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Messages - Ben

#16
Sega Chat / Re: Underappreciated Megadrive/Genesis Games
September 12, 2015, 06:18:30 AM
Quote from: "TrekMD"The Wind, eh?  Never heard of that game before.
I love that game, it's a part of the Earnest Evans trilogy.  They seem to get a mixed reaction from the Youtube reviewers, but they're some of my favorite 16 bit Sega games.  Only the first two got a release in the U.S. and only the 2nd in the UK though, the third is import only. 
They are: Earnest Evans - Mega CD in Japan, cartridge in the U.S., I don't think it got a PAL release.
El Viento / The Wind - Genesis/MD for JP/U.S./PAL
Anette Futatabi - Mega CD, JP only.
Here's a really good write up of the series that is better than the Youtube videos on it: http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/earnes ... tevans.htm

It is really easy to play import Mega CD games now though, with an Everdrive.  Here's a good video on it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9m9t71V ... e=youtu.be
#17
Retro News & Chat / Re: The History of Donkey Kong
September 12, 2015, 06:07:52 AM
That was a fun video, I think either Donkey Kong or Galaga had to be my first arcade game.  Time flies, it's hard to believe we're over three decades into that franchise.
#18
Retro News & Chat / Re: Saturn's Atari Jaguar Collection
September 11, 2015, 06:24:37 AM
Thanks for the pics, as the years roll on I'm starting to think I really like the white shell for the Jag the best.  I always loved the lines of that case and it really shows them off.
#19
Sega Chat / Re: Underappreciated Sega Saturn Games
September 11, 2015, 06:16:09 AM
Thanks zapiy, I think history is slowly coming back around on its side much more now, as gamers appreciate 2D again since the 3D craze of the 32 bit era has worn off. 

onthinice, you are correct about Lunar.  The best version of Lunar is the MPEG Edition for the Saturn that uses the MPEG card add on, but it's one of the great JRPGs that never saw U.S. or UK release unfortunately.  Check out how good the opening looks with that card:
[spoiler]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE33yYkKui8
[/spoiler]

One thing I forgot to point out for any U.S. gamers, you want to buy the PAL version of Torico as a value game, NOT the U.S. version as a value game.  The U.S. version is one of the more expensive games and will run you $200 or so, but the Pal and JP versions are very cheap.  It was called Lunacy in the U.S. and Torico in other markets, that's why I listed both names.

I was digging around Youtube and saw that Classic Game Room has done some great reviews for many of the imports I listed, this one for Cyberbots in particular is well done:
[spoiler]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKq51DDMu6g
[/spoiler]

I also remembered one more shmup that I should have had on the import list, Steam Hearts.  It makes top shmup lists for the TG16 a lot of the time, but the Saturn port is far superior to it.  Here's a good video on that:
[spoiler]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU_W1CIIRA8
[/spoiler]
#20
I love that box art, I really miss the days when games had to use quality artwork to sell you on the premise. We're starting to see a comeback with a lot of the Kickstarter games targeted at retro gaming fans, at least.
#21
Retro News & Chat / Re: Kickstarter Projects
September 09, 2015, 20:11:20 PM
Quote from: "zapiy"This is a sure fire way to have a successful Kickstarter now. Just add a version for a retro system and your done.
The Dreamcast seems to be picking up steam in that regard also, I just read an article about how demand has spiked due to younger gamers wanting to play Shenmue - http://www.techtimes.com/articles/79960 ... nmue-3.htm
#22
Sega Chat / Re: Underappreciated Sega Saturn Games
September 09, 2015, 20:06:51 PM
Thanks Isgoed, hopefully more people will check out the Saturn as info on these games has spread.  Since I made that import list, most of the games have had videos posted on Youtube and are easy to research.  For a long time, you just had to own and play those games to even know what they were.  Just to give you an example, CNet once wrote a ridiculous article naming it the worst console of all time - http://www.cnet.com/news/why-the-saturn ... -all-time/

A few more things to note, that import list and value list are both on topic.  You might wonder why I left off the majority of SNK and Capcom games as playable imports, that's because those aren't really under-appreciated at all, they normally take the top import/playable in English lists for the Saturn.  That's not an exhaustive list of playable imports, just a list of ones you don't normally see mentioned, and most of the value games fall into that also.  I also corrected one other thing, I listed D&D Collection as oppposed to Tower Of Doom.  When I made the list originally, I copied + pasted together from a few different shorter lists I'd made in the past and one of them referred to that game specifically, not the whole disc.
#23
Retro News & Chat / Re: Kickstarter Projects
September 08, 2015, 23:34:32 PM
I think I'm going to have to back this one, I just hope it hits the goal.  This is the first DC Kickstarter I've been excited about in a long time.
#24
Sega Chat / Re: Underappreciated Sega Saturn Games
September 08, 2015, 22:55:40 PM
I have posted some lists in the past for people getting into the Saturn, I thought I'd put them in spoilers here so they're all in one place and organized.

Japanese games that are playable in English:
[spoiler]
Cotton 2: Probably the best cute 'em up of all time.
Shinrei Jusatsushi Taroumaru: A side scroller beat em up with horror elements, highly recommended.
Elevator Action Returns: Side scrolling beat em up.
Sexy Parodius – Great shmup, also released in Europe in English.
Astra Super Stars : Very underrated fighter by Sunsoft.
Gungriffon II: Excellent mech/FPS hybrid.
Princess Crown: A side scroller with RPG elements, spiritual predecessor to Odin Sphere. One of the best games on the Saturn.
Dungeons and Dragons Collection – Basically a collection of side scrolling beat em up with some RPG elements.
Kyukyuoku Tiger II Plus: Overhead shmup.
Groove on Fight: Great 2d figher.
Tryrush Deppy: Side scrolling platformer.
Hyper Duel – Shmup.
Game Tengoku: Another great shmup.
Cyberbots: 2d mech fighting game.
Blast Wind – Underrated Shmup.
Bulk Slash – Mech fighting game.
PuLiRuLa: Side scrolling beat em up (sort of), with some really beautiful animation.
Sengoku Blade – Another underrated shooter.
Battle Garegga – Very underrated shmup.
Soukyugurentai – Shmup.
Batsugun: Another shooter.
Nekketsu Oyako: Side scrolling beat em up.
Purikura Daisakusen: Isometric beat em up.
Dodonpachi: Shmup.
Thunder Force V: Side scrolling shmup.
Silhouette Mirage: Side scroller with very colorful graphics by Treasure. Not an exclusive (also on the PSX), but a great game.
Deep Fear: Survival Horror game set underwater, released in Europe in English.
Super Tempo: Very colorful 2D side scroller, sequel to the Genesis games.
Ninpen Manmaru: A 3D platformer from Enix with animated cutscenes. It works with the 3d controller.
Elan Doree: 3D fighter with characters riding dragons, basically Panzer Dragoon Fighter.
Pretty Fighter X: A 2d fighter with high school girls and anime cut scenes. It's not half bad!
Skull Fang: Shmup.
Dragon Ball Z Densetsu: Decent 2D fighter, I'd pass if you aren't a DBZ fan.
Dragon Ball Z Shinbutoden: Same as above.
Wolf Fang:  Shmup.
SDF Macross: I hesitated to put this on, it's a great Shmup but has a ton of Japanese text/dialogue. Still playable, but you miss something.
Macross DYRL: See above.
Asuka 120% Limited: Another girl-centric fighter, it was released on Japanese PCs and the PSX too, but this is considered the best version.
Gekirindan: Shmup.
Dezaemon: Shump.
Darius Gaiden: Shmup.
Darius II: Shmup.
Sonic Council: Very good 2D fighter.
Cotton Boomerang: Cotton 2 with a few new characters and an amped up difficulty. Probably for shmup freaks only, I love them and this one makes me want to pull my hair out. Plus it's basically Cotton 2 anyway.
Silhouette Mirage - 2D sidescroller, it's on the PSX in English markets but the Saturn version is superior and Japan only.
Gunbird - Shmup.
Keio Flying Squadron 2 - Sidescroller based on the Mega CD cute 'em up. - Released in PAL markets.
Detana Twinbee Yahoo - Cute 'em up.
[/spoiler]

Lists by genre I made awhile back:
[spoiler]
My off the cuff Saturn top games list, by genre.

Top 5 Shmups:
1.  Parodius
2.  Hyper Duel
3.  Cotton 2
4.  Battle Garegga
5.  Radiant Silvergun

Top 5 2D Fighters:
1.  King of Fighters 97
2.  X-Men Vs. Street Fighter
3.  Astra Superstars
4.  Groove On Fight.
5.  Street Fighter Zero (Alpha) 3 (this version is better than the Dreamcast version when you use the 4 MB pack or Action Replay).

Top 5 Platformers/Sidescrollers:
1. Shinrei Jusatsushi Taroumaru
2. Super Tempo
3. PuLiRuLa
4. Princess Crown
5. Elevator Action Returns

Top 5 3D Games:
1.  Deep Fear
2.  D
3.  Panzer Dragoon
4.  Panzer Dragoon II Zwei
5.  Nights into Dreams

Top 5 Value Games:
1.   Tomb Raider – This is the better port compared to the PSX version and sells for around $5 U.S.
2.   Galactic Attack
3.   Sega Rally Championship
4.   Shining the Holy Ark
5.   Mystaria

I thought about a top 5 RPGs list, but the best ones are all Japanese only outside of a couple that are insanely expensive (Panzer Dragoon Saga in particular).  Mystaria and Shining the Holy Ark are great though, and on my value list already.
[/spoiler]

A top value list of good, but cheap games for the Saturn beginner:
[spoiler]
After Burner II - Nearly arcade perfect.
Sky Target - A 3D version of After Burner.
Alien Trilogy - Fun shooter and nice homage if you're a fan of the films.
X-Men - Children of the Atom - Different enough from X-Men vs. Street Fighter to be worth a purchase.
Space Harrier - Another arcade perfect port, just get the JP version for the cheaper price.
Sonic 3D Blast - I think in hindsight, this was a solid game, just not a traditional "Sonic" game.
Pandemonium - Underrated platformer.
Last Bronx - Excellent weapon fighter.
The Horde - Notorious for the Kirk Cameron scenes, it's actually not a terrible game.
Clockwork Knight - Another underrated platformer.
Earthworm Jim 2 - My favorite version of this one.
Torico/Lunacy - Underrated Puzzle/FMV game by Atlus.
Manx TT Superbike - Underrated arcade racer.
Mr. Bones - Worth playing for the Montrose soundtrack alone.
Sega Touring Car Championship - Very underrated racer.
Skeleton Warriors - Based on the cartoon, similar to Shinobi.
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo - Still my favorite version of this one.
WWF Wrestlemania: The Arcade Game - Actually an underrated fighter (yes, it's a fighter) based on the WWF.
Soviet Strike - Excellent helicopter shooter.
Bug! - Underrated Platformer.
Bug Too! - Another underrated platformer.
Cyber Speedway - Underrated racer with a great soundtrack.
[/spoiler]

Metal Jesus has done some good videos, too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7_OrMcBEe4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFeqlbn73dI

EDIT:  One final note needs to be mentioned.  Princess Crown is really only playable if you use a GameFAQs guide, but it is easily playable with one.  The dialogue from the game has even been translated, the fact that it's so difficult to dump text from a Saturn game is probably why it still hasn't been translated as an iso.  Here's a link to the best translation + walkthrough.  http://web.archive.org/web/200803041714 ... ation.html

I also updated those lists from the Saturn thread, I added Silhouette Mirage to the imports and Sky Target to the value games.  If you're going to bookmark any of these pages for reference, this thread is the one to go with.  I also went back through and noted games that had PAL releases, if any UK posters catch some more i missed I'd appreciate it.
#25
Retro News & Chat / Re: Anime and Manga Games
September 06, 2015, 19:25:00 PM
I enjoyed that video a lot, I just wish the Saturn had been featured.  It has so many great anime and manga based games, maybe they will do a part two later.  There would be a lot of titles to cover based on games that inspired anime also, Zillion on the Master Sytem is one of those.
#26
Quote from: "Isgoed"Battlesphere is one of the best games on the Jag imo, but it always seems difficult to talk about it without "trouble" on the forums.
One thing I've noticed with the Jag over the years, a lot of its games were unconventional by console genre standards, and the games ended up being criticized for their genre rather than the game itself.  Cybermorph was another one like that, with the AVGN video about the Jag.  You can't compare an open world space shooter to one that's on rails, they were totally different genres, but he compared Cybermorph to Star Fox which doesn't make much sense.
#27
Sega Chat / Re: Underappreciated Sega Saturn Games
September 06, 2015, 18:39:06 PM
The thing about the Saturn, isgoed, is that it is really a console for the 2D enthusiast.  I tried to pick a mix of 2D/3D with those four games, but the truth is that 2D platformers, shmups and fighters is where this console shines.  It is right up there with the AES/MVS/Neo Geo CD in that regard.  I don't know that it's worth investing in unless you are a diehard fan of those genres, or have a good enough grasp of Japanese to play the JRPG library as well.  It also has a decent number of exclusive racers if you're a fan of those, Manx TT Superbike is another underrated arcade port.

I dug around on Youtube, I wanted to post a couple of videos from those games:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_Cr8HP9EnQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWyBa7x1fjU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg-mRgsYTIo
#28
Sega Chat / Re: Underappreciated Sega Saturn Games
September 05, 2015, 17:48:56 PM
Quote from: "TrekMD"I guess there is no way to boot the system to play those games in non-Japanese consoles.
Actually, there is a really cheap and easy solution as long as you own the actual games (not CD-Rs like with the Dreamcast).  The Action Replay 4M Plus will make your console region free and let it boot JP games.  There are a couple of games that don't play well with it, Panzer Dragon Saga being one, but if you google there are Action Replay codes that will make them play nicely with it.  It works as a memory card, 4M expansion cart for games that use one, cheat device and lets your console boot JP region games.  Here's the one you want: http://www.amazon.com/Action-Replay-4M- ... XTYS0WWQ23
#29
Homebrew Chat / Re: Jaguar Controller Inline USB
September 05, 2015, 01:56:14 AM
This has great potential for using one of the rotary controllers with MAME, I would guess.  If I end up buying one I will test this and report back, or if you have a rotary controller I'd be interested to hear your experience, Saturn.
#30
Introductions / Re: Hello from a new member.
September 05, 2015, 01:48:26 AM
Welcome, I lurked and read up on the Jag quite a bit myself before I registered. It really did have a lot of appeal in terms of the hardware that AVP demonstrated, even if no other games with that level of promise came after it, plus it benefits from being Atari's swan song.   It's too bad that most of the misinformation about it has been incorrectly accepted as fact, but you're among friends here anyway.