Why Don't I hear More About Centuri's Eagle?

Phetishboy

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Bad game? Rare? Nobody owns one? No one likes to talk about it? Looks pretty cool to me, but what do I know.
 
It's a great game, a lot of fun. Just not as mainstream, and it's also "yet another space shooter". But still - good game, worth picking up if you have the chance. I don't think it's particularly rare though - just a bit obscure.

-Ian
 
I had one, a cocktail, got in it an bulk buy. I played it a couple times, didn't like the Galaxian rip-off sounds and the collision detection seemed really bad.

As to why we never hear of it, I imagine that it's because there is an ocean of vertical shooters out there, and Eagle is just another face in the crowd. Other games either did it first or did it better and collectors would rather have those titles.

I do remember seeing Moon Cresta commonly BITD, so I imagine it and it's twin Eagle pulled in enough quarters to be considered successful.
 
Well I shot the seller an offer on one I found. I'd get it just for the sweet title screen greeting. Who doesn't love fun and thrill?

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Why Don't I hear More About Centuri's Eagle?

Because it's a shoddy version of Moon Cresta with sloppier graphics and horrible hit detection.

If you're into chasing record scores and you're sadomasochistic I imagine it'd be right up your alley.
 
Because it's a shoddy version of Moon Cresta with sloppier graphics and horrible hit detection.

If you're into chasing record scores and you're sadomasochistic I imagine it'd be right up your alley.

Holy shit, calm down.

*runs away attempting to fuck self before being told to do so*
 
Eagle is a fun one. While I personally don't thing it is as good as similar Centuri shooters like Phoenix or Pleaides, it is still a sweet game. The docking scenes and different ships are pretty original for such an early game. And after all, Eagle is a Centuri game. It's a well-known fact that Centuri made the coolest games.
 
I would have told him to fuck himself anyway.

Heh. :) Didn't mean to give Phet the wrong impression, so lemme try again.

I remember playing Moon Cresta as a kid. Not great but not a bad game either (for 1980). Hard. The enemy movements were way worse than Galaxian or any other vertical space shooter of the time, like the game was taunting you. Cool music and sound effects though (if a bit repetitive). The graphics weren't bad for its day, and the ship docking bonus stages were new to the scene.

Fast forward to last year when I finally got to play Eagle for the first time, and on a real Centuri cab no less. Hey! I've played this game before! And... I don't remember it sucking this badly. Eagle seemed to have clunkier, uglier graphics, worse sound effects and music (although that could be my imagination), and the worst hit detection I'd ever seen. Strike three, you're out.

Normally bad hit detection is enough to sink an otherwise good game but you may still enjoy playing it. In Eagle's case the awful hit detection, coupled with few redeeming qualities elsewhere, gives you an excellent reason to abandon your quarter mid-game and go play something better.

As a matter of comparison, Zoo Keeper has fairly crappy hit detection, almost as bad as Eagle's, actually. The difference here is that sloppy hit detection is Zoo Keeper's only weakness (in my opinion). Zoo Keeper is so full of awesome in every other aspect of its design that its lazy hit detection isn't a drawback, it's part of the game's charm, and it adds a relatively balanced "wildcard" behavior that can work in your favor or not. Nothing like running through an animal at full speed and coming out the other side like he was a ghost. You shoulda been dead, but you're still going. But it can screw you too. The other day I was cleaning up with the net at the very end of a hectic board, preparing to collect big points for all the lions I was bagging. I ran right through the last lion, net still in hand, f*cked out of 60,000 points. It just made me laugh though.

Zoo Keeper's bad hit detection can hurt you or help you, adding a fun quirk to an otherwise excellent game. Eagle just f*cks you, and you had to suffer through its gaudy graphics and sloppy game play for the privilege. If you like this type of early vertical space shooter, find a Moon Cresta instead, or better yet a Pleiades or Phoenix. Just to be clear, I'm not a fan of Moon Cresta. It was cool in 1980 when I was 8-9 years old. Today after 30 years of reflection and the benefit of a huge MAME ROM set for comparison purposes, it isn't terrible but it doesn't hold up well. I'm just saying it's better than Eagle. Some people here have the opposite opinion. Maybe our views are slanted by whatever title we saw and played back in the day. For me it was Moon Cresta and I'd never seen or even heard of Eagle until a couple of years ago, hence my bad initial impression of it when I played it last year.

That's my $.02. Eagle does have its fans, and I give props to Jimmy Linderman for putting up a huge new WR score last summer of 259K, hence my "If you're into chasing record scores and you're sadomasochistic I imagine it'd be right up your alley" comment. And I know there are a couple of games I like that most other people don't give the time of day, so it's all good. :D
 
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You have a Centuri row?? Nice!

I love this game. I actually prefer Moon Cresta (even though it's the same game). I have a nice marquee if you end up needing one.

Here's a pic of the row...Some of these cabs are real 'beaters and need some serious TLC. I have enough 'projects' in my basement to last a lifetime! All of my Centuri's are working 100% however. The Challenger & Phoenix really need cap kits, and the Gyruss is a cosmetic nightmare. I was really psyched to get Phoenix working a few weeks ago.
 

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Here's a pic of the row...Some of these cabs are real 'beaters and need some serious TLC. I have enough 'projects' in my basement to last a lifetime! All of my Centuri's are working 100% however. The Challenger & Phoenix really need cap kits, and the Gyruss is a cosmetic nightmare. I was really psyched to get Phoenix working a few weeks ago.

That's awesome. Now, you just need a Swimmer! :cool:
 
That's awesome. Now, you just need a Swimmer! :cool:

I toyed with the idea of getting a really nice Swimmer from Exidy a while back, but Knucklez got it. I'm sure he's giving it a better home, and I'm glad in a way that I did not shell out a lot of bucks for it. However, it would have fit nicely right next to my Frogger on one side, and the rest of the Centuri's on the other. Swimmer seems very close to Frogger programming-wise.
 
I know where there is a nice Eagle right now (cosmetically nice - needs some electronic-type repair). Could be yours (after I fix it)...
 
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