Katakis confusion

[Herr Schatten]

So I stumbled upon this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=FQXkjwOaFjM
It's supposed to be a replay of the Amiga version of Katakis and what's shown is quite similar to what is found on the HOL page for the game.

Now, I played through the game a couple of times. And this is not it.

First I thought it was because my experience with the game mainly came from playing the re-release called Denaris. I know that it had undergone some changes due to pressure from Irem, so it looked less similar to R-Type than the original release. When looking at the HOL page for Denaris, I pretty much recognize the very game I know so well.

But here's the thing: I vividly remember playing Katakis with a friend every week before our typing classes. I know the game he had read "Katakis" on the box and on the title screen. And his game was 100% identical with my Denaris release, only that it came on two disks instead of one. Both were legit copies bought in a shop, btw.

So how many versions are there? If the version shown in the video has ever been released to the public, that makes at least three: Original version, changed version with Katakis titlescreen, changed version with Denaris titlescree.

The main differences between the video and the other version, as I recall them, are:

- The first level shown in the video is missing or maybe it shows up later in the game, I'm not quite sure (it's quite poorly designed, so it's a change for the better I guess). I don't remember it at all. I do seem to remember the boss, though.
- The second level from the video is the new first level, but some sprites look different and there's a new boss.
- There's a new second level similar to level 5 from C64 Katakis, which is obviously inspired by the Terminator movies. It features lots of rotating grey squares and the boss is some floating mines.
- The fifth level from the video is the new third level.
- The third level from the video is the new fourth level.
- I don't seem to recall a battleship level, but that might just be my memory that's a bit hazy.
- The final level seems to be identical, at least. (It's fun to milk the boss endlessly.)

Can someone confirm and/or correct the above observations?


And, while I'm at it: I don't remember the second level of the C64 version being as green as in this video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=7brB_S0qUn0 In my copy, it looks like this. The POW armors and the lesser forms of the force pod also look a bit different.

[Vincere]

Haha, what a complete R-Type rip-off.
Seems enjoyable though.

[Udderdude]

Such a blatant ripoff, it's going into lawsuit territory .. remember Giana Sisters?

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

Funny this thread should pop up, I was just trying to play both of these last night.

The version I've always known as "Katakis" has all the typical euroshmup failings - random, swirling attack waves, pocorn enemies that take millions of hits to kill and have usually rammed your craft before your shots take them out, point-blanking enemies, etc. Poor design. It may never have been released to shops - but a cracked version was in circulation when I was a kid.
The ending showed screenshots from throughout the game which were obviously hand drawn because they showed the R-9 rather than the regular Katakis ship. I liked the battleship level - if you notice, the front of the battleship is actually one of the bosses from Side Arms.

I only discovered "Denaris" a few years back through emulation. Its much more playable. I'm sure the battleship level was in this one too, I'll have to check it out later. The cracked version I have has no title screen (the game just starts when you load it up) and I dont think it has an ending. Maybe this version was released to shops as both "Denaris" and "Katakis"? The first version may be the one they were forced to change.

One of the main differences I noticed your ship's "bits" (shield orbs). In "Katakis" theyre pretty much green versions of the bits as they appear in R-Type. In "Denaris" they're like mini saturns, with a more detailed spinning animation.

[Emperor Fossil]

And, while I'm at it: I don't remember the second level of the C64 version being as green as in this video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=7brB_S0qUn0 In my copy, it looks like this. The POW armors and the lesser forms of the force pod also look a bit different.

Hmm... yeah, I always thought the greenified level 2 was found in Denaris, not Katakis, and yet that vid clearly shows Katakis on the title screen. Maybe your theory that there are actually three Amiga versions (Original Katakis, Changed Katakis, Changed + renamed to Denaris) also applies to the c64 version.

Whatever the case, the second level in the version of Katakis I had was glaringly white.

[JoshF]

wtf last hope?

[Turrican]

I can confirm that my version too has the Katakis logo but is the one HOL lists as Denaris.

They probably made the in-game changes when it was still katakis, and renamed it for a second rerelease?

[Shatterhand]

I can confirm that my version too has the Katakis logo but is the one HOL lists as Denaris.

They probably made the in-game changes when it was still katakis, and renamed it for a second rerelease?

I think that's the case too. I remember reading somewhere that the re-released version of Katakis was first released as Katakis indeed, and then had the name changed to Denaris at a later point.

I have zero experience with thos games, so I can't comment on the differences. And if I remeber correctly, it was Activision who pressed Factor 5 to drop the game, as they had just bought the R-Type License. In the end, Actvision ended up calling Factor 5 to do the R-Type port

[Turrican]

Man, seeing those videos was a depressing experience that just reminded me of how much better are C64 shmups. Is it safe to say that if a shmup is present on both systems the C64 version has ALWAYS the edge? C64 Katakis crunches the amiga one to pieces.

[Turrican]

Stuart says it all.

[Shatterhand]

Man, seeing those videos was a depressing experience that just reminded me of how much better are C64 shmups. Is it safe to say that if a shmup is present on both systems the C64 version has ALWAYS the edge? C64 Katakis crunches the amiga one to pieces.

R-Type?


Xenon on the C64 was a lot more playable than the Amiga version, though the Amiga one had amazing graphics and outstanding music. ACtually even the level design on the amiga version was pretty good, but the game suffered badly of bad hit-detection. It could had been an awesome shmup.

Even funnier is that the ZX Spectrum (And the identical MSX one) was the best version of all them, though the graphics were horrible

[BrianC]

Which version is offered on Factor 5's site?

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

Comparison of Denaris with Schatten's video:

Level 1 = Denaris Level 6
Level 2 = Denaris Level 1
Level 3 = Denaris Level 4
Level 4 = Denaris Level 5 (Battleship)
Level 5 = Denaris Level 3
Level 6 = Denaris Level 7

Denaris has an extra level (level 2), the blue icy one with the falling squares and mines boss.

[Mortificator]

Which version is offered on Factor 5's site?

The original version. I guess there's not any reason for Factor 5 to worry about legal repercussions now.

[Turrican]

Which version is offered on Factor 5's site?

The original version. I guess there's not any reason for Factor 5 to worry about legal repercussions now.

I guess the next logical question is - which version do you think it's the best? I thought the revamped version was prettier to say the least.

[Herr Schatten]

I guess the next logical question is - which version do you think it's the best? I thought the revamped version was prettier to say the least.

The revamped version also has a much better difficulty curve. The first level of the original game is totally out of place and a lot harder than what comes after it. Judging from the video, gameplay has also been tweaked slightly in the new version. So my vote goes to tweaked Katakis/Denaris.

Does anyone have an original copy of the original game and can confirm that this version has been, in fact, released?

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

Does anyone have an original copy of the original game and can confirm that this version has been, in fact, released?

Can't confirm or deny this, but one wonders how the hackers got their hands on it. Legend has it that the game was withdrawn from sale due to all the hoo-haa from Activision/Irem before the changes were made and it was rereleased. There is an uncracked ADF of this game on the net which suggests there was an original version in ciculation.

As for which is better - well, the revised edition. I take back what I said about the poor design because on closer inspection they are clearly the same game with very minor gameplay tweaks, redrawn graphics in some places and re-ordered levels (with an extra one thrown in on the new version).