Toki (PC, 2019)(Remake)
Graphics-8.5 Sound-8 Control-6.5 Challenge-7.5* Story-4
Level Design-6.5 Frustration-8.5* Fun-6.5 Originality-4.5
Overall Score-6.5
*Easy
+
Nice audiovisual makeover with great overall animation
Speedrun mode (no cutscenes?)
Tweaks some boss patterns?
Pretty good variety
Some fun weapons (flamethrower, charge attack - automatically charges when not firing)
Can bounce on enemies to reach power ups and it does more damage than the default shot
Some mini-bosses
Difficulty options (easy-hard)
Arcade ver. music toggle in the main menu (can't switch during gameplay sadly)
Some good bosses (levels 3-4)
+/-
Level timers (can find clock power ups, not really an issue)
Generally frequent checkpoints (only bad in the sense that you usually can't go back for power ups)
Invincible to attacks from above and forward+spikeballs (including the ones in the minecart segment) while wearing a helmet - can still be hit by low attacks
Can't move while shooting (can jump)
Pretty forgiving hit detection near platform edges
Placed extra lives don't respawn after dying
-
Doesn't fix any control or balance issues from the original (no invincibility time after respawning, can't aim downwards unless in a downward slope, no auto-fire unless you're using the flamethrower weapon, no jump height control and jumps are a bit floaty, weird physics during the minecart segment in the final level, very lose scrolling when moving backwwards in a level, can't aim in mid-air or while swimming, can't strafe/not turn around while shooting, somewhat loose vertical scrolling while swimming, taking out the swarm of flies enemy correctly isn't worth it since it just yields a tiny point bonus, final boss sometimes starts its last phase sooner making it impossible to beat), Adds some new ones in the sometimes inconsistent hit boxes? (the vines/swings for example)
Heavy trial & error (sometimes respawns you in an unfair way considering the lack of invincibility time, cheap enemy and hazard placements near pits, the ghosts spawn too close, some boss patterns (have to shoot the level 5 boss's feet enough at one point to make them go backwards instead of running over you and you can't bounce on them, sound queues for final boss's attacks), various points of no return and enemies not respawning means you get only one shot at getting some power ups, very tight jump at the beginning of level 5)
Further between checkpoints if you die at the final boss
Limited continues, one hit deaths and no saving even on Easy (the helmet power up helps but lasts for less than 10 seconds)
Short timer on all power ups even on Easy
Short - no new levels or bosses
No new power ups
No volume levels sliders
Easer second boss than the first
Notes:
-Originally released for NS, 2018 (original Arcade game is from 1989)
Comment:
Basically this is for the old school peeps who wanted an audiovisual update only. Nothing else was updated afaict besides maybe some boss patterns, meaning you still have limited continues, plenty of trial & error with one hit deaths, all power ups are on a short timer, you can't control your jump height and jumps are a bit floaty, there's no invincibility time after respawning, and aiming ability is inconsistent (5-way while walking and only left/right while swimming for example). There is an Easy mode, but all of this applies there as well, it's really more like a Hard mode by today's standards.
So with all that said, if you like games like the original Contra and Ghouls 'n Ghosts this is probably worth getting, especially on a sale. Otherwise it might be too frustrating and clunky for you. The audiovisual update is very nice and the added animation and sometimes different sprite sizes don't interfere too much with the classic gameplay.
Level Design-6.5 Frustration-8.5* Fun-6.5 Originality-4.5
Overall Score-6.5
*Easy
+
Nice audiovisual makeover with great overall animation
Speedrun mode (no cutscenes?)
Tweaks some boss patterns?
Pretty good variety
Some fun weapons (flamethrower, charge attack - automatically charges when not firing)
Can bounce on enemies to reach power ups and it does more damage than the default shot
Some mini-bosses
Difficulty options (easy-hard)
Arcade ver. music toggle in the main menu (can't switch during gameplay sadly)
Some good bosses (levels 3-4)
+/-
Level timers (can find clock power ups, not really an issue)
Generally frequent checkpoints (only bad in the sense that you usually can't go back for power ups)
Invincible to attacks from above and forward+spikeballs (including the ones in the minecart segment) while wearing a helmet - can still be hit by low attacks
Can't move while shooting (can jump)
Pretty forgiving hit detection near platform edges
Placed extra lives don't respawn after dying
-
Doesn't fix any control or balance issues from the original (no invincibility time after respawning, can't aim downwards unless in a downward slope, no auto-fire unless you're using the flamethrower weapon, no jump height control and jumps are a bit floaty, weird physics during the minecart segment in the final level, very lose scrolling when moving backwwards in a level, can't aim in mid-air or while swimming, can't strafe/not turn around while shooting, somewhat loose vertical scrolling while swimming, taking out the swarm of flies enemy correctly isn't worth it since it just yields a tiny point bonus, final boss sometimes starts its last phase sooner making it impossible to beat), Adds some new ones in the sometimes inconsistent hit boxes? (the vines/swings for example)
Heavy trial & error (sometimes respawns you in an unfair way considering the lack of invincibility time, cheap enemy and hazard placements near pits, the ghosts spawn too close, some boss patterns (have to shoot the level 5 boss's feet enough at one point to make them go backwards instead of running over you and you can't bounce on them, sound queues for final boss's attacks), various points of no return and enemies not respawning means you get only one shot at getting some power ups, very tight jump at the beginning of level 5)
Further between checkpoints if you die at the final boss
Limited continues, one hit deaths and no saving even on Easy (the helmet power up helps but lasts for less than 10 seconds)
Short timer on all power ups even on Easy
Short - no new levels or bosses
No new power ups
No volume levels sliders
Easer second boss than the first
Notes:
-Originally released for NS, 2018 (original Arcade game is from 1989)
Comment:
Basically this is for the old school peeps who wanted an audiovisual update only. Nothing else was updated afaict besides maybe some boss patterns, meaning you still have limited continues, plenty of trial & error with one hit deaths, all power ups are on a short timer, you can't control your jump height and jumps are a bit floaty, there's no invincibility time after respawning, and aiming ability is inconsistent (5-way while walking and only left/right while swimming for example). There is an Easy mode, but all of this applies there as well, it's really more like a Hard mode by today's standards.
So with all that said, if you like games like the original Contra and Ghouls 'n Ghosts this is probably worth getting, especially on a sale. Otherwise it might be too frustrating and clunky for you. The audiovisual update is very nice and the added animation and sometimes different sprite sizes don't interfere too much with the classic gameplay.