Valken / Gunbird PS2 questions

[system11]

Hi all - perhaps someone can help.

1) Assault Suit Valken - has anyone actually played this? I'm a huge Leynos fan, is this really as terrible as the only review I can find, says?

2) Gunbird 1+2, theres the JP release and a "Premium Package". What's the difference if any?

cheers,
james

[roushimsx]

Hi all - perhaps someone can help.

1) Assault Suit Valken - has anyone actually played this? I'm a huge Leynos fan, is this really as terrible as the only review I can find, says?

I haven't picked up the Ps2 version yet but I loved the SNES version. Any idea what was changed that'd make someone say it's horrible?

[rib]

i played the snes megadrive and saturn one but one i liked better that any of them(sfc): front mission gun hazard, if you dont have this get that, if you have it anything else might be less good(in my opinion)

[Ghegs]

2) Gunbird 1+2, theres the JP release and a "Premium Package". What's the difference if any?

I believe "Premium Package" is just the name for the Korean release, just like "Special Edition" is the name for the PAL release.

[iatneH]

I've played Valken. It's practically identical to the Super Famicom version from what I've seen, with some very minor graphical updates, such as explosions with lighting effects (as opposed to sprite-based). The rest of the sprites and effects look the same to me, the majority of the graphics were preserved quite well (and I presume this is why it gets bagged in reviews by new-school graphics whores). The gameplay is the same too, with that realistic "heavy" feel to the mech, and it's still a hard game (at least to me). Don't listen to that review, I love everything about this game and you really ought to try it if you've never played the SFC version.

[Thunder Force]

The EU version by 505 Gamestreet is out, called Assault Suits Valken (yes, "Suits"). The spine just says Valken, however, so you might find it under both names in online stores.

This is easily a game for PAL shmup/borderliner fans to consider picking up at its budget title status. The retro sprite art and retouched effects look rich through a good video out, better than they ever looked through a default SNES rca cable. A new prologue deepens the story a bit, and the game offers 60hz mode and hi-score save, if anyone was thinking of picking up this SNES remake/port for PS2.

(The mech is big and bulky though - so be warned, manic hitbox fans!)

[sven666]

Valken is great, if you like leynos youll love it... as long as you choose the SFC/SNES version that is.. the PS2 port is horrible and really suffers from bad controls combined with upped difficulty (i couldve lived with the 2nd if they had only kept the controls intact)..

[Thunder Force]

suffers from bad controls combined with upped difficulty (i couldve lived with the 2nd if they had only kept the controls intact)..

How are the controls different? - EDIT: ahh, I just played both versions back-to-back and now I see what you mean. the PS2 rev changes the way the L1 hold button works, so that it holds the angle of your gun but you can still turn around - while the SNES version holds it fixed so that you can move backwards while firing. The SNES version does feel better in that respect.

[professor ganson]

2) Gunbird 1+2, theres the JP release and a "Premium Package". What's the difference if any?

I believe "Premium Package" is just the name for the Korean release, just like "Special Edition" is the name for the PAL release.

Yeah, I think this is right. If you want to get the Japanese release, it's on sale at NCSX:
http://www.ncsxshop.com/cgi-bin/shop/SLPM-62469.html
I got my copy there, and have no complaints.

[PooshhMao]

A bad Valken review? Where? I haven't seen the PS2 version but would like to check it out someday.

Spending teenhood reading plenty of Brit gamemags (CVG, Mean Machines, Total!, Super Play, etc), Valken was always referred to affectionately, and years later Konami (under their avoid-Nintendo's-strangle-policy-label-Palcom) released Cybernator over here. Most of it's fabness came across pretty intact, the feel of the mech you control is just so very well done, certainly one of the classics and must-haves on the system as far as I'm concerned. I was hoping for something that could pass as the sequel in Front Mission Gun Hazard, but it fell short, despite it's really slick presentation. Has any Masiya crew been involved in making that?

I've also been on the lookout for similar games, there's an old DOS game I used to have called Iron Blood which is obviously inspired and pretty decent too (despite being Korean). Can anybody here recommend anything else?

[Thunder Force]

A bad Valken review? Where?

It's a 2/10 review on a major UK gaming site... I feel that review is overly harsh. They basically didn't like any of the additions, even the nice ones like the new prologue, retouched visuals and remixed audio. For someone to give the port a 2/10 they would have to feel the original game was a 5/10 at most. I enjoy the idea of bringing back 16-bit classics for the current generation of players, even if this isn't a perfect example of that it's a start.

[PooshhMao]

Shouldn't have been the PS2, but the GBA methinks... A prospective GBA Valken sequel, doesn't that make you horny?

[Turrican]

How are graphics for this PS2 Valken: crisp like Gradius III / Tengai or blurred like Taito Legends / Capcom Classic?

[GaijinPunch]

Read me. The graphics aren't bad, but the game is pretty weak.

[Macaw]

I am a huge fan of the snes version but I cant stand the ps2 version. For the most part its exactly the same but there are numerous little things that make the game feel rushed and dodgy.

Just compare the sequence at the beginning of stage 1 where the mechs all launch out of the main ship and you will see what I mean.

[PooshhMao]

Semi-ontopic, anybody here played Metal Warriors on SNES? Developed by LucasArts and published by Konami as a sort-of sequel to Cybernator, it's alright, save from some questionable design choices (the sound fx - instead of the chunky vulcan cannon, you know have this zappy raygun)
Shoulder-mounted missile launchers are fun though and the deathmatch mode is pretty nifty for a few goes too...

Even mimicks the damagable scenery

[Macaw]

Yeah Metal Warriors is a superb game, and I beleive Gun Hazard even copied the idea from Metal Warriors of being able to get out of your mech and move around in human form.

[Helm]

Metal Warriors is okay. The controls in both games are a bit tricky to get used to, but you get there eventually. Cybernator is clearly superior in my opinion.

[Turrican]

Read me. The graphics aren't bad, but the game is pretty weak.

Thank you but I was specifically asking for hi-res/low-res resolution issues.

[tekneekz]

yea i made a similar topic bout this a little while back, i had the same kind of response how weak the game is, but i bought it anyways and enjoyed it quite a bit, heavy feel, hard stages, but if you like platformers as much as i do, u'll ignore any kind of reviews

[AVT]

Turrican, the graphics in PS2 Valken looks like hires remake of the original. No old sprites was used, all was redrawn from scratch in high resolution. It looks more accurate to me, but I think it has to be a little more realistic.... Well, I think they liked old SNES design too much.

About controls and difficulty level - it kills me... Dont get me wrong, the controls is good, but I cant walk\fly backward and shoot enemies! No strafe anymore Difficulty is too high for me (thanks to absence of strafe), they should add more credits at least or add free play mode. I just cant get past level 3....

[dave4shmups]

Man, this is some NICE footage of the Saturn game!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxpLi7k0 ... t%20Valken

Looks like soo much fun!!

[tekneekz]

dang ASL 2 looks really fun indeed. boss battle looks good too like u can milk lots of parts.