Wolf Fang -- Help! D:

[bchan009]

I've scoured the internet (and this forum) for info on Wolf Fang by Data East.

There's varying info on the ports of this game and I'm trying to figure out which is the best.

- People say the Saturn version has slowdown (though I didn't notice any on my copy)
- Someone said there are less animation frames in the PSX version
- One site says that the Saturn version has an extra level

Which of these is true? Is it worth turning in my copy of Wolf Fang SS for a PS1 version? D:

Thanks for helping me out!

[Skykid]

I'm amazed you scoured the internet and this forum and didn't find the eight year old Wolf Fang thread that has all the information you need - on this forum.

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10234

Thanks for signing up. Need to improve your scouring skills.

[brentsg]

And again I think of Skull Fang..

[bchan009]

I'm amazed you scoured the internet and this forum and didn't find the eight year old Wolf Fang thread that has all the information you need - on this forum.

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10234

Thanks for signing up. Need to improve your scouring skills.

I've actually read that thread multiple times -- but there's no mention of any extra levels on the Saturn version, and I was hoping to find out where exactly the slowdown occurs, since I beat the game and nothing seemed to slow down for me.

I even started reading the japanese fan site linked in that thread, only to find a paragraph where the page author says they only care about the arcade version... -_-

Here's the site that mentions the extra level:

http://www.arcade-gear.com/Games/Wolf_F ... f_Fang.htm

[Skykid]

I didn't know the Saturn version had an extra stage.

That thread is clear enough. You may not have noticed, doesn't mean the slowdown isn't there. The PSX is the superior port.

[EmperorIng]

As far as can be told, the ports are identical in content. Same levels, same choice of original or arranged music, boss rush, etc. I never noticed slowdown on the SS port, but I wasn't looking for it.

If you are really interested, the PS port is available on PSN.

[Strider77]

There is no slowdown in the Saturn port that I've seen either.

[bchan009]

Alright -- so I decided to do some hands-on testing myself. Played the first two levels over and over again on both Saturn and PS1. I'm a pro at it now. ;D

- PS1 has smoother opening FMV, Saturn version shows standard Saturn compression and doesn't take up full screen
- PS1 uses CG renders for the two mechs on the title screen. Saturn version uses sprites like in the arcade version
- PS1 has a different set of portraits for the two NPCs who give mission briefings. Saturn uses arcade version
- When the level 2 boss explodes, the explosions show on the wrong layer in the Saturn version. They should be shown behind the road, but instead show up on top of the road.

Too lazy to do my own capture. Using youtube pics to show differences -- don't know how I missed these before when watching the vids.


PS1 title screen


Arcade title screen (Saturn is the same as this)


PS1 portrait


Arcade/Saturn portrait


Boss death from PS1 version. In the Saturn version these explosions appear on the foremost/front layer instead of the back like in the picture.

[LEGENOARYNINLIA]

Here's the site that mentions the extra level:

http://www.arcade-gear.com/Games/Wolf_F ... f_Fang.htm

E-mail them and ask where did they get this information from?

I'm 99% sure that this is the same business: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/GAME-ST if you're having trouble contacting them through the Arcade-Gear / Jap-Sai site.

[Skykid]

Here's the site that mentions the extra level:

http://www.arcade-gear.com/Games/Wolf_F ... f_Fang.htm

E-mail them and ask where did they get this information from?

I'm 99% sure that this is the same business: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/GAME-ST if you're having trouble contacting them through the Arcade-Gear / Jap-Sai site.

I'll email him, he's an old friend of mine and I have a personal line to him. It's probably just a factual error. If he has no source I'll just tell him to fix it.

AFAIK that's not his Ebay store.

This thread isn't without value (although really should be combined with the original) because I never realised the two ports have different title screens. Seriously, I wouldn't buy PSX just because of that pre-rendered puke.

[bchan009]

Seriously, I wouldn't buy PSX just because of that pre-rendered puke.

Those PS1 character portraits are pretty nifty though!

[Skykid]

Seriously, I wouldn't buy PSX just because of that pre-rendered puke.

Those PS1 character portraits are pretty nifty though!

Agreed but I'm still not sure if it's a valid trade off.

Email sent. Will let you know when I get a reply.

[BIL]

The rendered title screen and altered character portraits are for the PS1 version's "PlayStation mode" only. Switch it back to arcade mode and you get the AC ones. PS mode also adds the ability to double jump (the Jump leg type gets an air dash). Also, regardless of which mode you're playing, this port adds a Lock button to fix your aim upwards even while crouching (on PCB you can't do this).







As far as missing frames, there's one example I can think of. The treads on the gigantic tank you board in the desert stage for its boss battle don't animate on PS1. Also, the resolution change chops off a thin strip at the bottom of the display.

That's all that comes to mind though, it seemed very close to MAME when I was comparing the two before purchasing. It even has the AC's hidden Special Mode that forces you to play all stages, rather than your selection of them (hold shot + subweapon while pressing start at the title screen).

[bchan009]

The plot thickens!


The PS1 version has two modes: Arcade and Playstation. Enabling Playstation mode gives you a new title screen, redrawn character portraits, and redrawn ending cutscenes.

The Saturn version also has two modes: Arcade and Saturn. Enabling Saturn mode doesn't give you any new graphics.

BUT

The Saturn version has two ADDITIONAL modes -- Arcade Boss and Saturn Boss. These are boss rush modes that don't seem to be present at all in the PS1 version.

The Saturn version also adds narration to mission title screens. The PS1 version has silent mission titles, regardless of whether you've turned on voices or not.


Some other notes pertaining to both versions:

- The lock-on button is available in all modes
- Arranged OSTs can be turned on and off for any mode (you can play arcade mode with arranged BGM for example)
- Voices can be turned on and off for any mode (you can play arcade mode with voices for example)
- Now that I've played both versions a lot, I still can't find the slowdown people were talking about.
- The tank treads in the desert stage don't animate on either version.

Voices are kinda wonky on Saturn. Sometimes the game wants to load the next voice clip before the text for the last clip is even finished displaying. No idea why this happens -- not sure if it's my Saturn being weird or not...

[BIL]

Does Saturn mode enable double jumping like in the PS1 version's PlayStation mode?

Good to see some in-depth comparison going on, there's a lack of it for these two ports.

[bchan009]

Does Saturn mode enable double jumping like in the PS1 version's PlayStation mode?

Yes, the air dash when equipping the hover legs is present on Saturn.

[BIL]

I guess the other leg types get double jumps too then. In PlayStation mode, the 2 Legs and 6 Wheels types can double jump, and 4 Legs (the other "High" jump rated type) can hover.

[Skykid]

Is the redrawn PSX ending pre-rendered or pixel art?

Also I got a reply: says a colleague handles all the game info blurbs and he's not sure about the accuracy. May take a few days for an inquiry, but for me I don't think I never heard of an additional psx stage. We can probably work this out ourselves.

[bchan009]

I guess the other leg types get double jumps too then. In PlayStation mode, the 2 Legs and 6 Wheels types can double jump, and 4 Legs (the other "High" jump rated type) can hover.

Yeah, all of these features are present in the Saturn version.

Is the redrawn PSX ending pre-rendered or pixel art?

Redrawn PSX endings are pixel art, just like the redrawn character portraits.


I just beat Saturn Boss mode -- there's an extra boss at the end that doesn't appear anywhere in story mode (or on PS1, since PS1 doesn't have a boss mode).

Not only that, but I ran into a bunch of bosses that I haven't seen before -- it looks like there are quite a few level combinations that I have yet to explore. There's more content to this game than I thought! D:

[Captain]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyNcDk2LypE

Gley Fang anyone?

[GaijinPunch]

Go to the gamengai forums and as Macaw.

[Damocles]

Can someone tell me how to not suck at this game? I've played it a few times in Mame over the years so I downloaded it on my PSP last night. I get destroyed by stage 3.

[bchan009]

This game is actually a piece of cake if you're patient.

Unlike a lot of shmups, where you have to constantly move, the key is to NOT move unless you have to.

If on defense, I like to hang back somewhere near the lower left corner, and only jump/duck/move out of the way when I absolutely have to. Your mech is clunky and huge, so dodging between bullets is near impossible. This is good for bosses.

If on offense, I hang out mid-screen/lower right, and try to preemptively blow up everything. The fact that your default gun is a spread shot really helps here. This is good for most normal enemies, which have very little life.

Clear away as many enemies as possible ASAP. If you're in a tight spot, hang back and try to find an opening. If you get cornered you're screwed.


If your mech gets blown up dodging gets infinitely easier because you're tiny as a person...but your offensive power sucks.

I can make it through levels mostly untouched. Certain bosses are unfair though -- like the desert tank.

[Damocles]

Interesting. I'll give it another go tonight. Any thoughts on sub-weapons or mech pieces?

[bchan009]

I like to use the default preset no. 1. I find speed/jump height are more valuable, and almost never bother with hover/airdash.

Laser power-up is great for bosses, and I use the electricity subweapon because it eats bullets just like a standard shmup bomb.