Re Steel Empire versions

[Spyke]

Hi,

Steel Empire was brought up on the recent portable shmupping thread, so I thought it timely to post this question. The GBA version was cited as being smoother than the Megadrive one, running at 60fps rather then 30fps. If I get a GB player for my component-cabled Gamecube and play it on TV, will it be a superior experience to playing it on the Megadrive?

Just curious...

Ant

[PC Engine Fan X!]

You can count on the GBA version of Steel Empire akin to the cancelled arcade port of the same name (what was finished/completed with the SE arcade PCB game project but never released was the basis for the GBA port of SE). So yes, it's a superior game in that perspective/point.

It feels very slick & polished when booted up on a GB Player setup & with the obligatory GC component video cable or JPN GC D-Terminal cable setup via 480p format.

On the GBA version of SE, both high scores and high score initials are saved for posterity upon powering it down. How cool is that? This newfangled feature was never present with the original MD/Genesis version of SE anyways.

Playing GBA SE on a low-res 15kHz arcade monitor setup is quite an awesome experience not to be missed. Makes me wonder what new game mechanics and features would've been implemented for the arcade PCB version of SE if it had been properly released at the Japanese game centers back in the early 1990s.

Add a proper GC arcade stick for that truly hard-core arcade experience and you're good to go.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Spyke]

Thanks for the input. I was thinking of selling/trading my GC setup due to lack of shmups but addition of the GB Player sounds like it might be a bit of a road to Damascus moment. Hmmm... Much to consider now.

Ant

[Mortificator]

It wouldn't hurt to emulate the GBA Steel Empire to see how you like it.

Also, blackoak translated an interview where the port was touched upon.