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Game of the Month January 2024: The Next Space

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boogiepop
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Peregrine Falcon

You can hope next our game! See you again.

Posts: 1,836

Game of the Month January 2024: The Next Space Jan 1, 2024 20:47:50 GMT Riko and pimsbury like this

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Post by boogiepop on Jan 1, 2024 20:47:50 GMT

Way back in 1989, SNK released the space shooter The Next Space to Japanese arcades. It seems fitting that such an early title should herald in our first Game of the Month for the new year, so, as always...

...play and discuss!

Past GotMs
December 2023 Kabuki Klash
November 2023 Spinmaster
October 2023 Baseball Stars Color
September 2023 The King of Fighters 2001
August 2023 Magical Drop II
July 2023 Faselei!
June 2023 Super Dodge Ball
May 2023 Alpha Mission II
April 2023 Legend of Success Joe
March 2023 Real Bout Fatal Fury Special
February 2023 Ikari Warriors (arcade)
January 2023 Magician Lord
December 2022 Samurai Shodown V Special
November 2022 Pleasure Goal
October 2022 Dark Arms: Beast Buster 1999
September 2022 Over Top
August 2022 Neo XYX
July 2022 The King of Fighters '95
June 2022 Crossed Swords
May 2022 Samurai Shodown! 2 PC
April 2022 Metal Slug AES/MVS/CD
March 2022 Super Sidekicks 2
February 2022 Rage of the Dragons
January 2022 Money Puzzle Exchanger MVS
December 2021 Robo Army
November 2021 Blazing Star
October 2021 Stakes Winner
September 2021 Sonic: Pocket Adventure PC
August 2021 NAM-1975
July 2021 --- none ---
June 2021 Kizuna Encounter
May 2021 Last Resort
April 2021 Fatal Fury Special
March 2021 Waku Waku 7

tuxedomarty Marked by The Wolf Throwback Retro Enthusiast Posts: 1,975	Game of the Month January 2024: The Next Space Jan 2, 2024 0:41:36 GMT boogiepop likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by tuxedomarty on Jan 2, 2024 0:41:36 GMT I've played this one, but not that long. It seemed okay from what I remember.
	¡Viva Team Super Heroine!

boogiepop Administrator Peregrine Falcon You can hope next our game! See you again. Posts: 1,836	Game of the Month January 2024: The Next Space Jan 2, 2024 14:05:26 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by boogiepop on Jan 2, 2024 14:05:26 GMT Jan 2, 2024 0:41:36 GMT tuxedomarty said: I've played this one, but not that long. It seemed okay from what I remember. Anything in particular jump out at you?

tuxedomarty
Marked by The Wolf

Throwback Retro Enthusiast

Posts: 1,975

Game of the Month January 2024: The Next Space Jan 2, 2024 21:54:30 GMT

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Post by tuxedomarty on Jan 2, 2024 21:54:30 GMT

Jan 2, 2024 14:05:26 GMT boogiepop said:

Jan 2, 2024 0:41:36 GMT tuxedomarty said:

I've played this one, but not that long. It seemed okay from what I remember.

Anything in particular jump out at you?

I don't remember. Actually, now that I think about it, I think I have the PSP Mini version of it. I need to look again. I bought a couple of Minis back then when they were new.

¡Viva Team Super Heroine!

Riko
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Game of the Month January 2024: The Next Space Jan 4, 2024 21:03:15 GMT pimsbury likes this

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Post by Riko on Jan 4, 2024 21:03:15 GMT

This reminds me of a lot of things! The title screen lettering reminds me of my RC car magazine I used to buy in the 80s. It had almost exactly that style of mixed coloured letters and font sizes

The spaceship and the way it fires reminds me of Truxton and some of the graphics remind me of Alpha Mission II - especially the power-up graphics

It looks like an average vertically scrolling shmup that has lost it's background. Seems like an odd release for 1989. For me it doesn't seem that appealing really. I would play another 1989 SNK release instead - Prehistoric Isle in 1930. Now that is a good game

Last Edit: Jan 4, 2024 21:06:16 GMT by Riko

pimsbury
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NeoGeo4Eva!

All of this violence is giving me appetite

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Game of the Month January 2024: The Next Space Jan 5, 2024 3:26:49 GMT via mobile boogiepop likes this

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Post by pimsbury on Jan 5, 2024 3:26:49 GMT

Well I was wrong to vote for this 😂. This game isn't terrible exactly, but it feels a LOT like what a 15 year old Halo bro would imagine if you mentioned a retro arcade space shooter.

Yeah there is space, ships, and shooting, but this is one of the most generic shmups I have ever seen. The generic star background is unforgivable in 1989 and every other shmup released that year looks so much better.

This was a good time for shmups with a lot of good games coming out. The arcade had R-Type 2, Gradius 3, Zero Wing, Area 88, Fire Shark, Twin Hawk, Afterburner, Cotton, Darius 2, Hellfire, X-Multiply, and Prehistoric Isle this year.

It feels like they were working on the basic engine for a shmup and this was supposed to be a few test levels to make sure the code worked but some goober said, "hey looks good, slap a few more generic power ups and space levels in there and let's ship it".

This DEFINITELY feels like a poor man's Truxton. Or the beginning stages of production anyway.

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