Playing Thunderforce games on a Nomad...

[Dylan1CC]

After the Thunderforce poll I was thinking about picking up TF III. I have already played II and IV but don't own any of the carts yet and have never played III. So now I have a burning question: are they playable on the Nomad? I hear the Nomad isn't so great for shooters but I know for a fact that MUSHA looks great on it FWIW. But IIRC TF games have smaller bullets than Musha does so I am bit concerned.

[Super Laydock]

Again these games were meant to be played on television screens instead of the small screen Nomad. They are playable but far from ideally if you want to dodge the bullets, you have got to be extremely concentrated on the screen which can becomed tireing to the eyes.

You do know you can always hook up the Nomad to the television if you do not have a Genesis or Megadrive, right!?

[Turrican]

You do know you can always hook up the Nomad to the television if you do not have a Genesis or Megadrive, right!?

Somehow I cannot figure out a person who got a Nomad (expensive, hard to find) and doesn't own (let alone never owned) a Gen/MD.

[SAM]

Well, Shmups are means for large screens. While platform jump, beat them up & puzzle games would be good for Nomad.

Moreover, there is reasons why you need to own a MD/GEN, say Mega-CD or 32X.

I do own a MD Model 1 and a Mega-CD, but there only 3 shmups worth playing...

Keio Flying Squadron
Bari Arm
Robo Aleste

Still cannot found the Japanese version of "Lords of Thunder". Anyone knows its Japanese name?

[Super Laydock]

Still cannot found the Japanese version of "Lords of Thunder". Anyone knows its Japanese name?

Winds of Thunder.

[SAM]

Still cannot found the Japanese version of "Lords of Thunder". Anyone knows its Japanese name?

Winds of Thunder.

I thought it is "Winds of Thunder" (ウィンズ　オブ　サンダー) too. But I can only found the PC-Engine version at "Amazon.co.jp" using this name. Haven't seen the Japanese Mega-CD version of the game.

[FRO]

I can tell you that TF4 (aka Lightening Force) is a real challenge to play on the Nomad. I've tried several times, & it really doesn't translate well to the small screen. I haven't tried TF2 yet, but I have a feeling it will suffer the same fate...

[M0nk3y]

Still cannot found the Japanese version of "Lords of Thunder". Anyone knows its Japanese name?

A-Rank Thunder. No idea why they didn't just stick to Winds of Thunder?

[Jon]

^^^ All I can think of when looking at that cover art is that atrocious live action Guyver movie. Blearghh.

[Kiken]

Still cannot found the Japanese version of "Lords of Thunder". Anyone knows its Japanese name?

A-Rank Thunder. No idea why they didn't just stick to Winds of Thunder?

A-Rank Thunder is NOT Winds/Lords of Thunder. It's some card-based battle game.

http://www.ncsx.com/2004/ncs112904/SHSBF-678.htm

There is no Japanese Mega CD version of Winds/Lords of Thunder. It appears to be a US/Euro release only (in much the same vein as the Genesis version of Viewpoint is a US-only release).

[Ganelon]

Heh, how could someone see that cover and confuse it with Winds of Thunder? Anyway, it was another of Sega's attempts to bolster the SCD's library given that nobody else was really contributing, much like Snatcher.

[Kiken]

Heh, how could someone see that cover and confuse it with Winds of Thunder?

You'd be surprised how many folks seem to think that it's W/LoT. Goes to show that almost nobody bothered to actually play A-Rank Thunder and confirm what it was.

[Dylan1CC]

Thanks for the info, guys. Of course I own a Genny. I just play games away from the house a lot.

[M0nk3y]

Someone needs to spread the word about A-Rank Thunder then. Sega Base isn't the only Mega CD game list to make this mistake.

Although they do give a Japanese release date of 25th June '93? Seems odd that the game didn't get a Japanese release. And I've never seen a Euro/UK copy of the game either, so it must be a US exclusive then.

Thanks for pointing out the error though. Saved much messing around and dissapointment.

[Zweihander]

Playing Thunderforce games on a Nomad...

...is a bad idea.

[Kiken]

Someone needs to spread the word about A-Rank Thunder then. Sega Base isn't the only Mega CD game list to make this mistake.

Although they do give a Japanese release date of 25th June '93? Seems odd that the game didn't get a Japanese release. And I've never seen a Euro/UK copy of the game either, so it must be a US exclusive then.

Thanks for pointing out the error though. Saved much messing around and dissapointment.

Photos of the Euro Mega CD version of Lords of Thunder have been posted by a few of the members on here. So yes, it does exist.

[Kiken]

Thanks for the info, guys. Of course I own a Genny. I just play games away from the house a lot.

The Nomad isn't exactly "portable". The unit itself is quite bulky (the irregular shape doesn't help either) and even worst when you attach the battery unit (the Nomad does not have an internal battery compartment).

I've tried playing TFIII, TFIV and Viewpoint on my Nomad, and about the only one that was mildly playable was Viewpoint. No matter how much you adjust the screen, you're still going to get a lot of blurring. The Nomad is really best suited for slower-paced games (it's great for playing Gemfire).

I got mine for less $50, so using it as a hand-held Genesis isn't an issue, but I'm not about to bother taking it anywhere... it's too large, the carts stick out of the unit and it eats 6 AA's in 3 hours.

In this case, I'd actually suggest getting a Genesis/MD emulator for the PSP.

[FRO]

In this case, I'd actually suggest getting a Genesis/MD emulator for the PSP.

Or get the new GamePark 2X

[Dylan1CC]

Thanks for the info, guys. Of course I own a Genny. I just play games away from the house a lot.

The Nomad isn't exactly "portable". The unit itself is quite bulky (the irregular shape doesn't help either) and even worst when you attach the battery unit (the Nomad does not have an internal battery compartment).

I've tried playing TFIII, TFIV and Viewpoint on my Nomad, and about the only one that was mildly playable was Viewpoint. No matter how much you adjust the screen, you're still going to get a lot of blurring. The Nomad is really best suited for slower-paced games (it's great for playing Gemfire).

I got mine for less $50, so using it as a hand-held Genesis isn't an issue, but I'm not about to bother taking it anywhere... it's too large, the carts stick out of the unit and it eats 6 AA's in 3 hours.

In this case, I'd actually suggest getting a Genesis/MD emulator for the PSP.

Good point. However, it lasts about the same amount of time as the PSP's current battery, no? Anyways, assuming there are no speed issues (like there are with PSP ZSNES as I have experienced firsthand) I may load a Genny emu one of these days on my PSP along with my PSP NESTER, NEO CD, and SMS. 'Til then, it may be bulky but I still like my Nomad. Games like Sonic, Gunstar Heroes and MUSHA all like fine on it IMHO (for an older portable, yes) and my unit was custom modded by Matt to play region locked games and to force PAL titles into normal screen ratio, so it's a keeper.

[Zweihander]

I got mine for less $50, so using it as a hand-held Genesis isn't an issue, but I'm not about to bother taking it anywhere... it's too large, the carts stick out of the unit and it eats 6 AA's in 3 hours.

Truth... the Nomad did have a horrendous appetite for battery juice. x_x That's why I got the rechargeable battery unit (for about $30 or so back in the day), and charge it with the Genesis adapter. Still kickin' to this day, after dozens of recharges!

[Dylan1CC]

OK, installed PSPGenesis last night, this is by far the best emulator I have used on the system next to the Neo CD emu. Sonic 2 and MUSHA look incredible. It runs 100% speed unlike ZSNES PSP (which is kinda understandable since some 'highre end' SNES carts need multiple chips/processors) Contra Hard Corps plays soooo smooth.

Anyways, I am just gonna buy TF III soon and play it on my TV, but man, will this emu kick for shooters.

Still love my bulky Nomad though warts 'n all.

[Nei First]

OK, installed PSPGenesis last night, this is by far the best emulator I have used on the system next to the Neo CD emu. Sonic 2 and MUSHA look incredible. It runs 100% speed unlike ZSNES PSP (which is kinda understandable since some 'highre end' SNES carts need multiple chips/processors) Contra Hard Corps plays soooo smooth.

Anyways, I am just gonna buy TF III soon and play it on my TV, but man, will this emu kick for shooters.

Still love my bulky Nomad though warts 'n all.

Damn it! About a year ago I would have been so over this. Hearing this quote would have sent me through the roof. But for some reason, I'm just not bothered about handhelds anymore. One morning I woke up, and suddenly I don't have the time for them.

I saw GTA on the PSP for the first time, round my friends house the other day. It looks amazing and plays fantastic.... I wanted to get excited, it's a quality game among others, but I'm just not bothered.

[Dylan1CC]

^^^^

Once Gradius collection, Capcom collection PSP and Tokobot (beautiful robot/Pikmin style action platformer/puzzler) are released you may change your mind.