Insector X

SuperGrafx · Post by **SuperGrafx** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:20 pm

As you probably all know, Insector X went through a bit of transformation on its coin-op to Genesis/MD translation.

The coin-op and console versions both had the same backgrounds and stage design, but the overall theme was changed. Whereas the coin-op used a light hearted cartoon style for its character sprites (the main character was a flying cartoon man) the home version went for a slightly more serious approach by changing the sprites, and the game's premise, to reflect a more insect colony setting.

Personally, I found the console version to be more fitting. The insect/colony setting just seemed to fit the overall theme better.
Which do you prefer?

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:44 pm

SuperGrafx wrote:Whereas the coin-op used a light hearted cartoon style for its character sprites (the main character was a flying cartoon man) the coin-op sort of went for

Sorry, just to point out the typo.

SuperGrafx · Post by **SuperGrafx** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:47 pm

Turrican wrote:
SuperGrafx wrote:Whereas the coin-op used a light hearted cartoon style for its character sprites (the main character was a flying cartoon man) the coin-op sort of went for
Sorry, just to point out the typo.

fixed

mice · Post by **mice** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:22 pm

Aaaaah! I knew there were something about that.

Saw a screenshot of Insector X in a magazine ages ago, and it looked really cool.
Then, a few month' ago, I thought I'd check that game out and went to klov.com...and did I get a surprise!?
So my first reaction was that I must have gotten the name wrong and started to browse through all of the games for a "fitting" screenshot. Still haven't found it...no wonder.

This explains alot, thanks man!

icycalm · Post by **icycalm** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:05 pm

I had bought the MD version when it first came out and played it quite a bit. Then a few weeks ago I found the ROM and I was indeed surprised to see the difference. However, until I read your post I simply assumed that they were different games. It had been so long since I played the MD version (and even back then I had only played it for a little bit) that I even thought there were 2 different games: Inspector X and Insector X.

Anyway, I'd say I prefer the MD version, just because I am not a big fan of cute shmups. But then again, I would need to re-play the MD version for a while to refresh my memory.

It's a pretty easy game, if I remember correctly.

ccovell · Post by **ccovell** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 2:20 am

Insector X was released on the Famicom as well, and retained the cartoony look of the arcade.

JBC · Post by **JBC** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:11 am

Yeah... i remember wanting the game after seeing the Mega Drive advertisment in an EGM long ago. Later i emulated the arcade version in MAME and was horribly disappointed in my memory skills - it sucked! So i thought to myself... 'Now, i know there was a detailed human skull lying in the background on the ad's screenshots. That's not fitting for this game at all.' So i looked it up and there it was. Cool Insector X.

It reminds me of Abodox a little.

Keranu · Post by **Keranu** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:38 am

I am pretty sure I am the biggest Insector X fan in the world, at least for the Genesis/MegaDrive version. I do prefer the Genesis/MegaDrive version over the arcade a little more, though I used to think it was way better. After giving the arcade version some more time last summer, I found some things about it that were nicer, which was something to do with the weapon system and how it also had greater challenge. The music and graphic style was so rad in the Genesis version though. I think for in terms of gameplay (which is what counts anyways), the arcade version is better.

Bloodreign · Post by **Bloodreign** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 8:17 am

Would've been nice if the MD version had been a direct port of the original, but the changes didn't affect my liking for the game too much, though I missed the old style of cartoony bugs. The MD version stirved for a more serious approach although deep inside it was still the same game, just touched up some.

icycalm · Post by **icycalm** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 12:19 pm

In this one case, I think it's better that the MD version is not a direct port. This way, we get two different flavors of the same game.

Andi · Post by **Andi** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 2:27 pm

I actually like the graphical style of the Genesis version a bit better. While it seems sort of ludicrous to have a guy riding around with a jetpack killing cyborg bugs (it makes sense that it was once a cute 'em up), the serious sprites gives the game a more interesting and surreal sense of style and atmosphere. The cute sprites don't seem to fit with the semi-realistic backgrounds that well either.

SuperGrafx · Post by **SuperGrafx** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:13 pm

Andi wrote:I actually like the graphical style of the Genesis version a bit better. While it seems sort of ludicrous to have a guy riding around with a jetpack killing cyborg bugs (it makes sense that it was once a cute 'em up), the serious sprites gives the game a more interesting and surreal sense of style and atmosphere. The cute sprites don't seem to fit with the semi-realistic backgrounds that well either.

That was my feeling as well.
I mean, the warring insects theme was original and the later levels really drove that point home.

BTW, I loved the name of the company that brought it out for the Genesis in the State...Sage's Creation. In fact, an old issue of EGM had an ad for this game (as well as Shadow Blasters) and there was a contest where 50 people could win an "Insector X audio CD"...I'd like to get my hands on one of those!

FRO · Post by **FRO** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:12 pm

I'll throw my vote in for the Genesis/MD version. I think the atmosphere is more fitting to the theme.

Keranu · Post by **Keranu** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 3:23 am

SuperGrafx wrote:
BTW, I loved the name of the company that brought it out for the Genesis in the State...Sage's Creation. In fact, an old issue of EGM had an ad for this game (as well as Shadow Blasters) and there was a contest where 50 people could win an "Insector X audio CD"...I'd like to get my hands on one of those!

Dude, I am Sage's Creations biggest fan!!! I totally loved the games they brought out here, especially Shadow Blasters

! Do you have a scan of that contest ad anywhere? I found a Japanese CD for the Mega Drive Insector X soundtrack, I think it was called "Insector X Orchestrated Soundtrack", I would totally love to have that but I can't find anywhere to purchase it

. Fill me in on any info you know

.

SuperGrafx · Post by **SuperGrafx** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 4:01 am

Keranu wrote:
SuperGrafx wrote:
BTW, I loved the name of the company that brought it out for the Genesis in the State...Sage's Creation. In fact, an old issue of EGM had an ad for this game (as well as Shadow Blasters) and there was a contest where 50 people could win an "Insector X audio CD"...I'd like to get my hands on one of those!
Dude, I am Sage's Creations biggest fan!!! I totally loved the games they brought out here, especially Shadow Blasters ! Do you have a scan of that contest ad anywhere? I found a Japanese CD for the Mega Drive Insector X soundtrack, I think it was called "Insector X Orchestrated Soundtrack", I would totally love to have that but I can't find anywhere to purchase it . Fill me in on any info you know .

I'll check my EGM back issues. I believe it was an early 1991 issue, so I'll see what I can find over the weekend and post a scan if I find it.

Keranu · Post by **Keranu** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 7:59 am

Thanks so much, I can't express how much I would love to see that!

Randorama · Post by **Randorama** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:54 am

The arcade version has a good cyborg insect going against the bad cyborg insects. The first boss is a bee, the second boss is a grasshopper, the third a butterfly, the fourth a spider, the fifth a prayer mantis. All enemies are bugs as well (well, except for fungi). I am not getting the change of style from coin-op to MD, honestly, maybe you mean that the MD is gloomier (the arcade version had a somewhat of super-deformed style)?

EDIT: nevermind, i found some screenshots of the megadrive version, definitely gloomier indeed.

shmups.system11.org

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