Actually listening to you critque something is one of the most relaxing experiences I have. Most people when they don't like something is just rant about how much it sucks over and over again. People just love to talk sh*t but you actually go out of your way of the ins and outs of the game.
That's definitely my goal here. I like to talk about my own personal experience with the game and really play it to the best of my ability to see what I can get out of it. Thanks very much!
I’m so happy you gave Solstice a play through. It’s my favorite video game ever made. I even bought a Pontiac Solstice because of it. I bet for a newcomer to this game it’s most likely extremely difficult. Thank you for not giving up on it! At this point I can beat Solstice in like 20 minutes or less. The World record is much shorter. So there is even more room for improvement showing this game has a high skill ceiling. Thank you so much for reviewing this title and Merry Christmas Goriya! If you are looking for another challenge and another amazing game then I recommend Solomon’s Key. Up is jump so that may be off putting at first but you get use to it. Some of the items can be altered by attacking them with a wand and there are many secrets. Solomon’s Key is one of the most difficult games ever created and it’s later puzzle stages are a master class in frustration and wonderful design. Good luck. 🍀
It's so much fun. To be honest, I was really sad when it was over. Awesome that you can get through it so quickly. I can totally see that after you get a feel for the game and find a path that suits you well. Have you ever done it deathless? And I know a few folks that speedrun it. It's actually beautiful to watch! Merry Christmas to you too! I would love to play Solomon's Key some day. Thanks for the suggestion!
Great review, entertaining and informative as always. I have to admit that I'm a little disappointed you didn't mention the best part though, the part right after when Morbius kidnaps the princess at the beginning, when he yells "it's Morbin' time!" and he morbs all over the player character.
I'm super glad that I FINALLY remembered what this game was called! I used to be a big fan of a sort of fan-made spiritual successor called Maristice, but couldn't remember the name of the game it was referencing. Maristice is PC only and I've only made it about 10 minutes in, so I can't vouch for quality, but you might want to check it out if you need something that scratches this particular itch.
I think that's the most positive review I've ever seen for Solstice. I'm glad to see that you enjoyed the game as much as I did. It was my third game on the NES and I was absolutely obsessed by it. I think its biggest strength is the creepy atmosphere: the weird (but exceptional) music, the horrible scream when Shadax die, the monsters (even if they are sometimes quite goofy, special mention to the "foot with glasses"), the lack of fighting mechanism making me feel small, lost, and out of control. It was even more rewarding to me when I was finally making some progress against all odds. Many criticize the fact that the game plays on the perspective to dupe the player. It's one of my favorite feature. I really like optical illusions, it reminds me that reality is often not as it seems. It push me to be more humble, somehow. I finished it back in the days; I never really relied on the credits because, as you said, they sometimes bring you so far back they become useless. I still remember my favorite path to finish the game, it's printed in my memory forever. I could also finish it without using potions (almost, at least one room require it) and without grabbing extra life. I should put that on my CV. I was so obsessed that I spent countless hours drawing rooms on paper, dreaming that, one day, I would create my own Solstice game. I totally forgot about that; maybe I should look at creating a romhack. That would be fun. Equinox is really good too, but the atmosphere is quite different: more mysterious than creepy. I almost finished it when I was in the university; it's hard as nail, and there are no save whatsoever so you need to finish it in one go (I was playing on original hardware). The last level is insane, if I remember right it's as big as Solstice itself (350 rooms if I remember right). And before that there are many, many other challenges. Thanks for the trip down memory lane :)
It was a phenomenal game and was very easy to fall in love with. I'm not sure why other folks would be so put off by an isometric game with a few tricky/deceptive maneuvers. I do seem to do well with that kind of game better than most, but like anything else, it just takes practice, as well as trial and error. I'm so glad you enjoyed this one. It's great to hear from someone who has played the game and knows it as well as you do. I'm excited to try Equinox sometime, but from what I've seen of it so far, I don't think I'll enjoy it nearly as much as Solstice. Here's hoping it'll still be fun though! Thanks for sharing your thoughts here.
For some backstory on why Shadax is so muscular on the cover art (and more cool stories) look for a PDF "Classic Game Covers" by Mike Winterbauer, the artist who did the Solstice box and poster art. Basically he met a bodybuilder at a grocery store and really wanted to use him as a model for something.
I'd heard that he can't remember what that person's name is! I had a friend recently reach out to him by email and he replied back saying he doesn't remember who the model was. I will definitely check out that document though!
I've come to rely on this channel for what I now think of as "cozy reviews." They're nostalgic, even though I haven't played most of the games. They come from a place of love for the games, so even the more critical ones are respectful in their tone. No yelling or anger or insults. Just thoughtful and practical critique. These are games I want to play on a Sunday morning with some comfort food and an old-school controller. They're also just off-the-beaten-track enough of retro classics without feeling elitist or condescending. Just all around great stuff.
Thank you very much for your kindness. This sums up exactly what I hope to bring to the video game review world, and I'm glad it's shining through that way.
I love that you refer to mistranslations and typos in manuals as "lying". It gives it a sinister kind of malicious feel, and I think "The 10 Worst Times Retro Game Manuals Lied To You" or something more succinct and catchy would be an awesome compilation video.
I’ve seen pictures of that mage before and had no idea where it was from. Also, I’ve heard this game’s soundtrack multiple times without knowing anything about it. Thanks for your take on this game. I appreciate that you include a highlight on the manual since that is a crucial part of the retro game experience that gets overlooked in many reviews. Thanks for another great video!
That's good old Shadax! And thank you about the video. Manuals are really important to me as a part of my play experience so it makes sense to share them best I can with everyone.
I remember playing this game for hours on end and would get so frustrated every time I died. The first time I ever beat this game was almost certainly by accident through sheer determination. Even with as crazy hard as it was this is still one of my favorites. Also that rock music title theme is one of the greatest ever produced!
It was definitely a great challenge getting through this one. I started shaking off the deaths after I realized how many free lives I could get, and once I had a path that worked for me, I made sure to farm the lives as much as I could. The music in this game does NOT get old at all. That title screen music could blow some speakers for unexpecting people with how loud it gets! It definitely startled me the first time but it's such a great tune!
This is one of the top 5 NES games for me. Absolutely brilliant game. Amazing atmosphere, so original and unique. It keeps on giving until you beat it completely. Great music, great visuals and super fun to play.
This was a great video, as always! I got this game as a kid for Christmas of 1991, and at first, I absolutely hated it. I was so used to the typical side scrolling left to right style games, and this was a whole new experience for me. But I found myself continuously going back to this game, and it quickly became one of my favourite games, and still is to this day.
Ooooh the nostalgia! I spent many a night as a child playing NES games with my mom. Solstice was one of the most challenging ones we played together, but it really brought us together trying to figure it out. Thankfully we had a couple old guides and books with lots of advice on progression that helped us proceed without just spilling out exactly what to do. Good times with a good game. I haven't picked it up again in over 20 years, but I just don't know that I'd have the patience to try to figure out everything again.
You might be surprised at how quickly things may start flooding back to you! It's very sweet that you used to play this with your mom. What nice memories!
Every time I go back and play retro games, I'm amazed that there were people out there who could persevere through these. Emulation and the save state feature that it gives you access to is an absolute godsend.
I definitely see the appeal of save states and emulation! I'm usually on original hardware and don't have that luxury, but I can appreciate people being able to enjoy games the way they want to.
@@hungrygoriya Yeah, I did play this game back in the 90's and I really liked it but it ultimately defeated me along with pretty much every other NES game. Thanks for your video though! I'm totally going back for my sweet, sweet revenge!
Awesome as always. Something we did when we were kids was to hold the controller sideways so that left was now up and down was now left. It sounds weird but for some reason it does make the isometric platforming more fluid.
If it works, it works! I never had trouble with the D-pad orientation since that isometric control was burned into my memory. If they'd deviated the standard between different games though, it would've been a total loss for me!
@@hungrygoriya I tried it recently with Snake Rattle 'N Roll and Marble Madness and it did not work the same way it did with Solstice. No idea why, the isometric gods work in mysterious ways!
Yessssssss I look forward to your time with it! I deliberately didn't show many room transitions just for people like you who have yet to play. You're gonna love it!
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised...one of my favorite NES games ever is Faxanadu, and here you have a wonderful review of Solstice, the predecessor to one of my all-time favorite SNES games, Equinox. I never played (or have even SEEN) a copy of Solstice, but I will always remember that Equinox was the first video game ever that my Dad actually complemented the music (otherwise he complained about it, and for good reason most of the time). It was also a great game, but I still occasionally start it up just to listen to the music.
I really need to play Equinox one of these days. I've had it for a while, but I wasn't entirely sure I'd like it as much as Solstice just for how different it looks/seems to play based on what I've seen from others.
@@hungrygoriya I played it back when you could still rent games for SNES, and I believe I rented it. Because of that, I never really got very far and the game is a bit challenging. Now I'm not as much into playing it myself, but I will always remember the music
This video just came up in my recommended feed, and I was like, oh yeah, HungryGoriya reviewed Solstice a while back! I wonder what I commented on that video? So I clicked to find out. To my surprise, despite Solstice being one of my favorite games of all time, it seems... I never commented on this video at all?! Egad! Rewatching the video, I'm not even sure I ever watched it before, as I don't remember hearing your talking points about it at all. But I'm glad to have watched it now, and glad to hear you enjoyed it! This, Legacy of the Wizard, Goonies II, Zelda II, Castlevania II, Faxanadu, and Crystalis are basically my top-tier adventure experiences on the NES growing up, and so far, you've raved about every one of them (making me all the more excited for your eventual Goonies II review!). And a lot of the games you've reviewed that I hadn't heard of before are games I've since played and enjoyed, so yeah -- really glad to be subscribed to you, as you have excellent taste! ;) (Though I will say, I for one quite like the continue system in Solstice, as I find it's a nice balance of risk/reward -- similar to the checkpoints in Shovel Knight, where you can either set your checkpoint there, or destroy the checkpoint for a ton of money. It gives you the option to choose your own fate, so to speak, and increases the game's sense of tension all the more. Nonstandard, but very interesting, and only adds to the game's atmosphere. I can absolutely see why you dislike it, but you've gotta admit... it makes everything just that little bit more exciting, doesn't it? Heheh.)
Yes! One of my favorite games. The exploration, the atmosphere, the soundtrack... A fantastic experience. And I cheered when you mentioned the manual. I read through it so many times. Loved the story, though as a child I missed that the layout of Kâstleröck is described in it. I also got the sense that Morbius usurped the castle from previous inhabitants, hence the secret entrance he was unaware of, and that Morbius is so powerful that even his basic mooks cannot be hurt by someone as powerful as Shadax. Also noticed that the game makes it seem like a standard "rescue the princess" plot, but when you actually look at the manual, Shadax was already intending to go on this quest on that evening regardless.
It's a very cool game! I absolutely adored the manual for this one. I spent a lot of time as a kid reading and rereading the ones for The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros. 2 and Faxanadu so I'm always really excited when I run into games that are also that well done. The one for solstice is even extra neat because of the great writing in it. It just sets the stage so well! I like your observations about the castle entrance and the enemies. Morbius probably forced his way in and took it all over, and didn't have a chance to search through it entirely before going on his power quest! I like that the game gets you to think about it like this!
Surprise HG video?! Well, Merry Christmas to me! I’ve definitely been looking forward to this one since we were talking about it a while back. Thanks again for doing what you do!
Ok I did giggle into my coffee on your delivery of "as he screamed into the sky". One of the things I like best about your streams and RUclips content is your in depth look at games that I personally wouldn't probably play. Its a great way to enjoy something that I would have probably otherwise passed up. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this one!
Solstice is a nerve-wracking game, but one id say really helped me pursue and conquer my fear of isometric games that started with the original Zaxxon. I love playing this game. And youre absolutely right. The instruction booklet is so great at creating a sense of ambience, as manuals should. I tried the sequel and it pales slightly, but its probably due to all the enjoyment my wife and i got out of Solstice. The world of isometric games owes a little something to it and we, your loyal fans owe something to you for illustrating some of the finer points of this creative game.
Nerve-wracking is a great way to describe this one! There's so much about it that requires diving in and hoping for the best. I really appreciate games that challenge you to be skillful but also measured in your approach. Solstice definitely demands that! I'm glad this game helped you break out of your fears and embrace other isometric adventures. I've yet to play Equinox, but I'd certainly like to someday. And thanks so much for our kindness! I appreciate you taking the time to watch.
@@hungrygoriya thanks for always giving these classics your time, even the demanding NES games that have slowly escaped my periphery. Your explanations are some of the best Ive encountered. Feather in your cap, for sure. Great reminder of why a fun past time need not only be about collecting of these games, but playing them and fully exploring them. You mention a few things that really put replaying/trying to solve this gem on my priority list for this week.
@@samfrito Oh nice! Well, I appreciate that! I put a lot of time into not only playing the games, but writing about them too. I'm glad that comes across smoothly. I hope your new attempts at Solstice are fruitful!
Wow nice review. I remember that played this game back in the day at a friends place. Years ago I bought it but didn’t really gave it a try because reviews were so so. Now that I’ve seen your video I will add solstice to my holiday play list. Your way of explaining the game really intrigued me to give this game a real chance. Thanks 🙏
I tried very hard to get it out for actual Winter Solstice, but now I can tell a little story about how that's the night the adventure was happening and we only now get to talk about it. That's how I've justified my day lateness, anyway! I hope you had a lovely party!
Thank you for that video, was very well made and you have a wonderful voice for reviews. I haven't played Solstice since I was a kid and what a game it was! I was rubbish at it, but it was worth playing for the music alone.
Thank you very much! I appreciate you checking out the review and hearing your thoughts on the game. The music here was so good all the time. I still put on the main theme while I'm working sometimes and it never gets old.
Goriya, stumbled upon your channel and been watching a bunch of your videos over the past few days. Love your approach to your content, and just wanted to say keep up the great work! Posting a video a week is tough, but if you can do it, I'm sure your channel will go. You're so genuine! :)
Hey thanks so much! Unfortunately I have a lot going on in life so it's hard to keep a consistent schedule, never mind finish games that quickly! I do stream four times a week and have a full time job on top of this lovely hobby.
I’m going to be 60 in a month and this was my favorite game when my boys were young. I’ve been getting the components together to be able to play on a modern tv. Back in the 90s I wanted to build a 3D rendering so I could look over at it when I needed to see where I had been and where I needed to go instead of changing screens to look at the map. Had to order another copy bc I found that mine was not working. Aiming to play this on my birthday. So glad others enjoy it also! Great review! And fun to watch. As you made your points about the game I was agreeing with you right along! Thank you for putting this out there. I hope more people try it.
Happy early birthday! I hope you enjoy revisiting this one, and good luck getting it up and running. I'd love it if more people took a chance on Solstice as well. Once you push past some of the difficulty of the perspective, it's really fun!
Phenomenal game!! I rented this in the eighties as a young teenager. Absolutely clueless and got nowhere. Fast forward 30+ years to present day I now own Solstice on my emulator. Happy to say I’ve finished the game all these years later. But I will also confess I had the help of a walkthrough. And abused the hell out of save states!! Lol The sad part is I still felt that crazy sense of accomplishment afterwards! It’s pathetic for sure but I still thoroughly enjoyed the game and glad to see you did as well! Great job grinding through like a trooper! Love your retro reviews!
I don't think it's pathetic at all! I'd say play games however you want to. Not everyone has time or the patience to sit down and unravel an enormous puzzle like this game. Congratulations on making it through! And thanks about the reviews! I'll keep them coming as long as I can here :)
So good memories .... First Nintendo i got at 7yo Always special to listen to the Tim follin theme... Thank you so much for sharing your love for this game ❤️
Man, this looks like a game that I'd get lost in trying again and again to beat rooms. The isometric look definitely does kinda confuse my eyes, but the tunes and the art look too good to not at least try it out! You really sold me on this review!
used to play this when I was a kid.. it was to hard for me, but I got three pieces of staff at one point. I should really get back to this one.. it's still in my collection, so nothing can stop me! And I think the title-screen music is one of the (if not the) best song on the NES. Absolutely love it! Thanks for the video. Nice thing to watch while I'm eating breakfast.
I was so excited when I get Solstice has a kid. I thought the cover art was amazing. I couldn't get through it. Thanks for the video and have a Marry Christmas.
Solstice has a sequel on the SNES named Equinox multiple dungeons, your guy has an attack now, and there are some large boss monsters on the map to use it against
@@hungrygoriya Equinox is sadly not quite as good as Solstice IMHO, as it kind of just feels a bit overly rough around the edges and REALLY likes to trick you with its perspective - something Solstice mostly avoided. But it does have more outstanding music (when it plays music at all, as half the game is just ambient sounds and stings), and some really cool visuals, plus an overworld with RPG-esque battles, so it’s definitely at least worth a look. I’m glad to have played and beaten it, but will almost certainly never play it again. Heheh. There is also a pseudo-sequel to Solstice on Game Boy that I think most people aren’t even aware of, called Altered Space. It’s a better game than Equinox IMHO, but not as good as Solstice. Anyway, I wanted to echo the comments from everyone else who said how glad they are that you enjoyed this game, because yeah - as you may recall, I’ve been hyping this game up in your comments for ages now. ;) It’s one of my favorite NES games for sure, right up there with Legacy of the Wizard and Goonies II (you definitely need to check that one out sometime, if you still haven’t!). It’s an absolute gem of a game, and just one little taste of the isometric adventure genre from Europe (particularly the UK) that we ‘Murricans mostly missed out on. There are so many more on microcomputers of the 8-bit era, though very few on Western consoles, sadly. There is another on Game Boy, though, that was only released in Europe, called Monster Max. It looks absolutely amazing, though I have yet to try it. One day, it shall get my eye upon it! ;)
@@Wyrdwad I also can't really recommend Equinox, a friend of mine played it on stream and got totally stuck. We looked into it a bit and apparently there are fewer keys than there are doors so if you open all the doors on a particular level in the wrong order, you can softlock yourself. Not something someone who knows what they're doing would do, but an unlucky blind player....ugh.
@@dryzalizer Ah, yes, that is a very real possibility. It's unlikely to happen, but absolutely possible, and I remember thinking about it even as a kid, wondering how close I was to getting stuck. Just in general, Equinox is not as good a game as its predecessor, sadly.
It was a fantastic one. For the map, did you draw out all the rooms as a single block on grid paper or something? The verticality and the different room sizes really stumped me on how to map so I didn't!
@@hungrygoriya It took numerous iterations the further I got each time. Eventually, I landed on a system that sized out perfectly. For the verticality, I just used arrows and numbers to represent where certain rooms connected: drive.google.com/file/d/14p4VUji5-2y3I9NNdxyJrdgShm_Pg9v4/view?usp=sharing
Cool video. I don't think I've ever heard of Solstice before and it looks pretty darn cool! You're just giving me too many NES games to add to my playlist! 🙂 Hope you enjoy the holidays.
It's such a good game! And good :) I hope to make your list even longer in the future! The holidays have been great so far. I hope you've been enjoying them too!
I just picked this up at a game shop and the little bit I've played so far is really great. How did you not mention the title theme? I was blown away when I heard it. I was pretty surprised to see it sitting on the shelf along with titles like Milon's Secret Castle, Astyanax, The Legend of Zelda II, and an Asterix game, the name of which is escaping me. I'm trying out a game for the Game Gear called Crystal Warriors; it's pretty similar to Fire Emblem, if you've played any of those games, and I'm really liking it so far. The character portraits are gorgeous and I love these games that go after different kinds of gameplay when platforming and side-scrolling were the standard.
The intro song's awesome! I know I talked about the music a little in this one but might have skipped over the title theme. The in-game music's greatness was more important to me I guess! Congrats on finding a copy! It's good to hear that you're enjoying it so far. It's really rewarding when progress is made so I hope you can eventually see the ending for yourself. GOod luck!
I didn't play Solstice, but I played its sequel on the SNES Equinox. Very interesting game as I recall, but I haven't played it since I was maybe 8 years old! I've been getting more interested in these isometric platforming/RPG type games lately, very interesting that they were doing this sort of stuff way back on the NES.
When i was a kid i loved this game, a friend of school had it and he let me borrow it a lot of times, i really loved the atmosphere and mystery of it, i had to buy a copy to have it in my collection, but i never had the chnce to finish it, it's hard as nails. Btw, another Snake Rattle'n Roll fan here! a childhood classic!
It's definitely awesome for many reasons, but especially the atmosphere. And Snake Rattle 'n Roll was a tough game to finish. I love it, but my goodness is the back half of that game a climb!
Nice to see you enjoyed this game. It's very reminiscent of isometric games on the ZX Spectrum. Knight Lore, Head Over Heels, and Batman are computer classics.
Wow. I never played this one growing up, but Landstalker for Genesis was my favorite game in the ‘90s. Why did no one ever tell me how heavily Landstalker’s platforming play got yanked from this. Now, Landstalker still has a bigger world with bigger mazes, more story, etc, and is fun in its own right, but I have to say that I don’t think there would be a Landstalker without this. Timing the jumps, putting blocks on monsters’ heads…it’s all there.
I agree about isometric games! Always loved them in that era. The perspective was odd for jumping, but that added to the fun. I always liked the looks of them.
@@hungrygoriya Equinox on SNES was the sequel, and then there’s Landstalker on Genesis/MD. One of my personal favorites is actually Dark Savior, the sequel to Landstalker on the Sega Saturn. Highly underrated game if you ask me. If you have a means of playing Amiga, I also recommend D/Generation, a cyberpunk-themed isometric puzzle-platformer. I can play that one for hours at a stretch.
@@alexc836 I've played Landstalker, but not Equinox just yet. I've been looking for a copy of Dark Saviour for a while but haven't managed to come across one. It's looks very cool! I don't currently have a way to play Amiga, but I'll jot that down just in case. Thanks for the suggestion!
I’ve always held off on this game, but your video makes me want to try it again👍🏻 I will say the title screen music has some of the best prog rock the NES has to offer!
I hope you'll try it out! It's definitely worth playing if you don't mind the isometric controls. The title screen was so good that I didn't want to even put it in the video since I'd have to talk over it. It deserves to be heard without me droning on!
Finally got around to watching this, glad to see a lovely positive review of this game. My frustrations are similar to yours with the continue system, but I feel it was also purposeful as this is typically what cruel english devs did back then lol. Other than that block jumps can be frustrating midair as sometimes you'll swear you placed it midair but it won't come out and you''ll die. Playing this for the first time it did take more than a while to find the correct path to the end, but my strategy became to find as many extra lives as possible and then get all staff pieces alone that route. Speedrunning this briefly was one of the more daunting challenges I have done, but it felt good to be able to mainly consistently beat this now. 100% would be another challenge in itself. Great video and I look forward to seeing more!
Thanks for taking the time to check this review out. I can't even imagine what kind of perfection you need to speedrun this one, especially with what you've mentioned about blocks not coming out when they're supposed to. It must take not only skill, but also a little luck for the game to not eat all of your inputs! I watched a 100% speedrun video after I beat the game and saw places I never dreamed existed. It's cool just how much there still is to discover after the game's done.
@@hungrygoriya there's also a weird thing where when you place a block midair, your foot only touches the block i think every 3 frames? Which means if you arent touching it you cant repick it up in midair and its RIP. Oh and I imagine you create all your own footage, but if you ever need some gameplay and game audio samples for your videos, feel free to grab anything you like from my channel if its relevant :)
@@DiamondLongplays Yeesh... it's no wonder it can happen and happen so often too! And thanks for the offer! I try to write my scripts with specific things in my mind from my own playthroughs, but I'll definitely tap you on the shoulder if I need to someday. Much appreciated!
I had this game as a very young kid, back when it was pretty new. I ran out of patience pretty fast, haha. It wasn't until years later, with a game genie code that gave me infinite potions, that I finally finished it. It still took me multiple days, and needing to talk my parents into letting me leave the NES on overnight, to do it. It's a game I look back on fondly, but I think I was just too young to appreciate it and I can't say I feel any urge to play it again now that I'm an old man. Still, I'm always happy to see it evaluated critically like this, especially when the conclusion is that it's a good game. It absolutely is, and it's such an unusual one for the NES that anyone who hasn't played it should at least try it out blind once or twice before going to U Can Beat Video Games or something to learn the fastest strategy to beat it.
The Game Genie was my best friend when I was little. I actually looked up some codes when I was making this video just to see what was in there, and I was pleased to see that they weren't all totally useless! I also read about an in-game code that gives you a ridiculous amount of lives from Nintendo Power as well. I played with none of that and I also think people should try to figure this one out for themselves if they're going to play it these days. It's the type of thing you can only experience once before you know how to solve some of the problems. I still need to watch U Can Beat Video Games' video on Solstice. Now that I've gotten my review together and have finished the game the way I wanted to, I'll enjoy listening to his strats and suggestions. What a fun channel!
@@hungrygoriya Ah, sorry, I didn't meant to suggest that you did, or that anybody else should, play the game with cheats on. Only that, as an impatient kid (I forget how old, but it has to have been 12 or younger), that's what I did, and it's unfortunately ruined the idea of replaying the game for me now. I certainly think it's worth playing legit, and wish I'd done so when I was old enough to have the patience to take notes and really learn the ins and outs.
@@Ratralsis Oh goodness, I didn't take it like that at all! I think it's great that people play however they like. Whatever makes you happy, you know? I spent my entire childhood playing games with the Game Genie and only started working on beating things without it in my 20s.
I'm still catching up on your vids and I think I may have recommended this game to play at some point, so I was glad to see u had already done it and made a review. This was a sweet game as a kid though very tough and very underrated for its time. The music was done by an expert that was plagued by terrible games with excellent music, but this game had the best of both, and I think it had a great atmosphere. It terrified the shit out of me as a kid and that scream was a perfect reward for messing up and to keep you from ever wanting to mess up again. I had mixed feelings about the ending, it's incredibly short and sweet for what it is, and I both love and hate it. The whimsical tone that is played while you're blowing up Morbius is hilarious and it made me happy and sad all at the same time. I wanted the game to go on just a little longer...I suppose that' could be considered a sign of a pretty good ending when you are left wanting just a little more.
I suppose it's a good choice to get going while the going's good, so to speak. If the game had overstayed its welcome, maybe we all wouldn't feel so fondly about it. I'm glad you liked it too!
An ICE-ometric game just in time for the winter season ;D Jokes aside, Solstice's open-ended map with non-linear solutions to the puzzles is so ahead of its time, definitely not something I'd expect from an NES title. It's also quite the graphical showcase, something about the isometric look always just looks really cool to me. Happy holidays, Goriya! 🎄
I thought it was an absolutely brilliant game. I was so sad when it was over. I wanted more! Happy holidays to you as well! I hope you find some time to relax over the next little while.
Hey! First time commenting, but love the channel. I don’t know if you’ve had a chance to play Tunic yet, but if you love ambiguous adventuring, I can’t recommend it enough!
I first discovered this game because of Benzaie, a French RUclips who used to do his videos in English. We're talking like... 2008. Man, I miss his videos
@@hungrygoriya Oh probably not worth getting into his channel as he still updates it often, but they're all in French now. Turns out he got pretty big in France. And I did play Solstice after watching his video though I never finished it xD
Happy Southern Solstice. Ps: I caller like that because it's more accurate no matter of north(winter) or south(summer) hemisphere; the sun is more inclined to that direction.
Enjoyed the video. Never played it myself but had an amazing time a few years ago watching streamer PJ Dicesare grind the **6 minute** speedrun. So it was fun watching a more conventional review. My only complaint is that you didn't play the amazing title screen music!
I know a few folks that speedrun this. It's ridiculous how fast it is when you know exactly what to do! And yeah... I couldn't talk over that masterpiece haha! It deserves to be heard fully.
I think the thing that draws me in to isometric games is that they almost always have a beautiful aesthetic. I tend to like geometric themes in general, but here especially, with the vibrant colors on black, the game is simply gorgeous with a sprinkle of mystery and wonder.
Totally! I really like the aesthetic in this one. Such good atmosphere! I saw a bit of Equinox and I'm not sure that I'll like it as much as Solstice. Without anything else to go off of, the visuals don't really seem to be in the same league. They're so bright :(
@@hungrygoriya I was never able to get into Equinox, either, but I think it's going to be one of those games like the Mega Man XTREME (you have to say it like that) titles and the Zelda Oracle titles, where I'm going to drag myself through it, just so I can stop starting it because I don't remember what I don't like about it. The only thing I really remember about Equinox is the so-'90s-it-hurts ad campaign it had in magazines back in the day.
I initially played this when I was too young to really understand the mechanics. Your review makes me eager to try it out again, especially since I enjoyed Equinox
It's crazy you reviewed this game recently. I was just thinking about Solstice the other day. Great game with good controls and solid music. I also have a love affair with 2D isometric games. Snake Rattle n Roll is my jam too! Always got a kick outta the random big disembodied feet. No pun intended.
@@hungrygoriya They share similar creative DNA to be sure. A large number of those 8-Bit 2D isometric flip screen (instead of side scrolling) action games from the era are of British origin. We got a bunch of them here, but a lot more of them were exclusive British home computer platforms. You can see some of this from Rare's output on the NES. Rare took advantage of the system's ability to redraw the screen elements quicker than those home computers. That's why Snake Rattle n Roll is isometric yet doesn't use a flip screen framework. Same thing with RC Pro Am, nothing but smooth scrolling while still being isometric.
The only isometric (light) platformer I can think of to recommend is Hakoniwa Explorer Plus, a recentish indie title. It’s marketed as a smut game, but I’d say strictly speaking it’s inexplicit, mostly just vulgar in the dialogue. Visuals are truly delightful, with every tile on the grid animated with bouncy pixel art (charming enough to overcome my… initial distaste lol). The gameplay is focused on exploring with some basic action rpg combat. Easy, though progression can get a little obtuse (nothing you can’t handle I expect). All in all, fun to breeze through and 100% in under 20 hours. Has a free demo on Steam and regular sales, so if you’re hankering for more in the genre it might be worth a look (though admittedly perhaps outside the usual wheelhouse of your channel).
Fantastic game, My reflexes are not good enough to play Solstice anymore but I did enjoy a playthrough over on U Can Beat Video Games channel a few months back.
This is one of the games that I most wish had a save feature. I love the atmosphere and the concept and have tried playing it various times over the last thirty years, but I've never been able to power all the way through in a single sitting.
It definitely gets rough towards the end, but I think I was able to get through with practice and learning where all the extra lives were. Once you know how to approach each room, you can get pretty far without even dying!
I just got this game the other day (mainly because of Tim Follin's awesome opening music) and I was really surprised to find out just how good of a game it is--I feel vindicated that I passed on trying out Bubsy for this one! The game design is surprisingly solid (though yes, the perspective is tricky and takes some time to get used to). It's definitely challenging, but seldom unfair. The games open ended structure and emphasis on problem solving reminds me a lot of MYST, one of my all time favorite games, only player skill is just as much a factor as brain power in this game. I can tell this is a game that really knows how to make trial and error work in it's favor and feel rewarding instead of frustrating, just like Sonic 1 (another favorite). I imagine it'll be fun to Speedrun it once I get a grip on it. I think the Credit system is actually a great way of motivating the player too. 8$ more than well spent, to say the least. And I have to say, I really liked how informative your review is!
It's so great to hear that you enjoyed your time with Solstice. I was also very pleasantly surprised by all the things you mentioned here, like the rewarding goal-setting and the trial and error. I adore this kind of gameplay immensely. All the best to you with the speedrun when you get around to it. It looks very technical and fun to perfect! And thanks about the review! I try to make my videos as complete as possible without spoiling anything significant. I'm glad you thought it had lots of good info it.
God this brings back memories. One of the only games my sister and I agreed on. We spent weeks with graph paper mapping the whole game out... I miss the 90's :(
It's great that you got to spend some quality time with your family playing some video games. I also miss those days! I used to play NES with my family as well.
Yet another great review from Hungry! I miss isometric platformers. LandStalker and Light Crusader over on the Genesis were two of my favorites. With all the genre revivals occurring within the indie development scene, I have to wonder if a really great isometric platformer hasn't already surfaced there. I should really go find out. Keep it up Hungry, the content is excellent!
I just finished up Landstalker a few weeks ago and it was another awesome game! I'd definitely like to review that one soon too. Here's hoping people get on the isometric platformer train when developing. I'd be down for more of this for sure!
@@hungrygoriya We will be looking forward to that and many more reviews in the future. Here's hoping your channel continues to grow! Thank you for replying.
Have you heard of the sequel to this game on the SNES called Equinox? It's pretty similar, but with a few nice upgrades. You still die if a single pixel touches anything dangerous and I've had some trouble getting used to how close I can get, but you have a refillable health bar that counts as your "lives". Potions are replaced with magic here, and the first spell you can find is a healing spell, so you basically have infinite lives. There's an overworld with monster spawns and dungeons that you can exit out of from certain rooms, and some of them are interconnected. The only downgrade I can find so far is that there isn't a map, which is kind of strange since Solstice has one. I'm really enjoying it so far!
Truly the definition of the squishy mage archetype. Since you like using the original manuals in these old games, I feel like you would enjoy a lot of the old Electronic Arts games for the Genesis. Those are pretty much the only retro games I go out of my way to get the manuals for, because they are usually very good. Especially Starflight, which may well have the best manual ever made for a video game, and is also a game I think you would enjoy.
Great review and thank you for bringing more attention to game manuals! Even for retro game fans it's so easy to forget how important (and how fun!) they could be.
They're such an integral component to any playthrough for me. It's my pleasure to feature them somewhat in most videos. They're always a part of my experience if available!
@@hungrygoriya looking from videos it doesn't have the isometric of the arcade original. still looks pretty fun though! Never had a master system, but my cousin did. Played a ton of Rastan on it (another I also loved in the arcades)
There's another isometric game like this on the GameBoy, Monster Max, it's pretty rare, but it's really good. There's also more modern inspirations like Lumo on modern systems. You can also get Head over Heels on the Switch, one of the influences for Solstice.
Oh nice to know about Head over Heels. It's been recommended to me a bunch! And Monster Max you say? I'll have to look into that one. I haven't played it yet or even really heard of it before.
A lot of people told me this when I played through the game, so I kept the sound out of the video! There were times I didn't think I'd make it through either. It's definitely tough!
I got through this once as a kid, from many, many, many, many times trying and dying over and over again. A bit like the movie Edge of Tomorrow lol. Eventually I figured out a route to go through and when I completed it I had one hell of a sense of achievement. I thought the music was great 👍
Wow, I've never played this game, but it reminds me a lot of Equinox on the SNES! Maybe it's just cause of the isometric view point, but I'm getting some real nostalgia just watching this review.
Wow! A gamer that ACTUALLY knows what she is talking about! I'm watching your older videos, and I'm in heaven!! You really do make sense! You got my Bell Sub! Very awesome and very good!❤
The fact you said "get bent" made me giddy lol. This is a game I've owned for awhile but haven't given a shot yet. I even managed to get a CIB copy, too! Thanks for the thoughts on it, HG!
It's a part of my regular vocabulary these days, haha... it seemed fitting! There was another place in this game that I kept automatically dying in because I wouldn't be paying enough attention. That place can also get bent. Good luck with it if you decide to take it out for a spin.
I love Solstice. I still have the game to this day. I just wish I still had the box and instructions manual. I used to play it multiple times. Maybe I'll give it a try soon.
I'd love to own this one with the box and manual as well. I just have that cartridge with all the sticker residue on it that I showed in the video. On the bright side, the manual's online if you need it to reference.
A friend bought it for me when it first came out. It was the only game I played until I finally beat it. Then I would go back and defeat each room differently. I just need to get a functioning NES.
Great video. I'm probably focusing on the wrong thing, but this game impressed me with how it handles sprites. Especially how they move in front of & behind background elements. That and the title theme. :)
There's a great little documentary out there that shows some of the thought behind its development. Here's Part 1! ruclips.net/video/894_PNqBkx4/видео.html
If you like this title might I suggest the sequel? Its the one I played a lot and, in my opinion, is a worthy follow up! In fact I learned about this one after when seeing a couple reviews. It even keeps the same naming conventions: Equinox! For the SNES. I use to rent that one so many times just to try and get further. Yes it has a save feature but when renting you often don’t have that file when you get it again. So of course the first couple areas I know by heart. I say areas cause Equinox has an over world and dungeons to explore! Anyways, always fun seeing your videos 😊
I have a copy of Equinox sitting on the shelf and waiting to be played. After I played Solstice, I worked through Landstalker, and then took a little break from isometric stuff. I'll definitely play Equinox sometime though.
@@hungrygoriya landstalker? Nice! I get you though. Landstalker can drive one nuts with how it plays. Love it though for the focus on finding a treasure horde 💰
I loved watching you play this. Solstice holds a very special place with me. I'm not very good at it at all, but that doesn't hasten my enjoyment of it. It really is a quirky title that people enjoy, once they get a good handle of it. And yes, it can definitely get addicting. It's one of those, "YES! I finally progressed. Okay...let's get a little further." Wonderful video, friend. Nicely done.
It definitely brought out the best and the worst of my "one more time" disease. I needed to finish this game. There was no other choice! And thanks Wally! I appreciate you!
Love this! Snake rattle and roll was MY JAM back in '90. A video store by my house had it and solstice and I would rent one or the other a lot. Once, my grandma gave me a little extra allowance and I rented both. One of the best weekends of my life.
Yes! Always loved this one. I came back to it 6-8 yrs ago & most of it came back pretty quickly so it wasn't so hard. I was able to find my way around and remember how to collect the 1-ups, etc. But man, at first I gave up on Solstice a couple of different times because of one jump right near the end, that I just didn't understand. Then, on a later effort, when I got there, it clicked! --Don't miss the sequel, Equinox.
I had the hardest time with the last few screens of the game before the last staff piece. So much trying and failing before I got it! It was still fun though, and I'm happy I stuck it out. There was no way I was giving up that deep into it! And I do plan to play Equinox one of these days too. I've had it for a while but it was on loan to a friend for a bit.
Soundtrack is incredible.
Tim Follin is a genius.
Tim, it’s just Pictionary! Why did you go so hard?
Beautiful review and I love that you timed it out and released it for Winter Solstice.
I was a smidgen late, but I'm glad the sentiment still stands! Thanks so much :)
Actually listening to you critque something is one of the most relaxing experiences I have. Most people when they don't like something is just rant about how much it sucks over and over again. People just love to talk sh*t but you actually go out of your way of the ins and outs of the game.
That's definitely my goal here. I like to talk about my own personal experience with the game and really play it to the best of my ability to see what I can get out of it. Thanks very much!
I’m so happy you gave Solstice a play through. It’s my favorite video game ever made. I even bought a Pontiac Solstice because of it. I bet for a newcomer to this game it’s most likely extremely difficult. Thank you for not giving up on it! At this point I can beat Solstice in like 20 minutes or less. The World record is much shorter. So there is even more room for improvement showing this game has a high skill ceiling. Thank you so much for reviewing this title and Merry Christmas Goriya! If you are looking for another challenge and another amazing game then I recommend Solomon’s Key. Up is jump so that may be off putting at first but you get use to it. Some of the items can be altered by attacking them with a wand and there are many secrets. Solomon’s Key is one of the most difficult games ever created and it’s later puzzle stages are a master class in frustration and wonderful design. Good luck. 🍀
It's so much fun. To be honest, I was really sad when it was over.
Awesome that you can get through it so quickly. I can totally see that after you get a feel for the game and find a path that suits you well. Have you ever done it deathless? And I know a few folks that speedrun it. It's actually beautiful to watch!
Merry Christmas to you too! I would love to play Solomon's Key some day. Thanks for the suggestion!
How did you like your Pontiac? I’ve always wanted one.
@@MarcosCodas Ha!
Yogidamonk on twitch is an amazing Solstice AND Solomon's Key speedrunner, last I knew he had the world records for both games.
@@dryzalizer Yeah Yogi's awesome! Very talented on all fronts.
Great review, entertaining and informative as always. I have to admit that I'm a little disappointed you didn't mention the best part though, the part right after when Morbius kidnaps the princess at the beginning, when he yells "it's Morbin' time!" and he morbs all over the player character.
You're the second person to mention this reference... I have no idea what it's about other than something Power Rangers related... and I'm scared...
@@hungrygoriya it's mocking Marvel's recent Morbius flop, nothing to be scared of unless you manage Marvel's profits.
@@thefinegameofnil7158 Oh okay... good enough! I was concerned it was some cool kid speak.
I'm super glad that I FINALLY remembered what this game was called! I used to be a big fan of a sort of fan-made spiritual successor called Maristice, but couldn't remember the name of the game it was referencing.
Maristice is PC only and I've only made it about 10 minutes in, so I can't vouch for quality, but you might want to check it out if you need something that scratches this particular itch.
Right on! Thanks for the suggestion. I'm always looking for something like this to try, so I'll check out Maristice!
I think that's the most positive review I've ever seen for Solstice. I'm glad to see that you enjoyed the game as much as I did.
It was my third game on the NES and I was absolutely obsessed by it. I think its biggest strength is the creepy atmosphere: the weird (but exceptional) music, the horrible scream when Shadax die, the monsters (even if they are sometimes quite goofy, special mention to the "foot with glasses"), the lack of fighting mechanism making me feel small, lost, and out of control. It was even more rewarding to me when I was finally making some progress against all odds.
Many criticize the fact that the game plays on the perspective to dupe the player. It's one of my favorite feature. I really like optical illusions, it reminds me that reality is often not as it seems. It push me to be more humble, somehow.
I finished it back in the days; I never really relied on the credits because, as you said, they sometimes bring you so far back they become useless. I still remember my favorite path to finish the game, it's printed in my memory forever. I could also finish it without using potions (almost, at least one room require it) and without grabbing extra life. I should put that on my CV.
I was so obsessed that I spent countless hours drawing rooms on paper, dreaming that, one day, I would create my own Solstice game. I totally forgot about that; maybe I should look at creating a romhack. That would be fun.
Equinox is really good too, but the atmosphere is quite different: more mysterious than creepy. I almost finished it when I was in the university; it's hard as nail, and there are no save whatsoever so you need to finish it in one go (I was playing on original hardware). The last level is insane, if I remember right it's as big as Solstice itself (350 rooms if I remember right). And before that there are many, many other challenges.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane :)
It was a phenomenal game and was very easy to fall in love with. I'm not sure why other folks would be so put off by an isometric game with a few tricky/deceptive maneuvers. I do seem to do well with that kind of game better than most, but like anything else, it just takes practice, as well as trial and error.
I'm so glad you enjoyed this one. It's great to hear from someone who has played the game and knows it as well as you do. I'm excited to try Equinox sometime, but from what I've seen of it so far, I don't think I'll enjoy it nearly as much as Solstice. Here's hoping it'll still be fun though!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here.
For some backstory on why Shadax is so muscular on the cover art (and more cool stories) look for a PDF "Classic Game Covers" by Mike Winterbauer, the artist who did the Solstice box and poster art. Basically he met a bodybuilder at a grocery store and really wanted to use him as a model for something.
I'd heard that he can't remember what that person's name is! I had a friend recently reach out to him by email and he replied back saying he doesn't remember who the model was. I will definitely check out that document though!
I've come to rely on this channel for what I now think of as "cozy reviews." They're nostalgic, even though I haven't played most of the games. They come from a place of love for the games, so even the more critical ones are respectful in their tone. No yelling or anger or insults. Just thoughtful and practical critique.
These are games I want to play on a Sunday morning with some comfort food and an old-school controller. They're also just off-the-beaten-track enough of retro classics without feeling elitist or condescending. Just all around great stuff.
Thank you very much for your kindness. This sums up exactly what I hope to bring to the video game review world, and I'm glad it's shining through that way.
Fantastic video and Happy Solstice! This is definitely on my list of top NES games and all of your complaints and praise I completely agree with.
Haha great timing.
Happy Solstice to you too! I can see why you put this close to the top of your NES games list. It was so much fun to figure all of it out.
I love that you refer to mistranslations and typos in manuals as "lying". It gives it a sinister kind of malicious feel, and I think "The 10 Worst Times Retro Game Manuals Lied To You" or something more succinct and catchy would be an awesome compilation video.
Ha! I will see if I can scrounge up some examples and make that video some day. I can think of two already...
I’ve seen pictures of that mage before and had no idea where it was from. Also, I’ve heard this game’s soundtrack multiple times without knowing anything about it. Thanks for your take on this game. I appreciate that you include a highlight on the manual since that is a crucial part of the retro game experience that gets overlooked in many reviews. Thanks for another great video!
That's good old Shadax! And thank you about the video. Manuals are really important to me as a part of my play experience so it makes sense to share them best I can with everyone.
The intro music is also solid gold, everywhere from the little fakeout intro down to its prog rock roots.
Such good title screen music! I couldn't bear to speak over its beauty!
I remember playing this game for hours on end and would get so frustrated every time I died. The first time I ever beat this game was almost certainly by accident through sheer determination. Even with as crazy hard as it was this is still one of my favorites. Also that rock music title theme is one of the greatest ever produced!
It was definitely a great challenge getting through this one. I started shaking off the deaths after I realized how many free lives I could get, and once I had a path that worked for me, I made sure to farm the lives as much as I could.
The music in this game does NOT get old at all. That title screen music could blow some speakers for unexpecting people with how loud it gets! It definitely startled me the first time but it's such a great tune!
This is one of the top 5 NES games for me. Absolutely brilliant game. Amazing atmosphere, so original and unique. It keeps on giving until you beat it completely. Great music, great visuals and super fun to play.
Absolutely! It's a fantastic game and I hope more people get the opportunity to play it.
This was a great video, as always! I got this game as a kid for Christmas of 1991, and at first, I absolutely hated it. I was so used to the typical side scrolling left to right style games, and this was a whole new experience for me. But I found myself continuously going back to this game, and it quickly became one of my favourite games, and still is to this day.
I'm glad it eventually won you over!
Ooooh the nostalgia! I spent many a night as a child playing NES games with my mom. Solstice was one of the most challenging ones we played together, but it really brought us together trying to figure it out. Thankfully we had a couple old guides and books with lots of advice on progression that helped us proceed without just spilling out exactly what to do.
Good times with a good game. I haven't picked it up again in over 20 years, but I just don't know that I'd have the patience to try to figure out everything again.
You might be surprised at how quickly things may start flooding back to you! It's very sweet that you used to play this with your mom. What nice memories!
Every time I go back and play retro games, I'm amazed that there were people out there who could persevere through these. Emulation and the save state feature that it gives you access to is an absolute godsend.
I definitely see the appeal of save states and emulation! I'm usually on original hardware and don't have that luxury, but I can appreciate people being able to enjoy games the way they want to.
@@hungrygoriya Yeah, I did play this game back in the 90's and I really liked it but it ultimately defeated me along with pretty much every other NES game. Thanks for your video though! I'm totally going back for my sweet, sweet revenge!
@@BandoidView You can do it! I believe!
I wasn't aware of this game for the NES. Thank you for covering it.
Thanks!
Thank you very much!
Awesome as always. Something we did when we were kids was to hold the controller sideways so that left was now up and down was now left. It sounds weird but for some reason it does make the isometric platforming more fluid.
If it works, it works! I never had trouble with the D-pad orientation since that isometric control was burned into my memory. If they'd deviated the standard between different games though, it would've been a total loss for me!
@@hungrygoriya I tried it recently with Snake Rattle 'N Roll and Marble Madness and it did not work the same way it did with Solstice. No idea why, the isometric gods work in mysterious ways!
wonderful review as usual! this is on my short list of must beat NES stuff for 2023
Yessssssss I look forward to your time with it! I deliberately didn't show many room transitions just for people like you who have yet to play. You're gonna love it!
I remember hearing of this title but never seen so much footage. Very interesting concept, and you did a great job promoting and reviewing it ;p
It's a fantastic game. I hope others will feel encouraged to give this one a shot!
very clear and calming vocals.
subbed!
Thanks very much! It's just my regular old speaking voice. I'm pretty blessed.
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised...one of my favorite NES games ever is Faxanadu, and here you have a wonderful review of Solstice, the predecessor to one of my all-time favorite SNES games, Equinox. I never played (or have even SEEN) a copy of Solstice, but I will always remember that Equinox was the first video game ever that my Dad actually complemented the music (otherwise he complained about it, and for good reason most of the time). It was also a great game, but I still occasionally start it up just to listen to the music.
I really need to play Equinox one of these days. I've had it for a while, but I wasn't entirely sure I'd like it as much as Solstice just for how different it looks/seems to play based on what I've seen from others.
@@hungrygoriya I played it back when you could still rent games for SNES, and I believe I rented it. Because of that, I never really got very far and the game is a bit challenging. Now I'm not as much into playing it myself, but I will always remember the music
This video just came up in my recommended feed, and I was like, oh yeah, HungryGoriya reviewed Solstice a while back! I wonder what I commented on that video? So I clicked to find out.
To my surprise, despite Solstice being one of my favorite games of all time, it seems... I never commented on this video at all?! Egad!
Rewatching the video, I'm not even sure I ever watched it before, as I don't remember hearing your talking points about it at all. But I'm glad to have watched it now, and glad to hear you enjoyed it! This, Legacy of the Wizard, Goonies II, Zelda II, Castlevania II, Faxanadu, and Crystalis are basically my top-tier adventure experiences on the NES growing up, and so far, you've raved about every one of them (making me all the more excited for your eventual Goonies II review!). And a lot of the games you've reviewed that I hadn't heard of before are games I've since played and enjoyed, so yeah -- really glad to be subscribed to you, as you have excellent taste! ;)
(Though I will say, I for one quite like the continue system in Solstice, as I find it's a nice balance of risk/reward -- similar to the checkpoints in Shovel Knight, where you can either set your checkpoint there, or destroy the checkpoint for a ton of money. It gives you the option to choose your own fate, so to speak, and increases the game's sense of tension all the more. Nonstandard, but very interesting, and only adds to the game's atmosphere. I can absolutely see why you dislike it, but you've gotta admit... it makes everything just that little bit more exciting, doesn't it? Heheh.)
Yes! One of my favorite games. The exploration, the atmosphere, the soundtrack... A fantastic experience. And I cheered when you mentioned the manual. I read through it so many times.
Loved the story, though as a child I missed that the layout of Kâstleröck is described in it. I also got the sense that Morbius usurped the castle from previous inhabitants, hence the secret entrance he was unaware of, and that Morbius is so powerful that even his basic mooks cannot be hurt by someone as powerful as Shadax.
Also noticed that the game makes it seem like a standard "rescue the princess" plot, but when you actually look at the manual, Shadax was already intending to go on this quest on that evening regardless.
It's a very cool game! I absolutely adored the manual for this one. I spent a lot of time as a kid reading and rereading the ones for The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros. 2 and Faxanadu so I'm always really excited when I run into games that are also that well done. The one for solstice is even extra neat because of the great writing in it. It just sets the stage so well!
I like your observations about the castle entrance and the enemies. Morbius probably forced his way in and took it all over, and didn't have a chance to search through it entirely before going on his power quest! I like that the game gets you to think about it like this!
Surprise HG video?! Well, Merry Christmas to me! I’ve definitely been looking forward to this one since we were talking about it a while back. Thanks again for doing what you do!
Surprise! Thanks for stopping by and Merry Christmas to you indeed!
@@hungrygoriya Merry Christmas to you as well!
Ok I did giggle into my coffee on your delivery of "as he screamed into the sky". One of the things I like best about your streams and RUclips content is your in depth look at games that I personally wouldn't probably play. Its a great way to enjoy something that I would have probably otherwise passed up. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this one!
That's definitely where I've really found my rhythm! Playing the stuff people might be curious about but don't want to play for themselves! Hooray!
Solstice is a nerve-wracking game, but one id say really helped me pursue and conquer my fear of isometric games that started with the original Zaxxon. I love playing this game. And youre absolutely right. The instruction booklet is so great at creating a sense of ambience, as manuals should. I tried the sequel and it pales slightly, but its probably due to all the enjoyment my wife and i got out of Solstice. The world of isometric games owes a little something to it and we, your loyal fans owe something to you for illustrating some of the finer points of this creative game.
Nerve-wracking is a great way to describe this one! There's so much about it that requires diving in and hoping for the best. I really appreciate games that challenge you to be skillful but also measured in your approach. Solstice definitely demands that! I'm glad this game helped you break out of your fears and embrace other isometric adventures. I've yet to play Equinox, but I'd certainly like to someday.
And thanks so much for our kindness! I appreciate you taking the time to watch.
@@hungrygoriya thanks for always giving these classics your time, even the demanding NES games that have slowly escaped my periphery. Your explanations are some of the best Ive encountered. Feather in your cap, for sure. Great reminder of why a fun past time need not only be about collecting of these games, but playing them and fully exploring them. You mention a few things that really put replaying/trying to solve this gem on my priority list for this week.
@@samfrito Oh nice! Well, I appreciate that! I put a lot of time into not only playing the games, but writing about them too. I'm glad that comes across smoothly. I hope your new attempts at Solstice are fruitful!
Wow nice review. I remember that played this game back in the day at a friends place. Years ago I bought it but didn’t really gave it a try because reviews were so so.
Now that I’ve seen your video I will add solstice to my holiday play list. Your way of explaining the game really intrigued me to give this game a real chance.
Thanks 🙏
All the best on your playthrough! I believe in you!
Great review and timing haha I just had my solstice party. This video was nice to relax to, your delivery is really nice.
I tried very hard to get it out for actual Winter Solstice, but now I can tell a little story about how that's the night the adventure was happening and we only now get to talk about it. That's how I've justified my day lateness, anyway! I hope you had a lovely party!
Thank you for that video, was very well made and you have a wonderful voice for reviews. I haven't played Solstice since I was a kid and what a game it was! I was rubbish at it, but it was worth playing for the music alone.
Thank you very much! I appreciate you checking out the review and hearing your thoughts on the game. The music here was so good all the time. I still put on the main theme while I'm working sometimes and it never gets old.
@@hungrygoriya I enjoyed your review so much I just got my NES out of the attic and bought a copy of Solstice on eBay 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration!
@@Spaceboysteve This is so nice to hear! I hope you have a blast with it. I bet that NES will fire up with no trouble at all. Good luck to you!
Goriya, stumbled upon your channel and been watching a bunch of your videos over the past few days. Love your approach to your content, and just wanted to say keep up the great work!
Posting a video a week is tough, but if you can do it, I'm sure your channel will go. You're so genuine! :)
Hey thanks so much! Unfortunately I have a lot going on in life so it's hard to keep a consistent schedule, never mind finish games that quickly! I do stream four times a week and have a full time job on top of this lovely hobby.
I’m going to be 60 in a month and this was my favorite game when my boys were young. I’ve been getting the components together to be able to play on a modern tv. Back in the 90s I wanted to build a 3D rendering so I could look over at it when I needed to see where I had been and where I needed to go instead of changing screens to look at the map. Had to order another copy bc I found that mine was not working. Aiming to play this on my birthday. So glad others enjoy it also! Great review! And fun to watch. As you made your points about the game I was agreeing with you right along! Thank you for putting this out there. I hope more people try it.
Happy early birthday! I hope you enjoy revisiting this one, and good luck getting it up and running. I'd love it if more people took a chance on Solstice as well. Once you push past some of the difficulty of the perspective, it's really fun!
@@hungrygoriya thank you! 😊
Phenomenal game!! I rented this in the eighties as a young teenager. Absolutely clueless and got nowhere. Fast forward 30+ years to present day I now own Solstice on my emulator. Happy to say I’ve finished the game all these years later. But I will also confess I had the help of a walkthrough. And abused the hell out of save states!! Lol The sad part is I still felt that crazy sense of accomplishment afterwards! It’s pathetic for sure but I still thoroughly enjoyed the game and glad to see you did as well! Great job grinding through like a trooper! Love your retro reviews!
I don't think it's pathetic at all! I'd say play games however you want to. Not everyone has time or the patience to sit down and unravel an enormous puzzle like this game. Congratulations on making it through!
And thanks about the reviews! I'll keep them coming as long as I can here :)
@@hungrygoriya did you ever try the sequel, Equinox on the SNES?
So good memories .... First Nintendo i got at 7yo
Always special to listen to the Tim follin theme...
Thank you so much for sharing your love for this game ❤️
My pleasure! I'm glad there are others out there that love this game too. The music's fantastic!
Man, this looks like a game that I'd get lost in trying again and again to beat rooms. The isometric look definitely does kinda confuse my eyes, but the tunes and the art look too good to not at least try it out! You really sold me on this review!
It's very easy to dive deep into this game. It really has a way of sucking you right in! Good luck with it :)
used to play this when I was a kid.. it was to hard for me, but I got three pieces of staff at one point. I should really get back to this one.. it's still in my collection, so nothing can stop me! And I think the title-screen music is one of the (if not the) best song on the NES. Absolutely love it! Thanks for the video. Nice thing to watch while I'm eating breakfast.
I hope your breakfast was great! And I also hope you might report back with your victory if you manage to get through this! Good luck!
One of my favorite games from the NES as a kid. I would get lost in that dungeon for hours, and after awhile it felt like home.
I started to get that feeling too, especially towards the end after I'd spent a lot of time getting familiar with Kastlerock.
I was so excited when I get Solstice has a kid. I thought the cover art was amazing. I couldn't get through it. Thanks for the video and have a Marry Christmas.
There are some very mean sections here. Thanks for stopping in and Merry Christmas to you too!
Solstice has a sequel on the SNES named Equinox
multiple dungeons, your guy has an attack now, and there are some large boss monsters on the map to use it against
Yep, I've got Equinox on the shelf. I look forward to playing it someday.
That's when you know you're not going to make a third one. Just name them the two things there are, of that category.
@@hungrygoriya Equinox is sadly not quite as good as Solstice IMHO, as it kind of just feels a bit overly rough around the edges and REALLY likes to trick you with its perspective - something Solstice mostly avoided. But it does have more outstanding music (when it plays music at all, as half the game is just ambient sounds and stings), and some really cool visuals, plus an overworld with RPG-esque battles, so it’s definitely at least worth a look. I’m glad to have played and beaten it, but will almost certainly never play it again. Heheh.
There is also a pseudo-sequel to Solstice on Game Boy that I think most people aren’t even aware of, called Altered Space. It’s a better game than Equinox IMHO, but not as good as Solstice.
Anyway, I wanted to echo the comments from everyone else who said how glad they are that you enjoyed this game, because yeah - as you may recall, I’ve been hyping this game up in your comments for ages now. ;) It’s one of my favorite NES games for sure, right up there with Legacy of the Wizard and Goonies II (you definitely need to check that one out sometime, if you still haven’t!). It’s an absolute gem of a game, and just one little taste of the isometric adventure genre from Europe (particularly the UK) that we ‘Murricans mostly missed out on. There are so many more on microcomputers of the 8-bit era, though very few on Western consoles, sadly.
There is another on Game Boy, though, that was only released in Europe, called Monster Max. It looks absolutely amazing, though I have yet to try it. One day, it shall get my eye upon it! ;)
@@Wyrdwad I also can't really recommend Equinox, a friend of mine played it on stream and got totally stuck. We looked into it a bit and apparently there are fewer keys than there are doors so if you open all the doors on a particular level in the wrong order, you can softlock yourself. Not something someone who knows what they're doing would do, but an unlucky blind player....ugh.
@@dryzalizer Ah, yes, that is a very real possibility. It's unlikely to happen, but absolutely possible, and I remember thinking about it even as a kid, wondering how close I was to getting stuck.
Just in general, Equinox is not as good a game as its predecessor, sadly.
7:43 That is a bit of a troll because you can jump from the starting platform straight over to the boots by using the block. Way quicker and easier.
Haha well, I didn't know how to block jump at that point. I took the Shrek Express instead!
I finally got around to beating this game not too long ago. I had to map the heck out of it, but it was a blast to play. Glad to see you enjoyed it.
It was a fantastic one. For the map, did you draw out all the rooms as a single block on grid paper or something? The verticality and the different room sizes really stumped me on how to map so I didn't!
@@hungrygoriya It took numerous iterations the further I got each time. Eventually, I landed on a system that sized out perfectly. For the verticality, I just used arrows and numbers to represent where certain rooms connected: drive.google.com/file/d/14p4VUji5-2y3I9NNdxyJrdgShm_Pg9v4/view?usp=sharing
Cool video. I don't think I've ever heard of Solstice before and it looks pretty darn cool! You're just giving me too many NES games to add to my playlist! 🙂
Hope you enjoy the holidays.
It's such a good game! And good :) I hope to make your list even longer in the future!
The holidays have been great so far. I hope you've been enjoying them too!
I just picked this up at a game shop and the little bit I've played so far is really great. How did you not mention the title theme? I was blown away when I heard it. I was pretty surprised to see it sitting on the shelf along with titles like Milon's Secret Castle, Astyanax, The Legend of Zelda II, and an Asterix game, the name of which is escaping me. I'm trying out a game for the Game Gear called Crystal Warriors; it's pretty similar to Fire Emblem, if you've played any of those games, and I'm really liking it so far. The character portraits are gorgeous and I love these games that go after different kinds of gameplay when platforming and side-scrolling were the standard.
The intro song's awesome! I know I talked about the music a little in this one but might have skipped over the title theme. The in-game music's greatness was more important to me I guess!
Congrats on finding a copy! It's good to hear that you're enjoying it so far. It's really rewarding when progress is made so I hope you can eventually see the ending for yourself. GOod luck!
I didn't play Solstice, but I played its sequel on the SNES Equinox. Very interesting game as I recall, but I haven't played it since I was maybe 8 years old! I've been getting more interested in these isometric platforming/RPG type games lately, very interesting that they were doing this sort of stuff way back on the NES.
Oh nice! I've been looking forward to Equinox ever since I played this one. I hope it's everything you remember it to be if you play it again someday.
When i was a kid i loved this game, a friend of school had it and he let me borrow it a lot of times, i really loved the atmosphere and mystery of it, i had to buy a copy to have it in my collection, but i never had the chnce to finish it, it's hard as nails.
Btw, another Snake Rattle'n Roll fan here! a childhood classic!
It's definitely awesome for many reasons, but especially the atmosphere. And Snake Rattle 'n Roll was a tough game to finish. I love it, but my goodness is the back half of that game a climb!
Nice to see you enjoyed this game. It's very reminiscent of isometric games on the ZX Spectrum. Knight Lore, Head Over Heels, and Batman are computer classics.
I've gotta get into the ZX Spectrum library apparently! Thanks for the heads up!
Monster Max is a gameboy isometric platformer by the makers of Head Over Heels. Speccy games are barely able to run these while gameboy runs smoothly
Wow. I never played this one growing up, but Landstalker for Genesis was my favorite game in the ‘90s. Why did no one ever tell me how heavily Landstalker’s platforming play got yanked from this. Now, Landstalker still has a bigger world with bigger mazes, more story, etc, and is fun in its own right, but I have to say that I don’t think there would be a Landstalker without this. Timing the jumps, putting blocks on monsters’ heads…it’s all there.
I've played both games by now and I can definitely see some similarities. I really enjoyed Landstalker too!
I agree about isometric games! Always loved them in that era. The perspective was odd for jumping, but that added to the fun. I always liked the looks of them.
I can't get enough of them. I need more experiences like this one!
@@hungrygoriya Equinox on SNES was the sequel, and then there’s Landstalker on Genesis/MD. One of my personal favorites is actually Dark Savior, the sequel to Landstalker on the Sega Saturn. Highly underrated game if you ask me.
If you have a means of playing Amiga, I also recommend D/Generation, a cyberpunk-themed isometric puzzle-platformer. I can play that one for hours at a stretch.
@@alexc836 I've played Landstalker, but not Equinox just yet. I've been looking for a copy of Dark Saviour for a while but haven't managed to come across one. It's looks very cool!
I don't currently have a way to play Amiga, but I'll jot that down just in case. Thanks for the suggestion!
This channel is wholesome af
Thanks!
Hungry Goriya is wholesome af, I nicknamed her the Ned Flanders of Canada.
It's 3:00am and I just saw that you had uploaded a new video to your channel... Time to watch it!
I hope you enjoyed!
I have great memories of playing this with my father. We never could quite get that last staff piece.
The end of the game was so tough. I spent a long time trying to get through the last couple of screens.
I’ve always held off on this game, but your video makes me want to try it again👍🏻
I will say the title screen music has some of the best prog rock the NES has to offer!
I hope you'll try it out! It's definitely worth playing if you don't mind the isometric controls.
The title screen was so good that I didn't want to even put it in the video since I'd have to talk over it. It deserves to be heard without me droning on!
Finally got around to watching this, glad to see a lovely positive review of this game. My frustrations are similar to yours with the continue system, but I feel it was also purposeful as this is typically what cruel english devs did back then lol. Other than that block jumps can be frustrating midair as sometimes you'll swear you placed it midair but it won't come out and you''ll die. Playing this for the first time it did take more than a while to find the correct path to the end, but my strategy became to find as many extra lives as possible and then get all staff pieces alone that route. Speedrunning this briefly was one of the more daunting challenges I have done, but it felt good to be able to mainly consistently beat this now. 100% would be another challenge in itself.
Great video and I look forward to seeing more!
Thanks for taking the time to check this review out. I can't even imagine what kind of perfection you need to speedrun this one, especially with what you've mentioned about blocks not coming out when they're supposed to. It must take not only skill, but also a little luck for the game to not eat all of your inputs! I watched a 100% speedrun video after I beat the game and saw places I never dreamed existed. It's cool just how much there still is to discover after the game's done.
@@hungrygoriya there's also a weird thing where when you place a block midair, your foot only touches the block i think every 3 frames? Which means if you arent touching it you cant repick it up in midair and its RIP. Oh and I imagine you create all your own footage, but if you ever need some gameplay and game audio samples for your videos, feel free to grab anything you like from my channel if its relevant :)
@@DiamondLongplays Yeesh... it's no wonder it can happen and happen so often too!
And thanks for the offer! I try to write my scripts with specific things in my mind from my own playthroughs, but I'll definitely tap you on the shoulder if I need to someday. Much appreciated!
and... very well said!
Thank you again for all this good stuff to listen to while I grind through tedious tasks!
It's truly my pleasure to make these videos. Thanks for taking the time to watch/listen!
I had this game as a very young kid, back when it was pretty new. I ran out of patience pretty fast, haha. It wasn't until years later, with a game genie code that gave me infinite potions, that I finally finished it. It still took me multiple days, and needing to talk my parents into letting me leave the NES on overnight, to do it.
It's a game I look back on fondly, but I think I was just too young to appreciate it and I can't say I feel any urge to play it again now that I'm an old man.
Still, I'm always happy to see it evaluated critically like this, especially when the conclusion is that it's a good game. It absolutely is, and it's such an unusual one for the NES that anyone who hasn't played it should at least try it out blind once or twice before going to U Can Beat Video Games or something to learn the fastest strategy to beat it.
The Game Genie was my best friend when I was little. I actually looked up some codes when I was making this video just to see what was in there, and I was pleased to see that they weren't all totally useless! I also read about an in-game code that gives you a ridiculous amount of lives from Nintendo Power as well. I played with none of that and I also think people should try to figure this one out for themselves if they're going to play it these days. It's the type of thing you can only experience once before you know how to solve some of the problems.
I still need to watch U Can Beat Video Games' video on Solstice. Now that I've gotten my review together and have finished the game the way I wanted to, I'll enjoy listening to his strats and suggestions. What a fun channel!
@@hungrygoriya Ah, sorry, I didn't meant to suggest that you did, or that anybody else should, play the game with cheats on. Only that, as an impatient kid (I forget how old, but it has to have been 12 or younger), that's what I did, and it's unfortunately ruined the idea of replaying the game for me now. I certainly think it's worth playing legit, and wish I'd done so when I was old enough to have the patience to take notes and really learn the ins and outs.
@@Ratralsis Oh goodness, I didn't take it like that at all! I think it's great that people play however they like. Whatever makes you happy, you know? I spent my entire childhood playing games with the Game Genie and only started working on beating things without it in my 20s.
I'm still catching up on your vids and I think I may have recommended this game to play at some point, so I was glad to see u had already done it and made a review. This was a sweet game as a kid though very tough and very underrated for its time. The music was done by an expert that was plagued by terrible games with excellent music, but this game had the best of both, and I think it had a great atmosphere. It terrified the shit out of me as a kid and that scream was a perfect reward for messing up and to keep you from ever wanting to mess up again.
I had mixed feelings about the ending, it's incredibly short and sweet for what it is, and I both love and hate it. The whimsical tone that is played while you're blowing up Morbius is hilarious and it made me happy and sad all at the same time. I wanted the game to go on just a little longer...I suppose that' could be considered a sign of a pretty good ending when you are left wanting just a little more.
I suppose it's a good choice to get going while the going's good, so to speak. If the game had overstayed its welcome, maybe we all wouldn't feel so fondly about it. I'm glad you liked it too!
An ICE-ometric game just in time for the winter season ;D
Jokes aside, Solstice's open-ended map with non-linear solutions to the puzzles is so ahead of its time, definitely not something I'd expect from an NES title. It's also quite the graphical showcase, something about the isometric look always just looks really cool to me.
Happy holidays, Goriya! 🎄
I thought it was an absolutely brilliant game. I was so sad when it was over. I wanted more!
Happy holidays to you as well! I hope you find some time to relax over the next little while.
Hey! First time commenting, but love the channel. I don’t know if you’ve had a chance to play Tunic yet, but if you love ambiguous adventuring, I can’t recommend it enough!
Oh I've heard of Tunic! I haven't really gotten to dabble in many newer releases but that's one I've been thinking about. Thanks for the suggestion!
I first discovered this game because of Benzaie, a French RUclips who used to do his videos in English.
We're talking like... 2008. Man, I miss his videos
I haven't seen anything from him before. Maybe a new channel to dive into? Do you think you'll play this one someday? It's fun!
@@hungrygoriya Oh probably not worth getting into his channel as he still updates it often, but they're all in French now.
Turns out he got pretty big in France.
And I did play Solstice after watching his video though I never finished it xD
@@st1ka Oh nice! Yeah, my grasp on French is not so good... sad if the videos are good!
Maybe something to add to the list for finishing someday?
Happy Southern Solstice.
Ps: I caller like that because it's more accurate no matter of north(winter) or south(summer) hemisphere; the sun is more inclined to that direction.
Back at you!
Enjoyed the video. Never played it myself but had an amazing time a few years ago watching streamer PJ Dicesare grind the **6 minute** speedrun. So it was fun watching a more conventional review. My only complaint is that you didn't play the amazing title screen music!
I know a few folks that speedrun this. It's ridiculous how fast it is when you know exactly what to do!
And yeah... I couldn't talk over that masterpiece haha! It deserves to be heard fully.
I think the thing that draws me in to isometric games is that they almost always have a beautiful aesthetic. I tend to like geometric themes in general, but here especially, with the vibrant colors on black, the game is simply gorgeous with a sprinkle of mystery and wonder.
Totally! I really like the aesthetic in this one. Such good atmosphere! I saw a bit of Equinox and I'm not sure that I'll like it as much as Solstice. Without anything else to go off of, the visuals don't really seem to be in the same league. They're so bright :(
@@hungrygoriya I was never able to get into Equinox, either, but I think it's going to be one of those games like the Mega Man XTREME (you have to say it like that) titles and the Zelda Oracle titles, where I'm going to drag myself through it, just so I can stop starting it because I don't remember what I don't like about it. The only thing I really remember about Equinox is the so-'90s-it-hurts ad campaign it had in magazines back in the day.
I initially played this when I was too young to really understand the mechanics. Your review makes me eager to try it out again, especially since I enjoyed Equinox
Oh my friend, you're going to love it! Do you think you'd stream it?
@@hungrygoriya Oh yes, I would absolutely stream it!
@@g40rc378 If you do, let me know. I'd love to watch a first-time playthrough of this game!
It's crazy you reviewed this game recently. I was just thinking about Solstice the other day. Great game with good controls and solid music. I also have a love affair with 2D isometric games.
Snake Rattle n Roll is my jam too! Always got a kick outta the random big disembodied feet. No pun intended.
I think it's hilarious that there are also big disembodied feet in Solstice. I wonder if they're part of a shared universe, haha
@@hungrygoriya They share similar creative DNA to be sure. A large number of those 8-Bit 2D isometric flip screen (instead of side scrolling) action games from the era are of British origin. We got a bunch of them here, but a lot more of them were exclusive British home computer platforms.
You can see some of this from Rare's output on the NES. Rare took advantage of the system's ability to redraw the screen elements quicker than those home computers. That's why Snake Rattle n Roll is isometric yet doesn't use a flip screen framework. Same thing with RC Pro Am, nothing but smooth scrolling while still being isometric.
Excellent review. And super underrated I’d say.
Thank you very much! I really enjoyed this one.
The only isometric (light) platformer I can think of to recommend is Hakoniwa Explorer Plus, a recentish indie title. It’s marketed as a smut game, but I’d say strictly speaking it’s inexplicit, mostly just vulgar in the dialogue. Visuals are truly delightful, with every tile on the grid animated with bouncy pixel art (charming enough to overcome my… initial distaste lol). The gameplay is focused on exploring with some basic action rpg combat. Easy, though progression can get a little obtuse (nothing you can’t handle I expect). All in all, fun to breeze through and 100% in under 20 hours. Has a free demo on Steam and regular sales, so if you’re hankering for more in the genre it might be worth a look (though admittedly perhaps outside the usual wheelhouse of your channel).
Interesting! I'll have a look into it. This does sound like something I might enjoy.
I’ve always wanted to play this. I have a fondness for the SNES sequel and would love to try part one.
If you do try it out sometime, I hope you like it! I thought it was awesome!
Hooray! Another Solstice fan!
I'm surprised there aren't more of us. This game is awesome!
Fantastic game, My reflexes are not good enough to play Solstice anymore but I did enjoy a playthrough over on U Can Beat Video Games channel a few months back.
That's such a great channel. I always like watching his stuff after I beat the games for myself. I haven't caught up on the Solstice one yet though!
This is one of the games that I most wish had a save feature. I love the atmosphere and the concept and have tried playing it various times over the last thirty years, but I've never been able to power all the way through in a single sitting.
It definitely gets rough towards the end, but I think I was able to get through with practice and learning where all the extra lives were. Once you know how to approach each room, you can get pretty far without even dying!
I just got this game the other day (mainly because of Tim Follin's awesome opening music) and I was really surprised to find out just how good of a game it is--I feel vindicated that I passed on trying out Bubsy for this one! The game design is surprisingly solid (though yes, the perspective is tricky and takes some time to get used to). It's definitely challenging, but seldom unfair. The games open ended structure and emphasis on problem solving reminds me a lot of MYST, one of my all time favorite games, only player skill is just as much a factor as brain power in this game. I can tell this is a game that really knows how to make trial and error work in it's favor and feel rewarding instead of frustrating, just like Sonic 1 (another favorite). I imagine it'll be fun to Speedrun it once I get a grip on it. I think the Credit system is actually a great way of motivating the player too. 8$ more than well spent, to say the least. And I have to say, I really liked how informative your review is!
It's so great to hear that you enjoyed your time with Solstice. I was also very pleasantly surprised by all the things you mentioned here, like the rewarding goal-setting and the trial and error. I adore this kind of gameplay immensely. All the best to you with the speedrun when you get around to it. It looks very technical and fun to perfect!
And thanks about the review! I try to make my videos as complete as possible without spoiling anything significant. I'm glad you thought it had lots of good info it.
God this brings back memories. One of the only games my sister and I agreed on. We spent weeks with graph paper mapping the whole game out... I miss the 90's :(
It's great that you got to spend some quality time with your family playing some video games. I also miss those days! I used to play NES with my family as well.
Yet another great review from Hungry! I miss isometric platformers. LandStalker and Light Crusader over on the Genesis were two of my favorites. With all the genre revivals occurring within the indie development scene, I have to wonder if a really great isometric platformer hasn't already surfaced there. I should really go find out. Keep it up Hungry, the content is excellent!
I just finished up Landstalker a few weeks ago and it was another awesome game! I'd definitely like to review that one soon too.
Here's hoping people get on the isometric platformer train when developing. I'd be down for more of this for sure!
@@hungrygoriya We will be looking forward to that and many more reviews in the future. Here's hoping your channel continues to grow! Thank you for replying.
I will second the Light Crusader recommendation, I think Landstalker overstays its welcome.
Have you heard of the sequel to this game on the SNES called Equinox? It's pretty similar, but with a few nice upgrades. You still die if a single pixel touches anything dangerous and I've had some trouble getting used to how close I can get, but you have a refillable health bar that counts as your "lives". Potions are replaced with magic here, and the first spell you can find is a healing spell, so you basically have infinite lives. There's an overworld with monster spawns and dungeons that you can exit out of from certain rooms, and some of them are interconnected. The only downgrade I can find so far is that there isn't a map, which is kind of strange since Solstice has one. I'm really enjoying it so far!
Glad you finally played Solstice and enjoyed it.
I liked it so much!
Truly the definition of the squishy mage archetype.
Since you like using the original manuals in these old games, I feel like you would enjoy a lot of the old Electronic Arts games for the Genesis. Those are pretty much the only retro games I go out of my way to get the manuals for, because they are usually very good. Especially Starflight, which may well have the best manual ever made for a video game, and is also a game I think you would enjoy.
Oh nice! I will keep that in mind. I must have a few EA games around here somewhere!
Great review and thank you for bringing more attention to game manuals! Even for retro game fans it's so easy to forget how important (and how fun!) they could be.
They're such an integral component to any playthrough for me. It's my pleasure to feature them somewhat in most videos. They're always a part of my experience if available!
haven't played this one in ages, but I loved it as a kid! I appreciate a good isometric game. seeing Zaxxon in the arcades got me hooked!
Oh nice! I think I have Zaxxon 3D on the Master System... I should see if that's any fun!
@@hungrygoriya looking from videos it doesn't have the isometric of the arcade original. still looks pretty fun though!
Never had a master system, but my cousin did. Played a ton of Rastan on it (another I also loved in the arcades)
There's another isometric game like this on the GameBoy, Monster Max, it's pretty rare, but it's really good.
There's also more modern inspirations like Lumo on modern systems. You can also get Head over Heels on the Switch, one of the influences for Solstice.
Oh nice to know about Head over Heels. It's been recommended to me a bunch! And Monster Max you say? I'll have to look into that one. I haven't played it yet or even really heard of it before.
That dying sound use to creep me out as a kid 😱. Never finished this one, my mom did though :)
A lot of people told me this when I played through the game, so I kept the sound out of the video! There were times I didn't think I'd make it through either. It's definitely tough!
I got through this once as a kid, from many, many, many, many times trying and dying over and over again. A bit like the movie Edge of Tomorrow lol. Eventually I figured out a route to go through and when I completed it I had one hell of a sense of achievement. I thought the music was great 👍
The Try and Die is a dance I know very well. Congratulations on the eventual win!
You must have been a smart kid. I spent many many hours with it and never came close to finish it.
Great video, as you always do, thanks 🎉👍
Thank you so much! It's lovely to see you here. I just did my annual Faxanadu playthrough and thought of you. I hope you enjoyed the game!
This was one of my favorite games as a kid.
It was really good as an adult. I think I would've loved exploring as a kid too.
I saw a parody of this called Maristice that was pretty cool! Excited to find out about the original!
Oh really? I haven't heard of that before!
@@hungrygoriya yeah, it uses Tohou characters for the setting!
Wow, I've never played this game, but it reminds me a lot of Equinox on the SNES! Maybe it's just cause of the isometric view point, but I'm getting some real nostalgia just watching this review.
... you might be surprised to learn that Equinox is actually Solstice II! It says so in the startup screens :)
@@hungrygoriya Oh really?! I never played Solstice and it's been forever since I played Equinox, so it's a neat connection there!
Wow! A gamer that ACTUALLY knows what she is talking about! I'm watching your older videos, and I'm in heaven!! You really do make sense! You got my Bell Sub! Very awesome and very good!❤
Thanks for checking out the channel! I appreciate it!
Always enjoy your vids Goriya I love the hard core old school vibe. I hope you do Alundra for Ps1 at one point
Thanks so much! I hope to play Alundra soon! It's on my list.
The fact you said "get bent" made me giddy lol. This is a game I've owned for awhile but haven't given a shot yet. I even managed to get a CIB copy, too! Thanks for the thoughts on it, HG!
It's a part of my regular vocabulary these days, haha... it seemed fitting! There was another place in this game that I kept automatically dying in because I wouldn't be paying enough attention. That place can also get bent.
Good luck with it if you decide to take it out for a spin.
@@hungrygoriya based on vocab alone, I think we'd be fast friends, in person 😂
Thanks for being you!
I love Solstice. I still have the game to this day. I just wish I still had the box and instructions manual. I used to play it multiple times. Maybe I'll give it a try soon.
I'd love to own this one with the box and manual as well. I just have that cartridge with all the sticker residue on it that I showed in the video. On the bright side, the manual's online if you need it to reference.
A friend bought it for me when it first came out. It was the only game I played until I finally beat it. Then I would go back and defeat each room differently. I just need to get a functioning NES.
@@dementeddaniel666 Aha! I hope you can track down a working console and get back to it!
Great video. I'm probably focusing on the wrong thing, but this game impressed me with how it handles sprites. Especially how they move in front of & behind background elements. That and the title theme. :)
There's a great little documentary out there that shows some of the thought behind its development. Here's Part 1! ruclips.net/video/894_PNqBkx4/видео.html
@@hungrygoriya Hot figgins! Thank you!! ^_^
If you like this title might I suggest the sequel? Its the one I played a lot and, in my opinion, is a worthy follow up! In fact I learned about this one after when seeing a couple reviews. It even keeps the same naming conventions: Equinox! For the SNES. I use to rent that one so many times just to try and get further. Yes it has a save feature but when renting you often don’t have that file when you get it again. So of course the first couple areas I know by heart. I say areas cause Equinox has an over world and dungeons to explore!
Anyways, always fun seeing your videos 😊
I have a copy of Equinox sitting on the shelf and waiting to be played. After I played Solstice, I worked through Landstalker, and then took a little break from isometric stuff. I'll definitely play Equinox sometime though.
@@hungrygoriya landstalker? Nice! I get you though. Landstalker can drive one nuts with how it plays. Love it though for the focus on finding a treasure horde 💰
This game was so great on the NES, it made such awesome use of the limited palette.
Yeah! I love the way this one looks.
I loved watching you play this. Solstice holds a very special place with me. I'm not very good at it at all, but that doesn't hasten my enjoyment of it. It really is a quirky title that people enjoy, once they get a good handle of it. And yes, it can definitely get addicting. It's one of those, "YES! I finally progressed. Okay...let's get a little further."
Wonderful video, friend. Nicely done.
It definitely brought out the best and the worst of my "one more time" disease. I needed to finish this game. There was no other choice!
And thanks Wally! I appreciate you!
Love this! Snake rattle and roll was MY JAM back in '90. A video store by my house had it and solstice and I would rent one or the other a lot. Once, my grandma gave me a little extra allowance and I rented both. One of the best weekends of my life.
Awwww what lovely memories! I'm glad you got to experience both when you were younger!
Yes! Always loved this one. I came back to it 6-8 yrs ago & most of it came back pretty quickly so it wasn't so hard. I was able to find my way around and remember how to collect the 1-ups, etc. But man, at first I gave up on Solstice a couple of different times because of one jump right near the end, that I just didn't understand. Then, on a later effort, when I got there, it clicked!
--Don't miss the sequel, Equinox.
I had the hardest time with the last few screens of the game before the last staff piece. So much trying and failing before I got it! It was still fun though, and I'm happy I stuck it out. There was no way I was giving up that deep into it!
And I do plan to play Equinox one of these days too. I've had it for a while but it was on loan to a friend for a bit.
Looks great, a puzzle and a challenge. Have you ever tried Solar Jetman (NES 1990) it might be right up your alley
Not yet! I only have a PAL version of the game at the moment and I wouldn't want to play it running fast on an NTSC system. It's hard enough as it is!
@@hungrygoriya it's tough haha I can't get too far without using game geenie, you're a much more skilled and patient gamer than myself
I love this game, I found the best way for me to understand this game is to rotate the controller 90 degrees
I know a lot of people who do that. For me, it just clicks in my brain and I'm good to go.