the Cotton games - a couple of questions

Herr Schatten · Post by **Herr Schatten** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 9:25 am

I just got Fantastic Night Dreams: Cotton for my PCE and I'm enjoying it a lot despite the occasional cheap death. I decided to go and hunt down the other Cotton games (minus Panorama and Rainbow), but I'm a bit confused about how many different games and how many versions of them are actually there.

Let's see:

Fantastic Night Dreams: Cotton (PCE)
Fantastic Night Dreams: Cotton 2 (Sat)

Cotton Boomerang (Sat)

Märchen Adventure: Cotton 100% (SNES)

Cotton Original (PS1)

Are those all?
Which is the sequel of which (story-wise, gameplay-wise)?
Are Cotton Original and Märchen Adventure: Cotton 100% the same game?
How similar are Fantastic Night Dreams: Cotton 2 and Cotton Boomerang?

zinger · Post by **zinger** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 9:58 am

There's also some Cotton Pachinko game (weird gambling stuff) for PS2.

I think Cotton Original is a collection which includes the PCE game aswell as 100%.

Post by **Shatterhand** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 12:03 pm

I think the "order" is that:

Fantastic Night Dreams: Cotton
Märchen Adventure: Cotton 100%
Fantastic Night Dreams: Cotton 2
Cotton Boomerang

And I'd say Cotton 100% is like a "side-story" plot-wise. Cotton Boomerang is Cotton 2 plot-wise, it just has a lot of changes in the gameplay.

And I think Cotton Original in the PS1 is just a remake of the Cotton PCE. I am not sure about that either.

I recommend Cotton Boomerang a lot, I find it to be one of the finest horizontal shmups around.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 3:26 pm

Heh heh, I really ought to save the "Cotton 2 vs. Boomerang" response I type once every few months around here...but in any case, if it helps to increase awareness of the Cotton games, it's worth it.

I believe that "Cotton" on PCE and "Cotton Original" on PSX are the same thing: "Cotton 100%" was originally released on the SNES, but was later a budget release on the PSX as well (there is no compilation which includes both). As far as story goes, if there ever was a shmup series where story REALLY doesn't matter, it's Cotton: in most every one, to the best of my knowledge, the plot is some variation on Cotton being conned into finding the magical "willow" candies by one of the other characters. Boomerang more or less completely dispenses with any sense of story, MvC2 style.

As for Cotton 2 and Boomerang, they share many similar characteristics (command shots, sealing/chaining, stage themes), but there are several differences; the main one is that in Cotton 2 you control a single character with a life meter, while in Boomerang you select a team of 3 at the start, and when one is shot down (one hit kills) the next one comes out and takes over (or you can use a "change bomb" to switch). In Boomerang your regular shots are much more powerful and sealing enemies is easier, but enemies also shoot more stuff at you. In Cotton 2 you can also change your character's "element" by collecting different-colored crystals; in Boomerang each character's element is fixed. Also, in Boomerang the option to assign the command shots to single buttons is available at the start; in 2, you have to unlock it. Boomerang also includes an unlockable practice mode and a few other things.

There's other stuff too, but those are the main points off the top of my head...I'd probably recommend Boomerang over 2 (though I own both), but be aware, it's rarer and pricier, and less "traditional," so take your own tastes into account.

Post by **Shatterhand** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 4:36 pm

In 2 you can change the element? That would be very useful.

In Boomerang, certain stages are easier to chain with a certain element, while others are easier with other element. And as I am usually fixed to one element, it makes things harder. Of course, I can bomb and switch characters, but bombs give points in the end of the stage.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 5:06 pm

Shatterhand wrote:In 2 you can change the element? That would be very useful.

Indeed. If you shoot a regular ol' yellow crystal enough, it'll change to either red (fire), blue (ice), green (wind) or, later on, white (light), and will 1) add another "pseudo-bomb" to your stock, and 2) change your shot's element. Takes some practice to get what you want though, kinda like managing the bells in Twinbee.

Of course, I can bomb and switch characters, but bombs give points in the end of the stage.

Not to mention being able to save your butt.

That's one of the things I dislike about Boomerang; you hafta waste a bomb (or die) to switch out, not to mention that (unless you only have one character left) you HAVE to switch out when you bomb, which means you may end up with a character you don't want for a particular area, just because you had to save yourself. Oh well, nothin's perfect, heh.

SPACE HARRIER · Post by **SPACE HARRIER** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 8:28 pm

There is another one

COTTON for the NEO GEO POCKET.....huh??..I think this is the only SHMUP released for the NGP?? Are there more released??

If you can find it at a good price,buy it because it's a very nice shmup.

CHEERS

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 11:56 pm

Just got Cotton for the NGPC today after several years of thinking about it. It is a beautiful handheld game on a beautiful handheld system. Not sure about the gameplay yet, but I love the look of the game. And the instructions are in English, unlike my copy of Cotton 2 for the Saturn.

I do believe that this is the only shmup on the system, sadly.

I was intending to start a thread to hear others' impressions of Cotton for NGPC, but on second thought I doubt that enough people have played it to get much discussion started. I will try to post some impressions here as I get more into the game. If anyone has any thoughts, I'd like to hear what you think.

Cthulhu · Post by **Cthulhu** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 12:11 am

There's also Panorama Cotton, which is a Space Harrier-ish rail shooter for the Mega Drive. Absurdly rare and expensive, but tons of fun if you like those sorts of games.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 4:42 am

I think that the NGPC Cotton is the same as the first Cotton game which came out on the PCE, but I'm not positive.

ST Dragon · Post by **ST Dragon** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 8:06 am

Shatterhand wrote:I think the "order" is that:

Fantastic Night Dreams: Cotton
Märchen Adventure: Cotton 100%
Fantastic Night Dreams: Cotton 2
Cotton Boomerang

And I'd say Cotton 100% is like a "side-story" plot-wise. Cotton Boomerang is Cotton 2 plot-wise, it just has a lot of changes in the gameplay.

And I think Cotton Original in the PS1 is just a remake of the Cotton PCE. I am not sure about that either.

I recommend Cotton Boomerang a lot, I find it to be one of the finest horizontal shmups around.

Cotton Fantastic Night Dreams for PCE & PS-1. I have them both & are almost identical but the PCE has better CD audio tracks.

Märchen Adventure: Cotton 100% (SNES & PS-1) I've only played the SNES version. Not sure what's improved on the PS-1? Any info on this?

Cotton 2 - Saturn

Cotton Boomerang - Saturn

Cotton - NGPC. I've Never played this.

There is also a similar game on the PCE called Magic Chase which features some of the most colourful graphics on the PCE.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 9:03 am

ST Dragon wrote: There is also a similar game on the PCE called Magic Chase which features some of the most colourful graphics on the PCE.

There's actually a GBC version of Magical Chase too. There's a PC game that combines aspects of cotton and Magical Chase called Magical Broom Xtreme. Apparantly, there's also a PC Magical Chase. I'm not sure if it's legit, but it definatly looks like a real PC version of the game. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... eName=WDVW

BTW, Cotton started in the arcades. The PSX and PCE CD Cottons are ports of the arcade original. Telling from the previous posts, it seems the PSX version uses the original arcade soundtrack and the PCE CD version has an arranged soundtrack.

Cotton 2 and Cotton Bommerang were also arcade games.

ST Dragon · Post by **ST Dragon** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 9:27 am

Yes they all originated from the arcades. Cotton 2 & Boomerang used the SEGA ST-V board same as Shienryu & Soukyugurentai. The Saturn ports are arcade perfect in every aspect.
Not sure which arcade PCB Cotton Magical Night Dreams uses?

I'm not sure about Cotton 100% on the SNES & PS-1. Are they any different & are they ports from the arcades?
Ive only played the SNES version but didn't like it much...

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 12:51 pm

BulletMagnet wrote:I think that the NGPC Cotton is the same as the first Cotton game which came out on the PCE, but I'm not positive.

Yes, my understanding is that it's the same game, though the NGPC version had to be scaled down in terms of the number of sprites on screen at a given time. For example, Cotton can only have one accompanying fairy in the NGPC version, but could have up to 3 in the PCE version.

There is a useful discussion of the differences in the following favorable review:
http://www.gamespot.com/ngpc/action/cotton/review.html

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 12:56 pm

So are most people who've played the Cotton games in agreement that Boomerang is the best of the lot?

Nei First · Post by **Nei First** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 2:13 pm

Shame they altered the graphics and colours in boomerang though, the graphics and overall presentation looks much nicer in Cotton 2.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 3:53 pm

ST Dragon wrote:I'm not sure about Cotton 100% on the SNES & PS-1. Are they any different & are they ports from the arcades?
Ive only played the SNES version but didn't like it much...

I don't think Cotton 100% was ever an arcade game. I haven't played the original SNES version, but I doubt that the PSX version has much in terms of improvements over it...it doesn't even have a high score save.

professor ganson wrote:So are most people who've played the Cotton games in agreement that Boomerang is the best of the lot?

Several do, but there are also a number of players who dislike the later Cottons' gameplay in general (it's understandable, command moves in a shooter definitely aren't for everyone), and prefer the older Cottons...Boomerang's got the most moves and other stuff to mess with out of any of the games though, and is also the most manic, if you like those types of shmups.

yojo! · Post by **yojo!** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 7:40 pm

Are levels (graphics and sounds) identiqual in both Cotton 2 and Cotton boomerang or are they two different games ?

Recap · Post by **Recap** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 8:12 pm

BulletMagnet wrote: I don't think Cotton 100% was ever an arcade game.

It wasn't.

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 10:30 pm

First, let me confess that on several occasions BulletMagnet's avatar has caught my attention, and until today I didn't realize I was looking at Appli and Needle from Cotton 2. (Are they in other Cotton games as well?) Very nice. I like it even better than your earlier one-- I think it was of a famous coyote.

BulletMagnet wrote:
professor ganson wrote:So are most people who've played the Cotton games in agreement that Boomerang is the best of the lot?
Several do, but there are also a number of players who dislike the later Cottons' gameplay in general (it's understandable, command moves in a shooter definitely aren't for everyone), and prefer the older Cottons...Boomerang's got the most moves and other stuff to mess with out of any of the games though, and is also the most manic, if you like those types of shmups.

And let me confess as well that I am one of those who has so far been a bit intimidated by Cotton 2's gameplay. I've never been very good at fighters because it's hard for me to put together even simple sequences/commands/combos or whatever. I'm better off with one button for shooting and another for bombing. Though I will admit that Radiant Silvergun's array of weapons is quite nice.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 2:27 am

yojo! wrote:Are levels (graphics and sounds) identiqual in both Cotton 2 and Cotton boomerang or are they two different games ?

The "themes" for each level in the two games are similar (each one has a cave level, lava level, ocean level, etc.), but the layouts of the stages are different, and the graphics are different too, though the basic "idea" of each level is the same.

professor ganson wrote:First, let me confess that on several occasions BulletMagnet's avatar has caught my attention, and until today I didn't realize I was looking at Appli and Needle from Cotton 2. (Are they in other Cotton games as well?) Very nice. I like it even better than your earlier one-- I think it was of a famous coyote.

Heh, thank you.

As for Needle and Appli, they're both in Cotton Boomerang as well (Needle's even playable!), but I think they both exist only in the Saturn Cotton games (unless they're somewhere in Rainbow Cotton, which I've never played).

jp · Post by jp » Wed Jun 08, 2005 2:37 am

Dunno if it was mentioned, but Panorama Cotton has a sequel on the Dreamcast titled Rainbow Cotton.

As for favorites:
I prefer Cotton 2. It just feels more... refined... when compared to Cotton Boomerang (which is a great game, don't get me wrong, it just feels a bit too... rushed... to me).

Post by **Shatterhand** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 2:59 am

professor ganson wrote:
And let me confess as well that I am one of those who has so far been a bit intimidated by Cotton 2's gameplay. I've never been very good at fighters because it's hard for me to put together even simple sequences/commands/combos or whatever. I'm better off with one button for shooting and another for bombing. Though I will admit that Radiant Silvergun's array of weapons is quite nice.

Ok, then try Cotton Boomerang. In Boomerang you can have most of the special shots mapped in the other buttons. I think there's only one special shot that's not mapped in any button, but that's one is very easy to do (Right, Left, Shot button).

I personally love the special shots in Boomerang. They add a lot in the gameplay. They are essential if you want to play for score, and they help boss fights a lot.

Needle kind of sux in Boomerang IMO.

Shit, I haven't played this game for ages now... this game is SO awesome, I have to 1cc it someday

Hey bulletmagnet, what about starting a hi-score thread for Boomerang? So we can see who is the worst player!

(I've just checked, my current hi-score is 2151200

)

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 3:12 am

Shatterhand wrote:Needle kind of sux in Boomerang IMO.

Blasphemy!

He's definitely not the most "practical" character for sure (having the hard-to-chain Light element and being unable to shoot while holding something), but I still think he's a hoot to play as...watching him "spank" a sealed enemy he's holding is alone worth the disadvantages for a nitwit like me, heh.

Hey bulletmagnet, what about starting a hi-score thread for Boomerang? So we can see who is the worst player! (I've just checked, my current hi-score is 2151200 )

Go for it! I haven't checked recently, but my own highest score, IIRC, on defaults isn't much higher than 2 mil (if even that high). Beware when challenging me for the Worst Player crown on any game, you're in for the fight of your life!

jp · Post by jp » Wed Jun 08, 2005 4:33 am

Oddly enough, I always have Needle is my roster when I play. Not sure why...

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 12:57 am

Shatterhand wrote:
professor ganson wrote:
And let me confess as well that I am one of those who has so far been a bit intimidated by Cotton 2's gameplay. I've never been very good at fighters because it's hard for me to put together even simple sequences/commands/combos or whatever. I'm better off with one button for shooting and another for bombing. Though I will admit that Radiant Silvergun's array of weapons is quite nice.
Ok, then try Cotton Boomerang. In Boomerang you can have most of the special shots mapped in the other buttons. I think there's only one special shot that's not mapped in any button, but that's one is very easy to do (Right, Left, Shot button).

I personally love the special shots in Boomerang. They add a lot in the gameplay. They are essential if you want to play for score, and they help boss fights a lot.

What you guys have said about Boomerang here convinced me that I ought to pick it up, and so I did: for just under $30!!!

Once it arrives I may need help mapping the special shots to the other buttons, though perhaps it will be obvious how to do it.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 1:09 am

professor ganson wrote:What you guys have said about Boomerang here convinced me that I ought to pick it up, and so I did: for just under $30!!!

That's a very good deal for Boomerang: I paid about twice that for my copy. Actually, if you got the thing from eBay, I think I might glimpsed the one you won...did it start at 20 bucks? I was wondering if anyone would pick that up, heh.

Once it arrives I may need help mapping the special shots to the other buttons, though perhaps it will be obvious how to do it.

On Boomerang the option is right there in the Options menu right at the start, you shouldn't have any trouble. Hope you like the game, when it arrives!

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 1:25 am

BulletMagnet wrote:
professor ganson wrote:What you guys have said about Boomerang here convinced me that I ought to pick it up, and so I did: for just under $30!!!
That's a very good deal for Boomerang: I paid about twice that for my copy. Actually, if you got the thing from eBay, I think I might glimpsed the one you won...did it start at 20 bucks? I was wondering if anyone would pick that up, heh.

That's the one. I won the item at 21.50 (but there was an $8 shipping fee). I don't actually know the exact condition of the game, but for that price as long as it plays I'm happy.

Thanks much for the useful characterization of Boomerang, Bulletmagnet. When you described as a bit on the manic side, this got me quite interested.

And thanks for the instructions on how to access the wimpy set-up.
I wish I were more skilled at quickly pressing buttons in a certain order, as your typical fighter requires. Perhaps if fighters had existed when I was a young kid, this skill would have come more naturally to me. But trying to learn that skill now that I'm 35 is just a bit hopeless. I've been thinking about how kids today get exposed to videogames so young, and as a result their neurons fire in ways that mine did not. Honestly, before the age of ten I know I played Pong, but that may have been it.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 1:46 am

Lower than 30 including shipping's an even better deal.

Glad to have been of a little help in getting you acquainted with the game; the Cotton games (especially the later ones) are underappreciated imo, I like seeing new people at least giving them a try. And don't be too hard on yourself about the "wimpy" setup, as again, the fighting-game commands aren't everyone's cup of tea (apparently enough people complained after Cotton 2 to get them to change it for Boomerang, heh heh).

As for "differently-firing neurons," don't feel too bad about that either; at least your generation can think, as opposed to just react, like so many of the youngins these days.

Post by **Shatterhand** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 2:34 am

Well, the fighther alike commands would really feel odd in Boomerang. The only special move I never use is exactly the one that it's not mapped to any buttons.

Having them in different buttons is like having different weapons. Now, to make special motions to fire those shots probably feels very wrong.

I wouldn't call it a "wimpy" feature. I would call it a feature that should be there since Cotton 2