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Post by toei on Apr 15, 2022 19:20:32 GMT -5
Yeah, UN Squadron is really an Americanized version of a licensed shmup based on the manga Area 88. Maybe I should try it then. I was turned off by the extremely bland and uninspiring title.
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Post by Ex on Apr 15, 2022 21:31:11 GMT -5
I think UN Squadron is just the English version/name of Area 88. Pretty sure this is the same series? I didn't know that, explains everything: I think it does yes. I'm pretty sure I beat Carrier Air Wing back in the day. It's a Capcom shmup regardless so it'll at least be decent. |
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Post by Xeogred on Apr 16, 2022 10:09:29 GMT -5
Yeah... got kind of stuck and bored around here in Strider 1 this morning. I thought those yellow/orange circular beams around this part hurt you as well. It was just a weird cluster. Other arcade LP's I skim through look like they're clearly using invincibility.
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Post by toei on Apr 16, 2022 11:28:20 GMT -5
I quit not long after that part, a short while after the boss.
Longplays that use invincibility are so useless to me, except maybe in this very instance (ie showing a specific part of the game) - and even then, it can give the viewer a false impression.
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Post by Ex on Apr 17, 2022 1:20:24 GMT -5
 Title: Rocket Knight AdventuresPlatform: SEGA Genesis Region release played: USA Year of release: 1993 Developer: Konami Publisher: Konami Graphics: 4/5 Audio: 4/5 Challenge: 4/5 Fun factor: 4/5 Quick Thoughts: Rocket Knight Adventures is an action-platformer that released during the platforming mascot craze of the early '90s. RKA rises above the clone droves thanks to its unique rocket blast moves and high level of challenge and polish. This is due to being directed by Nobuya Nakazato, who also directed Contra III: The Alien Wars and Contra: Hard Corps. The protagonist Sparkster, who is a sword wielding, rocket propelled opossum knight, is surely unique. With seven stages of stout challenge and fun bosses, Rocket Knight Adventures is a must-play for action-platformer fans.    +Vibrant graphics with outstanding special effects. +Continuous design variety from start to credits. +The rocket blast move is unique and fun to use. +Controls are tight and super responsive. +This game's got a good sense of humor. -There are some cheap hits at times. -Not a fan of the chase sequences. -I wish more stages were designed around the rocket blast ricochet.
-The final boss segment lasts perhaps too long. -Good luck on hard mode! Ex's time to beat: 57 minutes
Ex's rating: 8/10
I do recommend this one to Xeogred if he's never played through it. |
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Post by Xeogred on Apr 17, 2022 11:04:13 GMT -5
Definitely sold me on the director. Been wanting to give the Genesis some love this month, so I'll consider that one for sure.
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Post by toei on Apr 17, 2022 15:14:21 GMT -5
Not surprised it's the same director. Both games really do their best to impress you with constant visual effects and design variety. Castlevania Bloodlines too. Lots of staff overlap between those two, too.
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Post by Ex on Apr 17, 2022 15:24:47 GMT -5
With Rocket Knight Adventures I forgot to mention it has shmup parts, and they are good. The shmup parts have nods to Gradius at times, and that makes sense given it's all Konami.
I plan to check out RKA's sequel Sparkster soon. There are two Sparkster games, one's on Genesis and the other's on SNES. If I understand the situation correctly, despite having the same name, these are different games. The Japanese version of the Genesis entry is called Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2 and was directed by Yasushi Takano. The SNES version was directed by Hideo Ueda. From what I've read, the SNES version is a direct sequel to the Genesis original, whereas the Genesis version deviates. It's all pretty confusing and WTF, but I intend to play the Genesis version first and SNES after. |
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Post by Xeogred on Apr 17, 2022 16:55:24 GMT -5
I plan to check out RKA's sequel Sparkster soon. There are two Sparkster games, one's on Genesis and the other's on SNES. If I understand the situation correctly, despite having the same name, these are different games. The Japanese version of the Genesis entry is called Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2 and was directed by Yasushi Takano. The SNES version was directed by Hideo Ueda. From what I've read, the SNES version is a direct sequel to the Genesis original, whereas the Genesis version deviates. It's all pretty confusing and WTF, but I intend to play the Genesis version first and SNES after.
lol, looking forward to hearing about the two Sparkster's.
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Post by Ex on Apr 17, 2022 22:57:52 GMT -5
 Title: SparksterPlatform: SEGA Genesis Region release played: USA Year of release: 1994 Developer: Konami Publisher: Konami Graphics: 3/5 Audio: 3/5 Challenge: 3/5 Fun factor: 2/5 Quick Thoughts: Sparkster is an action-platformer and sequel to the Genesis game Rocket Knight Adventures. This sequel had a different director and you can certainly tell in a negative fashion. The graphical pizazz and wild chutzpah of the first game, has been replaced with "good ideas on paper" but a mess in execution here. Whereas Rocket Knight Adventures was consistently fun and even brilliant at times, Sparkster is a chore to play and often annoying just for the spite of it. Unfortunately, while I appreciate this Genesis sequel exists, Sparkster fell right out of the sky when Konami assigned a different director to it.    +Vibrant color palette. +The rocket boost is useful more often. +Some of the OST is pleasant. +I always appreciate parallax scrolling. +There are still mech battles -Level designs are generally awful (especially the pyramid and air fortress). -So much ostensibly irritating game design. -No more shmup sections. -The sword no longer shoots a ranged attack. -They changed Sparkster's movement inertia and edge detection for the worse. Ex's time to beat: 1 hour 5 minutes
Ex's rating: 5/10
Well here's hoping the SNES version of Sparkster is better. It had a different director than this one at least.
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