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Post by bonesnapdeez on Apr 27, 2023 13:02:52 GMT -5
I love Princess Tomato. Literally makes me lol.
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Post by Ex on Apr 27, 2023 14:23:06 GMT -5
Title: Wonder BoyPlatform: SEGA Master System Region release played: USA Year of release: 1987 Developer: SEGA Publisher: SEGA Graphics: 4/5 Audio: 3/5 Challenge: 4/5 Fun factor: 3/5 Quick Thoughts: Wonder Boy is an action-platformer for SEGA Master System, being a port of the 1986 arcade game. West One developed the arcade game and SEGA published it, but for SMS SEGA did the port themselves. In Wonder Boy players control a caveman (caveboy?) named Tom-Tom who runs through stages, smashing animals with tomahawks, defeating bosses, all in order to save his girlfriend. Sometimes Wonder Boy can skate on a skateboard and kill indigenous peoples, or fly through the clouds collecting love hearts, but this is all just part of being a Wonder Boy, naturally. I'll recommend Wonder Boy to fans of fast-paced platforming with oldschool arcade sensibility (and challenge). +Strong graphics for its day. +Enjoyable OST (albeit limited in track selection). +The stages have a "flow" to them encouraging speed. +Good sense of humor (with one possible exception*). +Lots of little secrets to find. -Ya gotta keep eating fruits or your life runs out. -Very repetitive boss battles. -Some nasty slowdown at times. -Stage designs/aesthetics get really repetitive after a while. -This game is twice as long as it should be. * Ex's time to beat: 1 hour 25 minutes Ex's rating: 7/10- That's gonna wrap this theme up for me dudes, here's what I beat: Air Rescue SMS 7/10 Aztec Adventure: The Golden Road to Paradise SMS 3/10 Choplifter! SMS 6/10 Danan: The Jungle Fighter SMS 6/10 Karnov NES 6/10 Running Battle SMS 3/10 Sangokushi III SMS 5/10 The Lucky Dime Caper Starring Donald Duck SMS 7/10 Wonder Boy SMS 7/10 Wonder Boy in Monster Land SMS 6/10 See you next month in the 4th generation.
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Post by Sarge on Apr 27, 2023 14:29:48 GMT -5
Good beat, Ex. Did some reading, and apparently the SMS version sports more stages than Adventure Island on NES, which is a more direct port of the arcade game. (The SMS version also looks much, much better.)
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Post by Ex on Apr 27, 2023 14:56:26 GMT -5
Good beat, Ex . Did some reading, and apparently the SMS version sports more stages than Adventure Island on NES, which is a more direct port of the arcade game. (The SMS version also looks much, much better.) IIRC the SMS version has more enemy variety as well. I didn't even know about Adventure Island until I played it at a friend's house in middle school. I was convinced it was an inferior clone of the SMS version I'd previously owned. Years later I found out the SMS and NES versions are both ports of the arcade original. It did feel good to finally beat Wonder Boy after all these years.* I've now slayed all my old white whales on Master System. But there are still more games I'd like to finish on the platform eventually, but I've had enough of third gen for a while. Kudos to you for taking out the more esoteric and C-tier NES platformers you've done. I imagine there's not many platformers left on NES/FC/FDS you've not played (and likely beaten) by now. *
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Post by Sarge on Apr 27, 2023 15:01:48 GMT -5
At least actual good ones, you're probably right. Although Alfred Chicken was a nice surprise.
I really, really still want to stumble on a great platformer on SMS that I missed, but I suspect I already got those when I played through the Mickey and Asterix games. Which I will say were really good - very much down my alley in terms of their action.
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Post by Ex on Apr 27, 2023 15:24:51 GMT -5
want to stumble on a great platformer on SMS that I missed Not saying these are great, but maybe you've not tried yet: Argos no Juujiken (SMS version of Rygar) Disney's Aladdin (unique SMS version ) Fire & Ice Gaegujangi Kkachi Psychic World The Lion King Tom and Jerry: The Movie
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Post by Sarge on Apr 27, 2023 15:48:15 GMT -5
I'll give a couple of those a go - I have beaten Aladdin and Psychic World (both good games), very curious if any of the others would be okay or not. I worry about SMS Rygar - if I recall it's more of a straight port of the arcade game, which I don't love. (The NES game is aces, though.)
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Post by Ex on Apr 27, 2023 23:29:08 GMT -5
very curious if any of the others would be okay or not Worst case scenario there's always: On the real though, I did find an SMS platformer I plan to play this year. Unfortunately it's too new for Club Retro: I bet we talked about this homebrew when it released and then I forgot all about it. 🤷♂️
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Post by Sarge on Apr 28, 2023 0:06:39 GMT -5
Welp, there's Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom down for the count. It gets points for the ridiculous setup, but gameplay-wise, it's pretty much like other Japanese console adventure games I've played on the system. Most of the progression made sense, with it falling apart more in the final chapter, where the triggers can be a bit silly, like having to leave a particular room the right way before it would trigger the next scene, as opposed to going out the way you came in. Very annoying. I leaned a bit on a guide in the last chapter, although I still tried to do everything legit that I could. And with lots of just random "do everything", I'd have gotten there.
The game looks pretty good, too. But I'll be honest, thematically it didn't do as much for me as stuff like Shadowgate or Deja Vu. But it's still a solid game, so I think I'll give this a 6.5/10. Certainly more fun if you enjoy what they're shooting for tonally, and I suspect the Japanese version (or the original computer version) was a bit more funny with more dialogue. But I think the graphics are better here than what I've seen from the PC-88 version, even if lower resolution.
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Post by Xeogred on Apr 29, 2023 9:09:45 GMT -5
Power Strike (SMS) ~47m
I'm not sure I liked this one as much as the GG games, but for 1988, it's still crazy how good Compile's programming was. You'd think you were playing a more advanced arcade game here with how smooth it runs for the most part. Some great graphics, music, and 8 varied power ups makes it pretty fun. The bosses were the weakest aspect for sure, mostly being some kind of big fortress type of thing to take down. Then they'd pop up numerous times a level, often with the Compile shooters, they sometimes feel like they go on a little too long. But yeah, good stuff and any kid who had this as a kid would have had a great time for sure.
Power Strike II is the one I hear about more often I think. But I might savor that one for another time.
This probably puts a cap on this theme for me!
8. Master of Darkness (SMS) 9. Mega Man 1 (NES)* 10. Mega Man 2 (NES)* 11. Mega Man 3 (NES)* 12. Mega Man 4 (NES)* 13. Mega Man 5 (NES)* 14. Mega Man 6 (NES)*
19. Ninja Gaiden (SMS) 22. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES) 23. Phantasy Star (SMS) 24. Bionic Commando (NES) 25. Jackal (NES) 26. Zillion II: The Tri-Formation Cycle (SMS) 27. Power Strike (SMS)
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