Games that could use the "Donkey Kong II" treatment

Tornadoboy

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Games that could use the "Donkey Kong II" treatment

What games would you love to see a ROM upgrade sequel to, like what was done for Donkey Kong with DKII? Just thought this would make an interesting topic as another discussion about doing a ROTJ upgrade for Star Wars brought it to mind.

My thoughts, although I realize there's little to no chance for most of these:

Frenzy - Always loved this game and would LOOOOVE to see an extension of it with a bigger variety of robots, more level "bosses", and perhaps more/different speech.

Tempest - Bigger variety of enemies, different maps, maybe an occasional "boss?"

Star Wars - As mentioned in another thread

Spy Hunter - ENDLESS possibilities

Venture - New and more levels, enemies, room obstactles and treasures

Pacman/MS - I'm surprised someone hasn't really done it yet, not like DKII anyway, although there are misc graphics hacks and different mazes

Overall a lot of the classic vectors could use some expansion, like Asteroids, Star Castle, Battlezone (especially), Red Baron, etc.
 
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This would be somewhat more likely to happen if people who have the source code to classic games would release it for general availability so those with the skills and inclination could have a chance to re-assemblable, fix bugs, and make mods... up to and including "sequels."

Reverse-engineering a game to the point necessary to create such a sequel is a big effort, even for the oldest games (like Space Invaders, which has been fully documented: http://computerarcheology.com/spaceinvaders/spaceinvaders8080.txt.html). It's an even bigger effort for early 80s games such as Donkey Kong (which is presumably why the guy who created DKII charges for it rather than sharing it freely). And it's a frigging monumental task for advanced mid-to-late 80s games (I still wouldn't believe that Chris has fully commented the disassembly of OutRun if I had not seen it for myself: http://reassembler.blogspot.com/)
 
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Simultaneous 2-player Frogger where you can choose at the beginning either to race each other for points and set booby traps for the other player along the way or to play cooperatively for a combined score where working together is required to get past certain enemies or situations.

Robotron with 2-player co-op, weapons upgrades and some new enemies. I'd like to see a short-range, single use rocket launcher randomly appear on certain levels that you can pick up and use to take out any Hulks within a 2-inch (on screen) blast radius. Also, a thumb button to lay down landmines that can blow up anything that touches them, including the player. Keep all the old graphics, sound, and most of the enemies, but add a few new sound effects and enemies. I know this sounds a little like Smash TV but I'm not a fan of that game. I'd specifically welcome a Robotron hack with the above additions.
 
I guess it's just me, but I have absolutely no interest in these type of games. Maybe I'm too much of a purist, but if it wasn't made back in the day, I don't want to play it. I did try the DK2 and didn't like it at all...partly because I knew it wasn't a game from back then even though it obviously looks/plays like it could have been. For me it's the nostalgia and fun of the games I grew up with, not something home brewed. Guess I'm weird.. LOL
But if you like it, awesome. More games for you to play!
 
Does Tubes count? Tempest 2000?

Tubes is nice but if I recall it's only different playfields and nothing else new, and as cool as it is Tempest 2000 is a software game and not really what I'm talking about, I'm talking about mods/upgrades for existing arcade hardware.

I've often thought a two screen, simutanious two player version of tempest (Tempest Wars?) where you compete with each other from opposite ends of the playfield would have been awesome, but that would have to be a whole new game with new hardware and much more than an upgrade.
 
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Pacman/MS - I'm surprised someone hasn't really done it yet, not like DKII anyway, although there are misc graphics hacks and different mazes
Agreed. Different mazes and different characters like llamas get redundant. Someone should change the Ms. Pac character back to how she used to in the concept art with red hair and a yellow bow.
 
Agreed. Different mazes and different characters like llamas get redundant. Someone should change the Ms. Pac character back to how she used to in the concept art with red hair and a yellow bow.

Personally I never really liked reg or Ms Pacman, too repetitive for me, I like the "knock-offs" like Ladybug and Mousetrap far better.
 
Battlezone (especially)
At least upgrade the speed of the player's tank a little, so it goes a bit faster than...

panzerkampfwagen-a7v-heavy-tank-07.png


Probably wouldn't make much difference... Most players just spin around like a top in place until they get killed.

I'm thinking of a main gun turret (spinner) addition, and then maybe tie that in to a 2 player team game... one drives while the other player is the gunner. Then maybe add a machine gun for soft infantry tank killer targets that would be added in as well...

Or a cockpit BZ:p

BZcockpitanimation.gif
 
Not sure if this counts but i'd love for someone to update Mortal Kombat 4 and put Goro in the game.. I know he has been designed by Midway and implimented in MK4 for the company who ported it to the home systems to play and emulate.
 
I'd kill to have the skill to make/have ROMs of a Ms. Pac treatment for Super Pac:

Multiple mazes, and multiple gate-key combos for each maze
Galaga or Mappy sprites as prizes just for fun
new intermissions
re-sequence the Jackpot images. (If you know what you're doing, you can get 5K practically every time)

A DK Jr. 2 could be intriguing.
 
I'd kill to have the skill to make/have ROMs of a Ms. Pac treatment for Super Pac:

Multiple mazes, and multiple gate-key combos for each maze
Galaga or Mappy sprites as prizes just for fun
new intermissions
re-sequence the Jackpot images. (If you know what you're doing, you can get 5K practically every time)

A DK Jr. 2 could be intriguing.

Wow, I really like that Super Ms. Pac idea. Super Pac is one of my favorites, so an upgrade like the one that happened between Pac-Man -> Ms. Pac Man would be incredible.
 
Wow... someone has to do that. If so, I'd get a Super Pac just for the hack.

Super Jr. Pac-Man? :)
Or better... Super Jr. Baby Ms. Pac-Man
 
I'd love to see a Pole Position III board with the original courses and an additional few challenge courses. If it was reliable it would also be a great thing to fix dead PP cabs...
 
BABY PACMAN FAST!!!

As far as I know there is not a fast version.
This would only be the maze part to make only baby pacman go fast.

G12
 
I'd kill to have the skill to make/have ROMs of a Ms. Pac treatment for Super Pac:

Multiple mazes, and multiple gate-key combos for each maze
Galaga or Mappy sprites as prizes just for fun
new intermissions
re-sequence the Jackpot images. (If you know what you're doing, you can get 5K practically every time)

A DK Jr. 2 could be intriguing.

A super Super-Pac would indeed be awesome!

I'd love to seem Ms. Gorf materialize someday.
 
I'd love to see a Pole Position III board with the original courses and an additional few challenge courses. If it was reliable it would also be a great thing to fix dead PP cabs...

Someone once suggested making it able to be linked with other cabs for multi-player action, which would be REALLY cool, but again I think that would take so much modification you would have to start from scratch with new or severely modified hardware.

Sea Wolf would be another nice one for the list, I've always loved its cab and periscope but have never really been impressed with the game itself, making it more like Exidy's Fire One would be an improvement!

As far as fast Jr. Pacman I'm no expert but I imagine there's probably not too much code involved in adjusting the speed, it's just a matter of knowing where it is and how to change it. I wonder if one can simply overclock the board?
 
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