Then in summer 1989 I discovered Electronic Gaming Monthly, since by then, EGM had gone nationwide in the U.S.
The first one I read was issue #2. In both EGM #2 and #3 they had previews of Famicom Gradius II.
In the first mini-preview, EGM said there were special chips in the Famicom cart for better graphic detail, smoother scrolling and voice.
Beyond what any American NES game did.
In the second more extensive preview, they said you'd think you were playing a 16-Bit game.
I wanted to play it so badly, but never did until many years later.
EGM #2 June-July 1989
EGM #3 August-September 1989
I think it turned out that Famicom Gradius II used only one special chip, Konami's VRC4, if I recall correctly. It was apparently more powerful the best MMC chips.
So anyway, years later I tried it via emulation. While it was no 16-Bit game, it was really f'ing impressive. Perhaps as good if not better than the best
Master System / Mark III shmups like IREM's R-Type coded by Compile.
Or maybe not.
Still, it was pretty awesome and worth a play, any way that you can.
