Sega Shmup Weirdness

[FRO]

Does anyone else find it interesting that Sega neglected to bring several of it's arcade shmups from the 80's to the Master System? I'm referring to games like Heavy Metal, Star Jacker, & especially Sonic Boom. Not that any of those games are remarkable, by any means, but at least they would have been solid (if uninspired) additions to the Master System library. I mean, I could see having more fun w/ a home conversion of Heavy Metal or Sonic Boom than a couple of the shmups that ended up on the system. I have to say, though, the Fantasy Zone games, Aleste, & Bomber Raid are excellent examples on the console.

[Thunder Force]

I have to say, though, the Fantasy Zone games, Aleste, & Bomber Raid are excellent examples on the console.

And the wonderful Astro Warrior.

[maxlords]

Don't forget Scramble Spirits!

[SPACE HARRIER]

How about the wonderful CLOUD MASTER!!!

[Keranu]

Blade Eagle 3-D on Master System is actually rad to play with 3-D glasses. Some people might disagree, but I really think it looks awesome in 3-D, at least past the first level. The cool thing is that the 3D vision is actually part of the gameplay, because there are two planes your ship can go in and you can only see which plane the enemies or projectiles are in if you wear the 3D glasses .

[PFG 9000]

^^^Does that work with any old 3-D glasses, or do you need to have certain ones? Because that sounds like a very cool concept.

I always thought it would be cool to create a game that was essentially an interactive stereogram. If you're familiar with the "Magic Eye" images, you probably see how it could work. And it shouldn't even be that much more difficult to program. But it could get tough on the eyes quickly.

[5parrowhawk]

Interactive stereograms have been done before. Magic Carpet 2 for PC, by Bullfrog IIRC, had a stereogram rendering mode, although that was a 3D first-person "flying/shooting" game with some limited similarities to Descent.

[Keranu]

^^^Does that work with any old 3-D glasses, or do you need to have certain ones? Because that sounds like a very cool concept.

You can only use the Sega Master System 3-D glasses, unfortunately (because they are kind of expensive, but very cool!), or I guess any other pair of shutter 3-d glasses. My ultimate idea would be to have 3d glasses that were both shutter and the traditional red and blue style.

[ccovell]

Cloud Master (Chuka Taisen) is by Taito. Aleste is by Compile. Sega didn't make them.

[Blade]

Actually in some cases I would've like it if they had done the reverse, like having an Arcade version of Arrow Flash for example.

[Ed Oscuro]

Chuka Taisen's on x68000, maybe Famicom as well.

Sega put out a ton of quirky little games. To be frank I don't think they were the best in much aside from side scrolling beat 'em ups and psuedo-3D games back then, but they're always decent. An interesting (but not terribly exciting) psuedo-shmup from Sega that I don't believe got a port was Time Scanner.

[Shatterhand]

Cloud Master (Chuka Taisen) is by Taito. Aleste is by Compile. Sega didn't make them.

There's a possibility, though I can't confirm, that Sega actually made the Master System version of Aleste/Power Strike.

It shows "Original Game: Compile - Reprogrammed Game: Sega" in the title screen.

Though regarding Compile's history, this doesn't mean much anyway.

And as we are talking about Chuka Taisen, it also got an excellent MSX port.

[ghibli99]

These aren't arcade ports (I don't think they are, anyway), but what about Transbot? That was the first hori "card" game I ever got for the SMS, and while there were really only 2 backgrounds (above ground and underground), it was entertaining for a little while. Plus, it had the blatant AT-ST rip-off boss from Star Wars at the end of each loop that I remember from those original SMS TV commercials. Action Fighter's vert flying sequences could also be classified in the shmup category, and I always thought this game was a cool take on the Spy Hunter formula.

[overdrive]

Chuka Taison also was on the PC Engine.....one of those games that seemed to be on most systems of the time, but didn't get ported to America on many (if any) of them.

A shame, too. While not one of my favs, it is a fun little game that is definitely worth the time of a shmup fan.

[Thunder Force]

These aren't arcade ports (I don't think they are, anyway), but what about Transbot? That was the first hori "card" game I ever got for the SMS, and while there were really only 2 backgrounds (above ground and underground), it was entertaining for a little while.

I think it was actually a home port of the arcade shmup Astro Flash, aka Transformer. So Transbot was actually the prequel to Arrow Flash? Mostly I found Transbot on the SMS to be lacking in challenge and generally dull. I wonder if the arcade version was any better (I'm assuming the coin-op at least would be much harder, for it to earn a decent operator profit).

[FRO]

After a bit of research I found that both Star Force & Star Jacker were ported to the SG-1000, but no other Sega arcade shmup love for the SMS. It's too bad, too, because as popular as shmups were during it's short stint in the US, that could have boosted it's popularity (along w/ some decent arcade titles, or at least better titles that had solid control).

[ghibli99]

After a bit of research I found that both Star Force & Star Jacker were ported to the SG-1000, but no other Sega arcade shmup love for the SMS. It's too bad, too, because as popular as shmups were during it's short stint in the US, that could have boosted it's popularity (along w/ some decent arcade titles, or at least better titles that had solid control).

Yeah, I agree... the SMS did get a very good port of R-Type, which Sega reprogrammed, so I'll throw a few points their way for that one. Wasn't Zillion II (Tri-Formation) somewhat of a hori shmup? I remember bike and flying robot sequences, but I didn't think the game was all that great, and therefore, I don't remember the details all that much!

[Turrican]

Yeah, I agree... the SMS did get a very good port of R-Type, which Sega reprogrammed, so I'll throw a few points their way for that one.

This is known to be Compile's job, hired by Sega on the occasion. That's why I believe the SMS Aleste to be their work as well (that and the fact that they were obviously well acquainted with the hardware in order to create the stunning PSII).

[SuperGrafx]

Wasn't Zillion II (Tri-Formation) somewhat of a hori shmup? I remember bike and flying robot sequences, but I didn't think the game was all that great, and therefore, I don't remember the details all that much!

Yeah, Zillion II does have some fast paced hori shooter sections, but to be honest they're not too great. You start out on some kind of motorbike and the screen scrolls way too fast in these sections. Add to the fact that the difficulty was a bit on the insane side AND you had to avoid bottomless pits, and you soon found yourself dreading these sequences.
You did get to transform into some kind of cyborg for a brief period providing you collected the right power ups.

[FRO]

Yeah, Zillion II does have some fast paced hori shooter sections, but to be honest they're not too great. You start out on some kind of motorbike and the screen scrolls way too fast in these sections. Add to the fact that the difficulty was a bit on the insane side AND you had to avoid bottomless pits, and you soon found yourself dreading these sequences.
You did get to transform into some kind of cyborg for a brief period providing you collected the right power ups.

Kinda like the way I dread the vehicle stages in Battletoads

I agree that Power Strike 2 may well be the shining shmup moment on the Master System. It's really a good game that gets quite hectic & later stages.

[SuperGrafx]

I lost interest in the SMS shortly after the Genesis launched in 1989.
Did that great coin-op shooter "Halley's Comet" ever make it out on the SMS?
I think a variant called Halley Wars came out on Game Gear.

Anyone remember Global Defense on the SMS?
It's an unconventional hori shooter with possibly the best 2player simultaneous implementation ever devised. One person controls the space craft while the other acts as the gunner. Totally unique concept back in those days and loads of fun.

[ghibli99]

This is known to be Compile's job, hired by Sega on the occasion. That's why I believe the SMS Aleste to be their work as well (that and the fact that they were obviously well acquainted with the hardware in order to create the stunning PSII).

Ahh, I didn't know that. Thanks!

Anyone remember Global Defense on the SMS?

Yep! It reminds me of a time in my life where I actually had the patience to play games that didn't have very optimal control setups. This game was funny in that in single-player, you couldn't move your ship and your targeting crosshair at the same time, so you had to move your ship out of the way, move your targeting crosshair, destroy stuff, and repeat. I wonder how I would feel about it if I played it today. I remember it having some pretty nice graphics, though!

[dave4shmups]

Does anyone else find it interesting that Sega neglected to bring several of it's arcade shmups from the 80's to the Master System? I'm referring to games like Heavy Metal, Star Jacker, & especially Sonic Boom. Not that any of those games are remarkable, by any means, but at least they would have been solid (if uninspired) additions to the Master System library. I mean, I could see having more fun w/ a home conversion of Heavy Metal or Sonic Boom than a couple of the shmups that ended up on the system. I have to say, though, the Fantasy Zone games, Aleste, & Bomber Raid are excellent examples on the console.

A lot of early 80's Sega arcade shmups, like Star Jacker, were brought out for Sega's first console, the SG-1000, which was never released here in the US. However, the SG-1000 port of Zaxxon puts the Colecovison port to shame, and Star Jacker, while not having as good as graphics as the arcade original, simply plays better. Grab yourself a Japanese Master System, and you can play all SG-1000 games it! The only reason I haven't gotten one is because Power Strike II never came out in Japan.

[Shatterhand]

A lot of early 80's Sega arcade shmups, like Star Jacker, were brought out for Sega's first console, the SG-1000, which was never released here in the US. However, the SG-1000 port of Zaxxon puts the Colecovison port to shame, and Star Jacker, while not having as good as graphics as the arcade original, simply plays better. Grab yourself a Japanese Master System, and you can play all SG-1000 games it! The only reason I haven't gotten one is because Power Strike II never came out in Japan.

What's really weird is that the MSX got TWO Zaxxon ports... one was a direct copy of the Coleco version, the other one is a direct port of the SG-1000 version.

Weird

[FRO]

A lot of early 80's Sega arcade shmups, like Star Jacker, were brought out for Sega's first console, the SG-1000, which was never released here in the US. However, the SG-1000 port of Zaxxon puts the Colecovison port to shame, and Star Jacker, while not having as good as graphics as the arcade original, simply plays better. Grab yourself a Japanese Master System, and you can play all SG-1000 games it! The only reason I haven't gotten one is because Power Strike II never came out in Japan.

Does a US released SMS allow play of PAL games? Is there some kind of converter that would allow for that? To be able to import PSII for SMS would be great.

[BrianC]

A lot of early 80's Sega arcade shmups, like Star Jacker, were brought out for Sega's first console, the SG-1000, which was never released here in the US. However, the SG-1000 port of Zaxxon puts the Colecovison port to shame, and Star Jacker, while not having as good as graphics as the arcade original, simply plays better. Grab yourself a Japanese Master System, and you can play all SG-1000 games it! The only reason I haven't gotten one is because Power Strike II never came out in Japan.

Does a US released SMS allow play of PAL games? Is there some kind of converter that would allow for that? To be able to import PSII for SMS would be great.

As far as I know, a US released SMS does allow play of PAL games, but it has issues with some games like New Zealand Story. However, most PAL games that don't work on the US SMS still work on the US Power Base Converter for the Genesis. From what I heard, Power Strike II should work.

Star Jacker is in second Memorial Selection for the Saturn. The SG-1000 version is not the only home port. It's on Saturn too!

[dave4shmups]

A lot of early 80's Sega arcade shmups, like Star Jacker, were brought out for Sega's first console, the SG-1000, which was never released here in the US. However, the SG-1000 port of Zaxxon puts the Colecovison port to shame, and Star Jacker, while not having as good as graphics as the arcade original, simply plays better. Grab yourself a Japanese Master System, and you can play all SG-1000 games it! The only reason I haven't gotten one is because Power Strike II never came out in Japan.

Does a US released SMS allow play of PAL games? Is there some kind of converter that would allow for that? To be able to import PSII for SMS would be great.

As far as I know, a US released SMS does allow play of PAL games, but it has issues with some games like New Zealand Story. However, most PAL games that don't work on the US SMS still work on the US Power Base Converter for the Genesis.

Star Jacker is in second Memorial Selection for the Saturn. The SG-1000 version is not the only home port. It's on Saturn too!

Yeah, PAL games will work on a US Master System; the only game that I've had trouble with is SMS New Zealand Story. Unfortunately, US SMS games will not work on a Japanese SMS.

@BrianC, I had no idea that there were any Memorial Selections for the Saturn-I'd just heard of the Sega Ages Memorial Selection. Found this info on the games in the two volumes:

http://www.segagagadomain.com/saturn6/s ... orial1.htm
http://www.segagagadomain.com/saturn12/ ... orial2.htm

Too bad they didn't stick some more games on these volumes, like Congo Bongo, Zaxxon, and Pitfall II (I like Sega's rev. of that game the best.)

[BrianC]

I also heard from smspower that the Power Base Converter, unlike the US SMS, can play Japanese Mark III my cards, but it can't play any SG-1000 or SC-3000 games.