Tag: Gemhunter

Gemhunter #15 – Summer Heat Beach Volleyball

Published on by Chris Scullion1 Comment

Gemhunter hits the 15-episode milestone with a return to the PS2, and this time we’re taking this shit to the beach.

I’m reliably informed that this one is actually called Summer Heat Beach Volleyball, even though the box clearly makes the title look like Beach Volleyball: Summer Heat.

Regardless, this is one of the last games published by Acclaim, which went bankrupt just a year later. Should it be blamed for it, or was it actually a good game? Let’s find out.

 

Gemhunter is my video series in which I try out forgotten, ignored, licensed or shovelware games I’ve never played in the hope of finding a hidden gem. The video is presented unedited so you can experience the game for the first time as I do. Enjoyed this video and want to see more? You can find past Gemhunter episodes here.

Tired Old Hack is an ad-free site for your browsing convenience. If you enjoyed this article please consider donating to my Patreon account.

Alternatively, if you’re a UK reader and can’t afford to support me on Patreon, please do your normal Amazon UK shopping via this link. Tired Old Hack is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.co.uk and affiliated sites.

Gemhunter #14 – Mystic Midway: Rest In Pieces

Published on by Chris ScullionLeave a comment

In the last episode of Gemhunter, the Philips CD-I made its debut and shocked the world (well, a couple of people) by turning up a gem in the form of International Tennis Open.

Could lightning possibly strike twice? Let’s find out as yer man Scullion takes on another CD-I game, the dark funfair shooting gallery that is Mystic Midway: Rest In Pieces.

Gemhunter is my video series in which I try out forgotten, ignored, licensed or shovelware games I’ve never played in the hope of finding a hidden gem. The video is presented unedited so you can experience the game for the first time as I do. Enjoyed this video and want to see more? You can find past Gemhunter episodes here.

Tired Old Hack is an ad-free site for your browsing convenience. If you enjoyed this article please consider donating to my Patreon account.

Alternatively, if you’re a UK reader and can’t afford to support me on Patreon, please do your normal Amazon UK shopping via this link. Tired Old Hack is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.co.uk and affiliated sites.

Gemhunter #13 – International Tennis Open

Published on by Chris Scullion1 Comment

Could it be ‘unlucky 13’ for Gemhunter?

The much-mocked Philips CD-I makes its Gemhunter debut in this episode, with International Tennis Open going under the microscope.

Could a tennis game on a shite console possibly be a gem? You’ll have to watch to find out. And don’t worry about the sound being terrible at the start: it’s fixed by the time the game’s intro ends.

Gemhunter is my video series in which I try out forgotten, ignored, licensed or shovelware games I’ve never played in the hope of finding a hidden gem. The video is presented unedited so you can experience the game for the first time as I do. Enjoyed this video and want to see more? You can find past Gemhunter episodes here.

Tired Old Hack is an ad-free site for your browsing convenience. If you enjoyed this article please consider donating to my Patreon account.

Alternatively, if you’re a UK reader and can’t afford to support me on Patreon, please do your normal Amazon UK shopping via this link. Tired Old Hack is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.co.uk and affiliated sites.

Gemhunter #12 – Digital Pinball: Last Gladiators

Published on by Chris ScullionLeave a comment

With a new-look site comes a new-look Gemhunter, complete with a lovely new cheesy intro.

Yer man Scullion is now commander in chief of the spaceship Tired Old Hack, exploring the universe of retro gaming in search of forgotten gems.

Does Digital Pinball: Last Gladiators on the Saturn fit that bill? Well, you’re going to have to watch the video to find out, innit.

Gemhunter is my video series in which I try out forgotten, ignored, licensed or shovelware games I’ve never played in the hope of finding a hidden gem. The video is presented unedited so you can experience the game for the first time as I do. Enjoyed this video and want to see more? You can find past Gemhunter episodes here.

Tired Old Hack is an ad-free site for your browsing convenience. If you enjoyed this article please consider donating to my Patreon account.

Alternatively, if you’re a UK reader and can’t afford to support me on Patreon, please do your normal Amazon UK shopping via this link. Tired Old Hack is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.co.uk and affiliated sites.

Gemhunter #10 – Fake Disney triple-bill

Published on by Chris ScullionLeave a comment

Gemhunter has reached its momentous 10th episode, and what a game I’ve got for you today. Or, rather, what a trio of games.

Today I’m looking at PlayStation budget titles The Dalmatians, Lord Of The Jungle and The Lion And The King.

Could these blatant Disney knock-offs actually provide some shred of entertainment? Find out in the video. Continue reading “Gemhunter #10 – Fake Disney triple-bill” →

Gemhunter #9 – American Chopper

Published on by Chris Scullion2 Comments

It’s time for more gem-hunting goodness as I trawl through gaming’s forgotten releases in search of a hidden gem.

This time it’s American Chopper, an Xbox game published by Activision which is based on the Discovery Channel series of the same name.

As someone who’s never seen the show and doesn’t know the first thing about motorbikes my hopes aren’t high, but could it surprise me? Find out in the video. Continue reading “Gemhunter #9 – American Chopper” →

Gemhunter #8 – Close Combat: First To Fight

Published on by Chris Scullion1 Comment

Time for more Gemhunter goodness, as I continue to play old forgotten video games in an attempt to find a hidden gem.

In episode 8 it’s the turn of Close Combat: First To Fight, an Xbox shooter by Destineer Studios, a developer best known for the likes of Age Of Empires III and the Mac port of Halo.

According to the blurb, this one was designed with input from US marines, and is said to have sophisticated AI. Is it the real deal though? Find out as I play the game for the first time ever. Continue reading “Gemhunter #8 – Close Combat: First To Fight” →

Gemhunter #7 – Curse: The Eye Of Isis

Published on by Chris Scullion1 Comment

It’s back! After a six-month break (while I upgraded my grabbing equipment), Gemhunter returns to crack open the vaults of forgotten turn-of-the-millennium gaming.

In episode 7 it’s the turn of Curse: The Eye Of Isis. It’s a survival horror game by Asylum Entertainment, a UK studio best known for such blockbusters as Play With The Teletubbies on PS1 and the cult PC gem Bob The Builder: Bob Builds A Park.

How does a studio known for children’s games handle horror though? Find out as I play the game for the first time ever. Continue reading “Gemhunter #7 – Curse: The Eye Of Isis” →

Gemhunter Live #6 – Portal Runner

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In the first ever live episode of Gemhunter I took on 3DO’s PlayStation 2 platformer Portal Runner, a game boldly featuring a ‘97%’ sticker on its box.

Surely it couldn’t possibly be that good? Find out in this recording of the episode along with the viewer comments as they happened.

(Apologies for the sound quality in this episode, I was suffering technical problems which have since been sorted) Continue reading “Gemhunter Live #6 – Portal Runner” →

Gemhunter #5 – Mary-Kate & Ashley: Sweet 16 – Licensed To Drive

Published on by Chris Scullion2 Comments

It’s the fifth episode of Gemhunter and I’m not fucking around anymore.

Let’s see if this Olsen Twins GameCube offering from n-Space (who later went on to do four brilliant DS versions of Call Of Duty games) is actually not the vapid shit it looks like it is.

Could it maybe, just maybe, actually be a hidden gem? Watch the video to find out… Continue reading “Gemhunter #5 – Mary-Kate & Ashley: Sweet 16 – Licensed To Drive” →