Nightmare in the Dark - Game of the Week Discussion
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Kazuya_UK |
Posted on 06. July 2008 22:00
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Have you tried turning it off and on again?

   
Posts: 3074
Joined: 11/07/2006 21:55
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NOTE: This was a previous Game of the Week thread!
Nightmare in the Dark:

^ Click for full version
Genre: Platformer
Meg Count: 166 MB
Players: 1 or 2 player
Released on: MVS
Brief Description:
Nightmare in the Dark is an MVS only release and a game that is often overlooked. Made by Eleven/Gavaring Co. Ltd and published by the "old SNK" shortly before they closed their doors, it's a game very much in the same vein as the classic title "Snow Bros.", but with a darker horror style.
Each stage is a single static screen, and the aim is to kill your enemies by throwing fireballs at them. After hitting them a few times, they turn into a larger fireball which can then be thrown at other enemies. The large fireballs bounce around the screen after being thrown, and you receive more points and other bonuses if you take out all the enemies on screen in one go.
Screenshots:

Review:
Review by Kazuya_UK:
http://www.neogeo...page_id=89
Videos:
Gameplay Video Stages 1-5 + Boss:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/v/w4vFz_Iqo0U[/youtube]
Other media:
Music from the first stage of Nightmare in the Dark is available in the Jukebox:
Link -->
Discuss the game below!
Edited by Kazuya_UK on 20. July 2008 21:30
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Kazuya_UK |
Posted on 06. July 2008 22:26
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Have you tried turning it off and on again?

   
Posts: 3074
Joined: 11/07/2006 21:55
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I do think that this game is a lot of fun, but I've always been disappointed about how short it is. If they added a bit more variation to the game and more stages it could have been a real winner, as it is it's just a fun game to play from time to time, but with little replay value after you finish it a couple of times.
I'm enjoying playing it again though!
Kaz |
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arcadematt |
Posted on 06. July 2008 22:30
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Southtown Guardian

 
Posts: 154
Joined: 02/11/2008 09:44
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How do you guys rate this game?
I compair It to much with Zupapa but I do love Zupapa. I think NITD Is slower and not as fun as Zupapa but I still want to add It to my ever growing collection. |
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Shiny |
Posted on 06. July 2008 23:30
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NeoGeoForLife!


Posts: 2162
Joined: 02/06/2007 21:50
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I love this game! It harks back to a simpler time in videogaming history, a time when Snow Bros., Bubble Bobble and New Zealand Story were in every arcade. Sucking change out of our pockets in a way modern cabs wish they could. Simple. Addictive. Fun.
Pity it never got an AES/CD release. I think, if it had, it'd be held in much higher regard.
Edited by Shiny on 06. July 2008 23:31
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boogiepop |
Posted on 07. July 2008 00:21
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NeoGeoForLife!


Posts: 1606
Joined: 01/25/2007 08:13
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Shiny wrote:
I love this game! It harks back to a simpler time in videogaming history, a time when Snow Bros., Bubble Bobble and New Zealand Story were in every arcade. Sucking change out of our pockets in a way modern cabs wish they could. Simple. Addictive. Fun.
Pity it never got an AES/CD release. I think, if it had, it'd be held in much higher regard.
Agreed. I miss static screen arcade games like Pac-Man and Dig Dug and outside of a handful of puzzlers and a couple others, NitD stands on its own for that in the neo library. It's more than a great break from the classic fighters and shooters on the system - it completely stands on its own. I was looking forward to this game of the week and now to playing it again. 
By the way, the music... awesome or annoying? I personally love it (along with the overall presentation).
If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there.
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Atomduck |
Posted on 07. July 2008 00:56
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Magical Droplet


Posts: 607
Joined: 08/09/2007 03:59
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I'm so sorry Kaz!! Ahh!! But... This game looks pretty sweet! As a fan of Bubble Bobble and Snow Bros. It looks like a nice upgrade on everybody's favorite 24... er *coughs* 16-bit machine. |
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roninbuddha |
Posted on 07. July 2008 02:20
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Real Neo Hot Dog

Posts: 95
Joined: 12/01/2006 04:14
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one of the better Snow Bros. clones, too bad everything is quite boring to be honest, the graphics/animation is pretty good, but it still lacks a certain something that prevents you from snoozing... and the music doesn't help either

my artworks/doodles -> http://roninbuddha.blogspot.com
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Will |
Posted on 07. July 2008 05:03
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Super Spy

                   
Posts: 540
Joined: 04/13/2008 13:05
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It is quite in the style of Taito's "Bubble Symphony" and "Bubble Memories" and that creepy stuff does kind of remind me of Capcom's "Super Ghouls n' Ghosts". When I first heard the title "Nightmare in the Dark" I thought it was going to be some scrolling platformer like "Magician Lord" not in this style, but its not bad for starters. I'd say it's a real puzzler and riddler. |
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LIFE_IN_2D |
Posted on 07. July 2008 16:22
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NeoGeoForLife!

      
Posts: 1570
Joined: 03/13/2008 15:05
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Alright, I’m surprised that NiTD actually won as well especially since TSS has so many fans here. Anyways I love this game and probably one of the reasons why I do is because of the horror theme. The fact that you are a deformed grave-digger who goes around the cemetery at night burning skeletons, zombies and ghost is just plain-out awesome to me. It seems that there is a lack of horror games on the neo-geo and this game is a much appreciated rarity to me.
The game itself... I think that bosses look pretty awesome (especially the weird skull with wheels). The game is challenging and although the game is simple, therein lies it’s appeal to me. Two player mode can also add the the fun. Another thing that does add to the replay value to me is the fact that the game is so short, sometimes if I feel in the mood for the game I can sit down for about 45 minutes and play through (sometimes I have a short gaming attention span). This can be counted negatively to some and I guess that’s why the game isn’t really that well known. The music … I actually like it, true they could have done better but, the music is not uttely horrible. So as a whole NiTD to me is a pretty odd-ball game but I am sure that everybody can find some things they can appreciate about it.
Edited by LIFE_IN_2D on 07. July 2008 16:26
shot in the eye
shot in the brain
shot in the ass...
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Raiken |
Posted on 07. July 2008 16:52
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NeoGeoForLife!

      
Posts: 1337
Joined: 11/10/2006 04:08
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This game surprised me. I remember actually sitting down and beating it all the way my first time playing it. I find it's a decent time killer like Ghostlop.
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Will |
Posted on 07. July 2008 21:05
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Super Spy

                   
Posts: 540
Joined: 04/13/2008 13:05
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The best horror game I've ever played which is quite an aged shooter but still playable and enjoyable with a decent storyline is "Zombie Raid", it may not be as enjoyable as "House of the Dead" quartrilogy but its like a very early era version of Resident Evil. I hope that isn't too many Non-SNK games listed here, but indeed Neo-Geo does lack horror and they longer make medieval fantasy games anymore. Nightmare in the Dark doesn't look enough to frightened even a toddler even if its not cuddly and cute like Bubble Symphony. |
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merlin |
Posted on 07. July 2008 21:11
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NeoGeoForLife!

Posts: 3716
Joined: 01/22/2007 09:41
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I reckon Nightmare in the Dark is a pretty good game. It's been a while since I played it but I'm going to have a few sessions this week. Graphics are pretty good and I like the soundtrack too. This kind of game offers a nice bit of variety in the Neo's library. It's a real shame this was MVS only :sweat: I do prefer Zupapa though.
Edited by merlin on 07. July 2008 21:13
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LIFE_IN_2D |
Posted on 07. July 2008 21:23
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NeoGeoForLife!

      
Posts: 1570
Joined: 03/13/2008 15:05
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I never knew what both Shiny and Merlin pointed out ; NiTD never got an AES release. That has to be one of the reasons that NiTD is sort of unknown and overlooked. Anyways I would have loved to see this at the arcade, I would have gleefully emptied my quarters into the cab. Has anybody had the chance to play this game in an arcade before? I wonder how the marquee looked.
shot in the eye
shot in the brain
shot in the ass...
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boogiepop |
Posted on 07. July 2008 22:50
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NeoGeoForLife!


Posts: 1606
Joined: 01/25/2007 08:13
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I've seen the marquees before. It's just the logo over black if I remember.
Question for those that prefer Zupapa - why?
If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there.
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Shiny |
Posted on 08. July 2008 02:26
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NeoGeoForLife!


Posts: 2162
Joined: 02/06/2007 21:50
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boogiepop wrote:
Question for those that prefer Zupapa - why?
Pace and variety.
Personally, I love NitD's style but it can get a bit samey, and by direct comparison can seem a little sluggish at times... Not that I wanna take anything away from it, it's a great game. Imo, all things considered, Zupapa is the better game of the two. |
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merlin |
Posted on 08. July 2008 14:52
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NeoGeoForLife!

Posts: 3716
Joined: 01/22/2007 09:41
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boogiepop wrote:
Question for those that prefer Zupapa - why?
There's not much to choose between them but for some reason I just find the gameplay of Zupapa a bit more enjoyable. Also I really prefer the style of the graphics in Zupapa. Very colourful and with nice variety between the different worlds. |
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arcadematt |
Posted on 08. July 2008 21:07
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Southtown Guardian

 
Posts: 154
Joined: 02/11/2008 09:44
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I love the music In Zupapa especially the Techno tunes. The worlds and level layout seem more varied. The fact that you can move down without having to fall or jump off platforms. NITD Is good I think Zupupa just adds more to the gameplay overall. |
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cthulhu |
Posted on 08. July 2008 21:25
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NeoGeoForLife!

Posts: 1753
Joined: 01/14/2007 15:26
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Great game with really good looking graphics, also very fun to play. It's a shame they never releaes this one on the AES.
My arcade stuff
"ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn! Ia! Ia! Cthulhu fhtagn!"
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Kazuya_UK |
Posted on 08. July 2008 23:36
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Have you tried turning it off and on again?

   
Posts: 3074
Joined: 11/07/2006 21:55
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Some good discussion going on for this one, keep it going! Definitely enjoying playing the game as well, although I think in the coming weeks we are definitely going to have to cover Zupapa! 
Kaz |
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viktorh |
Posted on 09. July 2008 19:49
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Real Neo Hot Dog

Posts: 59
Joined: 01/10/2007 11:40
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Looks cool! I'd like to try this game (on original hardware), but it's quite expensive, right? |
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