Observations on Populous

[SignOfZeta]

When at the MGC I bought a copy of Populous for a couple bucks and I'm having a good time with it.

I haven't really spent serious time with this game since it was a new release for the Amiga. I kind of assumed that a PCE version would be slower than something made for an Amiga, but it's not at all. The interface...could be better, I admit, but once you get used to it it's not a problem. I also assumed that there would be a lot of Japanee but there is NONE. None whatsoever, every single thing is in English making me wonder why the hell this didn't come out in the US. The manual (which is nice) is all Japanese, but it's not exactly difficult to find help with Populous since it was a huge hit on half a dozen platforms.

Regarding the whole ROMRAM HuCARD thing...did we ever figure that shit out? A while back there was a topic about this and also the Tennokoe Bank since its the only other ROMRAM HuCARD. Unlike the Tennokoe, Populous has no battery, as we know, and cannot contain a save. I got to thinking though, what makes a ROMRAM HuCARD? Is the the battery or the RAM? Maybe Populous has a small amount of added memory to handle the complex stacking isometric titles and AI? A long shot, but it makes sense. If this were the case though wouldn't the SCD sequel suffer? Does it? I've never played it. Or maybe the Super System card devotes a section of its RAM for the same purpose? Wouldn't this be obvious to an expert with an emulator?

Another thing regarding saving: there really isn't anything TO save, not much anyway. You can go to any level in the game just by entering its name so if you waned to continue your progress on your GT/Express you'd only have to write down a single word. Being able to save mid level would be nice, but that would generate a pretty huge save file. It isn't even supported by a system that does save (ie: Duo, Backup Booster). Do the SNES, GB, etc versions have mid level save?

Something else I figured out with this game is that if you hammer on the select button a bunch of times after a reset you'll get a memory manager. Do any other games do this?

Anyway, this is a great game, very relaxing, every PCE and TG16 fan should have it.

[Tatsujin]

according wiki:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:U--Xl7vKc38J:ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/HuCARD+%EF%BD%90%EF%BD%83%E3%82%A8%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B8%E3%83%B3%E3%80%80ROMRAM%E3%80%80%E3%83%9D%E3%83%94%E3%83%A5%E3%83%A9%E3%82%B9&cd=5&hl=ja&ct=clnk

『ポピュラス』もRAM搭載で、PCエンジン本体内ワークRAMのみでの処理が無理だったためとされる。

-> The game populous used additional RAM since the internal RAM of the PCE could not handle the game by it self.


As for your question about the SCD populous, so there was plenty more of RAM available from the super sys 3.0 it could use.

[Digi.k]

really great port with unique intro.  I think it's one of those PCE huey games that spent time with the sound samples.  I was going to get a spare card and melt the molded bits to see what kind of chips lie within

[SignOfZeta]

according wiki:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:U--Xl7vKc38J:ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/HuCARD+%EF%BD%90%EF%BD%83%E3%82%A8%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B8%E3%83%B3%E3%80%80ROMRAM%E3%80%80%E3%83%9D%E3%83%94%E3%83%A5%E3%83%A9%E3%82%B9&cd=5&hl=ja&ct=clnk

『ポピュラス』もRAM搭載で、PCエンジン本体内ワークRAMのみでの処理が無理だったためとされる。

-> The game populous used additional RAM since the internal RAM of the PCE could not handle the game by it self.


As for your question about the SCD populous, so there was plenty more of RAM available from the super sys 3.0 it could use.

Excellent!

[Black Tiger]

I forget the specifics, but I believe that using a little extra ram to handle things was cheaper than the memory it would take to do something(s) another way (pre-calculated code or animation?).

The CD version is actually the same kind of package as Neo Nectaris. "The Promised Lands" is a series of unique and wacky themed worlds. The regular HuCard game can be played separately off the disc.

Don't both versions support the PCE mouse?

[Tatsujin]

i hope they do, but they do not show the mouse-mark on the covers.

btw. in which version is that complete deticated bomberman populous world? which makes the pce verion superior over any other versions.

i never spent much time on this title, nor did I back in my amiga times. but to play that bomberman world would be rad. there are also not much pics of that world/stage or even a longplay available.

[SignOfZeta]

There is no mention of the PCE mouse in the manual. I'm pretty sure it came out several years later since it has the industrial design of the Duo R. When Populous was released (and the SCD ver months later) the original Duo wasn't even out yet. I kind of get the impression they pretty much made the mouse for Tomimeki Memorial but I don't know the date exactly.

It sure would be nice to have a mouse. Not every PC game needs a mouse to be playable (I'm actually better at Sim City 2000 on Saturn with a pad than I am with a mouse) but this one could use it.

One thing that took me a while to realize, and this helps a lot, is that you can get the pointer up on the book for fast scrolling. This should have been done with the II button, but whatever, it was 1989. If you use select to flip back and forth between the map and the action buttons on the right you'll never see your pointer go to the book if you actually click on any action buttons or move around them. Just keep hitting select and nothing else and eventually it will cycle up there.

[Tatsujin]

According this evermore helpful page, lemmings was the first game that came out supporting the PCE mouse in 1992. in fact lemmings was released only one day after the mouse came out of its house.

http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~tetuya/FXHP/pcengine/hard/pcmouse.html

マウス対応第１弾ソフトはマウス発売日の翌日に発売されたパズルアクション「レミングス」（’９２）だった。

Tokimeki memorial was released in 1994.

[TheClash603]

Played the hell out of this game on SNES back when it came out.  I never tried the PCE version because I assumed there would be a language barrier.  Now that I know there isn't, this has been added to my want list.

[turboswimbz]

Played the hell out of this game on SNES back when it came out.  I never tried the PCE version because I assumed there would be a language barrier.  Now that I know there isn't, this has been added to my want list.

I have one for the trades.

[BigusSchmuck]

I could have told you guys that it was in english! I own both the hucard version and the scd version, I honestly can say that they are indeed 100% in english except maybe the spoken parts in the promised lands. There really should be a thread where we have officially relased pce games that are 80-100% english.

[Bardoly]

There really should be a thread where we have officially relased pce games that are 80-100% english.

I second this motion, and I nominate BigusShmuck to start this thread and keep it in good order.

[Black Tiger]

i hope they do, but they do not show the mouse-mark on the covers.

btw. in which version is that complete deticated bomberman populous world? which makes the pce verion superior over any other versions.

i never spent much time on this title, nor did I back in my amiga times. but to play that bomberman world would be rad. there are also not much pics of that world/stage or even a longplay available.

The CD version lets you load the HuCard version or play "The Promised Lands", which is a series of themed worlds (including the Bomberman one) that I'm guessing don't appear in any other version. There are pics of each in the manual.

I loved the Genesis version bitd. The HuCard version looks very similar and has cool unique (for PCE) sounding chip tunes.

[Tatsujin]

so these "Promised Lands" are contained on the huey and SCD version of populous? must give it a try one day then

[vestcoat]

Yeah, PCE Populous is great. No mouse support.

Here's my old list of mouse compatible games: http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=764.msg4586#msg4586
Lemmings and Brandish are the only ones I'd care to try.

so these "Promised Lands" are contained on the huey and SCD version of populous? must give it a try one day then

No, just the CD.