SEGA + PCE

[seieienbu]

Likewise, the lack of close range attack in the PCE port of Shinobi kills it for me. It's a big part of formulating strategy in  the arcade, plus its inherent cool factor.

I forgot about the lack of power ups. Into the trash bin it goes!

Yeah, that kinda makes it sound like shit, and if it's the best contemporary port I'd say they must all suck.

Honestly, that's a reasonable statement.  None of the ports remained 100% true to the arcade game even when discounting graphics.  I'd actually forgotten that there was only shuriken attacks and no close range/powerups and booted up the game to test it.  I still think it's an enjoyable game and worth playing but it (like all versions from back when) is very much a toned down port of the arcade version gameplay-wise.

[Digi.k]

Good Sega conversions for PC Engine:
Altered Beast

is that really considered good?  I really like the setting and the graphics but the control system NEC Avenue did for this just sucks sooo hard... >__<



You might also want to look into this unofficial release.

[Black Tiger]

What's wrong with the control system? Have you played the HuCard version using Tom's jump button hack? The two PCE versions don't have the same difficulty either way.

Altered Beast is a good conversion because of how well the conversion is. It's hard to believe how much animation they dedicated space to, most of the detail is intact and the sound is solid. The color makes the Genesis version look 8-bit by contrast. It is much more faithful by not tacking on parallax.

However good these games are is independent of how good they ate as ports by the standards at the time.

[Digi.k]

What's wrong with the control system? Have you played the HuCard version using Tom's jump button hack? The two PCE versions don't have the same difficulty either way.

I guess I just suck at the game but is there a link to the hack'd version?  I wan't to test it out later on.

[esteban]

 

[drewbrim]

I'd give Gain Ground SX a shot if you're into Sega ports, love this game.  It's been decades since I've played the Genesis version so I can really compare.  But the scd retained a lot of the arcade feel for me.

[esteban]

I'd give Gain Ground SX a shot if you're into Sega ports, love this game.  It's been decades since I've played the Genesis version so I can really compare.  But the scd retained a lot of the arcade feel for me.

It's totally fun (SX, that is)

And the Red Book is awesome.

[SavagePencil]

I'd give Gain Ground SX a shot if you're into Sega ports, love this game.  It's been decades since I've played the Genesis version so I can really compare.  But the scd retained a lot of the arcade feel for me.

Seconding this.  The SMS version is also very, very good and supports co-op, but the PC-E version is easily the best.

[EmperorIng]

I disagree, if only because you can see the entire stage in the MD/GEN verison, whereas the PCE version has an excessively zoomed-in playing field. It's harder to formulate a strategy if you can't see the entire enemy layout, or can't see when enemies suddenly rush towards you for crossing their line of sight (this is important to the arcade version). Additionally, while it's difficult to properly quantify this, the PCE ver. definitely feels slower and easier, chugging along with an onslaught of arrows or projectiles.

The Genesis port has smaller sprites but everything moves much quicker, the enemies are more aggressive, and the game retains a full screen - and has the badass ultimate mode (or w/e it's called) that gives you all 20 characters at once.

I think the PCE port is an interesting and decent adaptation of the game, but the Genesis version wins out for playability.

[broonage]

Some recent pickups.

[esteban]

Some recent pickups.

Tell me about that sticker on Afterburner... was that a UK rental/retail back in the day?

It actually looks decent, if it was from the 90's, since stores  rarely cared about aesthetics when labeling items. They usually took a much more utilitarian approach.

[broonage]

Some recent pickups.

Tell me about that sticker on Afterburner... was that a UK rental/retail back in the day?

It actually looks decent, if it was from the 90's, since stores  rarely cared about aesthetics when labeling items. They usually took a much more utilitarian approach.

It is from France. It even includes a typed out guide in French explaining the game etc.

[broonage]

Picked up Altered Beast and Golden Axe.

Golden Axe really is a shambles isn't it?
[ul][li]The loading when baddies come on screen[/li][li]Slowdown when 2 or 3 baddies on screen[/li][li]Shoddy sound effects[/li][li]The terrible sprites for the swordsman!![/li][li]Continue means start from the beginning of the level[/li][/ul]
To be fair, the music is great and the animations are nice.

Another thing, Altered Beast when I played it last night I would get my 3rd powerup to transform into a wolf and then I'm stuck, I can't go forward nor back!!?

[esteban]

Another thing, Altered Beast when I played it last night I would get my 3rd powerup to transform into a wolf and then I'm stuck, I can't go forward nor back!!?

Use System Card 1.0.

Or, beat the game without transforming into a beast.

[broonage]

Another thing, Altered Beast when I played it last night I would get my 3rd powerup to transform into a wolf and then I'm stuck, I can't go forward nor back!!?

Use System Card 1.0.

Or, beat the game without transforming into a beast.

Noooooooobiiiieeeee Aleeerrrtttt!

Why do I need the SC1.0 if I have a DuoR?