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[-KRS-]

Shit, I was playing Rygar just now and got all the way to the last temple which gave me some trouble. So I decided to take a little break and left the console running while I did something else. And when I came back it had fucking locked up on me. Not sure I'll give it another go. At least not today. But overall I'd say it's pretty decent. Not at all fantastic or anything but I kinda liked playing it, despite it's flaws. I did use a guide to figure out where to go next more quickly though.

Oh and I played my PAL version anyway, and the stats did max out at 1023 but I'd say it's still definitely beatable. I didn't have much trouble at all except for the final area which I feel could be beaten with some practice. Of course I didn't get to the final boss so dunno how that would go...

 

[OnPoint]

We'll include Shatterhand as the fifth for this month then, based on what I'm seeing here, but please note it's the exception, not the new rule. Keep in mind that it's possibly going to keep anyone who might want to join the club for a month out due to price. Once in a while this should be fine. But I want to hold to the limit as often as possible.

I heavily disagree with this, I could easily beat Faxanadu, but it took me two minutes of Rygar to understand that this was a grindy mess. Meaning I probably can beat that too - but I need to kinda "cheat" to do it.

Really? The game has a ton of issues, but I didn't find Rygar to be too grindy and I'd reason that people who do that are "playing it wrong". I see that you CAN grind for stats, but I never felt like I had to. I just played. In fact, I didn't even know how the systems worked until about half way through, I just kind of played with my wits. The only real "grinding" I did was when I needed health refills or stars to powerup my weapon, which is honestly no different than recharging your subweapons in Mega Man.

Conversely, I felt like Faxanadu was actually pretty heavy on the grind, requiring you to repeatedly kill enemies to get money to buy stuff and having you feel pretty underpowered unless you leveled up. I never felt like relying on my action/platforming skills got me as far as just powering up in that game. And don't get me started on how much you lose when you die. Rygar, on the other hand, you actually don't lose much other than your weapon power up and any stars you had. All of which are a short blip to get back.

 

[-KRS-]

Had some Amazon gift cards built up from Xmas and b-days. Decided to get some retro game themed books -- all NES-related in some way. Bought Console Wars and I Am Error, plus two of Jeremy Parish's "Anatomy of" series of books (the SMB and Castlevania ones).

Speaking of Parish, if you haven't seen his Good Nintentions videos, give them a look. He's covered Baseball, Tennis and Pinball so far and has really given each a good treatment. Way more interesting than they probably have any right to be, given the games. It's like Chrontendo, but with some substance. Doing God's work, ToastyFrog.

Oh I got I Am Error in the mail today actually. Have only read the introductory chapter so far but it seems it'll be really interesting, just as I hoped. Gonna read some more later tonight.

And I've missed that Good Nintentions had started, so thanks for pointing it out!

Conversely, I felt like Faxanadu was actually pretty heavy on the grind, requiring you to repeatedly kill enemies to get money to buy stuff and having you feel pretty underpowered unless you leveled up. I never felt like relying on my action/platforming skills got me as far as just powering up in that game. And don't get me started on how much you lose when you die. Rygar, on the other hand, you actually don't lose much other than your weapon power up and any stars you had. All of which are a short blip to get back.

Yeah I have to agree about finding Faxanadu way more grindy than Rygar. I never really felt that I had to grind in Rygar. You get stronger pretty quick just by killing enemies as you progress. If you don't grind in Faxanadu however you're going to get your ass handed to you. And I find Faxanadu to just be an overall much harder game as well.

 

[Timu]

Seems a lot of us have Shatterhand. Quite right too. It's awesome. Could we not sneak that one through next month as the let's play? Think we'd get guaranteed numbers if people getting involved

Let's play?=O I've been trying to get into that but it's more hard work than I thought, even with text commentary.

But yeah, I wouldn't mind Shatterhand being voted.

 

[Teknoman]

Let's play?=O I've been trying to get into that but it's more hard work than I thought, even with text commentary.

But yeah, I wouldn't mind Shatterhand being voted.

I think he means as the Club game for Feb.

 

[Timu]

I think he means as the Club game for Feb.

Ha, makes sense...sometimes I overthink this, lol.

Either way I still don't mind this.

 

[OnPoint]

Here's the voting link! Click through to vote! Remember you can only vote once.

Our completed list for February 2016 voting is:

1. Startropics (Nintendo)

StarTropics is an action-adventure video game released by Nintendo in 1990 for the NES. Unlike most of Nintendo's games, it was never released or intended to be released in Japan. It was released only in North America and Europe, although designed by Japanese designers living in the United States. It was produced, written and directed by Genyo Takeda of Nintendo Integrated Research & Development (who also developed the Punch-Out!! series).

Startropics Wikipedia entry​

2. Renegade (Technos)

Renegade is an immediate technological predecessor to Double Dragon, and Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun, and is the inaugural game in the Kunio-kun series (which includes Super Dodge Ball and River City Ransom). The NES version, developed in-house by Technos and released in 1987 by Taito in North America, is a strong departure from the original arcade game.

Renegade Wikipedia entry​

3. Trog (Acclaim)

Trog is an arcade game developed by Midway Games and released in 1990. In the game, players control dinosaurs and must collect eggs onscreen while being pursued by cavemen called "trog" (named after the word troglodyte). The NES version, due to its limitations, was scaled down drastically. The arcade version supports up to four players at a time, while the NES version only supports two (only Bloop and Spike are playable, Rex and Gwen were omitted). Much like many NES games at the time, the home versions box art was contracted out to a different company and did not use the arcade game's art.

Trog's Wikipedia entry​

4. TMNT (Ultra/Konami)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles[2] is a side-scrolling platform game for the Nintendo Entertainment System released by Konami (under the Ultra Games imprint in the USA and the equivalent PALCOM brand in Europe/Australia) in 1989. Loosely based on the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, being released after the show's second season, it is notably one of the first video games based on the property alongside the arcade game (also developed by Konami). which was also released in 1989.

TMNT Wikipedia entry​

5. Shatterhand (Jaleco)

Shatterhand is a side-scrolling action game for the Nintendo Entertainment System developed by Natsume and published by Jaleco in North America in 1991 and in Europe in 1992. Shatterhand was originally released by Angel (Bandai) in Japan in 1991 as a licensed game for the Family Computer based on the live-action superhero series Super Rescue Solbrain (特救指令ソルブレイン Tokkyū Shirei Soruburein?).

Shatterhand Wikipedia entry​

Here's the voting link! Click through to vote! Remember you can only vote once.

 

[ElTopo]

I actually havent played Rearmed yet, shame on me I know. Is it stuck on last gen download service, or was it released physically or something?

It's on Steam. It's a great port and should run on almost anything.

 

[Huggers]

I think he means as the Club game for Feb.

Yeah dunno why I said let's play. Game Club of course.

 

[Timu]

I vote Shatterhand since it looks good!

 

[OnPoint]

I vote Shatterhand since it looks good!

I can say emphatically that it definitely is good.

 

[Timu]

I can say emphatically that it definitely is good.

I would like to check this one out since I haven't played it yet.=O

 

[OnPoint]

I would like to check this one out since I haven't played it yet.=O

I've never actually sat down and beaten it, though I've played it here or there enough. This would give me a fantastic excuse to sit down and actually cruise through it.

 

[ElTopo]

I've never actually sat down and beaten it, though I've played it here or there enough. This would give me a fantastic excuse to sit down and actually cruise through it.

Shatterhand is one of those games that I beat yearly. So, pretty obvious what my choice was.

 

[Huggers]

I vote Shatterhand since it looks good!

Timu I guarantee you'll love it!

 

[Tanoomba]

OK, so I've been holding off on asking this because I don't want to stir up any animosity, but what's the general view on playing NES games via emulator?

On the one hand, I can acknowledge right off the bat that it's not the same thing as playing with the original console, cart and controller on a TV.

On the other hand, a HUGE problem I have with my NES is that most games I own (and I own MANY) will only let me play for so long before blinking out on me, and that's the ones that let me start them up at all. When I want to play an NES game I own, I tend to find it much more convenient to just load it up on FCEUX, even though I know I'm not getting the authentic experience, if only to avoid the technical issues that come with relying on 30 year old hardware and software. (I will admit I have not looked into a decent cleaning procedure for my carts, which could improve their performance significantly.)

Also, while I generally don't agree with using save states to cheat, there are certainly games (such as Mario 3) that benefit greatly from being able to save and continue playing later (a benefit not given to you by the cartridge itself).

I love my NES game collection, with all my heart. I've spent years and years accumulating classics, hidden gems, oddities and anything I found remotely interesting (to say nothing of the more modest Famicom game collection I acquired in Japan). Legally or morally, I don't think there's any problem with me playing a game I own on an emulator (I own Monster Party, Faxanadu, Mario 3, and all the February choices), but I get the strong impression that it might be frowned upon here, so I'd like to know what you guys think about it. Am I only truly a member of the NES/Famicom game club if I play my games exclusively via carts and consoles?

 

[sixteen-bit]

I don't think most people have problems with emulation. Heck, Nintendo uses emulation in an official capacity for VC on Wii, 3DS, and WiiU

 

[ElTopo]

OK, so I've been holding off on asking this because I don't want to stir up any animosity, but what's the general view on playing NES games via emulator?

On the one hand, I can acknowledge right off the bat that it's not the same thing as playing with the original console, cart and controller on a TV.

On the other hand, a HUGE problem I have with my NES is that most games I own (and I own MANY) will only let me play for so long before blinking out on me, and that's the ones that let me start them up at all. When I want to play an NES game I own, I tend to find it much more convenient to just load it up on FCEUX, even though I know I'm not getting the authentic experience, if only to avoid the technical issues that come with relying on 30 year old hardware and software. (I will admit I have not looked into a decent cleaning procedure for my carts, which could improve their performance significantly.)

Also, while I generally don't agree with using save states to cheat, there are certainly games (such as Mario 3) that benefit greatly from being able to save and continue playing later (a benefit not given to you by the cartridge itself).

I love my NES game collection, with all my heart. I've spent years and years accumulating classics, hidden gems, oddities and anything I found remotely interesting (to say nothing of the more modest Famicom game collection I acquired in Japan). Legally or morally, I don't think there's any problem with me playing a game I own on an emulator (I own Monster Party, Faxanadu, Mario 3, and all the February choices), but I get the strong impression that it might be frowned upon here, so I'd like to know what you guys think about it. Am I only truly a member of the NES/Famicom game club if I play my games exclusively via carts and consoles?

It's kind of a gray area. You can talk about the games just don't say "I downloaded this and that and I don't own the cart." ya' know?

Best emulator is still FCE Ultra. But I really like puNES that strives to be as accurate as possible. PuNES was the only way I could beat Mike Tyson's Punch Out. Punch Out is one of those games that almost impossible to beat via emulation because of the timing differences.

 

[OnPoint]

As per the official GAF ToS:

D. Emulation/Piracy

The topics of emulation and piracy in the context of the technical nature of emulators and ROM images, hardware modification technology, as well as their effect on the industry as a political topic are deemed to be generally acceptable.

Linking to pirate download sites, directions on how to get pirated software to work, reviews or impressions of pirated software, and livestreams of pirated software play are all strictly prohibited.

Frankly, we have no way to know whether or not you're playing on actual hardware with an actual cart. But those are the official rules.

 

[Shadow Hog]

Shatterhand is one of those games that I beat yearly. So, pretty obvious what my choice was.

 

[IrishNinja]

As per the official GAF ToS:

Frankly, we have no way to know whether or not you're playing on actual hardware with an actual cart. But those are the official rules.

yeah, thought this was kinda known back in the policenauts/mother 3/etc threads - not everyone has it, just play & shut up haha

 

[Mzo]

Shaterhand is amazing and everyone should play it.

Don't forget you can punch the letters to change them.

 

[elmalloc]

OK, so I've been holding off on asking this because I don't want to stir up any animosity, but what's the general view on playing NES games via emulator?

On the one hand, I can acknowledge right off the bat that it's not the same thing as playing with the original console, cart and controller on a TV.

On the other hand, a HUGE problem I have with my NES is that most games I own (and I own MANY) will only let me play for so long before blinking out on me, and that's the ones that let me start them up at all. When I want to play an NES game I own, I tend to find it much more convenient to just load it up on FCEUX, even though I know I'm not getting the authentic experience, if only to avoid the technical issues that come with relying on 30 year old hardware and software. (I will admit I have not looked into a decent cleaning procedure for my carts, which could improve their performance significantly.)

Also, while I generally don't agree with using save states to cheat, there are certainly games (such as Mario 3) that benefit greatly from being able to save and continue playing later (a benefit not given to you by the cartridge itself).

I love my NES game collection, with all my heart. I've spent years and years accumulating classics, hidden gems, oddities and anything I found remotely interesting (to say nothing of the more modest Famicom game collection I acquired in Japan). Legally or morally, I don't think there's any problem with me playing a game I own on an emulator (I own Monster Party, Faxanadu, Mario 3, and all the February choices), but I get the strong impression that it might be frowned upon here, so I'd like to know what you guys think about it. Am I only truly a member of the NES/Famicom game club if I play my games exclusively via carts and consoles?

What about utilizing an Everdrive to program ROMs to it?

 

[Mega]

You all should look into Everdrive if we're going into $40+ games, especially if it's a game you may not like. A couple of pricey games can exceed the cost of the N8.

 

[davidwhangchoi]

it's getting expensive around here =)

 

[IrishNinja]

You all should look into Everdrive if we're going into $40+ games, especially if it's a game you may not like. A couple of pricey games can exceed the cost of the N8.

literally some of the best advice that can be given right now, and doubly so for turbo/SNES/etc games

 

[OnPoint]

Haha. C'mon now.

Guys, Shatterhand is the exception, not the rule. We are not going to have an expensive nomination on the regular, if at all again in 2016.

The whole reason we've put the price restriction in place is so that people can easily obtain and play the games legitimately and legally. We should not be getting in to recommending Everdrives, emulators, or anything else that isn't a legitimate cart for the Club's purposes.

If Shatterhand makes it on as the February club pick, the idea is that anyone playing and discussing the game is doing so with a legitimate copy. I'm sure some people have done otherwise in the past at some point in NeoGAF's history, and if so, they didn't make it known. I'd suggest anyone who does that does the same. As for me, I'll be playing my copy of the game and not worrying about violating the ToS.

 

[Timu]

BTW how hard is Shatterhand? Is it easily 1CC able?

 

[tmtyf]

oh god Rygar... i have nightmares of trying to use that pully system and falling to my death and also attacking the bosses for like 15 minutes with nothing happening.

 

[Morfeo]

Haha. C'mon now.

Guys, Shatterhand is the exception, not the rule. We are not going to have an expensive nomination on the regular, if at all again in 2016.

The whole reason we've put the price restriction in place is so that people can easily obtain and play the games legitimately and legally. We should not be getting in to recommending Everdrives, emulators, or anything else that isn't a legitimate cart for the Club's purposes.

If Shatterhand makes it on as the February club pick, the idea is that anyone playing and discussing the game is doing so with a legitimate copy. I'm sure some people have done otherwise in the past at some point in NeoGAF's history, and if so, they didn't make it known. I'd suggest anyone who does that does the same. As for me, I'll be playing my copy of the game and not worrying about violating the ToS.

Agree with all this, and once again thank you for organizing this! Where do we vote?

 

[OnPoint]

Agree with all this, and once again thank you for organizing this! Where do we vote?

You can do so here

 

[Teknoman]

yeah, thought this was kinda known back in the policenauts/mother 3/etc threads - not everyone has it, just play & shut up haha

Yup.

EDIT: Aw damn, it would be between Startropics and Shatterhand. Well at least I found Renegade at a pawn shop awhile back. I didnt know that Trog you didnt play as the cavemen lol.

 

[-KRS-]

BTW how hard is Shatterhand? Is it easily 1CC able?

It's pretty hard but I think it should be doable. I had not played it that many times when I got to the last stage. It's a great example of a game that requires practice to beat. Knowledge of the enemy placement and level layout is a must. That last stage is a bitch though. It's really long and unrelenting, and if you die it's all the way back to the start. I haven't managed to beat it yet but I haven't played the game seriously for a while now.

 

[Huggers]

BTW how hard is Shatterhand? Is it easily 1CC able?

You'll do it with your eyes closed. Nah it is pretty challenging but beatable. Sounds like the price has gone up on this game. Glad I grabbed it when I did

 

[Morfeo]

Shatterhand was actually one of the first Nes-games I bought when I started to rebuy old games online, as I loved Shadow of the Ninja, Ninja Gaiden and action-games like that, and Shatterhand was advertised as a new game in that vein when it came out here. So I had always wanted to play it - and of course I loved the style and presentation I had seen, really giving that cyberpunk nes-vibe that so many great Nes-games do. Glad I got it then!

 

[Mega]

It's pretty hard but I think it should be doable. I had not played it that many times when I got to the last stage. It's a great example of a game that requires practice to beat. Knowledge of the enemy placement and level layout is a must. That last stage is a bitch though. It's really long and unrelenting, and if you die it's all the way back to the start. I haven't managed to beat it yet but I haven't played the game seriously for a while now.

I need to revisit that last stage and actually beat it. Pretty brutal stuff. Infernon and the whole elevator thing was also a huge bitch.

 

[D.Lo]

Is this video by one of you guys?

Shatterhand (NES) VS Tokkyū Shirei Solbrain (Famicom) Side By Side

Brand new channel it seems.

 

[TeaJay]

As someone who voted for Rygar, I picked it up and played for a while. Or rather, Argus no Senshi. It's still a good game, which I've never been able to beat, so let's see if I can tackle it now.

Oddly enough I didn't know that at least some of the musics are different in the japanese version, at least the very beginning and in Rolsa.

Also for next month I voted for Shatterhand (or, again, Tokkyu shirei Solbrain) because I need an excuse to finish that one too.

 

[N.A]

Hi all

I can finally join the NES community today as I received my RGB-modded NTSC top loader and famicom adapter

I got a framemeister last year but it took me a while to save enough money to get the NES and the games I wanted.

I have so far ordered:

Rockman 1-3
Parodius Da!
Ninja Ryuken Den
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Yume Pengin Monogatari
Hoshi No Kirby

and today I ordered Rygar and Tokkyū Shirei Solbrain thanks to this thread

I hope to follow along playing the games from this thread each month

 

[D.Lo]

and today I ordered Rygar and Tokkyū Shirei Solbrain thanks to this thread

Tokkyu shirei Solbrain) because I need an excuse to finish that one too.

Wow do you guys have Japanese connections or are you just rich?

 

[TeaJay]

I got a pretty good deal on mine, it wasn't too much more expensive than the western version would've been. Loose cart as well, mind you. Most of my (modest) collection is boxed or CIB but for Famicom a lot are loose, since stuff like Rockman games as CIB are way out of my price range. (at least the early ones)

I had Shatterhand as PAL earlier, but I've been selling what PAL games I had this year in favor of US and Famicom versions since getting the RGB AV Famicom for delicious 60 hz RGB.

 

[OnPoint]

Wow do you guys have Japanese connections or are you just rich?

I have a small but growing Famicom collection. I haven't bought one in a while. I'm seriously considering saving up to buy Gimmick. I feel like I have to own it.

As someone who voted for Rygar, I picked it up and played for a while. Or rather, Argus no Senshi. It's still a good game, which I've never been able to beat, so let's see if I can tackle it now.

Oddly enough I didn't know that at least some of the musics are different in the japanese version, at least the very beginning and in Rolsa.

Also for next month I voted for Shatterhand (or, again, Tokkyu shirei Solbrain) because I need an excuse to finish that one too.

You can do it! I'll have to check out the JPN soundtrack.

 

[N.A]

Wow do you guys have Japanese connections or are you just rich?

I got Solbrain for just under $60 loose from Ebay Japan which isn't too bad.

 

[Huggers]

Hi all

I can finally join the NES community today as I received my RGB-modded NTSC top loader and famicom adapter

I got a framemeister last year but it took me a while to save enough money to get the NES and the games I wanted.

I have so far ordered:

Rockman 1-3
Parodius Da!
Ninja Ryuken Den
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Yume Pengin Monogatari
Hoshi No Kirby

and today I ordered Rygar and Tokkyū Shirei Solbrain thanks to this thread

I hope to follow along playing the games from this thread each month

Welcome! Great pick ups to get started and congrats on the RGB NES, they're fantastic

 

[RadarScope1]

I also have Shatterhand. Still no Framemesiter here, but I have created a setup in my basement where I can easily hook up consoles to the consumer Trinitron stored there. I have a Genesis hooked up now. I haven't participated in the Game Club but maybe I'll be able to set things up this weekend and finally join the land of the living. The FM might still be a ways off for me (and CRT is better anyway).

 

[elmalloc]

Hi all

I can finally join the NES community today as I received my RGB-modded NTSC top loader and famicom adapter

I got a framemeister last year but it took me a while to save enough money to get the NES and the games I wanted.

I have so far ordered:

Rockman 1-3
Parodius Da!
Ninja Ryuken Den
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Yume Pengin Monogatari
Hoshi No Kirby

and today I ordered Rygar and Tokkyū Shirei Solbrain thanks to this thread

I hope to follow along playing the games from this thread each month

Welcome. I got a hi-def NES last month, it's amazing. I picked up an SNES Mini RGB modded and my Framemeister just came today! Still waiting on the SCART cables. Retrogamingcables UK is not recommended IMO, frame meister came from japan to USA in 1.5 days, while retrogamingcables still has not shipped....

 

[Morfeo]

Fellow Pal-gamers. Is it worth it with a Framemeister when living in Europe? I feel like my RGB-outputting consoles already output amazing visuals on my LED, and the lag is minimal. But of course, I have never tried it with the 'meister, so it could be that it becomes even better. What do you guys think? Is the ugrade from rgb to rgb via framemeister worth it?

 

[N.A]

Welcome. I got a hi-def NES last month, it's amazing. I picked up an SNES Mini RGB modded and my Framemeister just came today! Still waiting on the SCART cables. Retrogamingcables UK is not recommended IMO, frame meister came from japan to USA in 1.5 days, while retrogamingcables still has not shipped....

Thank you! I also got all my cables for my Master System, Mega Drive and SNES from retrogamingcables. The dispatch time was a few days but the quality of the cables is far better than any other I have used.

Fellow Pal-gamers. Is it worth it with a Framemeister when living in Europe? I feel like my RGB-outputting consoles already output amazing visuals on my LED, and the lag is minimal. But of course, I have never tried it with the 'meister, so it could be that it becomes even better. What do you guys think? Is the ugrade from rgb to rgb via framemeister worth it?

When I tried just connecting RGB to the TV before I got my Framemeister I thought it looked great having never used anything better than RF before, but as soon as I plugged it into the framemeister there was a huge leap in quality, I didn't realize how much my TV was blurring the image.

I have 50/60hz switches fitted in my consoles by the way and the difference is just as big on both.

 

[TeaJay]

I use a PVM so can't comment really - other than my retro consoles were surprisingly lag free when I tried them on my Samsung HDTV. But I don't feel right playing retro on a 40'' screen, the 20'' PVM is much better for my tastes.

 

[Jockel]

I have a 50" Sony LCD (the super fast W656) which is pretty much among the best LCDs for retro games- Framemeister is still a huge upgrade. It really looks like emulation.