sixteen-bit
Member
They beefed up the difficulty in the west tho, so that's an alternative.
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Sega Genesis/MegaDrive Appreciation Thread: Alien Storm > Golden Axe
- Thread starter IrishNinja
- Start date
Yep, though they made it nearly impossible to get the best ending on that game definitely on hard mode, lol.
Anyone have advice on this?
MightyHedgehog
Member
Just clean the shiny side with a soft cloth and some warm water with soap or use alcohol dampened microfiber cleaner. It's a risk to the data if you decide to clean the label side which may result in wearing off even the tiniest bit that could kill the disc.
OK, that's sort of what I suspected. So there's basically no way to clean the label side without risking damage? :-/
baphomet
Member
Yea, they definitely are.
ResidentDante
Member
What are beltscrollers?
IrishNinja
Member
seriously, it's confusing enough getting people to agree on beat-em-ups once they go 3D (Godhand? DMC? etc), what does the term belt scroller add to 2D titles that beat-em-up didn't adequately describe?
i know some people hate SHMUP, metroidvania etc but they at least describe something
miserable piles of palette-swapping enemies
i know some people hate SHMUP, metroidvania etc but they at least describe something
miserable piles of palette-swapping enemies
D.Lo
Member
I have problems with those terms for historical reasons.
SHMUP is okay, it came about because people started to refer to FPS games as 'shooters', wrecking the long held naming rights of 2D shooters. Shooter generally meant 'Spaceship shooter'. Though even back then there was confusion, many people called Contra a shooter. And of course they started to branch out from spaceships with the cute-em-ups and eventually lolli crap.
So Shoot-em-up is a decent term. SHMUP is a bit awkward though, it's not even an acronym! Should be SEU.
Metroidvania on the other hand - it's a good term to describe Castlevania games that are Metroid clones. But as a genre (non-linear action sidescroller with a single interconnected world with power-ups doubling as keys to new areas) - Castlevania deserves no naming rights. It can be argued neither does Metroid, but Metroid 3 is clearly the template the Castlevania games of that type aped, adding only superfluous gameplay elements (the RPG stuff is completely separate from the actual game world design).
If the genre is to be named after a game series, it should be Metroid alone.
Before Street Fighter, 'fighting game' used to be a term people used for 'beat-em-up' too. I definitely remember calling Double Dragon a 'fighter' as a kid.
IrishNinja
Member
i guess "metroid like" would be easier/maybe more accurate but at least both actively describe something that's easily understood, whereas i don't think belt scroller does that
yeah, i recall this era myself, but i thought we solved it pretty easily with beat-em-up and vs fighter, no?
yeah, i recall this era myself, but i thought we solved it pretty easily with beat-em-up and vs fighter, no?
D.Lo
Member
Actually if I seem to recall, Shoot-em-up was invented to differential from light gun games first, which became 'shooters' and later 'light gun game'.
What have we got:
Beat-em-up (Double Dragon)
2D fighter (Street Fighter)
3D fighter (Virtua Fighter)
Hack and slash (Gauntlet)
Shoot-em-up (Gradius)
Run-n-gun (Contra)
JRPG (Dragon Quest)
Western RPG (Ultima)
FPS (Doom)
Rail Shooter (uh, Space Harrier?)
2D Platformer (Super Mario Bros)
3D Platformer (Super Mario 64)
Action-Adventre (Zelda)
Adventure (Kings Quest type games have still somehow have maintained hegemony on the basic 'Adventure' term!)
Sim Racer (GT)
Arcade Racer (Sega Rally)
Party (Mario Party)
Music (Parappa)
Also RTS, Turn Based Strategy (somehow doesn't get called TBS while RTS does get the acronym), Tower Defence...
Anything else?
EDIT: not really fully on topic I guess. But I see no reason why SoR shouldn't remain a 'Beat-em-up'.
That would be my preferred term. Just because there were a glut of Castlevania games that copied Super Metroid's design shouldn't gain it any naming rights (and I'm a very long term Castlevania fan). It would be like calling all FPS games 'DoomOfDuty' or something.
Seems to be the norm. Who the hell decided to invent 'belt scroller'?
What have we got:
Beat-em-up (Double Dragon)
2D fighter (Street Fighter)
3D fighter (Virtua Fighter)
Hack and slash (Gauntlet)
Shoot-em-up (Gradius)
Run-n-gun (Contra)
JRPG (Dragon Quest)
Western RPG (Ultima)
FPS (Doom)
Rail Shooter (uh, Space Harrier?)
2D Platformer (Super Mario Bros)
3D Platformer (Super Mario 64)
Action-Adventre (Zelda)
Adventure (Kings Quest type games have still somehow have maintained hegemony on the basic 'Adventure' term!)
Sim Racer (GT)
Arcade Racer (Sega Rally)
Party (Mario Party)
Music (Parappa)
Also RTS, Turn Based Strategy (somehow doesn't get called TBS while RTS does get the acronym), Tower Defence...
Anything else?
EDIT: not really fully on topic I guess. But I see no reason why SoR shouldn't remain a 'Beat-em-up'.
IrishNinja
Member
F.R.E.E.~
ResidentDante
Member
Nice list! Completely off-topic (should there be a new thread about this?!), though I must challenge the racing genres:
Although Sega Rally feels and indeed started it's life in the arcades, it somehow kind of felt and looked fairly real back in the day. Looking back though I totally agree it's pure arcade racer. I think in todays racing games there's a need for a Semi-arcade genre too, something inbetween a simulator and an arcade racer. Games like PGR, some of the NFS games etc. seem to hit a middle ground.
foobarry81
Member
Puzzle?
A Black Falcon
Member
Huh? TBS is definitely a commonly-used term...
Also, there are plenty of game genres beyond that. One somewhat broad one is "Simulation" -- this covers everything from The Sims and Simcity to Falcon 4.0 and Silent Hunter! Completely different kinds of games there, but technically they go in the same genre label...
Oh, and Action-RPGs are a huge one too, of course. I generally separate menubased-style RPGs from ones with action combat...
Also, there are plenty of game genres beyond that. One somewhat broad one is "Simulation" -- this covers everything from The Sims and Simcity to Falcon 4.0 and Silent Hunter! Completely different kinds of games there, but technically they go in the same genre label...
Oh, and Action-RPGs are a huge one too, of course. I generally separate menubased-style RPGs from ones with action combat...
D.Lo
Member
Yeah maybe I should start a thread about genre definitions.
Anyway, on topic, I got a sync-boost cable because my 60Hz modded MD2 had sync issues on the Framemeister. I had to boost the sync level in the settings to a level that let lots of noise in for other consoles, and it still had issues.
Now it has perfect sync at the default setting(9)!
Highly recommended. Though expensive, cost more than a console!
ha, so obvious!
Anyway, on topic, I got a sync-boost cable because my 60Hz modded MD2 had sync issues on the Framemeister. I had to boost the sync level in the settings to a level that let lots of noise in for other consoles, and it still had issues.
Now it has perfect sync at the default setting(9)!
Highly recommended. Though expensive, cost more than a console!
To be safe, I'd only use water. I remember early CDs recommended cleaning the disc under running water.
sixteen-bit
Member
I never liked this.
Japanese PC RPGs in the 1980s were influenced by games like Wizardry and follow conventions you'd probably describe as "western RPGs". Would you call games like Elminage or Dark Souls JRPGs just because they originate in Japan? What about Costume Quest? That's a western-made game that's designed like a DQ title. Is that a JRPG?
In Japan they call games that follow Dragon Quest/Final Fantasy conventions "light RPGs". I like that, because you could include games like Costume Quest without conflating about country of origin.
How about:
Traditional RPG (influenced by tabletop or pen/paper games)
Light RPGs (DQ/FF)
Action RPG (Dark Souls)
I was having fun with the fact that both SoR2 and 3 have vertical and horizontal scrolling within a same level. Something SoR (or Final Fight) don't.
Anyway, new arrival in the family
My collection is (again) starting to look like something! Now I just have to take all my boxes out of retirement and put the carts back into them! And the shelf will look better
I haven't found a solution for my loose Super Famicom games though
(Sorry for the wall of pictures)
D.Lo
Member
I'll start a new thread, post it there
foobarry81
Member
One of the first RPGs made in Japan (and in Japanese), The Black Onyx, which helped a lot to popularize the RPG genre in Japan, was actually developed by some Dutch guy.
Happy 26th! I can hardly believe it's been so long.
I'm celebrating tonight by firing up my trusty 1988 unit and playing through the launch line-up.
I actually got Osomatsu-kun in the mail yesterday, it completes the set featured in your first episode!
sixteen-bit
Member
Happy anniversary. I'm just sad the Megatron isn't out yet.
sixteen-bit
Member
How was the sound on the Sega PC ports? I remember playing them back in the day. My ear wasn't discerning enough, but nothing bothered me about the smash pack, but the Sonic 3 and knuckles collection had problems with missing sound effects and the like that even I noticed as a kid.
Nice! Someday I really want to go back and seriously play that game.
To be honest I don't recall. I was so young. I played them mostly between when I was 5 and 8, on a Win 95 PC with whatever speakers came with it. I do still have Sega Smash Packs 1 and 2 though, not sure if they would run. Sonic 3 and Knuckles didn't seem to have any missing sound effects for me. I knew pretty much every sound in that game and eventually I got Mega Collection, afterwards a Model 1 Genesis, and I didn't notice any new sound effects.
One thing I do remember is playing around with the menu and clicking on different things in the folder and getting weird screens and sound effects, I know some were Sonic CD.
I just spent about a moment celebrating the Mega Drive and its first five games!
Somehow ended up going farther in Altered Beast and Super Thunder Blade than I ever had before, too!
Maybe it's mostly nostalgia, but there's just something indescribable about these early games. They charm me more and more each time I play them.
I'm still disappointed that Space Harrier II is missing the iconic theme, yet I'm sort of digging the original music after getting more used to it. I don't think anything else in the platform quite sounds like it?
A great big tip of the hat to the lovely Framemeister powering the experience!
It's got a ton of character, and that helps a good bit against the repetitive/obtuse level navigation.
The enemy design is so crazy and varied up front! It makes me extremely curious to see what'll come next.
I'm pretty happy with it for the price I paid. It might actually be the most Japanese game I've ever owned. Dat sun!
Somehow ended up going farther in Altered Beast and Super Thunder Blade than I ever had before, too!
Maybe it's mostly nostalgia, but there's just something indescribable about these early games. They charm me more and more each time I play them.
I'm still disappointed that Space Harrier II is missing the iconic theme, yet I'm sort of digging the original music after getting more used to it. I don't think anything else in the platform quite sounds like it?
A great big tip of the hat to the lovely Framemeister powering the experience!
It's got a ton of character, and that helps a good bit against the repetitive/obtuse level navigation.
The enemy design is so crazy and varied up front! It makes me extremely curious to see what'll come next.
I'm pretty happy with it for the price I paid. It might actually be the most Japanese game I've ever owned. Dat sun!
sixteen-bit
Member
Cool pics!
Gunstarheroes
Member
I was having fun with the fact that both SoR2 and 3 have vertical and horizontal scrolling within a same level. Something SoR (or Final Fight) don't.
Anyway, new arrival in the family
That is just a beautiful copy of Gunstar Heroes right there, good choice.
I got a 32x today and it lasted a whole hour. For some reason it's now not outputting video correctly. While it lasted I was enjoying the removal of color banding. Gonna take that back and look for some more cheap games at my local place.
I have a weird question. The three games I have are side scrollers, and I notice that when I'm moving around the 2/3s of the screen not in the middle are like moving faster than the middle. I'm not sure how to explain it but I'm wondering if this is a tv thing or if games are just like that? It's really obvious to see if you stretch it to 16:9 but I originally thought that was a byproduct of stretching it and im seeing it on my 4:3 tv.
Gonna take that back and look for some more cheap games at my local place.I have a weird question. The three games I have are side scrollers, and I notice that when I'm moving around the 2/3s of the screen not in the middle are like moving faster than the middle. I'm not sure how to explain it but I'm wondering if this is a tv thing or if games are just like that? It's really obvious to see if you stretch it to 16:9 but I originally thought that was a byproduct of stretching it and im seeing it on my 4:3 tv.
Huggers
Member
Dudes, help me out. This awesome and emotional Megadrive video which I'm sure you've all seen (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf-QUMKNgLc) has a Sonic tune in it starting at around 5:10 into the video. It's driving me bonkers trying to remember what game it is from. I thought it was the ending to Sonic 2? Anyone have a link to it on Youtube?
It's the music fom Sonic 2's Sky Chase zone (the one that takes place on top of Tails' plane): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FCHk_gSwKo
Huggers
Member
Thanks very much for that. Knew I had the right game! Awesome piece of Megadrive brilliance that tune
There's a new kickstarter for Genesis (&snes -_-) component cables. $35 will get you the cable. Pretty good compared to the other pricy options I've seen for getting better image quality https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hdretrovision/sega-genesis-and-super-nintendo-component-cables
Interesting... I read the kickstarter but didn't get a good sense of how they work.
I have to imagine these take the RGB output and transcode to component in the cable?
Sounds like a pretty nice option to have, but you're still dependent on having a TV that knows what to do with that low resolution component signal.
Or you could get a décent SCART to HDMI converter for 60$ and just use your RGB cables. Sounds rather uninteresting. Especially since some boxes also offer scanlines while converting
Shadow Hog
Member
Not an option for people who don't have a spare outlet, though. In addition, I half-expect just getting one component cable for both consoles in question would turn out to be cheaper than getting SCART cables for both and the transcoder to change 'em into component. Meaningless when I already have SCART cables for both, but for people who don't, I can certainly see the appeal.
Still, I'm curious if this'll run into the same "240p over component not supported" problems other RGB->YPbPr transcoders run into?
Still, I'm curious if this'll run into the same "240p over component not supported" problems other RGB->YPbPr transcoders run into?
Clearly there are better options, but this is still a neat experiment, especially for the price.
For example, I've got an old Samsung CRT that takes in component as its best input.
A cable like could easily be the best and cheapest way to feed it image from the system.
SCART to HDMI is rather nice, but you still need both the box and the cable for twice the price of this new cable.
Sixfortyfive
He who pursues two rabbits gets two rabbits.
SCART-to-HDMI boxes that aren't called the Framemeister tend to be pretty bad, and that one can be prohibitively expensive to some users.
A SCART-to-component converter would be the best alternative to these cables if you have a lot of RGB-capable systems (SMS, Gen, SNES, Saturn, PS1, etc). It would probably give you the same quality, and you'd only have to buy one converter that covers all of them instead of trying to acquire custom component cables for each console.
A SCART-to-component converter would be the best alternative to these cables if you have a lot of RGB-capable systems (SMS, Gen, SNES, Saturn, PS1, etc). It would probably give you the same quality, and you'd only have to buy one converter that covers all of them instead of trying to acquire custom component cables for each console.
foobarry81
Member
Picked up these two CIB copies at a retro game convention in The Netherlands earlier today. Wonder Boy is an upgrade of the copy that I already owned, which was missing the manual.
Picked up these two CIB copies at a retro game convention in The Netherlands earlier today. Wonder Boy is an upgrade of the copy that I already owned, which was missing the manual.
Nice pickups! They look to be in excellent shape, too.
As a huge fan of the original rocket knight, I was never too sold on Sparkster. I have warmed up more to it more recently, though. Especially after finding out Akira Yamaoka had a hand in the soundtrack, an early assignment in his Konami days.
I used one of those...never again so I returned it and replaced it with a scart to component converter, it messed up the colors and made the games look blurry in motion, plus most don't even keep the 4:3 ratio in HD res...
Shadow Hog
Member
I kind of expect he meant SCART to component, honestly.
Actually, my earlier reply kind of misread his post assuming that's what he meant.
Actually, my earlier reply kind of misread his post assuming that's what he meant.
foobarry81
Member
A bit ashamed to have to admit I didn't really know that guy. But according to Wikipedia his favourite game is No More Heroes. So the guy has good taste.
(Obviously, there are way better games than NMH out there, but I really thoroughly enjoyed playing it nevertheless.) Yeah, they're in great shape. Sparkster came in a box protector actually (took it out for picture purposes) and the manuals came in a plastic sleeve too. That seller clearly took care of his stuff.
Well, I also already own Rocket Knight Adventures, and don't know a whole lot about the sequel other than that my friend recommended me picking it up too. He has a tendency of recommending me games with great music (well, at least stuff that I think is great), so maybe that's why this game ended up on my wish list. I'll find out how great (or not) the game really is in the coming weeks.
Now to find copies of Gunstar Heroes, Hyperstone Heist, Ghouls 'n Ghosts, some more Thunder Forces, some more Phantasy Star, Elemental Master, ... so many games to pick up still. ** sigh **