Road Avenger & Thunder Storm - which version is superior

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 5:43 pm

Sorry, sure I've asked this before - just wanted to know which is the better version of this LD compilation: PSX or Sega Saturn.

The Saturn version is waaay more expensive on fleabay - is this an indication of quality of the port?

Thanks chaps!

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 6:52 pm

PSX movie compression is usually noticeably superior to SS.

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 6:55 pm

I've got the PSX version of Thunder Storm and Road Avenger. It was Data East whom distributed the LaserDisc arcade game of Thunder Storm under a different title called "Cobra Command" for the American arcades back in 1984. Road Avenger was also distributed in the USA by Data East as well but in limited numbers back in 1985. I never did see/play RA laserdisc game until the 2008 California Extreme show when someone brought it in for showing off. Both LD games run off the Sega Laserdisc arcade hardware setup. I'd have to say that with the PSX's double speed CD-Rom drive, it does manage to show most of the frames that is essential for playing it from beginning to end but still retains that bit of pixellated look and a few key "lost" frames of animation -- I think if the software developer had waited a while, it would've been possible to capture the entire 30fps framerate of the original LD version and still be up to par on the PSX hardware with better capturing software compression methods. ^_~

Of course, the actual LDs of Cobra Command and Road Avenger are going to have the complete 30fps framerate presentation whereas the PSX and SS versions of the same names are going to take a hit in the framerate capturing process. So don't expect them to be as good as the original LD versions. If a gaming software company were to re-release it on DVD-Rom format nowdays, it would be able to properly display all 30fps framerate of the original LDs without a hitch. ^_~

Upon watching the opening anime intro to Cobra Command, it brought back some cool memories of playing at my local arcades back in the mid 1980s when it was priced at 50 cents per credit (quite expensive back in those days of LD arcade gaming lore). The early Pioneer based LD players used in those early LD arcade games kept breaking down due to heavy usage in trying to search for the next sector to keep up with the player's input commands.

Atari Games' 1984 release of Firefox LD arcade game utilized a newer Phillps LD player along with no-skipping of playing FMV scenes without any noticeable "black" screen jump gaps that plagued the early LD arcade games like Dragon's Lair and Space Ace. The actual Firefox LD arcade cabinet had a cool built-in stereo output jack...perfect for plugging in a pair of stereo headphones and cranking up the built-in stereo volume knob. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 7:23 pm

PC Engine Fan X! wrote:I've got the PSX version of Thunder Storm and Road Avenger. It was Data East whom distributed the LaserDisc arcade game of Thunder Storm under a different title called "Cobra Command" for the American arcades back in 1984. Road Avenger was also distributed in the USA by Data East as well but in limited numbers back in 1985. I never did see/play RA laserdisc game until the 2008 California Extreme show when someone brought it in for showing off. Both LD games run off the Sega Laserdisc arcade hardware setup. I'd have to say that with the PSX's double speed CD-Rom drive, it does manage to show most of the frames that is essential for playing it from beginning to end but still retains that bit of pixellated look and a few key "lost" frames of animation -- I think if the software developer had waited a while, it would've been possible to capture the entire 30fps framerate of the original LD version and still be up to par on the PSX hardware with better capturing software compression methods. ^_~

Of course, the actual LDs of Cobra Command and Road Avenger are going to have the complete 30fps framerate presentation whereas the PSX and SS versions of the same names are going to take a hit in the framerate capturing process. So don't expect them to be as good as the original LD versions. If a gaming software company were to re-release it on DVD-Rom format nowdays, it would be able to properly display all 30fps framerate of the original LDs without a hitch. ^_~

Upon watching the opening anime intro to Cobra Command, it brought back some cool memories of playing at my local arcades back in the mid 1980s when it was priced at 50 cents per credit (quite expensive back in those days of LD arcade gaming lore). The early Pioneer based LD players used in those early LD arcade games kept breaking down due to heavy usage in trying to search for the next sector to keep up with the player's input commands. Atari Games' 1984 release of Firefox LD arcade game utilized a newer Phillps LD player along with no-skipping of playing FMV scenes without any noticeable "black" screen jump gaps that plagued the early LD arcade games like Dragon's Lair and Space Ace.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Nobody avoids the question with as much style as you PCEFX!

I agree with Turrican that the PSX has superior compression for video, but I just want to be sure. If anyone has any knowledge of the ports (or the reason for the price gap between them) would be much appreciated.

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 7:31 pm

It is recommended that you pick up the PSX version of Thunder Storm + Road Avenger with it's better playback compression rates, Skykid. There's no compelling reason to shell out more of your hard-earned money for the crappier SS port of the same name. ^_~

Plus, if you have access to a PSX parallel port version of the Goldfinger cheat device, you can view all the FMV scenes that make up the entire games of both Thunder Storm and Road Avenger at your leisure without having to play through the entire game anyways. Very nice option to have.

Yep, Turrican is right about the PSX having better compression rates for FMV playback indeed. ^_~

You might recall that Thunder Storm FX was released on both Sega CD and Sega MegaCD formats as well.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 8:46 pm

As for Road Blaster, the best home port is actually neither on PSX nor on Saturn, but on the fabled Pioneer Laser Active with Sega Mega LD module.

The system also saw an arcade perfect port of Time Gal.

However, Thunder Storm FX didn't make it to Mega LD, I believe.

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 1:06 am

Those Pioneer LA players are ludicrously expensive aren't they?

Anyway, thanks for the advice PCEF, it is difficult to figure it out by market prices alone. Clearly the Saturn version is the more desirable, but if it's for scarcity reasons rather than quality, I'm not interested.
Sometime the games market does silly things like that.

Expecting the crappy DDP BL 360 port to end up at silly prices after the recent recall, but in all honesty, what's a broken game like that really worth to a gamer?

Thunder Force · Post by **Thunder Force** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 1:54 am

Hmm, to address the question I vaguely recall that the PSX version of Thunder Storm had the better video quality compared to the Saturn. This was one of my favorite FMV games, and I ended up buying the PSX version at the time, so that's probably right, but my memory is hazy as it's been so many years since I've played this. In any case, the PSX version is a good faithful port overall of the arcade version, which I must have played close to a hundred times in its original form back in the day.

I've been meaning to go through my storage boxes and find my PSX disc of this game, so I can try to convert it to run on my PSP and have it in portable form!

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 2:29 am

Thunder Force wrote: I've been meaning to go through my storage boxes and find my PSX disc of this game, so I can try to convert it to run on my PSP and have it in portable form!

What a great idea! That will look sweet on the PSP screen.

Domino · Post by **Domino** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 4:42 am

Skykid wrote:Those Pioneer LA players are ludicrously expensive aren't they?

And the quality suck on those. Low-end LD parts.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 5:34 am

Well, at least you remembered you brought up this general topic: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=21046

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 11:27 am

Ganelon wrote:Well, at least you remembered you brought up this general topic: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=21046

Hey, thanks for that dude (I was searching the wrong section.)

NTSCJ wrote:The Saturn version is inferior to the Playstation one due to the grainy FMV but is also cheaper at around 40 bucks.

Good enough for me.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 11:37 am

laserdisc 4 life

or buy the original full-sized arcade cabinet and laserdisc player combination setup, that will surely set you back a PRETTY PENNY

Thunder Force · Post by **Thunder Force** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 6:17 am

Skykid wrote:
Thunder Force wrote: I've been meaning to go through my storage boxes and find my PSX disc of this game, so I can try to convert it to run on my PSP and have it in portable form!
What a great idea! That will look sweet on the PSP screen.

Guess what, looks like we weren't the only fans of this game who wished we could have a portable version...

Cobra Command (Thunder Storm) coming to Apple portables

www.toucharcade.com wrote:Revolutionary Concepts has announced that Data East's 1984 arcade game Cobra Command is also coming to the iPhone.

Originally released in 1984 by acclaimed Japanese arcade games company Data East ‘Cobra Command’ combined the use of hollywood-quality full motion video and surround sound, (the then leading-edge) Laser Disc technology, and overlaid computer generated graphics, to create a first of it’s kind interactive experience which saw you the player flying a state of the art futuristic combat helicopter across ten wide-ranging action-packed levels.

In conjunction with G-Mode, this new iPhone title will feature a number of iPhone specific features including:

* Full motion widescreen video, fully restored and presented in H.264 running at 60 frames per second.
* Vastly superior graphics and effects to match the on-screen action. Including an all new Cockpit, guns, missiles, and sound effects.
* Redesigned precision multi-touch controls.
* Accelerometer-based tilt steering! You really are in command of the worlds most awesome combat machine.
* Instantaneous seek time, providing a seamless experience where on on-screen action unfolds uninterrupted in real time.
* Unlockable Bonuses. Including Arcade Classic, and Expert Modes.

The game has been updated with enhanced graphics as shown here alongside the original graphics.

A video of the original game can be seen on YouTube. Cobra Command for iPhone is currently in play-testing and on track for release this October.

Fans of this classic coin-op game (all 3 of us...) rejoice in this surprise news!

louisg · Post by **louisg** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 1:37 pm

But the SegaCD one has better intro music!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnTLW_GEXCQ (around :40)

Thunder Force · Post by **Thunder Force** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 3:46 am

Portable version is out

http://toucharcade.com/2009/12/02/cobra ... s-rejoice/

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 10:58 am

Thunder Force wrote:Portable version is out

http://toucharcade.com/2009/12/02/cobra ... s-rejoice/

That's freaking sweet!

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Road Avenger & Thunder Storm - which version is superior

Road Avenger & Thunder Storm - which version is superior

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