Contra Hard Corps & Vampire Killer...wth

Limbrooke · Post by **Limbrooke** » Mon May 29, 2006 3:27 am

Perhaps I'm a noob, but I'd really like to get to the bottom of this case. Now as it's already known Contra and Castlevania are expensive in MegaDrive Japan format and relatively cheap in Genesis format. It's also worth noting that Contra-J is locked out from Contra-U and Castlevania-U is locked out from Castlevania-J.
Gameplay is another interesting area as only in Contra is there a noticable difference and this occurs when you are hit, rather than falling dramatically when hit as in the Genesis version, MegaDrive simply stuns the character eliminating respawn.
One can assume that the difference is related to print run but I haven't found much if any info on that. Does anyone else have feedback or info regarding these games and would like to discuss.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Mon May 29, 2006 3:47 am

Print run. The MegaDrive was a very expensive failure in Japan. Just as the Genesis was gaining ground and actually gave Nintendo a great run for their money, the Super Famicom absolutely destroyed the MegaDRive. As such, there are more than a handful of games which are pricey/rare on the MegaDrive, but can be had in the bargain bin (or even rubbish bin) in the west. Other than the two you mentioned, others that come to mind are:

Alisia Dragoon, just about any game relaesed by Akklaim in the last year of the MD, Alien Soldier (I think the UK one is about half the price of the JPN one). Let's not forget the Multi Mega, which is actually a product released for Asia, not Japan. Runs a cool 60,000 yen or so in box, whereas the CDX is cheap as balls.

Limbrooke · Post by **Limbrooke** » Mon May 29, 2006 3:51 am

I had no idea the MegaDrive got destroyed in Japan.
But if that was the case then cutting your losses early would be a logical choice in print related issue.
Now at least for me light is shed on the issue that is there, apart from sarcity and the initial notable gameplay difference why one would get a title over the other.
I suppose the price insanity also goes for Slap Fight too.

At least now I won't worry about blowing 2 bills on either of the imports, although Contra with the slight difference could be preferred, hehe.

Twiddle · Post by **Twiddle** » Mon May 29, 2006 6:55 am

You take 3 hits to die in Contra Hard Corps JP.

DC906270 · Post by **DC906270** » Mon May 29, 2006 7:15 am

i s'pose people go for the Japan versions if they have Japan consoles..

Diabollokus · Post by **Diabollokus** » Mon May 29, 2006 11:30 am

I prefer the european verson by far, 3 hits thing is just wrong. + I like the robots as opposed to big brown bear and men

Benjamin · Post by **Benjamin** » Mon May 29, 2006 2:01 pm

A lot of later released MegaDrive stuff is just outrageously expensive. I'd love to have Comix Zone and The Adventures of Batman & Robin for the MegaDrive, but the one time I saw them available, it was about $400 per game. It's just a print run issue -- the failure of the console in Japan doesn't mean all titles are difficult to come by, and even those can be had for a price. The two above are rare due to the late release and being developed outside of Japan.

Limbrooke · Post by **Limbrooke** » Mon May 29, 2006 2:14 pm

Twiddle wrote:You take 3 hits to die in Contra Hard Corps JP.

Right. I suppose that's what I meant to say. I wonder if the game was deliberately too easy and then upon USA/Europe release they jacked it up.

Benjamin wrote:A lot of later released MegaDrive stuff is just outrageously expensive. I'd love to have Comix Zone and The Adventures of Batman & Robin for the MegaDrive, but the one time I saw them available, it was about $400 per game. It's just a print run issue -- the failure of the console in Japan doesn't mean all titles are difficult to come by, and even those can be had for a price. The two above are rare due to the late release and being developed outside of Japan.

Developed outside Japan. That's another interesting fact to say the least. Especially for the Castlevania series.

Benjamin · Post by **Benjamin** » Mon May 29, 2006 3:15 pm

Limbrooke wrote:
Benjamin wrote:A lot of later released MegaDrive stuff is just outrageously expensive. I'd love to have Comix Zone and The Adventures of Batman & Robin for the MegaDrive, but the one time I saw them available, it was about $400 per game. It's just a print run issue -- the failure of the console in Japan doesn't mean all titles are difficult to come by, and even those can be had for a price. The two above are rare due to the late release and being developed outside of Japan.
Developed outside Japan. That's another interesting fact to say the least. Especially for the Castlevania series.

Do one of the two games I mentioned show up as Castlevania for you?

That's a weird forum bug.