Where does Phalanx sit on the SFC/SNES shmups hall of fame?

[neorichieb1971]

And apart from strange artwork choices are there any differences regionally?

I love the white box SFC artwork.

[chum]

what snes hall of fame?

[Xyga]

It's average 16bit pulp. A watered-down port of the x68k original. Don't pay too much for it.

Not aware of any regional differences (there could be though, just nobody cared to compare)

[MathU]

Top tier, and it's frankly an improved version of the X68000 original. The graphics may be worse, but there are some slight gameplay improvements and I have always found the SNES music much more enjoyable. The best thing is the addition of Funny mode, a frantic bullet hell mode where everything explodes into more bullets. Phalanx has little slowdown compared to most other SNES shooters with lots of things on-screen and I think this makes it a rather unique experience.

My only issue with the game has always been that somewhat poorly-designed giant battleship stage. If you die and lose your power-ups there, it can basically be game over because one of the minibosses expects you to destroy it before it destroys you and it has way too much health.

I often find myself coming back to Phalanx more than other SNES shooters simply because it has such a catchy soundtrack.

[Xyga]

Bullshit. The x68k midi soundtrack and sound effects utterly destroys the SNES's.

Even if it's got gameplay tweaks and a harder mode for it, it's a fact that this port looks and sounds worse period.

And definitely not worth the 150~400 bucks it goes for on ePigs.

[Squire Grooktook]

Xyga I love you bro, but I'm listening to both osts right now (never played the game) and I think the SNES version is a totally valid alternative, maybe even slightly more catchy. SNES version of "Charge" in particular is great IMO.

[Xyga]

Let's say it's a matter of taste then, to my ears (and definitely not just mine) the x68k's original midi soundtrack is superior.

[BIL]

Whichever region or format, you're gonna get some great boxart!

youthful space adventures in the HMS Dildo Verde.

[Blinge]

And a long boring as hell game..

.. I might clear it.

[BIL]

IMO the poor bullet visibility gave me cataracts and now I can't see shit. >:[

[Obiwanshinobi]

For what it's worth, I enjoyed the GBA iteration played on a GBA SP (can't remember paying much for a loose cart, too).

[GSK]

Putting aside the fact that the "bullets" more closely resemble Martian dust particles, Funny Phalanx has to feature the most bullet density of any SFC game, right?

[neorichieb1971]

So its long, expensive and boring then, but you might hum along to the SNES soundtrack.

[MintyTheCat]

It is fairly standard and average I feel. I own it myself but unless it is affordable I would not try too hard to get it.

[Doctor Butler]

S-Tier Boxart, that's for sure.

[Despatche]

I'll just never understand how weird games like Phalanx can be called standard or average in any way. Weird weapon system, weird graphics and kinda weird level design, Funny difficulty, etc... it's like calling Gigandes a straight R-Type clone or something. Not quite as balls-to-the-wall as Axelay or Scrambled Valkyrie, but still pretty crazy itself.

[rpgposer]

I remember playing this right after it was released. Weird, enjoyable, fun music, long and boring at times. Tiny bullets, tiny enemy ships, and fast unseeable death.

[SuperDeadite]

Minimal experience with the SFC version. But once a month or so I tend to put on the X68K original to see if it might magically get fun, but it never really does. It is very much a "console shooter" as opposed to a proper "arcade shooter." Honestly the only reason I try to give it a chance is because I adore the MT-32 timpani drums, which the boss music blares, that is really the best thing it's got going for it.

[pegboy]

It's a really bizarre game, with some strange weapons and lots of still as of yet undocumented secret areas (I've discovered a few and am still unsure how I did it). Played on the normal difficulty (it actually defaults to easy, so you need to bump it up) it is quite a long and tedious game at an hour in length.

When played on Funny difficulty it become some sort of strange proto-bullet hell, or at least the closest thing to a bullet hell you are going to get on the SNES. It's also quite challenging on funny, definitely in the upper tier of the system difficulty wise among the ranks of Strike Gunner STG and Super R-Type on the hardest settings.

[Austin]

I don't have a ton of fun with the game, personally. It sits somewhere in the middle of the SNES shmup library for me overall.

[bikingjahuty]

It has a good soundtrack, but I hated it otherwise.

[Plasmo]

S-Tier Boxart, that's for sure.

I wonder what that S could stand for though.

[BIL]

Schlong, in the SFC box's case. That's the mightiest cockhead seen on any ship outside of Irem canon.

[Jeneki]

Staccato-tier, as in banjo music.

[MathU]

So did anyone ever try out the WiiWare remake? Still extremely resentful that they never localized it.

[Kiken]

Schlong, in the SFC box's case. That's the mightiest cockhead seen on any ship outside of Irem canon.

Last Resort on Neo Geo says "hi".

[Deadliar]

Phalanx is an alright game, but comparing it to the better SNES titles doesn't bode well.

I'd rather take my Axelays and Macrosses (Macrossi?) any day.

[MathU]

Phalanx has over 2x as many good stages as Axelay.

[Austin]

Phalanx has over 2x as many good stages as Axelay.

Yet the minimal amount of great stages Axelay has is still twice as enjoyable as the entirety of Phalanx's good stages.