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Post by toei on Nov 10, 2020 6:20:42 GMT -5
I discovered Samurai Kid not so long ago when looking into Biox (it may even have been this year during Game Gear month) and played some of it at the time. It definitely seemed like a high-quality GB game, and a somewhat unusual one (it's very much a puzzle-platformer).
I'd agree with Sarge's overall assessment of Hagane, except that I'm not 100% sure what he used the front somersault so much for. I used both the forward and backward version of it purely to evade attacks in some specific spots. Sarge alluded to it, but Hagane basically has the battle/weapon system of a PS2 game on the SNES, giving you access to 4 weapons and multiple moves right from the start. I'm sure that stems from developer CAProduction's background as a shmup developer until that point. Of course, there are no tutorials, so it can be overwhelming at first. But I didn't find it all that long to learn, and while it is hard, I don't think it's quite as hard as its reputation suggests. There are many hardcore action games in that vein on the Genesis, but it's something of an anomaly on the SNES.
I also don't think it's very similar to Shinobi 3, aside from a couple moves.
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Post by Ex on Nov 10, 2020 11:03:48 GMT -5
I discovered Samurai Kid not so long ago when looking into Biox (it may even have been this year during Game Gear month) and played some of it at the time. It definitely seemed like a high-quality GB game, and a somewhat unusual one (it's very much a puzzle-platformer). There's still seven more games for this theme I plan to sample (and maybe beat). Time permitting after, I may very well play through Samurai Kid later this month. I agree it seems high quality. I'm assuming this game wasn't localized for USA, due to its late release date of 2001. (The year the GBA released in the west.) Samurai Kid also appears to be Biox's final production. So maybe it didn't sell well in Japan. Anyway this GBC game seems ideal for an English fan translation.
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Post by Sarge on Nov 10, 2020 13:03:13 GMT -5
I'd agree with Sarge's overall assessment of Hagane, except that I'm not 100% sure what he used the front somersault so much for. I used both the forward and backward version of it purely to evade attacks in some specific spots. Sorry, I meant that rolling forward jump that takes the place of a traditional double jump. It was late when I wrote that up - that wouldn't be a somersault, and I'd practically forgotten about the forward/backflips. The game gives you a ton of tools, but doesn't always really give you a reason to use all of them.
I agree that it's not quite like Shinobi III other than a few moves (the ceiling hang, how the throwing knives feel), but I do think it provided a decent amount of inspiration for some core elements.
EDIT: Also, yeah, I completely feel that sort of Genesis (or PC Engine) vibe from this one. It's one that I'm really glad I finally gave a shot, and I absolutely agree that the difficulty is there but overstated. I mean, it's not Contra: Hard Corps or Contra III on Hard mode. It might not even be Contra III on Normal! So many of my deaths (when I allowed them) were of the traversal variety, and that just comes down to understanding your moveset. It's very different from what you'd normally expect.
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Post by Xeogred on Nov 10, 2020 17:11:40 GMT -5
I was thinking I should finally try and get through Hagane myself. I always bounce off the first 2-3 levels and am very sick of them, but the game seems like something I need to see through to the end! I've just never loved the controls. Shinobi III is a dream in comparison.
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Post by Sarge on Nov 10, 2020 17:39:46 GMT -5
You get the hang of that "double jump" eventually, but the thing that really throws you off is that you have to trigger it before you hit the peak of your jump, or it won't fire. It's really wonky. Just a tiny change that lets you trigger it at any point in the jump would make it waaaaay easier to navigate things. I do agree that Shinobi III sports a ton more polish in the control area. Definitely smoother overall than Hagane.
Ex: Huh, Samurai Kid looks pretty cool. Might have to give it some run. Apparently it's pretty long, too!
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Post by Ex on Nov 10, 2020 21:35:07 GMT -5
Samurai Kid looks pretty cool. Might have to give it some run. Apparently it's pretty long, too! I'm mighty tempted myself. I know how this works though. I'll beat it in Japanese, and two months later an English fan translation will drop. Has happened many times.
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Post by Sarge on Nov 10, 2020 21:40:34 GMT -5
Ha! Yeah, that would be rich, wouldn't it? Guess I should just let you take the lead then, it'll happen for sure and I can reap the benefits.
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Post by Ex on Nov 11, 2020 1:53:14 GMT -5
Guess I should just let you take the lead then I beat the first two stages tonight (out of ten total stages). Stages are linear, with enemies to kill/capture and puzzles to solve, with bosses at the end. Upon beating a boss, you get a power up item. Thus far, I think Samurai Kid is really good, and the language barrier hasn't been an issue. That said, I can see how the stage puzzles may become very tricky. If it gets to be too cerebral, that would diminish the fun factor for this sort of game. I'm fine with thoughtful and quick puzzles in a puzzle-platformer, but the fact there's a "Reset Room" button in the start menu makes me concerned. I don't want to stare at a room and burn my brain for twenty minutes, trying to figure out what kind of Rube Goldberg insanity has to be manifested in order to proceed. Fire 'n' Ice maliciously broke me from that shit. That hasn't happened yet though! So far the puzzles I've seen are easy breezy stuff like you'd find in a Zelda game. I did some research on this game's developer, Biox. They created a bunch of action-puzzle games, as well as Phantasy Star Adventure. Ristar, and Ninja Gaiden all on Game Gear. And Daiku no Gen San on GBC. If you put all that stuff in a blender, you very much could end up with Samurai Kid. It's got action-puzzles, text filled cutscenes, bouncy platforming, and sword slashing action. Samurai Kid was clearly the culmination of Biox's previous efforts. Samurai Kid really flew under the radar though. It's not even listed in Mobygames' or Giant Bomb's databases. Although I found a decent write up on this game here. That said, Biox also made some beat 'em ups. The Streets of Rage entries on Game Gear, and Ninku 2: Tenkuuryuu e no Michi on Game Gear. The most off the wall game Biox made though, has to be a burger business simulator for PS1. And it wasn't even the first game in that series either: Hard to believe SCEA didn't pick that one up!
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Post by Sarge on Nov 11, 2020 14:54:17 GMT -5
Not a new beat for me, but I decided to run through The Ninja Warriors for SNES. I beat the remastered version earlier this year. I don't think it's any better or worse, just a bit different. I love how the game feels, though - hits have a sort of meaty impact that I feel brawlers can easily get wrong. This time, I used The Ninja, who is the hulking brute that can't really jump (other than one straight up), but gets a dash attack instead. Who you play as definitely affects some of your strategies, and the lack of mobility hurts him in some battles. I persevered, though. Also note that the game gives you unlimited continues, and you start from the last checkpoint you reached. Those come fairly often, so it's really player-friendly in that regard.
I'll give this the same rating I gave Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors earlier this year: 8.5/10. It's one of the best single-plane brawlers out there. And surprisingly, the SNES has several strong entries in that category since it has both X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse and War of the Gems.
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Post by Ex on Nov 11, 2020 15:14:00 GMT -5
Oh yeah Ninja Warriors on SNES is class A stuff, fantastic fun.
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I beat the third stage in Samurai Kid this morning, it's still holding up.
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