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Post by Ex on Mar 25, 2019 20:37:31 GMT -5
I guess the Game Gear was maybe more powerful? The Game Gear and Master System used very similar technical architectures, but there were distinct differences.
The Master System's CPU is clocked at 4 MHz, the Game Gear uses the same CPU but clocked at 3.5MHz (to save battery power). The Master System can display 256×192 pixels with 32 colors from a palette of 64 colors. The Game Gear can display 160×144 pixels with 32 colors from a palette of 4096 colors. Lastly the Game Gear can render audio in stereo, whereas the Master System can only render mono. However the Game Gear lacks the FM chip that certain Japanese Master System models have. I would not say the Game Gear is more powerful than the Master System, rather it has as many weaknesses as strengths in comparison. The reason that Game Gear versions of Master System games can run faster with less slowdown, is because the Master System is rendering 96x48 more pixels. However that extra speed costs the Game Gear player peripheral vision.
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Post by Sarge on Mar 25, 2019 21:14:59 GMT -5
Oh, right, yeah, the clock speeds were slightly different. As you say, though, having to render a larger screen area put more stress on the SMS, although I'd argue the extra display area is worth it.
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Post by toei on Mar 25, 2019 22:35:42 GMT -5
A lot of the crossover only existed in Europe and Brazil, though, where the Master System's popularity made ports from the Game Gear a no-brainer. I think the improved play field in the Master System versions (due to a higher resolution) also lead to more slowdowns in some cases, though.
EDIT - This is the second time I miss a new page and post something redundant. Oh well. I agree with Sarge that the extra field of play is usually a plus.
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Post by Sarge on Mar 26, 2019 10:33:23 GMT -5
So yesterday night, I made quick progress in Golden Axe Warrior. It slowed down last night... a lot. I found the fourth dungeon, but apparently didn't have what I needed to get through it. After messing around for some time, I decided to verify this with a guide, and sure enough, I had to have an ability to destroy the blocks before I could proceed. Whee! I then went on a scavenger hunt, and finally ( finally) found the Earth Scroll. I guess one benefit to it, though, is that have a bit more familiarity with the map. Anyway, with Long Sword in hand and the Earth Scroll, I made my run at the fourth dungeon. It was pretty tough! Mostly the sword-tossing skeletons. Makes me glad I took Ex 's advice and ground currency to buy the Knight's Shield. Even so, I died a bunch, got tired of having to traipse through multiple screens to get back to where I was, and did a smidge of save-stating. I think I'd already hemorrhaged most of my money at that point, anyway, so no big deal. Took out the surprisingly easy boss (as long as you have enough health in case you screw up!), and now I'm ready to use this Canoe to get to even more stuff. I know a few places already I can put it to use. Combat is still astoundingly fiddly. It's hitting all the other beats of a good Zelda clone, but so far it's completely whiffing on the combat. Also, I literally laughed out loud when the Wizzrobes showed up. I have to wonder if this was an internal pet project by some huge Zelda fans that Sega decided, "You know what? Screw copyright stuff! Let's publish it, like we did with Revenge of Shinobi having Spider-Man and Batman in it!" (Also, Like Likes. I literally had a stab of fear fighting them with my newly-minted shield.) (Actually, reading about the history of that game's revisions is really fascinating. Apparently they were placeholders, and never really got changed during the development process.)
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Post by Ex on Mar 26, 2019 10:47:49 GMT -5
Combat is still astoundingly fiddly. I think when you get to the 5th dungeon, it'll go from fiddly to infuriating. Or at least, it did for me. But hey man, if you like the game, you've got a whole hecking lotta more dungeons ahead of you.
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Post by Sarge on Mar 26, 2019 11:03:12 GMT -5
I don't know if "like" is the right word right now. But this one has been on my list for so long, I figured I'd at least make the attempt at it. We'll see if I rage-quit when I hit dungeon numero cinco.
I don't hate it, though, I mostly just wonder how much better it would be if the combat were more solid.
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Post by bonesnapdeez on Mar 26, 2019 12:10:22 GMT -5
dudez play neutopia sometime
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Post by Sarge on Mar 26, 2019 12:17:14 GMT -5
It's on my list, too! Wanting to say I've cleared two dungeons of it in the past.
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Post by Ex on Mar 26, 2019 12:38:33 GMT -5
dudez play neutopia sometime What do you think of Neutopia II?
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Post by bonesnapdeez on Mar 26, 2019 14:04:16 GMT -5
It's good, but looks and plays almost identically to the first game, just with the addition of diagonal movement.
It doesn't do enough to distinguish itself and the OST of part one is waaaay better.
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