Did any console shmup in the 8-16 bit era save high scores?

[Pixel_Outlaw]

I noticed today that many of the earlier console shmups lack the ability to save score. I guess I'm supposed to have a notepad for each one. It is kind of frustrating considering games like Zelda could save. Even when they did an arcade port on the Genesis they still did not include the almost essential battery backup for saving games. I suppose this is why many console games go unplayed around here. It is kind of a shame that games driven almost completely by scoring lack the essential score saving system. It seems like a no-brainer. What games did support saving (if any). No, I'm not looking for emulation and save states.

[doctorx0079]

Even in the 16-bit era, you had to have a battery built into the cartridge to save information. This is important. The first serious amount of storage to be in the unit rather than the game media, was the PS Memory Card AFAIK, not counting personal computers like the MSX. Having battery save in the cartridge was still considered very expensive. Even in the 16-bit games, I think you will find that very few had battery save. Mostly RPG's had it, and a few other games like Super Metroid (which is practically an RPG). Other kinds of games were not considered to need it. The publishers assumed that no one wanted to pay extra just to save scores; after all, action games don't benefit from saving your place in the game, especially arcade-style games. In those days it was considered perfectly reasonable to write down high scores.

So in other words, Playstation spoiled us.

First reply! I win!

[kengou]

I'm pretty sure Gradius III for the SNES saves high scores, unless it doesn't in which case I'm wrong.

[doctorx0079]

I'm pretty sure Gradius III for the SNES saves high scores, unless it doesn't in which case I'm wrong.

I don't think it does . .

[BulletMagnet]

Nope, it doesn't, and I can't think of an SNES shooter which does.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

Yeah, I just played Gradius III yesterday. Ironically enough this is the game that inspired the thread. I have the arcade version for PS2 so this game is not a huge deal.

[Rob]

I guess I'm supposed to have a notepad for each one.

Or any scrap piece of paper. Are the scores really worth recording and often enough for this to be a problem?

I suppose this is why many console games go unplayed around here.

I don't think so.

[Arvandor]

I have a drawer dedicated to scraps of classic gaming paper. Passwords for Castlevania's, Megamans, Punch-Out, and many more, cheat codes, high scores, tips, tricks, input codes (like extra colors in the SNES version of Street Fighter 2), Fatalaty inputs for the older MK games, and other such random stuff.

In fact, I STILL keep pen and paper handy whenever playing games. Especially since MAME doesn't save high scores, and as I'm too lazy to clean out my Saturn's internal memory whenever I play it, half of the shooters I play on it won't get their scores saved either.

Have gamers really gotten so lazy they can't write down a simple number? Even a ridiculous score from the likes of Gigawing wouldn't be so bad to write down once per play session or whatever.

[Ganelon]

Quite a few PCE shooters do.

[doctorx0079]

Quite a few PCE shooters do.

Which ones? Do they have batteries in 'em??

[Ghegs]

Quite a few PCE shooters do.

Yeah, lots of PCE CD shmups do and few hu-cards...I remember Soldier Blade does, not sure about the rest.

Which ones? Do they have batteries in 'em??

The later variations of the PCE system have a built-in battery. So the data is saved in the console, not the hu-cards.

[Kaiser]

Quite a few PCE shooters do.

Yeah, lots of PCE CD shmups do and few hu-cards...I remember Soldier Blade does, not sure about the rest.

Which ones? Do they have batteries in 'em??

The later variations of the PCE system have a built-in battery. So the data is saved in the console, not the hu-cards.

Final Soldier does too, not sure about Super Star Soldier

[Turrican]

Nope, it doesn't, and I can't think of an SNES shooter which does.

Jikkyo Oshaberi Parodius, sir.

[ccovell]

Even in the 16-bit era, you had to have a battery built into the cartridge to save information. This is important. The first serious amount of storage to be in the unit rather than the game media, was the PS Memory Card AFAIK

I'm sure there are earlier ones, but as mentioned, the PCE/Turbo CD or regular Turbo/PCE with backup booster have internal save RAM. There's also the Sega CD.

And as far as "serious" amount of storage went, both the PCECD and Sega CD had RAM carts/cards where you could transfer your game saves from the main unit. (Just like the PSX "memory card" idea.)

[SuperGrafx]

For what it's worth, most Atari Jaguar cartridges saved data/scores using a battery-less solution.

They saved data to some kind of flash rom type chip. Even most game manuals stated that game data could be written and erased upwards of 100,000 times before the save function would cease to operate.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

I'm fairly sure Sega CD shmups don't save. I could be wrong I'll have to check mine when I get home.

[ROBOTRON]

None of my TG-16 hu-cards saved scores...how is this accomplished?

I remember being able to save your place on a few shmups (like Guardian Legend on NES) but not scores. PS1 shmups saved scores...thats the first I've remember of any shmup saving scores on CONSOLE as the first poster asked.

EDIT: Neo-Geo AES was from that era....I rememeber it saving my stage on shmups, but never noticed if it saved scores.

[BrianC]

None of my TG-16 hu-cards saved scores...how is this accomplished?

It's explained a few posts above.

I'm sure there are earlier ones, but as mentioned, the PCE/Turbo CD or regular Turbo/PCE with backup booster have internal save RAM.

Do the Famicom Disk System versions of Moreo Twinbee and Zanac save high scores? If I remember correctly, the discs are writable and save settings.

[ROBOTRON]

Backup booster? My TG16 has a Turbo Booster...to my knowledge it does not save games. Is it a piece of hardware I'm missing?

[MJR]

On C64, disk version of Katakis and Armalyte saved highscores.. on amiga, at least Starray and Datastorm did.

[Shatterhand]

Uridium 2 also saved scores.

[Sonic R]

Score play was not the primary focus of older time games. Save files were reserved for adventure/role play titles. Of the earliest games, title like Monster Lair offer score saving with the "file cabinet" feature of the Turbo CD attachment. Console game was not design and base around scoring -- this is also why the score system is "broken" and allow for situation of infinite milking and position of limitless score opportunities.

[ccovell]

Backup booster? My TG16 has a Turbo Booster...to my knowledge it does not save games. Is it a piece of hardware I'm missing?

You're missing the TurboBooster PLUS. And of course, not all HuCard games supported saving scores/position.

[doctorx0079]

Score play was not the primary focus of older time games.

Score play has always been important in arcade games, and ports of arcade games, but most older ports don't save your score because the technology wasn't there yet. I stand corrected though. Apparently one console (some flavors of PC Engine) could save high scores in the 8/16-bit era. The Famicom Disk System would have been able to but nobody has confirmed yet that any games did it. Of course PC's like the C64 don't count as they have lots of storage space compared to consoles.

[maxi]

The Sega CD shooters doesn't have save support, what is a stupid thing because of the internal battery.

[Fighter17]

The Sega CD shooters doesn't have save support, what is a stupid thing because of the internal battery.

Wait I think Robo Aleste supports score saves.

I didn't play it for awhile so I'll give it a shot later.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

Just played my sega CD collection no score saving.

I have
Sol-Feace
Keio Flying Squadren
Bari-Arm
Robo Aleste
Silpheed (a most horrid game)

[MrQuan]

I have a drawer dedicated to scraps of classic gaming paper. Passwords for Castlevania's, Megamans, Punch-Out, and many more, cheat codes, high scores, tips, tricks, input codes (like extra colors in the SNES version of Street Fighter 2), Fatalaty inputs for the older MK games, and other such random stuff.

In fact, I STILL keep pen and paper handy whenever playing games. Especially since MAME doesn't save high scores, and as I'm too lazy to clean out my Saturn's internal memory whenever I play it, half of the shooters I play on it won't get their scores saved either.

Have gamers really gotten so lazy they can't write down a simple number? Even a ridiculous score from the likes of Gigawing wouldn't be so bad to write down once per play session or whatever.

Ahh the memories!! I used to scribble all my level codes and hi scores inside the game box (like in the lid flaps etc). Never thought that kind of thing would one day be a collector's item

Didn't matter anyways though, a few years ago my Mum took all my old school consoles and games I had stored in her garage to a charity bin thinking they're out of date or something. I just about cried, I will never forgive her for that....

[Pixel_Outlaw]

I'm sure EVERYONE has a mega man dot grid lying around somewhere.

[MrQuan]

I keep a pocket notebook next to my arcades now, so I'm still writing high scores. None of my PCBs keep high scores after being powered down, although I'm told some can be hacked for battery backup, but I dunno, I think I'll just stick with the notebook. Batteries on PCBs get nasty.