Hopping into the PC-Engine market

[jp]

Oh yeah, whats the deal with the "Special Versions" of games? I'm seeing those on Ebay going for retarded prices. Is there anything "Special" about them?

[iatneH]

I believe the SuperGrafx is supposed to be the followup to the PC-Engine (rather than the PC-FX being the followup) but the plug was pulled VERY early on and I think only 5 games were released for it. The system itself is not too expensive, I think if you're lucky you can get it for only a little more than the price of Aldynes :\ Darius Alpha is a different story, although the latter is still playable on a PCE.

[jp]

Yeah, I just looked it up.


The Supergrafx costs around $149-200. And apparently only 5 games were made for it (how many of these were shmups?). But, it can play ANY hu-card, and thus, it looks like it could be a worthy investment.


In the fall when my hours start picking up ( , ironic since I'm going to be working 40 hours between Friday and Sunday alone!), I guess I'll plunk out the cash for it and Aldynes, and then I can finally buy US Hu-Cards. w00t w00t.


Did the PC-FX have any shmups on it?

[iatneH]

The PC-FX has ONE shooter, Super God Trooper Zeroigar.

The system sells for dirt cheap on Yahoo Japan, but unfortunately Zeroigar starts between 15,000 and 20,000 yen (didn't stick around to see what they'd end at).

I just won a copy on eBay last week or so, it ended at $187.50.

The system is not backwards compatible though, so for Zeroigar alone you're probably better off working on getting the rest of those Saturn shooters.

[OmegaFlareX]

In the fall when my hours start picking up ( , ironic since I'm going to be working 40 hours between Friday and Sunday alone!), I guess I'll plunk out the cash for it and Aldynes, and then I can finally buy US Hu-Cards.

US Hucards will not play on JP systems, SuperGrafx included. The CDs are region-free, but not hucards. You'll either have to get the SuperGrafx modded or find a converter.

The "special" versions of Soldier Blade, Gunhed, etc. are caravan mode-only versions that were used in competitions in Japan. The regular version of Gunhed doesn't have the time attack modes, but all the Soldier games do. I saw a Bomberman '93 special version for sale on Game Theory's ebay store, but that's the first I've heard of it. I've got no idea what's on it.

[Neon]

Bomberman 93 special is just 93's multiplayer, IIRC.

[jp]

The PC-FX has ONE shooter, Super God Trooper Zeroigar.

The system sells for dirt cheap on Yahoo Japan, but unfortunately Zeroigar starts between 15,000 and 20,000 yen (didn't stick around to see what they'd end at).

I just won a copy on eBay last week or so, it ended at $187.50.

The system is not backwards compatible though, so for Zeroigar alone you're probably better off working on getting the rest of those Saturn shooters.

Lemme know how that game is. I saw it on Ebay when I was browsing and I didn't realize it wasn't a PC-Engine Duo game. It looked damn cool from the back/cover.


Also, whats the difference between the Hu-Card Sidearms and the CD Sidearms? I've got the CD version on the way...

[Specineff]

The Hucard version is quite unfair. Greg showed me the PCE CD version, and that one is quite enjoyable, especially the arranged mode.

[Cthulhu]

The Sidearms CD has two different versions of the game on it. Very cool.

I own -LOTS- of PCE CD shmups, as it was one of my systems of choice back when I was living in Osaka. I think someone already mentioned these, but you really, really should look into Spriggan and Spriggan 2. Spriggan 1 is better (imho) but both are excellent. Really excellent.

Avoid the Japanese "R-Type Complete" CD game. It's the game as the US HU-Card R-Type game for the most part, but much rarer and costs way more.

As for the "ohmyfuckinggodthisgamecostsalot" rare PCE shmups...

Sapphire is in-freaking-credibly cool, but it's -not- worth $350-$400 unless you want it as a collectors item. Sylphia is really damn cool too (it's the seems-like-Compile-but-nobody-is-sure game) but again, the horrendous price of $200 or so makes it more of a collectors item than anything else. Steam Hearts for the PCE is a totally different game than the Saturn version, and a better game overall IMHO. It's not all that explicit, regardless of what you hear... if you've ever seen any H anime, you've seen FAR worse than what SH has.


Other random thoughts:

If you want a pretty neat, pretty unique hori, Kiaiden 00 is really cool (you MUST be a mecha anime fan though ) but also goes for a fairly high price... not triple digit price though.

I realize that Malc hates the game, but I actually like Image Fight II a lot. If you like obscenely difficult shmups (I'm the Undead Line fanboy), it's great. Fun to work through. Rayxanber II is fun for the difficulty in a way, but III is a better game overall. I have no idea why, but III is nigh-impossible to find... yet still doesn't go for all that much. Grr.

A couple of fun, cheap games that often get overlooked are L-Dis and Psychic Storm. Both cost relatively little and are quite a bit of fun.

Hope some of this helps~

[Ghegs]

Side Arms hu-card >>> Side Arms Special as far as I'm concerned. The remixed "Before Christ" mode isn't all that good, and the regular Side Arms has annoying gaps in the action before bosses when the CD loads up the music.

I have both Rayxanber III and Steam Heart's, think I paid around $80 for each. Steam Heart's is kinda boring.

[jp]

So for any of you US PC-Engine Duo owners:

Do you use a step down converter? I really don't want to fry my console, and I think not using a step down converter is what happened to my grey Saturn and maybe my Floppy Disk Drive for the Saturn (though it still works, it was acting funny last time I tried to get some saves off of it).


Everyone keeps recommending L-Dis... I almost bought that with this batch of PC-Engine games... I guess next time I should give it a shot.

[OmegaFlareX]

As far as I know, Japanese electronics operate on the same voltage current as their US counterparts. No stepdowns should be needed. It's the PAL-territory stuff you'd need converters for.

L-Dis is surprisingly excellent. It shares a trait in common with Shubibinman 3 in that it's a regular CD game, but in a lot of places, looks on par with Super CD stuff. Masaya apparently knew what they were doing with the CD format. It's a horiz cute-em-up, but it's very challenging. I made it to stage 5... once. The ocean level (level 4) is extremely frustrating, especially when you die and lose ALL your power-ups, speed included. But the game has a slick presentation (I love the sound effects) and really imaginative enemies. It's simply a lot of fun to play, and definitely worth the $10-20 it ususally goes for.

[Ghegs]

As far as I know, Japanese electronics operate on the same voltage current as their US counterparts. No stepdowns should be needed. It's the PAL-territory stuff you'd need converters for.

This be true. I used to use a stepdown but then I discovered I can forget about that if I use the power supply from a european Mega Drive. Works great and goes right into the Duo.

I admit to judging a book by it's cover, L-Dis has such horrible cover art I've been avoiding it, but if it's indeed that good...I just snagged a copy from eBay for $10.99. And the same seller even had the first Cho Aniki game for sale, so I picked that up as well.

[Specineff]

Actually, Japanese stuff runs at a slightly minor voltage. 100 volts as opposed to 110/120. My japanese Duo never had a problem with the voltage over here, however, it seems that interference on the power line caused it to run off sync. I had to run an extension cord from the other side of the room to avoid it.

[jp]

L-Dis it is then.


I'm starting to think the next batch will just be L-Dis, Rayxanber III (from VGI apparently... ugh), and maybe something else.

[Specineff]

Two warnings. Stay away from Legion and Metamor Jupiter. Worst. Crap. Ever.

[captain ahar]

hey Ghegs if if Cho Aniki or Ldis aren't to your liking, who ya gonna call?

[Ghegs]

hey Ghegs if if Cho Aniki or Ldis aren't to your liking, who ya gonna call?

Ghostbusters!

[jp]

What all PC-Engine hu-card shmups got released in the US?

[jp]

Oh, and how are these games:

Genocide
Hani in the Sky
Kiki Kai Kai Ninja (is this Pocky and Rocky?)
Long Nose Goblin
Override
Paranoia
Psycho Chaser
Tenseiryu Saint Dragon
Veigues



Those games have bad ass covers.

[OmegaFlareX]

What all PC-Engine hu-card shmups got released in the US?

Courtesy of PCEP:

Aero Blasters
Air Zonk
Blazing Lazers
Cyber-Core
Dead Moon
Deep Blue
Dragon Spirit
Fantasy Zone
Galaga '90
Magical Chase
Ordyne
Psychosis
R-Type
Raiden
Sidearms
Sinistron
Soldier Blade
Space Harrier
Super Star Soldier

Oh, and how are these games:

Genocide

This is the first I've heard of this one. There's a "review" at PCEP saying it's utter shite. I'll download the rom and find out myself. Edit: It's on SuperCD, nevermind.

Hani in the Sky

Vertical shmup starring a haniwa statue (!?). The control is very weird - one button shoots, the other rotates which direction you fire. Mastering this game will take A LOT of practice. The graphics are quite nice, but I haven't played past the first stage because I was turned off by the control scheme.

Kiki Kai Kai Ninja (is this Pocky and Rocky?)

Yes, it is. A straight port of the arcade original, I think. No opinion on how good or bad it is, since I haven't played it more than 20 seconds.

Long Nose Goblin

A.K.A. Hana Taka Daka. It's a crazy, Parodius-style horzie. Excellent game, I reccomend this one. One of the bosses is a racoon from Japanese mythology, complete with huge testicles.

Override

Awesome! I love this game. It plays very, very fast. Almost manic. It'll keep you on the edge of your seat, that's for sure. I don't care for the incredibly frequent instances of power-ups, but other than that, it's golden. It's also rare as fuck. I hardly ever see it show up on ebay.

Paranoia

Haven't played this one much at all, sorry. I hear the US version (Psychosis?) has a lot of censoring.

Psycho Chaser

Not much info on this one, either. It's a vert where you control a walking cyborg. I remember the first stage having an absolutely boring background. Just some simplistic pattern.

Tenseiryu Saint Dragon

Isn't this the only home port of the arcade game? I might be wrong. It's pretty cool, not spectacular, but worth playing, I think. The volume of the main weapon is way too fucking loud. It drowns out the BGM.

Veigues

Veigues Tactical Gladiator. Mech action-shooter, I do believe. I've never played it. I'll give the rom a whirl and get back to you.

[iatneH]

I really like Paranoia. It only cost me $4 or so too, although it was a HuCARD-only. The whole atmosphere is very creepy, although I haven't played the US version for comparison.

[Ghegs]

Override

Awesome! I love this game. It plays very, very fast. Almost manic. It'll keep you on the edge of your seat, that's for sure. I don't care for the incredibly frequent instances of power-ups, but other than that, it's golden. It's also rare as fuck. I hardly ever see it show up on ebay.

What he said. It's pretty easy though, you get 3 shields per life and extends are fairly common. The last boss is cheap as hell though, it's just a matter of having enough extra lives in stock to outlast it. I think I one-lifed up to it (had 8 or 9 lives in reserve) and came out with only 2 remaining.

The rarity issue is really weird, the game is hard to find but when it does show up it's always under $30. I got mine for $28 complete.

[chtimi-CLA]

Oh, and how are these games:

Genocide
Hani in the Sky
Kiki Kai Kai Ninja (is this Pocky and Rocky?)
Long Nose Goblin
Override
Paranoia
Psycho Chaser
Tenseiryu Saint Dragon
Veigues



Those games have bad ass covers.

super long nose goblin (hana taka da ka) is by far the best of the lot, it can compare with magical chase.
kikikaikai is a port of the old arcade game, the sfc games are much better.
the best thing about it is the cover art.
paranoia is shit.
saint dragon is ok, but there are many better horiz on the pce.

[jp]

Shit, I got the Japanese Ordyne and Super Star Soldier.


*sigh* C'est la vie.


If Paranoia is actually creepy I may have to look into that. And I'll definitely check out Override now. Thanks for the heads up.


Oh, and how much better is Rayxanber III compared to II? And why is it better? Is it just a lot easier or something?

[Cthulhu]

Rayxanber III is just more interesting in general. The levels have more variety, the weapons seem to "work" better, the enemies (especially the bosses) are more fun to fight, etc.

I'll second (third, fourth, fifth, whatever...) Override. Great game.

As for Japanese voltages - they vary throughout the country. Eastern Japan is generally 110 volts, western slightly lower... (I might have that backwards). I've used lots of Japanese systems on regular 120 volt outlets and had no trouble. US electronics work fine in Japanese outlets 99% of the time too (although some things are a little "weak," like my electric razor). If your system starts to act funny, a converter would be in order, but I've never had to consider one.

[SheSaidDutch]

Yeah Overide is great fun, umm how about Final Blaster(Namco) I think it's worth hunting down if you can find it at a good price.

I enjoyed what I played of it in Magic Engine.

[jp]

Are there any instances where the Japanese version of a game that had a US release is considerably better? I saw Paranoia listed here... I was just wondering if there were any others.


Personally, I'd prefer to stick to US releases when I can so that I can actually read the manuals and all that.

[OmegaFlareX]

Are there any instances where the Japanese version of a game that had a US release is considerably better?

None that I can think of except Paranoia. Actually, in two cases, it's the other way around. When R-Type was released in Japan, hucards larger than 2 megs (megabits) were not available yet, so they had to split up the game to make it fit. R-Type I has the first four levels, and R-Type II has the last four. For the US release, they stuffed all 8 levels onto a 4-meg hu and called it a day.

Second example is Magical Chase, but this one is very minor. For whatever reason, the US version has different background graphics in the first stage. I'm not sure if anything else was different. In my opinion, the level looks a lot better than its Japanese counterpart.

[jp]

Are there any instances where the Japanese version of a game that had a US release is considerably better?

None that I can think of except Paranoia. Actually, in two cases, it's the other way around. When R-Type was released in Japan, hucards larger than 2 megs (megabits) were not available yet, so they had to split up the game to make it fit. R-Type I has the first four levels, and R-Type II has the last four. For the US release, they stuffed all 8 levels onto a 4-meg hu and called it a day.

Second example is Magical Chase, but this one is very minor. For whatever reason, the US version has different background graphics in the first stage. I'm not sure if anything else was different. In my opinion, the level looks a lot better than its Japanese counterpart.

Thanks bro, I shall keep that in mind.


Man, Tuesday can't come soon enough. It'll be awhile til I have more than Sidearms Special, Nexzr, and Rayxanber II, but in all honesty (as weird as it seems) Rayxanber II was my main reason for buying the console. I just loved the look of it in the review... so strange. And for some reason I'm incredibly hyped about that game, and I don't even know why.