Atomic Runner arcade Vs console?

[TrevHead (TVR)]

Ive just come across this arcade game from my youth and i also find out there is a megadrive port for it aswell. Is the port (E, U or J)any good? allthough i played the arcade version a fair few times i dont think i ever made it to stage 2 so which do you guys recommend?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F610PpbV ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K2B1w3X ... re=related

[Damocles]

I have the Genesis version. I bought it as a kid and immediately regretted it. To this day I can't stand the game. The port seems very good and features updated graphics and alternate control schemes.

[Drum]

It's really a remake - totally different graphics and a lot of things have been tweaked. It's absolutely fantastic, and quite a bit easier/more balanced than the arcade original. Try before you buy, as it's not for everybody (see above) but I loved it - one of my all-time favourite pure action games. The only difference between the Japanese version and the EU/US versions is, afaik, the name, the brief introductory text and the default control scheme (Japan's is a little more sensible, with just the button alone to switch direction, but it's adjustable). You can buy it on Project EGG and Japanese Virtual Console an dthe money will go to the original developers, as Paon (ex-Data East) owns the rights still. I do like the arcade original - the graphics have that groovy Data East weirdness - but I would give the crown to the Genesis version.

[dcharlie]

It's really a remake - totally different graphics and a lot of things have been tweaked. It's absolutely fantastic, and quite a bit easier/more balanced than the arcade original. Try before you buy, as it's not for everybody (see above) but I loved it - one of my all-time favourite pure action games.

nothing really to add here other than a +1.

I have the arcade PCB and the MD version - i prefer the MD version and , yeah, it's a love-hate sort of game. At first i didn't particularly enjoy it but then something clicked and i ended up loving it - especially when it does start ramping up

[Obiwanshinobi]

Don't know what's to dislike about it as the controls in Chelnov (and Wolf Fang) clicked with me almost immediately. For me, with a DS2, it's triangle for (auto)fire, circle for jump and R2 for swithing directions - works like a charm. Chelnov's animation was way ahead of its time, but the rest of both version's graphics is acquired taste as far as I'm concerned. The arcade version (and - I believe - the Sharp X68000 port) has got more punchy sound (and cooler, short and sweet intro). I haven't played either version long enough to decide which one I prefer. By the way, Turrican and Chelnov remind me of each other prominently. Frankly, I'd rather play Chelnov than, for example, Gunstar Heroes at this point.
It's funny how the exploitative themes of those old games have aged. Chelnov certainly was exploitative, but I don't find it nearly as disgusting as Che Guevara & Fidel Castro games.

[caldwert]

Gonna echo everything that's been said here. One of my fav PCB's by a mile. Then again I love Data East. Played some Chelnov and Karnov last night, good stuff! The Genesis/MD port looks a lot better than the PCB. The PCB isn't too easy to find, but is out there.

[Magic Knight]

The X68000 version is exactly the same as the arcade PCB. It came with an adapter for Megadrive joypads to allow for the three buttons required, and can be played at 15kHz or 31kHz.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Just realised what's particulary cool about Chelnov: you don't just do videogamey stuff there; rather you do dream-like stuff. It kind of feels like a dream. Some (far too few) games just do this for me. More recent examples would be Blood Will Tell and Apocalypse (starring Bruce Willis). Sometimes I don't care about my goal in a game (such as "clearing it") or the rules (such as "score system"). Instead, the immediate response to my actions is so rewarding that it's all about here and now. Within the realm of shmups Compile mastered it like nobody else.
Come to think of it, maybe 3D Sonic games (and NiGHTS) tried to do something along those lines, but didn't quite do it for me.

[emphatic]

One of my old favorites. Awesome bosses. I never saw the Megadrive version before.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Just played some Act-Fancer: Cybernetick Hyper Weapon. Bloody hell.

[Edwards80]

I bought this back in the day for my Megadrive and once the controls had clicked I loved it. (there are a few control schemes so you should be able to find one that suits you.

I think it's a marmite game because of the controls though, some of my mates loved it, others hated it. . . I haven't actually tried the arcade version in MAME

I really like the music in the Megadrive version too.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

Yea i do remember the controlls been tricky. pressing a button to turn around seems so unatural at first. I suppose thats why Rygar is more popular.

As for the MD version been an improvement on the original, THX for the info, Im certanly gonna check it out

[emphatic]

I suppose thats why Rygar is more popular.

No, Rygar can't be compared at all to Chelnov. Chelnov is more of a run and gun game, it even has forced scrolling for Christ's sake. In Rygar you can literally cheat death when the timer runs out. Though, both games demand you have great skills with the jump button.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

what do you mean by chaet death? Ive played it recently on Mame but i never run out of time, so i cant remember what happens when the timer runs out

[Specineff]

This big demonic face comes sweeping the screen up and down, from the left to the right, but you can time your jump and stomp on it to either avoid it, or kill it.

[emphatic]

you can time your jump and stomp on it to either avoid it, or kill it.

It can't be killed. You can exit the stage while it's on screen, and it'll appear to die, but you won't get any special points for it.

But the biggest "awesome factor" about it is all the secret bonuses etc. Like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5NEpOZyY40

Here's a clip that shows the "death" appearing as the time runs out, and a few other cool moves. The video claims to be "highest score ever" but it's ten million points short at least: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLRXYLwm ... re=related

[TrevHead (TVR)]

lol ive never seen the end of rygar, i loled at the weak end boss

[emphatic]

lol ive never seen the end of rygar, i loled at the weak end boss

Yeah, the boss is a walk in the park if you got the skill to perfectly time that jump. I always kill it with my weapon, it seems there's no extra points from jumping on it.

[Specineff]

Emph, I recall seeing people stomp on it and kill it, only for it to reappear.

Then again, that was back in the late 80's.

[Ed Oscuro]

I have the Genesis version. I bought it as a kid and immediately regretted it. To this day I can't stand the game. The port seems very good and features updated graphics and alternate control schemes.

The game plays considerably better with the tweaked control scheme - left face button to turn and shoot left, right to turn and shoot right. I suppose that won't help not liking the game concept but it made the game considerably more fun for me. I think the default scheme is retarded because they were adapting a two-button arcade scheme to make it "feel natural" or some garbage.

I'm with Drum on this one, the game is great. I've been happy to see there's actually a bunch of copies up on the 'Bay finally, when a year or two ago you'd be lucky to find one well over $100. It'll make a nice companion to Midnight Resistance.

Just realised what's particulary cool about Chelnov: you don't just do videogamey stuff there; rather you do dream-like stuff. It kind of feels like a dream. Some (far too few) games just do this for me. More recent examples would be Blood Will Tell and Apocalypse (starring Bruce Willis).

There's a game I didn't expect to see mentioned. See, I thought Apocalypse had just enough of a budget to appear fucked-up but not enough to really pull it off. 'course, if they had the budget they wanted, they'd have made Bruce Willis your sidekick and ugh yeah well enough of that shit. WHO WANTS SOME?! Let's go shoot some fatasses with big stars on their hats!

[Obiwanshinobi]

Did you play Apocalypse with a DualShock? Analogue sticks and vibrations are quite essential in this case.
I just stumbled upon it this year and found it downright mind-blowing. You get to play as a dude with rotating torso, Bruce Willis or not. Bad dudes with their upper bodies shot off (!), running around (just their legs running, that is), gushing blood from the pelvis, screaming (!!) "My arm"!" (!!!). Pretty much every destructible thing (most things above the ground level seem destructible here) explodes, even window-panes explode as you break them. The controls are near-perfect and - considering the platform - it performs well. The weaponry is fabuolus. The pacing - on a par with the finest arcade run & guns, despite the gameplay being prominently three-dimensional. Even the platforming doesn't suck (at least with analogues). All in all, it does quite a number of things right.

[GaijinPunch]

There are a few betas of a very faithful Saturn version. The one I have crashes at some point in the game.

[ZOM]

Just played some Act-Fancer: Cybernetick Hyper Weapon. Bloody hell.

Very fond of that game myself. I always miss to grab the PCB and it's cheap too!

[louisg]

Huh, I didn't know about the alt. control scheme.. that's a lot better! I still wish you could move backwards at least very slightly.. it's kind of lame that your guy just stands there when you hit back

[louisg]

I'm with Drum on this one, the game is great. I've been happy to see there's actually a bunch of copies up on the 'Bay finally, when a year or two ago you'd be lucky to find one well over $100. It'll make a nice companion to Midnight Resistance.

Yeah, and it'll keep your Atomic Robokid company, too!

[Red Robin Yum]

I used to love Atomic Runner for Genesis. I had no idea it was an arcade port until I saw YT videos of someone playing it on MAME. I was very surprised with the inferior graphics.

Oh hell, I think I will buy the Genesis version again for old times sake

Has anyone here played the Vapor Trail sequel Wolf Fang? The game is like Atomic Runner on steroids and full of mecha awesomeness

[Ed Oscuro]

I'm with Drum on this one, the game is great. I've been happy to see there's actually a bunch of copies up on the 'Bay finally, when a year or two ago you'd be lucky to find one well over $100. It'll make a nice companion to Midnight Resistance.

Yeah, and it'll keep your Atomic Robokid company, too!

I have Atomic Robokid and Chelnov for X68000, no copy of A.R. for Genesis. I have a loose Atomic Runner I picked up in a Hawaii Goodwill though (right on that beach where the 1946 tsunami hit, Hilo Beach afaik).

Has anyone here played the Vapor Trail sequel Wolf Fang? The game is like Atomic Runner on steroids and full of mecha awesomeness

Same developer, but I actually think I like Atomic Runner better.

[DEL]

Never played the Mega Drive version of it but I love the arcade original. Soundtrack is very important to me in a game.
When my local arcade had one of those 100 game cabs a couple of years ago, Chelnov was pretty much the only game I played on it.

[louisg]

Anyone got a guide to the powerups for this? I got the Genesis version, but I have no idea what the powerups do-- at least not the ones that aren't weapon switches. Tons of thanks to anyone who posts the info!

[emphatic]

Anyone got a guide to the powerups for this? I got the Genesis version, but I have no idea what the powerups do-- at least not the ones that aren't weapon switches. Tons of thanks to anyone who posts the info!

Yellow gives you "fatter" power
Blue gives you longer reach
Red gives you faster power
J let you jump higher

You want to pick up all of the above, and the weapon changes need to be used strategically.

^^IIRC, as I haven't played this since back in the arcades.