Umihara Kuwase info

[Skykid]

Never played, can someone suggest the better version and the differences?

According to wiki (I know) it looks like it's between the SFC or original PS release as the 2nd edition has had all the cutscenes axed (I'm not down with that.)

But 2nd edition seems to be most expensive, so what am I missing?

Also, is the game really that awesome - looks like a regular platform game with ropes, but people seem to love it.

Thanks for the help!

[KindGrind]

I'd say from a gameplay standpoint, you should *play* the SFC version first and see how you like it. It's very minimalistic and the cute graphics are not to everyone liking. I showed the game to friends that are very much into games, and they thought, and I quote, "one had to be deeply depressed, taking lithium" to enjoy playing a game like that.

That being said, if you do enjoy the mechanics, get the PSX version. The second edition has a couple of extra levels (5, iirc), and apparently some bugs were fixed, too. I did play the first edition a lot, and never experienced any bug whatsoever, so I don't know what's up with that. Cutscenes were altered (minor changes) to remove Mitchell branding from the game. I owned both editions at some point, but I'd say you can't go wrong with either. They're basically -apart from what I just said above- identical. Oh, one had a calendar; I don't remember which.

Hope that helps!

[Skykid]

I'd say from a gameplay standpoint, you should *play* the SFC version first and see how you like it. It's very minimalistic and the cute graphics are not to everyone liking. I showed the game to friends that are very much into games, and they thought, and I quote, "one had to be deeply depressed, taking lithium" to enjoy playing a game like that.

That being said, if you do enjoy the mechanics, get the PSX version. The second edition has a couple of extra levels (5, iirc), and apparently some bugs were fixed, too. I did play the first edition a lot, and never experienced any bug whatsoever, so I don't know what's up with that. Cutscenes were altered (minor changes) to remove Mitchell branding from the game. I owned both editions at some point, but I'd say you can't go wrong with either. They're basically -apart from what I just said above- identical. Oh, one had a calendar; I don't remember which.

Hope that helps!

That helps greatly, thanks KG. Normally if a game is meant to be great, I go for original copies rather than throwing them into emu's first - but this sounds like one that might be worth a try before you buy.
If there's little to nothing to distinguish the 1st and 2nd PSX versions, the 1st is much cheaper (about 1/2 the price from what I can see) so that's a no brainer, even if there are a few extra stages.

[E. Randy Dupre]

I'd recommend getting the DS version, given that it contains both the SNES original and a slightly remixed version of PS1 2nd Edition, both with enhancements.

The rope/fishing line mechanic changes the experience entirely, btw - it's much, *much* more than a platform game.

[Skykid]

I'd recommend getting the DS version, given that it contains both the SNES original and a slightly remixed version of PS1 2nd Edition, both with enhancements.

The rope/fishing line mechanic changes the experience entirely, btw - it's much, *much* more than a platform game.

Yep, I just read up on this. I heard the DS version was well received as the physics are accurate to the original, whereas the PSP version is broken?

[GaijinPunch]

2nd Edition is about double the cost of the original PS one, so keep that in mind. If you really fall in love w/ it there are 9 extra levels, found on 3 discs from Tech Playstation which show up about once every year at best on YJ. Good luck w/ those.

[Skykid]

2nd Edition is about double the cost of the original PS one, so keep that in mind. If you really fall in love w/ it there are 9 extra levels, found on 3 discs from Tech Playstation which show up about once every year at best on YJ. Good luck w/ those.

Yep, I can't see the reason as to why I'd really want 2nd edition if I did want an original version. I can live with games being short these days. 5 extra stages aren't worth the extra for me.

You got a PM btw.

[KindGrind]

Normally if a game is meant to be great, I go for original copies rather than throwing them into emu's first - but this sounds like one that might be worth a try before you buy.

I'm not too keen on emulators, so I'm with you there. I bought quite a few games on short write-ups and reputation alone, having seen very little of the games themselves on purpose, as to preserve the surprise effect (Little Ralph and Alien Soldier being some of them) and I was rarely disappointed. Some charm is lost on the process of playing this on your computer... I feel there is something almost erotic about playing on the original gamepads, hearing the "clank" sound of the cartridge being inserted in the slot.

I can think of only two games I tried before buying, apart from Umihara Kawase, on emulators, and curiously both were on SFC: Rendering Ranger and Undercover Cops. While I passed on RR, I did end up buying a copy of UC, and enjoyed it a lot over the years.

[Skykid]

Normally if a game is meant to be great, I go for original copies rather than throwing them into emu's first - but this sounds like one that might be worth a try before you buy.

I'm not too keen on emulators, so I'm with you there. I bought quite a few games on short write-ups and reputation alone, having seen very little of the games themselves on purpose, as to preserve the surprise effect (Little Ralph and Alien Soldier being some of them) and I was rarely disappointed. Some charm is lost on the process of playing this on your computer... I feel there is something almost erotic about playing on the original gamepads, hearing the "clank" sound of the cartridge being inserted in the slot.

I can think of only two games I tried before buying, apart from Umihara Kawase, on emulators, and curiously both were on SFC: Rendering Ranger and Undercover Cops. While I passed on RR, I did end up buying a copy of UC, and enjoyed it a lot over the years.

Ha ha, I think I would have gone for 'nostalgic' and 'satisfying' over erotic, but I know where you're coming from.

Rendering Rangers is one I also did a Rom check with (it's pricey), and man, was I glad I did - that is one overpriced Euro run n' gun that did nothing for me.

As for Undercover Cops, after ages of waiting for a good opportunity, I finally bagged the PCB (I hear the SFC version is a very solid conversion tho.)

[KindGrind]

Notice how I said almost erotic...

Been so out of the loop I wasn't aware of a DS version of this. I'll look into it now that I sold my PSX copy of the game.

[Warp_Rattler]

Get the DS version--it's got both the SNES and PSX 2nd Ed. on the cart, at a fraction of the price you'd pay for either title on the original hardware. I can't definitively state that it plays exactly like the originals, but it's not nearly the failure that the PSP version was, possibly due to the original designer's involvement in this one.

[greg]

Ah, shoot. I own the SFC version (the price has shot way up since last I checked), and I just got it for the PSP on my trip to Japan I just got back from two weeks ago. What's so failed about the PSP version? I haven't spent much time on it to really see what's going on with it. but the levels look different, that's for sure.

As far as emulators go, it's a good way to find out if you like the game before going out and getting the cartridge. I find that if I like the game, then I want to own the physical cartridge. However, when the price of something goes way up, then I get a bit discouraged. There's a similar puzzle platform game for the SFC called Sutte Hakkun that is pretty cool. Made by Nintendo. That game has gone way up in value though, and I'm not sure if I'll ever feel good about plunking down a whole ton of yen on it. It's a neat game, but not that neat. I'm tempted to spend a lot for something like Hyper Duel on the Saturn, but even that has become too expensive these days.

[GaijinPunch]

What's so failed about the PSP version?

Google around. It's bug-riddled. It has AWFUL reviews across the board. You bought a turd.

like Hyper Duel on the Saturn, but even that has become too expensive these days.

Yeah, but it's from a magical time when shooters didn't have to have anime bitches to sell.

[E. Randy Dupre]

There's a thread on this forum about the PSP version, too. I still don't think it's all *that* bad, personally, but there's no doubting that it's fucked.

Basically, the physics on the line are broken. The errors tend to happen in exactly the same places and have the same effects in those places, which is why I got along okay with it - I suppose I talked myself into thinking of them as being further (unintentional) challenges to be overcome - but I totally understand why others were so pissed off with it. It shouldn't have been released in that state and even cursory playtesting would have revealed the faults. Because the biggest of them pop up every single time you play it.

The only issue I've had with the DS version is that I find it impossible to hit diagonals on the d-pad to demand, which can be a real pain in the arse in a game that requires this level of precision. That wasn't an issue on the PSP release, because I've got one of those disc-based d-pads glued onto the thing.

Got to say, I rarely try old games out in emulation before buying them. I'll usually have a quick glance at any YouTube vids that I can find and maybe read a bit more widely about the games, but playing them in emulation first spoils the excitement of plugging an original cart into an original console and playing them with the intended controller.

[Warp_Rattler]

The biggest problem with the PSP version's borked physics is if you have any experience with the original title, as there are some ways of navigating boards that are just no longer possible with the wonky line action. This is, of course, a lot more important if you're one of those weirdos that can slingshot themselves from one end of the field to the other in 30 seconds or less. Line physics are a bit hard to illustrate in a video, but I like this particular bug: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PtaxkYxk4I

The only issue I've had with the DS version is that I find it impossible to hit diagonals on the d-pad to demand, which can be a real pain in the arse in a game that requires this level of precision.

What version of DS do you have? I've got a DS Lite, and I have to admit that the diagonals are a little soggy on the control pad. I've pretty much learned just to mash extra hard in the diagonal direction for the game (oddly, this is the only title I own where I've really needed diagonals to be responsive; it's a surprise I've never ran into this problem with other games), but I like to imagine that on any iteration of the DSi or even the good old chunky first-gen DS, the d-pad is much better thanks to its size and use of microswitches.

And just to note, if you try and have a go at this one through emulation or other means, the game will crap out on you in a fairly creative way after about 10 minutes as an antipiracy measure. Basically, your lure just stops sticking to anything, even in the little animated sequences that introduce new techniques for the levels.

[E. Randy Dupre]

Yeah, it's a Lite. I know you can set the shoulders to be whichever diagonals you want, but using them doesn't feel at all natural to me.

The place I noticed the screwy physics most in the PSP version is the first giant tadpole level - it's often stupidly tricky, sometimes impossiblee, to hang off the left-hand ledge as usual, because the line sticks to the corners of the platform, rather than simply bending around them.