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Sega Genesis/MegaDrive Appreciation Thread: Alien Storm > Golden Axe

Yeah I'm aware of the differences in the Japanese version, but I'd like to find some footage of the PAL version running on a European MegaDrive for comparison's sake, can't find any on YouTube that are clearly that version though.

Try searching for "Probotector" as that's what it was called in Europe
 

Morfeo

The Chuck Norris of Peace
What's weird is that I've noticed that a lot of my JP imports are locked out of US systems but not PAL ones.

JP Gunstar Heroes has both the Japanese and English versions on the cartridge, but it won't boot on a system set to USA mode (English/60hz). If I start the console in English/50hz, though, I can get it to load the English script since it thinks it's running on a PAL system, and then I can flip it to English/60hz after it boots to play at the correct speed. And if I just start it in Japanese/60hz, it loads the Japanese script.

You can change the script for some games on the fly if you have a switch installed. Flipping between Japanese and English on the Streets of Rage 1 intro will change the text as it's still loading and scrolling, mixing both languages as you flip them.

Wow, lots of stuff to learn about the Mega Drive/Genesis I see. I always thought the japanese tv standard was very close to the american one (doing 60hz and all), but this actually goes somewhat against that it seems. I actually have Contra: Hard Corps in ntsc as well, need to try it out on my Pal Mega Drive when I get home!
 

Sixfortyfive

He who pursues two rabbits gets two rabbits.
this actually goes somewhat against that it seems.
Not really. A number of JP games are just arbitrarily locked out of USA systems but not PAL systems. For some reason.

While on this subject I'd like to remind everyone that region modding a Megadrive is really easy.
I still prefer two individual switches over one, although it's more of an OCD thing than anything substantial. Just makes more sense to me since the logic that determines the region is governed by two individual settings (Japan/Overseas and NTSC/PAL).
 

Khaz

Member
Yeah, they had to make them robots or something due to what I understand is some weird Euro thing against human violence at the time (Germany????).

Wasn't it because of the first NES Contra, and Konami just kept the brand when it was established? I doubt Sega would ever complain about blood and guts, unlike Nintendo.
 

Bar81

Member
Wasn't it because of the first NES Contra, and Konami just kept the brand when it was established? I doubt Sega would ever complain about blood and guts, unlike Nintendo.

I wasn't indicating that it began with Hard Corps, just that that was the reason for the name change. Whether Euro policies were later changed and Konami just kept the name I couldn't tell you.
 

Khaz

Member
Now that I scored Psycho Fox, I want Decap Attack, Magical Hat something and Kid Kool for no other reason than to complete the set.
I don't even like the gameplay.
 
Now that I scored Psycho Fox, I want Decap Attack, Magical Hat something and Kid Kool for no other reason than to complete the set.
I don't even like the gameplay.

They're all pretty bad games, but for some reason I find Psycho Fox more bearable than the other two...
 

Teknoman

Member
I wasn't indicating that it began with Hard Corps, just that that was the reason for the name change. Whether Euro policies were later changed and Konami just kept the name I couldn't tell you.

Werent the human enemies replaced with robots in EU version of Turok 1?
 

Teknoman

Member
Now is time to the 68000 heart on fire!!

Welcome to the first of hopefully many, NeoGAF weekly retro contests! Kicking things off with a bang, we're starting with one of the top notch shoot em ups for the system:
Thunder Force IV aka Lightening Force!

jbg0rnXLlPhBKd.jpg


And now for the rules of the contest:

  • All options are left at default settings (which is easy since the game drops you right into the action after start).
  • The "order of attack" is as follows - Strite, Ruin, Daser, and then Air Raid. After that progression is determined automatically as usual.
  • Single credit only, no continues! Play as far as possible until you die, then run the timer down and enter your initials (first 3 letters of your GAF name) on the high score ranking screen.
  • While this screen is displayed, take a picture of the screen with your user name written and attached to your TV / Monitor / display of choice. Only an actual picture of the entire display and name attached, taken by a camera/phone/etc. will count. No emulator screenshots!
  • Make sure to type your score in the post as well.
  • You can post as many times as you want, but of course your highest score before the deadline will be the one that counts.
  • No cheat devices, save states, or turbo controllers of any kind.
  • The length of the contest will be from Saturday, 6/28 until Saturday 7/5 at 12am PST. You can post as many entries as you want during the contest, but of course, only the highest score you posted will count towards winning.

Well that was intense! I dunno who said Lightening Force was one of the easier of the series, but if you're rusty...whoo...some areas look impossible.

jbnL5VFZUnU1KA.jpg


Teknoman: 677510

KGj4RZW.jpg


Score: 704050

This game is hard as balls. We totally need more people in on this. I need others to share this pain with. I can't remember the last time I've raged this hard at a game and that's saying something as I've been playing Mario Kart 8 lately.

Updating.
 

woodypop

Member
Tonight at midnight. Did you post one earlier and I missed it?
Wait, what? So it ends Friday night (tonight) at midnight? Argh, I was thinking it would be Saturday night at midnight. I'm too tired to give it a go right now. Oh well, I'll prolly still submit my lame score tomorrow just for kicks.
 

Teknoman

Member
Maybe the length should be two weeks from now on? At any rate open for genre votes for the next one, and i'll put together a congratulatory / record post later today.
 

Teknoman

Member
jGWDx4LoxpJap.png


And now for the results of the Lightening Force / Thunder Force IV contest!

In order of ranking:

Ace
Foxix Von: 704050

2nd
Teknoman: 677510

3rd
A Black Falcon: 446540

4th
Sixteen-bit: 217810


A pretty decent start to the first contest, especially since it was a spur of the moment event. I'll extend the length of the next to two weeks, and of course, suggestions are always open for the game played for the contests.


Thank you for playing!

Presented by SEGA
 

Teknoman

Member
I'd sit it out since i'm not that big of a puzzle guy...but it does seem like something easily accessible and good to try and hit your best score. Probably would net more participants too. What else besides that? Mean Bean Machine?

Racers for best times would be nice too. I was talking with Foxix earlier, and after seeing how things build with the Genesis, it might be nice to branch out, and start making Retro Challenge threads, But thats something for later.
 

Morfeo

The Chuck Norris of Peace
jGWDx4LoxpJap.png


And now for the results of the Lightening Force / Thunder Force IV contest!

In order of ranking:

Ace
Foxix Von: 704050


2nd
Teknoman: 677510


3rd
A Black Falcon: 446540


4th
Sixteen-bit: 217810



A pretty decent start to the first contest, especially since it was a spur of the moment event. I'll extend the length of the next to two weeks, and of course, suggestions are always open for the game played for the contests.


Thank you for playing!

Presented by SEGA

Good work to all of you! I didnt have the game, so I couldnt participate, but will definitely join in the future if we do games I own. Great idea imo.
 

Foxix Von

Member
Do you even need that if you've already got your Genesis outputting stereo via the headphone port (3.5 to RCA)?
Actually, yes! SEGA CD games frequently use CD Redbook audio for music and the original Genesis hardware for loads of sound effects.

The CD add on wont feed audio to the Genesis itself. So if you don't use the mixing cable you don't get CD audio. By plugging the 3.5mm cable from the Genesis into the CD unit the and then running audio out from the CD drive the drive will mix the Genesis audio with the CD audio. Hence why they call it a "mixing cable."

If you're using a model 1 this also gives you the nifty ability to adjust the volume coming out of the Genesis using the volume slider separately from the audio pumping out of the CD drive. Sounds useless but some games like Sonic CD have very quiet music and VERY loud sound effects so lowering the Genesis volume can come in handy to attain a better volume balance.
 

Teknoman

Member
My understandibg is that the CD adds its own audio into it. Hence "mix" cable.

Actually, yes! SEGA CD games frequently use CD Redbook audio for music and the original Genesis hardware for loads of sound effects.

The CD add on wont feed audio to the Genesis itself. So if you don't use the mixing cable you don't get CD audio. By plugging the 3.5mm cable from the Genesis into the CD unit the and then running audio out from the CD drive the drive will mix the Genesis audio with the CD audio. Hence why they call it a "mixing cable."

If you're using a model 1 this also gives you the nifty ability to adjust the volume coming out of the Genesis using the volume slider separately from the audio pumping out of the CD drive. Sounds useless but some games like Sonic CD have very quiet music and VERY loud sound effects so lowering the Genesis volume can come in handy to attain a better volume balance.

Gotcha, so when playing a Genesis game, could I just leave the mixing cable plugged in, have 2 RCA stereo plugs going from the back of the base, and get cart stereo as well? Also i'm guessing it works like the Turbo Duo where carts take priority when booting up (cant play a CD game while a Genesis cart is inserted)?
 
The CD add on wont feed audio to the Genesis itself. So if you don't use the mixing cable you don't get CD audio.
False. My Model 2 Sega CD is attached to my Model 1 Genesis without using any mixing cable, and the redbook audio comes through the Genesis's headphone jack just fine.

I believe it's a means of getting stereo audio out of the Genesis using the Sega CD's stereo jacks, but it's really not a necessary component unless you really wanna play with making the Genesis-produced audio a different volume than the CD-produced audio.
 

Foxix Von

Member
False. My Model 2 Sega CD is attached to my Model 1 Genesis without using any mixing cable, and the redbook audio comes through the Genesis's headphone jack just fine.

I believe it's a means of getting stereo audio out of the Genesis using the Sega CD's stereo jacks, but it's really not a necessary component unless you really wanna play with making the Genesis-produced audio a different volume than the CD-produced audio.
Woops! Sorry Teknoman. Looks like I was wrong. Apparently it works either way!
 

Teknoman

Member
Its cool, just had to fire a barrage of questions since I won a model 2 CD at auction the other day (wish it was a model 1 since thats going to look kinda strange connected to my Genesis 1, but i've heard model 1 arent that reliable?) for a decent price (about 30 bucks shipped). Hasnt been tested and all that...and it looked abit dusty on the inside (outside was in great shape though) so hopefully it works.

And if not, hopefully it wont be too costly to fix whatever is wrong with it...IF something is wrong with it.


EDIT: After listening to a Lunar "debate" awhile back in the PS1 thread / Lunar community thread, I really want to play the original on Sega CD. The PS1 Eternal Blue music format wasnt changed right? I may just stick with that for the PS1 and go with Silver Star on the CD. Of course if they used midi with Eternal Blue complete...I might just have to try to get the Sega CD version for a decent price too.
 

Foxix Von

Member
Its cool, just had to fire a barrage of questions since I won a model 2 CD at auction the other day (wish it was a model 1 since thats going to look kinda strange connected to my Genesis 1, but i've heard model 1 arent that reliable?) for a decent price (about 30 bucks shipped). Hasnt been tested and all that...and it looked abit dusty on the inside (outside was in great shape though) so hopefully it works.

And if not, hopefully it wont be too costly to fix whatever is wrong with it...IF something is wrong with it.

I think the most common problem with model 2's is a fuse that burns out. Supposedly if you're handy with a soldering iron it's an easy fix.
 

Foxix Von

Member
Well knowing about model 2 is helpful too since there is a 50/50 chance it might need fixing. But thats good to know about model 1s too.
Yeah model 1s have loads of crap that can malfunction. Specifically the loading tray mechanisms and laser. There's just so many gears in the tray mechanism that can break, or not be well lubed enough, it's just riddled with weak points and practically designed to fail. They're also kind of hassle to take apart and reassemble. Model 2s seem seem to at least fail in more predictable ways, basically if something is going to fail 9 times out of 10 it's probably the fuse.
 
Yeah model 1s have loads of crap that can malfunction. Specifically the loading tray mechanisms and laser. There's just so many gears in the tray mechanism that can break, or not be well lubed enough, it's just riddled with weak points and practically designed to fail. They're also kind of hassle to take apart and reassemble. Model 2s seem seem to at least fail in more predictable ways, basically if something is going to fail 9 times out of 10 it's probably the fuse.

Motorized drives are inherently less reliable than tray-load drives, so yes, the model 2 is definitely the more reliable one.
 

Teknoman

Member
I'm not sure how I feel about this.

Possible Snatcher Sega CD Scam in the works


One the one hand, i'm fine with reproduction carts of Japanese translated games or even translation patches for isos to be played on actual hardware, but this is a different ballpark. I guess its just something to worry about for Sega CD and Dreamcast though.
 
I'm pretty sure my copy of Snatcher is legit; even came with an old receipt from its purchase in Florida back in the '90s, stuck against the back of the box - in front of the promotional spiel, but behind the plastic; wasn't TOO hard to remove it. (He paid a fourth what I did. ._.)
 
I'm not sure how I feel about this.

Possible Snatcher Sega CD Scam in the works


One the one hand, i'm fine with reproduction carts of Japanese translated games or even translation patches for isos to be played on actual hardware, but this is a different ballpark. I guess its just something to worry about for Sega CD and Dreamcast though.

The guys in the video are being pretty harsh. Yeah, straight up bootlegs are shitty especially (or exclusively) when sold as real versions, which the thing they are talking about can and will lead to, but repo stuff isn't bad. They seem to really hate any kind of repo stuff.
 
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