Taito Legends 2

Shearie · Post by **Shearie** » Fri May 25, 2007 1:37 am

My Taito Memories game miraculously worked when I tried it a few minutes ago and Darius Gaiden seems to slowdown pretty much the same as on Taito Legends 2.

Just to be clear, the slowdown isn't G Darius PS1/R-Type Final bad, it's just that it's there when they could have put some effort into a software port like they did with G Darius and Raystorm.

sideshow · Post by **sideshow** » Fri May 25, 2007 2:29 am

So it seems like if one has the PAL version already then the US version is obsolete. The same issues that plague the PAl version are back in the US version. I dont own the US version so I dont have solid proof but it sounds like both region versions are the same.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Fri May 25, 2007 3:17 am

sideshow wrote:So it seems like if one has the PAL version already then the US version is obsolete. The same issues that plague the PAl version are back in the US version. I dont own the US version so I dont have solid proof but it sounds like both region versions are the same.

The US version has the arcade Bust-A-Move Again with all of the Bubble Bobble characters removed and a generic presentation. The EU version has the real Puzzle Bobble 2 with the Bubble Bobble characters. Also, I'm not sure if the Hat Trick Hero/Football Champ issue is still there or not.

sideshow · Post by **sideshow** » Fri May 25, 2007 3:25 am

Ok so points for the PAL version with the real Puzzle Bobble 2.

I also tested Metal Black in the Taito Memories Joukan compilation and the beam has spread and focus like it should.

The Taito Memories version of Darius Gaiden seems to run at a little better framerate than the Taito Legends 2 version but its very minor.

G Darius seems to run the same for both Memories and Legends.

The bottom line is that its fucked up how confusing all these Taito compilations come to play because of the Legends and Memories differences. It seems that the Memories compilations are the way to go due to better programming emulation, more games like Cadash and Bubble Symphony(for you non XBOX owners) if you are willing to mod your system to play imports like I did. The bad thing is that the Memories series are all japanese language bounded while the Legends series is obviously Multi Language friendly but poorer emulation on a few games.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Fri May 25, 2007 8:39 pm

sideshow wrote:Ok so points for the PAL version with the real Puzzle Bobble 2.

I also tested Metal Black in the Taito Memories Joukan compilation and the beam has spread and focus like it should.

Thanks. Cecil McWoot and Shearie beat you to the punch, though.

The Taito Memories version of Darius Gaiden seems to run at a little better framerate than the Taito Legends 2 version but its very minor.

You tested this with the PAL TL2 right? 50 or 60 Hz? I wonder if the US one is also slightly different in speed from the EU version.

G Darius seems to run the same for both Memories and Legends.

Not surprised with this, especially with all the posts saying how well it runs in both versions. Raystorm should be the same too.

If some of games really are slower in Legends 2 than Memories, than that is very disappointing, especially since they are based on the same code. I heard that the games with the biggest problems with slowdown are Dungeon Magic and Elevator Action Returns, but I also remember hearing about Arabian Magic (on the gamefaqs forums, post is long gone thanks to how they handle posts there), Gun Frontier, and Gekiridian (sp?) being slowed down (at least for the EU version). Are these games slowed down in Memories too?

sideshow · Post by **sideshow** » Fri May 25, 2007 10:43 pm

I mentioned the Metal Black focus beam shinanigans just to show more people get the same results. I tested the PAL Taito Legends 2 at 60HZ but I could do it at 50HZ with my projector. I'll give Gun Frontier and Gekiridian some testing on both Legends and Memories.

UPDATE:

Gun Frontier and Gekiridian play much slower on Taito Legends 2 (PAL) at 60HZ compared to Taito Memories. Even if you toggle the aspect ratio in Taito Legends 2 to have the screen vertical or stretched, the gameplay is still noticeable slower. But its not R-Type Final stage 3 slower. I didnt see any options in Memories to stretch the screen. So if you want a full screen with slower gameplay then choose Legends. If you want a more vertical looking screen with borders and faster gameplay then pick Memories.

Limbrooke · Post by **Limbrooke** » Sat May 26, 2007 1:06 am

BrianC wrote:If some of games really are slower in Legends 2 than Memories, than that is very disappointing, especially since they are based on the same code. I heard that the games with the biggest problems with slowdown are Dungeon Magic and Elevator Action Returns, but I also remember hearing about Arabian Magic (on the gamefaqs forums, post is long gone thanks to how they handle posts there), Gun Frontier, and Gekiridian (sp?) being slowed down (at least for the EU version). Are these games slowed down in Memories too?

Elevator Action Returns is definitely slowed compared to F3 and the Saturn port. I love the Saturn port.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Sat May 26, 2007 1:14 am

Thanks for the info. I decided that even with the slowed down games that the collection is worth picking up, if only for G-Darius. I have the collection now.

It looks like Bust A Move Again was shoehorned into Puzzle Bobble 2's sound engine. All of the music in the TL2 Bust A Move Again is from Puzzle Bobble 2 and there are even times when music doesn't play. In other words, the Bust A Move again version in TL2 use doesn't use the correct music.

Shearie · Post by **Shearie** » Sat May 26, 2007 2:10 am

The Taito Memories version of Darius Gaiden seems to run at a little better framerate than the Taito Legends 2 version but its very minor.

Well for the the US version of Taito Legends 2, Darius Gaiden slows down pretty much exactly the same as the Taito Memories version to me. If there really is a difference then it's so minor that it doesn't even matter.

Thanks for the info. I decided that even with the slowed down games that the collection is worth picking up, if only for G-Darius. I have the collection now.

Even though it seems like I'm getting down on this game by pointing out it's minor flaws, I'm not because I still think it's an excellent compilation and definitely worth picking up.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Sat May 26, 2007 3:27 am

The Hat Trick Hero issue is still in the US version. Continuous passing by holding the button doesn't work and you can only start to hold the ball in place. Also, I didn't have a problem with Gekiridian (sp?) or Gun Frontier in aspect ratio mode (or other vertical games like the updated versions of Space Invaders). I actually found them clearer than the vertical games in Capcom Classics 1 and 2 and the arcade ports in SEGA Classics Collection.

Despite the issues, I like this collection quite a bit. I feel 20 dollars was worth it for G-Darius alone, and I'll be double dipping on a few (especially Darius Gaiden since the port is cheap in both the JP and US revs) since the ports aren't quite perfect, but all of the games are playable. Even the games with the emulation flaws still play extremely well.

The two updated Space Invaders games are both excellent. Puchi Carat, Cameltry, and Front Line make good use of analog control and play very well. Some platforming goodness with Don Doko Don, Fairlyland Story, and Liquid Kids. The beat 'em ups were more fun than I expected too.

The worst game in the collection is probably Nastar Warrior, but I feel it's worth playing just to see how bad it is. The voice in the game is hilarious too.

I like Elevator Action II quite a bit, but I feel the GB b/w Elevator Action, which is also updated, captures the feel of the original better. I like searching for the doors rather than being stopped by them. I also miss the shotgun from the GB one, though the rockets are a good replacement. I like how Elevator Action Returns has some elements from the GB one like the Machine Gun power up and robot enemies. I miss being able to fall one floor without losing a life, though.

shinsage · Post by **shinsage** » Tue May 29, 2007 10:13 pm

Played some Gun Frontier last night, is there a way to play it in yoko?
This stretched screen bullshit is annoying.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Tue May 29, 2007 10:54 pm

shinsage wrote:Played some Gun Frontier last night, is there a way to play it in yoko?
This stretched screen bullshit is annoying.

Yes. It's under "options" on the title screen and "original aspect ratio". I wish Taito Legends 2 had more of the dip switch options. For the most part, it seems the options are limited to lives and difficulty. No violence adjust for Dungeon Magic.

BBH · Post by **BBH** » Wed May 30, 2007 11:19 am

CecilMcW00t wrote:Also, WTF @ Bust-A-Move Again? There are no characters and music is missing.

I'm amazed Taito completely fucked up with the music part on Bust-a-Move Again. (copy-pasting from another forum because I'm lazy)

The US version of Bust-a-Move Again actually has a completely different soundtrack than Puzzle Bobble 2. Taito F3 cartridges have a sort of region control, like the Neo-Geo. So Puzzle Bobble 2 and Bust-a-Move Again both contain the same game on there. But for some reason, Puzzle Bobble 2 does not have the same sound roms, so if you try to play Bust-a-Move Again on it, it tries to play the music from Puzzle Bobble 2 instead... but it plays it at completely wrong times, or not at all. This is because nobody had bothered to actually dump the sound roms from a US Bust-a-Move Again cartridge. Eventually a cartridge was found and dumped for support in MAME, and as of version 0.104 or so, you can play it in MAME with the correct music, the way it actually was in the arcade. Of course, you'd need to find the updated romset on the net...

So in other words, they just used the MAME roms and didn't even notice that the music was completely wrong compared to the actual arcade version. That is hilariously amazing.

Post by **Shatterhand** » Wed May 30, 2007 12:11 pm

No love for Cleopatra's Fortune? It was the game I most played on this compilation.

Having G-Darius without slowdown obviously is a big plus too

Elevator Action Returns is great stuff IMO, I love that game. But I already have it on Saturn, and have 1cc it like a dozen of times (Even managed to 1 life it a couple of times

)

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Wed May 30, 2007 3:12 pm

Shatterhand wrote:No love for Cleopatra's Fortune? It was the game I most played on this compilation.

Having G-Darius without slowdown obviously is a big plus too

I have been playing some Cleopatra's Fortune. I love it too. Very addictive puzzler.

Taito Legends 2 put me on a Darius fix. I want to play Sagaia/Darius II on the Genesis, the Saturn Darius Gaiden, and Sagaia for the GB. The only other Darius game I have besides the ones in the collection is Super Nova/Darius Force. I also tried out the SMS Sagaia. It's quite impressive for the system. Even has multiple layers of parallax in parts.

Post by **Shatterhand** » Wed May 30, 2007 3:14 pm

SMS Sagaia is awesome, a friend of mine had it back in the old days, used to play it a lot.

CecilMcW00t · Post by **CecilMcW00t** » Wed May 30, 2007 11:09 pm

BrianC wrote:The worst game in the collection is probably Nastar Warrior, but I feel it's worth playing just to see how bad it is. The voice in the game is hilarious too.

Yeah, Nastar Warrior is pretty terrible. But I find myself coming back to it time after time because the music is pretty catchy in a weird way. And I think I have mild OCD or something, because even in a game as crappy as that, I will play it over and over again trying to make it as far as possible without credit feeding.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Thu May 31, 2007 12:08 am

CecilMcW00t wrote:
BrianC wrote:The worst game in the collection is probably Nastar Warrior, but I feel it's worth playing just to see how bad it is. The voice in the game is hilarious too.
Yeah, Nastar Warrior is pretty terrible. But I find myself coming back to it time after time because the music is pretty catchy in a weird way. And I think I have mild OCD or something, because even in a game as crappy as that, I will play it over and over again trying to make it as far as possible without credit feeding.

Yeah, the music is pretty good. It's kind of the same way for me with Gradius III arcade, only it's really hard instead of really bad. The music in that game is awesome.

yojo! · Post by **yojo!** » Thu May 31, 2007 12:09 am

Legend of kage is even crappier.

Post by **Shatterhand** » Thu May 31, 2007 2:40 am

bullshit

I dig Legend of Kage. Have finished the MSX version a dozen of times, and surprised myself when I got this and actually managed to reach level 4 on my first go after years without playing it

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Thu May 31, 2007 2:52 am

Here is Gamespot's review. It made me cringe, especially since I dig both Don Doko Don and Crazy Balloon. It barely takes up one page. The review doesn't even mention the emulation issues (most of which aren't game crippling, but still should be mentioned). Other aspects of the review like saying that Violence Fight isn't quite a fighting game and calling most of the games ridiculous (though some are, like Nastar) made me cringe too.

The Coop · Post by **The Coop** » Thu May 31, 2007 2:59 am

BrianC wrote:Here is Gamespot's review.

Wow. What an in-depth, informative review that was. I learned... nothing.

You sure this Jeff character meant to hit the "review" button for his post? That reads more like a preview... if that.

JusteZero · Post by **JusteZero** » Thu May 31, 2007 3:15 am

This reviewer guy is a retard...

Plain and simple.

shinsage · Post by **shinsage** » Thu May 31, 2007 3:47 am

Zinger's avatar makes Growl look way cooler than it should be.
What a horrible, horrible game.

Looks like the Genesis version got a cooler final, final boss.

Bloodreign · Post by **Bloodreign** » Thu May 31, 2007 7:19 am

This review was written by either a hobo, or a guy high on crack, or a guy who didn't frequent arcades.

The Coop · Post by **The Coop** » Thu May 31, 2007 8:23 am

Bloodreign wrote:This review was written by either a hobo, or a guy high on crack, or a guy who didn't frequent arcades.

Or a guy who played one or two games for a couple minutes, and wrote a review based on that experience. Seems the best option really, seeing as he said virtually nothing about the game that wasn't already written on the back of the box.

Limbrooke · Post by **Limbrooke** » Thu May 31, 2007 6:51 pm

Shatterhand wrote:No love for Cleopatra's Fortune? It was the game I most played on this compilation.

CF on Dreamcast is the best version, mainly for the music. But I agree, it's a great puzzler.

Shatterhand wrote:Elevator Action Returns is great stuff IMO, I love that game. But I already have it on Saturn, and have 1cc it like a dozen of times (Even managed to 1 life it a couple of times )

EAR, again, is probably best played on Saturn. For whatever reason it's a bit faster on Saturn and as a result more fun than any other release.

BrianC wrote:Here is Gamespot's review.

Once again, another sub-par review on GS... a shame really.

Post by **Shatterhand** » Thu May 31, 2007 7:05 pm

Limbrooke wrote:
Shatterhand wrote:No love for Cleopatra's Fortune? It was the game I most played on this compilation.
CF on Dreamcast is the best version, mainly for the music. But I agree, it's a great puzzler.

Never played the DC version... but the arcade version (Thus, the TL2 version) has an excellent soundtrack. The DC version has different music ?

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Thu May 31, 2007 11:30 pm

I just got this one today, at EB Games, and I am VERY pleased with it so far! I never thought we'd see this get a domestic release, but it's great!!

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Thu May 31, 2007 11:41 pm

I plan to get this very soon.

So Parasol Stars isn't on either collection? I have it for TG-16, so I'm not bummed out, just curious why they left it out. Isn't this a much-loved game?