| User | Post |
HyperLamer
Posts: 4853/8210 |
Hm, I wonder what's in memory next to the level number? Whatever it is would get modified when you did that.  |
Emptyeye
Posts: 1863/2273 |
From hanging out at Twin Galaxies, from what I can deduce, the level (Called the "split screen" or "kill screen" to those "in the know"  )is ALL fucked up, to the point that what's on the half of the screen you can see may not even match where the walls actually are in the level. Another odd thing is that the nine dots actually regenerate when you die, which is not typical behavior for Pacman.
You're right in that if you somehow could clear it, you'd start back at level 1; someone using the level advance key in a version of MAME figured that out. |
Colin
Posts: 8500/11302 |
...You can only REACH that many?  Geez, how messed up *is* that other side of the level?
All I know is that theoretically, by using MAME to make the game think you got all the dots, you do start back at Level 1. |
Emptyeye
Posts: 1862/2273 |
Originally posted by Colin
Pac-Man goes up to 256. Level 256 is where the game gets screwy, since the game code can only go up to 255 (FF) in hex... so you get a level where half of the board looks fine and the other half is random garbage. In other words, you'd need PERFECT knowledge of the maze to get through the level since you're flying blind on one half of it.
Nobody has apparently beaten the level through legitimate means, but *IF* it was to happen, you'd start back at Level 1. So technically Pac-Man has infinite levels but the odds of making it past 256 are slim to none.
Actually, I think it actually IS impossible to beat. The reason is that the level advance is triggered upon collecting a certain number of dots, and you can only reach nine of them in the level. Even with the maximum number of lives, you can't get enough dots to complete it. |
HyperLamer
Posts: 4837/8210 |
Ah, I know I've played some Pac-Man game with a few different levels. |
Colin
Posts: 8477/11302 |
...There's only one level in Pac-Man, HH. I'm not sure if anything's really visible on that side to begin with... not knowing how many dots you have left would be a problem. |
Jill
Posts: 479/528 |
The "secret" boss in Kingdom Hearts is hard.. I mean there're tactics that you need to beat him, but that doesn't really make it easier (insta-kill moves are cheap). |
HyperLamer
Posts: 4791/8210 |
Originally posted by Colin
In other words, you'd need PERFECT knowledge of the maze to get through the level since you're flying blind on one half of it.
It's just one of the other levels repeated isn't it? Just tape a map to the screen.  |
Colin
Posts: 8465/11302 |
Pac-Man goes up to 256. Level 256 is where the game gets screwy, since the game code can only go up to 255 (FF) in hex... so you get a level where half of the board looks fine and the other half is random garbage. In other words, you'd need PERFECT knowledge of the maze to get through the level since you're flying blind on one half of it.
Nobody has apparently beaten the level through legitimate means, but *IF* it was to happen, you'd start back at Level 1. So technically Pac-Man has infinite levels but the odds of making it past 256 are slim to none. |
Ailure
Posts: 9804/11162 |
Well, but there is some expections. At least if you look on arcade. Pac-man apparently goes up to 255, which is impossible to finish from what I heard. I better check that up. |
DahrkDaiz
Posts: 663/885 |
I think the thing is is that back in "the day", most games had very limited memory as far as programming and levels went, so the best way they could keep entertainment is create a challenge, add more enemies and the like in the levels.
Now, with more expansive technology, rather than forcing a higher challenge on a gamer, they can constantly change the situation, making the game more interesting.
Old games gave you basic skills to master and tested those skills to the max throughout the entire game. However, I believe one of the best games to prove this in the NES days was SMB3, games will now give you basic skills, then force you to constantly learn new ones or use old skills in different combinations, so the difficulty never rises very high, but you don't get the repetition of the former games that give you the same thing but in a higher dose for more challenge.
Even though games today may be easier, you have to wonder: do you beat them today just to say "HAH I can beat this game!" or do you beat it because it's so fun and it's got you hooked so you WANT to beat it to see what happens.
Remember, harder != funner |
Colin
Posts: 8452/11302 |
Lots of those games only "lead you" in the right direction if you choose to have it do so - Metroid Prime was one such example. You could either go around blindly or have the game give you a general idea of where to head. |
Chronosphere-X
Posts: 131/268 |
I think games have gotten easyeir they also seem shorter. The first final fantasy games seemed much harder and longer. However second time round all the games were easy as you know what to do. Fff 9 onwards wasn't even a challenge they just test you where you shouldm, FF 10 had an arrow to tell youi where to go. Its stupid. I prefer hard games which last longer and you can get about a months+ play from then at least grand T hasn't changed :p |
Colin
Posts: 8438/11302 |
Ailure: I'm pretty sure almost all first-generation (meaning the first wave of NES titles such as Mario Bros., Clu Clu Land, Balloon Fight, etc.) capped off at Level 99 then started over again. I know some examples of that have been shown before and I'd imagine it's a constant.
Then again, Balloon Fight COULD be one of those games where you could get that far without cheating if you were decent at the game... |
Ailure
Posts: 9780/11162 |
Well, slay gives an insight why it's gotten easier. And it being challanging dosen't mean it's fun, but can just be downright frustating.
But well, I wish that most games could at least offer a hard mode. Starfox Assault is the only recent game that does that, and it's kinda challanging on the gold level. While it's dead easy on bronze. I wish more games was like that. SSBM is another good example, where adventure mode is very difficult on "Very hard".
And some games are as challanging as you make them, The sims and Simcity is such games. Try to start with eight people with a budget of |
Kasumi-Astra
Posts: 1554/1867 |
Heh, I can get to level two in Ikaruga That's an accomplishment XD
I'll pick it up and have a real go at it one day over the summer |
Slay
Posts: 134/339 |
I believe games are getting increasingly easier because of a switch of focus. Allow me to explain.
In the 1980s, videogaming was not a very widely-accepted pass time. It was associated with Dungeons & Dragons and the Glee Club; a hobby for dorks, by dorks. Because the term "gamer" applied to so few people, companies could make videogames without having to worry about appeasing a huge fanbase. Gamers in the '80s tended to love challange much more than gamers of today; there was something fun to us back then about having to go through 50 levels of a platformer starting with three lives and one continue. You'd get to level 37 and die, having to start back at level 1. But that was part of the challange. And when you finally beat a game, you could proudly announce that fact. You had accomplished something where most others had failed.
Today, videogaming is a massive media outlet, there are many more people buying consoles and games today than in the '80s. Because of this expanded fanbase of "non-gamers," developers have two options.
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Kasumi-Astra
Posts: 1551/1867 |
Originally posted by Darth Xeodious
Originally posted by Kasumi Skywalker
Ocarina of Time shall forever be remembered for Bongo Bongo and Twinrova... Two of the greatest bosses of all time 
Please, oh Please don't tell me you thought Bongo Bongo was hard?
Even without the Biggoron Sword, it seems to me you have to literally try to get hit in that battle. 
But, I had a problem with Spirit Ganon, so it's probably just me.
Oh, I never said they were difficult... I defeated Bongo Bongo on the first or second try. They'll be remembered for their innovation |
Teundusia
Posts: 451/760 |
Well I only look at Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes and compare it with the PS1 original... that would easily answer yes to the thread question (I'm a bit obsessed with MGS now aren't I?) |
Xeolord
Posts: 2028/3418 |
Originally posted by Kasumi Skywalker
Ocarina of Time shall forever be remembered for Bongo Bongo and Twinrova... Two of the greatest bosses of all time
Please, oh Please don't tell me you thought Bongo Bongo was hard?
Even without the Biggoron Sword, it seems to me you have to literally try to get hit in that battle.
But, I had a problem with Spirit Ganon, so it's probably just me. |
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