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

[OmegaFlareX]

Only the NEC consoles IIRC, the name 'sodipeng' meant something like 'pcengine distributor society', entirely dedicated, the consoles were even sold pre-modded with their own custom-made RGB cables.

Amazing

[BrianC]

Mega Everdrive V2/X7 now has an update supporting SMS FM sound.

[Goati]

Which is about time, considering even if you use the Power base converter addon, you can't get FM sound out of sms games. Even the Mega Drive release of Phantasy Star doesn't have any FM sound.

[CIT]

Been spending some time with Data East's Captain Lang (a.k.a. known as High Seas Havoc in the US but otherwise identical, a.k.a. Havoc in PAListan and heavily edited).

Seems like a bit of an unassuming Sonic clone at first glance, but turns out it's actually a legit hardcore arcade-style game. Lots of precision jumping while Ninja Gaiden style bats and birds swoop down to knock you off disappearing platforms. Also takes some time to figure out the patterns on the bosses. I like how the game constantly makes you feel like you're on the edge of your seat, even in the first stage. Level of challenge reminds me a bit of Gimmick!. Can get quite infuriating, were it not for the fact that the game is very lenient in doling out extends. Together with the varied level design, catchy tunes and bright colorful visuals this makes for a pretty entertaining game.

Some parts of the controls bothered me a bit, but I will comment after some more playtime.

Anyone else have opinions on this title?

[Heavy Viper]

Love me some Havoc, definitely one of the MD's hidden gems. The main character's resemblance to Sonic probably caught my attention as a kid, but thankfully the game does it own thing quite well. I remember being surprised to find out Codemaster's PAL release was edited so much - entire stages removed! Wonder what the reasoning was...

[Sumez]

Been spending some time with Data East's Captain Lang (a.k.a. known as High Seas Havoc in the US but otherwise identical, a.k.a. Havoc in PAListan and heavily edited).

(...)

Anyone else have opinions on this title?

Thought the game looked really amazing, was very anxious to try it. Finally found myself a relatively cheap copy.
Played it for one minute or so.
"Oh, this is kusoge".

To me this just feels like a completely broken Sonic wannabe.

[CIT]

Played it for one minute or so.
"Oh, this is kusoge".

To me this just feels like a completely broken Sonic wannabe.

Hmmm...maybe you should play it a bit longer than a minute?

I mean, maybe you won't like it, but it's far from a kusoge and the resemblance with Sonic really only comes down to the rolling green hills in the first stage.

[FinalBaton]

Played it for one minute or so.
"Oh, this is kusoge".

To me this just feels like a completely broken Sonic wannabe.

Hmmm...maybe you should play it a bit longer than a minute?

Lol, agreed. 1 minute of play is definitelt NOT enough to judge a game.

[Sumez]

Alright maybe I played a bit more. The lowdown is I played as far as I could manage to put up with the game, which admittedly wasn't far. It just immediately felt really, really shitty, and I felt really bad for having even spent money on it. So it's good news that it's apparently not as bad as I assumed. Now the question is, how will I learn to see its qualities?

[CIT]

Alright maybe I played a bit more. The lowdown is I played as far as I could manage to put up with the game, which admittedly wasn't far. It just immediately felt really, really shitty, and I felt really bad for having even spent money on it. So it's good news that it's apparently not as bad as I assumed. Now the question is, how will I learn to see its qualities?

It's difficult to see where you're coming from, since you don't qualify your opinion, but I'm not trying to sell you on Captain Lang. I just think it's interesting you had such a bad first impression of the game, as I think for the most part it has all the features of well put-together game. Could be a matter of taste in the end.

[CIT]

So more impressions on Captain Lang:

Stage 6-2 is a true test of your platforming mettle, requiring lots of precision jumps over spiked abysses executed with kaizo-like perfect timing to avoid swooping bats between the platforms. It's hard in a good way though and is brings back some find memories of Adventure of Little Ralph's later stages.

Then you get to the boss, White Frenzy (a.k.a. the wolf dude). Holy shit, Jaquio is a pushover compared to this motherfucker. You have to learn 10 different attack patterns and the window of opportunity to get some safe hits in is miniscule. A real test of your patience as any attempt to rush him will be instantaneously punished. Best to avoid his attacks and wait for your chance to get close to him. After two rounds of practice and about 80+ lives lost (:lol:) I finally had him worked out.
Final stage is an airship with lots of semi-bullshit like boxes flying through the air and knocking you down and much fewer checkpoints than earlier stages. Made it to the final boss who basically just relies on a hail of shooting stars to inundate you ...seems a bit easier than the previous boss though.

Some aspects I don't like about the game are the relatively small hitbox and short active time of the jump kick, which sometimes makes it hard to connect, as well as the fact that it's not possible to crouch or slide while running. All in all I'm really loving this game though. Great level design and visuals, music, and challenge are all top notch. Feels like a bona fide arcade title more than console. Too bad the game has such an undeserved reputation as yet another Sonic clone/mascot platformer. If it didn't feature an antropomorphized seal but an actual pirate as main character I can guarantee people would be all over this game.

[Sumez]

It's difficult to see where you're coming from, since you don't qualify your opinion, but I'm not trying to sell you on Captain Lang. I just think it's interesting you had such a bad first impression of the game, as I think for the most part it has all the features of well put-together game. Could be a matter of taste in the end.

If you think it's a good game, you should try to sell me on it.
I'll try playing it again and share my thoughts. I have a hard time remembering anything further back than one year in the first place, so all I can really recall is that it tried hard to seem like a Sonic game and controlled horribly, and had uninspired level design. In short, I was getting all the Bubsy vibes, and none of the Sparkster ones.

[CIT]

What would you say are your top 3 platformers? Then I might be able to put it into context.

[Sumez]

That's a tough question. Considering pure platformers, and not action'y games a la Mega Man, Contra or Ninja Gaiden, I'd say Super Mario Bros 3, Mario Galaxy and Mr. Gimmick.

Or if Rainbow Islands counts, insert that somewhere around the very top.

[CIT]

Well, Captain Lang is really tough, so if you like Gimmick you'll feel right at home in Lang's later stages and probably won't mind some idiosyncrasies of the controls. Bossfights tend more towards the action-platformer side of things as well. Lots of secrets to discover in the stages, which should keep you busy. Just play it again without the Sonic/Bubsy prejudice and I'm pretty sure you'll come around.

[cave hermit]

So how do you guys feel about Sega Columns? I've been playing a bit of it as a coffee break kind of game, and it feels delightfully arcadey. I'm not sure whether combos come more down to luck though.

[CIT]

So how do you guys feel about Sega Columns? I've been playing a bit of it as a coffee break kind of game, and it feels delightfully arcadey. I'm not sure whether combos come more down to luck though.

Very nice game! You can definitely set up chains, but it's not as easy to pull off as in say Puyo Puyo, as you can't arrange stones horizontally and depending on the mode there are more colors. But there are some basic patterns you can learn.

There are actually two Columns for Mega Drive, I and III. I have the Columns Arcade Collection for Saturn, which has more Columns than you can shake a stick at.

[CIT]

Well, I finally beat Captain Lang. I'm not kidding, the last boss is one of the toughest mofos I've had to face off with yet.



Anyway, would love to see someone speedrun this game.

[FinalBaton]

Thanks for the CRT screenshot CIT, I always appreciate those

[GSK]

Havoc was clearly a game made in the shadow of Sonic, if not a direct clone, but you have to admit the first stage is very Sonic-y.

From the second stage on, it pretty much drops all the Sonic-isms and goes straight action-platformer.

Honestly, if you look back at all the Sonic-chasers from that era it become evident that all the Japanese-made games are, at the very least, fine: Rocket Knight, Socket, Havoc, even shlock like Rocky Rodent (or, if you prefer, NITROPUNKS MIGHTHEADS). All the really dire stuff came out of the west.

[CIT]

Havoc was clearly a game made in the shadow of Sonic, if not a direct clone, but you have to admit the first stage is very Sonic-y.

From the second stage on, it pretty much drops all the Sonic-isms and goes straight action-platformer.

Completely agree, and interestingly I found an old scan online from Beep Megadrive iirc where the developers explain that their goal was to create a mix between Sonic and Strider.

Honestly, if you look back at all the Sonic-chasers from that era it become evident that all the Japanese-made games are, at the very least, fine: Rocket Knight, Socket, Havoc, even shlock like Rocky Rodent (or, if you prefer, NITROPUNKS MIGHTHEADS). All the really dire stuff came out of the west.

I think you're right. I'm trying to think what Western developed character-platformers I like and all the decent ones are the ones that don't try to copy Sonic (like Rolo to the Rescue or Mickey Mania).

[GSK]

Havoc was clearly a game made in the shadow of Sonic, if not a direct clone, but you have to admit the first stage is very Sonic-y.

From the second stage on, it pretty much drops all the Sonic-isms and goes straight action-platformer.

Completely agree, and interestingly I found an old scan online from Beep Megadrive iirc where the developers explain that their goal was to create a mix between Sonic and Strider.

Oh, really? I'd love to see that scan, if you have it saved somewhere.

[CIT]

Oh, really? I'd love to see that scan, if you have it saved somewhere.

Sure, you can see a number of magazine scans about the game in this video: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm17022642

[BIL]

Very interesting posts on Lang, CIT! If I'm not terribly mistaken (I might be), wasn't it developed for a Mega Drive-based arcade board? I've a slight aversion to "mascot platformers," yet a strong affinity for direct AC ports... so on balance, it's kept a place on my b-shortlist for many years. Hearing about the rest of the game definitely bumps it up, especially that Strider mention from the devs. Brings to mind New Corp's commentary on Rastan and Wonder Boy, re: their Little Ralph (another seemingly-lightweight action/platformer concealing serious hardcore cred).

Honestly, if you look back at all the Sonic-chasers from that era it become evident that all the Japanese-made games are, at the very least, fine: Rocket Knight, Socket, Havoc, even shlock like Rocky Rodent (or, if you prefer, NITROPUNKS MIGHTHEADS). All the really dire stuff came out of the west.

I think you're right. I'm trying to think what Western developed character-platformers I like and all the decent ones are the ones that don't try to copy Sonic (like Rolo to the Rescue or Mickey Mania).

I've a real blind spot for the whole 16-bit mascot platformer camp. I'd not thought about it until GSK's post, but it figures the stuff I do enjoy (RKA trio, basically) diverges strongly from Sonic, to the point the only things they have in common are said furry dude w/tude mascot. I find MD Sonics enjoyable, but a bit insubstantial, so even a competent clone isn't likely to win me over.

Speaking of direct AC ports and Columns, the first game is along with Puyo Puyo and Puyo Puyo 2 one of my favourite little MD treasures. Ala Daimakaimura, there's something terribly cute about a tiny snapcased cart that turns your MD into a bona-fide credit-crunching arcade machine!

[CIT]

If I'm not terribly mistaken (I might be), wasn't it developed for a Mega Drive-based arcade board? I've a slight aversion to "mascot platformers," yet a strong affinity for direct AC ports... so on balance, it's kept a place on my b-shortlist for many years.

No, actually it was developed specifically for MD by the same team that did MD Chelnov (see aforementioned scans from Beep Mega Drive). Released in the US first and in Japan half a year later (which was not unusual for DECO).

The arcade version is a bit of a conundrum, with nobody actually having seen it. But I remember back in the day there were cabs fitted with an MD where you basically just paid to play the game for a certain amount of time. I suspect it was one of those deals.

Hearing about the rest of the game definitely bumps it up, especially that Strider mention from the devs. Brings to mind New Corp's commentary on Rastan and Wonder Boy, re: their Little Ralph (another seemingly-lightweight action/platformer concealing serious hardcore cred).

Captain Lang definitely feels much more like a bona fide arcade title compared with most of its mascot platformer contemporaries. Little Ralph is actually the game it reminds me of most. Together with Gimmick and RKA.

I can kinda see where they took some inspiration from Strider, such as snowy hills, airships or the arching jumpkick, but the latter is nowhere near as satisfying as Hiryu's sword. In any case, I don't think the parallels are that great.

I've a real blind spot for the whole 16-bit mascot platformer camp. I'd not thought about it until GSK's post, but it figures the stuff I do enjoy (RKA trio, basically) diverges strongly from Sonic, to the point the only things they have in common are said furry dude w/tude mascot. I find MD Sonics enjoyable, but a bit insubstantial, so even a competent clone isn't likely to win me over.

A lot of these games get a bad rap because people tend to lump them together on the basis of looks, but there are certainly some very good ones.

[BIL]

No, actually it was developed specifically for MD by the same team that did MD Chelnov (see aforementioned scans from Beep Mega Drive). Released in the US first and in Japan half a year later (which was not unusual for DECO).

Oh man, Chelnov... gold standard 16bit port. That seals it then.

The arcade version is a bit of a conundrum, with nobody actually having seen it. But I remember back in the day there were cabs fitted with an MD where you basically just paid to play the game for a certain amount of time. I suspect it was one of those deals.

Ah, right - sounds like a Blast Wind scenario, if not even sketchier.

[GSK]

Oh, really? I'd love to see that scan, if you have it saved somewhere.

Sure, you can see a number of magazine scans about the game in this video: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm17022642

Excellent, thanks!

[Imhotep]

The arcade version is a bit of a conundrum, with nobody actually having seen it. But I remember back in the day there were cabs fitted with an MD where you basically just paid to play the game for a certain amount of time. I suspect it was one of those deals.

It's real:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/High-Seas-Havoc ... SwM6NZrBPE

I've seen several other boards on ebay over the years (from Korean sellers iirc). This seller is probably trying to flip one of those for like 6x the price.

[GSK]

The board CIT is referring to is called a Mega-Tech and there are other MD-derivative arcade boards like the System C (used for Thunder Force AC, Puyo AC, etc) but that one looks like it might literally be a MD on a PCB, I've never seen anything quite like it.

A quick search tells me it's a thing people know existed but that's about it. I wonder if they ever had Chelnov MD running on that thing...

[CIT]

It's real:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/High-Seas-Havoc ... SwM6NZrBPE

I've seen several other boards on ebay over the years (from Korean sellers iirc). This seller is probably trying to flip one of those for like 6x the price.

Interesting, thanks! I wonder if it's been dumped. Would like to see if there are any differences in content, as the MD game is quite lenient with extends and I could imagine some of the hidden 1ups were removed for an arcade release.