Risky Woods

[Phosis]

A rarely talked about gem of the 16-bit era, Risky Woods was known as one of the best games of it's kind when it was released on the Sega Genesis after being ported from the Amiga.

Yeah but seriously...has anyone played this game? I really feel like I'm one of the only ones. There is no review up yet or anything, and even though I have been trying to work on one, the game is just too goddamn hard for me to get through. It's a basic platformer which seems to borrow a lot from Ghouls and Ghosts or Ghosts and Goblins (or honestly, whatever the hell you want to call that impossible nightmare of a game) but it has the added element of risk, which is why it is aptly called RISKY WOODS (one of the dumbest game titles of all time.)

If it wasn't difficult enough with a constant flow of enemies coming at you, half of the items you pick up have debilitating effects like damaging you, sending you back earlier in the level, putting your ass to sleep, etc. You have to collect armor shards to power up your defenses, and there is a time limit in each level. And if it runs out, they send your ass back to the start. I also feel like lives are just secretly taken away from you, a sometimes I look at my life count and find it has dropped even if I haven't been hit, but I guess I just haven't figured out what invisible specter was at work, making my life fucking miserable.

Anyways it's a pretty cool game that I remember playing as a kid and being unnerved by because I was retarded and was easily scared by things like deep water and skeletons. Have you guys checked this one out, and what are your thoughts?

[108 Stars]

I have never played it much, but I will someday. I find the visuals very nice for a game of its time, and kind of unique in stye

[tomaitheous]

I never did play this game BITD. It looks interesting. It one a few ports (Amiga, ST, PC, etc). This version is probably based on the Amiga version. The graphics are changed a somewhat from the Amiga though, and the choice of color (not color count) isn't as good IMO.

It has that typical late 80's early 90's Euro (Amgia/ST) game art style that I really don't care for/like. But the game itself looks pretty interesting. The action definitely looks arcade-ish and solid at that. I'd over look the graphic style to play this game. The character movement looks better on this port than the Amiga port too. The music in this port though, is below average/generic (I'd probably turn it down and put something else on).

[Olls]

which is why it is aptly called RISKY WOODS (one of the dumbest game titles of all time.)

That honor should go to "Ballz".

I never really cared for those amiga ports. While the graphics were nice for the time, the gameplay always sucked.
This one falls right in with Gods, Shadow of the Beast, Fatal Rewind, Stormlord, etc. etc. Blehh...

[Kamahl]

All the amiga ports look, sound and play better on the amiga.

[108 Stars]

I would not say that. I think Legend of Galahad looks better on MD, save for the huge black bar at the bottom of the screen thanks to the unsupported resolution.

[CMA Death Adder]

The PC version of Risky Woods rapes the Amiga version: higher quality graphics, soundtrack (one of the best Ad Lib scores), etc. I love this game, always have since first playing it upon release. However when I discovered the Genesis version I was sorely disappointed. The music wasn't converted over very well, which is a real shame, and the money system was changed entirely, making weapon acquisition needlessly simplified and therefore, quite lame. Also, the armor upgrades and "super staff attack" that were added to the Genesis version drastically change the difficulty, leaving the game unbalanced and less of a challenge for the player.

If you're going to play this game, play it on the PC. You'll enjoy it a lot more.

[Phosis]

The PC version of Risky Woods rapes the Amiga version: higher quality graphics, soundtrack (one of the best Ad Lib scores), etc. I love this game, always have since first playing it upon release. However when I discovered the Genesis version I was sorely disappointed. The music wasn't converted over very well, which is a real shame, and the money system was changed entirely, making weapon acquisition needlessly simplified and therefore, quite lame. Also, the armor upgrades and "super staff attack" that were added to the Genesis version drastically change the difficulty, leaving the game unbalanced and less of a challenge for the player.

If you're going to play this game, play it on the PC. You'll enjoy it a lot more.

Cool beans, thanks for the info.

[Kamahl]

Yes the PC version is the best, although an AGA version for the Amiga would have the same quality or more.
I'm not a big fan of the game, but the MD version is the worst for sure.

[Mista_Ed]

i own it - i think its pants

[synapse]

I think it's a great game, if only a bit too hard. Really nice graphics for its time, and I used to love the music.

It was actually developed by a group of spaniards, by the way

[Phosis]

I kind of like the music, it's really got a strange mood to it. It's all, "Oh yeah, these woods are risky, but it's alright, we gon' havva good time."

[PHANTOM2040]

That honor should go to "Ballz".

I never really cared for those amiga ports. While the graphics were nice for the time, the gameplay always sucked.
This one falls right in with Gods, Shadow of the Beast, Fatal Rewind, Stormlord, etc. etc. Blehh...

I agree with you. I just don't personally like the style of it. It think it is the best of the ones you listed.

[The Jackal]

All the amiga ports look, sound and play better on the amiga.

The Second Samurai tends to disagree.

On the subject of Risky Woods, I remember when I got my US copy of Shadow of the Beast II and noticing the ad at the back and thinking "that looks great; I'll get that soon" - that was two years ago. Maybe I'll play it alittle tonight, see what it's like..

[The Coop]

Own it, and currently typing its review for the site.