The Poorly Described Game... um, game.

[Tawmis]

The arcade part is what's throwing me off...

So lemme try to narrow it down some -

Would this game's genre be considered "fantasy"?

WAIT - Is it GAUNTLET?

[DeadPoolX]

The arcade part is what's throwing me off...

So lemme try to narrow it down some -

Would this game's genre be considered "fantasy"?

WAIT - Is it GAUNTLET?

You got it! It's Gauntlet! I'd played the original way back, but didn't really like it. Later on, Maia and I played the 2014 version on Steam and that was fun! We also played an older version at the arcade at West Edmonton Mall years ago and we caused the arcade machine to have a BSOD. It was fantastic!

[Rath Darkblade]

I remember playing the original Gauntlet. It was far, far too quick for anyone to stay alive! Also, it's impossible for 4 people to play it on a PC ... you try getting 4 people to share the same keyboard.

Is the 2014 version any better? If you don't have 3 other people to play with you, does the computer play with you?

[DeadPoolX]

I remember playing the original Gauntlet. It was far, far too quick for anyone to stay alive! Also, it's impossible for 4 people to play it on a PC ... you try getting 4 people to share the same keyboard.

Yeah, that was a problem with action-oriented games on computers decades ago, especially the issue of local co-op (cooperative play on the same machine) where game companies acted as if sharing a keyboard was functionally reasonable.

Today, no one shares a keyboard in local co-op. It's expected that one person will use KB+M and the other player(s) will use a controller, or everyone will use a controller. Most (if not all) games won't even ALLOW you to have more than one person on the keyboard in today's gaming market.

Maia and I have played a lot of local co-op games through the SteamLink (so we can run the game on one of our PCs, but see it on our living room TV and play sitting on the couch), and that really necessitates using a controller. For a game like Gauntlet and most local co-op titles, controllers are great.

That said, sometimes we'd play in our office on each of our computers through online co-op. Maia prefers using a KB+M (and in most games, I do too) while I used a controller, not because it's necessarily "better" for this type of game, but because I use KB+M all the time and switching controls up is a good way to prevent repetitive strain injuries.

Is the 2014 version any better? If you don't have 3 other people to play with you, does the computer play with you?

The 2014 version is as fast-paced as the older games, so if you want something slower-paced, then Gauntlet is NOT for you (especially the areas where you have to keep moving while fighting and never stop or an invulnerable ghost-like mist will follow you and kill you).

As for AI-controlled teammates: no, if you play it single player, it's you against all the other enemies. At its core, Gauntlet is a multiplayer (local co-op or online co-op) action title, which means the game really expects you to play alongside at least one other person, despite allowing you to do play solo.

As an example, Maia and I were just two players against all the enemies, whether or not we played local co-op or online co-op. We chose characters that complemented each other, so I'm sure that helped.

For the record, I wouldn't recommend getting it today unless you had friends to play it with you. The game was released in 2014 and as such, it's highly likely that there are few-to-no online players left. Even if there were, you'd have to play with random people and in most cases that's an aggravating experience.

[Tawmis]

Is the 2014 version any better? If you don't have 3 other people to play with you, does the computer play with you?

The 2014 version is as fast-paced as the older games, so if you want something slower-paced, then Gauntlet is NOT for you (especially the areas where you have to keep moving while fighting and never stop or an invulnerable ghost-like mist will follow you and kill you).
As for AI-controlled teammates: no, if you play it single player, it's you against all the other enemies. At its core, Gauntlet is a multiplayer (local co-op or online co-op) action title, which means the game really expects you to play alongside at least one other person, despite allowing you to do play solo.
As an example, Maia and I were just two players against all the enemies, whether or not we played local co-op or online co-op. We chose characters that complemented each other, so I'm sure that helped.

Definitely true.
The 2014 feels like the love child of Diablo and Gauntlet, honestly.
I've played it solo - and gotten pretty far - but as DPX said, there's some areas/monsters, where if you're solo - you're going to die plenty of times, until you can mow some down or find a better way to move and get through something.

[Tawmis]

And just because it's on my mind (and this might make it easy)...

I remember a co-op game that I played on the arcade, that was also eventually released on the SEGA. I mean, it was fine on the SEGA, but the arcade version of this game was much better, in my opinion.
Similar to GAUNTLET it spawned some sequels as well (both in arcade and console - though, I think most of the sequels landed on the SEGA MEGADRIVE... can't recall if the sequels were on the normal SEGA).

[DeadPoolX]

And just because it's on my mind (and this might make it easy)...

I remember a co-op game that I played on the arcade, that was also eventually released on the SEGA. I mean, it was fine on the SEGA, but the arcade version of this game was much better, in my opinion.
Similar to GAUNTLET it spawned some sequels as well (both in arcade and console - though, I think most of the sequels landed on the SEGA MEGADRIVE... can't recall if the sequels were on the normal SEGA).

Normal Sega? What's the "normal" Sega? The Sega Genesis and the Sega Mega Drive are the same console, just with different names. It was only known as the Genesis in North America, whereas the rest of the world called it the Mega Drive.

Anyway... are you talking about Golden Axe?

[Tawmis]

And just because it's on my mind (and this might make it easy)...
I remember a co-op game that I played on the arcade, that was also eventually released on the SEGA. I mean, it was fine on the SEGA, but the arcade version of this game was much better, in my opinion.
Similar to GAUNTLET it spawned some sequels as well (both in arcade and console - though, I think most of the sequels landed on the SEGA MEGADRIVE... can't recall if the sequels were on the normal SEGA).

Normal Sega? What's the "normal" Sega? The Sega Genesis and the Sega Mega Drive are the same console, just with different names. It was only known as the Genesis in North America, whereas the rest of the world called it the Mega Drive.
Anyway... are you talking about Golden Axe?

Well, since I've lived in North America for like 40 years, yes "Sega Genesis" is what I'd consider the "normal" SEGA for me.
Also I thought the SEGA MEGA DRIVE was different - didn't it have like a CD type drive also?

But in the end, yes - talking about GOLDEN AXE.

[DeadPoolX]

Well, since I've lived in North America for like 40 years, yes "Sega Genesis" is what I'd consider the "normal" SEGA for me.

The funny thing about that is Mega Drive is the original name. The main reason the name was changed when bringing the console from Japan to the US was due to a trademark dispute with an American company called Mega Drive Systems, Inc.

This wasn't the only console to have its name changed for a non-Japanese audience. The Sega Mark III became the Sega Master System, while both the Famicom and the Super Famicom became the NES and SNES, and the PC-Engine became the TurboGrafx-16.

Also I thought the SEGA MEGA DRIVE was different - didn't it have like a CD type drive also?

Nope. Same exact console, just different names. That said, the Mega Drive did have an addition called the Mega-CD (maybe that's where you got the name confused?), but that was the same thing as the Sega-CD for the Genesis.

But in the end, yes - talking about GOLDEN AXE.

Cool.

Okay, so I remember an old computer game that was set in outer space and was a sequel to an action-oriented non-space flight simulator.

[Tawmis]

Okay, so I remember an old computer game that was set in outer space and was a sequel to an action-oriented non-space flight simulator.

I am going out on a limb, because it's been way too long since I've played this...

Is this game WING COMMANDER?

[DeadPoolX]

Okay, so I remember an old computer game that was set in outer space and was a sequel to an action-oriented non-space flight simulator.

I am going out on a limb, because it's been way too long since I've played this...

Is this game WING COMMANDER?

Nope! This game was older than any of the Wing Commander games (a series I absolutely loved and still love to this day).

Here's a hint: The game I'm thinking of was originally released for the Commodore 64, and then ported to other computers a little later on.

[Rath Darkblade]

Huh. It's not Space Invaders, is it? That's the only even vaguely space-related game for C64 that I can remember. Probably not.

Hold on. Is it "Sheep in Space"?

(SHEEP! IN!! SPAAAAAAACE!!!)

[DeadPoolX]

Huh. It's not Space Invaders, is it? That's the only even vaguely space-related game for C64 that I can remember. Probably not.

Hold on. Is it "Sheep in Space"?

(SHEEP! IN!! SPAAAAAAACE!!!)

No, it's neither of those.

HINT: In this computer game, you fly around in space inside a fighter and your viewpoint is set as if you're sitting in the cockpit.

[Tawmis]

Huh. It's not Space Invaders, is it? That's the only even vaguely space-related game for C64 that I can remember. Probably not.
Hold on. Is it "Sheep in Space"?
(SHEEP! IN!! SPAAAAAAACE!!!)

No, it's neither of those.
HINT: In this computer game, you fly around in space inside a fighter and your viewpoint is set as if you're sitting in the cockpit.

Hrm.
This would be funny/ironic, because it's "Sierra" related.

Is it SKYFOX II?

Which DYNAMIX was the developer for?

[DeadPoolX]

Huh. It's not Space Invaders, is it? That's the only even vaguely space-related game for C64 that I can remember. Probably not.
Hold on. Is it "Sheep in Space"?
(SHEEP! IN!! SPAAAAAAACE!!!)

No, it's neither of those.
HINT: In this computer game, you fly around in space inside a fighter and your viewpoint is set as if you're sitting in the cockpit.

Hrm.
This would be funny/ironic, because it's "Sierra" related.

Is it SKYFOX II?

Which DYNAMIX was the developer for?

That's it! I didn't even know Dynamix developed it (despite having played it years ago) until recently.

Your turn, Tawmis!