Support NeoGAF

[BTails]

How does everyone deal with controller cord length? I only ask because I had to order (and just received) a couple of Genesis controller extension cables for my new setup. It was either that or sitting on the floor. Ended up playing a good 30 minutes of Sonic 1 to test them out.

Growing up, I used to sit on the floor all the time to play games: now, not so much.

 

[dodgeme]

How does everyone deal with controller cord length? I only ask because I had to order (and just received) a couple of Genesis controller extension cables for my new setup. It was either that or sitting on the floor. Ended up playing a good 30 minutes of Sonic 1 to test them out.

Growing up, I used to sit on the floor all the time to play games: now, not so much.

I've got controller extensions, found them at the local flea market for cheap before it closed. I still generally am on the floor but that's more the fault of my setup currently.

 

[ElTopo]

Finally finished Decap Attack. 6/10 maybe a 7. It's fun at first but the problems start showing up once you reach the first boss. The hit detection for your attack is just shy of hitting enemies just above your head that are a bitch to hit when you do a jump attack. Compound that with multiple enemies who take 2 hits to kill and it just gets frustrating.

Navigating your inventory could have been a little faster but it's not so bad for its time.

Biggest and most annoying problem are the lack of passwords/saves and the fact that at the boss stage you need to find an item that's hidden in one of those totems somewhere in the map in order to complete it. Even if you destroy the boss the game tells you "No, you have to go back." thankfully when this happens or if you die during this process the boss does not come back.

The trick to regain life at those pole-vault-thingies really came in handy towards the end but I don't get why it's an obscure thing to get health from and actually using them to propel yourself forwards is completely worthless.

With a little more polish, adding passwords, and removing the requirement to find an item before you can finish a boss stage this game could have been a minor classic rather than a curio of Japanese marketing towards the west and being a horror platformer.

 

[Morrigan Stark]

So I'm replaying Shining Force, been a while. I'm doing something I've never done before: delaying the promotions. I always promoted as soon as anyone reached level 10, but I've heard it's actually not recommended? I'm still not sure why to be honest. Currently my party is between levels 12-15 (just reached Waral, chapter 5) and I'm not noticing any advantage. Something about stat growth later, but without promoting you're stuck with crappy weapons. Right now I can't equip the better weapons sold at Waral. So do those who promote at level 20 grind like crazy or what?

I also decided to use party members I normally never use, and I'll try to use Bleu. I hear he's super strong but I never had the patience to grind him. Guess I'll do it this time. xD

 

[Khaz]

From what I understood you had a max level of 20 regardless of promotion. if you promote at 10 you will only have 30 level-up worth of stats updates, whereas you can have 10 more if you delay.

I think it's better to look at it by adding the numbers. You will be level 17 whether promoted or not, with the inherent class advantages and restrictions and the same powered-up stats. The only difference is when you hit 30, in one case you can carry on farming whereas you'll be capped otherwise. On the other hand it's much more fun and easier to use promoted classes.

It's only beneficial for the endgame, and cripple your main game. Unless you plan to max your characters (or noticed you did in a previous playthrough), I don't think it's really worth the trouble.

 

[Khaz]

About Pier Solar, latest updates:

Hello There,

Sorry for the late feedback.
There will be a newsletter sent.

Basically all is ready, but the hardware to QualityControl the cartridges is still not completed (we had some setbacks).

For those who had missed the previous newsletter, we have been working on a new manufacturing scheme which allow higher quality control (that was already quite high, but we needed higher control especially for the next projects which are more complex).

PS: We will get you something extra & exclusive with the games to balance with the wait.

Thanks for your patience.
New date will be given soon, along with newsletter.

 

[dodgeme]

About Pier Solar, latest updates:

Its been such a wait but still glad I got my pre-order in for the reprint, can't wait to get it.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Any news about the XBLA version? Is that still coming?

 

[ElTopo]

*looks up Pier Solar and sees the phrase "Turn based RPG*

Sigh. The first new Genesis game and it's a genre that I hate. Why not a platformer, a beat 'em up, a run and gunner, etc?

 

[jay]

So I'm replaying Shining Force, been a while. I'm doing something I've never done before: delaying the promotions. I always promoted as soon as anyone reached level 10, but I've heard it's actually not recommended? I'm still not sure why to be honest. Currently my party is between levels 12-15 (just reached Waral, chapter 5) and I'm not noticing any advantage. Something about stat growth later, but without promoting you're stuck with crappy weapons. Right now I can't equip the better weapons sold at Waral. So do those who promote at level 20 grind like crazy or what?

I also decided to use party members I normally never use, and I'll try to use Bleu. I hear he's super strong but I never had the patience to grind him. Guess I'll do it this time. xD

I don't know if waiting actually changes anything, but the first few times I played as a kid I always waited till 20 to promote. I'm sure guides can explain if promoted units start at a set spot or if the promotion stat changes are based off their current stats. If the latter, promoting at 20 would obviously be better. And yes, constant Egress and grinding.

Bleu, Adam, and a few others always seemed like a pain but I could tell they'd be great with effort, as opposed to Arthur who still sucks after putting time into him.

 

[Polioliolio]

I just made a trade for Phantasy Star III and Shining Force 2.. Do I need to worry about the earlier games or can I just dive in?

 

[Khaz]

Do you guys know if soldering a Mega-CD BIOS on a cartridge would boot up the Mega-CD or is it just a special feature from the everdrive? Do I need some mysterious wiring or putting it as if I were making a repro game would be enough?

I really need a sega-16 account, dammit.

 

[jay]

I just made a trade for Phantasy Star III and Shining Force 2.. Do I need to worry about the earlier games or can I just dive in?

The Shining games are barely related and stuff has been mistranslated anyway. Holy Ark and all of 3 are more obviously tied together than the older games.

The problem with playing Phantasy Star III without playing I and II first is you're playing Phantasy Star III.

But no, you're fine. It's very barely related to any of the other games in the series.

 

[sixteen-bit]

*looks up Pier Solar and sees the phrase "Turn based RPG*

Sigh. The first new Genesis game and it's a genre that I hate. Why not a platformer, a beat 'em up, a run and gunner, etc?

Probably to fill a hole in the library. The general perception is that Genesis has way more action games than RPGs during its lifetime.

Anyway that team is also making a beltscroll action game called Project Y.

 

[IrishNinja]

maaaan Project Y needs a damn proper name, much less footage/release date/etc...i dig that dude's playing this one close to the hip but cmon

 

[Fatnick]

Very much agree. Loved Desert / Jungle / Urban Strike on Genesis. Had them all for SNES too.

I found Urban Strike in a pawn shop for £1 the other day. I completed when it first came out, but it turns out I didn't remember anything about it whatsoever (bar the weird interior levels)

The New York level was...unfortunate

 

[ElTopo]

Probably to fill a hole in the library. The general perception is that Genesis has way more action games than RPGs during its lifetime.

Anyway that team is also making a beltscroll action game called Project Y.

Damn... Can't wait for that. Genesis had some of the best beat 'em ups out there (Splatterhouse 2 and 3, Golden Axe 1 and 2, Streets of Rage Trilogy, Comix Zone, and that port of Capcom's The Punisher).

 

[sixteen-bit]

maaaan Project Y needs a damn proper name, much less footage/release date/etc...i dig that dude's playing this one close to the hip but cmon

I'm hope they're not tryna pull a Lufia with that Kickstarter cash. They should show something. Some music clips and a couple of off-screen pics alone doesn't inspire much confidence.

 

[Morrigan Stark]

The problem with playing Phantasy Star III without playing I and II first is you're playing Phantasy Star III.

LOL, so true.

 

[Polioliolio]

LOL, so true.

It's not very good?


I'm actually wondering, guys, since I'm simultaneously building SNES and Genesis collections, which multiplatforms games are actually better on the Genesis compared to the SNES??

 

[IrishNinja]

PS III is one of those RPGs that prolly would've seen more love with a different name (see: Chrono Cross). the medieval setting/dystopian sci-fi departure, loose ties (at best) to the series proper, battle animations etc were a step back from the glory that was II. still, i dug parts of the music, and the generations idea was crazy ambitious at the time, i thought.

I'm actually wondering, guys, since I'm simultaneously building SNES and Genesis collections, which multiplatforms games are actually better on the Genesis compared to the SNES??

hmm..there's some that are close enough to parity, but not counting different stuff like Aladdin, i'd say Earthworm Jim, lotta sports games, and...crap i gotta check sega-16 cause im totally forgetting stuff here

 

[Timu]

It's not very good?


I'm actually wondering, guys, since I'm simultaneously building SNES and Genesis collections, which multiplatforms games are actually better on the Genesis compared to the SNES??

The Terminator
Aladdin
Robocop vs The Terminator
Jurassic Park
Toy Story

 

[galvatron]

It's not very good?


I'm actually wondering, guys, since I'm simultaneously building SNES and Genesis collections, which multiplatforms games are actually better on the Genesis compared to the SNES??

It depends on what you mean by better...NBA Jam for instance looks much better on SNES, but running with turbo activated is slower than running normally on Genesis...growing up I chose SNES, but I'm not sure if the right answer was genesis + Sega CD for multi-plats where possible. Final Fight definitely turned out better on sega cd...

 

[KDash31987]

The SNES version of NBA Jam also doesn't have music during gameplay, or a save feature (it uses long passwords instead). The Genesis version has both of those.

I only bothered playing the SNES version because my friend had bought a multitap, so my group of friends played multiplayer a lot like that. Like a lot. Like three years ago, before I moved away. When not playing with them, though, I've always stuck with the Genesis version, which I've had since it came out. I got the SNES version for free from the same friend that bought the multitap.

 

[IrishNinja]

Robocop vs Terminator is another good one, but does stuff like Jurassic Park count? they're not at all the same game. i wanted to say Bloodlines but SCIV is something else entirely.

 

[BTails]

Robocop vs Terminator is another good one, but does stuff like Jurassic Park count? they're not at all the same game. i wanted to say Bloodlines but SCIV is something else entirely.

Jurassic Park for Genesis is way better than SNES (though they are different games), but Jurassic Park 2 - The Chaos Continues for SNES is the JP GOAT.

 

[Slermy]

It's not very good?


I'm actually wondering, guys, since I'm simultaneously building SNES and Genesis collections, which multiplatforms games are actually better on the Genesis compared to the SNES??

Earthworm Jim is a big one that hasn't been mentioned yet, and I think Cool Spot might be as well.

 

[IrishNinja]

never played that one, time to look it up! i think i was one of the few kids who dug the Sega-CD point & click one enough to beat it, haha

 

[BTails]

never played that one, time to look it up! i think i was one of the few kids who dug the Sega-CD point & click one enough to beat it, haha

I loved JP on the Sega CD, although I remember it getting really hard near the end.

You should definitely check out JP2 for SNES, it's basically Contra with dinosaurs.

 

[Slermy]

I liked the Sega CD Jurassic Park as well.

I remember ripping my own copy to the PC and replacing the redbook audio track for the intro with the theatrical intro song from my copy of the soundtrack.

It almost worked, but the levels were WAY off.

 

[ElTopo]

I think Zombies Ate My Neighbors is slightly better on Genesis. You have the map screen out the entire time and some annoying sound effects (like that laugh at the end of a level) are missing. Biggest difference is that it lacks the hidden flamethrower. Best to play it on a 6 button controller though.

Adventures of Batman and Robin. Two entirely different games on both systems. The Genesis version is a run and gunner with an acid house soundtrack.

Genesis Out of the This World has worse sound effects and music but no slowdown. But if you're interested in Out of This World you may as well buy the complete version on Steam.

There's also Mega Man: The Wily Wars which compiles the first 3 Mega Man games and features a new game where you can choose what weapons you want from any of the first 3 games.

 

[Polioliolio]

Can anyone compare Battletoads and Double Dragon between Genesis/SNES/ and heck, throw NES in there too?

Also, what about Krusty's Fun house?

 

[IrishNinja]

Double Dragon 1 on genesis is supposed to be booty buttcheeks, Battletoads (the NES port) is cool by me but the best game in that series (Battlemaniancs) never came over as far as i know, sadly

 

[BTails]

Also, I seem to recall Flashback being better on Genesis vs SNES. Less slowdown. Dat Blast Processing!

Out of this World runs faster, but I love the SNES soundtrack.

 

[@MUWANdo]

Battletoads (the NES port) is cool by me but the best game in that series (Battlemaniancs) never came over as far as i know, sadly

It did, for Master System! In Brazil! Don't buy it!

 

[IrishNinja]

man, there's a lot to love about Mega Turrican - music, action, etc - but i just can't get the physics for the rope down yet, and you need it a bit more in level 2!

It did, for Master System! In Brazil! Don't buy it!

there's so many SMS games i didn't know about, late and EU/south america etc releases. i'd dig a series on these oddities, just to see em!

 

[Teknoman]

Can anyone compare Battletoads and Double Dragon between Genesis/SNES/ and heck, throw NES in there too?

The SNES version has the better soundtrack...thats all I know. Battlemaniacs for SNES is cool from what I remember, but I havent had the chance to repick it up and no one ever talks about it.

 

[Armoured Priest]

man, there's a lot to love about Mega Turrican - music, action, etc - but i just can't get the physics for the rope down yet, and you need it a bit more in level 2!



there's so many SMS games i didn't know about, late and EU/south america etc releases. i'd dig a series on these oddities, just to see em!

if you haven't given the SMS Ninja Gaiden a shot, do so...its pretty decent.


As for Phantasy Star III, that game started life as NOT part of the Phantasy Star Universe, which is why its kind of different.

personally I'm rather fond of PS III...it had kind of this dream-like quality to it that I've never seen in another game. I've also always like the concept of the multi-generational adventure. I'd like to see a more modern take on the same idea at some point. I also really like the sprite work and character art in that game (the backgrounds and dungeons are pretty bland and the music is very hit or miss). PS III also has my personal favorite iteration of Dark Force, so there's that...

 

[BTails]

The SNES version has the better soundtrack...thats all I know. Battlemaniacs for SNES is cool from what I remember, but I havent had the chance to repick it up and no one ever talks about it.

I'm stuck running errands for the next couple hours, but I have Battlemaniacs at home: maybe I'll pop it in for a couple hours and meet you in the SNES thread, hah.

Back on topic: Mortal Kombat 1 for Genesis is way better than the SNES for one reason alone: Blood > "Sweat".

 

[IrishNinja]

SMS Ninja Gaiden was unfinished, yeah?

As for Phantasy Star III, that game started life as NOT part of the Phantasy Star Universe, which is why its kind of different.

oh? ive always suspected this, do you have any solid info on it though?

Back on topic: Mortal Kombat 1 for Genesis is way better than the SNES for one reason alone: Blood > "Sweat".

also, SNES one controls like butt!

 

[Armoured Priest]

SMS Ninja Gaiden was unfinished, yeah?



oh? ive always suspected this, do you have any solid info on it though?



also, SNES one controls like butt!

Honestly, i don't have great solid information. I've heard it parroted a couple times (most recently a couple years ago on Warning a Huge Podcast). Otherwise, if you look who worked on PS III compared to the other Phantasy Star games, there's very little overlap. Most of people who worked on PS III actually had worked on Golden Axe previously. Sega at that point (if memory serves) really wasn't shaking up their teams that often. Its this conjecture that leads me to agree with that its pretty likely PS III was not originally intended to be a Phantasy Star title. When the switch over was made, I couldn't tell you.

 

[Sixfortyfive]

If you really want to scrape the bottom of the barrel, I'm pretty sure that the Genesis version of Shaq-Fu has more characters.

 

[IrishNinja]

that stoopid tank in El Viento.....maaaaaan

 

[Krorg]

It's not very good?


I'm actually wondering, guys, since I'm simultaneously building SNES and Genesis collections, which multiplatforms games are actually better on the Genesis compared to the SNES??

Micro Machines 2 was better and had the j-cart for multiplayer.

 

[MrCunningham]

It's also the only one I need for the Sega CD, just got Vay for cheap the other day. Ended up settling for Popful Mail disk only and got it for $45.

I have a ciopy of Vay in the box, but it is one I have honestly never played. I also did own Popful Mail, but I lost it years ago, which still pisses me off. I remeber buying it from a Hollywood video for $10.00 way back in the 90s', now it goes for a small fortune. Really fun game, one of my favorites o the system. And the packaging was quite impressive too.

I also have both Lunar and Silver Star. Boith titles are definitly worth owning.

I'm trying to remember if I still have Sub-Terrania, or if I sold it. I remember I just couldn't get in to it.

I've always kind of liked its arcad-y styled gameplay. The game was like a cross between Choplifter and Lunar Lander ... sort of and I thought it had a pretty decent challenge. Though I guess it isn;t for everybody.

man, there's a lot to love about Mega Turrican - music, action, etc - but i just can't get the physics for the rope down yet, and you need it a bit more in level 2!

That grappling beam is a bit quirky, but once you get used to it, Mega Turrican becomes a fine game. It also has one of my favorite soundtracks on the console.

 

[IrishNinja]

$10 for popful mail, damn

Micro Machines 2 was better and had the j-cart for multiplayer.

gotta look this one up, part 1 stays on my list too

 

[MrCunningham]

$10 for popful mail, damn

Yeah, but that was back when Sega Cd games were not considered collectors items by anyone, and it was quite easy to get some of those classics from bargain bins for next to nothing.

I have Snatcher for the Sega CD, and I only paid like $15.00 for it from an Electronic Boutiqe around the time that the Playstation and Saturn were new console. Lunar was bought from a pawn shop for about $10.00, and I forgot where I bought Eternal Blue from, but I know I didn;t pay much for it.

I love the Sega CD though, despite all the hate it gets. I think once you look past the FMV titles, there are quite a few worthwhile classics for it.

 

[IrishNinja]

Yeah, but that was back when Sega Cd games were not concidered collectors items by anyone, and it was quite easy to get some of those classics from bargain bins for next to nothing.

the good ol' days
100% with you on Sega-CD as a great system too, the more i explore it the more i appreciate it too. sucks that i sat on its library for so many years, certain i could still pick up CIB robo aleste, heart of the alien, road avenger etc on the cheap one day (since as you said, it was for so very many years)

 

[Piston Hyundai]

Real bummer about the SCD prices. Seems like all the price hikes that would've gone to most of the good cartridges went straight to all the SCD games.

 

[Uncle Rupee]

I found out the other day that Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata did the soundtrack for the Megadrive version of Gauntlet 4. Pretty good, too.