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[Dave Long]

Elemental Master came kind of late in the life of the system and it also wasn't shipped in very high quantities. If you were a shooter fan, you knew about it. If you weren't, it went right on by.

I need to pick that up in fact. It's something I think I played when I worked at Electronics Boutique. I remember unpacking like one or two of them, max.

 

[Genesis Knight]

I think it's a decent shmup but I never thought of it in the top 5 Genny shmups. Maybe top ten. It's one of Technosoft's lackluster games just due to the feel of the shooting and the flow of enemies. The company was better at horis than verts imo.

 

[Dave Long]

I don't disagree with you. I think you're right though that it might be top ten. I'm really curious what your list of top ten shooters would be to be honest? Same with others who have played the majority of them.

 

[Genesis Knight]

I don't disagree with you. I think you're right though that it might be top ten. I'm really curious what your list of top ten shooters would be to be honest? Same with others who have played the majority of them.

I would start with this off the top of my head:

1. Thunder Force IV
2. MUSHA
3. Battle Mania 2
4. Gleylancer
5. Thunder Force III
6. Lords of Thunder
7. Robo Aleste
8. Elemental Master
9. Fire Shark
10. Truxton

Honorable Mention: Air Buster

 

[Dave Long]

I like the list. Take out the Sega CD, though. Then what?

 

[Genesis Knight]

LOL, sorry, I have a habit of thinking of all three as one big console. Trying again...

1. Thunder Force IV
2. MUSHA
3. Battle Mania 2
4. Gleylancer
5. Thunder Force III
6. Elemental Master
7. Fire Shark
8. Truxton
9. Air Buster
10. Eliminate Down

 

[Dave Long]

That's more like it! It's a good list. I have played all but Battle Master 2 and Air Buster. I pretty much agree but I think for me Thunder Force III is number one because (and yes, this may be lame) it is rather easy. I like that it's beatable with a medium level of skill. They just kind of hit the exact right level of difficulty there IMO.

I fucking love Fire Shark and Truxton is similarly amazing. I only wish Twin Cobra had been as good a port to the home.

I've been considering getting Hellfire... close to top ten?

 

[xemumanic]

That's more like it! It's a good list. I have played all but Battle Master 2 and Air Buster. I pretty much agree but I think for me Thunder Force III is number one because (and yes, this may be lame) it is rather easy. I like that it's beatable with a medium level of skill. They just kind of hit the exact right level of difficulty there IMO.

I fucking love Fire Shark and Truxton is similarly amazing. I only wish Twin Cobra had been as good a port to the home.

I've been considering getting Hellfire... close to top ten?

The joke I always heard when I mentioned how much I liked Truxton was "oh, that's just Fire Shark in space". I only bothered to find out how much truth there was to that recently..and oh boy, I see it now.

 

[Genesis Knight]

That's more like it! It's a good list. I have played all but Battle Master 2 and Air Buster. I pretty much agree but I think for me Thunder Force III is number one because (and yes, this may be lame) it is rather easy. I like that it's beatable with a medium level of skill. They just kind of hit the exact right level of difficulty there IMO.

I fucking love Fire Shark and Truxton is similarly amazing. I only wish Twin Cobra had been as good a port to the home.

I've been considering getting Hellfire... close to top ten?

TFIV is pretty hard, I think at least. I know people can 1cc it but yeah right, I never will.

Did you mean Battle Mania instead of Blaster Master? And I would have put Battle Mania 1 (aka Trouble Shooter) on there but I already had Battle Mania 2, which I think is better in general than the first game. Anyway Air Buster is actually pretty fun but very tough! You might not like it.

I actually really dislike Hellfire. I kind of usually hate shmups that use one-hit-kills and checkpoints (the reason Gaiares isn't on that list!), so it has that going against it and then in general it's very sloooooow. I dunno, if you're into more of the R-Type and slower horishmup thing then it might be your bag.

The joke I always heard when I mentioned how much I liked Truxton was "oh, that's just Fire Shark in space". I only bothered to find out how much truth there was to that recently..and oh boy, I see it now.

People should be saying that Fire Shark is "Just Truxton in WWII", haha. Truxton is older.

 

[Dave Long]

I did mean Battle Mania 2. I fat fingered/brain faded into Master on that one.

I really do like Gaiares despite how hard it is because I think the mechanic of weapon switching in that game is pretty damn unique. I also like that it has all the anime cut scenes. So I guess I should check out Hellfire then!

I'm really not against hard games. In fact, I'm the guy who says developers should be able to make games as hard as they like. It's good to have variety! Hard video games make better players out of all of us. I just think there's something about the difficulty level of Thunder Force III that's really satisfying. It's just hard enough for me.

I mean, Fire Shark and Truxton are brutal games if you die, but when you don't, holy crap do you feel like a god!

 

[Genesis Knight]

I did mean Battle Mania 2. I fat fingered/brain faded into Master on that one.

I really do like Gaiares despite how hard it is because I think the mechanic of weapon switching in that game is pretty damn unique. I also like that it has all the anime cut scenes. So I guess I should check out Hellfire then!

I'm really not against hard games. In fact, I'm the guy who says developers should be able to make games as hard as they like. It's good to have variety! Hard video games make better players out of all of us. I just think there's something about the difficulty level of Thunder Force III that's really satisfying. It's just hard enough for me.

I mean, Fire Shark and Truxton are brutal games if you die, but when you don't, holy crap do you feel like a god!

I always want to like Gaiares because of the weapon stealing but then I...just...suck... :/

Truxton especially (I feel like it's slower leveling your weapon in that than in Fire Shark) is one of those shmups where the carrot is just trying to get those higher power levels.

In the early days I once got Fire Shark confused with Fire Mustang. Bad, bad move...

 

[ElFly]

Um Gynoug, you guys.

I love the crazy designs in that game.

 

[Genesis Knight]

Um Gynoug, you guys.

I love the crazy designs in that game.

I almost put that in there but I honestly haven't put enough time into it to be sure. It's been sitting on my shelf for years.

 

[ElFly]

I almost put that in there but I honestly haven't put enough time into it to be sure. It's been sitting on my shelf for years.

Honestly it's an average shooter but has cool music and tons of style. Reasonably hard.

 

[Megadragon15]

What about Steel Empire?

 

[Genesis Knight]

What about Steel Empire?

I think it's kind of overlooked. Unique dieselpunk vibe and better gameplay than a lot of other Genny shmups.

 

[Dave Long]

I recently got Steel Empire for the first time. (from Genesis Knight in fact!) It is very overlooked. Hell, I didn't even realize it originated from Japan! I like how it sends you scrolling the opposite way. It's also great looking and has a nifty setting.

 

[Genesis Knight]

I recently got Steel Empire for the first time. (from Genesis Knight in fact!) It is very overlooked. Hell, I didn't even realize it originated from Japan! I like how it sends you scrolling the opposite way. It's also great looking and has a nifty setting.

Cool interview with Yoshinori Satake about the game and a potential sequel, Burning Steel:

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=41905

 

[Morrigan Stark]

Many Genny classics are on sale on Steam right now, usually in nice packs. I already have some of these on carts, and more on these on the PS2 collection, but I'm tempted to double-dip just for the convenience of not having to plug in my PS2 or find my carts... >_>

 

[Shadow Hog]

Wasn't somebody planning on a catch-all RGB thread? Because, I dunno, I've been looking at the logistics of getting a Framemeister and RGB cables for all of my consoles, and I keep getting more and more questions, the more I look at things. Things like, "should I get a component cable instead of an RGB cable for things like the PS2 or Gamecube?" or "what about VGA for the Dreamcast?" or "People really like this 6-in/2-out SCART switch from Shinybow, but doesn't assume European voltage? Would I need a power converter of some sort?" or "why is this cable so much cheaper than this one? Does it really get rid of jailbars, my biggest issue with my Genesis 1's S-Video mod? Doesn't using Pure Sync instead of Composite Sync cause issues?"

Ugh. It's a good thing I'm not really in the position to start buying these things, because this isn't anywhere near as simple as it should be.

 

[IrishNinja]

I would start with this off the top of my head:

1. Thunder Force IV
2. MUSHA
3. Battle Mania 2
4. Gleylancer
5. Thunder Force III
6. Lords of Thunder
7. Robo Aleste
8. Elemental Master
9. Fire Shark
10. Truxton

Honorable Mention: Air Buster

tight list...only Grey Lancer evades my knowledge!

Wasn't somebody planning on a catch-all RGB thread? Because, I dunno, I've been looking at the logistics of getting a Framemeister and RGB cables for all of my consoles, and I keep getting more and more questions, the more I look at things. Things like, "should I get a component cable instead of an RGB cable for things like the PS2 or Gamecube?" or "what about VGA for the Dreamcast?" or "People really like this 6-in/2-out SCART switch from Shinybow, but doesn't assume European voltage? Would I need a power converter of some sort?" or "why is this cable so much cheaper than this one? Does it really get rid of jailbars, my biggest issue with my Genesis 1's S-Video mod? Doesn't using Pure Sync instead of Composite Sync cause issues?"

Ugh. It's a good thing I'm not really in the position to start buying these things, because this isn't anywhere near as simple as it should be.

i was pushing BocoDragon but he catches bans here & there...honestly im down to get the ball rolling but ive a lot to learn here. i might just make an OP that links to the most useful sites & update as i get details...if someone could help me with a general RGB writeup, id give it a go, we totally need one

 

[Yes Boss!]

tight list...only Grey Lancer evades my knowledge!

Get on that shit for $8 on VC. Good way to try it. It does live up to the reputation, and price.

 

[@MUWANdo]

Eliminate Down for best hori, hands down. As for best vert... hmm. Slap Fight, perhaps.

 

[Genesis Knight]

Eliminate Down for best hori, hands down. As for best vert... hmm. Slap Fight, perhaps.

Wow at those picks. To each his own, I guess?

 

[@MUWANdo]

Wow at those picks. To each his own, I guess?

Most of the Toaplan verts are good fun, and the Compile stuff is quality, too, although I feel the stages are too long so I don't replay 'em often. I have a soft spot for Vapor Trail, even though the MD port isn't fantastic.

As far as horis go, I really dig the latter half of Gynoug but the first couple stages in particular just drag.

 

[A Black Falcon]

Eliminate Down for best hori, hands down. As for best vert... hmm. Slap Fight, perhaps.

Yeah, for best hori on the Genesis, it'd either be Eliminate Down or Lightening Force, for me. Eliminate Down is really amazing. Keio Flying Squadron for CD is also up there. As for verts... I don't know... Truxton, maybe, or Robo Aleste or Silpheed on Sega CD. Or maybe something else, I'm not sure.

 

[baphomet]

Finished up my svideo/av/region mod up on the model 1 I picked up yesterday. It'll end up being for the girlfriend once I get the stuff I need to make an RGB cable for my model 2, but for now the svideo on my pvm monitor looks pretty goddamn good.

 

[Teknoman]

Opinions on Golden Axe 2?

 

[Genesis Knight]

Opinions on Golden Axe 2?

I prefer it to GA3 but it doesn't have the classic music and feel of GA1. So kind of unnecessary to me. If I want to play GA I play 1 or Revenge of Death Adder.

 

[Shadow Hog]

Went thrift store hopping, looking for an N64 controller so I could shed more light on this issue (my sister was supposed to bring a controller over this morning, and forgot to).

Didn't find a controller, but I did find Croc 2 and Shadows of the Empire on the PC, A Bug's Life, Tony Hawk Pro Skater (in THPS2's box, annoyingly) and some fighting game for PS1, and from a different thrift store, Spider-Man and X-Men in Arcade's Revenge, Cool Spot, Steel Talons and a late revision of Revenge of the Shinobi - all in box, three having hangtabs, some even having manuals. The Genesis games cost me only $3, roughly - total.

Pretty stoked about that, even though it's not an ideal revision of RoS, and I expect Spider-Man/X-Men and Steel Talons to be kinda crap.

Finished up my svideo/av/region mod up on the model 1 I picked up yesterday. It'll end up being for the girlfriend once I get the stuff I need to make an RGB cable for my model 2, but for now the svideo on my pvm monitor looks pretty goddamn good.

Any noticeable jailbars? Most annoying thing about my own S-Video modded unit.

 

[Teknoman]

You know whats fun but has a dumb name? Chiki Chiki Boys.

And I think I need to spend a little more time with GA2. Fresh to the series, so all I know is that GA3 has some pretty nice music (tiny hamlet especially). What do you mean by classic feel though? Just a sense of nostalgia, or is it just so well put together, it just feels like a classic the first time you play (like how SoR 2 feels in that you know its just going to be locked in history as one of the best)?

 

[baphomet]

Any noticeable jailbars? Most annoying thing about my own S-Video modded unit.

Nah, there's none at all even on my LCD. I only did it out of boredom as I'm using my model 2 in RGB on a CRT.

 

[Genesis Knight]

You know whats fun but has a dumb name? Chiki Chiki Boys.

And I think I need to spend a little more time with GA2. Fresh to the series, so all I know is that GA3 has some pretty nice music (tiny hamlet especially). What do you mean by classic feel though? Just a sense of nostalgia, or is it just so well put together, it just feels like a classic the first time you play (like how SoR 2 feels in that you know its just going to be locked in history as one of the best)?

Nostalgia, yes.

 

[canocha]

You know whats fun but has a dumb name? Chiki Chiki Boys.

And I think I need to spend a little more time with GA2. Fresh to the series, so all I know is that GA3 has some pretty nice music (tiny hamlet especially). What do you mean by classic feel though? Just a sense of nostalgia, or is it just so well put together, it just feels like a classic the first time you play (like how SoR 2 feels in that you know its just going to be locked in history as one of the best)?

I have Chiki Chiki Boys.. but the box came without the game, can't find the cartridge available at a cheap price.

Got Bugs Bunny in Double Trouble:

 

[Noahd41]

Made some pick ups today at the flea market and my local store. Got some deals. Picked up Streets of Rage, Battletoads, Golden Axe II in box. Loose copies of Galaxy Force II (to complete the box I had lying around, Lethal Enforcers, Light Crusader, Sagaia, and Lightening Force (a dupe).

Got a deal but probably spent too much. Averaged about 20 for the boxed games and 10 for the loose ones.

 

[IrishNinja]

Got Bugs Bunny in Double Trouble:

man this game is so harrrrrrrd

also the Mcdonalds one is so trippy, crazy that Treasure did that one

 

[sixteen-bit]

worth a listen if you like pop music and FM synth, lol
http://youtu.be/F3gMr1O52CI

 

[Teknoman]

Made some pick ups today at the flea market and my local store. Got some deals. Picked up Streets of Rage, Battletoads, Golden Axe II in box. Loose copies of Galaxy Force II (to complete the box I had lying around, Lethal Enforcers, Light Crusader, Sagaia, and Lightening Force (a dupe).

Got a deal but probably spent too much. Averaged about 20 for the boxed games and 10 for the loose ones.

Can never have enough Lightening Force.

 

[Noahd41]

Can never have enough Lightening Force.

Yep. Can't get Battletoads to work though. I've never had a Genesis cart die on me and it's even worse because the cart, box and manual are mint. I used rubbing alcohol and all the contacts look great. The real gem of the lot to be honest.

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

Yep. Can't get Battletoads to work though. I've never had a Genesis cart die on me and it's even worse because the cart, box and manual are mint. I used rubbing alcohol and all the contacts look great. The real gem of the lot to be honest.

Try some metal polish on the contacts.

 

[Noahd41]

Try some metal polish on the contacts.

Thanks for the advice. I'm looking for something like a "metal polish cream"? I assume just dab on with a Q-tip. Do you recommend opening the cart or not?

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

Thanks for the advice. I'm looking for something like a "metal polish cream"? I assume just dab on with a Q-tip. Do you recommend opening the cart or not?

I open the cart when I do it. I use a little bit on a qtip, wipe it off with a dry one, then use another qtip with rubbing alcohol, then another dry qtip. Sometimes it will get a ton off, so I'll use a second alcohol qtip.

I use this:

Can find it in the car section at Wal-Mart. Some of the other guys use Brasso. I'm sure they both work perfectly fine. It has never failed me to bring even the worst carts back. It will amaze you how much shit it will get off.

 

[Shadow Hog]

I really need to try the Brasso trick on this Tonic Trouble cart that rubbing alcohol refuses to revive...

 

[Noahd41]

I open the cart when I do it. I use a little bit on a qtip, wipe it off with a dry one, then use another qtip with rubbing alcohol, then another dry qtip. Sometimes it will get a ton off, so I'll use a second alcohol qtip.

I use this:



Can find it in the car section at Wal-Mart. Some of the other guys use Brasso. I'm sure they both work perfectly fine. It has never failed me to bring even the worst carts back. It will amaze you how much shit it will get off.

Thanks so much. Will do. I need to get some security bits... I'm surprised I've lasted this long without having to crack open a cart.

 

[Shadow Hog]

Is opening up the cart absolutely necessary for the Brasso trick? I'd have figured the only parts that would matter would be the parts already reachable in an unopened cart.

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

Is opening up the cart absolutely necessary for the Brasso trick? I'd have figured the only parts that would matter would be the parts already reachable in an unopened cart.

I just don't know if the stuff would fuck with the plastic and I like to be sure there is none left behind, so I always open them.

 

[dave_d]

Ahh, damn, so I was lied to then. Whenabouts did region-lock come into play for the cartridge games?

No later than 1992 since SoR2 is region locked. For those that haven't heard me mention this the way this worked is that Mega Drives and Genesises had jumpers to indicate what region they were. Games could check the state of the jumper react to that. So older games such as Revenge of Shinobi and Ghouls and Ghosts would check it and turn into the Japanese version on Mega Drive and US on a Genesis. Newer games would check and just refuse to run.

Now if you were like me and had a language switch(IE a mechanism to switch the jumper settings) you could change the setting at any point. It turns out SoR2 has both versions so if you boot in US mode then switch to Japanese after the boot sequence you could play SoR2 as Bare Knuckles. (Actually the Retron 3 has a language switch but I haven't tried switching that while the game was running.)

 

[dave_d]

Oh I should mention that even in 93 not all games checked. Mazin Saga doesn't check and that was 93. (The game sucks but is incredible looking.)

 

[starwarsfan541]

I just got a 32x for 25$, is that a good deal?

 

[IrishNinja]

^if it works good, id say yeah you done alright!