The Sega Mega Drive/Genesis Thread (NEW)!!!

[BIL]

I've been playing the Splatter House games. The Japanese Part 3 is a nicely balanced 'survival horror' beat 'em up that demands strategic use of the transformation into Super Rick to get all the one ups and still beat the time limit.

Also, I managed to clear JP Game Master with wifey and junior safe, yet despite going as quick as I could was nowhere near fast enough to trigger the last few bonus stages (Rick: "...?!") - there's definitely a nice time trialling aspect built into the game via the nonlinear stages, along with its solid Final Fight-derived engine and stunning slasher+occult+body-horror monster mash. I'm planning to revisit the game at some point for sure.

The cleaver and machette impressed me with weapon specific death animations on some of the more common enemies, you literally cleave those evil mutated pricks in half when rocking one of these babies

My favourite's when those clawing enemies with the hideously bulbous faces take a fatal cleaver blow, falling square on their ass with their head splitting open like an overripe coconut. Bursting with flavour! Bosses/bigger enemies tend to die spectacularly too - the first one thrashes and roars like it's trying to wrestle free of death itself for another go at you. This is one of those MD games I like to really blast loud - fuck the "MD doesn't do good audio" police, those hit sfx and monster roars are absolutely raucous and the BGM is pure action/evil.

[Ed Oscuro]

Wow, never heard of that one. It definitely doesn't look good. Did you like Probe's take on Alien 3?

It didn't grab me when I first tried the Genesis or SNES (it's been a while) version. It seemed competent though.

So far my favorite game by Probe, hands down, is Extreme G 2.

[BIL]

Really liking Kenseiden so far. Has the unforgiving yet fair and airlock-tight melee action I associate with the FC Draculas, and some great stage and enemy design so far. Nice counter-offensive guarding stance, too. The atmosphere in the first couple of stages reminds me of an 8-bit Taroumaru, good n' spooky.

Does anyone know offhand if there'd be any trouble running it on an MD through a Power Base Convertor, assuming all soft+hardware involved is JP region? I don't see myself getting a Mark III just yet. Will have to do some homework on this whole subject.

[TransatlanticFoe]

Should be fine if it's all JP.

[Ed Oscuro]

Does anyone know offhand if there'd be any trouble running it on an MD through a Power Base Convertor, assuming all soft+hardware involved is JP region? I don't see myself getting a Mark III just yet. Will have to do some homework on this whole subject.

You actually don't need a Mark III - Sega released a Master System over there, and it's got the FM sound built-in. Could be found surprisingly cheaply boxed and nearly new just a few years ago.

[BIL]

Interesting! I thought the Mark III was the end of the story for the platform in Japan... I have a lot to learn. Just spent some time reading up on why there's a "III" in that machine's title.

I also remember why I lacked interest in pursuing Sega's 8-bit machine for so long. Bad memories of playing my cousin's PAL Master System in the mid-90s while visiting the UK, after six-plus years of the best NTSCU NES, Genesis and SNES had to offer. Get up and press a button on the console to pause this crummy Alex Kidd game? FUCK THE MACHINE!

Would love to fold the handful of its games I'm liking as much as FC & PCE stuff into my MD library, as long as the PBC doesn't cause any hiccups.

[Koa Zo]

Would love to fold the handful of its games I'm liking as much as FC & PCE stuff into my MD library, as long as the PBC doesn't cause any hiccups.

Just be aware that SG-1000 games will not display proper colors on the PBC or Mark III or JPN Master System.
Compatibility among the Sega 8-bit consoles is some of the most convoluted of all the old platforms.

You actually don't need a Mark III - Sega released a Master System over there, and it's got the FM sound built-in. Could be found surprisingly cheaply boxed and nearly new just a few years ago.

JPN Master Systems are roughly the same price as Mark III systems on eBay. It will cost about $200 to get either shipped to the US.
The Mark III is lacking the built-in FM sound, nor does it have the plug for the 3-D glasses, but the Mark III looks a heck of a lot cooler, imo.

I ended up buying a SG-1000 II so that I could play those games with the proper colors. A few SG-1000 games will have obscured/invisible enemies when played on the Mark III or JPN MS.

[MommysBestGames]

Wow, never heard of that one. It definitely doesn't look good. Did you like Probe's take on Alien 3?

It didn't grab me when I first tried the Genesis or SNES (it's been a while) version. It seemed competent though.

So far my favorite game by Probe, hands down, is Extreme G 2.

Ah, interesting. I never played the second. The first was okay, but levels seemed a little big.. the sense of speed sort felt low. I'll have to look for the second one though, I'm intrigued.

Alien 3 is odd, since the Genesis and SNES versions play pretty differently. For systems that were that similar, but got very different versions... I don't think we see that too often! I think the Thor game with Wii and Xbox/PS3 being very different was the last big case I can think of, of that strangeness happening.

Anyway, the Genesis Alien 3 plays faster and is more arcade-like. You have to rescue hostages before all the chestbursters get them. It's pretty gross looking too if they do! (At least at the time
The SNES version was more backtracking but more exploration. The levels were huge, but I recall the main, annoying part being that even though it felt cool to kill all the aliens in a place, and you'd blowtorch the doors shut, the buggers would respawn when you returned! But it was a really nice looking game and had some good atmosphere. I liked the Genesis version a lot, and wanted to like the SNES one, but the respawning guys kind of ruined it for me.

[louisg]

I think a lot of games were really different on SNES and Genesis. At a glance, they seem similar, but they were pretty far apart when it came to certain capabilities. I can think of Aladdin off the top of my head, though IIRC that was due to different developers. I seem to remember a lot of games varying significantly between platforms though.

[EmperorIng]

That the Genesis version of Alien3 had Matt Furniss is alone enough to propel it further in my estimation than the SNES game. Just listen to that piano sound!

[Ed Oscuro]

Ah, interesting. I never played the second. The first was okay, but levels seemed a little big.. the sense of speed sort felt low. I'll have to look for the second one though, I'm intrigued.

I read the issue of NP where the original was reviewed cover-to-cover more than a few times - so when I finally played the game, some years after having played the sequel, I was very disappointed at first. It grew on me a little, but the second is an improvement in every respect. The visuals alone are so improved that you'd swear it's running on a newer system.

[stryc9]

This is one of those MD games I like to really blast loud - fuck the "MD doesn't do good audio" police, those hit sfx and monster roars are absolutely raucous and the BGM is pure action/evil.

In my mind, the main problem with the console's audio is the overabundance of scratchy speech, and from software from the other side of the pond, tinny, jangly GEMS sound driver based music.

Looking at my JP MD collection however, numbering around 60 titles, I could quite confidently say that most of them have 'real good' to 'awesome' quality instruments going on in there, along with some truly classic compositions. And back in the day I always thought SNES had the better audio, but I'm increasingly finding this not to be the case.

Run that shit thru a decent stereo, and a lot of these old MD titles come alive sonically: Zero Wing, Slap Fight, Crude Buster, Splatter House etc. all sound fantastic, and that's without even needing to mention the generally accepted top-tier titles like SOR or Shinobi.

The bass and the drums in a lot of the JP releases just shits over a lot of stuff from SNES, IMO. However, I will reserve judgement until I have more experience in the Super Fami library, which I'm sure must have some standouts in terms of audio amongst its ranks.

[null1024]

This is one of those MD games I like to really blast loud - fuck the "MD doesn't do good audio" police, those hit sfx and monster roars are absolutely raucous and the BGM is pure action/evil.

In my mind, the main problem with the console's audio is the overabundance of scratchy speech, and from software from the other side of the pond, tinny, jangly GEMS sound driver based music.

Looking at my JP MD collection however, numbering around 60 titles, I could quite confidently say that most of them have 'real good' to 'awesome' quality instruments going on in there, along with some truly classic compositions. And back in the day I always thought SNES had the better audio, but I'm increasingly finding this not to be the case.

Run that shit thru a decent stereo, and a lot of these old MD titles come alive sonically: Zero Wing, Slap Fight, Crude Buster, Splatter House etc. all sound fantastic, and that's without even needing to mention the generally accepted top-tier titles like SOR or Shinobi.

The bass and the drums in a lot of the JP releases just shits over a lot of stuff from SNES, IMO. However, I will reserve judgement until I have more experience in the Super Fami library, which I'm sure must have some standouts in terms of audio amongst its ranks.

Well, the SNES will always win if you're looking for "realistic" instruments, whereas the Genesis is amazing for synthy compositions that embrace FM as a sound in and of itself rather than try to make FM instruments that barely sound like what you're trying to do with them.

I am still bothered that no one made a decent FM electric guitar, you could come really, really close. Everything just used some really butty sounding patch. For a good example, as much as I love Musha Aleste's melodies, fuck that lead guitar patch used in every song.

The SNES has muffled and terribly short and lo-fi instruments [yay 64k song RAM], and the Genesis has much clearer ones [yay directly synthesized audio].

FM bass is just king though. And there's something about the really punchy way Genesis games did sampled drums.

It's really up to personal preference. Samples are superior generally [given enough space, you can play any sound], but the SNES isn't that good at sampled audio [which it relies on]. And SNES DSP reverb is really nasty [and damn near every game tried to use it to mask how lo-fi the samples were].

Also, I will vouch for FM sound effects over a lot of sampled ones, you can get some really great sounding stuff.
Hell, I'd use a FM synth to make SFX samples if I was making a SNES game.


yes, I haven't come to a conclusion

[BrianC]

Just be aware that SG-1000 games will not display proper colors on the PBC or Mark III or JPN Master System.
Compatibility among the Sega 8-bit consoles is some of the most convoluted of all the old platforms.

SG-1000 games won't play on a PBC since the MD lacks the SG-1000 part of the SMS hardware. I didn't have problems with obscured graphics on any of the SG-1000 games on the JP SMS, though the colors are off. The color thing is actually pretty common for backwards compatible systems. GBA and Atari 7800 have the same issue with the colors being off for GBC and 2600 games.

[greg]

Wow, I'll have to get Ex-Ranza someday. I've been having a Megadrive festival lately. I was a SNES kid in the '90s, but even then I didn't get that until '94 when I graduated high school.

Recent acquisitions have been Space Harrier 2, Volfied, Dai Makai Mura, Darwin 4081, and Phelios (I already own the US version from way back when, but this came as a bundle with Phatansy Star 3 when I bought Darwin as "junk" on YAJ and only paid a couple hundred yen for the three games).

Today I played the Doraemon game some more. Holy crap, it is HARD! I can't get past the first level. I can't get past the first level of Dai Makai Mura, either. Hard as heck.

[null1024]

Even OPL2/3, which is honestly trivial to control, sounded awful in the hands of most videogame musicians aside from maybe on the Tyrian soundtrack. I have to chalk it up to not giving a shit. .

OPL3, no reason to sound bad. The extra waveforms really help [so much, even if you're just using 2-op mode], and 4-op mode really expands your timbral range.
OPL2 on the other hand, noticeably harder to get patches that didn't have that nasty twang to them. You could do some really nice things with it still, but it requires a lot more effort.

yes, I know this is pages back, but I had to reply

Wow, I'll have to get Ex-Ranza someday. I've been having a Megadrive festival lately. I was a SNES kid in the '90s, but even then I didn't get that until '94 when I graduated high school.

Recent acquisitions have been Space Harrier 2

Ranger-X/Ex-Ranza is damn good. I've said it before, I'll keep saying it. The only problem it has is the fact that it runs at 30fps.

I always wished there was a Genesis port of the original Space Harrier, SH2 isn't as good.

[pestro87]

I always wished there was a Genesis port of the original Space Harrier, SH2 isn't as good.

You don't like the 32x? That port is pretty good imo.

[null1024]

I always wished there was a Genesis port of the original Space Harrier, SH2 isn't as good.

You don't like the 32x? That port is pretty good imo.

Oh shit, I forgot about that version when I typed that, haha. That version is great.
One of 3 reasons to own or emulate a 32X [the others being Shadow Squadron and Virtua Racing Deluxe [which is the definitive home version, fuck the Sega Ages 2500 one for its really assy collisions, even if it looks really pretty], maybe Virtua Fighter [it is better than the Saturn port, despite having a bit less detail], and maybe Star Wars Arcade [never liked it that much]]. Chaotix would be up there if it had actual level design , a lot of the stages are just tossed together and/or easy [and whoever made Amazing Arena's level design can go drown themselves, such a stupid level].

[pestro87]

I think that they left a lot of space in the levels in Knuckles Chaotix because they assumed that the player would spend most of his time messing around with the rubber-band gameplay mechanic Regarding the graphics, I've always liked how it changes from dawn to day to evening (and so on) and how this transfer over to the level that you choose. I also really like that there's plenty of characters to choose from (and that each of them plays differently) and the 2-Player mode is a lot of fun. The bonus stages are also pretty cool but the only actual levels that I like in the game are Botanical Base and Marina Madness.

I think that Knuckles Chaotix, Kolibri, Space Harrier and After Burner are the best games on the 32x. Having that said, I actually sold my 32x a little over a year ago so I can't preach too much about it tbh

[null1024]

I think that they left a lot of space in the levels in Knuckles Chaotix because they assumed that the player would spend most of his time messing around with the rubber-band gameplay mechanic Regarding the graphics, I've always liked how it changes from dawn to day to evening (and so on) and how this transfer over to the level that you choose. I also really like that there's plenty of characters to choose from (and that each of them plays differently) and the 2-Player mode is a lot of fun. The bonus stages are also pretty cool but the only actual levels that I like in the game are Botanical Base and Marina Madness. The rest are varying degrees of forgettable.

I think that Knuckles Chaotix, Kolibri, Space Harrier and After Burner are the best games on the 32x. Having that said, I actually sold my 32x a little over a year ago so I can't preach too much about it tbh

I guess I can see that [and the rubber band thing is loads of fun, would be nice to see the levels better made around it...]. Still, Botanical Base is the only good level.
Marina Madness has its moments.

I don't get Kolibri at all. I should give it a shot again, but it confuses and bothers me.

and I actually really don't like After Burner as a game, it feels really sloppy, even though it looks so damn good, and I think Space Harrier does right everything After Burner does wrong



On another note, I wish there were more Sega CD games that looked like Soul Star. It bores me to tears, but it is pretty as fuck, lots of mode-7 looking stuff and scaling sprites, and stunning [at times] pixel art. But it feels really boring, and I'd rather go play Star Fox or Panzer Dragoon or just about any other rail shooter...

More games that looked like that and less FMV bullshit would have made people buy a damn Sega CD.
Like one of Sega's Y-Board or a Taito F3 game.

[Ed Oscuro]

More games that looked like that and less FMV bullshit would have made people buy a damn Sega CD.
Like one of Sega's Y-Board or a Taito F3 game.

Kind of a crowning irony of the time is that there was absolutely no chance of them releasing a home system at the time that could do those arcade originals justice. They sure tried to flog the names - G-Loc and Panzer Dragoon both got entries on the Game Gear, Galaxy Force on SMS...horrible ideas really. They should have left well enough alone. Taito did reasonably well with their Night Striker port though.

[Ganelon]

Kolibri should be thought of in the same context as Novotrade's earlier Ecco the Dolphin. Unlike some others here, I've never shooting to be the main point of the game. Anyone going in expecting a style more akin to Apidya or Insector-X (either version) will be sorely disappointed.

[greg]

I always wished there was a Genesis port of the original Space Harrier, SH2 isn't as good.

Yeah, but Space Harrier 2 has the Flatwoods Monster as its 2nd stage boss!

[BIL]

Haha, so that's what that thing is... I've seen it pop up in quite a few Japanese games. It's also the boss of the second shooter stage in Keio Yuugekitai 2. "I'm an alien!"

[greg]

http://plasticandplush.com/images/2010/ ... oodsey.jpg

[MommysBestGames]

On another note, I wish there were more Sega CD games that looked like Soul Star. It bores me to tears, but it is pretty as fuck, lots of mode-7 looking stuff and scaling sprites, and stunning [at times] pixel art. But it feels really boring, and I'd rather go play Star Fox or Panzer Dragoon or just about any other rail shooter...

Agreed! It was a bit dull, but so interesting-looking and pretty. I also really like Burning Force, though the difficulty is tame. It's just got that great 'blue sky' feel, maybe because the whole thing is a sorta-friendly combat sim (in the story)? It's just got an unusual, optimistic vibe. Though 'burning force' sounds like a bad google translation of some VD.

[Koa Zo]

Just be aware that SG-1000 games will not display proper colors on the PBC or Mark III or JPN Master System.
Compatibility among the Sega 8-bit consoles is some of the most convoluted of all the old platforms.

I didn't have problems with obscured graphics on any of the SG-1000 games on the JP SMS, though the colors are off.

Hustle Chummy is the one sure example of playability problems due to the colors. There is a black bat which flies around the screen and it is often not visible because of incorrect colors when played on a Mark III or Master System.

I also recall an issue on one of the driving games, I think it may have been in Zippy Race, but whichever game it is, there are obscured obstacles because of indistinguishable colors.

On another note, I wish there were more Sega CD games that looked like Soul Star. It bores me to tears, but it is pretty as fuck, lots of mode-7 looking stuff and scaling sprites, and stunning [at times] pixel art. But it feels really boring, and I'd rather go play Star Fox or Panzer Dragoon or just about any other rail shooter...

Agreed! It was a bit dull, but so interesting-looking and pretty.

I can't help but wonder if anyone who says Soul Star is boring or dull, if those people ever played it through all the levels. The "hard" difficulty path surely isn't boring nor dull.

[Ed Oscuro]

http://plasticandplush.com/images/2010/ ... oodsey.jpg

holy shit, it's the proto-pikmin

how you go from the ugly Flatwoods Monster to that...well then.

Anyway, thanks for the info on SG-1000 games...a good reminder I need to go and test mine out sometime!

Oddly I remember that I have a SG-3000 lying around. No power or display leads though, and the video might be problematic even with the right leads...

[null1024]

Though 'burning force' sounds like a bad google translation of some VD.

damnit

Now I will never be able to play that game without having this at the top of my mind...

[CIT]

After going through a bit of a SFC phase lately (beat like 6 or 7 games in a row) I decided to hook my Wondermega up again and devote some time to some neglected titles in my MD library.

First up: Popful Mail
Played the Japanese version, which is supposed to be easier than the US localization. I'd say the language barrier is also pretty low. Anybody with first-year Japanese skills should be able to make their way through, especially since most of the dialogue is spoken (and very well done – Megumi Hayashibara plays Mail).
The game is pretty stress free, the bosses aren't too challenging and you can save straight from the menu at any time – kind of ahead of its time in that respect. Anime scenes are extremely well done, I believe they're actually bitmaps and not streamed (like Keio). I found the stage design to actually be a bit, I dunno, underwhealming. The screens tend to be rather large but are pretty empty and there aren't any major secrets, like breakable walls, etc. Definitely less action-heavy than the Monster World games with which Popful Mail otherwise shares a lot. Mainly what kept me going was the hilarious plot. Overall a great game though, the characters are so detailed and endearing, and it just has this really good typical Falcom pacing where you start right in the action and everything progresses nice and even and fast. Gonna play the SFC version to see how it compares, but I'm guessing it won't be as good.

Next up: Jewel Master
Wow, is this game underrated. Presentation is pretty nice, especially for an early MD title. The gloomy attract mode sets the mood nicely and stages are atmospheric and varied. The dude's Rastan II style walk is a bit on the comedic side though. Would it really have been so much trouble to give his upper body one more frame of animation?
The combining of different elements/rings for different abilities makes the game about twice as interesting as it would have otherwise been and gives everything a bit more of an action-adventure feel. The game actually makes you switch out rings pretty often, since you often need the double jump in later stages.
Jewel Master is really a great example of a solid and no-nonsense early Mega Drive arcade action title. Greatest thing about it though, the Stage 1 music – kind of like Castlevania and Shinobi tunes got fused in a groove reactor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaOlDwRyjjI