Which games did you initially not like, but ultimately did?

[MartinJSUK]

We all had that experience sometimes, of spending our hard-earned pocket money (or handing over a blank tape to get a copy) on a much-hyped game or one with a cool cover or which our mate loved (perhaps on another system), excitedly rushing home to load the game up - and thinking "is that it?".  Maybe the graphics put us off. Maybe we expected different controls or a different weapon system. Maybe we just couldn't fathom what was going on. Maybe we expected it to be more similar to our favourite game.

Maybe that wasn't the end of the story though. Maybe, in the fullness of time, we gave it another chance and did crack it. Maybe we accepted its limitations and found its strengths. Maybe with practice we mastered those quirky controls. Maybe the tips in Amstrad Action the next month helped us understand it. Maybe Paul who had it on the C64 explained it, or showed us how to beat the first boss.

Which games does this describe? Are there any games you hated on first play but came to like or love, either a week later, a year later, or perhaps in the emulation era?

[eto]

Satellite Warrior (Amsoft)

I was 12 years old and I visited a Quelle store in Munich to look for a new game. I saw Satellite Warrior and the cover was promising. I could not test it but the guy in the shop promised I could return it if I don't like it. So I bought it. It was a bit cheaper than the most disc based games (usually DM60) but it was still DM50 - so no budget title - and a lot of money for me.

When I came home I started it - and it looked like shit. Nothing even close to what is on the cover. I didn't understand English well enough to really make use of the manual. And so after a few rounds I went back to Munich to return it. Of course what that guy said was a pure lie - they denied it - and as I had no proof that he said that, I had to leave again with the game. (I still hold a grudge against this a-hole who tricked a 12 year old - and just for this particular situation I never bought anything from that store again).

Anyway - I was stuck with the game and I didn't really play it. Actually I thought it was broken as the ships sometimes didn't move.

Probably after 2 years or so I thought that I might give it a try again as it dawned on me, that I might not have fully understood it. So I started it, tried to understand the mechanics of it - probably also better understood the manual - and then it clicked. It was really surprising to recognize that the game that I utterly hated turned out to be a true gem. Sure, simple graphics - but a unusual idea, not one of the typical genres with dozens of similar games, great playability and even some kind of computer AI that is not easy to beat (at least not if you choose to play with 2 solar systems).

And a great 2 player mode.

 As crazy as it sounds but the game that I first hated so much is now one of my all time favourites and if I would have to limit the list of CPC games I can play to e.g.  10 games, Satellite Warrior would be one of them.

It's not perfect though - with 5 planets the AI is too dumb to be a threat, the market prices do not make any sense, in fight damage logic seems to be too random and I still do not know if the shields do actually have any effect.

If I could wish for a new game on the CPC, it would be Satellite Warrior v2 with those fixes and a 4 player mode - maybe even over the internet.

[Nich]

Satellite Warrior (Amsoft)

Probably after 2 years or so I thought that I might give it a try again as it dawned on me, that I might not have fully understood it. So I started it, tried to understand the mechanics of it - probably also better understood the manual - and then it clicked. It was really surprising to recognize that the game that I utterly hated turned out to be a true gem.

You're definitely not the first person who has written that Satellite Warrior is a hidden gem. One of these days, I might just get round to playing it again and finally understanding what makes it such a good game.

[Shaun M. Neary]

This one's an easy one for me!

Rasterscan (Mastertronic 1987)

Initially playing this, I lost my patience trying to unlock the doors. As I got a bit older (When I say a bit, I was in my early 30s at that point!!) my brain had developed somewhat since I was 11 and had an easier time figuring it out. I finished it for the first time in 2010 I think. But between the ball bouncing around all over the place and taking days to figure out how to control it, not to mention the occasional bugs and crashes. It later became quite an enjoyable game for me.

[eto]

You're definitely not the first person who has written that Satellite Warrior is a hidden gem. One of these days, I might just get round to playing it again and finally understanding what makes it such a good game.

You might remember my posts ;-) I mentioned that a couple of times but I don't remember anyone else sharing their love for Satellite Warrior.

[Nich]

You might remember my posts ;-) I mentioned that a couple of times but I don't remember anyone else sharing their love for Satellite Warrior.

Someone signed the CPC Game Reviews guestbook many years ago stating that they loved Satellite Warrior and it was their favourite game (or words to that effect) and I should review it. Needless to say, I still haven't reviewed it yet because I still don't quite understand or appreciate the gameplay.

[ZorrO]

Zolyx - first impression booring shit. After few minute, ok once again, once again, once again.

[Shaun M. Neary]

Zolyx - first impression booring shit. After few minute, ok once again, once again, once again.

Sadly the CPC version is the worst of the top 3 8bit micros, the Speccy and C64 versions are way more playable and responsive in my opinion.

[Axelay]

You're definitely not the first person who has written that Satellite Warrior is a hidden gem. One of these days, I might just get round to playing it again and finally understanding what makes it such a good game.

You might remember my posts ;-) I mentioned that a couple of times but I don't remember anyone else sharing their love for Satellite Warrior.

Sure they have.  Just the 'other day', in it's own topic!  Well, almost. 

https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/games/satellite-warrior-up-for-grabs/

[abalore]

After Burner and 3D Starfighter, for similar reasons

Back in the day I had no idea of what was going on in the screen and was killed almost instantly.

In later years I took the time to learn how the mechanics works and was able to survive and progress in the games. And both turned to be great games that can give many hours of fun.

A similar thing happened with Catch 23, but nowadays I find it a bit slow.

[dodogildo]

Zynaps, because I couldn't get the mechanics of the upgrades when I was a kid. (They're so weird and confusing even today. Haha) But since I got hold of it in 2024 (yes), I'm now enjoying the game as a 52yo geek 😅

[eto]

I still haven't reviewed it yet because I still don't quite understand or appreciate the gameplay.

I wanted to give you a bit information but ended up writing a almost full walk-through. I posted it in another thread where I think it better fits but anyone who is interested in the game mechanics can read it here: https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/games/satellite-warrior-up-for-grabs/msg244877/#msg244877

[Shaun M. Neary]

Zynaps, because I couldn't get the mechanics of the upgrades when I was a kid. (They're so weird and confusing even today. Haha) But since I got hold of it in 2024 (yes), I'm now enjoying the game as a 52yo geek 😅

I can kinda relate to this. I figured out the mechanics of the power ups back in 1991 but I gave up on it for another reason, some of the spots were just way too tight to squeeze through and if a bullet came your way, you were well and truly screwed!

Fast forward to 2014, and I went to play it again, and I forgot about the mechanics of the power ups again!! In fact, I'm not even sure I remember them now in 2024. Might look into it later tonight

[MartinJSUK]

I had Rasterscan but didn't figure out what was going on or what I weas trying to do, or how. I was given it by someone (with the inlay) who probably didn't understand it either. Maybe one day?

If I was answering this question for the Amiga, Bally II (which is basically Zolyx) would probably be my answer. My only gripe with Zolyx is the colour palette on a few levels, such as level 3. I almost wish they'd just used the same blue-yellow-white-black scheme throughout as Bally II does.

Lords of Midnight is one for me, on the Spectrum but obviously the Amstrad version is much the same. Got it as a loose tape with a secondhand computer originally, didn't put time into learning the controls, didn't appreciate how Tolkeinesque it was, or what was going on. Got an issue of Crash! with it on the tape much later, with the instructions and a playing guide, and realised what a complex, layered, fully featured achievement it was. Played it quite a bit after that, though circumstances helped.

[skylas]

For me Dawn of Kernel, it was too difficult for me and I stopped trying. After a month I started again, and its was so very nice and enjoyable!

[kawickboy]

Midnight Resistance

1st contact: the great special FX eternal way of bullshit. A 128ko only speccy game port to a 64ko CPC game. Less tunes, more slow, less colour...
Then some years later I discovered with MAME the original coin op release and was pleasantly surprised when I realised that out CPC conversion il almost complete. No piece of gameplay is missing.

[Shaun M. Neary]

I had Rasterscan but didn't figure out what was going on or what I weas trying to do, or how. I was given it by someone (with the inlay) who probably didn't understand it either. Maybe one day?

Basically, you're a droid that has to repair all the pipes in the ship, they're marked in the corner by a map. There is a room with three barrels where you can get the different pipes for this.
Once you've done that, you need to go to the control room and mark the map co-ordinates
Then start the ship.

The puzzles for the doorways will give you a headache at the best of times.