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

IrishNinja

Member
yeah, Strider is top-tier but Mercs is good too, and i recall Forgotten Worlds controlling like butt. ive heard the turbo one is better in this regard?

for real though, why no specifics on the knocks for Punisher? it's faithful, sounds good, isn't plagued by slowdown, the main characters are all there - look at that, it's already ahead of the bulk of 16-bit ports right there. honest question here!
 

stewy

Member
Yeah, all those earlier Capcom ports were reprogrammed by Sega. Ghouls 'n Ghosts was actually reprogrammed by Yuji Naka.
 

woodypop

Member
yeah, Strider is top-tier but Mercs is good too, and i recall Forgotten Worlds controlling like butt. ive heard the turbo one is better in this regard?
Forgotten Worlds controls just fine for me. B button is used to fire, and A and C are used to rotate counter-clockwise and clockwise. It's rather intuitive to simply lean your thumb to the left or right to rotate while firing. I have absolutely no problems with the controls and can one-credit it. Granted, it's much easier than the arcade, but I'll be damned if it ain't as much fun! Prolly my fave Genesis shmup. I really have a soft spot for it. =D
 
I crafted a Genesis want list today after scouring a few sources for lesser known games.

There is SO MUCH stuff on Genesis that I've never heard of.
 

Fatnick

Member
There are Arcade-perfect ports out there, like Space Harrier/After Burner (well, damn close), Double Dragon, Alien Storm, stuff like that. I see both sides of your arguments.

It might be more subtle than something like The Punisher, but the MD version of Space Harrier contained lots of tiny compromises. It's worth checking out the comparison with the 32x version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMQ9jK1B_Sg

When discussing ports, it's worth remembering that the original arcade hardware was not necessarily created equal. It's not that surprising that the likes of Strider and Alienstorm were accurate ports: the original arcade hardware for both Sega's stock System 16 and Capcom's CPS-1 was based around the same Motorola 68000/Zilog Z80 combo found in the guts of the Megadrive (the FM chips on the arcade boards had a couple of extra channels though - and the graphics hardware was a little beefier.) For the likes of Double Dragon, the megadrive was in an even better position: I think the hardware for that was running of an 8-bit CPU.

Unfortunately for the likes of Afterburner and Outrun, Sega were already packing in 2 68000s, meaning that the poor old Megadrive was doomed even before you factor in the more limited graphics and sound hardware.
 
D

Deleted member 74300

Unconfirmed Member
I'd say most of my wishlist for Genesis/SNES is now reproduction carts. All that good stuff stuck in Japan.
 
I crafted a Genesis want list today after scouring a few sources for lesser known games.

There is SO MUCH stuff on Genesis that I've never heard of.
I don't think you're alone in that - and this is probably why every SNES vs. Genesis list only lists shit like Altered Beast, and not things like Streets of Rage 2, Shining Force, Phantasy Star, Toe Jam & Earl, Ristar, Aladdin, etc.

The Genesis has a great library; you just have to put in a little elbow grease to find some of its diamonds in the rough. Unlike the SNES, the gaming populace at large aren't regularly singing the praises of its best titles (the Sonic the Hedgehog series aside). It's a crying shame, but it is what it is.
 
I don't think you're alone in that - and this is probably why every SNES vs. Genesis list only lists shit like Altered Beast, and not things like Streets of Rage 2, Shining Force, Phantasy Star, Toe Jam & Earl, Ristar, Aladdin, etc.

The Genesis has a great library; you just have to put in a little elbow grease to find some of its diamonds in the rough. Unlike the SNES, the gaming populace at large aren't regularly singing the praises of its best titles (the Sonic the Hedgehog series aside). It's a crying shame, but it is what it is.

It may be a good thing since it means prices aren't as high as well.

Also, not disagreeing with your main point, but all the games you listed are pretty will known genesis gems, not hidden things. I find that the actual hidden gems of Genesis can be more expensive. A casual gamer would probably have heard of Shining Force, Phantasy Star, and Toejam & Earl, but how about Crusader of Centy?
 
Also, not disagreeing with your main point, but all the games you listed are pretty will known genesis gems, not hidden things. I find that the actual hidden gems of Genesis can be more expensive. A casual gamer would probably have heard of Shining Force, Phantasy Star, and Toejam & Earl, but how about Crusader of Centy?
Fair enough (admittedly I was tempted to list things like Mega Turrican or Adventures of Batman & Robin, which are a bit more off the beaten path), but it's kind of a sad state of affairs when even the console's more well-known titles aren't well-known overall.
 

Galdelico

Member
Hey GenesisGaf, I need your help. :)

I have a small collection (47 games) of japanese Megadrive games that I'd want to sell.
I'd like to sell it entirely but I am a bit clueless about how to proceed:
- prices (I'm a collector and I'm aware of average prices, but I may still use some suggestion about how to make them interesting without losing too much)
- places (ebay? Other auction sites I'm not aware of? Private transactions?)
- selling single games/selling bundles
- selling worldwide/selling within UE only...

And also: opening a new thread about it or plopping it all (list, photos...) here?

I'd really appreciate any tip from you guys,
thanks in advance!
 

Galdelico

Member
Could always post a link to your post here if you want to keep things tidy.

That's the point, I don't want to mess this thread up but - before posting on buy/sell thread - i'd really appreciate some help on how to organize/manage the sale.
If it's ok to do it here, I'll only post my list.
 

Galdelico

Member
Ok, here it is!
No pics for now, but all the items are NTSC Japanese (no PAL asian games), complete (box, manuals, instructions, 'extras' - as the poster/move list for Bare Knuckle III - many of them have registration cards and promotional leaflets where originally provided), working and in mint condition (no cracks, tears, discolorations, carts/manuals are all kept inside plastic bags).

- Aero Blasters
- Alien Storm
- Alisia Dragoon
- Bare Knuckle
- Bare Knuckle II
- Bare Knuckle III
- Chiki Chiki Boys
- Contra: The Hard Corps
- Curse
- Dahna: Megami Tanja
- Daimakaimura
- Daisenpu
- Darius II
- Devil Crash MD
- Dragon Ball Z
- Ecco the Dolphin
- Elemental Master
- Ex-Ranza
- Fire Mustang
- Gaiares
- Garou Densetsu: The Battle of Destiny
- Golden Axe
- Golden Axe II
- Golden Axe III
- Granada
- Gunstar Heroes
- Hellfire
- Hokuto no Ken: Shinseiki Ura Kyuusei Aruji Densetsu
- Kujaku-Ou 2: Geneijou
- Marvel Land
- Mazin Saga
- Musha Aleste
- Phelios
- Raiden Trad
- Rocket Knight Adventures
- Rolling Thunder 2
- Splatterhouse Part 2
- Street Fighter II Plus: Champion Edition
- Strider Hiryu
- The Super Shinobi
- The Super Shinobi II
- Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers
- Tatsujin
- Thunder Force III
- Thunder Force IV
- Valis III
- Valis: The Legend of a Phantasm Soldier

Again, I don't mean to run a sale on this thread. I'd like to get any tips from you guys about how to manage it in the appropriate places.
Thanks again.
 
Do you mind posting your list, i'm kind of curious
Sure.

Code:
+====================+
| Genesis Sex Time   |
+====================+
Alisia Dragoon
Contra Hard Corps
Dinoland
El Viento
Elemental Master
Shadowrun
Space Invaders '91
Trouble Shooter

+====================+
| Genesis Tier I     |
+====================+
Arcus Odyssey
Gauntlet IV
Grind Stormer
Lightening Force
Phantasy Star II
Phantasy Star III
Phantasy Star IV
Shining Force II
Shinobi III
Traysia
Truxton

+====================+
| Genesis Tier II    |
+====================+
Burning Force
Earnest Evans
Gaiares
Herzog Zwei
Michael Jackson's Moonwalker
OutRun
Rolling Thunder 2
Rolling Thunder 3
Saturday Night Slam Masters
Sunset Riders
Super Hydlide
Thunder Force III
Toki: Going Ape Spit
Wings of Wor

+====================+
| Genesis Unsorted   |
+====================+
Acme All-Stars
Adventures of Batman and Robin
Bonanza Brothers
Championship Pro-Am
Devilish
Dragon's Revenge
McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure
Mutant Fighter Mazin Saga
Raiden Trad
Ranger X
Ristar
Saint Sword
Sorcerer's Kingdom
Sparkster
Target Earth
Techno Cop
Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits
Zany Golf
Zombies ate my Neighbors

+====================+
| Genesis Japango    |
+====================+
Battle Mania
Monster World IV
Panorama Cotton
Pulseman

+====================+
| Sega CD CREAM      |
+====================+
Keio Flying Squadron
Popful Mail
Shining Force CD

+====================+
| Sega CD Tier I     |
+====================+
Android Assault: The Revenge of Bari-Arm
Robo Aleste
Sol-Feace
Time Gal
Vay

>>> Lunar: Eternal Blue

+====================+
| Sega CD Japango    |
+====================+
Annet Futatabi
Earnest Evans
 

Morrigan Stark

Arrogant Smirk
Can you explain those tiers? I want to know how Traysia, reportedly a terribad game, ends in the same tier as the godly Phantasy Star IV, Shining Force II and Shinobi III. ;)
 
Can you explain those tiers? I want to know how Traysia, reportedly a terribad game, ends in the same tier as the godly Phantasy Star IV, Shining Force II and Shinobi III. ;)
Oh yeah, I should have clarified that, since it's just a .txt dump.

Sex Time = Stuff I want right the eff now.

CREAM = Really expensive crap (also a Wu-Tang reference).

Tier I, II, III is just my personal level of interest, although nothing is too set in stone.
 
Since I'm text dumping, here's my actual Genesis collection.

I don't think this is up to date (actually it's not since I know I recently bought Arrow Flash and Lunar: The Silver Star), but it should be close.

Code:
Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
Batman Forever
Battletoads
Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
Castlevania Bloodlines
Clue
Cosmic Spacehead
Crusader of Centy
Dashin' Desperadoes
Disney's Aladdin
Disney's The Little Mermaid Maid
Dynamite Headdy
Final Zone
Flicky (aka Best Genesis Game Ever)
Galaxy Force II
Ghouls 'N Ghosts
Golden Axe II
Gunstar Heroes
Landstalker
Marvel Land
Monopoly
MUSHA
NHL 95
Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures
Phelios
Quackshot starring Donald Duck
Revenge of Shinobi, The
Rocket Knight Adventures
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi
Shining Force
Shining in the Darkness
Sorcerer's Kingdom
Space Harrier II
Splatterhouse 2
Streets of Rage
Streets of Rage 2
Streets of Rage 3
Strider
Sword of Vermillion
Thunder Force II
Wardner
Wardner
Wheel of Fortune
Wonder Boy in Monster Land
Wonder Boy in Monster Land
World of Illusion Starring Mickey & Donald
WWF Wrestlemania: The Arcade Game
And I guess I can take Sorcerer's Kingdom off of my Want List, oops.
 

IrishNinja

Member
wait...i was gonna ask about Dino Land, but Vay >> Lunar 2?

8RxzvGi.jpg
 
I used SonicMegaDrive's Genesis Reference Guide to start my collection. Filters out all the bad stuff, and I found a lot of great games I didn't know existed.

That is a surprisingly good list.

I have some minor personal nit-picks (because that will always happen when its not a list you yourself made), but my alterations involve moving a handful of games in the "avoid" column to "not for everybody."

For example, he says avoid "The Ooze." While I would never tell anyone its a great game (or even good) its quirky enough that I would say it warrants a look, because it tried something different.
 

womp

Member
From what I understand Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Strider, and Forgotten Worlds were reprogrammed by SEGA. They did a bang-up job, as they are awesome, easily some of my faves on the Genesis. Wikipedia notes that Punisher was done by Sculptured Software, who did a lot of stuff during the 90s.

I think Mercs is a pretty solid port. I've never played the arcade version of Vapor Trail, but I know the Genesis version is often lauded for its music.

My issue with Mercs was the lack of a second player especially and I think it was a bit lazy for them not to have included it. The game really just didn't look all that great either IMO. :::shrugs:::

yeah, Strider is top-tier but Mercs is good too, and i recall Forgotten Worlds controlling like butt. ive heard the turbo one is better in this regard?

for real though, why no specifics on the knocks for Punisher? it's faithful, sounds good, isn't plagued by slowdown, the main characters are all there - look at that, it's already ahead of the bulk of 16-bit ports right there. honest question here!

Forgotten Worlds controls just fine for me. B button is used to fire, and A and C are used to rotate counter-clockwise and clockwise. It's rather intuitive to simply lean your thumb to the left or right to rotate while firing. I have absolutely no problems with the controls and can one-credit it. Granted, it's much easier than the arcade, but I'll be damned if it ain't as much fun! Prolly my fave Genesis shmup. I really have a soft spot for it. =D

Yup, I just turn turbo fire on in the options and controlling Forgotten Worlds was perfectly fine. It was one of my launch titles and I loved it, especially since I had played it in the arcade quite frequently.

Having played the TG16 CD version, I honestly prefer the Genesis one as well...I can't exactly explain why but it just 'felt' better to me overall.

I'm sorry Irish but I just don't agree on Punisher man. Maybe if it didn't have an arcade version to put it up against it would be fine but it is hard to compare. :(
 

IrishNinja

Member
I'm sorry Irish but I just don't agree on Punisher man. Maybe if it didn't have an arcade version to put it up against it would be fine but it is hard to compare. :(

it's fine. i got a buddy who thinks SF II WW on SNES is butt since there's MAME, collection discs, etc. i don't get knocking good ports, personally.

but then i don't get gaming-side master race saying there's never a reason to play a console game if there's a PC port, either, so i mean, to each their own.
 

Sixfortyfive

He who pursues two rabbits gets two rabbits.
I'd also never spend money on a 16-bit console port of Street Fighter II in this day and age, let alone the very first revision.
 

ZealousD

Makes world leading predictions like "The sun will rise tomorrow"
I'd also never spend money on a 16-bit console port of Street Fighter II in this day and age, let alone the very first revision.

I would. But, I own 9 different versions of Street Fighter II, so I might be slightly insane.
 
it's fine. i got a buddy who thinks SF II WW on SNES is butt since there's MAME, collection discs, etc. i don't get knocking good ports, personally.

but then i don't get gaming-side master race saying there's never a reason to play a console game if there's a PC port, either, so i mean, to each their own.
It is butt if you wake up in 2014, didn't experience it back then and now want to do so, therefore go and pick a version... and pick the SNES.

That said of course these version have lots of historic value (personal nostalgia and not just that), specially if they were done with care. Street Fighter II Alpha on the SNES is something I'd buy in a heartbeat for instance. It's certainly not "ultimate" as far as arcade conversions go but it's a benchmark on the SNES and a type of "overdrive" game. I love it when those happen, take everything you learned up to that point and pull it before shutting the door forever.

So two ports are the same, and emulation is rarely the same as the original hardware too, which is why a port will have it's little quirks and timings. Most of us feel right at home in the version we grew up and it's not a bad port at all so...

I realize I'm replying to you a lot today, sorry I'm not chasing you or anything, I just felt like I wanted to add something.
 

IrishNinja

Member
^haha it's cool, we're on a discussion forum & all!

and yeah, i guess that's about what i meant: i personally thought WW was pretty landmark for a summer '92 port myself, but i do get why anyone wanting to revisit it will do so from the multitude of SF collection discs out there.

my confusion was from no one ever telling me what was bad about the Punisher port - sure, if you can play the coin-op in 2014 it's gonna be better than 95%+ of ports we got, but outside emulating this one only has that one option, and i don't see where it's not a great one is all.

I would. But, I own 9 different versions of Street Fighter II, so I might be slightly insane.

haha true, or you just didn't trade em in when you upgraded like most capcom kids did
fuck, i think they got me to buy RE1 at least 5 times over the years
 
and yeah, i guess that's about what i meant: i personally thought WW was pretty landmark for a summer '92 port myself, but i do get why anyone wanting to revisit it will do so from the multitude of SF collection discs out there.

my confusion was from no one ever telling me what was bad about the Punisher port - sure, if you can play the coin-op in 2014 it's gonna be better than 95%+ of ports we got, but outside emulating this one only has that one option, and i don't see where it's not a great one is all.
Yeah, that's just silly.

One has to appreciate that some ports even exist. I mean, Street Fighter II happening on the SNES was inevitable (and not a bad port at all) but... Outrun or Space Harrier on the Master System...

Not even the Genesis/Mega Drive was arcade perfect, far from it and still they went further... and the games didn't suck. In a way it's like a commercially sold "demake" done with care.

Lots of other cases, really.


I like them for what they are, games that use <insert system> properly and the best way they can. And I sure can appreciate how a lot of arcade conversions do their best, similarly. One has to know what the usual limits for the hardware are to appreciate them though, otherwise it's like popping up Super Mario Bros 3 and someone saying "looks like crap" (happens sometimes)... It really doesn't it's impressive it's even running.

They're not crap at all, except the ones that are... But it never fails to impress me how much care there was back then for most of these.
haha true, or you just didn't trade em in when you upgraded like most capcom kids did
fuck, i think they got me to buy RE1 at least 5 times over the years
And I'd buy it again if they dusted off the REmake assets, re-rendered them in 16:9 and 1080p and unleashed them.

And I'd ask for RE0 afterwards.
 

IrishNinja

Member
oh man, good examples - im a huge suzuki fan, and still think some levels in Space Harrier (the cave levels of Thunder Blade, too) are definitely technical marvels, but you're right, there's zero reason to revisit them, especially by the point of the Saturn releases.

you're also right about nostalgia playing a role, but even in the day, the Avengers port for example was fuckin' terrible. like, if Punisher was anywhere near that tier i'd be agreeing with everyone else...i revisited Pit Fighter again a few months back and man, that wasn't a good idea either, haha.

And I'd buy it again if they dusted off the REmake assets, re-rendered them in 16:9 and 1080p and unleashed them.

And I'd ask for RE0 afterwards.

oh, god yes - that's the high bar for remakes, no doubt. man i'dve said I wanted 2 afterwards for sure, i picked up 0 years ago but still haven't gotten around to it.
 

Teknoman

Member
Well aside from Rocket Knight, Sparkster, and Ristar, what other really good platformers are there (interested because I got into Genesis late)?
 

Fatnick

Member
Yeah, that's just silly.

One has to appreciate that some ports even exist. I mean, Street Fighter II happening on the SNES was inevitable (and not a bad port at all) but... Outrun or Space Harrier on the Master System...

Not even the Genesis/Mega Drive was arcade perfect, far from it and still they went further... and the games didn't suck. In a way it's like a commercially sold "demake" done with care.

Lots of other cases, really.

In fact - Outrun wasn't even the best Outrun port on the Master System. Though Outrun 3d focuses on the visual gimmick (which you can turn off,) the underlying game was an improved version of the original port that includes extra flourishes (e.g. weather and tunnel effects.)

The Sega titles actually made it onto hardware more basic than the Master System - have you seen the ZX Spectrum version? It seems a bit strange that, if you wanted a complete library of Sega ports from 80's, you'd actually be better off with a Speccy of C64 then you would with Sega's own consoles!
 
In fact - Outrun wasn't even the best Outrun port on the Master System. Though Outrun 3d focuses on the visual gimmick (which you can turn off,) the underlying game was an improved version of the original port that includes extra flourishes (e.g. weather and tunnel effects.)

The Sega titles actually made it onto hardware more basic than the Master System - have you seen the ZX Spectrum version? It seems a bit strange that, if you wanted a complete library of Sega ports from 80's, you'd actually be better off with a Speccy of C64 then you would with Sega's own consoles!
Well, I didn't know that.
 
In fact - Outrun wasn't even the best Outrun port on the Master System. Though Outrun 3d focuses on the visual gimmick (which you can turn off,) the underlying game was an improved version of the original port that includes extra flourishes (e.g. weather and tunnel effects.)

The Sega titles actually made it onto hardware more basic than the Master System - have you seen the ZX Spectrum version? It seems a bit strange that, if you wanted a complete library of Sega ports from 80's, you'd actually be better off with a Speccy of C64 then you would with Sega's own consoles!
Well, I didn't know that.

Here's a run down of most of the Outrun ports if you want to see even more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFrz2zzV91E

edit: LMAO, what do you know. New episode is out and it's about SF2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69v1CDn_Fds
 

Ommadawnyawn

Neo Member
Well aside from Rocket Knight, Sparkster, and Ristar, what other really good platformers are there (interested because I got into Genesis late)?

The list in the link is fairly good; I can get behind it just moving some games down a notch or two and vice versa. Some aren't exactly what I'd put in the platformers category though, like Aladdin. It's also missing a few euro games.
I'd rank them more like this:

Great: Ghouls 'n Ghosts (action), Dynamite Headdy (some action), Quackshot starring Donald Duck (platform adventure), Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster's Hidden Treasure, Wiz 'n Liz, Bubba 'n Stix (puzzle)

Good: Aladdin (action), Kid Chameleon (exploration), Ghostbusters (action/platform adventure), Castle of Illusion, World of Illusion, The Flintstones, Puggsy (puzzle), Pocahontas (puzzle), Chiki Chiki Boys (action), Mickey Mania (some puzzles), Chuck Rock 2, Spider-Man (action), McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure, The Lion King (some action), Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel, Batman (action), The Great Circus Mystery, The Jungle Book (collectathon), Flink (some puzzles)

Worth trying: Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle (some action), Marvel Land, Desert Demolition, Toki: Going Ape Spit (action), James Pond 2: Codename Robocod, Cool Spot (collectation), Flicky (collectathon), High Seas Havoc, Joe & Mac (action), Rolo to the Rescue (exploration/collectathon), Bubble and Squeak, Decap Attack, James Pond: Underwater Agent (collectathon), Shadow of the Beast, Shadow of the Beast II (action/puzzle), Marko, Addams Family (platform adventure), Asterix and the Great Rescue, Asterix and the Power of the Gods, Galahad (action/exploration), Animaniacs (puzzle), Batman Returns (action), Gargoyles (action), Maui Mallard (action), Dashin' Desperadoes, Toy Story (miscellaneous), Chuck Rock, Greendog, Boogerman
 
Here's a run down of most of the Outrun ports if you want to see even more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFrz2zzV91E
Seems like Outrun 3D on the Master System is a little on the slow side!

Id that only on the 3D mode, or? Regardless I might take the plunge if I see it cheap.
edit: LMAO, what do you know. New episode is out and it's about SF2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69v1CDn_Fds
I'll take a time out later today in order to see it. :)
 

Sapiens

Member
Just pulled this out - a little dusty, unfortunately:

gHCYzu1.jpg


Seems to work well. Unfortunately, the drive lid needs a little push to open, but CD games are working, which is good.

I don't have a lot of use for this anymore. If anyone is interest, I have the original box and documentation as well. Just don't have that collector urge anymore and I don't see reason to keep it.

Here's a pic of it cleaned up:
KJpOeov.jpg
 
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