Steel Empire rocks my socks

jp · Post by jp » Thu Mar 17, 2005 4:30 pm

Just got the GBA version of it (thanks QuadP!) and I've been having a blast. First time I played it I got to level 4 on 1 credit (and felt damn special) and last night I got to the final level on 1 credit (fuck homing missiles).

But yeah, great game. Love the music, atmosphere, enemy design, gameplay... its just so damn fun. I hate I missed it on the Mega Drive. Speaking of which, was the little plane available on the MD version? For some reason I have a sneaking suspision that it was added into the GBA version, but I'm not sure.

So yes, great game, I love it, w00t w00t and all that.

it290 · Post by **it290** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 4:35 pm

Yes, in the MD version you could pick either the plane or the zep. I always pick the plane, personally. Good game, although a tad too easy sometimes.

SFKhoa · Post by **SFKhoa** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 4:50 pm

Also, the hitbox on the GBA version is smaller than the MD version.

Nuke · Post by **Nuke** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 5:29 pm

I stil prefer the Mega Drive version, but the GBA version is good too.

zubiac · Post by **zubiac** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 5:32 pm

congrats to your pick-up
The GBA ver is way better than the mega drive ver.

You gotta play it on GameboyPlayer+a hori-pad for Cube
It feels and looks 10 times better on big screen and loud speakers

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 7:26 pm

What's the official Japanese name of this GBA version?

And is it a lot tougher with the slowdown removed? I personally found the slowdown in the Genny version to be pretty helpful.

PsikyoPshumpPshooterP · Thu Mar 17, 2005 7:36 pm

thanks for the kind words jp

it was hard selling it to you but i sold my GBA SP to buy an xbox.and i spent 55 bucks on it...but im glad the game is in the hands of someone who can really enjoy the game as much as i did!

LoneSage · Post by **LoneSage** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 8:08 pm

dave4shmups wrote:What's the official Japanese name of this GBA version?

Somethin that starts with a K and a T. Go to gameFaqs and type in Steel Empire, you'll see the Japanese name of it on GBA.

I like Steel Empire despite some changes (some different bosses, enemies, etc.) because it's a beautiful remake (nah, not port...opinions my differ on it, though) that has some solid ideas for hori shmups. I think I like the Genesis game better, but one thing's for sure -- the new art for it blows the Genney box art away

Really majestic stuff.

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 8:23 pm

i really want to try this out. all the kind words i've been hearing make it sound very appealing. bought Iridion II and that is gathering dust, so that leaves Gradius Galaxies as my sole porta-shmup (too bad Nomads are so freakin expensive).

zubiac · Post by **zubiac** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 8:44 pm

dave4shmups wrote:What's the official Japanese name of this GBA version?

And is it a lot tougher with the slowdown removed? I personally found the slowdown in the Genny version to be pretty helpful.

it's called "Koutetsu Teikoku" I think.
anyways......If you wanna order it.
Lik Sang has it under the US name(with 49 bucks a bit pricey though)

Andi · Post by **Andi** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 8:50 pm

The last boss on the Genny version (I'm assuming it's the same on GBA) is great fun. He looks uninspired but the battle is long and he has some cool attacks.

TVG · Post by **TVG** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:15 pm

out of all the kickass genesis horis, why did they have to port the one i hate most

?

(no, i dont hate you for loving it, please refrain from posting a deep analysis on why i should like the game)

tehkao · Post by **tehkao** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:27 pm

Wow is the GBA version that good? I didn't find the MD version particularly inspiring...

LoneSage · Post by **LoneSage** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 11:00 pm

tehkao wrote:Wow is the GBA version that good? I didn't find the MD version particularly inspiring...

Then you prolly won't like the GBA game.

I always thought the Genney original used a limited palette of colors. The GBA one looks real vibrant, tho. Looks nice.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 11:08 pm

Yeah, the new GBA version looks a lot nicer but it plays pretty much the same. I don't find it very interesting still.

Nuke · Post by **Nuke** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 11:16 pm

The graphics are nicer, but they butchered the boss fights imo.
I also like the granyer lokk of the MD version. It makes it look more steam-punky.
I even love the slowdown, 'caus it acts kinda like Bullet-time at the right moments.
Also, the music is better, for some strange reason.....

TVG · Post by **TVG** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 11:18 pm

maybe because the sound of the GBA is ass?

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 2:07 am

Can you play GBA import games on a US GBA SP? I've always assumed that you could not.

Cugel · Post by **Cugel** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 2:11 am

professor ganson wrote:Can you play GBA import games on a US GBA SP? I've always assumed that you could not.

No region protection for GBA.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 2:25 am

I have four GBA imports and one GB import. I just pop them in to my GBA and play. They even work on the GB Player.

Andi · Post by **Andi** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 3:17 am

Nuke wrote:I even love the slowdown, 'caus it acts kinda like Bullet-time at the right moments.

Yeah, some of those boss fights seem like they might be impossible without it. The descent into the cannon level would be murderous (more so).

EvilAkito · Post by **EvilAkito** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 9:43 pm

I've never played the Genesis version, but I do remember having some fun with the GBA one. Much much much better than that horrible R-Type III port.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 10:02 pm

"they butchered the boss fights imo."

What do you mean by that?

Cugel · Post by **Cugel** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 10:57 pm

dave4shmups wrote:"they butchered the boss fights imo."

What do you mean by that?

Here's a review: http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/gbadva ... 77618.html

"Now for the bad news. The bosses. Every single boss in the game (with the exception of a few) are completely BUTCHERED from the Sega Genesis version of the game. They are missing attacks, they look different (why they changed a Sea Skimmer into a Norse Battleship I will never understand...), or they are completely, and utterly changed...almost every boss in the game suffered from one of those three problems. They were perfect in the Genesis version, why change them?!"

subcons · Post by **subcons** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 1:05 am

I've got this one incoming (hopefully it'll be in my hands by tomorrow!), can't wait to check it out for myself. I've been having a blast with Gradius Galaxies in the meantime though. Best portable shmup I've laid my hands on, ever. I plan on one lifing this one eventually.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 1:08 am

Are there any videos of the GBA version around? I've played the Genny version, and I'd just love to see what this one looks like in action. Couldn't find any on the game's official website.

ccovell · Post by **ccovell** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 1:51 am

Sorry, no videos, but I took many pics of this game a while back when I was thinking about making a SHMUPs review for it (never had time to do it). Here is a ZIP with screenshots from the GBA version:
http://disgruntleddesigner.com/chrisc/KoutetsuPics.zip

And Gradius Galaxies is pretty good, but the one thing that annoys me is the terrible music. Definitely not done by anybody at Konami.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 3:15 am

WOW, those colors look SHARP compared to the Genny version!

Thanks for those screens, man!

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 3:17 am

ccovell wrote:Sorry, no videos, but I took many pics of this game a while back when I was thinking about making a SHMUPs review for it (never had time to do it). Here is a ZIP with screenshots from the GBA version:
http://disgruntleddesigner.com/chrisc/KoutetsuPics.zip

And Gradius Galaxies is pretty good, but the one thing that annoys me is the terrible music. Definitely not done by anybody at Konami.

Actually, at least at the time Gradius Galaxies came out, Mobile 21 is an internal development team at Konami.

ccovell · Post by **ccovell** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 2:15 pm

BrianC wrote:Actually, at least at the time Gradius Galaxies came out, Mobile 21 is an internal development team at Konami.

I'll call them "Downwardly Mobile 21" from now on, then. <rimshot>