Steam Hearts SS vs. PCE

Palmer Eldritch · Post by **Palmer Eldritch** » Sat May 28, 2005 11:58 am

Are there any differences? Which is the better version?

--Michael

Bar81 · Post by **Bar81** » Sat May 28, 2005 12:00 pm

PCE version is better as it's less edited. No other real differences to speak of. The unedited version of course is on the PC, although you should avoid that unless you like surprise invasions of shlong in your storylines.

Palmer Eldritch · Post by **Palmer Eldritch** » Sat May 28, 2005 12:25 pm

Bar81 wrote:The unedited version of course is on the PC, although you should avoid that unless you like surprise invasions of shlong in your storylines.

As long as it´s integral to the gameplay, I don´t mind

Is Steam Hearts any good at all? I´ve heard different opinions for a long time now. Nothing conclusive.

--Michael

Post by **Ghegs** » Sat May 28, 2005 1:53 pm

I got the PCE port, the gameplay is kinda meh. Levels are rather boring, bosses aren't too hard, and if you happen to lose a life you're screwed, since you start from a checkpoint without any powerups, and some of the later levels are very difficult with a peashooter. But quite simple when you're powered up.

The Gradius-effect is in work here.

Bar81 · Post by **Bar81** » Sat May 28, 2005 2:15 pm

I enjoyed it for the lack of frills and gimmicks. It's unimaginitive but solid and a nice time spent going back to the basics.

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Sat May 28, 2005 7:48 pm

in the spirit of keeping things uncensored, how available is the PC version?

i ask because hentai is funny.

Cthulhu · Post by **Cthulhu** » Sun May 29, 2005 1:58 am

Bar81 wrote:PCE version is better as it's less edited. No other real differences to speak of. The unedited version of course is on the PCE, although you should avoid that unless you like surprise invasions of shlong in your storylines.

Umm... the games are really, really different. Yeah, the cutscenes are a little less edited too, but the games are quite different. The systems they're on a are so different, it's not surprise either.

How are they different... hrm. Both have the same basic powerup system and "speed boost" feature, but the levels, enemy layouts, and bosses are different. The bosses are the same people in both versions, but the way they actually act is pretty different. I prefer the PCE version since it's a bit tougher, but I actually enjoy both. They're not really worth the high price though... unless you already have LOTS of other shmups, I'd just buy something else. If you have a large collection already, then it's just fine.

And if you're really looking forward to a shmup having porn in it, go look elsewhere, this isn't even spice-grade stuff.

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Sun May 29, 2005 2:55 am

captain ahar wrote:in the spirit of keeping things uncensored, how available is the PC version?

i ask because hentai is funny.

I love you man!!!!!!! I love hentai + shmups. Or maybe this belongs on the "Guilty Pleasures" thread....

Palmer Eldritch · Post by **Palmer Eldritch** » Sun May 29, 2005 7:00 am

Cthulhu wrote:They're not really worth the high price though... unless you already have LOTS of other shmups, I'd just buy something else. If you have a large collection already, then it's just fine.

I´ve already got the big "S" titles, Sapphire, Spriggan and Sylphia, and wanted to know how SH measured up compared to them.

And if you're really looking forward to a shmup having porn in it, go look elsewhere, this isn't even spice-grade stuff.

Couldn´t care less, really

I heard some good things about the game a while back, based solely on the Saturn version, but apparently the PCE version is the one to go for.

--Michael

Palmer Eldritch · Post by **Palmer Eldritch** » Sun May 29, 2005 8:16 am

Ghegs wrote:I got the PCE port, the gameplay is kinda meh. Levels are rather boring, bosses aren't too hard, and if you happen to lose a life you're screwed, since you start from a checkpoint without any powerups, and some of the later levels are very difficult with a peashooter. But quite simple when you're powered up.

The Gradius-effect is in work here.

The classical "No-death option" eh?

--Michael

Cthulhu · Post by **Cthulhu** » Sun May 29, 2005 2:48 pm

Palmer Eldritch wrote: I´ve already got the big "S" titles, Sapphire, Spriggan and Sylphia, and wanted to know how SH measured up compared to them.

Spend your money on other games then would be my advice. Steam Hearts for the SS used to go for around $80, and the PCE version nearly $100, and it's just not worth it. I got my copies of both for a lot less, so I don't regret buying them, but I wouldn't spend more than $50 on either.

Since you don't care about the pseudo-porn elements, that's another strike against em.

Palmer Eldritch · Post by **Palmer Eldritch** » Sun May 29, 2005 4:41 pm

Thanks.
I´ve been offered the PCE version for $59,95. Think I´ll go for it.

--Michael

Shazzner · Post by **Shazzner** » Sun May 29, 2005 8:05 pm

I have it for PCE. Its not bad as long as you skip the stupid anime crap at the end of each level.

I do like some of the interactive stuff, like when a boss fires a homing thing you and to get away. That was pretty cool. I really just like it because its one of the few vertical shmups on PCE CD.

jp · Post by jp » Sun May 29, 2005 8:10 pm

I've got it on Saturn and thought it was OK. A bit on the easy side, and it has kind of a doujin feel to it... but its fun enough for a few goes every so often.

Love the bosses though. Especially the last one.

Cthulhu · Post by **Cthulhu** » Sun May 29, 2005 11:30 pm

Palmer Eldritch wrote:Thanks.
I´ve been offered the PCE version for $59,95. Think I´ll go for it.

--Michael

If you mean "$59.95", then that's a good deal. Go for it.

If you mean "$5995.00", then it's not so good.

Post by **Ghegs** » Mon May 30, 2005 6:15 am

Shazzner wrote:I really just like it because its one of the few vertical shmups on PCE CD.

"few vertical shmups"?

There are loads of 'em.

Bar81 · Post by **Bar81** » Mon May 30, 2005 12:03 pm

Ghegs wrote:
Shazzner wrote:I really just like it because its one of the few vertical shmups on PCE CD.
"few vertical shmups"? There are loads of 'em.

Seriously:

Sylphia
Super Raiden
Sapphire
Psychic Storm
Star Parodia
Spriggan
Nexzr/Nexzr Special

That's off the top of my head. There are a bunch more here:
http://www.classicgaming.com/shmups/xen ... inecd.html

Palmer Eldritch · Post by **Palmer Eldritch** » Mon May 30, 2005 2:10 pm

Daisenpu Custom
Final Zone II (sort of)
Image Fight II
The Summer Carnival games
Gain Ground SX
Avenger

Cthulhu · Post by **Cthulhu** » Tue May 31, 2005 12:19 am

Palmer Eldritch wrote:Final Zone II (sort of)
Gain Ground SX

I agree with all the other ones you listed, but Final Zone II is not a shmup, and Gain Ground is most certainly not a shmup...

Palmer Eldritch · Post by **Palmer Eldritch** » Tue May 31, 2005 7:16 am

Cthulhu wrote:
Palmer Eldritch wrote:Final Zone II (sort of)
Gain Ground SX
I agree with all the other ones you listed, but Final Zone II is not a shmup, and Gain Ground is most certainly not a shmup...

They are, in a Guerilla War/Ikari Warriors kind of way (at least Final Zone II).
There´s a lot of strategy involved in Gain Ground, but if not a shooter, what would you label it as?

--Michael

Bar81 · Post by **Bar81** » Tue May 31, 2005 8:05 am

More strategy than anything else, it's *definitely* not a shmup.

Palmer Eldritch · Post by **Palmer Eldritch** » Tue May 31, 2005 8:10 am

Bar81 wrote:More strategy than anything else, it's *definitely* not a shmup.

Alrighty then!

No worries. I might have to check it out again even. Had some fun with it a long time ago.

--Michael

Post by **Shatterhand** » Tue May 31, 2005 2:19 pm

Any info on this Final Zone 2? I remember I asked this in another thread, and I don't remember getting an answer.

Sorry for going completely off-topic here, is just that I may have played the prequel of this game a lot, and I didn't know it had a sequel..

Shazzner · Post by **Shazzner** » Tue May 31, 2005 3:21 pm

Bar81 wrote:
Ghegs wrote:
Shazzner wrote:I really just like it because its one of the few vertical shmups on PCE CD.
"few vertical shmups"? There are loads of 'em.
Seriously:

Sylphia
Super Raiden
Sapphire
Psychic Storm
Star Parodia
Spriggan
Nexzr/Nexzr Special

That's off the top of my head. There are a bunch more here:
http://www.classicgaming.com/shmups/xen ... inecd.html

Well then I'll just have to check these games out you big jerk!

Bar81 · Post by **Bar81** » Tue May 31, 2005 5:02 pm

Shazzner wrote:
Bar81 wrote:
Ghegs wrote: "few vertical shmups"? There are loads of 'em.
Seriously:

Sylphia
Super Raiden
Sapphire
Psychic Storm
Star Parodia
Spriggan
Nexzr/Nexzr Special

That's off the top of my head. There are a bunch more here:
http://www.classicgaming.com/shmups/xen ... inecd.html
Well then I'll just have to check these games out you big jerk!

lol, you definitely should. I highly recommend all those games except for Sapphire and Star Parodia, the former is a technical marvel but not sure on the gameplay front, and the latter I didn't care for. Otherwise, those are premiere shmups on any system (with the exception of maybe Psychic Storm which is good but not great.)

Cthulhu · Post by **Cthulhu** » Tue May 31, 2005 11:20 pm

Not all games with shooting are shmups... Final Zone II plays like Outzone and FixEight (do I have those titles right?). There is no forced scrolling, and you can face any direction at any time. Gain Ground is even less of a shmup, as you can walk anywhere you want on a single-screen map (in SX there is some scrolling, but you can still go back and forth at will). Both just fall into the "action" category.

Damocles · Post by **Damocles** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 5:52 am

Just out of curiosity, does anyone have translations for Steam Hearts. There is a lot of friggin conversation, and since I don't speak the language, I have no idea what's going on.

Post by **Ghegs** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 6:53 am

Damocles wrote:Just out of curiosity, does anyone have translations for Steam Hearts. There is a lot of friggin conversation, and since I don't speak the language, I have no idea what's going on.

"I will now have sex with you."

"No! I will not allow you to violate my virgin body!"

"Sis, hold her down."

*hump hump*

"I'm sorry Mario, but the princess is in another castle."

That's the gist of it.

Damocles · Post by **Damocles** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 7:38 am

Ghegs wrote:
Damocles wrote:Just out of curiosity, does anyone have translations for Steam Hearts. There is a lot of friggin conversation, and since I don't speak the language, I have no idea what's going on.
"I will now have sex with you."

"No! I will not allow you to violate my virgin body!"

"Sis, hold her down."

*hump hump*

"I'm sorry Mario, but the princess is in another castle."

That's the gist of it.

You know, after reading that, I've stopped looking for a translation since nothing could ever top that. I am content.

Bar81 · Post by **Bar81** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 7:56 am

Ghegs wrote:
Damocles wrote:Just out of curiosity, does anyone have translations for Steam Hearts. There is a lot of friggin conversation, and since I don't speak the language, I have no idea what's going on.
"I will now have sex with you."

"No! I will not allow you to violate my virgin body!"

"Sis, hold her down."

*hump hump*

"I'm sorry Mario, but the princess is in another castle."

That's the gist of it.

OUTSTANDING. Sadly, that's a 100% accurate translation of every cutscene, well except that you left out the pleasured moan from the evil rapee after the deed is done and the fact that Sis has a d*ck