Twinkle Star Sprites PS2

Post by **spadgy** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 2:54 pm

Just discovered that the PS2 version exists. Anybody know if it's worth getting (Couldn't find a thread specifically on this already), and how it measures up?

Herr Schatten · Post by **Herr Schatten** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 3:03 pm

You mean La Petite Princesse? It's execellent. It's a sequel of the original, not a remake. The graphics are slightly worse due to using 3D instead of pixel art, but the gameplay is intact. The original NeoGeo game is included as an unlockable extra.

So, hell, yes, it's definitely worth getting.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 3:46 pm

IIRC there was a "Taito Best" re-release of it, so if that's out there you should be able to get the game at about half the original price. Even at original cost the game's still great - the mechanics are slightly different from the original TSS (an article in Hardcore Gamer mentioned it, I forget exactly what it said) but the overall experience is still just as fun, if you liked the original (or are just curious about trying it) by all means pick it up. Just be aware that the hidden version of the original is poorly emulated, so plan on sticking with the main game.

Post by **Shatterhand** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 3:53 pm

Not that I am a huge specialist on the game and I have barely played the PS2 version since I got it, but I didn't feel nothing different in the mechanics... and Hardcore Gamer only says it's a little bit slower...

I could even see the exact same enemy patterns that are also present in the original TSS.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:02 pm

Shatterhand wrote:Not that I am a huge specialist on the game and I have barely played the PS2 version since I got it, but I didn't feel nothing different in the mechanics... and Hardcore Gamer only says it's a little bit slower...

IIRC there was something a bit more to it than that...I'll have to dig up that article and have another look. In any event, as was said, for the most part it's pretty much the same as the original, and very worth getting.

Goshi · Post by **Goshi** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:17 pm

Its just TSS only with different attacks and characters. I recall some new enemy patterns but a majority of them are much the same. The pace is only a wee bit smaller but its pretty much unnoticeable. I love the game though and the artwork is much better.

The Neo Geo one is available but it lacks the additions the home versions had. Also its fairly unstable and quite buggy. The Saturn Opening of the game is there though, but only in gallery mode.

Kiken · Post by **Kiken** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 5:35 pm

BulletMagnet wrote:
Shatterhand wrote:Not that I am a huge specialist on the game and I have barely played the PS2 version since I got it, but I didn't feel nothing different in the mechanics... and Hardcore Gamer only says it's a little bit slower...
IIRC there was something a bit more to it than that...I'll have to dig up that article and have another look. In any event, as was said, for the most part it's pretty much the same as the original, and very worth getting.

In the original TSS, golems could be reversed twice before becoming sub-weapon attacks. In LPP, golems can only be reversed once before being turned into sub-weapon attacks. It ends up making the system a tad more aggresive because you and your opponent are activating sub-weapon strikes faster.

mikwuyma · Post by **mikwuyma** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 8:45 pm

Here's a list of changes I can think of off the top of my head.

-Some new characters - furry guitarists, Freezia, some kid who shoots a pistol and summons ghosts (his name is Gao?), lesbian nurses, really fucking annoying angel twins and Time, the new main character.

-Some characters are gone - Mevious, Tinker and Linker, Macky and Pentell, and Arthur Schmitt (the latter only appearing in a cutscene

)

-A couple of characters are replaced with duplicate characters (Do Eddie replaces Kim/Do Kesubei).

-Memory is no longer an SNK boss - she's really fast, but has a short-range charge attack and weak shots.

-The final boss isn't terribly difficult to defeat, nor is she incredibly overpowered, though she is still powerful.

-Fireball speed and extra attacks are slower overall. You won't have instances of attacks suddenly hitting you in less than half a second, unlike the first game. Makes the game more balanced, but it also takes out some of the excitement from the previous game.

-You can turn off slowdown in the options (you could also do this in the DC version of the original apparently)

-Fevers are much more frequent.

-Bosses really suck now. They seem to take less hits to kill (or maybe it's the fact you can mash two fire buttons now), and some characters have charge attacks that kill the boss in less than a second (angel twins).

-There are some new enemy formations, not sure how many though.

-Charge meter builds up a lot more quickly

-Charge meter transfers between rounds

-There is now a new coin that gives you a level of charge meter

Like other people said, the original is an unlockable, and it's mostly perfect, except some of the sound is messed up (Griffon's charge attack has really choppy sound for instance).

I personally like the original better because it has faster-paced attacks and bosses aren't a joke, but La Petite Princesse is still a lot of fun. I think LPP is more beginner-friendly too. A lot of my friends (who generally don't play shmups) prefer LPP to the original. I'm guessing it's due to the fact it's easier to fill up the screen with crap in LPP than the original.

Oh yeah, if you want some more gameplay details (like who is better off and such), I can elaborate, but I figure this is probably too much already

Whether it's worth getting or not? I'd say it's worth getting, as long as if you expect more of the same (which isn't a bad thing).

Kiken: Are you saying there are more reverse attacks?

Kiken · Post by **Kiken** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:46 pm

mikwuyma wrote:Kiken: Are you saying there are more reverse attacks?

As far as I've seen, yes. It takes less time to initiate them in LPP.

Then again, I suggest anyone playing the game do themselves a favour and crank the difficulty to 5 stars. There's really no reason to play at anything else.

Goshi · Post by **Goshi** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:12 am

-Some characters are gone - Mevious, Tinker and Linker, Macky and Pentell, and Arthur Schmitt (the latter only appearing in a cutscene)

Mevious also appears in a cutscene. Its just hard to tell its him since they decided to make his skin darker.

-The final boss isn't terribly difficult to defeat, nor is she incredibly overpowered, though she is still powerful.

I like Mikoto though so its good they didn't make her so overly overpowered. She's actually my character of choice if you can 't tell from my avatar.

Her Boss Attack is very dangerous if it gets a chance to attack though.

-Bosses really suck now. They seem to take less hits to kill

The Angel Twins kill every single one with one charge shot >_<

Bosses do take a lot more hits on higher difficulties though.

Post by **spadgy** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:09 pm

Thanks so much people. More information than I hoped for - really helpful!

So - I have MVS, DC, PS2 and Saturn.

Dare I ask - which should I go for having not played any?

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:18 pm

Off the top of my head, the Saturn version has an extra character in it (alongside a few other, minor extras), though the DC version has the option to adjust slowdown (from completely eliminated to MVS levels - the Saturn has someplace in between, IIRC). The PS2 version, as was said, is technically a different game, though if you can get ahold of the "Best" release it's likely to be the cheapest of the bunch.

That's about all I can remember offhand as far as differences go.

Post by **Ghegs** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:45 pm

Also worth noting that La Petite Princess includes the original TSS as an unlockable bonus.

Dale · Post by **Dale** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:48 pm

How do you unlock the original? Is it available in the SNK best release?

Post by **spadgy** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 8:09 pm

Thanks so much BulletMagnet. I've got my eye on a nice cheap DC version at the local store, so I might go for that...

Post by **Ghegs** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 11:03 pm

Dale wrote:How do you unlock the original? Is it available in the SNK best release?

I'll just steal this from GameFaqs:

To unlock Twinkle Star Sprites (NeoGeo AES Version) one needs to complete Character Mode with all three hidden characters (Load Ran, Mikoto, and Really Till).

To unlock Load Ran and Mikoto, complete Story Mode. To unlock Really Till, defeat Really Till in Story Mode (She appears at random in Stage 4) and then complete Story Mode.

I'd assume it's available in the re-release since it's not in an extra disc or anything. I only have the original LPP and it wasn't too hard to do.

Baby Bonnie Hood · Post by **Baby Bonnie Hood** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:06 am

mikwuyma wrote:-Some characters are gone - Mevious, Tinker and Linker, Macky and Pentell, and Arthur Schmitt (the latter only appearing in a cutscene )

Grr...

Although the lack of Engrish bothers me more, to be honest. Le sigh...