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If you find the idea of defending that game preposterous,


Actually, I don't. The game does have signs of promise.

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can we agree that the game looks nice and has some good songs?


Nice graphics. I'll agree to that.

Nice songs. As I recall, the game frustrated me so much that I didn't pay them much attention. So, I have to be neutral on that point.

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but couldn't something good about the game make the game as a whole deserve at least a second look?


I've given this game a second look. A third look. Even a fourth. I've even bought the cartridge. (Granted, it was around a dollar.) There's just something that keeps me coming back to it. Then, the general gaming experience repels me away for another year's worth. There are a lot of titles that I either cling to or drift away from. This one never met either of those categories. Same goes for Battle Toads.

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consider River City Ransom. I have no idea what you think of that game (if you're played it),


I might have. But, I keep thinking of Mighty Final Fight. So, if I had, it never left an impression on me. I've never liked the NES Double Dragon games. (Even though I can never avoid dropping a quarter into their arcade counterparts. Also, the Commodore home version of DD is, in my opinion, better then the NES version.) Perhaps, that is apart of my Bayou Billy opinion. It uses those DD-like NES fighting concepts that I never cared for too much.

In fact, I think there is only one one-on-one fighter for the NES that I've really come to like. (And, it was a Japanese only release.) While I don't recall the translated name, (might have been School...something.) it was more of a two-on-two with quite an amazing combat engine and decent graphics.

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Only stage 6 has those knife wielding low lifes. That's also the only stage that has the ball-and-chain enemies.


Variation is a good thing. I can agree upon that.

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One complaint I've heard about Bayou Billy is that enemies don't freeze when you land a first strike


I'd use that as a reason for disliking this game. It almost feels like the enemy is getting a cheat to beat you up while being invulnerable. (A privilege most games give to the player. Which is probably a tainting notion.)

But, you are right. That is just a factor to try to adapt to. Which adds plenty of challenge...that I've never stepped up to taking.

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If, after you've mastered the control, can the game be fun?


The game I've played the most that matches your description would have to be NES's Star Voyager. (If I recall the title right.) Not a very remarkable game, on the surface. In fact, if you don't know what you are doing, a down right boring game, as you have to planet hop randomly and balance your fuel reserves just to have a chance of successfully engaging in battle. Plus, the graphics/sounds were mostly something an Atari 5200 could pull off, with some strain on the resources. But, there was something about this game that kept me coming back...until I mastered it...and it actually became fun. (Though, the game still holds a couple secrets. Like what the endless fuel canister looks like. And, how to escape from the Black Hole.)

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was the light gun stages.


Ahh, yes. The wonderful light gun stage. A long time ago, I was able to access multiple stages on this game. (Don't remember if it was a cheat code or if it was always a menu option.) And, I thought the light gun option was a fantastic choice. (Only one other NES game I can think of did this. It was a game about Olympics and had this 'for fun' shooting gallery set up in an alley. Otherwise, all NES light gun games were specifically set up for the gun.) Only problem was, if the player wasn't expecting in advanced to use the gun, plugging it in mid-game risked a game crash. (NES was never hot swappable. But, for all the hot swap things I've done to it, it never seemed to cause that forewarned damage that Nintendo promised would happen.)

Well, if anything, you have convinced me to give Bayou another try. (Been about a year now, anyhow.) And, I think after playing the game for a few, I will, once again, be convinced to toss it back into storage...as usual.