Word on Genesis shmups

[Stormwatch]

My favorite Genesis shump: Renovation's underrated gem Sol Deace.

[CIT]

Actually Sol Feace (CD) was developed by Wolfteam, and only published by Renovation in the US as the cartridge version Sol Deace.

As a shmup it's just okay-ish IMO, but in no way able to compete with the Megadrive's big guns. What really sticks out though, is the great soundtrack of the CD version.

[Fighter17]

Here is my list of must-have Megadrive shooters:

Games with * are the best of the best, IMO.


Horizontal:

- Aero Blasters
- Bari-Arm (CD)
- Battlemania
- Battlemania Daiginjo *
- Darius II
- Eliminate Down *
- Gleylancer *
- Gynoug
- Keio Flying Squadron (CD) *
- Steel Empire
- Super Fantasy Zone
- Thunderforce IV *
- Thunderforce III *


Vertical:

- Daisenpuu
- Dennin Aleste (CD)*
- Elemental Master *
- Fire Shark
- Musha Aleste *
- Phelios
- Tatsujin
- Twinkle Tale *
- Undeadline
- Verytex
- V-V (V Five/Grindstormer)


Run & Gun

- Alien Soldier *
- Contra: The Hard Corps *
- Gunstar Heroes *
- Mega Turrican *

I'm trying to get games that were release IN the US. Elemental Master is a good game, but it's not on my most wanted list as of right now. When I get the Sega CD, the first shooter I'm getting is Robo Aleste (I just 1CC MUSHA this morning). I like Bari-Arm so that would be my second shooter I'm going to purchase for the Sega CD. I didn't like Darius II that much so no to that, looking for Aero Blasters (Air Buster in the US). I didn't like the idea of Battlemania that much. I 1CC TF III three weeks ago and now working on TF IV. Super Fantasy Zone is just too weird for my taste. I own Mega Turrican, which is very fun. Contra and Gunstar Heroes are on my most wanted list already. I'm not getting Alien Soldier because it didn't have a US release, and I play it before and didn't like to know all those commands.

[CIT]

I'm not getting Alien Soldier because it didn't have a US release, and I play it before and didn't like to know all those commands.

Yes, the controls seems somewhat weird and complicated at first, and the learning curve is a bit steep, but once you get a hang of it (especially how to use the teleport dash to maximum effect), you're in for the fastest and most intense run & gun action gaming experince ever created! Once you've figured out the boss patterns and the right timing it becomes pure action bliss, I assure you. It's one of my alltime favorite games, if you couldn't tell, my nickname is derived from a boss in the game.

Word has it there's gonna be a Sega Ages with Gunstars and Alien Soldier next year, though I'm whether this will get a US release.

BTW, why do you only want games released in the US? You'll be missing out on many Megadrive classics.

[Fighter17]

I'm not getting Alien Soldier because it didn't have a US release, and I play it before and didn't like to know all those commands.

Yes, the controls seems somewhat weird and complicated at first, and the learning curve is a bit steep, but once you get a hang of it (especially how to use the teleport dash to maximum effect), you're in for the fastest and most intense run & gun action gaming experince ever created! Once you've figured out the boss patterns and the right timing it becomes pure action bliss, I assure you. It's one of my alltime favorite games, if you couldn't tell, my nickname is derived from a boss in the game.

Word has it there's gonna be a Sega Ages with Gunstars and Alien Soldier next year, though I'm whether this will get a US release.

BTW, why do you only want games released in the US? You'll be missing out on many Megadrive classics.

Good question:

1. I can't play MegaDrive games
2. I don't have a lot of money
3. I herd that to play Megadrive games, you need to mod your system in order to do so.
4. Alien Solider cost over $100 on ebay (the PAL version)
5. Eliminate Down and Gleylancer cost a lot of money!
6. I'm 16 with no job (it's hard to get a job when you are in school, and get A's and B's all the time).

About that Sega Ages pack, I'm waiting on the Japan release. It would be cool if the collection had a US release.

About your nickname, "Seven Force" is also a boss in Gunstar Heroes as well.

[CIT]

1. I can't play MegaDrive games
3. I herd that to play Megadrive games, you need to mod your system in order to do so.

Actually, it depends on the game.

Certain late releases in the Megadrive lifespan (such as Thunderforce IV and Alien Soldier) have a region code installed, and will not work on a system from a different region. However, you can get a Game Genie and input certain codes (listed on gamefaqs) that will override the region code. So no need to modify your system.

The larger part of the Megadrive library, however, does not have region protection installed. So most PAL games you can just stick in your machine and they'll run. You can't quite do that with Japanese games though, since they're shaped a bit different. However, you can modify your Genesis, by filing away part of the cart slot, to make Japanese carts fit. Easy!
Or you just use a cart adapter or a Game Genie without codes, then you don't need to mod anything.

About your nickname, "Seven Force" is also a boss in Gunstar Heroes as well.

I know. However, the Seven Force of Alien Soldier is even more badass.

[BrianC]

I have the JP import versions of Whip Rush and Thunder Force III. I tried them both on Genesis I and Genesis II and they work great on both. The sides were trimmed (and you can see part of the chip inside) to make them fit, but they work great. However, I don't recommend this method (they were like that when I got them, but they are legit carts) and a Game Genie is good for getting JP Megadrive games to fit on a US Genesis. Also, for games like Thunder Force IV that have region protection, there are region bypass codes that can be used with Game Genie. The Genesis Game Genie is very common and, IMO, if you don't want to mod the Genesis, it's a must have for imports.

[Fighter17]

1. I can't play MegaDrive games
3. I herd that to play Megadrive games, you need to mod your system in order to do so.

Actually, it depends on the game.

Certain late releases in the Megadrive lifespan (such as Thunderforce IV and Alien Soldier) have a region code installed, and will not work on a system from a different region. However, you can get a Game Genie and input certain codes (listed on gamefaqs) that will override the region code. So no need to modify your system.

The larger part of the Megadrive library, however, does not have region protection installed. So most PAL games you can just stick in your machine and they'll run. You can't quite do that with Japanese games though, since they're shaped a bit different. However, you can modify your Genesis, by filing away part of the cart slot, to make Japanese carts fit. Easy!
Or you just use a cart adapter or a Game Genie without codes, then you don't need to mod anything.

I know about the region code thing, but totally forgot about the Game Genie. I have a US Genesis BTW (no way I can play PAL games unless I get a 50/60 stwich on my Genesis, but even with the stwich, it will play the game horrible on a NTSC TV). Let me check out gamefaqs on the region lock bypass codes. Just about all the games that I want did have a US release! Besides, imports cost way too much for me!

[BrianC]

1. I can't play MegaDrive games
3. I herd that to play Megadrive games, you need to mod your system in order to do so.

Actually, it depends on the game.

Certain late releases in the Megadrive lifespan (such as Thunderforce IV and Alien Soldier) have a region code installed, and will not work on a system from a different region. However, you can get a Game Genie and input certain codes (listed on gamefaqs) that will override the region code. So no need to modify your system.

The larger part of the Megadrive library, however, does not have region protection installed. So most PAL games you can just stick in your machine and they'll run. You can't quite do that with Japanese games though, since they're shaped a bit different. However, you can modify your Genesis, by filing away part of the cart slot, to make Japanese carts fit. Easy!
Or you just use a cart adapter or a Game Genie without codes, then you don't need to mod anything.

I know about the region code thing, but totally forgot about the Game Genie. I have a US Genesis BTW (no way I can play PAL games unless I get a 50/60 stwich on my Genesis, but even with the stwich, it will play the game horrible on a NTSC TV). Let me check out gamefaqs on the region lock bypass codes. Just about all the games that I want did have a US release! Besides, imports cost way too much for me!

Actually, I think you are wrong about that PAL thing. Strangly enough, many early Genesis games aren't PAL optimized and will actually run normal since the Genesis automatically switches the games to NTSC mode. From what I heard, the PAL Super Fantasy Zone runs great on a NTSC Genesis since it isn't PAL optimized. However, for games with PAL optimization, they run too fast on a US Genesis. As far as that 50/60 Hz switcher, it could come in handy for PAL TVs, but since a good chunk of games aren't PAL optimized and will automatically switch to NTSC anyway on a US Genesis, you don't really have to bother with it for some games.

[Xexyz]

The year 1993 is when some Genesis/Mega Drive games started having region protection codes on them. Alot of stuff from 93, and anything older will work fine on any Genesis/Mega Drive.

[Fighter17]

Now the biggest question is this: Who would sell me their Japanese copy of Alien Soldier to me?

[CIT]

Yeah, in fact NO PAL games were PAL optimized, other than some few PAL-only Euro-developed games. They are all slower with black borders on the top and bottom of the screen. Yet another reason why Imports were and still are so big in Europe.

[Fighter17]

I gave Alien Soldier an other shot, and I like it a lot more!

The only problem is the price, I will be looking for the Japanese version of the game.

[CMoon]

I don't know about PAL differences, but in the US you can run all japanese shmups either by carving up the cartridge slot a bit or getting a model 3 genesis which takes all cartridge sizes.

I have been told that not a single shmup has a coded region lock-out and that it is all the physical size of the cartridge.

So, for the US consumer, the genesis is really the cheapest shmup system out there, with nearly all the games being available for under $5.

[Fighter17]

I don't know about PAL differences, but in the US you can run all japanese shmups either by carving up the cartridge slot a bit or getting a model 3 genesis which takes all cartridge sizes.

I have been told that not a single shmup has a coded region lock-out and that it is all the physical size of the cartridge.

So, for the US consumer, the genesis is really the cheapest shmup system out there, with nearly all the games being available for under $5.

Many Genesis shmups now are over $5, mostly $8-$15 are the shmup game prices.

[Stormwatch]

I have been told that not a single shmup has a coded region lock-out and that it is all the physical size of the cartridge.

A japanese Thunder Force IV did not run on my brazilian Mega Drive...

[CIT]

Yes, Thunderforce IV definitely has region lockout. As does Crying (Biohazard Battle). Not sure if there's any other shmups with region lockout, at the moment.

[BrianC]

I don't know about PAL differences, but in the US you can run all japanese shmups either by carving up the cartridge slot a bit or getting a model 3 genesis which takes all cartridge sizes.

I have been told that not a single shmup has a coded region lock-out and that it is all the physical size of the cartridge.

So, for the US consumer, the genesis is really the cheapest shmup system out there, with nearly all the games being available for under $5.

You could also carve up the cartridge like what was done to the two Megadrive imports I have (found at a yard sale of all places), but I wouldn't recommend it. It works, but the sides of the carts don't look pretty.

That thing about the Genesis shmups not having region lockout is untrue. As said many times before in this very topic, Thunder Force IV has it. If I remember correctly, I think Xenon 2 PAL might also have it, but I also heard that it's a poor port of the Amiga version and not worth getting anyway.

The Genesis does have a good amount of cheap shmups, but a good amout of NES and SNES shmups and even a few b/w GB ones are cheap. Some good PCE/TG-16 shmups are pretty cheap too.

[Fighter17]

I'm almost done making a deal from a guy in the Neo-Geo fourms from the UK, the deal is this:


Zero Wing (Japanese version) (complete) $20
Gynoug (Japanese version) (complete) $20
Shipping from the UK to the US: $10

The seller told me both games are in excellent condition.

I give Zero Wing a 7/10, it's not special, but it's still a regular Toaplan shooter.

Gynong (Wings of Wor) is good, so I'm trying to get the Japanese version (trying to stay away from the American cover-art).


What do you think guys?