Yes, games I'd buy at green markets/open markets and such here if they didn't have a TV on the stall and were cheap or PC Games that you couldn't test, because PC gaming.
Normally at the stores I'd buy games from you could try any game before buying it, so I knew what I was buying instantly, for console games at least, PC Games not so much.
Anyway games I bought on a whim that turned out great:
- MDK - PC -
bought it from an open market as soon as it came out, I loved the art, screenshots on the back, I KNEW it was coming, but never looked into what it was, I had countless PC magazines but I jsut don't remember reading the previews on it. Bought it on a whim and I was not disappointed.
It ran all maxed out on my gaming PC at the time back in 1997 or so, it was insane.
- Arcade America - PC
This is a single screen arcade game, perfect for pick up and play with someone genuinely amazing cartoony cutscenes and voice acting.
Developed by 7th level who used to make weird ass games I didn't care about, this one was an exception. I bought it completely on a whim, I was looking for a cartoony game with lots of voice acting and stuff and the guy at the store recommended this one. I fell in love with the boxart and screenshots on the back. Brought it home, installed it and lost my MIND over the damn game. I was 6th or 7th grade, childish and very hyper. At school I'd legit act like Joey even do the belly rub he does while saying "Joey joey joey!" :D I was so in love with this game I have no words.
I knew the intro and every cutscene, every piece of dialogue by heart. I'd play it nonstop. I remember when a kid at a PC Store told me how to rescure one of the characters I had trouble with to get the good ending. I absolutely lost it from pure joy :D
The intro:
- Open Sesame - Atari 2600 -
I thought the boxart was amazing, you probably play as a dog or something....and then I brought the game home and it was, well it was something. I still have the cart but I'm too lazy to take pics of it.
The premise is you have to reach the monster at the very top, in some versions it's an apple, while unlocking these genuinely impressive light beams that serve as ladders on each floor of the level. Except all levels are exactly the same just the enemies maybe get faster/harder.
I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. I actually first bought Donkey Kong 3, brought it home, beat it and instantly returned it because I genuinely thought it was a dumb game, I still don't get the appeal of that game tbh. So the guy would only exchange it for an Atari 2600 game and I got this lol
The game has a surreal atmosphere and when you start it up it uses a digitized voice to say something, the pattern and voice also appear after you beat a level. it's very creepy. so if nothing else it was atmospheric and odd. I'd play it from time to time just for that.
- Aladdin - SNES to NES Remake -
I bought this one completely on a whim at a new years market. The guy at the stall did tell me this was a much better version than the other Nintendo Aladdin that was sold here, it was cheap so I bought it. I already owned the SNES one but even so when I booted this up I was BLOWN AWAY. I couldn't believe how amazing it looked, how well it played. I legit thought this was an official SNES to NES port. However one thing threw me off, the version that was sold here had a glitch where the music would cut off, so I thought maybe it's a never released game I wasn't supposed to have I somehow magically bought from a shady guy at a new years market which made it that much more fascinating and special to me :)
