Genesis Knight
Member
Which version? The one-hit KO in the US version is enough reason to put GH over it.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Sega Genesis/MegaDrive Appreciation Thread: Alien Storm > Golden Axe
- Thread starter IrishNinja
- Start date
Which version? The one-hit KO in the US version is enough reason to put GH over it.
Morrigan Stark
Arrogant Smirk
I prefer GH over Hard Corps by several miles, myself. But I was never any good at OHKO Contra games.
I've played Hard Corps.
I prefer Gunstar Heroes. I played it for the first time on the Wii VC and it literally became one of my favorite Genesis games of all time.
A Black Falcon
Member
Even with the US version's way too high difficulty, Hard Corps is still a significantly better game than Gunstar Heroes. The Adventures of Batman & Robin is better as well.
A Black Falcon
Member
Yeah, if they haven't, they should. It might be even HARDER than US Hard Corps, or at least it's just as hard as Contra is, but it's an incredible game with fantastic graphics and music and very good gameplay. The farthest I've gotten is the level after the shmup stage, but I love it anyway. The music is some of the best in any Genesis game, for one. Outstanding work there. The graphics are good; the backgrounds are incredibly repetitive, but it's got all kinds of great effects and looks great despite the visual repetition. And the gameplay... it's a great, very well-designed run & run. Outstanding across the board.
I mean, I DO think Gunstar Heroes is a good game, it's just not as good as Contra Hard Corps or Adventures of Batman & Robin, and is somewhat overrated. As I said before I actually like the GBA game more, I think... though Genesis Gunstar Heroes IS better than the Game Gear game. (I got that one recently. So much flicker! And it's pretty pricey too, almost $20 for a loose cart...)
IrishNinja
Member
i'ma play em both!
with a game genie
Hard Corps? Nah. Batman...you'll need all the bat-help you can get.
I still need to beat Hard Corps .
EDIT: Btw Jewel Master should be easy to play in Japanese right? I know the NA version is cheap, but I really like the JP art/cartridge art.
Shadow Hog
Member
I own Batman, but I don't think I've ever beaten the first screen. Usually trip up on the Harley boss at the very end.
Fox Mulder
Member
I own it but have never got past the first few levels. Pretty funny to struggle on a batman game over contra.
IrishNinja
Member
after a thorough cleaning & getting my RGB + stereo cable in from retro_accessories, i got my 32X working today!
my impressions so far:
Space Harrier - the most arcade perfect port i think i saw up to the Saturn Sega Ages one, just looks great. i have to turn scanlines down or off until i sort out the vertical scrolling effect i'm getting on my upscaler (SHMUPs forum implies it might be my TV's internal scaler dicking things up, gotta look into that)
After Burner - yup, that's After Burner. another much improved port over the genesis one.
Star Wars - not bad, i think the X-Wing vs TIE Fighter crowd might've dug it as a kind've mini game in the day.
Virtua Racing - i think this is the best looking version of this game i've yet seen, i'm not great at it but it's a lotta fun
Cosmic Carnage - everything i ever wanted from a mid-90's fighter but was too scared to ask
Kolibri - this game's quite pretty, but i literally don't know what i'm supposed to be doing to advance things...am i waiting for the aliens from Ecoo to suck everything up again? still, arguably the greatest hummingbird simulator of our time.
Knuckles Chaotix - now, this is something right here. color choice is...interesting, and the rubber band thing feels like it'd make for a neat gimmick in one stage instead of all of them, but this is what we got - the special stages are kinda neat, i'm only 2 levels in but this really does feel like the tech demo i understand it to be, mostly because the levels feel absolutely barren so far.
i saw a copy of Metal Head for $3 online but i don't know if its worth it, the only games i'd dig messing with are Blackthorne, Shadow Squadron, maybe NBA Jam (just found that one on Saturn though), and i dunno what else...i mean, i'm a big Daredevil fan but unless Web of Fire falls off the back of a truck that can wait till i get an Everdrive, cause fuck that. I wonder if Darxide, Zaxxon, etc are any good. still, having passed on this back in '94 it's cool to finally mess with this thing - thank god for the trio AC adapter, but man do the metal contacts inside the unit get hot! also, considering i got this for the price of shipping (seller refunded when it didn't work before i cleaned it up), i'm pretty happy with it.
Spectral Glider
Member
after a thorough cleaning & getting my RGB + stereo cable in from retro_accessories, i got my 32X working today!
my impressions so far:
Space Harrier - the most arcade perfect port i think i saw up to the Saturn Sega Ages one, just looks great. i have to turn scanlines down or off until i sort out the vertical scrolling effect i'm getting on my upscaler (SHMUPs forum implies it might be my TV's internal scaler dicking things up, gotta look into that)
After Burner - yup, that's After Burner. another much improved port over the genesis one.
Star Wars - not bad, i think the X-Wing vs TIE Fighter crowd might've dug it as a kind've mini game in the day.
Virtua Racing - i think this is the best looking version of this game i've yet seen, i'm not great at it but it's a lotta fun
Cosmic Carnage - everything i ever wanted from a mid-90's fighter but was too scared to ask
Kolibri - this game's quite pretty, but i literally don't know what i'm supposed to be doing to advance things...am i waiting for the aliens from Ecoo to suck everything up again? still, arguably the greatest hummingbird simulator of our time.
Knuckles Chaotix - now, this is something right here. color choice is...interesting, and the rubber band thing feels like it'd make for a neat gimmick in one stage instead of all of them, but this is what we got - the special stages are kinda neat, i'm only 2 levels in but this really does feel like the tech demo i understand it to be, mostly because the levels feel absolutely barren so far.
i saw a copy of Metal Head for $3 online but i don't know if its worth it, the only games i'd dig messing with are Blackthorne, Shadow Squadron, maybe NBA Jam (just found that one on Saturn though), and i dunno what else...i mean, i'm a big Daredevil fan but unless Web of Fire falls off the back of a truck that can wait till i get an Everdrive, cause fuck that. I wonder if Darxide, Zaxxon, etc are any good. still, having passed on this back in '94 it's cool to finally mess with this thing - thank god for the trio AC adapter, but man do the metal contacts inside the unit get hot! also, considering i got this for the price of shipping (seller refunded when it didn't work before i cleaned it up), i'm pretty happy with it.
IMO, with the exception of Shadow Squadron, you've experienced the best the 32X has to offer. Shadow Squadron is worth seeking out though if you like space shooters.
A Black Falcon
Member
Metal Head absolutely is worth it. It's a first-person mech shooter. The game is common and cheap, and it's textured 3d! Just make sure to use it with a 6-button controller, and learn the controls; it only seems slow until you find the run button. Metal Head isn't a great game, but it is a decent one and it's a nice showing of what the hardware can do too.
after a thorough cleaning & getting my RGB + stereo cable in from retro_accessories, i got my 32X working today!
my impressions so far:
Space Harrier - the most arcade perfect port i think i saw up to the Saturn Sega Ages one, just looks great. i have to turn scanlines down or off until i sort out the vertical scrolling effect i'm getting on my upscaler (SHMUPs forum implies it might be my TV's internal scaler dicking things up, gotta look into that)
After Burner - yup, that's After Burner. another much improved port over the genesis one.
Star Wars - not bad, i think the X-Wing vs TIE Fighter crowd might've dug it as a kind've mini game in the day.
Virtua Racing - i think this is the best looking version of this game i've yet seen, i'm not great at it but it's a lotta fun
Cosmic Carnage - everything i ever wanted from a mid-90's fighter but was too scared to ask
Kolibri - this game's quite pretty, but i literally don't know what i'm supposed to be doing to advance things...am i waiting for the aliens from Ecoo to suck everything up again? still, arguably the greatest hummingbird simulator of our time.
Knuckles Chaotix - now, this is something right here. color choice is...interesting, and the rubber band thing feels like it'd make for a neat gimmick in one stage instead of all of them, but this is what we got - the special stages are kinda neat, i'm only 2 levels in but this really does feel like the tech demo i understand it to be, mostly because the levels feel absolutely barren so far.
i saw a copy of Metal Head for $3 online but i don't know if its worth it, the only games i'd dig messing with are Blackthorne, Shadow Squadron, maybe NBA Jam (just found that one on Saturn though), and i dunno what else...i mean, i'm a big Daredevil fan but unless Web of Fire falls off the back of a truck that can wait till i get an Everdrive, cause fuck that. I wonder if Darxide, Zaxxon, etc are any good. still, having passed on this back in '94 it's cool to finally mess with this thing - thank god for the trio AC adapter, but man do the metal contacts inside the unit get hot! also, considering i got this for the price of shipping (seller refunded when it didn't work before i cleaned it up), i'm pretty happy with it.
As for others, Shadow Squadron is outstanding and is one of the best games on the 32X, that's a must-have. Darxide is good but you need a PAL-compatible Genesis and 32X since the game is region-locked, and it's super expensive too. Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000 is a good game. It's not a great game, and really isn't Zaxxon, but it is good. Think Viewpoint instead of Zaxxon -- that's basically what Motherbase is. NBA Jam T.E. for 32X is good too. It's easily the best 4th gen version of the game. Yeah, the Saturn version is also great, but the 32X and Saturn versions aren't quite the same. Both are worth having if you like NBA Jam, I think.
As for Blackthorne, it's good and has an exclusive level and graphical overhaul, but it's very expensive. Not sure if it's worth it or not.
For a few more games, Star Trek Starfleet Academy: Starship Bridge Simulator is okay. It's an enhanced port of the SNES game of the same name, but on 32X it has better graphics and more stuff, such as a pool-table minigame. The main game is a 3d space combat/sim game. It is kind of slow and takes some getting used to, but it's alright. It's got a two-player splitscreen space combat mode too. You won't find that in Star Wars Arcade or Shadow Squadron. Also, the game isn't too expensive. That can't be said about T-Mek, unfortunately. I actually like the game (some people don't), but it's not cheap, so I don't have that one yet... Oh, and Tempo is good. It's a solid, traditional 2d platformer.
(Finally, the best thing about Knuckles Chaotix are the awesome 3d-tube bonus stages. Get to them!)
lol
Was about to post this. Maybe i'm mistaken, but didn't this game get released on the Amiga as well?
Genesis Knight
Member
32x exclusive.
Gunstar Heroes is more of a fun and manic run and gun, especially in co-op. Hard Corps is strictly memorization.
Everything will kill you once in Hard Corps because you don't know what it's doing, but just once. Then you learn and don't get hit the next time, repeat all the way through the game. It's a very methodical game, just like its successor Shattered Soldier. I wouldn't even say it's really all that difficult. There's nothing tricky or hard to pull off, no split-second timing or skill-based maneuvers. Stand here, shoot, now move here, shoot, etc.
Everything will kill you once in Hard Corps because you don't know what it's doing, but just once. Then you learn and don't get hit the next time, repeat all the way through the game. It's a very methodical game, just like its successor Shattered Soldier. I wouldn't even say it's really all that difficult. There's nothing tricky or hard to pull off, no split-second timing or skill-based maneuvers. Stand here, shoot, now move here, shoot, etc.
I was going to say Metal Head isn't very good, but I'd still say it's worth the $3. It's very neat from a technical perspective, it just has terrible voice acting and runs very slowly.
My favorite version personally. Had a lot of fun with that and a Team Player adapter. My only complaint is that the basket ball doesn't bounce as smoothly as it does in the 16-bit iterations, but the more detailed & scaling players more than make up for it.
Also, I had passed on the Bridge Simulator game, I might have to look into it, and screw the haters, I still liked Chaotix a lot (dat music).
A Black Falcon
Member
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=96186979&postcount=4955
Only" memorize the entire game? Yeah, that's a whole lot harder than you suggest! It is true that memorization is the name of the game, but that still leaves it as an extremely difficulty and unforgiving game. Make a couple of mistakes and it's back to the beginning again for you.
What do you mean, runs slowly? You mean the framerate? I guess that's somewhat true, but it IS textured polygonal 3d on the 32X. You can't expect too much. As for the game pace, the run button is key there.
Yeah, it's a great version, one of the better ones for sure. I do like the Saturn version as well, but I'm not sure really which I like more. Just get both!
Yeah, it's a really under-the-radar title, but it's interesting enough to be worth a look.
Chaotix's 3d tube bonus stages are great and well-designed, but the main game feels like an unfinished mess. The levels are mostly empty, many stages have almost no obstacles or enemies that can hurt you, and you play the worlds in random order, a decision that means that the levels don't get harder from world to world but instead only within each world. That leads to even more tedious repetition and blandness. The levels take a long time to get through, too, since thanks to the spring mechanic slowing things down most of the time. Levels are probably no bigger than Sonic levels, but take longer to play through. The game really is pretty badly flawed. I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't really done but they forced them to release something because they needed to release something.
Really, the two-characters-connected-with-a-spring mechanic is interesting, but hard to control. This is probably part of why the levels are so tediously empty -- with pits and lots of enemies and stuff you'd frequently take unavoidable damage while flinging yourself around. The "solution" was to take out most of the obstacles, but that leaves the game boring. And then the decision to play the worlds in random order finished off any chance of a reasonable difficulty curve.
The game looks good enough, but is a flawed game for sure. It's probably just barely worth getting, overall.
IrishNinja
Member
we had one so my brother could play Bill Walsh College Football but that was the real reason, i'm hoping to find one again on the cheap one day
A Black Falcon
Member
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=96186979&postcount=4955
Only" memorize the entire game? Yeah, that's a whole lot harder than you suggest! It is true that memorization is the name of the game, but that still leaves it as an extremely difficulty and unforgiving game. Make a couple of mistakes and it's back to the beginning again for you.
What do you mean, runs slowly? You mean the framerate? I guess that's somewhat true, but it IS textured polygonal 3d on the 32X. You can't expect too much. As for the game pace, the run button is key there.
Yeah, it's a great version, one of the better ones for sure. I do like the Saturn version as well, but I'm not sure really which I like more. Just get both!
Yeah, it's a really under-the-radar title, but it's interesting enough to be worth a look.
Chaotix's 3d tube bonus stages are great and well-designed, but the main game feels like an unfinished mess. The levels are mostly empty, many stages have almost no obstacles or enemies that can hurt you, and you play the worlds in random order, a decision that means that the levels don't get harder from world to world but instead only within each world. That leads to even more tedious repetition and blandness. The levels take a long time to get through, too, since thanks to the spring mechanic slowing things down most of the time. Levels are probably no bigger than Sonic levels, but take longer to play through and get boring. The empty levels make this problem worse, of course. The game really is pretty badly flawed. I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't really done but they forced them to release something because they needed to release a game. So they threw this thing out, half-finished and empty as it is.
Really, the two-characters-connected-with-a-spring mechanic is interesting, but hard to control. This is probably part of why the levels are so tediously empty -- with pits and lots of enemies and stuff you'd frequently take unavoidable damage while flinging yourself around. The "solution" was to take out most of the obstacles, but that leaves the game boring, empty, and lacking in challenge. And then the decision to play the worlds in random order finished off any chance of a reasonable difficulty curve, or fun factor either.
The game looks good enough, but is a flawed game for sure. It's probably just barely worth getting, overall.
There isn't an Amiga version of course, as was said -- Kolibri is from the same studio as Ecco the Dolphin and was published by Sega, and Sega did not publish on the Amiga. There is a PC CD version of Ecco 1, but that's it as far as computer ports of their Sega-published games go.
Sixfortyfive
He who pursues two rabbits gets two rabbits.
One thing that kills me about Chaotix is that you're never once required to actually use the rubber band partner mechanic after the tutorial stage. It's usually easier to just carry one character through most of the game. It's like they didn't build the game around your abilities at all.
A Black Falcon
Member
Yeah, that's a good point. Occasionally you've got to reach a high platform which you should reach by flinging someone up to it, but as you suggest, you can often find another way too. I do think that the levels were designed for the ability -- I mean, I can't think of any other reason why they are so barren and empty, other than to reduce frustration when you're randomly bouncing around -- but they did a really bad job of it. Chaotix really is a case study in terrible level design.
In comparison Tempo is kind of slow-paced and does have some bland levels as well, but it's a decently designed game which can be fun, and it's worth the reasonable price it goes for. It doesn't really do anything with the 32X's power other than animating backgrounds and more colors, but it is worth getting, yeah. At least, it is if you like platformers, particularly Bonk-esque ones since Tempo is from the guy who designed Bonk. Tempo isn't as fun as Bonk's Adventure, honestly, but it's a decent game.
Yeah, I was referring to the framerate. It really hampered the enjoyment for me. I agree though, it's very impressive and worth it for that alone.
I personally didn't find the rubberbanding that hard to control (did have its awkward moments though). I actually liked that the levels weren't as dense as it made the game feel different. I didn't buy it to play Sonic, I bought it to play as Knuckles and I thought it had mild success in doing so. I enjoyed how verticality played a big role in the levels.
I'm not saying it's a great game, but I think there is fun to be had. Someone has to defend this title.
On an unrelated note, seeing the posts about Landstalker above got me to take a gander at it. I've never really paid attention to it before, but it looks like I've made a mistake there. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for a copy.
Shadow Hog
Member
I recall Landstalker's controls bugging me a while ago. I forget what, specifically, it was, but I recall thinking it had something to do with how stiff my Genesis controller's DPad is these days. Really oughta find a six-button pad and see how that fares; I've heard the DPad in those matches that of a Model 2 Saturn pad, and I love the Model 2 Saturn pad's DPad.
A Black Falcon
Member
Yeah, the only other 32X game with textured polygons is Darxide, and honestly Metal Head might be more impressive, because Darxide is mostly just doing spinning rocks, not full cityscapes...
Seriously, Chaotix has some of the worst, most boringly designed levels ever. I like Knuckles well enough -- he's great in S2&K and S3&K, for example -- but no, not here. The spring mechanic is somewhat interesting but I don't know if it was great enough to be the central mechanic of a whole game, and those levels really are the worst thing about the game. With actual obstacles, enemies, and things which required decent use of the spring maybe it could have been justified, but it doesn't have that. I don't hate the game, it's just... missing something.
Hey, I do at least love its bonus stages! They should just have made a game of levels in those 3d tubes, it'd have worked fine I think.I'm not saying it's a great game, but I think there is fun to be had. Someone has to defend this title.
On that note, I hope that supposed-to-exist near-final build of Virtua Hamster leaks someday. The test build that has leaked is really great, but there's nothing to do in it beyond just going around the paths...
Landstalker is outstanding! There are some other good action-RPGs on the system, but Landstalker is the best one. The controls definitely take getting used to, but if you stick with it it's a great game.
Yeah, the official 6-button controller definitely has a somewhat better d-pad than the 3-button controllers do. Get one, for that and for the games that benefit from 6 buttons.
IrishNinja
Member
yeah, isometric games with platforming but devoid of said shadows can be a bitch; when they're there & done right (Super Mario RPG, i wanna say Dark Savior but i gotta check) it's fine, without them estimating your jumps can sometimes be a cumbersome chore.
smbu2000
Member
At first I was disappointed that I missed out on Pier Solar, but later I found the reprint edition for sale and was glad mine came with the clam shell case.
I just picked this up recently! TFIV! Found it at a local shop for just under 1600 yen. Looking forward to trying it out. Now I have TFIII and TFIV on MD (and TFII/TFIII on Saturn.)
sixteen-bit
Member
Thunder Force IV is such a showpiece for the MD. Nice pickup!
IrishNinja
Member
man, Lightening Force's box art ain't bad, but that feels more classic TF'ey
Rubik8
Member
I got a loose copy on eBay for $17 a few months ago, and that was the best price I thought I could have gotten based on what they have been selling for. What do you consider a fair deal for one of the best looking and playing shooters on the Genesis?
Trying to get a good condition complete copy for less than $40.
Rubik8
Member
I wish I had the money to concentrate on complete copies. It easiest for the Genesis but it still doubles the price.
RoryDropkick
Member
*hugs his $6 copy of Ragnacenty*
So I finally found some time to play Talmit's Aventure/Marvel Land. It has some simple but charming and colorful graphics, the music is nice, too. The collision detection is a little too sensitive in my opinion. You gotta be damn sure to hit the head of enemies exactly. I think I'm a little rusty when it comes to platformers because I used some 20 or so lives to even reach the first boss. Boss fights are interesting by the way. The first boss at least is a game of rock, paper, scissors. I didn't really understand how to play it, you can somehow dodge his attack if you lose the round. When you lose you have to play the stage before the boss again, which is not at all annoying. I called it a day then. Password was 'WIXT'
Fox Mulder
Member
I picked up a few games recently that won't load past the first startup screen with the sega credits. Just stays on a black screen. I'm playing on a pvm with rgb, and it seems odd that separate games have the same issue.
just wondering if it could be the games or something with my setup.
just wondering if it could be the games or something with my setup.
Sixfortyfive
He who pursues two rabbits gets two rabbits.
To be more specific, do you get the "PRODUCED BY OR UNDER LICENSE..." screen, then just nothing afterward?
Try cleaning the contacts of the slot and cartridge PCBs if so.
Fox Mulder
Member
yes, it's that screen, then nothing afterwards.
I thought it could need cleaning, but I seem to have lost my security bit thing to open them.
Why would you need to open the games just to clean the contacts? Just get some alcohol and some q-tips.
I'd be happy if I could just fine the game for a decent price.
I needed to open my Batman and Robin, then go at it with some brasso to get it to work.Seems like sometimes you have to really get in there.
Fox Mulder
Member
it's just something I do with games as I get them.
qtips and alcohol can only do so much, but works enough most of the time.
Shadow Hog
Member
Yeah, I own some games that alcohol & Q-Tips haven't been able to save, but haven't yet gotten any security bits to try rubbing further down the contacts.