blackoak wrote:Not to derail the thread, but are there any other 8/16/32bit games you feel come close to NG?
Oh no, don't worry about derailing - I only made this topic to avoid breaking up Skykid's Makaimura thread, it'll work fine as a general hardcore sidescrolling action topic.
There are a lot of melee-centric sidescrollers I've played that I'd say are comparable in quality to NG, but so far none have matched its particularly explosive feel - the collision, animation and sound effects are a perfect storm of visceral satisfaction, the level designs are fastidiously absent of dead time, and the brisk scrolling speed is pitch-perfect. Most of my other favourites tend to be slower or more complex in some way that adds depth but takes away from the simple pleasure of hurtling through perilous environments cutting down all in your path. Even NGII and NGIII, though excellent, don't quite have that purity for me.
Off the top of my head, here's a few picks I think are worth bringing up in NG discussion:
Vampire Killer (MD) faster, leaner take on traditional Dracula with quicker pacing, meaty combat and beefed-up subweapons. So basically it's closer to NG than its own series. It gives me a similar feeling to the FC NGs, fast pacing, fun weapons, great presentation - another big favourite of mine.
Batman (FC) great walljump mechanic, level designs that'll demand you master it, rocking soundtrack and brilliantly grimy art direction - one of those emphatic exceptions to the "licensed games suck" rule. Quality Japanese hardcore.
Holy Diver (FC) Irem's punishing Dracula-style action platformer starring a projectile-wielding player character. Plays like Sypha from Castlevania III got her own game, quality and very tough stages to battle through. edit feb 2016: though it's sadly beset with some
nasty technical flaws...
Shatterhand aka Solbrain, Dragon Fighter & Kage aka Shadow of the Ninja (FC) Natsume sidescrollers on the FC are always worth trying for their fundamentally rock-solid and attractively presented action.
Saigo no Nindo aka Ninja Spirit (AC/PCE) deliberately floaty yet mortally intense action with a range of great weapons, relentless danger and progressively more brutal Irem memoriser design. Harrowing yet a blast to play.
Hagane (SFC) ultra-maneuverable ninja sidescroller, seriously quality game on par with the MD's Super Shinobis - the main character is simply a joy to move around.
Awesome cyber-feudal art direction by Keita Amemiya, punchy sound+explosion effects and levels that nail a balance of theatrics and quality design.
Strider 2 (AC/PS1) technically dog-eared with unappealing polygonal backdrops, but the hyper-responsive controls, fast-moving ninja action and some incredible setpieces make this a strong favourite of mine. Hiryuu's moveset is a streamlined yet emphatic leap beyond the original game's. At times it's like the controls are wired to my brain, diving and sliding about shredding all in sight. The aerial shredding command barrage is NG1 jump slash-satisying. The "hyper mode" sucks but IIRC you lose ranks for using it - at any rate I never bother with it anyway, it's never needed.
Shinrei Jusatsushi Taromaru (SS) infamously rare and expensive, and also
really goddamn good sidescroller in Treasure bossrush style with a unique, gratifyingly explosive attack method. You're encouraged to dance around enemies evading their attacks readying your charge shot, then unleash it in a chain-lightning cataclysm of explosively rupturing bodies. Think "Scanner Ninja." I own this game without remorse or regret.
Playing badly (ignoring the charge + chain shot mechanic) results in
this misguided impression - rest assured this game is the furthest thing from unbalanced (enemies deliberately wind up before attacking, and you have a free shield that can block
anything and will shove away baddies to boot). Pay your dues with evasive action while charging and you'll rip enemies apart by the screenload.
Edmond Dantes wrote:Mind explaining exactly how I'm playing terribly? Considering I managed to get through Acts 1-5 without dying (I think I might've died once in Act 5) I have to consider this pretty good.
Your accuracy and timing need work. You're basically off by the same split-second or few pixels every time - that's all. I can't change that, only point it out and assure you I wouldn't lie about it being fixable with a little refinement.
edit: hang on...
Edmond Dantes wrote:Mind explaining exactly how I'm playing terribly?
I did! Read the post! :O