|
|
Post by Ex on Sept 2, 2021 11:23:46 GMT -5
Well I like the color palette and OST version of the MSX port though. Not saying it's as good as the NES version, just saying it's a different take on one of his favorite games.
Sometimes it's fun to try different takes of your favorites. Here's an example of Bionic Commando running on an old UK PC:
|
|
|
|
Post by Sarge on Sept 2, 2021 12:10:47 GMT -5
I've briefly played it, and it's definitely not the greatest.
|
|
|
|
Post by toei on Sept 2, 2021 16:14:41 GMT -5
The MSX was very much not a platform for pure action games.
|
|
|
|
Post by bonesnapdeez on Sept 2, 2021 18:17:15 GMT -5
I played C64 Contra at PAX East. Aggressively bad game.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ex on Sept 2, 2021 21:04:11 GMT -5
C64 Contra is a horror show. Most bad console to C64 ports were shat out by Data East, but in this instance Konami can only blame themselves.
The MSX has some decent action games*, but the MSX2 shines far brighter in that regard.
*Stuff like Knightmare, Nemesis, and The Maze of Galious comes to mind.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sarge on Sept 4, 2021 0:11:03 GMT -5
Quick run of Kyukyoku Tiger II, also known as Twin Cobra II, which is part of the Tiger-Heli line. It was... aggressively decent. It looks good, but it really wasn't all that fun to play. I think maybe I missed one of the power-up mechanics, though? I don't know if you can mix and match or what, but I saw a different green weapon in the demo scroll. Regardless, the blue spread shot was trash - too weak - and the green one had some homing capabilities that were pretty good, but the straight shot seemed best. I think I'll give this a 5.5/10 - pretty bog-standard shooting action that wasn't even special for its time.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sarge on Sept 4, 2021 15:09:36 GMT -5
For my 100th game beaten this year, I went with a classic: Contra. Uh... the MSX version. And you know what? Considering the platform (actually MSX2), what they've done here is quite playable. There's one bit I absolutely detest, and that's the stage that makes you descend and has lots of pop-in enemies below where you just have no idea if you're going to get hit or not. It's where I died last night, and I made sure to play more carefully this time (plus use all that knowledge), and I got to that stage with five lives in reserve, so I had plenty of slop to deal with it. Ended up finishing the game with that many, too. So that's a 1CC run! Of course, you have to finish it on 1CC, but... 1CC run!  I'm going to score this one better than you'd expect: 6/10. While clearly inferior in some aspects to the arcade game, the improved aiming helps the playability so much that it brings it back up in my estimation. It's still not a patch on the NES version, but it really is great for a microcomputer adaptation. |
|
|
|
Post by Ex on Sept 4, 2021 17:47:35 GMT -5
I'm glad to read the MSX version wasn't total trash, and it beats the arcade version. I didn't expect it to beat a 10/10 NES classic though, of course. I wonder what other Contra oddities are out there in obscuro land?
|
|
|
|
Post by Sarge on Sept 4, 2021 18:29:30 GMT -5
I plan on looking, at any rate. I wouldn't say it's better than the arcade version, but about even. The arcade game looks nicer and is a lot more intense, but brought down by the aiming. This one is less intense (although definitely some tricky bits - you have a life meter!), but proper 8-way aiming with no in-between shots really helps, even if the game sometimes eats inputs. (Yeah, that's a thing.)
EDIT: Oof, that C64 version of Contra really is rough. There are pieces of what could have been okay, but there's so much botched execution (including having the jump button on the keyboard separate from the joystick!) that it's actively un-fun to play. I used an unlimited lives cheat that came with the game, because oof, I won't be putting any legit time into this one. 2/10.
|
|
|
|
Post by toei on Sept 4, 2021 21:39:00 GMT -5
I'm glad to read the MSX version wasn't total trash, and it beats the arcade version. I didn't expect it to beat a 10/10 NES classic though, of course. I wonder what other Contra oddities are out there in obscuro land? Honestly though, Sarge would probably give a LCD Contra game a 6 at least. ...or will he? |
|
