Air Zonk and Super Air Zonk Retrospective

[iretrogamer]

Hello TURBO fans! My name is Tyler and I run a YT channel and website called iretrogamer.com (formerly Sega Channel).

I know this is my first post here, but I'd really love to share with you the Air Zonk / Super Air Zonk retrospective we released recently. It's the first episode of our rebranded "VH1" style documentary show Game Scan TV. Previously we were an all SEGA channel but we've recently rebranded so we can talk about all the retro games we love, including the TurboGrafx-16.

Here's a link to the video:

I hope you guys enjoy the retrospective. Feedback is greatly appreciated. Air Zonk is absolutely one of my most favorite shooters. I actually have quite a fondness for Super Air Zonk as well.

I'm looking forward to being apart of this community here. So many awesome memories with my TG16 and Duo. Thanks guys!

[DragonmasterDan]

Hello TURBO fans! My name is Tyler and I run a YT channel and website called iretrogamer.com (formerly Sega Channel).

I know this is my first post here, but I'd really love to share with you the Air Zonk / Super Air Zonk retrospective we released recently. It's the first episode of our rebranded "VH1" style documentary show Game Scan TV. Previously we were an all SEGA channel but we've recently rebranded so we can talk about all the retro games we love, including the TurboGrafx-16.

Here's a link to the video:

I hope you guys enjoy the retrospective. Feedback is greatly appreciated. Air Zonk is absolutely one of my most favorite shooters. I actually have quite a fondness for Super Air Zonk as well.

I'm looking forward to being apart of this community here. So many awesome memories with my TG16 and Duo. Thanks guys!

So right away you mention the game was released in December of 1992. I'm pretty sure it was released in October or November. In fact I believe it was a rare instance where a Japanese developed game on the platform was released in the US first.

You also mention that Super Air Zonk is a TurboGrafx CD game. While this might seem like an insignificant difference  it's actually SUPER CD game. It requires a 3.0 card or Turbo Duo (or Laseractive PAC) to play it on real hardware. However, on Wii virtual console or whatever emulator you used to capture all of your video this probably doesn't seem significant to you.

As far as overall notes on your video goes.
Your production values are good. Your video is visually appealing.
However, the audio levels of your speech combined with the background audio probably need to be adjusted a bit as your voice doesn't stand out enough over the music.

I'm not so sure commenting on the value of Super Air Zonk added anything valuable to the video besides to let people know if they're looking to buy a US copy they're likely going to pay out the ass for it.

[Otaking]

I enjoyed the video, I mentioned it here in another thread.
http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=1350.5025

[esteban]

I enjoyed the video

[Necromancer]

Not horrible, but the zooming in on small parts of the screen and rotating stuff for no reason is quite annoying, I could do without the collectardyness, and I'm not sure you know what "ill fated" means.  I also disagree with the notion that Zonk was developed to help a struggling system, as it was a PCE game first and foremost; you could argue that TTi chose to bring him over and use him in marketing materials for that purpose, but his creation has little to do with what TTi wanted.

P.S. - Please don't use stock photos of the system with the damn protective plastic still on it.

[esteban]

Protective film!

Also, it goes without saying that I would nix the segment about the value of the game.

Three of us, so far, feel that mentioning the value of the game adds little, if anything.

Unlike Necro, I like that you zoomed in to different items on the screen.

Making connections between "Bonk" as a platformer, and "Zonk" as a shootemup was one of the most creative aspects of your video. I liked that.

Pointing out regional differences was nice, too.

Overall, this video succeeds because I feel that you have actually played these games and are speaking honestly.

I bash Super Air Zonk, but I love reading/watching folks who defend it because I am slowly warming up to it. The simple fact is that I was disappointed by it many, many years ago and it's taken me a long time to forgive and start the healing process.

 

[lukester]

Air Zonk is one of the elite HuCards. It's in a league of it's own, and proves the Turbografx was 16-bit.

I wish I could say the same about the sequel.

[DragonmasterDan]

I bash Super Air Zonk, but I love reading/watching folks who defend it because I am slowly warming up to it. The simple fact is that I was disappointed by it many, many years ago and it's taken me a long time to forgive and start the healing process.

I first played it on virtual console maybe 7 or 8 years ago and was flabbergasted at how much slower paced of a game it was than the first game. I had convinced my self that the game was as bad of a shame on its franchse as Chrono Cross was to Chrono Trigger, that Lunar: Dragon Song was to the Lunar series, or what Rainbow Cotton was to the Cotton series.

Eventually though, I got a copy for a fair price and... after having more time to sit and play it.. I like it. It's nowhere near as good as the first game, but it's an excellent title and a well above average shooter. There's a decent amount of variety to the levels. The graphics are good, the music is pleasant (I still prefer the music in the first game). It's far more lazy in terms of design, this isn't a bad game at all.

[technozombie]

I bash Super Air Zonk, but I love reading/watching folks who defend it because I am slowly warming up to it. The simple fact is that I was disappointed by it many, many years ago and it's taken me a long time to forgive and start the healing process.

I first played it on virtual console maybe 7 or 8 years ago and was flabbergasted at how much slower paced of a game it was than the first game. I had convinced my self that the game was as bad of a shame on its franchse as Chrono Cross was to Chrono Trigger, that Lunar: Dragon Song was to the Lunar series, or what Rainbow Cotton was to the Cotton series.

Eventually though, I got a copy for a fair price and... after having more time to sit and play it.. I like it. It's nowhere near as good as the first game, but it's an excellent title and a well above average shooter. There's a decent amount of variety to the levels. The graphics are good, the music is pleasant (I still prefer the music in the first game). It's far more lazy in terms of design, this isn't a bad game at all.

Sorry to go off topic here but Chrono Cross was awesome. And, Technozombie out........

[esteban]

ChronoCross can suck my left one.



Just kidding. I never played ChronoCross.

[ParanoiaDragon]

Chrono Cross was cool, but, it's no Trigger!  Lunar Dragon Song, I still have yet to beat that game.  That game was why I bought a DS in the first place!

As far as the release date of Air Zonk, I too feel like it was October or November.  I have a pretty vivid memory of getting my haircut right after picking it up at Babbage's on day 1 of it's release.  For some reason, December doesn't sound right.

[Mzo]

I really liked the video!  Dude's shirt is loud as f*ck.

[DragonmasterDan]

As far as the release date of Air Zonk, I too feel like it was October or November.  I have a pretty vivid memory of getting my haircut right after picking it up at Babbage's on day 1 of it's release.  For some reason, December doesn't sound right.

I believe the TurboDuo launched in the US the first week of October 1992, Air Zonk was released a week or two later.

[iretrogamer]

So right away you mention the game was released in December of 1992. I'm pretty sure it was released in October or November. In fact I believe it was a rare instance where a Japanese developed game on the platform was released in the US first.

Honestly I went to wikipedia for this one and just rolled with it.

You also mention that Super Air Zonk is a TurboGrafx CD game. While this might seem like an insignificant difference  it's actually SUPER CD game. It requires a 3.0 card or Turbo Duo (or Laseractive PAC) to play it on real hardware. However, on Wii virtual console or whatever emulator you used to capture all of your video this probably doesn't seem significant to you.

Actually, I've owned a TurboDuo and this game since 1994. I thought about pointing out the fact that it is a SUPER CD title but didn't want to have to explain what a SUPER CD game is in every episode featuring one. Thus why I just called it a Turbo CD game, which it still technically is.

As far as overall notes on your video goes.
Your production values are good. Your video is visually appealing.
However, the audio levels of your speech combined with the background audio probably need to be adjusted a bit as your voice doesn't stand out enough over the music.

I hear you. Perhaps it's different on certain playback devices, but I equalize and check the levels on all of my videos (making sure it's not peaking, voiceover, music etc.) I think it sounds fine. I'll think about raising the voiceover levels in the next one. Thanks.

I'm not so sure commenting on the value of Super Air Zonk added anything valuable to the video besides to let people know if they're looking to buy a US copy they're likely going to pay out the ass for it.

I like it when people mention the value. You have to place yourself in the shoes of an uninformed viewer. If this was my first time discovering the game, I'd definitely want to know if it was something I should actively consider collecting or one that I'll probably never end up owning due to the rarity. I only plan on mentioning value when it warrants a mention (IE Little Samson NES, Halloween Atari 2600)

Thanks so much for your feedback!

And thanks to the others who also left supportive words and constructive criticism. Much appreciated!

[Black Tiger]

If someone needs an explantion on what a Super CD is, then they have no reason to be told a percieved value of a game and have no business "collecting" Turbo stuff. Choosing not to inform viewers how to actually run games, yet focusing on perceived collector pricing is strictly catering to collectards and turns the game content portion of a video into Collectibles Roadshow-style collector value ("here's some features that make this attractive to fellow collectors!") supplimentory for casual players, instead of showcasing why a game is enjoyable.

Even if money sinking is more important than game format, it's all the more reason to mention the Super CD aspect and get collectards Super excited at the prospect of hunting down/"chasing" the elusive System 3 Card and getting to pay a perceived collector value for that. The bragging rights of getting to do a haul video and/or post featuring the one-two punch of Super CD Card CIC + Super Air Zonk CIC score will keep them coming back indefinitely to be told what hot items to buy and how much to pay.