The Sega Mega Drive/Genesis Thread (NEW)!!!

[Ed Oscuro]

harder than Bill Rizer's erection.

Surely not Sunsoft's Batman: Return of the Joker?

[Captain]

I checked. It is "Adventures of Batman and Robin"

[zinger]

Has anyone played Psi-O-Blade for the Japanese Megadrive? I've seen it at stores and looked at some videos. It looks interesting.

It's basically a visual novel, isn't it? I don't know, aesthetically it never caught my attention, so I've never really considered giving it a proper chance.

Speaking of games with battery back-up: I finally feel confident enough about my Japanese to sit down and play Star Cruiser, something like ten years after discovering and purchasing the game, but just noticed my cart's battery is depleted! I have no soldering gear / skills, anyone around here who knows where I can get it replaced? I guess there must be some online shop that offers the service.

[GSK]

Adventures of Batman & Robin isn't that difficult, really, just tedious for all the typical euro reasons. That shmup section in the middle is excruciating, I have to skip it with a cheat code every time I play.

It definitely looks/sounds great, though, I'll give 'em that.

[Ed Oscuro]

Speaking of games with battery back-up: I finally feel confident enough about my Japanese to sit down and play Star Cruiser, something like ten years after discovering and purchasing the game, but just noticed my cart's battery is depleted! I have no soldering gear / skills, anyone around here who knows where I can get it replaced? I guess there must be some online shop that offers the service.

I've been hoping to look into this myself. I fear the batteries are nasty old alkalines of some kind or other. I don't have a tool to get them open yet, but I am gravitating towards this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Silverhill-Tools- ... DWZQWAJCTY

[BrianC]

I know www.collectorscardsandgames.com and www.estarland.com offer battery replacement services for older systems, but I haven't used them. I ordered games from the latter and bought games at conventions from the former and had good experiences with both, though.

[zinger]

Thanks. Actually I figured what the hell and went down and got me a soldering pen today. The soldering procedure itself was a bit of an adventure for me -- it took quite a bit of precision -- but I finally managed to sucessfully replace the battery. The only battery holder my local store had was a little bit too big though, so now the PCB won't fit in the cartridge. I'll just have to play it with the board exposed I guess, which looks cool in a way, but I'll make sure to find better parts next time. The screws on this cart (MD JP) were standard cross slotted ones by the way, but maybe those for Genesis are different?

[null1024]

I like how there's lots of interesting little mechanical quirks to spot, just like the team's earlier Granada. I had no idea the Ranza will automatically kick any midsized enemy right in the face until a similar playaround session! I knew I was bumping into them, but noticing the dedicated kick animation and realising it's a legit means of attack cracked me up. So cool! You can also slam into them with the bike for the same stun effect.

woah
That's so cool.

also, regarding the rest of your post, I really do need to play MD Mercs at some point

[BIL]

MD Mercs Original Mode is one of the best console exclusive goodies ever. The combination of treasure hunting (surprising amount of off-screen nooks and destructible barriers) and relentless danger (suicide bombing popcorn everywhere) is remarkably addictive. Difficulty is arcade spec too - it's actually worth clearing Normal first before tangling with Hard, which loves its heavy armour blockades + suicide popcorn backshot combos and expects you to bomb aggressively.

Only criticism I have is the character balance seems weak. Rifle's spread and speed can handle most of the game, with the occasional Burner and Launcher backup. I ended up relegating Laser and Homing to BOMBA pack-mules. I've not experimented enough with the heavier hitters to be sure, though, and I definitely had to juke and jive more than was healthy at the biggest of the game's roadblocks (four tanks onscreen in the desert stage, wheee!). And buffed-up Rifle is fun as hell to use anyway.

You could also say it's a little too easy to just run past bigger stationary targets, and they should've tied big payday prizes to destroying said bruisers, but that's simply a test of character. I leave no tank or WMD truck standing! BOMBA MOTHERFUCKER

[Captain]

I daresay Laser is very useful, and I prefer him to launcher.

But yea rifle/burner can take on the world alone.

[Ed Oscuro]

I daresay Laser is very useful, and I prefer him to launcher.

Her name is Lucy. Lucy Ruby Tube...

[BIL]

Further to Ex-Up vehicular assault and battery I present the inaugural volume of FUTURE CRIMEZ a handy guide in four frames.

[IrishNinja]

Adventures of Batman & Robin isn't that difficult, really, just tedious for all the typical euro reasons. That shmup section in the middle is excruciating, I have to skip it with a cheat code every time I play.

It definitely looks/sounds great, though, I'll give 'em that.

I keep hearing this, but ive yet to see Level 2.

[Captain]

Ranger X punting.

Btw did you know that when you fuse with the Ex-up you can hold down to make it charge (barely visible animation) and release to do an actual jump?

you can fly away from this jump too.

+when crouching, pressing left or right moves the ex-up.

[BIL]

Yes and yes. Crouching DB/DF is also the only way to independently move around Ex-Up with a 3 button controller. TLDR: play with six buttons for optimal committing of future crimez, plus backwards weapon switch makes it easier getting stuff out of the trunk when you're packing a real arsenal by the last stage!

Did any of you chaps notice the

Spoiler

scandalous shower scene

somewhat hidden in the skyscraper level, btw?

[BrianC]

Thanks for the info. I was wondering how to jump with EX-Up.

[BIL]

Just in two minutes with the first stage, I'd forgotten how if you destroy a guided missile launcher, any of its projectiles remaining airborne will individually careen out of control and crash to earth... also, the stage 1 targets' solitary "eye" that eerily tracks Ranza while it's nearby, and how EX-UP visibly transforms while combined with Ranza. So many cool touches. Like each of Ranza's weapons having its own sprite, enhancing the sense of controlling an impossibly sophisticated machine and its mobile armoury. Hammerspace has a firm place in action games but a briefcase stocked with lethal weaponry is infinitely cooler.

It's tempting to think what a Saturn sequel might've been, but it handles itself so well within MD confines I quickly forget about that. Part of its craft. I find the same with stuff like Omega Boost and Silent Bomber on PS1, and even works that did get subsequent-gen sequels like the original Silent Hill.

[WedgeAntilles]

Not sure if it has been mentioned but Light Crusader is a great dungeon puzzle game. You also can't go wrong with Herzog Zwei. James Bond is also a great platformer.

[null1024]

It's tempting to think what a Saturn sequel might've been, but it handles itself so well within MD confines I quickly forget about that. Part of its craft. I find the same with stuff like Omega Boost and Silent Bomber on PS1, and even works that did get subsequent-gen sequels like the original Silent Hill.

I still consider Bulk Slash to be the unofficial sequel to Ranger-X.
But yeah, a similar 2D game on the Saturn would have been pretty boss to see.

[Captain]

Not sure if it has been mentioned but Light Crusader is a great dungeon puzzle game. You also can't go wrong with Herzog Zwei. James Bond is also a great platformer.

One has to wonder why treasure was so obsessed with elements with their sega games.

[EmperorIng]

Because it's a simple way to make different enemies/locations/weapons?

[BIL]

I wish Silhouette Mirage, aka The Real Mugging Simulator ("Gimme your money! Gimme all your fuckin' money!" I imagine Shyna squealing while beating down chumps 4 they coins) had been on MD instead of Saturn. The elemental mechanics can be very fun to exploit in boss battles and faster-paced sequences, but overall it's nowhere as tightly paced as fellow weird, characterful non-run and gun Treasure sidescroller Dynamite Headdy.

[Captain]

Is it wrong if I think heady is more fun than gunstar?

[BIL]

Yes. (・｀ω´・) Naw Headdy pwns. I like all three (including Alien Soldier) though. So much I got the MD carts even though PS2 Treasure Box is great.

I've considered Light Crusader (enjoyed it as a kid) but replaying recently I was perturbed by the main guy's idle animation which has him constantly panting in rage like he's just returned from the crusades to find his lady wife and the gardener in the middle of a right good shag.

[Captain]

just .

I know what will cheer you up!

Spoiler

Keep killing those weak enemies in the first level for the best armor in the game!

Speaking of which, a very rare and AWESOME game for the genesis is Hybrid Front.

Its a bit like SRW but realistic/futuristic, incredible music, very polished system.

BUT ITS ALL IN FAPANESE ( i still learned it by heart)

[BIL]

Thought that sounded familiar, I remember the boss as hell boxart.



Jun Suemi's done a lot of great covers.

[Captain]

Think anyone is ever gonna translate it?

[BIL]

\(o_o)/ no idea about the current translation scene TBH, last project I really followed was Ys V on the SFC.

[BrianC]

Yes. (・｀ω´・) Naw Headdy pwns. I like all three (including Alien Soldier) though. So much I got the MD carts even though PS2 Treasure Box is great.

I have all three on cart too (even though I also have Gunstar on Wii VC), though I'm trying to decide whether or not to get the JP version of Headdy due to the JP/US differences. I also find it interesting that the US versions of both Dynamite Headdy and Contra Hard Corps play in JP mode, though they have no alternate versions on cart.

[EmperorIng]

Headdy is, like most Treasure games, a little overstuffed with silly ideas, but still fun nonetheless.

The Japanese version is much easier than the US version in that it hands out credits like candy. It also has some dialog scenes that are certainly oh-so important for understanding Dynamite Headdy's compelling and intricate lore. Getting credits is a pain in the ass in the US version, but at the least the game is short and one or two credits is about all you need for a normal playthrough.

I wish Silhouette Mirage, aka The Real Mugging Simulator

Silhouette Mirage* needed more levels inbetween the boss fights!

*switch out with any Treasure game [sans Light Crusader] for a true statement!