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Sega Genesis/MegaDrive Appreciation Thread: Alien Storm > Golden Axe
- Thread starter IrishNinja
- Start date
Rygar 8 Bit
Jaguar 64-bit
ill be fine to stay out of mega drive vs genesis debate as long as we can agree that dinosaurs for hire is amazing
MoGamesXNA
Unconfirmed Member
One of my favorite (Mega Drive) games of all time - and one of the most underappreciated games of all time:...what's a Genesis???
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
That looks god tier. I haven't played this yet (Shadow Dancer is one of my fave games of all time). I'll be adding this one to the list. Thanks for the recommendation.
Shadow Hog
Member
I had the opportunity to buy that at "A Gamer's Paradise" when I visited Vegas this past summer... but I opted for Shinobi III instead.
Although, IIRC the same people behind James Pod also made Rolo to the Rescue, which is a personal favorite of mine from childhood, so I really should've given it a look. Oh well, it's only ported to everything, so...
MightyHedgehog
Member
Probably my favorite console of all time. For all of the polished technical masterpieces that come from the likes of Sega, Technosoft, Blue Sky Software, and NCS, I kinda also really miss the jank and rough edges of fun Wolfteam games. My original model Genny was just amazing with that headphone jack directly connecting me to that dark and sweet sound that only the most talented could tame.
DecoyOctopus
Member
You're in for a treat! It's an amazing game...more people should give it a try!
Yep
Ninja + Surfboard = God tier
Diablohead
Member
I have a black tee with the japanese MD logo on it, it's great and doesn't look geeky
smbu2000
Member
It's been so long since I've played on my Genesis, I didn't remember how the cartridges/cart slot on the Genesis looked. I guess those two tabs on the cartridge slot keep you from inserting a JP MD game and you just have to remove them, as well as doing the region mod.
My recently purchased JP Mega Drive 1, has a US/JP region switch installed and I guess the cart slot on JP MD's can already accommodate US cartridges. It's an early JP model with the good sound chip and no TMSS, which is also why I wanted it. The switch looks fine.
MoGamesXNA
Unconfirmed Member
Hahah, gold. Ah I miss the days when Sega was in their prime.
The music + sprite work is amazing... the parallax is well done too.
@ smbu2000: Your console looks mint. How much did you pay for that if you don't mind me asking?
Spectral Glider
Member
Speaking of that, does anyone remember these?
Sega used to give away Genesis branded stereo speakers as part of a promotion during the 1990-1991. They were basically two standard speakers that plugged into the Genesis headphone jack. Nothing too special. But they are extremely rare to come by now and fetch for a lot of money amongst Genesis collectors.
Commercial from 1990: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOM01F4Ihcc
Speakers in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBhihduvUF8
Wow, now there's a Genesis item I was not aware of. Don't remember seeing that ad or the speakers here in the northeast. I had an old 80s Panasonic boom box with detachable speakers that had kind of rare input jacks that I used to hook my console up for that sweet stereo sound. And it got even better when the Sega CD dropped.
Anyway, the plural of one Genny is Gennies,
.
smbu2000
Member
Well it's not perfect, as there are a few scratches on it and a slight bit of the gold paint on the "16 bit" part came off, but considering it's age yeah I'd say it's pretty good. I won the auction for the system for just over 4,000 yen and shipping brought it to about 4,700 yen total.
Usually a Mega Drive isn't too expensive (I bought my Mega Drive 2 with several games for about 3,000 yen shipped), but the "region mod" made people bid higher. It also came with a game, power adapter, av cables (though I used my own rgb cable instead), standard controller and this nice turbo controller for it. ( http://segaretro.org/Blaster white one.) I also wanted one with the nice sound and this one was guaranteed to have it with the "AV Intelligent Terminal High Grade Multipurpose Use" logo and the "R" next to the Sega.
On another note, I just won an auction for a 13 Mega CD games (12 actually as one is a duplicate) for about 1,500 yen shipped. Not too bad! The 3 I wanted in there were Cosmic Fantasy Stories (has CF1&2 on it), Urusei Yatsura, and Lunar: the Silver Star (I already have Lunar: SSS and Lunar: SSS MPEG Complete for my Saturn with MPEG card, but I guess it's nice to have the Mega CD version as well.)
Some other highlights are Mortal Kombat, Microcosm, Might and Magic 3, and.........Night Trap! Haha. Anyway, not a bad haul for pretty cheap.
MoGamesXNA
Unconfirmed Member
Brilliant stuff. That version of the Megadrive is my personal favourite. The maroon highlight by the power LED on that generation of the Megadrive looks better to me (although that might be nostalgia talking).
I remember lusting over a Mega CD + Tomcat Alley so bad when I was a teen in the 90's.
I've been looking for a mint condition one on and off for a while. Sadly Megadrives seemed to suffer a lot more wear and tear than similarly aged SNES systems.
Hmmm. . . Below the ON/OFF switch it says "Cartridge Lock." This seems to imply there is a mechanism that prevents the game from being removed while the unit is powered on (like on the PC-Engine/TG-16). Is that actually the case? I've never heard of that before.
It's one of my favorite action/platform games ever. Really is god-tier.
smbu2000
Member
Well I haven't tried to remove a cartridge while the system is on, but it appears it does. Wiki shows this for the JP model (and says it was removed for PAL.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variations_of_the_Sega_Mega_Drive
Japan
The first Japanese model of the Sega Mega Drive
Japanese-language settings
Headphone jack
AUX port marked A/V OUT
9-pin EXT. port
RF modulator
Has a cartridge lock
On the circular molding, in purple is the text "AV Intelligent Terminal High Grade Multipurpose Use". At the bottom of the circle is a purple square section with a red power indicator LED.
"Mega Drive" is printed in white on the lower right of the console to the left of the Sega logo.
The reset button and start button on the joypad are blue.
Early models have a small registered trademark icon (®) just to the right of the Sega logo to the lower right of the system.
Model number HAA-2510
Really interesting video, thanks for that. Still though, only a select few are fully capable of judging SHMUPs properly, these are the guys that hate Gradius V and ignore the ones on the 360 (except Raiden IV and Otomedius Gorgeous).
Jake Tower
Banned
Just received my Model 1 HIGH DEFINITION GRAPHICS console... it's non-TMSS!
Shadow Hog
Member
Congrats on that; finding one is something of a gamble, even if you know what you're looking for. I think checking the FCC ID helps, but don't hold me to that.
My S-Vid-modded on has TMSS, but I don't mind that much; I grew up with a Model 2, after all, and all Model 2s have TMSS, so I can deal with the three added seconds of waiting. It's kinda like all those console logos pretty much every later console had (bar the N64 and Wii).
Jake Tower
Banned
Who did your s-video mod?
Shadow Hog
Member
Well, I bought it pre-modded from eBay user bozskaggs. No idea if he did the mod himself or not, though.
MrCunningham
Member
I'm not sure how I missed that earlier in the thread. But I didn't know about the hidden Fantasy Zone game in Arnold Palmer Golf. Though The version of fantasy Zone on the genesis does look really good, I've never played it. Gaiares is a classic though. Trouble Shooter is pretty under rated too (and Trouble Shooter 2 is awesome... though I have only played that through emulation). Android Assault is pretty really solid for a Sega CD release. Slap Fight MD looks kinda interesting with all the different remixed versions available in the game.
IrishNinja
Member
i should look around for modded ones...wait whats TMSS again?
Jake Tower
Banned
smbu2000
Member
It still has the region lock. It doesn't have the licensing lock which allows you to play unlicensed games that were released.
It's the licensing and region lock that wasn't present in the original consoles.
smbu2000
Member
Yeah, I like the look of it as well. Although the non AV multipurpose usage model looks weird to me though as it doesn't have the writing. I have one of those as well, it has the "bad" sound chip like the MD 2.
I like the look of the Mega Drive 2/Genesis 2 as well. Probably because that's the model I had growing up!
IrishNinja
Member
really thinking of holding out for a deal on an s-vid modded genesis, this one brings tons of stuff but i don't have that kinda $ with a trip coming up, sadly. maybe after i get my taxes done, heh.
also i have no idea what overclocking your system does for it here
also i have no idea what overclocking your system does for it here
DarkoMaledictus
Tier Whore
Man, target earth!!! I played that game to the bone... yeah I finished it with no tricks!! One of the most hard core games I ever played! Loved it!
Shadow Hog
Member
Some games exhibit mad slowdown; for instance, I believe Thunder Force IV/Lightening Force [sic] can get pretty bad at times. An overclock to the CPU can eliminate a lot of that, although YMMV on whether or not that's a good thing (since you'll have less time to dodge projectiles...)
MrCunningham
Member
yeah, some people have managed to overclock their genesis to 10, 12 or 16mhz. I honestly don't know how much it affects performance, but apparently, as you have said, it does help with slowdown in some games. Though it might also mess up the timing in select titles too. Some people do mod their Genesis units with switches that flip to overclocked mode and back to the stock speed. So I don't know.
IrishNinja
Member
oh wow, hadn't even thought of that...see i'm not usually super picky about emulation but i typically assume slowdown was part of the experience, don't know if i'd use that much
Mega Drive uses the word "Mega"... therefore it's awesomeness is assured.
No one can doubt EA was at the top of it's game in the Mega Drive/Genesis days. Road Rash and Desert Strike were seminal works for the console. But it would be one game that assured EA would be the dominant force in gaming for nearly 15 years... FIFA. They also came up with their own cart design, that way people could tell a game was EA without even playing it, genius.
MrCunningham
Member
Well here's a video of Lightening Force showing the difference between the stock 7MHz and the OC'd 10MHz...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nQ31lQ_7SCk#!
You can actually see a difference there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nQ31lQ_7SCk#!
You can actually see a difference there.
Actually, you don't even need to open it up; the switches are accessible on the back of the cartridge. (The front label tells you what position to put each switch in for the desired region.)
MrCunningham
Member
Actually, you don't even need to open it up; the switches are accessible on the back of the cartridge. (The front label tells you what position to put each switch in for the desired region.)
Oh interesting. I guess I might be thinking of an older model of that Mega Key or something. There were a bunch of different variations of it.
I really want to play some lightening force now.
You know what? I'm going to go get my ass handed to me at lightening force right now.
*runs over to genesis*
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
By the way... those who haven't realized the awesome merits of all three brands/console designs (PAL/JPN Mega Drive and Genesis) are NOT REAL FANS. It should really be ban-worthy to argue over the differences in an fanboyish way.
Yeah, you'll notice there is a notch on the left side of JPN Mega Drive carts. Basically the power switch moves an arm mechanism that slides into that notch, locking it in place while the console is on.
In fact, the vestigial remains of the cart lock mechanism remain in the plastic moulding of American Genesis and PAL Mega Drives. If you open them up and know what you're looking at, you'll see where the arm was supposed to fit into the console shell.
If I were using a JPN Mega Drive with region change switch, I might go in there and remove the cart lock arm mechanism (very easy to do, and reversible). While the lock doesn't actually prevent the use of American/PAL games without the "notch", you still have the cart lock basically slamming into the side of the American/PAL carts. Might as well remove it.
Yeah, you'll notice there is a notch on the left side of JPN Mega Drive carts. Basically the power switch moves an arm mechanism that slides into that notch, locking it in place while the console is on.
In fact, the vestigial remains of the cart lock mechanism remain in the plastic moulding of American Genesis and PAL Mega Drives. If you open them up and know what you're looking at, you'll see where the arm was supposed to fit into the console shell.
If I were using a JPN Mega Drive with region change switch, I might go in there and remove the cart lock arm mechanism (very easy to do, and reversible). While the lock doesn't actually prevent the use of American/PAL games without the "notch", you still have the cart lock basically slamming into the side of the American/PAL carts. Might as well remove it.
Shadow Hog
Member
ftfyNo one can doubt EA was at the top of it's game in the Mega Drive/Genesis days. Road Rash and Desert Strike were seminal works for the console. But it would be one game that assured EA would be the dominant force in gaming for nearly 15 years... Madden
(Although, really, both series contributed heavily)
Barkley's Justice
Member
I've always preferred the Japanese logo and brand, but I'm understandably biased
Why are you understandably biased? Did you design it?
MrCunningham
Member
That's awesome. I like the language switch and how he can flip between the Japanese and English versions of Streets of Rage on the fly. This video has all the same mods present as the Ebay auction does up above.
Man i loved my Sega so much. Here are some of the games i played that are not mentioned often.
Ballz
Spider man
X-men
Comix Zone <---- seriously how come this rarely gets attention ?!?
Mutant League Football
Predator 2
True Lies
Aladdin
Lethal Enforcers
Punisher
Smash TV
ecco
Ninja Turtles
Those are a few off the top of my head.
Ballz
Spider man
X-men
Comix Zone <---- seriously how come this rarely gets attention ?!?
Mutant League Football
Predator 2
True Lies
Aladdin
Lethal Enforcers
Punisher
Smash TV
ecco
Ninja Turtles
Those are a few off the top of my head.
ResidentDante
Member
This is so awesome. I want his Mega Drive!
Laughing Banana
Weeping Pickle
Somebody should remake Road Rash... that game was utterly and unbelievably marvelous and crack-like addicting. I lost innumerable amount of hours playing it.
It's an EA franchise for crying out loud, surprised they haven't tried to revive it in some way.
Same thing with Mutant League Football/Hockey
bitoriginal
Member
If any of you guys have even basic soldering skills, installing a region switch on a megadrive is incredibly easy. If you want one then just google how to do it and invest in the solder, wires, and switches required.You won't regret it. Hardest part is actually mounting the switches. I would reccomended buying a second megadrive on the cheap to do it on though.
The overclock mod is a little harder to do as you need a piece of veriboard and oscillator.
Edit: I'm talking about a model 1 btw, model 2s are harder to mod
The overclock mod is a little harder to do as you need a piece of veriboard and oscillator.
Edit: I'm talking about a model 1 btw, model 2s are harder to mod
wondermega
Member
this is a little tangential, but I see more than a little mention of Thunder Force IV in here, so this one is for you guys
(best remixes of this game series' soundtrack you will ever hear) Scroll down to the Techno Soft section near the end. There's a couple of Herzog Zwei remixes listed earlier on the page as well
(best remixes of this game series' soundtrack you will ever hear) Scroll down to the Techno Soft section near the end. There's a couple of Herzog Zwei remixes listed earlier on the page as well
It's funny, after I watched a tutorial video.... I bought a Mega Drive 2 on Ebay (my soldering skills are stuff of legend) there ain't no way on earth I'm fucking with my OG Mega Drive. I think the 60Hz thing is a game changer. It's amazing how different it is, Mega Drive games got over it, but it's still pretty cool.
This impresses me.
Granted, I haven't played a lot of it, and it was a long time ago, but I remember having the most difficult time surviving in Target Earth.