31 replies to this topic

[vrocko]

Ok just found a Magnavox CDI at a garage sale for $5.00. It still works but it had no games. I know that the games for it really aren't that great but does anybody have any game suggestions? I'd like to see what games I can find.

Rich

[high voltage]

There's some great games out there for the CDi, but remember the CDi was NOT meant to be a gaming console according to Philips (Netherlands), so it's kinda strange to get used to the controls.
Hop over to the great http://www.cdinterac...d38330e24614a10
and all your questions will be answered

[Seob]

Burn:cycle
The Apprentice
Flashback: The Quest for Identity
Dimo's Quest
Litil Divil
Lucky Luke: The Video Game
Micromachines
Tetsuo Gaiden
And even Zelda's Adventure isn't a very bad game.
If you like dragon's lair you find a very good port on the cd-i, as well as dragon's lair II, Braindead 13 and Space Ace.
If you like American laser games you find good ports on the cd-i as well, like Mad Dog McCree I and II

[Austin]

7th Guest.

[Gregory DG]

Don't have a CDi, but the nerd does...

http://cinemassacre....gn-cd-i-part-1/

http://cinemassacre....gn-cd-i-part-2/

[Austin]

To the OP, I suggest watching as many videos of CD-i games as you can. There are plenty of video reviews out there on YouTube as well. The reason I say this is that the CD-i library is, well.. inconsistent, to say the least. A lot of games that hardcore CD-i fans call "good" or "great" would be viewed as simply average, or even mediocre, on other platforms.

[YAGRS]

Mutant Rampage Bodyslam.

It's not a great game, but it's an acceptable beat-'em-up that I like quite a bit. There are a few features that are pretty innovative for a beat-'em-up of that time. I believe the game is the longest side-scrolling beat-'em-up I ever played, too, so it'll be a nice little time suck for you. Unfortunately, it's only for one player.

In between levels, you can marvel at the notoriously bad cut-scenes.

One last note, I would strongly suggest you get the CD-i control pad for gaming. It's actually a good controller.

[SRGilbert]

Never tried it myself, but it seems I've read that CDi games had no copy protection, so they are pretty easy to burn if you are into that sort of thing.

Funny thing, I found MY CDi at a garage sale for $5 too! They had it labled as a "dvd player." I'd have felt bad for anyone else who might have bought it.

[OldSchoolRetroGamer]

This guy does great reviews about the CDi from hardware to software!

http://www.youtube.c.../HalfBlindGamer

Some examples:





Also the host is a great and friendly fellow.

Edited by OldSchoolRetroGamer, Wed Jun 1, 2011 8:47 PM.

[Austin]

OldSchoolRetroGamer, on Wed Jun 1, 2011 8:44 PM, said:

This guy does great reviews about the CDi from hardware to software!

http://www.youtube.c.../HalfBlindGamer

Was tempted to mention him myself, but I already did in the last CD-i thread, haha. I agree though, he has some great stuff and he's pretty fair with his reviews.

Biff's Gaming Reviews on YouTube also does CD-i stuff and I think he has a few reviews that HBG doesn't have, so between watching both of those guys, the OP should have a good idea of what's worthy and what's not on the system.

I really stress doing the video thing though--a lot of CD-i games look great in stills, which can be very misleading.

[Seob]

Yes, a gamepad is recommended. There are 2 different versions, one just looking like the gravis gamepad that was also released for pc, and a second little larger one. Don't have the first one so i don't know if it's good. I liked the pc version, so i guess the cd-i version is good as well.
Halfblindgamer does have nice reviews.

Edited by Seob, Thu Jun 2, 2011 5:01 AM.

[vrocko]

Thanks everybody! I will check out your suggestions and see what I can find! Yeah I definitely need a gamepad. It's got that controller with the round end.

[Hatta]

I didn't see anyone mention this, but the CD-I should read CDRs just fine. This is fortunate, because you wouldn't want to pay for most of the CD-I titles. Most are good for a laugh for a bit but won't keep your attention. Good thing CDRs are cheap.

Most of the best games have been mentioned. I'd also add Plunderball, which was unreleased but leaked eventually. Pretty good pinball gameplay, considering the limitations. Along with very cheezy FMV cutscenes when you trigger events on the board. Kether is another one worth playing. It's pretty well produced for a CD-I game, includes puzzles and shooting sequences between FMV cutscenes (of course).

Honestly though, a lot of the fun to be had is in digging up awful "interactive multimedia" titles. There's some really corny stuff they made for this thing, since they didn't really know what to do with it.

[Seob]

Does your cd-i have a dvc cartridge? Some games need it in order to be able to play. The appertince only needs a dvc for better sound.

[Rex Dart]

Just got a Magnavox CDI...now what?

Chuck it off an overpass!

Edited by Rex Dart, Thu Jun 2, 2011 12:43 PM.

[Algus]

None of the licensed Nintendo games are terrible, despite the rumors. Hotel Mario is actually decent, though the gameplay was a bit antiquated for the time it was released. Faces of Evil and Wand of Gamelon have some stiff controls but pretty good music and decent graphics.

Zelda's Adventure is the weakest, largely due to the long load times and amateur voice acting.

Unfortunately all four games are kind of expensive since they're the main draw to colletors and people who weren't familiar with the CD-i when it was originally on the market.

The other two CD-i titles I really like (Dragon's Lair and Mutant Rampage) have already been mentioned so I'll just give them a +1

[Austin]

Seob, on Thu Jun 2, 2011 11:58 AM, said:

Does your cd-i have a dvc cartridge? Some games need it in order to be able to play. The appertince only needs a dvc for better sound.

I understood it utilized the DVC, but I didn't understand why. That's interesting. Will it play without the DVC, say, with lower quality sounds, or a lack of them?

[Seob]

Most will not play without dvc. There some that will run with lesser or without sound.

[A_Locomotive]

I just discovered there is a Magnavox CD-i on my local craigslist. $50, current owner claims its new in box and has never been played. Tempted to bite even though I know nothing about it.

[vrocko]

A_Locomotive, on Fri Jun 3, 2011 2:16 AM, said:

I just discovered there is a Magnavox CD-i on my local craigslist. $50, current owner claims its new in box and has never been played. Tempted to bite even though I know nothing about it.

Yeah that's the one I got! Mine is in the box too but the box is a little beat up. Seob I don't know if it has a dvc cartridge, how do you tell?

[tpugmire]

The part next to the CD door comes off and you can see where it should be.

[Austin]

A_Locomotive, on Fri Jun 3, 2011 2:16 AM, said:

I just discovered there is a Magnavox CD-i on my local craigslist. $50, current owner claims its new in box and has never been played. Tempted to bite even though I know nothing about it.

You should buy it, then sell it to me (I will give you plenty extra on top of what he wants).

That's the model I am after, but good condition CD-i's have been dry on eBay for the last six months or so, let alone cheap (buyers asking insane BIN prices).

[Hatta]

That's a tough call. If it's NIB, it probably doesn't have the DVC cartridge. I think you can still get DVC cartridges here. If you look on ebay, there are a lot available for ~$150, but very few sell at that price. $50 is probably reasonable, if you're the kind of person to get $50 worth of entertainment out of it.

Oh, since Dragon's Lair has been mentioned, I don't like the CD-I version all that much. It randomizes the scenes. This makes it very hard to practice. If you loved Dragon's Lair on the 3DO or Sega CD, you'll probably like how the randomization changes things up for you. But if you're just getting started, play one of those versions first.

[A_Locomotive]

Austin, on Fri Jun 3, 2011 11:33 AM, said:

A_Locomotive, on Fri Jun 3, 2011 2:16 AM, said:

I just discovered there is a Magnavox CD-i on my local craigslist. $50, current owner claims its new in box and has never been played. Tempted to bite even though I know nothing about it.

You should buy it, then sell it to me (I will give you plenty extra on top of what he wants).

That's the model I am after, but good condition CD-i's have been dry on eBay for the last six months or so, let alone cheap (buyers asking insane BIN prices).

I was actually thinking of flipping it. I just talked to the guy on the phone and its clear he isn't an electronics person, he knows zero about it, I offered $25 and he seemed to be considering it. Didn't think he'd bite but he seems very interested in selling it to me. He gets back in town after the weekend and said he'd call and set up a deal with me. If I decide its not for me I'll give you first shot on making an offer on it.

[save2600]

Lots of good replies here and I'd recommend the gun games too. They're quirky and cheesy, which is par for the course with the CD-i library - but relatively fun and cheap!