01:01:35 PM
Killed by a piece of shit drunk driver. RIP James.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: Tatsujin on December 01, 2013, 01:10:18 PM
oh houly, HOULY SHIT!! that can't be really happened right??
RIP Jim, you were one of the most biggest in here for many many entertaining years, and one of the most funniest person I have ever met on the internet.
Also my deepest condolences to his wife and other relatives.
Can't believe that really happened :cry: :cry: :cry:
R.I.P
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: Jibbajaba on December 01, 2013, 01:10:53 PM
Are you talking about Sinistron?
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: Tatsujin on December 01, 2013, 01:11:24 PM
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: Jibbajaba on December 01, 2013, 01:15:04 PM
When did this happen? He hasn't been online in a long time. f*ck man, displaced by a flood twice, and then this? That's some f*cked up shit. Did they catch they guy that killed him?
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ProfessorProfessorson on December 01, 2013, 01:23:53 PM
Yeah he was caught and being charged with manslaughter I do believe. I was just talking to James a couple of days ago, and popped in this evening to see whats new and just got floored by the news. You guys if you want can visit James FB page and leave a comment if you want. https://www.facebook.com/jim.sinisi.9
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: turbokon on December 01, 2013, 01:35:08 PM
Damn, sorry to hear about sini passing:(
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1)
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: TheClash603 on December 01, 2013, 01:38:16 PM
That is so f*cked up. Drunk drivers are the scum of the Earth.
Another good person lost because someone is scum. RIP brother.
Please to all on the forum, remember this before you get behind the wheel after a few drinks.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: Sparky on December 01, 2013, 01:41:27 PM
Oh my f@cking god... A friend and I guy who would say it like it is.. I am floored as well..... Wtf! He left so much behind from his wife to his music... The guy was amazing and honest.....I am opening a bottle and drinking to him. f*cking drunk driver, Jesus Christ and the drunk lived ? I will reply, just f*cking unbeliveable. Unbeliveable....
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: elnino on December 01, 2013, 01:45:18 PM
Very sad to hear that :cry:
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: jperryss on December 01, 2013, 01:45:22 PM
Awful news. RIP buddy.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: DragonmasterDan on December 01, 2013, 01:48:56 PM
I'm very sad to hear this.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: MotherGunner on December 01, 2013, 02:09:01 PM
Mike, I am so sorry, Brother. I know you guys were close. A sad day for PCEFX. RIP. =\
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: nectarsis on December 01, 2013, 02:24:00 PM
I saw Sue's post about this from the other day.....completely floored.....a cool cat, and great friend to all who knew him was lost. :( :(
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: Jibbajaba on December 01, 2013, 03:26:06 PM
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: jeffhlewis on December 01, 2013, 03:41:22 PM
Admittedly didn't know him terribly well, but shitty nonetheless. Condolences to his family and friends.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: RoyVegas on December 01, 2013, 03:55:18 PM
I'll have some of your favorite German Chocolate cake in your memory. Horrible news to hear. Wishing all the best to his family and friends. You'll be missed.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: blueraven on December 01, 2013, 04:01:54 PM
I'm completely shocked, this is absolutely f*cking horrible. I saw the story in the times-ledger and did a double-take. :( My sincerest condolences.
...
I was up quite a few nights late talking to him about music in the chatbox. We swapped CD's, and spent time talking about the trials and tribulations about the business and how it's a truly insane labor of love. I admired his hustle in New York; It's a hard city to make it as a musician.
RIP Jim. Raising a shot for you tonight.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: esteban on December 01, 2013, 04:09:32 PM
Damn.
I always thought I would have a chance to grab a Fanta and some grilled tofu with him, since he was in the neighborhood.
There's not much to say, except,
Damn.
For a small community, we are certainly losing a lot of folks.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ProfessorProfessorson on December 01, 2013, 04:22:38 PM
I always thought I would have a chance to grab a Fanta and some grilled tofu with him, since he was in the neighborhood.
There's not much to say, except,
Damn.
For a small community, we are certainly losing a lot of folks.
Yeah I had wanted to go visit him prior, but that f*cking storm Sandy hit, and he had to relocate and rebuild from then on. Was hoping to maybe try to do so this summer if all went well and he had a little free time. Just wasn't in the cards though now it seems. His life was going well too, music back on track, him and Sue settled in a new home, all is well as can be expected, then f*cking fate plays a cruel joke in the form of some worthless shit piece drunk (who had priors as is it seems).
Why this f*cking worthless sack of shit did not die himself in the wreck god only knows, but I hope for every min of the rest of his f*cking life after trial, in prison or otherwise, clean and sober, that no matter what he does with his life in the future, that he rots in f*cking agony knowing a million of him will never be worth one of James. Somethings you take, you simply cant give back.
James and I would always jump on FB and catch up about whatever crap had gone on during the week, and I always looked forward to discussing the latest Boardwalk Empire or Eastbound & Down with him, or Game of Thrones, and other stuff. He would always catch the new eps on Sunday evening, and I would play catch up early monday usually and we would discuss each show in detail and dissect them and what was great and what wasn't.
We did this with films and books and games and whatever else too. Just so many great conversations with this guy, and oh my the lulz we pulled now and then too. :twisted: I really am going to miss him. Great talent, great mind, and one of the few that could put up with my grumpy ass sometimes when it showed lol. Last talk I had with him he was working on a script for his Facci thing he did a few years back with his bandmate Palmer. He was looking forward to trying to do a movie of some sort about the character. If anyone could have made this work, it was James.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ProfessorProfessorson on December 01, 2013, 04:34:20 PM
There is quite a few of these, all worth watching. Facci is played by Palmer, his bandmate. You can also view James channel to get a glimpse of Jamess talent on stage. Hardest working musician I've ever known. This guy lived and breathed his music and was such a damn awesome talent.
http://www.youtube.com/user/jimsinisi/videos
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: rag-time4 on December 01, 2013, 05:14:12 PM
Really sorry to hear this news. He was someone I came to really like and respect. We definitely have to keep the 'race is on' thread going in his honor
He'll definitely be missed
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: HercTNT on December 01, 2013, 05:20:09 PM
Respect. He will be missed :cry:
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ParanoiaDragon on December 01, 2013, 06:15:47 PM
Damn, I lost a cousin of mine to a drunk driver a couple years ago. The bastard that hit her also survived. He did get sentenced, but I forget for how many years. Maybe it was 10, doesn't seem long enough for acting like a moron & getting into that car & killing her. Her husband took it bad, he doesn't seem like someone I'd want to cross.....:/
Rest in Peace Sinistron, may your family hang in there thru the difficult years ahead & keep on keepin' on as they say. :(
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: Arkhan on December 01, 2013, 07:29:19 PM
This is horrible news. I'm really sorry to hear about this and hope his family gets through it the best they can.
I hope the dude responsible doesn't get let off easy. When you kill someone while doing something stupid like drunk driving, you should be tried as if you assaulted someone with a deadly weapon and committed murder.
It's odd, I was actually just wondering to myself on Thanksgiving morning about how he was doing.
The reason I thought about this is because I was fiddling around with my hair in the mirror and for some reason imagined him going "nice hair, you hipster fag". He had said something similar on here once before.
RIP dude. While we didn't always get along, I'm sure most of the stupidity was in good fun.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: _joshuaTurbo on December 01, 2013, 10:10:43 PM
I was fiddling around with my hair in the mirror and for some reason imagined him going "nice hair, you hipster fag". He had said something similar on here once before.
^ If all PCFXers lived under one roof in some horrible reality/comedy show. :)
Very sorry to hear about the loss and wishing only positive for his friends and family during this trying time. Rest in Peace.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: nodtveidt on December 02, 2013, 02:16:25 AM
WTF :cry: this sucks. James was such a good guy, and such a survivor. Mad respect. RIP old friend. :(
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: Necromancer on December 02, 2013, 02:26:20 AM
Aww, f*ck..... that sucks. What a kick in the pills. I hope the drunkard piece of shit dies in a fire, slowly and painfully. :|
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: Nando on December 02, 2013, 02:37:26 AM
RIP - Old man told me the news :(
His poor family....
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: nodtveidt on December 02, 2013, 03:01:38 AM
I don't know whether to cry or to scream. James was one of the first friends I made in this community, way the f*ck back. Even though we hadn't really talked much over the past couple of years, and we didn't always see eye to eye, I still looked up to him and respected him a great deal. Shit like this is why I oppose alcohol. I lost my best friend from high school to a drunk driver too, who naturally staggered away from the scene unscathed. I hope this motherf*cker gets knocked off in prison. It won't bring James back but at least it will remove one more f*cking scumbag from society so they can't do this to anyone else when they get out.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: Xak on December 02, 2013, 03:03:18 AM
:( RIP Sinistron
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ceti alpha on December 02, 2013, 03:09:01 AM
I can't believe this. :(
Sini was such an amazing and creative dude. His love for music, food and Turbo will be missed.
I just can't believe it. :(
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: Black Tiger on December 02, 2013, 04:20:26 AM
He was already missed and I always hoped he would return to regular posting. I love how passionate he was about enjoying games for what they are instead of just picking them apart and how enthusiastic he was while encouraging others to play through games, particularly with the "Race is on bitches" thread.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: FiftyQuid on December 02, 2013, 04:29:51 AM
WTF?! Stop drinking and getting behind the wheel!!!
I didn't know him well, but I knew him. Damn... he will be missed. :pray:
Firebomber last year, and Sinistron this year. Let's discontinue this trend.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: SuperPlay on December 02, 2013, 04:32:33 AM
This is such sad news :-(
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ProfessorProfessorson on December 02, 2013, 05:05:06 AM
I'm not sure how often I will be around over the next few days, but I sent Rover a reply to a pm with Sini's home address included. If any of you who knew him want to maybe mail Sue and his family and friends a card and send condolences please do not hesitate to do so.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ceti alpha on December 02, 2013, 05:14:19 AM
That's awesome, MH. I will be doing that.
Maybe a collective PCEFX card, as well? Not sure how that would work, but this site was a few years of his life and he had a lot of friends here. Just a thought.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: 420GOAT on December 02, 2013, 07:00:14 AM
RIP bro.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: Bernie on December 02, 2013, 07:02:59 AM
OMG, that is terrible Mike. :( Thanks for letting us know. Drunk drivers, I just dont think I will ever understand.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: lukester on December 02, 2013, 07:23:46 AM
Did not know him well, but a great member. My condolences.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: turboswimbz on December 02, 2013, 09:31:23 AM
Firebomber last year, and Sinistron this year. Let's discontinue this trend.
Was Firebomber also a DUI victim? Snowkitty was lost this year as well. I'm in full agreement- trend of tragedies must stop.
Makes you stop and appreciate what you do have in life, being faced with how quickly and unexpectedly everything could change.
Didn't know him very well personally, but I'm saddened by the news nonetheless. Condolences to everyone whose life he had touched. ) :
Yes he was, about this time last year.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ceti alpha on December 02, 2013, 10:07:21 AM
I'm just going through "The Race is on Bitches!" thread and having a laugh. Sin was a force. I'm just laughing constantly. Lol.
It's time to man up and get some clears in.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: MrFlutterPie on December 02, 2013, 11:35:29 AM
Wow I am so sorry to hear this sad news. I didn't know him well but nobody deserves to have their life cut short by other peoples piss poor decisions.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ProfessorProfessorson on December 02, 2013, 12:36:33 PM
You know back in the day Sini really toughed it out and wrote a few really great reviews for games that I have to admit I could barely force myself to play, along with a couple for some really great games too. I considered pulling down the old website awhile back, just did not see much purpose in it, since people tended to only go to it for the schematic for the Sony 1145 svid mod I had on there these days. Now I am glad I didn't. Going to copy paste them here for current and future members to enjoy.
Batman: While Genesis received a popular action platformer- the Pc-engine Batman title (on hucard) by Sunsoft was instead an action puzzle more akin to Cratermaze or Skweek. At first glance- or on paper- this could seem pretty lame- but the execution is anything but. A good amount of work went into this.
One of the cool things is how closely the plot follows that of the first Tim Burton movie starring Michael Keaton- even though the overall gameplay is easy enough to figure out- it’s broken up into four different missions that mirror the movie’s plotline. The first 12 stages involve ridding Gotham City of the Joker’s poisonous Smilex products. The second batch of 12 stages involve Batman cleaning up the paintings in the museum that was damaged by the Joker and his goons. The third set of stages have Batman cutting loose the poisonous balloons that the Joker plans to let loose at his parade on Gotham City. The fourth batch sees Batman setting up explosives to do away with the Joker’s hideout. There is a fifth and final area too set at the top of the Cathedral where Batman must battle two of the Joker’s goons and then Joker himself.
You start with a limited amount of guys with the ability to gain more by racking up points- a good way to get points is to stun goons with your batarang and then to collar them while stunned- but they don’t stay stunned for too long so be careful. Aside from how the goons look- there are seven types of enemies in the entire game. There are A) the slow goons which prove no challenge, B) the goons that suddenly quicken up when they see Batman, C) the goons that are constantly quick, D) the goons that stand and shoot, E) the henchman in the last stage that utilizes a spinning cannonball attack, F) The goon preceding the Joker and G) the Joker himself.
The only other obstacles to watch out for are the time limit and the occasional van on the street sections (don’t mind the walk/don’t walk signs- they’ll get you killed). Powerups include speed shoes, a "bomb" that will clear all enemies (they respawn quickly however), additional time, momentary invincibility, batarang throwing length, and multiple batarangs. In some levels there are portals that bring you to other areas; all in all the maze aspect of the game really isn’t that difficult-but there is a password feature should you find it challenging.
The music is excellent- the best I’ve heard for this type of game- there’s several tunes and they’re appropriately moody (one tune in particular better than the others). The graphics also are the best I’ve seen- on the system at least- for this type of game. Colors are dark blues, blacks, grays and purples- perfectly setting the mood of the world inhabited by Batman and Joker. The great surprise of this game however is the beautifully detailed cutscenes (rare for a pce chip game) between the sets of 12 stages that echo scenes from the movie.
They are certainly the best chip cutscenes I’ve seen from the time (watch the light ripples on the Batmobile’s front windows as it rolls forward with guns blazing) - which show exactly how much work went into this game.
If you’re a fan of the Bombermans, Cratermaze, Gomola Speed, Skweek, Splash Lake- basically any of these overhead action puzzlers- or of Batman in general- then this one’s a no-brainer. It’s easily one of the better action puzzlers on hucard (not as great as Bomberman 93 & 94 but better than Cratermaze, Skweek) and a cool addition to your pc-engine collection. On the cons side it is when it boils down to it just a trumped up version of Pac-man- but Pac-man at its core was always one of the most addictive video-game experiences. If you do decide it’s your bag- just don’t spend too much on it- on a good day you can find it for relatively cheap online.
Score: 7.5/10 review by Sinistron
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: jperryss on December 02, 2013, 12:58:01 PM
He also did a ton of reviews on pcecp.com as creamofthecolada (though you can't search by username, unfortunately).
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: csgx1 on December 02, 2013, 01:17:14 PM
That's terrible news. Rest in peace Sinistron.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ProfessorProfessorson on December 02, 2013, 01:29:19 PM
GEKISHA-BOY
Quite possibly the greatest hucard I’ve ever played- Gekisha Boy offers 8 levels of dusted out side scrolling target shooting- plus a final 9th level in the style of whack-a-mole. You’re a kid hired to take photographs of the craziest stuff that you come across. You need to reach a certain score which increases from round to round. Points are given by taking specific pictures- and by having left over film. Film is critical here- as only the craziest stuff you shoot will cough up extra.
If you run out of film before the end of the stage then the stage will grind to a halt and your points will be tallied up early. Other power-ups aside from extra film include speed and bigger frame size. Obstacles are flashing objects such as skateboards, beachballs, and snakes- avoid these by jumping, dodging, or snapping photos- however- you don’t want to waste all of your film on these objects- it is best to dodge or to snap a photo in which several dangerous objects are caught in the same frame.
Levels include a town, a ghetto (which includes some downright racist images and even the F word sprayed on some walls), an amusement park, underwater, a museum, the beach, a haunted graveyard and the wild west. Some of the things you’ll need to capture on film drop references to E.T.,Back to the Future, The Terminator, Peter Pan, Spiderman, King Kong, Michael Jackson, The Scream, Salvidor Dali, Gradius, Frankenstein, Dracula, the list goes on and on.
The graphics are spectacular- they have a look that I haven’t seen before in a pc-engine game- cartoonish but with a definite drugged-out bent. The chip music is among my all-time favorite- some levels are catchy as hell and fit perfectly. Above all else- the gameplay and fun factor both shine brightly- it may not take you long to beat but you’ll keep coming back. Not only will you keep coming back because it’s so much goddamn fun- but you’ll also keep finding new stuff that you didn’t snap the first few times around- or stuff that you didn’t snap enough (e.g.- the puff fish in the underwater level- if you keep snapping them they’ll eventually explode awarding you with extra film). The first time I beat it I was compelled to beat it again the very next instant. In fact I’ve probably beaten this game more than any other pc-engine/turbografx game that I own- it’s that good- and I deemed it an instant classic as soon I started in on it.
It’s a bit pricier than the average pc-engine title- but don’t let that put you off. You’ll get tons of playtime out of this one- and it’s one that you’ll want to show all of your friends. It’s definitely the most wildly inventive hucard I’ve played and I can’t imagine my collection without it. A must.
SCORE 10/10 review by Sinistron
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ProfessorProfessorson on December 02, 2013, 01:30:40 PM
GENJI-TSUSHIN-AGEDAMA
This was one of the biggest surprises for me when I first bought it- a forced scrolling platform shooter (think Veigues, Monster Lair) with addictive and responsive gameplay, a ridiculous amount of special attacks, decent music, colorful cartoonish graphics with multi-scrolling, and an earth shattering skull bomb.
You control a kid who can do double jumps and rolls- with five different attacks (shot, wind, green shot, genie and lightning) each with three stages. A bar at the top shows what attack you’re currently allowed to pull off by holding down the attack button. If you collect enough power-ups and your bar is full- then you’ll be able unleash the earth shattering skull bomb- one of the most awesome attacks on a hucard platformer- up there with the likes of the shattering axe in Legendary Axe. The whole screen will quake and any non boss character who can be killed will instantly drop dead- even off screen characters who are about to leap down at you.
There is a solid difficulty curve- however if you collect enough power-ups you’ll be practically unstoppable (until the last few levels) using the skull bomb. There are many health power-ups along the way- and on each level there is a rabbit who will take you to some cute chick who will replenish all of your energy. If she fellates you to power you back up is anyone’s guess. Use your imagination.
There’s six colorful levels- all guarded by bosses. The bosses aren’t too difficult to wreck once you figure out their patterns- which shouldn’t take you too long. On the last level the final boss- a giant purple face- is guarded by a wizard who conjurs up a boss rush. That final stage can be a little challenging- you more than likely won’t roll up and blow through the game on your first couple attempts. The game is excellent though and you’ll definitely find yourself coming back to it- wanting to push yourself further. While it may be debatable as to whether Genji is a must-have game- I definitely consider it good enough to add to a second wave of top tier buys for the system. You can’t go wrong.
SCORE 8/10 rreview by Sinistron
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ProfessorProfessorson on December 02, 2013, 01:32:52 PM
GOMOLA-SPEED
UPL’s Gomola Speed (hucard) is one of the most original PC-Engine titles out there- a true action puzzle if there ever was one. You control a segmented mechanical worm in his quest for food and to defeat five bosses over 25 stages.
You start each stage with only the head segment of your worm- the other bits are floating around somewhere in the surrounding areas- and you’ll need all segments in order to exit and clear the stage. The exit door only opens after you complete certain tasks- in some stages it’s to eat all of the food, in others it’s to defeat the boss character. If you hold down one of the two buttons your worm moves at a hastier speed- and the other button plants a bomb- which either stuns enemies or explodes certain bricks, allowing you access to hidden or closed off rooms. Food is eaten by having your head and tail segments touch while encircling the item- a very unique play in my opinion. You can also "eat" stunned enemies in this fashion- but enemies don’t stay stunned for too long- some are big so you’ll need most of your segments to encircle them- and all of them respawn- later on in the game some even respawn as unstunnable.
There are bonuses and power-ups to be found- some are in plain sight while others are hidden- sometimes even under the floor- as in some stages the floor itself can be eaten away to reveal items and enemies. Bonuses, additional item and powerups include "treasure", which give you additional points, 1-ups, magic lamps that offer clues, an item that makes you invincible for a short amount of time, keys to open gates, and a green food item that enables you to shoot (the more segments you have the faster your blast is): this item can be found in the boss stages (discarding the first one). Be careful when shooting or laying off bombs- the impact- if too close- can kill you- or loosen some of your segments.
The boss fights come approximately every five stages- a tiny cutscene following each. Most of the bosses are defeated by continuous shooting- while the first boss- a frog-like creature- is defeated after you stun and encircle all of the miniature parts he emits. My favorite boss fight is versus a giant worm- who like you starts off as one piece and collects himself- shooting faster with each piece he picks up.
The graphics and music are perfect- in most areas the look and feel of Dungeon Explorer are invoked- with a bit of Atomic Robo-kid (another UPL title) thrown in. While the game isn’t too long-some areas may prove tricky or puzzling at first- so thankfully there is a password feature (one of the password characters is Atomic Robo-kid). The passwords, however, are only given out for the first 20 stages- you’re on your own for the last five- but with three lives and three continues you should have more than enough lives to finish the job. Highly recommended title all around- one of my personal favorites.
Score: 9/10 review by Sinistron
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ProfessorProfessorson on December 02, 2013, 01:36:07 PM
Impossamole
Impossamole is a side-scrolling platformer for the TG-16 (US only) that was ported over from the Amiga by Gremlin. Seems like most of the Amiga platformer ports for the PCE/TG play like absolute shit (Shadow of the Yeast, Turricrap, Slim Power, Baby Ruth the Super Shit)- and for the most part Impossamole is no exception.
This game gets a really bad rap- but not without cause- I can imagine most people playing it for the first time getting incredibly frustrated for a few reasons- one being Monty Mole’s piss-poor kick attack- sure, you can pick up defeated enemies (who all turn into the same block with eyes regardless if it’s a abominable snow freak or a tiny snake) and throw them into others, and there’s two different types of "guns"- but somehow it just doesn’t feel all that fun. Another frustrating aspect are the falling icicles, bricks, blocks, etc. that get really redundant really quick- they seem to be everywhere- even in the tiniest of corridors, and having to pause for them almost grinds the game’s rhythm to a dead halt. Also- the graphics are doable for this type of game (colorful and cartoonish)- but the backgrounds are practically non existent- a little more effort to make it look nice would’ve been welcome. Things spruce up a touch on the Bermuda Triangle and Alien Base worlds- but not all that much- I probably shouldn’t have even mentioned it.
There’s really not much here you haven’t seen anywhere else- you start off with four "worlds" to pick from- the Orient, the Amazon, the North Pole, the Bermuda Triangle- beat all of those and you unlock the alien base world. Each world has three levels- the first two are comprised of finding the "scrolls" (for whatever stupid reason) and the third level is the boss fight- and the bosses are all absolute jokes (the final boss no exception). Only the poorest of gamers will have trouble with the bosses- while most amateur gamers will find the scroll-finding levels quite challenging. Power-ups consist of the afore-mentioned "guns" (one is a bubble gun, the other a hammer gun- both look identical), strength cans which make your kick and guns stronger, free Montys and cans of worms (full power). The power meter is three Monty Mole faces that undergo damage- you get the drift. Enemies are exactly what you’d expect in this type of game- not even worth mentioning. The music is fairly decent- could’ve been much worse.
So- aside from the constant annoyance of the falling objects, the shitty backgrounds, the poor hit detection- this game is pretty average. Here and there it’s kind of fun to find the scrolls- but it’s not like they’re really hidden that well for the enjoyment to last. I will say however that it’s MUCH more playable than the other Amiga ports I’ve played- namely Turdican and Guano of the Beast. Just expect some annoying bits and you’ll be alright. For hardcore platformer fans only (not because of the difficulty- a seasoned player won’t have trouble- but because you’ll need patience). There is a password feature for the weaker players. Yay. This game defines lackluster- maybe you can even tell from reading the review how bored out of my skull I was writing it.
SCORE: 4.5 out of 10 for platform lovers- for all else 3 out of 10. review by Sinistron
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ProfessorProfessorson on December 02, 2013, 01:37:46 PM
JB-HAROLD-MURDER-CLUB
Murder Club is a murder mystery for the Turbo Grafx CD- one of the titles I owned back in the day and definitely got my money’s worth from. You are J.B. Harold- a suave Sherlock on the trail of Bill Robbin’s killer. There are red herrings galore, a bevy of sexy dames, and enough shady characters to fill out a high stakes poker den.
First thing you’ll notice is the sizzling jazz intro that alone makes this a worthwhile purchase. It’s one of those tracks you’d like to crank out of your stereo on a crisp fall night with all of the windows open while kicking your feet up with whiskey and a smoke. One thing this game definitely establishes is a mood. The gameplay consists of interviewing those in the know (a still photo of the interviewee holds the screen while text scrolls and CD voice audio plays (there is an option to turn off the voices- don’t use it)), discovering and processing evidence, researching related cases, gaining search warrants to search suspicious areas, locating suspects, arresting same, and interrogating the suspects in the interrogation room. Included are features such as an overhead map which shows you places that you are currently familiar with (can’t search out a place if you don’t hear about it first from someone else), a rest area where you can check out your progress percentage, and options such as saving your game or switching the voices from English to Japanese.
This game enraptured me as a kid- It helped to set the tone for my current fascination with murder mysteries- even my absorption of the true crime shows on trutv on demand. The story in this game is a good one- with many layers and hidden angles that will have you considering scenarios even after the game is turned off. It is also incredibly mature for a TurboGrafx game- I can’t think of another American PCE release in which you’ll actually hear the word “rape”. There are many memorable spots in this game- from the amusing dialogue- which for the most part is perfectly voice acted (highlights include the hilarious parking attendant and the chick hitting on you at the movie theatre) to the solid resolve and expertly crafted finale.
Should you pick this title up? If it sounds good then get it. I personally love it- and I know of many others who have as fond a memory of this as I do. It’s different- it’s smart- it’s entertaining- and it requires more thought than most other titles of the period. If you’re wildly impatient and just craving instant button-mashing satisfaction then look elsewhere.
SCORE 8.5/10 review by Sinistron
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ProfessorProfessorson on December 02, 2013, 01:40:05 PM
SKWEEK
A decent little Q-Bert-esque action puzzler for PCE- Skweek is an amusing looking smiling orange fuzzball- the goal is simple- turn all of the blocks pink by walking over them. The music is whimsical, colors are bright though a bit fruity- and there's an undulating wave of colors in the background that some may find nauseating- thankfully if you wish you can get rid of it in the options menu. The playability is fairly good- a decent speed and smooth controls.
A decent little Q-Bert-esque action puzzler for PCE- Skweek is an amusing looking smiling orange fuzzball- the goal is simple- turn all of the blocks pink by walking over them. The music is whimsical, colors are bright though a bit fruity- and there's an undulating wave of colors in the background that some may find nauseating- thankfully if you wish you can get rid of it in the options menu. The playability is fairly good- a decent speed and smooth controls.
While playability is good- replay is questionable- there's little variety in the look of each stage- but the game provides short passwords for each level so you can just throw this sucker on for a little r&r, bust up a few stages, mark down your password and move on to something else before it gets old.
Enemies are suns, clouds, octopuses, ghosts, squat blobs with wizard hats and so on- pretty much the kind of enemies you’d expect to see in a game like this. Some enemies will shoot at you but it doesn’t become much of a problem until the later stages- when you confuse others’ shots for your own (sometimes the shots bounce around for a bit). Enemies regenerate from snapping plant jaws that appear in a set time pattern from clear blocks- you have to have patience when running over these- unless you're in a daring mood- then it's fun to throw caution to the wind- but you'll likely wind up getting pissed every so often when you're almost through a stage and then suddenly one of these plant bastards snap up your last life.
You start off with a limited number of guys- with the ability to earn extra. If you die while still retaining lives then you pick up where you left off with the blocks you changed pink remaining so- but there are enemies and certain blocks that will change pink blocks back to blue- and there are stages where new blocks materialize. There are ice blocks- which can be tricky at first as you can't turn on them- only slide through in one direction- sometimes this can drop you off of the playing field if you're not careful- run off the playing field and you die. There are also arrow slide blocks, blocks that kill surrounding enemies, blocks that crumble and disappear when you walk over them, blocks that cause chain reactions and portals that will take you to other areas in the stage.
There's a couple of powerups, like rapid fire shot (Skweek starts off with the ability to shoot one projectile at a time), spread shot, freeze shot, etc. Other bonuses include points (mostly in the shape of food), extended time, free Skweeks, non slip shoes (for ice and arrow blocks), super speed, giftboxes with surprise effects (like the skulls in Bomberman), a doorway that will let you clear the stage early and teddy bears (collect all colors of the bears for an additional bonus). The side of the screen will show you when a bonus becomes available- with an arrow pointing up or down letting you know in which direction it is.
Difficulty is varied from stage to stage- for the most part this is an easy game- although there are a few stages that you may find frustrating until you figure out the best way to proceed. There are 99 stages total.
Chances are if you think you'll like it then you probably will- if oldschool Pac-Man /Q-bertish action mazes are your thing. It's nothing phenomenal- but for a twenty minute diversion you can do much worse.
SCORE: 6/10 review by Sinistron
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ProfessorProfessorson on December 02, 2013, 01:41:18 PM
Tale Spin
The two Disney games for the Turbo- both developed by Radiance- are widely regarded as huge failures. I’ve always regarded Tale Spin (the other one is Darkwing Duck) as the better of the two titles- however it’s certainly no treasure box. You control Baloo (and Lil’ Britches in one level) as they search out the pieces of some lost treasure of some lost city. You know the song, you know the dance. The game counts five stages (the first four you can choose in any order)- but there’s more than that going on, and this in my eyes is one of the things that elevates Tale Spin above Darkwing Duck. Aside from the five main stages (island, snow, underwater, hangar, cloud city), there is (as I mentioned above) a mini-stage where you control Lil’ Britches, a horizontal shooter stage, and several overhead flying stages where Baloo pilots while Lil’ Britches sky surfs to collect bonus points. While none of these stages are the stuff of dreams- they add a nice little mix and a feeling that at the very least the developers tried to make something memorable.
The boards are colorful, the music is tolerable, and the graphics range from lush to mediocre- with dual scrolling in some spots. Where this game fails is in the gameplay.Aside from a few spots, it gets pretty tiresome running Baloo around tossing coconuts and snowballs; the underwater level may very well be one of the most hideous platform levels to ever exist (the legendary Nat Hall from pcenginefx . com chose to play this level first- forever tainting his overall experience with this game) and the last level in the sky city is beyond tedious- as you have to inch forward then stop and throw, inch forward then stop and throw, etc.- making what is technically a short level a drawn out experience. Boss fights (where you do battle with the likes of Shere Kahn and other familiar faces) are for the most part devoid of strategy. Power-ups, discounting free guys and bonus points- are pretty much nonexistent.
With all that said however- there’s worse platformers on the pce/turbografx- and the other Disney game is one of them, though that’s for another review. Tale Spin gets some points for variety, for a colorful cast of familiar faces, and... okay- for not much else. If you’re A) a Tale Spin fan, B) someone who feels the need to play all of the TG platformers (this was an American release only), or a huge platformer fan in general who can handle and get a kick out of mediocre titles- than you might want to pick this one up. Don’t expect a mindblowing (or even overly engaging) experience- and don’t play the underwater level first- and you’ll be alright.
SCORE 5.5/10 review by Sinistron
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ProfessorProfessorson on December 02, 2013, 01:43:08 PM
TATSU NO KO
On first play this hucard platformer by Tonkin House may seem pretty damn poor- it’s got choppy old NES/kid niki-esque graphics, the music is forgettable and the gameplay rhythm feels a touch off -- but it has a certain charm to it if you stick with it- and it is an unusual game. You control some peasant-looking dude with a stick that gets upgraded each level by some hairy guy in the village who later turns out to be the final boss- surprise of surprises- sorry to ruin it for you, but if you’re like me and can’t read Japanese then there’s really no story to ruin. You get a life bar and a magic bar (both can be extended by way of power-ups)- the magic is used (pause the game then switch the stick to the magic book in the bottom box) to shoot projectiles out of your stick. Aside from life and magic replenishes there is also a double genie power-up- in which two genies come on screen and start killing any enemies that get in their way.
All in all there are five worlds- and if you’re like me you may wind up having to play the first level over by accident (you’ll see what I mean). The fifth and last world is partially "hidden" but I’ve already given you the major clue in the first paragraph. One thing that may turn people off of this game is a level early on that requires a lot of tight jumps on moving logs and sinking poles- since the poles sink you may think that you have to jump off of them before they go below the water surface- don’t worry: if you’re placed on a pole when it sinks you won’t fall in. Keep in mind that this level is perhaps the game’s toughest- get past it and you should be okay.
Enemies are turtles, dragons, flying witches and goons- your typical crazy Japanese shit. I’ve read in a review on a certain site (a great site for the most part) that the game is frustrating because the enemies are so quick and seem to come at random- they certainly DO NOT come at random- and I can’t think of one normal enemy that wasn’t easy to dispose of. Some levels- like the two with tight jumps- may take a few tries to learn but there’s really nothing here that should frustrate anyone into turning off the game for good.
What makes this game so unusual to me is that when you beat the boss of each world- you turn into a much bigger guy done up in a different graphic style- to fight a much bigger boss. The bigger character can jump and punch- unfortunately there’s not much strategy needed in these fights- but it’s still a welcome and unexpected change nonetheless.
The game comes with unlimited continues (which you’ll need as it’s basically a one life game), and there’s the villages where you can power up your life and magic to the max that your bars allow. There’s also secret doors hidden within each world where you can power-up – all in all the game isn’t much of a challenge for seasoned players, but it can be fun if you’re patient enough with it at first. A decent enough diversion.
Score- 6.5 out of 10 review by Sinistron
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ProfessorProfessorson on December 02, 2013, 01:44:36 PM
TITAN
On paper- an Arkanoid type maze game doesn’t look so bad... On screen though it’s a total disaster. The goal of course is to break all of the bricks- the bricks are spread out through an overhead maze- and you control a pitiful little square that you use to knock the ball around. Trying to hit the ball the right way with this little square can prove to be as fun as lighting your cock on fire.
There’s really not much more here- clear the bricks within the allotted time, avoid the skulls, “power-ups” include extra time and multiple balls, and you can also hold the ball still if you’re able to cover it with the square while holding down a button. Fun. Not really. Add to the bland gameplay some appropriately uninspired graphics that just consist of balls and squares, chip music that may be worse than the everlasting pulsating loop from Xevious (very similar in fact), and you’ll be wondering just why you’re playing this title. To call this game tedious would be one of videogamedom’s greatest understatements. Shortly after you turn it on you’ll turn it off- and perhaps you’ll test it out again in a few months to see if it’s really as bad as you remembered. You’ll find out that it’s even worse than you remembered- and from then on it’ll likely go unplayed for the remainder of your life.
This is the kind of game you might find yourself playing in hell- without end, without break, your nerves screaming for sweet release.
SCORE- Goose Egg. TOTAL FAIL. review by Sinistron
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: PunkicCyborg on December 02, 2013, 01:45:05 PM
I'm just going through "The Race is on Bitches!" thread and having a laugh. Sin was a force. I'm just laughing constantly. Lol.
It's time to man up and get some clears in.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
I too read through the whole thread recently and was very impressed in his passion for beating pce games. Id almost say he was a big part in my interest in playing through them and was hoping hed come back and participate in the clears thread. RIP dude! Truly a PCEFX legend
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ProfessorProfessorson on December 02, 2013, 01:45:22 PM
If someone gets a chance, please post his reviews he did on the other site on here as well. Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: Tatsujin on December 02, 2013, 01:47:31 PM
great reads but makes me so :cry: but that's just the way it is supposed to be, to make one so :cry:
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: Arjak on December 03, 2013, 06:35:23 AM
Oh, God...this is horrible. I don't even really know what to say, because really, what can I say that will help in any way?
I didn't know Sini very well, but I definitely saw him around here and I know he was a major member of the forum. My deepest condolences to his family and friends. I hope he is now in a better place, where friends and happiness are plentiful and American copies of Magical Chase are free and abundant.
RIP Sini. You will be missed.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: termis on December 03, 2013, 11:06:48 PM
Sad news indeed. Condolences to his family, and everyone close to him.
He is definitely a piece of PCEFX history.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: Ninja Spirit on December 04, 2013, 12:55:53 AM
Bout to play a run of Override in his honor
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ceti alpha on December 04, 2013, 02:39:31 AM
I think it would be a great idea to have a memorial sticky for our community members who have passed on. Thoughts?
LIke it, sad that so many have passed to warrent it though.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: NightWolve on December 07, 2013, 10:58:53 AM
Hey Mike, sorry about your friend... That "Sini Relief Fund" thread you made only seems like yesterday to me and now this... He was before my time for the most part and the few times I saw him post were mostly "roasts" like of Soop and SignOfZeta, etc.
It's kinda weird, I've never been around a forum long enough to witness members dying out... I hung around TheNextLevel for about 3 years, AHOY ALOY (the Ys love shack as esteban refers to it) for 2 years (then I boycotted it), much less elsewhere and I can't recall any RIP threads of members in that time. Yet, I've been visiting here for almost 2 years now and already there have been 3-4 cases I believe... It never occured to me that I would ever encounter mortality reminders in a gaming forum I guess...
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: Joe Redifer on December 07, 2013, 11:39:35 AM
Damn, how did I miss this thread? This really sucks. We've exchanged a few barbs here and there but overall he was pretty damn knowledgeable. Micheal's posts here are pretty touching. The drunk drivers almost always seem to survive themselves and the punishments they get never justify what they did. My niece's friend was killed by a drunk driver. That guy also killed his girlfriend a few years earlier while driving drunk. 2 years in jail. Yay. I guarantee that he'll be driving again once he's out. Drunk drivers can just f*ck off and die. Who do they think they are? God damn f*ckers.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: blueraven on December 08, 2013, 09:28:53 AM
Unfortunately yes, he passed away this summer. http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=44082
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: spenoza on December 09, 2013, 03:51:19 PM
You know, it's funny. In American culture we do this thing where if someone was drunk and screw up, we kinda let them off the hook because they were drunk. I've seen this happen in court, despite DUI laws that are supposed to increase penalties. Those who can't drink responsibly and slip up, even if it's something minor, need to face steep penalties so that it doesn't get to the level of someone losing their life. I hope the responsible party in this instance faces a tough judge, and that Sini's family can find a way to move on in peace.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ProfessorProfessorson on December 09, 2013, 09:30:11 PM
You know, it's funny. In American culture we do this thing where if someone was drunk and screw up, we kinda let them off the hook because they were drunk. I've seen this happen in court, despite DUI laws that are supposed to increase penalties. Those who can't drink responsibly and slip up, even if it's something minor, need to face steep penalties so that it doesn't get to the level of someone losing their life. I hope the responsible party in this instance faces a tough judge, and that Sini's family can find a way to move on in peace.
Exactly, murder is murder, even if it wasn't fully intentional. The guy made a choice to get behind the wheel. Actually scratch that. Better to state the guy actually knew he had a drinking problem as is, chose to drink anyway, then get behind the wheel, and due to that someone died and another injured, along with major property damage. I hope the guy gets 15 to 20 years, if not more. Basically I would like to see them throw the book at him, maybe two or three times even.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: Mathius on December 10, 2013, 04:23:47 AM
I was just thinking about Sini the other day...wondering how he was holding up. Then I see this thread. We are losing too many members to shitty awful reasons. I loved everyone of them and I just can't seem to understand why this keeps happening. Rest in peace dude.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: blueraven on December 10, 2013, 06:04:46 AM
You know, it's funny. In American culture we do this thing where if someone was drunk and screw up, we kinda let them off the hook because they were drunk. I've seen this happen in court, despite DUI laws that are supposed to increase penalties. Those who can't drink responsibly and slip up, even if it's something minor, need to face steep penalties so that it doesn't get to the level of someone losing their life. I hope the responsible party in this instance faces a tough judge, and that Sini's family can find a way to move on in peace.
Exactly, murder is murder, even if it wasn't fully intentional. The guy made a choice to get behind the wheel. Actually scratch that. Better to state the guy actually knew he had a drinking problem as is, chose to drink anyway, then get behind the wheel, and due to that someone died and another injured, along with major property damage. I hope the guy gets 15 to 20 years, if not more. Basically I would like to see them throw the book at him, maybe two or three times even.
I feel the same way. I've lost entirely too many of my friends in the Midwest to drunk drivers. In high school, two of my friends went through the windshield of a car after being hit head on at 70 miles per hour. The drunk driver that hit them died on impact, but the physical and psychological trauma that they experienced is haunting them almost 14 years later. After watching them both recover in the ICU, that was just f*cking enough.
Since then, I have lost three friends to drunk driving. One was a very close childhood friend.
I have no sympathy for the a$$hole that killed Jim. I hope they throw the book at him. I hope he rots for this and the motherf*cker never sees the light of day.
I also hope Sini's family is able to find peace somehow in the midst of this tragedy. How, I have no idea.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ProfessorProfessorson on December 10, 2013, 03:45:21 PM
I was talking with Sini's wife this evening. She is coping as best as she can, doing what she can. Rough times ahead no doubt.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: nodtveidt on December 10, 2013, 05:01:31 PM
Good to know that you keep in contact with her.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: munchiaz on December 16, 2013, 09:35:28 AM
This is so awful. may he R.I.P. f*cking drunk drivers man. Makes no sense, call a f*cking cab!!!. Makes me so upset that something as stupid as driving drunk can take away a innocent life. Hopefully this guy spends the rest of his days in prison
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: Keranu on December 16, 2013, 09:47:27 AM
Wow, that's horrible news. It's been awhile since I've even talked to Sinistron on here, and to be honest I never liked him much but he was a fellow PCEFX vet and hearing about his passing makes your heart fall into your stomach.
Thanks to Mike for keeping us updated and rest in peace, James.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: Necromancer on December 16, 2013, 10:03:56 AM
Why I hate lawyers: click (http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/driver-drunk-fatal-crash-attorney-article-1.1534438).
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: RoyVegas on December 16, 2013, 10:26:49 AM
Why I hate lawyers: click (http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/driver-drunk-fatal-crash-attorney-article-1.1534438).
Funny think is his client is even charged with DUI, he was charged with impaired driving, reckless driving, and mansluaghter. None of which matter if his client was "drunk or not"
But I'm sure He'll get out of serious jail time becuase he didn't know any better, hes been brought up with a culture of no consequences.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: Tatsujin on December 17, 2013, 01:18:45 PM
Quote
“We drew blood but do not have the results of that,” Assistant District Attorney Patricia Diaz told the judge.
Quote
Lombardi said Celauro blew below 0.08 — the legal limit — into the handheld alcohol sensor at the scene, but he declined to blow into the more comprehensive Breathalyzer at the precinct
WTF is that shit?
1. how can he decline that by him self and 2. why did he even decline, if he was convinced to not be drunk?
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: Gogan on December 17, 2013, 02:52:33 PM
My condolensces to Sinistons friends and family. Never knew him, or liked his forum presence much, but did donate to prof's relief fund for him as he seemed like a decent dude. Another fellow pcfxer gone, so sad
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: guyjin on January 13, 2014, 01:45:46 PM
Wow. That sucks.
Title: Re: Sini passed away
Post by: ProfessorProfessorson on April 19, 2014, 09:50:55 AM
I'm not going to go into details on this, but just say that the matter concerning the drunk worked itself out. Hoping James wife and family will find some closure now. Thread locked. RIP James, miss ya.