Taito Memories Vol. 1: Confirmed game list.

[BrianC]

As to Flipull...I'm guessing that's Puzznic? If so, I hope Empire remembers, for the sake of the younger audience, to Do Something about the hentai.

Flipull isn't the same game as Puzznic. It's a puzzle game where you control this blob like thing and try to throw blocks at other blocks with the same picture on them. Puzznic is a game where you move a cursor to match blocks. The GB version of Flipfull got released in the US. I played it and it's a very fun puzzle game.

Yikes! The arcade Puzznic has risque art in it! Do any of the home versions have this? I certainly hope not!

[Thunder Force]

I'm pretty dissapointed with this. I'd have preferred Taito to put all their earlier stuff out on Vol. 1. Oh well, here's to Vol. 2.

It's smarter for them financially to spread out the really old and really new stuff on each disc, that way forcing fans from all eras to collect them all.

[elbarto]

Flipull isn't the same game as Puzznic. It's a puzzle game where you control this blob like thing and try to throw blocks at other blocks with the same picture on them. Puzznic is a game where you move a cursor to match blocks. The GB version of Flipfull got released in the US. I played it and it's a very fun puzzle game.

I believe Flipull got released as Plotting outside of Japan.

[Turrican]

So, is this the Taito Arcade Classics that some european publisher (Empire Interactive I believe) secured the rights to publish it some months ago?

Nice list however, a good blend of old and new. However, after buying Midway Arcade Treasures, my faith in console emulation has faded. They caouldn't manage a 60fps Smash TV, I just hope Taito are better programmers.

[BrianC]

Flipull isn't the same game as Puzznic. It's a puzzle game where you control this blob like thing and try to throw blocks at other blocks with the same picture on them. Puzznic is a game where you move a cursor to match blocks. The GB version of Flipfull got released in the US. I played it and it's a very fun puzzle game.

I believe Flipull got released as Plotting outside of Japan.

Not the GB version....

Turrican, have you played the GCN or Xbox Midway Arcade Treasures? They both handle Smash TV better than the PS2 version. Smash TV doesn't have emulation problems in those versions.

[elbarto]

Not the GB version....

Ah, fair enough. I wasn't even aware of a GB version until now, I'd only really played the Amiga and ST versions of Plotting.

I'm still sure it's the same game though, heh..
Plotting Arcade flyer

[Turrican]

Turrican, have you played the GCN or Xbox Midway Arcade Treasures? They both handle Smash TV better than the PS2 version. Smash TV doesn't have emulation problems in those versions.

Yeah, so I've been told. Unfortunately, I don't own an Xbox, and MAT1 for NGC was not released in Europe. This came as a huge disappointment, since the four joypad slots would have been perfect to play Gauntlet.

Also, I've been told that the emulation in MAT2 is terrible. That's why I'm a bit concerned to see many "recent" titles on the Taito collection. I'm crossing fingers that they will be able to treat their classics the way Namco does with its own.

[Guest]

Nice list however, a good blend of old and new. However, after buying Midway Arcade Treasures, my faith in console emulation has faded. They caouldn't manage a 60fps Smash TV, I just hope Taito are better programmers.

That's one concern I have as well. Alot of the games on Midway Arcade Treasures 2(The PS2 version at least) are full of problems.

- Music cutting in and out randomly in MK2

- In MK3, the inability to keep Smoke saved on the memory card after you enter the code, thus you have to enter the code every time

-Absolutely DESTROYED controls in Primal Rage, not to mention the game is horribly sped up

-Pit Fighter is horribly sped up, the game plays about 2x-3x faster than the arcade version. Some moves you could do in the arcade version can not be done at ALL on the ps2 controller because the game is sped up so much you can't input the controller moves fast enough as the game requires. The sound/music are also destroyed

All the other games I haven't played much, but they share the same problems, gameplay being horribly sped up, sound problems, etc.

I hope Metal Black and any of the other games on Taito's compilation don't share these same problems.

[Skyknight]

Base Defense: Space Invaders Color, Majestic 12, Space Invaders DX (3)
Does-it-HAVE-a-category: Lunar Rescue (1)
Sports: Alpine Ski 1982 (skiing), Aa Eikou no Koshien (baseball) (2)
Single-screen adventure: The Fairyland Story, Bubble Bobble, Don Doko Don (3)
Platformer: Rastan, Elevator Action Returns, Jigoku Meguri/Bonze Adventure (3)
Puzzle: Cameltry, Flipull, Cleopatra's Fortune, Puchi Carat (4)
Melee: Runark/Growl, Pu-Li-Ru-La (2)
Shmup: Metal Black, Grid Seeker, Darius Gaiden (3)
Fighting: Light Bringer, Kurikinton (?) (2)
Overhead gunner: Syvalion (?), Kiki Kaikai (2)

Looking at this, I would have left out Cleopatra's Fortune in favor of Violence Fight (not sure whether I or II would have been better), in order to set the genre balance better. Or, better still, Top Speed or Chase H.Q. (I see NO driving games here).

[CMoon]

Also, I've been told that the emulation in MAT2 is terrible. That's why I'm a bit concerned to see many "recent" titles on the Taito collection. I'm crossing fingers that they will be able to treat their classics the way Namco does with its own.

Don't judge all emulation by the midway sets. Honestly, I have very little respect for midway and the quality of their work. Just coz they do a lowsy pack doesn't mean EVERYONE is going to do a lowsy retro pack. The Capcom generation discs are GOLD. No reason this has to be any different.

[Ganelon]

Definitely. When Midway decided that MKI wouldn't be on MAT2, you could tell it was all for some extra bucks to get people to buy MKD LEs rather than wholehearted dedication ot the classics.

[neorichieb1971]

The Japanese are obviously better at emulation.

Capcom
Namco
Toaplan
Sega

Those above 4 companies, I have most of the ports they done on the Saturn and Playstation and they are all perfect or 99.5% perfect.


I don't know why, but American companies don't fair too well. For example half the games use special controllers in the arcades, yet a simple paddle or volume control pad does not exist for tempest.

Gauntlet is horrible in emulation, you only get half the food you do in the arcade version which makes it too hard to play for score because you inevitably die by level 14, and it provides you repeat levels. For example, level 9 by default is very hard. I played it to level 20+ and got that level again even though there is 100 levels I have not seen yet. In the arcade version, level 8 was always the level the last person died on, not so in the emulated versions. In the arcade versions I played (3 different machines) there was extra food on level 2 and 3, which is definately not there on the emulated version unless you choose multiplayer. I got to level 84 in arcade mode, yet I can only get to level 14 in emulation.

The controls for paperboy could of been done much easier.


Sega are also another company which has so much to offer. There has been no port of Wonderboy or Shinobi in 100% form. 2 of my favourites. I have the PCB's but no adaptors at the moment.

[Nemo]

The Japanese are obviously better at emulation.

I don't think it's that they are better, just smarter about it. Whenever you exceed a certain number of games on one collection (usually 3) the quality of the individual games will falter. Most of the good retro JP packs I've played have usually contained 3 games, which seems like the optimum amount for making sure the games are 100% accurate. You mention Sega is good at doing compilations, but both their Smash pack and Sonic Collections were awful. I'm not sure if it's possible, but I've never played a compilation pack with more than 5 games where all the games were even 95% perfect conversions.

[Neon]

Sega

Those above 4 companies, I have most of the ports they done on the Saturn and Playstation and they are all perfect or 99.5% perfect.

Sonic Jam on the Saturn was pretty terrible, conversion wise. They should've taken out the stupid 3d level and instead gotten rid of all the extra slowdown, downsampled sfx, etc.

[Recap]

The Japanese are obviously better at emulation.

Capcom
Namco
Toaplan
Sega

Those above 4 companies, I have most of the ports they done on the Saturn and Playstation and they are all perfect or 99.5% perfect.


I don't know why, but American companies don't fair too well.

Just to clarify, 32-bit versions of those companies' classic games were never "emulations". Just "ports".

"American companies" rarely develope a good game, why would they be going to do a good port?

[chtimi-CLA]

Sega are also another company which has so much to offer. There has been no port of Wonderboy or Shinobi in 100% form. 2 of my favourites. I have the PCB's but no adaptors at the moment.

yes, that has been annoying me. and monsterland, too.
but sega has dived so deep into the shitter that i doubt it would ever happen (a 3D demo developped by 1 intern with "shinobi" slapped on it doesn't count ).

recap: there are a few excellent american arcade games, eg. vindicator and road blasters. too bad vindicator, which i bought MAT1 for, isn't half as good without the original controls; idem for total carnage.

[BrianC]

Do the home versions of Puzznic have that risque picture in it? I'm interested in the GB version and I want to make sure it has no hentai.

Nemo, what exactly did you find wrong with the Sonic Collections? The sound, graphics, and gameplay seem to be intact, at least in the GCN version.

I actually like the Midway Arcade Treasures packs, though there are some emulation problems with sound and a glitch in Hard Drivin' (GCN verison MAT2). The controls can be configured in a few games to make them bit more playable. Spy Hunter in MAT 1 can even be configured to play played with the style of controls of the NES version. Also, the Primal Rage in MAT2 is a port with major alterations like some changed moves.

[Nemo]

Nemo, what exactly did you find wrong with the Sonic Collections? The sound, graphics, and gameplay seem to be intact, at least in the GCN version.

I have the PS2 version and the games have borders, the controls are unresponsive and graphics are a bit off. Don't remember the sound being too bad, but overall I found the games pretty unplayable.

[Nei First]

Nemo, what exactly did you find wrong with the Sonic Collections? The sound, graphics, and gameplay seem to be intact, at least in the GCN version.

I have the PS2 version and the games have borders, the controls are unresponsive and graphics are a bit off. Don't remember the sound being too bad, but overall I found the games pretty unplayable.

First I've heard of any problems with SMC, what's your verdict on Sonic Jam for saturn?

[BrianC]

Nemo, what exactly did you find wrong with the Sonic Collections? The sound, graphics, and gameplay seem to be intact, at least in the GCN version.

I have the PS2 version and the games have borders, the controls are unresponsive and graphics are a bit off. Don't remember the sound being too bad, but overall I found the games pretty unplayable.

ahh. I wonder why emulation seems to be weaker on PS2, at least with these collections. You would think that being older games, that they would port over perfectly.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

Nemo, what exactly did you find wrong with the Sonic Collections? The sound, graphics, and gameplay seem to be intact, at least in the GCN version.

I have the PS2 version and the games have borders, the controls are unresponsive and graphics are a bit off. Don't remember the sound being too bad, but overall I found the games pretty unplayable.

ahh. I wonder why emulation seems to be weaker on PS2, at least with these collections. You would think that being older games, that they would port over perfectly.

The hardware is more powerful. Maybe that makes devs lazier. With older systems they actually had to "port" the games. Now, they can emulate.

[BrianC]

I have the PS2 version and the games have borders, the controls are unresponsive and graphics are a bit off. Don't remember the sound being too bad, but overall I found the games pretty unplayable.

ahh. I wonder why emulation seems to be weaker on PS2, at least with these collections. You would think that being older games, that they would port over perfectly.

The hardware is more powerful. Maybe that makes devs lazier. With older systems they actually had to "port" the games. Now, they can emulate.

That doesn't really explain why a ported game in MAT2 like Primal Rage turned out so wierd, though. I think it's becuase Digital Eclipse is a hit or miss company. They started with some good emulations and then did some ports on GBC. Joust/Defender, Klax, and Rampart turned out good, but others like Paperboy didn't fare so well. Some of their original games aren't very good at all.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

ahh. I wonder why emulation seems to be weaker on PS2, at least with these collections. You would think that being older games, that they would port over perfectly.

The hardware is more powerful. Maybe that makes devs lazier. With older systems they actually had to "port" the games. Now, they can emulate.

That doesn't really explain why a ported game in MAT2 like Primal Rage turned out so wierd, though. I think it's becuase Digital Eclipse is a hit or miss company. They started with some good emulations and then did some ports on GBC. Joust/Defender, Klax, and Rampart turned out good, but others like Paperboy didn't fare so well. Some of their original games aren't very good at all.

They simply suck then.

I hope Taito doesn't try to pull a quick cash-in, knowing that they are bad financially.

[Tar-Palantir]

Do the home versions of Puzznic have that risque picture in it? I'm interested in the GB version and I want to make sure it has no hentai.

Not the NES (which I own) and PCE versions (which does have pictures of cute girls instead). I think you're safe.

[takohiko]

any chance of a pal release does anyone know?

yes, or so I've heard.

[Guest]

Also, the Primal Rage in MAT2 is a port with major alterations like some changed moves.

Why would they want to change the moves, when it is supposed to be an exact replication of the original arcade game. Do you think anybody really wants to learn the moves all over again, especially for a half-assed port that is so horribly sped-up that it's not even fun to play...oh well.

That doesn't really explain why a ported game in MAT2 like Primal Rage turned out so wierd, though. I think it's becuase Digital Eclipse is a hit or miss company. They started with some good emulations and then did some ports on GBC. Joust/Defender, Klax, and Rampart turned out good, but others like Paperboy didn't fare so well. Some of their original games aren't very good at all.

Here's what explains why Primal Rage, MK2, Pit Fighter, and every other game turned out so crappy - poor beta testing by Midway. They failed to thoroughly check the consistency of each of the games in comparison to the original. They simply converted them over, ran them once to twice to see if they worked, then said, "Okay, it works!" then released it. Never mind the fact that most of the games run 2x-3x faster than the original arcade game, have horrible controls, and are littered with sound fx and music errors. The game works, that's all that matters to Midway. It's either they didn't want to finance the budget required to spend the extra time to test the games properly and get them working 100% arcade perfect, or they just didn't give a crap. Maybe both. What does a huge corporation like Midway care about precise game quality.

[Nemo]

Nemo, what exactly did you find wrong with the Sonic Collections? The sound, graphics, and gameplay seem to be intact, at least in the GCN version.

I have the PS2 version and the games have borders, the controls are unresponsive and graphics are a bit off. Don't remember the sound being too bad, but overall I found the games pretty unplayable.

First I've heard of any problems with SMC, what's your verdict on Sonic Jam for saturn?

Haven't played it personally but I hear it could be better.

[FMK]

Here's a scan, via Gamefront (http://www.gfdata.de/archiv04-2005-game ... il-04.html): http://www.gfdata.de/archiv04-2005-gamefront/taito.jpg

Not much to see, just 3 screens. Space Invaders appears in Yoko mode, with some kind of artwork filing the laterals. Maybe a sign for this compilation receiving at least some care...

[99pence]

Don't sell your Saturn versions just yet. All these games on this comp will be played in flickery high-res, and may not even be emulated properly.

Amen to that.

[Nei First]

Don't sell your Saturn versions just yet. All these games on this comp will be played in flickery high-res, and may not even be emulated properly.

Amen to that.

Well as far as I'm aware Shienryu and Sengoku Blade turned out alright on te PS2, so there's hope for this one too. But yeah true I'd still hold on to those Saturn versions.