steel empire on gba?

[iluvmonsterz]

i m a big fan of the one on genny...hows the gba version? impressions?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Considering that the original Mega Drive/Sega Genesis version of Steel Empire runs at 30fps, the GBA version from famed game developer, Starfish, runs at an impressive silky smooth arcade-spec framerate of 60fps. Looks awesome running on a Gameboy Micro with absolutely no LCD screen smearing issues whatsoever. Plus your high scores and high score intials are saved directly to the GBA cartridge itself for posterity (unlike with the MD/Genny versions of SE's scores which are lost upon being powered down for the night).

Unfortunately, GBA SE was never officially distributed in the USA but only for both Japan and Europe. The Japanese GBA version has Japanese text whilst the European version is presented in all-English language for the on-going story that developes between stages.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[subcons]

Same thing I posted in another topic years ago with regards to SE on the GBA:

"A review by Icelight (?) at GameFAQs: Link

His main gripe with the game is the "butchering of the bosses"... a valid one. I personaly don't have a problem with the bosses. The thing that feels most different to me is the game's pace. The MD Steel Empire had a lot of room to move around in making it feel sort of slow--not a bad thing by any means. With the GBA one space is a lot tighter, mostly due to the larger sprites and less screen, making it feel much more frantic. It feels especially tight on the boss battles as all the bosses/mid-bosses are quite large in size."

I got rid of my GBA long ago, but SE and Gradius are two of the finest shooters on that system.

[Obiwanshinobi]

There's more problems with the original than just the framerate, and I believe the GBA version solves some of them (although it still seems to slow down every now and then). The thing is, it's a remake rather than enhanced port. Still pretty game (you had better play it on a backlit screen, though), but the minimalistic charm of the original presentation is gone. Awesome tunes are rearranged too.

[iluvmonsterz]

thnx guys...sounds like its not a bad game..might end up looking for it..

[spadgy]

I'm glad to hear generally positive comments about the GBA port. The MD version was seminal in me starting to take shmups a bit too seriously, so I'd almost avoided the port as I'd feared disappointment. Sounds like it's worth buy at the right price.

I've got to whip out my Tototek PS2 to MD adapter and hit up Steel Battalion with my HRAP2 sometime soon!

[Soldato J]

This game is semi-permanently lodged in my micro

[doctorx0079]

Ghegs recommended this game to me and I'm so glad he did. Still trying to figure out how to increase my score. Stay alive more I guess. I'm sure there are those on this board who would consider this game way too easy, but it's just about right for me. Definitely harder than Darius R.

[Strider77]

I prefer it on a big screen via my megadrive.

[Lunchbox]

I prefer it on a big screen via my megadrive.

I used to think that way, but after playing the gba version with some calm, I can't go back to the original. I think that the "game itself" is better.

[Tigershark]

I have this game permanantly plugged into my DS.

Over all I like it. It is cramped and sometimes the speed can be a bit too much. Not so muc on the boss battles but rather some of the tight scrolling sections. I remember the original MD game well and like Spadgy it was the game that got me into the genre (well perhaps not exactly like Spadgy but you know what I mean!).

Definitely worth a purchase. I think I got mine from e-bay for about £10 or so.

Music is great (through earphones).

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Fired up the original JPN GBA version of Koutetsu Teikoku on the DS Lite, and managed to score higher than if it was played on the GBA SP or even the GB Micro. High score saving is a really cool feature indeed. It's nice to be able to play KT on the go with the GB Micro. Talk about ultra portable handheld gaming at it's best.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[mumu]

It's great. Play-Asia currently got it in used condition, which usually means very good and complete condition.

[HeWhoGoverns]

Steel Empire is off the hook. The GBA version ahs refined visuals, and a slightly different weapon system if I recall, but yeah, changing the bosses was the only bad thing they did. It is well worth the money (I paid like 30 bucks for my euro copy) and is one of the best shmups on the system.

[Koa Zo]

I prefer it on a big screen via my Gamecube Gameboy Player Adapter.

fixed