The Coop wrote:The thing with Ghost Pilots isn't that it's bad, but rather that it's dull and uninspired. For a 55Mb cart, the graphics are definitely more at home on the Genesis in terms of detail level, and really, the Genesis version would have had better color contrast (the game looks a bit dull color-wise for a Neo-Geo effort). The enemy attack patterns aren't interesting, the sound effects aren't a stand out feature, the levels are ridiculously long, and in fact, there's nothing in GP that hasn't been done before it, and done better. The only thing that stands out a little in it, is the music (which is where I'd wager most of the 55Mb went). The composition isn't bad, and the instruments are decent. The hit detection's alright, and the controls are responsive... but those are about the best things to be said for GP.
On the whole, it's so average in nearly every aspect, that going with 1941 over it is an easy choice to make. I wouldn't refuse it if someone wanted to give it to me, but I wouldn't actively seek it out for purchase unless it was part of a compilation with the Neo-Geo's other (and better) shmups.
thanks for the detailed reply - I checked the ROM size for 1941, unless I got the math wrong, it is slightly less than half the size of Ghost Pilots, 1941 weighs in at about 26Mb (smaller than Strider or Ghouls n Ghosts).
No problem. And I think you're comparing the compressed file to the original cart, which doesn't always give an accurate number in terms of cart size. If you check around, you'll see the original cart was a 55Mb beast (well, "beast" at the time).
I was talking about 1941 Counter Attack being 26mb. I realized that when i download the ROM, it's compressed. So then i unpack all the files, put them in a new folder, check properties, which *seems* to give the true size in MegaBytes - then I multiply that figure by 8 to get the megabit count.
If there's a better way of figuring out the ROM size of games, let me know.
gigadrive32 wrote:
thanks for the detailed reply - I checked the ROM size for 1941, unless I got the math wrong, it is slightly less than half the size of Ghost Pilots, 1941 weighs in at about 26Mb (smaller than Strider or Ghouls n Ghosts).
No problem. And I think you're comparing the compressed file to the original cart, which doesn't always give an accurate number in terms of cart size. If you check around, you'll see the original cart was a 55Mb beast (well, "beast" at the time).
I was talking about 1941 Counter Attack being 26mb. I realized that when i download the ROM, it's compressed. So then i unpack all the files, put them in a new folder, check properties, which *seems* to give the true size in MegaBytes - then I multiply that figure by 8 to get the megabit count.
If there's a better way of figuring out the ROM size of games, let me know.
Ah. My bad. Misread what you wrote.
See what happens when you loose sleep kids? So make sure to always get a full 7-8 hours of rest every night.
Damn Tim, you know there are quite a few Americans out there who still lives in tents due to this shitty economy, and you're dropping loads on a single game which only last 20 min. Do you think it's fair? How much did you spend this time?
Anyhow, my good internet acquaintance Fighter17 argues that GP is more like 1942 than Flying Shark. I haven't played past the first boss of GP, but form what I see I have drawn these conclusions:
- bonuses are similar to those of Flying Shark, and are even collected in a similar manner (shoot the red planes - they are the same color). Bombs move in a straight line while bomb circles about. The single type of gun powerup has roughly the same effect in both games - slightly wider, denser shots with each level. I haven't seen any speedups in GP, which is one of the areas where it starts to fall flat.
- similar types of enemy patterns - 1942 starts out with waves of three and four ships with relatively free patterns, while FS and GP tend to bunch planes together.
- Tanks and gunboats are major enemies in both games (in the first stage)
- Liftoff sequence. Style of graphics in general is similar, and FS's planes and scenery are more detailed. GP follows this.
- Horrible NAM-1975 style character art...oh wait, that wasn't in Toaplan games until Batsugun (or so; maybe Mahou)
- first stage is a jungle with rivers lol
- spread shot-equipped tank as first level boss. Here the Neo game actually does pretty well; the shot-blocking flamethrower is a cool enemy weapon.
Both '42 and FS are verts on a vert monitor, which is why I imagine the Scramble Spirits comparison was made (graphics are kinda chunky in both too).
Damn Tim, you know there are quite a few Americans out there who still lives in tents due to this shitty economy, and you're dropping loads on a single game which only last 20 min. Do you think it's fair? How much did you spend this time?
Personally, I find Scramble Spirits to be better than GP - at least it's somewhat playable. Of course, I'm referring to the SMS version - the arcade version (oddly enough) plays like crap compared to the console port.
FRO wrote:Personally, I find Scramble Spirits to be better than GP - at least it's somewhat playable. Of course, I'm referring to the SMS version - the arcade version (oddly enough) plays like crap compared to the console port.
I had Bomber Raid for SMS but never played SMS Scramble Spirits, i'll have to try it out.
Ghost Pilots > any other game you can come up with.
I need to get this game again some time in the not-so-distant-future. I used to love my Ghost Pilots homecart.
In unrelated news, I've got a 1945 jamma coming soon... , but after reading this thread I am reminded that it will pale in comparison to the quality and originality that is Ghost Pilots.
Ghost Pilots is sorta okay. It's not in the same league as 1941 and is not even close to the top tier, but it's not a total write-off either. Two major beefs keep GP from being as good as it should've been:
* Your plane is so big it needs its own zip code. It dwarfs the popcorn enemies. This isn't good when the hitbox is the whole plane itself.
* Your plane is too slow. Forget going for 100% kills, because you're not going to catch all the enemies. The planes in Raiden and Flying Shark zip around in comparison.
Choosing from different bomber types is one of the good features GP does offer.
The music is good- IMO, SNK probably did blow a lot of the 55 Megs on sound. I can't really agree that the graphics are on the same level as Genesis, but Sega CD could probably have done a near-perfect port with maybe a small color palette reduction (IMO, a 32X CD version could've been perfect bar none. A 32X cart could've done it but would've been $70-80 due to having a lot of ROM).
I like ghost pilots. I like that a little way in, it's impossible to shoot all the planes, and they come from every direction. It's called realism baby.
Everybody keeps hating on Ghost Pilots. GP is one of the first few really good verts. GP is an example of memory wel spent; on the graphics. Everything is big and bulky. I feel like alot of people haven't even played GP and still badmouth it like yesterday's trash.
EDIT: If this topic was a poll it would be 76% GP and 24% 1941
I always thought Ghost Pilots had a pretty cool name. It sounds like it could be really exciting.
Here's another thing about Ghost Pilots...it's fucking long. One time I just kept credit feeding it and I swear I must have played for an hour before I saw the end. Or maybe not, maybe it just seemed like a long time, but there are lots of levels.
Damocles wrote:Wow...I was extremely vague. Anyway, Ghost Pilots is listed as the sequel to the utterly craptastic Sky Adventure.
Wait, what? Sky Adventure is an ADK game, Ghost Pilots was developed entirely by SNK. As far as I can tell, none of the same programmers/designers worked on both games. How is it a sequel when even the game's storylines have nothing in common?
Now Sky Adventure being the sequel to Sky Soldiers? I'd believe that.
Andi wrote:
Here's another thing about Ghost Pilots...it's fucking long. One time I just kept credit feeding it and I swear I must have played for an hour before I saw the end. Or maybe not, maybe it just seemed like a long time, but there are lots of levels.
This one night some time ago, zero.otaku and I were playing Ghost Pilots, and we were credit feeding it, shooting the breeze, and then the sun came up and then we were tired and STILL have never seen the conclusion of this game!
, but after reading this thread I am reminded that it will pale in comparison to the quality and originality that is Ghost Pilots.
