Ninja Gaiden [NES] + R2RKMF: Scrolling Action Monogatari

[BrianC]

SMB2J is on the Wii and 3DS VC, at least. It's listed as "Lost Levels", but seems to be unaltered. The title screen still says "Super Mario Bros. 2".

[Mortificator]

Anyone tried to use this patch? I've tried using Lunar IPS and Ninja, and my patched ROM always freezes as soon as the Super Mario Bros 1 game starts. I'm using SNES9X.

OK, it looks like the patch needs a ROM with a header. I added one using SNESTool (choosing yes for the Hirom prompt and no for disabling static RAM) and it worked. Sorry, I probably should have tested it before posting a link.

[evil_ash_xero]

Got it. Thanks.

Had to use Lunar Magic though, as SNES Tool would not run on my computer.

[Squire Grooktook]

Picked up Rogue Legacy again to try going for some more low death runs of the regular game. This is about as far as I think I'm gonna take it. Think I'll focus on Bleed arcade mode now.

[BIL]

Meanwhile, at Irem Corp



"CALL YOURSELF A PLAYTESTER YOU WEENY LITTLE FUCK?"
"GOMENASAIII"

Holy Diver's control issue is something alright... nothing like being all set to leap a pit, hitting forward+jump simultaneously and getting dunked straight in. Although it's a pretty aggravating flaw at first, the game is already such a brutal memoriser that I don't really mind having to adjust. I've been playing it like Spartan X, where you also have to be moving before a running jump can be executed.

Found a classic Irem boss-smashing safespot that completely neutralises the second one, while hammering it with the default weapon. This is more rewarding than it might sound with the bristling dragon and bat-infested passage immediately preceding. I can't even remember what the third boss is but I do recall reaching it before moving on last time.

edit: woo, lucked out on the third with a good safespot too. Stage 4 OUGON NO SHINDEN looks like the kind of thing people think Akumajou Dracula is, an utter spiteful hellfuck. In Irem's best tradition, it's so damn satisfying to gradually formulate and execute a way through this nightmare.

[trap15]

Holy Diver's control issue is something alright... nothing like being all set to leap a pit, hitting forward+jump simultaneously and getting dunked straight in.

Gahhhh. This issue wasn't even what I was talking about before, I didn't even know of this until I read your post. And going back to play it, I keep dying like that!! Agh!

Found a classic Irem boss-smashing safespot that completely neutralises the second one, while hammering it with the default weapon. This is more rewarding than it might sound with the bristling dragon and bat-infested passage immediately preceding.

Yeah, that safespot is really nice and so good after being continuously raped by evil dragons.

Seriously this game is evil, but so good D:

[BIL]

Haha, sorry. I seem to collect these quirks like velcro... my tyre-kicking, frame-bothering approach probably makes learning games easier, but if something's off I'm bound to notice it.

I picked up Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti (FC) after giving it a go, and being surprised to learn it's actually really damned good! I'd seen praise of it before, but usually focused on the comedy which never appeals to me on its own. But it's totally arcadey from the ground up. Level design moves briskly between sprinting hack and slash, action/platforming and highly aggressive miniboss encounters. Presentation is incredibly strong with chunky, vivid sprites, rapid-fire scene changes and an overarching sense of deranged fun ("be garbage of cesspool!" "ghost comes with a ray"). In particular, the way you can slash things without breaking stride feels Rastan/Strider-good, as does monsters being visibly sliced up by the cleaver, or blown to bits by the shotgun.

The walking control is noticeably a bit loose, in that Rick will sometimes complete his walk cycle after you release the pad, but the designers seemed to take this into account with the generous weapon collision and forgiving platforming, along with the game's strong focus on running and slashing. Very smooth handling overall. Strong recommend.

[trap15]

Holy fuck Ougon no Shinden is the most hellish level I've ever played in anything ever. Jesus christ.

[CStarFlare]

Splatterhouse Wanpaku is really good. Thank you for recommending it!

[BIL]

Decided I had to finally check it out after noticing Macaw had added it to his FC topic at Gamengai. He's expanded it a lot to include some more offbeat stuff that's not for everyone (by his own admission), but if something's in there I'll usually give it a try.

Gave Konami's Yume Penguin Monogatari (FC) a playthrough tonight. Incidentally it also has running melee attacks and nice chunky sprites. Interesting and amusing game system too - basically, Pentarou's let himself go and has to drop some pounds. Collecting slimfasts trims him down, taking damage piles the weight back on ("bullets" in this game are usually flying snacks poor Pentarou wolfs down on impact). It's expressed via a tug of war meter, and more interestingly Pentarou himself - he has three weight classes with differing handling characteristics and moves. You can't die, but if you're over a certain threshold at a stage's end you'll have to repeat it.

Unfortunately when I say "gave a playthrough" I mean just that - literally finished it on my first sitting, with a single stage retry. Stages are actually quite busy but it's little challenge to meet the stage clear requirements. I always give cutesier action games a fair shot, but this one is decidedly geared for younger kids. It is totally solid and good for a laugh, though, particularly if you love Pentarou like I do!

[Ed Oscuro]

A few recent attempts:
Robocop (by Data East) - doesn't seem atrocious but not quite good and polished, either. Simplistic stuff, and the way the game is challenging isn't interesting (or intuitive) to me. Pass. A surprising shame because Karnov's NES translation seems to have been quite good, and the original arcade source material is pretty good.

Sword Master - just another shot at the first level. Difficult, but warming up to it a little. Second stage, if I could get to it properly, seems difficult enough; not sure how to deal with stacked eye orbs.

Time Diver Avenger - this unlicensed (possibly pirated) release of an unreleased game by A.I. is interesting in some ways, but doesn't feel quite polished. Movement is easy but floaty. There is a kind of rudimentary combo system, and when you add wallkicks (like Batman, but again floaty) it feels fairly full-featured. Not enjoying the first boss (spiked football pads guy). Interesting find; I thought I was just going to take a look at some random crap unlicensed game, not what is essentially an unreleased prototype.

Holy Diver - I tried my hand at this too, and got smashed in that first interior hallway (right after the stairs). Holy crap! I'll have to try different approaches. Pretty sobering. I've never claimed to be a good platformer player but this is just saddening. I'll have to try and play more carefully.

[BrianC]

Decided I had to finally check it out after noticing Macaw had added it to his FC topic at Gamengai. He's expanded it a lot to include some more offbeat stuff that's not for everyone (by his own admission), but if something's in there I'll usually give it a try.

Gave Konami's Yume Penguin Monogatari (FC) a playthrough tonight. Incidentally it also has running melee attacks and nice chunky sprites. Interesting and amusing game system too - basically, Pentarou's let himself go and has to drop some pounds. Collecting slimfasts trims him down, taking damage piles the weight back on ("bullets" in this game are usually flying snacks poor Pentarou wolfs down on impact). It's expressed via a tug of war meter, and more interestingly Pentarou himself - he has three weight classes with differing handling characteristics and moves. You can't die, but if you're over a certain threshold at a stage's end you'll have to repeat it.

Unfortunately when I say "gave a playthrough" I mean just that - literally finished it on my first sitting, with a single stage retry. Stages are actually quite busy but it's little challenge to meet the stage clear requirements. I always give cutesier action games a fair shot, but this one is decidedly geared for younger kids. It is totally solid and good for a laugh, though, particularly if you love Pentarou like I do!

Yeah. I beat it pretty quick too. I also recommend losing to the final boss at least once to see the hilarious bad ending, especially the version of it that occurs when you don't fufill the requirements. Not a hard game, but unique and fun.

[BIL]

Sword Master - just another shot at the first level. Difficult, but warming up to it a little. Second stage, if I could get to it properly, seems difficult enough; not sure how to deal with stacked eye orbs.

Must return to this one at some point, it may just be a dream game of mine.

Holy Diver - I tried my hand at this too, and got smashed in that first interior hallway (right after the stairs). Holy crap! I'll have to try different approaches. Pretty sobering. I've never claimed to be a good platformer player but this is just saddening. I'll have to try and play more carefully.

Ah, the nefarious NOROI NO KYOKAI - a most harsh introduction to the extreme sport of holy diving. I sauntered in when I picked the game back up, and was promptly whacked by that hallway. The sine wave pests to end all sine wave pests! Notice how if they hit you, or you stop moving forward while they're onscreen, they'll rebound off the screen edge and charge straight at you - now that's quality pestering! Keeping your stride by using jumping shots to take out the intermittent big guys helps to avoid this, I find.

I'd call this the toughest FC sidescroller I've played so far, certainly where first loops are concerned. Between this and Metal Storm's second loop, Irem really weren't playing around.

I wish they'd employed a similar arcade-tough approach with Spartan X2. >w<

[BIL]

Good lord. If there's a harder (quality) FC sidescroller than Holy Diver, I'm not sure I want to know right now. Stayed up way too late tonight before finally finishing it, after an obscene number of continues on the final stage. Enjoyed reading through funkdoc's notes on his no-death speedrun at SDA afterward. Glad those infernal unripened raspberries they imported from R-Type's final stage warranted his mention. Cruel, cruel Irem! The penultimate area is sheer fucking hell, total knockback death nightmare. I was struggling with it an hour after locking down everything up to that point.

I'm gonna try for a 1CC at some point (easier than it sounds - once you know the ropes, the late game gives tons of 1UPs). But I don't think I could no-miss this right now any more than I could Ninja Spirit. It's a surprisingly generous game in terms of restore items (not uncommon, and always in the same spots), but execution is utterly unforgiving. In your face 2010SF!

Entirely apart from the intense difficulty, this is a somewhat frustrating game for me. Level and enemy design are some of the most enjoyably diabolical I've seen, and the balancing of character level to difficulty curve is particularly superb. Each stage utterly dwarfs its predecessors in size, intensity and even atmosphere, testing the increasingly powerful player character at every step. I was honestly caught off-guard by the final stage, expecting maybe a glorified boss alley after the storied trials of the penultimate one. The staff would've totally earned it by then, too. But LOLOLOL no. Hell awaits.

So that input cancelling glitch really irks. ಠ_ಠ The game already requires such concentration and rehearsed strategy that before long I'd completely absorbed the timing, only getting the odd bad jump when tired or distracted. But it's a shame a work of this calibre must have such a bush league caveat attached. Absolutely worth working around if you dig nails-hard memorisers. A knowingly uncompromising and ultimately affectionate-feeling genre effort.

Picked up Dahna (MD) this week, having decided after four solid, unique and increasingly cool stages that it was worth a punt. I'm gonna play that next, and weep into my beer if it abruptly goes to hell later. No not really - that second stage with the horsey is too cool! Hope it holds together, it's got fantastic cinematic presentation and the action/platforming isn't half bad either.

[drauch]

Fuck, I need to play Dahna. I always stare at screenshots in excitement but I've yet to BUCK UP and get it, or hell, even emulate it. Might sort of stuff. Sidescrollin' babes and medieval fantasy and monsters--everything I love about 2D gaming. SCREW IT, DOING IT NOW.

BIL, what are your thoughts on the Valis series? Ever play them much? The PC-Engine games are the definite way to go for sidescrollin' action. Some a bit rough around the edges, but plenty of variation, multiple characters, and some challenging platforming across creative levels. I miss my shitty Yuko avatar from 2009.

[BIL]

I was thinking of Valis while writing that post! I've inadvertently gotten something of an MD sidescrolling action gal's club going with Alisia Dragoon, El Viento and now Dahna. Totally unfamiliar with the Valis series, but I always identified Yuko and co. with the Genesis, growing up (all those striking Renovation ads + magazine features... see also the famed Gaiares Mullet Kid). I didn't know it was more of a PCE series until quite recently. Will have to check them out, especially as I'm in a Telenet-curious phase at the moment.

Held off getting El Viento for the longest while, but in spite of how screwy a production it is (big sprite! tons of flak! uh... jumbo lifebar!), it's a fun time. Nice solid feel to twatting stuff with the boomerangs and various charge shots, and those obscenely chunky pixelsplosions are so gratifying. Can't help thinking it'd be outright great if you were a badass robot in a warzone instead of an anime waif in a deranged Japanese version of 1920s America, but that's what Ex-Ranza is for.

Dahna's settings are *extremely* cool, but the action kind of put me off initially. Played as a Strider or Ninja Gaiden-style jump and slash, it'll seem clunky. It's got a semi-cinematic style that's more about matching the right move to a given context, say an economical standing swing to take down a diving ninja, or a long high leap to intercept a flying gremlin. Once I got used to planning my moves around the character's deliberate attacking and jumping animations, it started making perfect sense. The first boss is noticeably weak, but the game's action really picks up from there.

The second stage's direction is so awesome, from barreling down the mountain on horseback to the sense of isolation and wilderness after dismounting. Strider Hiryu tier of panoramic action. NB: hold forward to accelerate for the horse's high jump, or enemy riders and boulders will splatter you! Best to ease back otherwise, so you've got more reaction time for hacking down infantry.

[Squire Grooktook]

Picked up Ghouls and Ghosts again after a long time and managed to 1cc it after 2 play sessions. Still definitely one of my favorite games. I tried going back to Super Ghouls and Ghosts, but I'm not sure if I like it better. I think the stage variety is great, it has the same sense of random dodging found in the other games, and I love the sense of tension on some of the double jumps, but I feel like the pacing is a bit slower with the slower move speed and floatier jumps.

[null1024]

I was thinking of Valis while writing that post! I've inadvertently gotten something of an MD sidescrolling action gal's club going with Alisia Dragoon, El Viento and now Dahna. Totally unfamiliar with the Valis series, but I always identified Yuko and co. with the Genesis, growing up (all those striking Renovation ads + magazine features... see also the famed Gaiares Mullet Kid). I didn't know it was more of a PCE series until quite recently. Will have to check them out, especially as I'm in a Telenet-curious phase at the moment.

Yeah, Valis always struck me as a Genesis series, haha. It's a shame they aren't great [at least the MD versions], but I remember years ago just wanting to sit down and play some Valis III on the Genesis [during the strange period when I didn't have one and I didn't know about emulation], because it's what I had identified in my head as being 'Genesis as fuck'.

I'm tempted to go back and play Valis III now, but I played it semi-recently [like, several months ago] and remember a bunch of things just being clunky and depressing.

And that reminds me of being in a hotel once and playing SD Valis on one of the entertainment system things there -- christ, that game depresses me. If Valis III, a reasonable effort, seems clunky and depressing, this seems like a bunch of highschoolers learned C [which would explain the framerate, like it does Sonic Spinball's ] and wrote a Genesis game.

[drauch]

Yeah, you really have to play the PC-Engine games. The Genesis games take a lot of stuff out, as does the SNES IV, and you lose a lot of the cinematics and design. SD/Syd is pretty abysmal, yeah. It's basically a remake of the second game but obviously SD and with clunky controls.

Now repeat with me: Valis is NOT a Genesis series!

[BrianC]

Actually, Valis II on PC-Engine CD looks cut down compared to a couple of the Computer versions like the MSX2. I thought Valis III on Genesis is similar to the PCE one. At least it doesn't seem to be nearly as cut down as Valis IV SNES. Also, Valis I for PCE came after the Genesis game.

[drauch]

Actually, Valis II on PC-Engine CD looks cut down compared to a couple of the Computer versions like the MSX2. I thought Valis III on Genesis is similar to the PCE one. At least it doesn't seem to be nearly as cut down as Valis IV SNES. Also, Valis I for PCE came after the Genesis game.

Right, I'm aware of the series roots. I mean, if we really want to get technical, you had the games first on MSX and PC-88, and they play completely different. I'm strictly saying as far as typical sidescrolling action goes, they are best as a whole on the PC-Engine, with the exclusion of probably 2 for the x68k. The remake of the first game on the PC-Engine is vastly superior to the original MSX/PC-88 release. Certain things are omitted, but gone is the clunky scrolling, and you are left with a solid action sidescroller. Valis 2 on the X68K definitely seems worlds different compared to the PC-Engine release, and I admittedly haven't played it, but I find the PCE release quite solid and entertaining. 3 on the Genny and PCE are very similar, but I don't understand why you wouldn't play the PCE version with nicer cut scenes, music, and graphics. IV is no comparison.

So yeah, while the Valis series is all over many different platforms, I'm simply saying that if anything they should be recognized for the PCE releases, because at least all four games are on there, and in my opinion, are solid games in the genre. Regardless, the series shouldn't be recognized for the efforts on the Genesis, especially when there are superior versions for each release. If anything, 3 should be the only Valis game worth noting on the Genesis.

[BrianC]

Well, you said the Genesis games take a lot of stuff out and I was just pointing out that it wasn't the case with Valis I (more like the game got beefed up for PCE, rather than the Genesis being a version of the same game with stuff missing) and Valis II (though Genesis still got the short end of the stick with the SD version). It sounds like PCE has the advantage with III (maybe only a slight on with III, though), IV, and the remake of 1, though.

TBH, while I rather play the CD one, I lean more towards getting the Genesis version of III because it's cheaper, I don't have a PCE CD yet, and it's on cart.

[BIL]

Good posts. I've deliberately held off getting too into the PCE, beyond a few absolute essentials I know I want, as I'm currently focused on FC/MD/SFC. Will definitely give the PCE Valis games a look when I move onto the machine.

Good to know about SD Valis, I'd honestly wondered if the incredibly shoddy feel of it was an emulation issue.

[null1024]

Based on the recommendation, I'm playing Valis: Legend of Phantasm Soldier for the PCE-CD. It's really fun so far, and it's better than Valis III [MD one, although I don't think the PCE version of that will be too much better].

Initially, I was going to be depressed, until I remembered that I needed a bios, because Magic Engine's built in one is ass and fucked up the controls to have a massive jump/attack delay and you couldn't vary jump height, all of which were solved by getting a proper Super CD-ROM 3.0 bios.

also, I'd love to own a real PCE-CD, shit -- I should really look into that, although I have way too many game things in my life

[drauch]

Well, you said the Genesis games take a lot of stuff out and I was just pointing out that it wasn't the case with Valis I (more like the game got beefed up for PCE, rather than the Genesis being a version of the same game with stuff missing) and Valis II (though Genesis still got the short end of the stick with the SD version). It sounds like PCE has the advantage with III (maybe only a slight on with III, though), IV, and the remake of 1, though.

TBH, while I rather play the CD one, I lean more towards getting the Genesis version of III because it's cheaper, I don't have a PCE CD yet, and it's on cart.

If you wind up getting a PCE in the future, you might as well hold out and get the PCE Valis III. U.S. version goes for quite a bit more, but I see the JP version go for the price of the Genesis cart on eBay pretty frequently. II, III and IV can all be had for cheap, with IV around the $30 range at times. Seems like the remake is the only one that doesn't surface as much, but I still don't think it goes for that much more. Definitely worth it.

Getting a PC-Duo/CD/TurboDuo is definitely worth it. Quite expensive at first, but a lot of great games and some goddamn nice audio and visuals. I'm a bit 80s anime fan, and almost every damn game is filled with anime cut scenes and character design. Certainly a product of the time, definitely, but for fans of that era of animation it's a dream come true. The main drawback to PCE-CD stuff is the price. Seems like a lot of titles are expensive and rare. A lot of hidden gems out there, and even more so for those that speak the language. But if you like Sailor Moon Castlevania, AKA Valis, it's damned worth it. I initially bought the console for Dracula-X alone, but I've found myself dozens of great games along the way and probably cherish the console more than any of the others I have. Hooked up through RGB on a nice CRT and it's some of the most awe inspiring stuff in "retro" gaming in my mind.

[BrianC]

I plan to get a PCE Duo eventually (for cd rom games and JP cards). I just wish JP systems weren't such a bear with shipping. I have a US TG-16 and I like it quite a bit. I also have Rondo on the Wii VC. Good stuff.

[Ed Oscuro]

lol, I am not up to Holy Diver. At least not via emulation - though I think the problem is entirely within my skills. Damn those flying skulls! ~_~

[BIL]

Holy Diver is a total monster. Obliterates most of the machine's supposed hardest gamez evar. I don't feel too bad about being stuck with easier NGIII and CVIII any more. ^_~

[Ed Oscuro]

NEVER GIVE UP

Into the corridor with my skully friends once again!

It's funny, my second play (about a week before my last play) was like this: Only one hit in the first corridor with the executioners and the orange gargoyles - OH YEAH I'M FEELING GOOD ABOUT THIS - nope, flying skulls to the face.

I hesitate to derail, but I wonder if the possibility of a Shaq Fu 2 is appropriate for the thread. Shaq might just be trying to get some control back over his name here with the legal filings, hard to say.

[trap15]

Key to the flying skulls is to take it very very slowly There are lots of parts in the game that are trivialized by just taking it extremely cool and calm and slow...