your opinions on a few games?

[iluvmonsterz]

i m looking into picking up these games, are they worth the cash i am about to spend on em?
1)steam hearts (100.00) one of the last shmups i am missing on saturn, i really like character shmups..
2)harmful park (200ish) looks cool but worth the money?
3) gatchaman the shooting(cheap) but is it horrible?
4) under defeat(150 to 200) looks way sweet.
i trust your opinions gents so let me know what you think of these games and if they are worth the cash i ll be layin down.

[apple arcade]

Ummm don't buy shmups from ebay.

Under Defeat is the only game I've played on that list. I like it A LOT. ...it's kind of slow and I recommend just downloading it first. It's worth about 100$ tops for the LE.

[Exarion]

what currency are those in? $100 is quite a bit less than €100.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Actually I don't think Harmful Park looks all that great (presentation-wise). There are certainly prettier (and probably cheaper) horizontals with visible characters on the PSX, such as Ordyne (Namco Museum vol. 4).
As for Steam Heart's, the Saturn vesion is more tamed than the PC98 original, mind you. If you're in it for the characters, be warned. If you are into porn shmups, I'm sure some fellow shmuppers can suggest cheaper doujin alternatives.

[iluvmonsterz]

i m not really looking for any t n a in my shmups...so as long as SH is good i wont mind the lack of toties.
harmful park does seem a bit over priced.
under defeat may be right up my alley...
any suggestions on where to shop other than good ole evil bay?

[louisg]

Under Defeat rocks.. I really like it. It's very much non-manic, so try first if you're unsure. There's not a huge emphasis on scoring either, which bugs some people. But, it's a very satisfying survival-oriented oldschool shmup. Loop 2 is nutty.

[Lunchbox]

SH it's a great game. The plot it's just weird and yes, the saturn version was softened but its a graphical inprovement.

I have one copy to sell for arround 70€ (I was going to post it on the Trading station in a few days). No spine card, but the game and manual are in lovelly condition.

If you are interested, let me Know.

[iluvmonsterz]

SH it's a great game. The plot it's just weird and yes, the saturn version was softened but its a graphical inprovement.

I have one copy to sell for arround 70€ (I was going to post it on the Trading station in a few days). No spine card, but the game and manual are in lovelly condition.

If you are interested, let me Know.

whats that in dollars? i am in the us....

[Lunchbox]

Arround 88 USD :

http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi?Amoun ... image.y=19

I accept Paypal (gift or +4%) and bank transfer.

[evil_ash_xero]

I have Harmful Park, and it is a nice game. I payed huge money for it. Is it worth it? No. Good game, but it's really overpriced.

Under Defeat you should probably get.

[ROBOTRON]

Under Defeat is a must buy. I don't think I've played the others on your list.

[Fudoh]

For the $20 it costs I even enjoyed Gatchaman the Shooting more than I expected. It's basic, but nice looking vertical shoot'em up with lots of stuff of the anime packed into it. You very likely won't play it twice, but my advice would be to get it, play it and sell it again.

Harmful Park is great. It should be your choice after you've played through all the Parodius incarnations. The only thing I would complain about are the tiny character sprites in Harmful Park. Other than that, very nice game indeed.

[Herr Schatten]

I have Harmful Park, and it is a nice game. I payed huge money for it. Is it worth it? No. Good game, but it's really overpriced.

I agree, but the pong-like 2P minigame is mad fun.

[mesh control]

Under Defeat isn't even worth downloading.

[iluvmonsterz]

Under Defeat isn't even worth downloading.

really? why? i really like zero gunner, is it on par with that at least?

[indutrial]

Under Defeat isn't even worth downloading.

really? why? i really like zero gunner, is it on par with that at least?

I downloaded Under Defeat and G.Rev's other title Border Down and felt great relief that I didn't spend a bunch of money on either game. I barely touch either game. The Zero Gunner games are way more fun and pleasing to look at. Both of those G.Rev games are dismal in comparison.

Speaking of helicopter games, would anyone here recommend the Kyūkyoku Tiger II port on the Saturn. I'm picking up a Japanese console pretty soon and I'll only be able to afford one game at a time. If I don't get that, I'm probably going to pull the trigger on Batsugun, X-Multiply/Image Fight, or Konami's MSX Collection (mostly for nostalgia about the Nemesis games). Any other recommendations would be nice.

[apple arcade]

Under Defeat isn't even worth downloading.

really? why? i really like zero gunner, is it on par with that at least?

As it's been mentioned. Under Defeat isn't for everyone. However those who like it, like it a lot.

If you're expecting zero gunner, you'll be disappointed. Other than the use of a Helicopter, the games really are not a like at all.

[apple arcade]

Any other recommendations would be nice.

BATTLE GAREGGA

[indutrial]

Any other recommendations would be nice.

BATTLE GAREGGA

I forgot that was on the Saturn. Thanks for reminding me!

[KindGrind]

Harmful Park is worth playing. It's very fun but terribly easy. I sold my copy for 150$ 6 months ago, and while I love the game, "I can't say I've been missing it, Bob."

Under Defeat is very good, and usually quite cheap, too. You should be able to buy it (reg edition) for 60$ or so.

Garegga I'd advise against, although I grew to like it quite a bit, simply because it's not very accessible. Watch vids and read more about the game and its system to see if it fits your playing style. It's certainly an acquired taste.

[BulletMagnet]

Speaking of helicopter games, would anyone here recommend the Kyūkyoku Tiger II port on the Saturn.

If you don't play in tate don't bother - the yoko modes are god-awful. Even then the game isn't a personal favorite of mine (check Rando's ST on the game to get an idea of how it works), so I'd hold out for a good price if I were you.

Harmful Park is worth playing. It's very fun but terribly easy.

On default settings it is, but rank it up to Hard or Very Hard and you've got a fight on your hands.

[MachineAres 1CC]

Garegga I'd advise against, although I grew to like it quite a bit, simply because it's not very accessible. Watch vids and read more about the game and its system to see if it fits your playing style. It's certainly an acquired taste.

Exactly. I'd like to know more about this Gatchaman shooting game though. What was it released on? Also, with the prices iluvmonsterz mentioned, are you buying arcade boards? Or are these console ports? I think neither Harmful Park or Under Defeat are worth the prices you were quoting unless they're PCBs or something. Especially Under Defeat, since you can just download any Dreamcast game and play it without modding your system. Haven't played Steam Heart, but I might have to check it out.

[BulletMagnet]

I'd like to know more about this Gatchaman shooting game though.

It was a budget "Simple" release for the Japanese PS1 - it's not too bad, but as the title suggests it's pretty bare-bones (and quite easy), so I'd only suggest grabbing it if you're a fan of the license and/or it's cheap.

[indutrial]

If you don't play in tate don't bother - the yoko modes are god-awful. Even then the game isn't a personal favorite of mine (check Rando's ST on the game to get an idea of how it works), so I'd hold out for a good price if I were you.

I watched a playthrough on Youtube and it looks like the copter's firepower breaks the game by making it too easy to wipe out the enemies before they shoot at you. That game's fallen way down my list for now.

When I have the money, I'll probably just get Batsugun. I've been playing the hell out of my Toaplan shooters on the Genesis (and actually just got a copy of Grind Stormer in the mail today!) and would love to finally try out their supposed masterwork.

On a related note, should I buy a step transformer so that I don't risk overheating the Japanese Saturn I just bought (run it on 100V instead of America's 120V)? I intend on babying this thing as much as I baby my Dreamcast.

[Kiken]

On a related note, should I buy a step transformer so that I don't risk overheating the Japanese Saturn I just bought (run it on 100V instead of America's 120V)? I intend on babying this thing as much as I baby my Dreamcast.

The Japanese Saturn has a voltage tolerance of 95V-125V. It will be fine. You don't need a step transformer. I've had a Japanese unit since launch (Nov 94') and have had no problems at all plugging it straight in to US power sockets.

[professor ganson]

A quick response to the repeated complaint that Harmful Park is overpriced. This is a rare console-exclusive that is as cute as cute-em-ups come. The gameplay isn't going to appeal to everyone-- it is pretty relaxed, especially on default (Easy) setting. At the same time most think it's fun. The demand for this game makes perfect sense, even if cute-em-ups are a niche within a niche.

[Rozyrg]

(and actually just got a copy of Grind Stormer in the mail today!)

Make sure that thing works! I've hunted that game down twice and both copies were duds.

Being a fiend for all things Toaplan (Genny ports or otherwise), it's pretty frustrating.

[professor ganson]

You asked about Gatchaman. That's probably the easiest shmup I've ever played. I was pretty disappointed with how it looked and played, but I didn't spend much time with it so I can't be terribly specific in my complaints. The main thing is just that it's way too easy-- and this is coming from someone who finds Harmful Park a nice fit with respect to difficulty!

[indutrial]

(and actually just got a copy of Grind Stormer in the mail today!)

Make sure that thing works! I've hunted that game down twice and both copies were duds.

Being a fiend for all things Toaplan (Genny ports or otherwise), it's pretty frustrating.

Unfortunately, the one I bought is one of the defective ones . However, I've heard that the game can be repaired if you replace out the PCB. I'm not willing to give up on it so soon! The few minutes of gameplay I was able to scrounge out was great.

[Skykid]

Steam Hearts is trash really. There are few redeeming features and the entire thing is mindless, banal and slow (skip the voice overs for sure.) Not a great shmup by any stretch, but if you're a Saturn completist you may have to accept that and buy it.

Harmful Park is actually a lot of fun. Prof Ganson is right to big it up as he has done here before, it's got bags of character and some terrific variety (and playing for score is a really enjoyable challenge.)
It's not the best game ever (as you might be led to expect from the price tag) but a very worthy hidden gem. About a million times better than Steam Hearts.

Gatchaman - no idea

Under Defeat is incredible and incredibly tough and unforgiving. But it's one of the Dreamcast's finest shmup spectacles and one of the best war themed shmups ever. It takes some getting used to as it's unorthodox in several areas (and once again, rock hard.)