Anyone know anything about Edward Randy: The Cliffhanger?

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 3:00 pm

Just wondering:

According to Wikipedia this game was a Japanese only release - but my one displays in English. I searched for dip settings, and found three versions, including two 'world' revisions.

Anyone shed some light on this - was it Jp only or did it get a global release (and is there a dip switch for language?!)

Thanks all!

Macaw · Post by **Macaw** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 3:21 pm

The game is a masterpiece.

Released everywhere.

But the world versions are TOTALLY FUCKED UP compared to the Japanese version due to a completely changed stage order and removal of all story scenes.

Play the Japanese version.

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 3:40 pm

?!

I'm very confused?

I've bought the game, and the seller assured me it was the Japanese version, and he is a trustworthy guy!

All the scenes are there, all the story sections are complete, and according to the Japanese superplays on youtube, all the stages follow the correct order -

But all the language is in English!! Wtf?

How do I tell the version by looking at the board?

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:34 pm

Confused. Help.

Please.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:14 pm

Skykid: MAME iz ur frend.

The text there is Japanese, though.

Does the attract demo show photographs, and is the first stage boss a sort of floating robotic head that shoots out blue and red flames? That should be the Japanese version (according to MAME).

I like the World version's opening, actually.

My only complaints about this game are the crazy scoring and rather cumbersome action systems.

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 11:09 pm

Yep, my PC is out of commission while its being taken apart for some new stuff to go in tomorrow.

Yes, my version has an opening story shown through photographs (or maybe not photographs, but comic-book shaped pictures) and the first stage is on the water with the huge robotic head shooting blue and yellow flames.

I'm pretty sure its the Japanese version, just no idea why its all displaying in English.

Suppose I should stop complaining as it sounds like a great setup, doesn't it?

Rupert H · Post by **Rupert H** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:52 am

This game is too much! Like the bastard child of Castlevania, Metal Slug and OutRun. I remember Lisa picked it out while browsing MAME once, and I looked at her disapprovingly, half expecting to see Sylvester Stalone's ugly mug defiling my screen. Needless to say, it has been a firm favourite ever since. Why doesn't this game get the love and attention it deserves?

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:25 am

Rupert H wrote:Why doesn't this game get the love and attention it deserves?

Because it's Data East and thus crippled by some strange design decisions, that's why.

More generally (feel free to disagree!), Data East rarely made a good playable game, and those that had non-bizarre mechanics (like Midnight Resistance) tended to be underwhelming.

Wolf Fang/Rhoga Armor Force? Hard to control and the diagonal aiming was a bit broken (that game really could've used the ability to look right up).

Nitro Ball? Beautiful, but the same problems facing Outzone - top down action with only one joystick. I also think it highlights another of DE's problems - when it wasn't working with movie licenses they often threw all sorts of disparate themes together (in this game there's a Haunted Castle themed area, an Alien one, War Zone, etc.). It keeps things interesting visually, but also makes it hard to point to and say "this should become a series." They turned that around for the Magical Drop series, a bit late though.

There's lots of awesome stuff here, of course. Gotta love Avengers, Captain America, and the Dark Seal / Wizard Fire games, as well as crazy awesome games like Dragon Gun.

Anyway, I find Edward Randy has quite a bit of similarity in artstyle with Boogie Wings. Seems the folks at DE were fascinated by the 1910s/1920s, which seems natural enough.

Rupert H · Post by **Rupert H** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:45 am

I can't dispute the fact that most of Data East's catalogue is patchy to say the least. Flying Power Disc, Fighters History Dynamite and Edward Randy, while not exactly brimming with innovation, are all solid examples of their ability to produce interesting games, even if they do have a problem with consistency.

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:51 am

Ed Oscuro wrote:
More generally (feel free to disagree!), Data East rarely made a good playable game, and those that had non-bizarre mechanics (like Midnight Resistance) tended to be underwhelming.

Ban, plz.

Robocop? Tumblepop? Bad Dudes? Sly Spy? Captain America And The Avengers? Joe and Mac/Returns?

JoshF · Post by **JoshF** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:55 am

Deco's main problem was not having graphic design up to par with the top 5.

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:56 am

If it wasn't on your recommendation Rupe, I would never have even played the game. The PCB came up and we I worked out a reasonable deal and I've got to say, the game is a spectacle of 2D arcade adventuring.

I do agree partly with Ed though, the controls really make you work out patterns and systems. The whip is super slow, and that's the only real difficulty.

I did see some guy in you tube 1cc it though, so it can be done!

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:02 am

JoshF wrote:Deco's main problem was not having graphic design up to par with the top 5.

True. But gameplay is king. Design is law. And John Romero is going to make you his bitch. And I must go to bed.

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:36 pm

Specineff wrote:
JoshF wrote:Deco's main problem was not having graphic design up to par with the top 5.
True. But gameplay is king. Design is law. And John Romero is going to make you his bitch. And I must go to bed.

The design is gorgeous and incredibly ambitious for 91. I'd go as far as to say the design work is some of the finest and most memorable of its generation (stage 1 boss is incredible!)
Its only the controls and the abundance of spawning enemies that can make the game confusing. He needs to crack that whip!

Post by **system11** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 1:33 pm

Specineff wrote:Robocop?

That game is legendary.

One of the few arcade games I played enough to beat on a credit.

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:00 pm

bloodflowers wrote:
Specineff wrote:Robocop?
That game is legendary.

One of the few arcade games I played enough to beat on a credit.

That's impressive! Robocop is rock - I always thought it was one of those unbeatable coin traps from the 80's.

Post by **system11** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:18 pm

You can actually learn it. The hardest part is the building at the end, you have to learn where the wall turrets are. It's also VERY important to nail the shooting gallery sections to get your HP bar increases.

Post by **undamned** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:18 pm

LARGE SARCASM APPROACHING!

ARE YOU READY?

Macaw wrote:The game is a masterpiece.

Uh, Jeep stage, anyone?

Whip control?

I used to own the PCB. Some areas will blow your mind, others you wonder if they were drunk when they ok'd sections.
-ud

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:29 pm

Lol! I understand the criticisms

It's one of the greatest novelty games ever though.

Macaw · Post by **Macaw** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:29 pm

The jeep stage is frikkin awesome!!!

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:30 pm

It is! It's just a shame that if you keep the thing on two wheels for the entirety of the stage, you're basically invulnerable: that makes the stage a little boring (especially as its so long.)

Looks great though!

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:56 pm

Specineff wrote:Robocop? Tumblepop? Bad Dudes? Sly Spy? Captain America And The Avengers? Joe and Mac/Returns?

Yeah, these are among the exceptions (I mentioned the last two games), except for Robocop which is really an example of the super crummy early DE games without art (the kind JoshF is talking about). I don't really like the gameplay or general lack of imagination in that one.

Robocop 2 is better, though.

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:57 pm

Robocop 2 is awesome. I should never have sold my PCB - anyone want to sell one?