OK let’s talk MDK. It strikes me that this game has been largely forgotten and I can’t think of a good reason why.
I could be alone here, but personally I loved MDK (the first game, not the lesser sequel).
For the time it was graphically mind blowing. I’m not usually swayed by polygons and textures, but the amount of lushness Shiny squeezed out of my Pentium 100 was just astounding. Level 2 comes back to mind, with its mirrored surfaces; I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it since.
Technology aside, the character and environment design was exceptional too. I remember reading somewhere that each level was designed by a different person and it really helped to bring a lot of freshness to the game. I remember one part in particular where you are dropped into a cartoon-world stage-set and you have to blast the scenery away to reveal the way out.
Gameplay wise there was plenty of meat. The parachuting down before each level although far too easy was really rather fun, the little snowboarding and sliding interludes in some of the levels (notably snowboarding to the James Bond music) were well implemented and the sniper scope system during normal play added a strategic element to what would otherwise have been a pretty straight forward blaster.
It could be a case of rose tinted specs, but I can’t think of another western developed game that comes close to MDK in terms of bizarreness.
MDK is a game I half played with a friend, and really rather enjoyed.
The two most impressive things for me were the incredibly long sniper scope zoom, and the amazingly WTF video you receive at the end of the game.
I do remember a few frustrating platform moments here and there though... I've probably spent more time playing MDK 2 which is sorta nice, but that has a very different Vibe, and much more annoying platform sections. It does't have the same cohesive feel to it either, the different characters splinter the gameplay too much.
I enjoyed MDK 2, but got stuck on the stupid demon guy with the red eyes and shades. Two is a good game, but it feels kinda flat compared to the original, possibly because the wackiness is no longer that wacky. There are some standout moments in 2, but there are many more in first game.
The sniper scope zoom was crazy. You could zoom an insane distance. Taking pot shots at the final boss' head was especially satisfying as each bullet would leave a little mark. The bullet cam was also a neat little addition.
Shiny's best game?
Yeah, definitely.
You ever play Messiah? I have it here, and it almost landed in the bin the other day. I just couldn't get to grips with it at all.
I've heard Sacrifice is meant to be good. Only played MDK a few minutes at a mate's. Loved Earthworm Jim at the time, but the play mechanics haven't aged well at all.
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If things come alive
Yeah, definitely.
You ever play Messiah? I have it here, and it almost landed in the bin the other day. I just couldn't get to grips with it at all.
Messiah was one of those games I got super hyped about. I loved the concept, was wowed by the demo at ECTS, played the PC Zone Demo and then failed to buy the final product. The reviews were pretty average iirc.
I'd love to give it a whirl though, the whole possesion mechanic has been done better since I'm sure, but at the time it was a very cool looking game.
I remember the parachute jump at the start of the game (seen in one of the screenshots above). That was stunning at the time and I think it was the first time something like that had been seen in a game.
Pilot Wings aside it was breathtaking. It gave the game a real sense of scale too: free-falling towards the giant land crawler that would make up the entirety of the next level.
It also explained why some of the powerups were parachuted in to the playfield.
The snowboard bit is the daddy though just for the music alone (propeller heads possibly not sure though).
Pilotwings?
I agree though, the opening to MDK really is something special.
By some bizarre quirk of fate I've never played ANY pilotwings game. I put this down to never owning a SNES or N64 and the emulation in this area being piss poor.
I'm seriously tempted to get MDK from the Underdogs now. I don't think I ever saw the snowboard level.
Get it, it really is very good. So good I bought it twice
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It's not really a snowboard level, but a little mid-level sequence reminiscent of Roger Moore in The Spy Who Loved Me iirc. It's all boarding and shooting to a bond theme, which is pretty cool.
>_<
I was playing MDK last night the opening level with the parachute is no where near as impressive as I remembered. :/
The game is also quite tough going due to the minimal continue points unless there was a quick save option that I missed. Mind you once I got into the game I did start to enjoy myself and make some progress.
Are you playing the PC version? Now you mention it I remember the save points being a long way apart. Don't forget each level is against the clock so you're supposed to rush through as quickly as possible.
The first level is pretty easy if I remember. The bad guys even hold up targets when you are supposed to use the sniper scope. It's also important to locate and destroy the generators which churn out bad guys to replace the ones you have killed already.
The fixed camera and mocap sprite for Kurt probably looks a bit odd now that we are all polygon whores.
Yeah I'd played the early part in the demo a few times so remembered this quite well. And you're right the mocap sprite does look a bit strange at first a bit like it's been pasted on but it not's particularly badly done.
I used to love Shiny for the likes of MDK and Messiah... in particular, the art design of the former was distinctive and off the wall enough to really help it single itself out from the crowd, even if the gameplay wasn't completely spectacular alone. It's a tactic that helped Earthworm Jim come to think of it too.
Killer 7 is arguably following a similar trend to the likes of MDK, the overall package... the experience of play... goes along way to sustaining the intrigue and desire to take interest in the flashes of originality.