Lawnie wrote on 2022-01-09, 11:26:

It's absolutely bizarre, isn't it? But once you get past the design choices there's actually a really good game in there!

Yeah, but atleast Cruelty Squad HQ makes it very, very obvious the most important thing you need to remember is aim for the head.

Update the fiftieth!

Like a headshot in Cruelty Squad, Lawnie is both surprisingly effective and leaves a lasting mark!

We made it! Fifty "updates" that are really just thinly-veiled advertisements for the ever-growing madness that is GET OFF MY LAWN!

This week's scripted video was a sequel to my previous Infinite Games video, inventively titled Infinite Games II. It covers games from the 2000s, some of which are surprisingly modern despite their age! There will not be a part 3, despite some calls for it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k_eOMLalmU

Two great games appeared in Random DOS land, the first of these was Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, a classic albeit long in the tooth adventure title from Lucasfilm Games, who would soon go on to become Lucasarts and take over the gaming world. It's not without its share of problems, but it's a great adaption of a wonderful movie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=optrChoDGlI

The second title came completely out of the blue and surprised me! That was The Eye of Typhoon! A classic fighting game in the vein of Double Dragon or Street Fighter II. Sure, the framerate isn't perfect, but since good fighting games are thin on the ground for DOS this actually stands out and was really enjoyable! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUgAGHuios0

Battle 8 of the Stele Chronicles has been postponed until later this month, but what hasn't been postponed is the continuing updates and videos on the channel! Until next time!

Update the fifty-first!

Better late than never, right?

This week's controversial scripted video claimed that Dungeon Keeper and Theme Hospital were good games. Shocking, I know! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iHL9pdl-UE

Unfortunately in Random DOS Game land it was very quiet, save for one standout title. Also by Bullfrog. Syndicate! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S5MS5GyVBg

In conclusion: Bullfrog Productions good. Week: quiet.

You can expect a better and more comprehensive update later this week! Lawnie, away!

Update the fifty-second!

Like a nagging antivirus software or Windows every time it wants to reboot on you unasked, it's time for another update!

This week's scripted video was simply entitled 'It isn't Nostalgia'. Wherein I explained why people have the wrong end of the stick by assuming that people play old games out of some sense of... nostalgia. That there's actually lots of reasons why people play games from the past. The primary one being that... they're better! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59ewRnpxqpA

Random DOS game land had an interesting entry in the newest game so far! Retro City Rampage. An 8-bit style NES/GTA homage with loads of 80s and 90s references. It wasn't bad, but I did have a number of issues with it after speeding through the tutorial. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcFHztSPPfg

Good games were in short supply this week, but Gateworld was a passable little platformer that might appeal to fans of Apogee. I was completely awful at it, as expected! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CClTfFiv3Kc

And last but not least was the triumphant return of The Stele Chronicles as I finally began the last battle (so far) of the reimagined campaign! This episode featured a VERY special guest! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDOlPD7RFv4

And that's your lot! Lawnie will (hopefully) return promptly next week with another update, unlike that lacklustre fifty-first update! Until then!

Update the fifty-third!

Like the promise of spring being ruined by poor weather, Lawnie has returned to make Vogons worse!

A green screen video took the place of a scripted video this week, wherein I spoke about a polarising game for the channel: Halo. The first Halo from 2001, to be precise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdPiThIYwdo

There was a particularly atrocious run in Random DOS game land, with three games failing to make it over the three minute mark! Fortunately this was rescued by the fourth title. Realms of Arkania, a lovely classic party-based RPG from Germany. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x21_RAnukRU

It might not seem like much to crow over, but that's nearly an hour's worth of content for you to peruse through at your leisure. And next week will have even more! MORE! MOOOOORE!

Until then!

Lawnie wrote on 2022-02-07, 19:13:

Lawnie has returned to make Vogons worse!

Never!!

Lawnie wrote on 2022-02-07, 19:13:

A green screen video took the place of a scripted video this week, wherein I spoke about a polarising game for the channel: Halo. The first Halo from 2001, to be precise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdPiThIYwdo

Should be interesting, I never really played this, beyond a quick load-up-and-look after release. It was a ship in the night. I was too busy with the likes of Unreal Tournament and many other things at the time. So your video shall serve as my lifetime Halo primer, to be responsible for my entire education thereof!

Oh yeah, and that Chickens (?) game (?) was quite funny, wasn't it. Bit of a left-fielder. I couldn't help wondering if, should you manage to quickly explodeKindly Give Gifts Of Valuable Grenades to all of the on-screen chickens before more spawned, perhaps another level or event would happen? Rarely have I penned a question so utterly removed from anything even remotely related to the fate of the universe, btw. 🤣

Shreddoc wrote on 2022-02-07, 21:54:

Should be interesting, I never really played this, beyond a quick load-up-and-look after release. It was a ship in the night. I was too busy with the likes of Unreal Tournament and many other things at the time. So your video shall serve as my lifetime Halo primer, to be responsible for my entire education thereof!

This pretty much sums up most PC gamer's feelings on Halo at the time. "We have Half-Life, Quake III, Unreal Tournament and all the Build/Doom engine games. Thanks but no thanks, Bungie."

Shreddoc wrote on 2022-02-07, 21:54:

Oh yeah, and that Chickens (?) game (?) was quite funny, wasn't it. Bit of a left-fielder. I couldn't help wondering if, should you manage to quickly explodeKindly Give Gifts Of Valuable Grenades to all of the on-screen chickens before more spawned, perhaps another level or event would happen? Rarely have I penned a question so utterly removed from anything even remotely related to the fate of the universe, btw. 🤣

Honestly it could have been developed further into a Worms/Liero style title, the graphics engine seemed just fine and dandy, even if the sound implementation was some of the worst I've ever heard. Having a bit of fight-back from the chickens that you had to quash would have made it more challenging!

Do you think you'd be interested in covering Descent and Descent II with a new Soundfont? See the thread here; there're some demo video links there. You can also use the Soundfont bank for other games, though this one has been made specifically for Descent [1].

Update the fifty-fourth!

Like iron and salt water, Lawnie has returned with another week's worth of DOS nonsense to cause a reaction!

This week's scripted video was Three in a Row - When Devs Were Better. This showcased developers from the nineties and early 2000s who had released three brilliant games in a row. Some of them did it several times! Showcasing just how much better things were back then. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EupajNjuKxc

In Random DOS Game land, World Tour Golf was a decent title from EA back in the mid eighties. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXZhBKVlpnc

My copy of Creepers had a suspect crack that made the gameplay suffer! Despite this it's a decent puzzler. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHIBCeW4fw8

And saving the best for last, I immerse myself in the world of Beneath a Steel Sky. One of many classic point and click adventure games released in the mid nineties. A wonderful game with great dialogue and atmosphere that I most certainly will be playing more of soon! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz8_b7JhCwU

That's your lot for this week. Tune in next week for more of the same. Lawnie, AWAY! *wooshing sounds*

S-Priest wrote on 2022-02-08, 10:44:

Do you think you'd be interested in covering Descent and Descent II with a new Soundfont? See the thread here; there're some demo video links there.

I'll add to to the backlog of stuff I've got planned! Always have time for some soundfont material!

Update the fifty-fifth!

Like a tree falling in strong winds, Lawnie's channel continues to make an almighty crash in the DOS gaming world!

This week's scripted video was called The Deal With DLC, and dealt with... DLC... and Early Access too. It's the latest in my series of videos complaining about the standards of the modern gaming industry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H09Jy3htP18

Unfortunately there were slim pickings elsewhere in the Random DOS gaming land, with only three videos this week. Fortunately one of them was id software shooter Catacomb 3-D. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLbrJP6EA90

There was also an early version of Skyroads called Kosmonaut, which is particularly notable for just how badly I played it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB98H4EOsjs

Will there undoubtedly be more next week? You bet your bottom dollar there will! Until then!

Update the fifty-sixth!

Like the polar opposite of a 24/7 news network, Lawnie will keep playing DOS games and ignore all current affairs!

This week's scripted video ingeniously replaced one Apogee platformer with another, stating the Duke Nukem II was indeed a worthwhile DOS game! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hMNMVXFOKM

In Random DOS game land there were two interesting titles, with the first of those being C-Dogs, a top-down gauntlet-style shooter made by one man and still being played today! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQlyQKKk6fM

The other standout title was The First Samurai, an Amiga port of a sidescrolling platformer/adventure game that was surprisingly enjoyable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQgBLSoc-kA

The Stele Chronicles returned with Marek attempting to disable some craft. Only a handful of missions left to do! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERmRuMnOdgI

And last but not least I went outside and took some video footage of plants and snow and set them to a version of Over Snow I recorded from the Daggerfall soundtrack. It was pretty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6Wbt1fcLLI

That's your lot this week! More to come next week as always! Stay safe!

Update the fifty-seventh!

Like an eczema outbreak, Lawnie has returned again with a vengeance!

This week's scripted video was about the Linux version of a DOS collection that I tested, including a walkthrough as to how to get it installed. Why so vague? I don't know if I can talk about it on Vogons or not so better to err on the side of caution! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5CKqR8WD7Y

This week had not one, but two good DOS racing combat games! The first was Wipeout's less successful cousin, released a week before and never quite reaching the same heights. Hi-Octane was knocked out by Bullfrog in a few weeks but it's still a good game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekAtqfSD4D8

The Software Refinery's Slipstream 5000 is much more polished, and was typical of the great titles that Gremlin was publishing in the UK around the time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyNvyrL7fzw

Between those three videos there's about an hour's worth of content, and that's not counting the two other games I played or the Stele Chronicles returning for episode 35. We're drawing close to the end now. Or are we?

What won't end is the constant Lawnie video spam! Until next time, fair viewer!

Lawnie wrote on 2022-03-06, 21:11:

Hi-Octane was knocked out by Bullfrog in a few weeks but it's still a good game.

Hi-Octane happens to be one of the few MS-DOS games I know that uploads custom sound samples to AWE32 cards, the music sounds way more interesting when played that way as opposed to just standard General MIDI.

Though at that point it might have well been tracker music to begin with.

Update the fifty-eighth!

Like a bicycle with two wheels and one rider, Lawnie still hasn't crashed and burned!

This week's video was a layman's interpretation of Reverse Engineering, and how this cool concept is benefiting games of the past! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbU05h7X364

There really wasn't that much else of interest this week. The best game of a very bad bunch was Quik The Thunder Rabbit, a pleasant little lo-fi platformer with a bunny floating about the place. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd7N8dDg4zM

Not every week can have a multitudinous number of interesting videos, but hey! Maybe next week will be better! There will be a next week!

Also yes I totally see the comment about Hi-Octane above and acknowledge it and that it's pretty cool.

Until next week!

Update the fifty-ninth!

Like a tyre iron and a tyre, Lawnie and Vogons together just makes sense!

This was an enormous week for the channel, firstly direct your attention to a channel update! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkQHT1wv8eI

The scripted video this week was all about expansion packs! The best ones! 10 of those best ones! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GnK53E-cu8

In Random DOS Game Land there were three classics of the DOS gaming landscape that appeared ALL AT ONCE. The first of these was the timeless Lemmings, a wonderful puzzle game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrRP3RPWRF8

Not happy with providing me with a brilliant game, the randomiser hit me with Master of Orion, the best space 4X strategy series for DOS! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x1nrOD7P_4

And to top things off? Why only the sequel to an RPG that already made my top 25! Eye of the Beholder II! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgQ3ISX3_iE

To close the week off, the finale of The Stele Chronicles was watched by its long-suffering fans! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L5lHW7pvSw

Phew! That was a lot! It certainly makes up for the dry period of last week! Here's hoping you enjoy some of that, it's almost two hour's worth of gaming madness!

Until next time! Lawnie... away!

Thanks man! Appreciated as ever.

Update the sixtieth!

Like a drainpipe that keeps disgorging water, Lawnie is back with a very late update due to being exceptionally busy!

This week's scripted video was called Considered Thought, and was all about how your brain reacts to gaming. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZcV-XLlnC8

The second scripted video was the first in a series of quick reviews I'm starting on the channel. I talked about a random Tetris clone for DOS that was updated this year! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0hpSRUphTk

In Random DOS game land there was a clutch of entertaining games, the first of these being top-down strategy title Siege. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndd03HUIONM

The second title to catch my eye was the suitably entertaining winter sports title The Games: Winter Challenge! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWDldqwGpds

Apologies again for the lateness! I shall be back on Sunday (hopefully) for another update! Lawnie... away!

Update the sixty-first!

Like a mattress on fire falling into a lake, things might not have been great recently, but soon they will be marginally better for Lawnie!

This week's scripted video focused on a remake of a game from the eighties that I enjoyed! The Omnicron Conspiracy! Check it out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdd2x6X5b6s

None of the random games were particularly good this week, but NAM was notable for being awful despite running on the Build engine. A rare miss for Team TNT! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9dhngDPyxc

Speaking of shooters, that was the subject of my April Fool's video! I roleplayed having fallen into the boots of a doomed marine at the start of a classic shooter from 99: Aliens vs Predator! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuWYz9UVd_Q

There was also Beasley's Death Trap... but the less said about that the better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVO1kTfJaCE

Until next time: LAWNIE, AWAY!

NAM would be hilarious to play in co-op, assuming the lame networking in Build doesn't fall apart and desync.

I actually like NAM more than WWII GI, but it's still not like, the best game ever. It's a acquired taste though.