Done some first time Genesis shmupping lately.

[Limbrooke]

You can add Fire Shark, Slap Fight, and Kuuga: Vapor Trail to that list.

[Strider77]

You can mod a genesis with a switch to toggle between US and Jpn games. I put one in mine and it was very easy. It's how I use a Jpn Mega CD with a Genesis...

[The Coop]

True. But you can make your Genesis dead that way too. As such, some people (like myself) don't want to tinker with their system's inner workings, making the Game Genie stuff a welcome alternative.

[Strider77]

ok... but what I meant by really easy is that there are about 4 solder points and they are not small or cramped at all. you might want to look at a scan or pic of the job itself. it took me about 20 minutes.

[Fighter17]

ok... but what I meant by really easy is that there are about 4 solder points and they are not small or cramped at all. you might want to look at a scan or pic of the job itself. it took me about 20 minutes.

Which website you use for the modding?

The only website that I find for the Genesis 2 Mod was Gamex, but they don't show photos for the Genesis 2 mod.

[Limbrooke]

I've never heard of a Genesis mod wherein it allows for import Sega/Mega CD usage.

Which reminds me...of this

[Strider77]

I'm saying I modded my US genesis so it has a switch that lets me toggle it between being a Jpn to a US region system. This lets me hook my Jpn Mega CD to it, I have no US SEGA CDS only Mega CDs.

This same switch also takes care of any cartridge lock outs ect.

I have a genesis one though... not the second version with a front loading Mega CD. I have a new in the box Mega CD 2 in the box still in case that front loader dies..

[eight]

I just bought a Japanese Mega Drive for 15 Euros.

Did somebody mention Wonderboy 3 by the way? Top notch!

[Strider77]

Elemental Master is another one I enjoy alot...

[shinsage]

All four of the Mega Drive games I listed play just fine without the need of any codes. The only shmup I've found that needs one, is Thunder Force IV, and it's code can be found here. Just be sure that after the "Sega" logo comes up in TF4, you turn off the Game Genie. If you leave it on, the game freezes within the first two levels. Then, if you want to listen to the omake tunes, turn the Game Genie back on at the end of the credits (the game checks regions at the "Sega" logo).

That faq will also let you play other great MegaDrive games, like Alien Soldier, Pulseman and Monster World IV.

Much obliged, my good man.
Seriously, I'm shocked I didn't know about any of that before, I believe my import sense is tingling now...

[Fighter17]

All four of the Mega Drive games I listed play just fine without the need of any codes. The only shmup I've found that needs one, is Thunder Force IV, and it's code can be found here. Just be sure that after the "Sega" logo comes up in TF4, you turn off the Game Genie. If you leave it on, the game freezes within the first two levels. Then, if you want to listen to the omake tunes, turn the Game Genie back on at the end of the credits (the game checks regions at the "Sega" logo).

That faq will also let you play other great MegaDrive games, like Alien Soldier, Pulseman and Monster World IV.

Much obliged, my good man.
Seriously, I'm shocked I didn't know about any of that before, I believe my import sense is tingling now...

You know you don't need to get all shmup imports you know.

Please, get the Strider import. The JP cover art is soooooooooo much better than the shitty western art. You will find when importing JP Megadrive games are that just about all the JP games is going to have much better coverart and color manuals than the US versions.

[Strider77]

I have 2 copies of the mega drive strider

[zinger]

I actually liked the western Strider box, very amusing. I only have the japanese copy nowadays though, other differences include disturbing grunty soundeffect each time you swing your sword, and you're limited to only one credit. The text is also in japanese IIRC.

[Strider77]

you're limited to only one credit

ACBCA

[Rob]

Here's an official quality guide I found on the net:

Lightening Force - 10/10
Twinkle Tale - 9/10
Thunder Force 3 - 9/10
Thunder Force 2 - 8/10
Forgotten Worlds - 7/10
Bio Hazard Battle - 7/10
Phelios - 7/10
Gleylancer - 7/10
Eliminate Down - 6/10
MUSHA - 6/10
Elemental Master - 6/10
Battlemania 2 - 6/10
Sol-Deace - 5/10
Air Buster - 5/10
Raiden Trad - 5/10
Wings of Wor - 5/10
Task Force Harrier Ex - 5/10
Sagaia - 4/10
Gaiares - 4/10
Undead Line - 4/10
Grindstormer - 4/10
Arrow Flash - 3/10
Steel Empire - 3/10
Fire Shark - 3/10
Truxton - 3/10
Twin Cobra - 3/10
Insector X - 2/10
Divine Sealing - 1/10

[CMoon]

Fire shark is OFFICIALLY 3/10 ??!!

Really, what is the point of an official opinion?

Edit: Come to think of it, that list has Thunderforce 2 as a top tier game, while pretty much every toaplan game is down at the bottom. Hmmmm...

[The Coop]

As I believe it's been said on websites around the world... "LOL OPINIONS!"

There's nothing official about anyone's opinion regarding how good a game is, or a group of them mashed together to form a supposed single one. It always boils down to being just that... an opinion. Take that list as nothing more, CMoon

[Rob]

that list has Thunderforce 2 as a top tier game

Obviously!

[shinsage]

why the hate for Gaiares, Rob?

TF2 deserves an 8/10, but I wouldn't call it a top-tier genesis shmup.

[BulletMagnet]

Here's an official quality guide I found on the net:

Now why am I getting this sense of deja vu...

Divine Sealing - 1/10

Nonsense: this is Top 25 material, right Rob?

[The Coop]

Divine Sealing - 1/10

Nonsense: this is Top 25 material, right Rob?

I'd love to know what the hell the text says in that game. I sat through that entire turd, and I have no clue what any of the text meant. I doubt it explains why each chick's clothes were coming off, but it's the principle of the matter.

[Fighter17]

Here's an official quality guide I found on the net:

Lightening Force - 10/10
Twinkle Tale - 9/10
Thunder Force 3 - 9/10
Thunder Force 2 - 8/10
Forgotten Worlds - 7/10
Bio Hazard Battle - 7/10
Phelios - 7/10
Gleylancer - 7/10
Eliminate Down - 6/10
MUSHA - 6/10
Elemental Master - 6/10
Battlemania 2 - 6/10
Sol-Deace - 5/10
Air Buster - 5/10
Raiden Trad - 5/10
Wings of Wor - 5/10
Task Force Harrier Ex - 5/10
Sagaia - 4/10
Gaiares - 4/10
Undead Line - 4/10
Grindstormer - 4/10
Arrow Flash - 3/10
Steel Empire - 3/10
Fire Shark - 3/10
Truxton - 3/10
Twin Cobra - 3/10
Insector X - 2/10
Divine Sealing - 1/10

List is bullshit.

[Rob]

Nonsense: this is Top 25 material, right Rob?

It was before I discovered another good Psikyo game. *swoon*

why the hate for Gaiares, Rob?

TF2 deserves an 8/10, but I wouldn't call it a top-tier genesis shmup.

Gaiares is a checkpoint shooter with boring memorization-based obstacles. A guillotine? Not in my shmups. I really wanted this game as a kid and I'm glad I never got it.

TF2 is severely underrated.

[Ganelon]

Gaiares is a checkpoint shooter with boring memorization-based obstacles. A guillotine? Not in my shmups. I really wanted this game as a kid and I'm glad I never got it.

Well, that explains the 3 oldschool, classic checkpoint verts near the bottom of your list... I guess this type of mentality spawns a desire for alternative gameplay systems and bullet hell.

[Strider77]

TF2 is severely underrated

no it isn't... the top down levels SUCK. so much fun aimlessly roaming around.

[Rob]

aimlessly roaming around

I found the problem! You're supposed to beat those stages as quickly as possible. That's exactly what I made this for: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=6859

Please give that a read and try the stages again, see if you still hate them.

[Majesic_Lizard]

Here's an official quality guide I found on the net:

The is the fallacy of logic called the "call to authority" in the worst possible form. Not only is the "official authority" in question dubious because it isn't cited, but the simple fact is that opinions can never be official facts.

That aside....

MUSHA - 6/10?
Elemental Master - 6/10?
Gaiares - 4/10?

Well according to most shooting fans, the four editors of Electronic Gaming Monthly who reviewed it, and the writer of Game Pro who reviewed this game, Gairares was superb and outstanding. The same goes for Elemental Master and MUSHA. These three games were normally given scores of 9 out of 10 by almost every serious gamer mag that looked at them.

Personally, having played these games I tend to agree. Especially concerning Gaiares. That is one bitchin shooter.

You list has no credible basis. You don't cite your "official authority". Even if you did it would still just be someone's subjective opinion. And on top of that most magazine editors that reviewed the games I mention cited that those three games I just mentioned were fantastic. Considering those games were released by third party companies that didn't have money to grease palms, its unlikely such reviews were biased.

The fact is there is no "official quality" rating for anything. Ridiculous. There are only critics. Some biased, some not.

As to Thunder Force 2... Yes the overhead levels suck. Even for those of us who mastered them. The ship controls poorly in these levels, the weapon power ups suck balls, and the variety of enemies and the repetitive scenery doesn't make it worthwhile.

Thunder Force 2 just was not a very good shooter. Its a port of a computer game for crying out loud. [/u]

I found the problem! You're supposed to beat those stages as quickly as possible.

Dude, he didn't say he needed your help beating the stages. Most likely he did. He just said that they sucked. Don't take everything people say literally.

[Ceph]

Not only is the "official authority" in question dubious because it isn't cited

For the un-initiated among us, that's Rob's own list.

And one of the Mega Drive's best games is missing: Slap Fight.

[Majesic_Lizard]

Here's an official quality guide I found on the net:

Of course its his own list. But he tries to pass it off as "the official list".

[Ceph]

Here's an official quality guide I found on the net:

Of course its his own list. But he tries to pass it off as "the official list".

That's The Humor of Rob for you.