Weak Western Shmupers?

Dale · Post by **Dale** » Tue May 22, 2007 5:33 pm

Rocket knight Adventures difficulty system was altered for the US release of the game. In the US version their is a difficulty setting that doesn't appear in Japanese version and this setting is by far the hardest available. The diffrent settings in the two versions share allot of the same names but if you actually play them you can tell the diffrence.

And yes Contra:HC is the shit.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Wed May 23, 2007 12:08 am

shinsage wrote:Hard Corps is cake if you take the time to learn the patterns.
Such a brilliant game.

Indeed, such can be said of most "hard" 2D action games. It's all about knowing where the safe spots are at each given moment and alternating around them.

Leandro wrote: I meant difference from US (Castlevania Bloodlines) vs Japan (Vampire Killer) release.

Vampire Killer "Expert" difficulty level equals to "Normal" in Bloodlines.
"Expert" in Bloodlines is harder than any difficulty level in Vampire Killer.

The "Expert" difficult option is a secret, you unlock it either beating the game on Normal or entering a code. To see the real ending, one has to beat the game on Expert.

Ah yes, I completely forgot about the difficulty sliding. Expert is already easy enough on Bloodlines; that means Vampire Killer is probably the easiest CV game to 1CC on defaults ever: 2 days tops.

Leandro · Post by **Leandro** » Wed May 23, 2007 12:23 am

Ayanami wrote:I know the European version of Garegga also has 1 or 2 stages completely missing from the game.

I think only the stage order changes?

And I've already finished Bloodlines on Expert... I really don't care if someone considers the game too easy.

BIL · Post by **BIL** » Wed May 23, 2007 12:36 am

I remember losing all hope with Hard Corps US (at the ST3 Boss) as a kid, and trying to use some JP-only cheats. I was aghast when they didn't work. Glad I eventually finished the paths properly, even if I always ended up using a ton of continues.

At least I think the US version is cheatless... Retro Magazine (UK) recently had a Contra feature which suggested JP Hard Corps over US for this reason, heh.

it290 · Post by **it290** » Wed May 23, 2007 1:09 am

Are you sure about this? I've heard that before, but in the Japanese Neo-Geo ads in magazines from 1990-1991, there is a clear notice saying "suchandsuch game is available for rent for the Neo-Geo AES..."

I can't say I have a 100% reliable source on it or anything, but I have read about it in interviews with developers and such. I'd guess that first parties such as SNK can do whatever they want, since they own the IP, and I do know of exceptions such as licensed units for hotels and such (which are more 'arcade style' than 'rental' per se).