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Post by Sarge on May 6, 2021 23:47:14 GMT -5
That sounds interesting... it's one I have set up on the MiSTer, so now I have to give it some run.
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Post by Ex on May 7, 2021 1:38:09 GMT -5
Turns out one of the Aleste games that Compile made, is actually an "on foot shmup" named Aleste Gaiden, where you play as a robot (cyborg?) ninja: Edit: It's on MSX. I tested the game in BlueMSX, it ran fine.
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Post by toei on May 7, 2021 9:06:50 GMT -5
^Yeah, I think I wrote a review for it here probably two years ago. I liked the game as those are my favorite types of shmups, even if it's a little on the simple side. IIRC you're pretty useless before you grab some power-ups, but once you do it's pretty smooth sailing from there. BTW, it's a MSX2 game, which is the follow-up to the basic MSX. Emulators usually run the whole MSX line, but they're really different computers, and MSX2 games tend to look, sound and play a lot better. The reason this game is so obscure is that it may or may not have ever gotten a stand-alone release. Compile had a magazine in Japan, and every now and then they would include full games with it. Some were older and previously-released, while some were originals. That may be how this game originally came out. Then I think it was included in a compilation sold separately later on.
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Post by Ex on May 7, 2021 9:29:14 GMT -5
That may be how this game originally came out. Then I think it was included in a compilation sold separately later on. Apparently it was a Disc Station release:
I was surprised by Gaiden, because as we'd discussed earlier, it seemed all the Aleste shmups used the same format. But this one was certainly a gaiden in that regard.
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Post by toei on May 7, 2021 9:36:31 GMT -5
Yeah, that's what I'd read. But you can also find a pretty slick looking box cover for it online. I guess it may not be official? It looks as good as an official release, though. Also, I think the other two games on that disk - Thexder for sure, Children Wars only IIRC - had stand-alone releases. But I guess Aleste Gaiden could have still been a new game.
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Post by Ex on May 7, 2021 9:41:44 GMT -5
But you can also find a pretty slick looking box cover for it online. I guess it may not be official? Without having a retro gaming informant from Japan, who really knows. As you are all too well aware, accurately researching old Japanese games using English internet repositories is difficult to say the least.
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Post by toei on May 7, 2021 11:01:21 GMT -5
Yeah, for sure. Also, there was this Japanese thing called Project EGG years ago where you could buy MSX games officially and play them on modern computers (it was emulation, but repackaged as stand-alone software). This was way before Steam and sites like that, I believe. The site had an English version and a few of the games were available in English, but it seemed to be a pretty significant niche thing in Japan. The cover could have been created for that site.
-I looked it up and found posts about that site from 2005. Waaaay back.
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Post by Sarge on May 7, 2021 23:14:26 GMT -5
Impressions later, but I just (non-legit) finished Android Assault: The Revenge of Bari-Arm on Sega CD. Knowing what I do now, I could make a legit run, though. Probably won't, though. EDIT: Okay, a few extra impressions. I like the way this game looks - it's very much a Thunder Force-looking game, but with a mech transformation as well. While it still handles the same as your ship, it allows you to take an extra hit, and I'm pretty sure it boosts the speed of your charge shot. You've got a sort of R-Type-style meter that charges when you're not firing, and it goes through three levels. Well, it turns out that last level is muy fuerte, and can wreck stuff in a hurry. Of course, that means you're not firing, so it's really during boss battles that it comes in the handiest. I had to take a bunch of shots at the last boss to finally get through. While the homing shot has an amazing power shot, it also doesn't aim well against the final boss, so swapping to the vulcan-style weapon works better. The full-power shot there is a strong straight fire shot. Land five or six of those, and you're on to the final form, and land six or seven more, and you're done. The game sports limited continues, but there's a secret stage skip code, so that's what I used to get back to the last level. Otherwise, it was legit for the final stage - once you lose your lives, it's back to the beginning of the stage, so honestly the only thing you're saving is time. For some reason, this just makes me think of Neo Geo shooters. It just has that sort of feel to it for me. I know the Sega CD and Genesis combo wasn't capable of pushing out the level of visuals you'd see on that system, but the game just has that sort of bright, colorful style. I like it a lot. Audio made less of an impression, although it clearly wasn't offensive, either. I'm probably going to give this one a 7/10. I can't say I enjoyed it quite as much as the Compile shooters (they're just too polished), but I figure what's here will definitely appeal to shmup fans.
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Post by Ex on May 8, 2021 0:15:19 GMT -5
Title: Burning AngelsPlatform: PC Engine Region release played: Japan Year of release: 1990 Developer: Zap Publisher: Naxat Soft Graphics: 2/5 Audio: 3/5 Challenge: 3/5 Fun factor: 3/5 Quick Thoughts: Burning Angels is a PC Engine exclusive shmup that stars two female pilots, one with a ship named Dragon, the other Phenix (that's how it's spelled). This game is truly geared towards two player simultaneous, but supports single player. The sole innovative factor here, is either player can press the Select Button to cause both player ships to combine into an invincible super weapon - which only lasts a short while. The other interesting thing would be the mildly lewd cutscene graphics (very mild). Burning Angels is far from the best genre entry on PCE/TG16, but at only 5 stages long, it's a decent shmup snack. +This would be fairly fun two player. +I like the special combo attack. +In single player you can choose either Dragon or Phenix. +The OST is pleasant. +Cute female pilots are always welcome in my shmups! -Graphics are lackluster and bland. -Enemy designs range from boring to uninspired. -Enemy shots are all kinds of different colors, that gets confusing sometimes. -Only 5 stages, and the ending's not much to see. -No continues, 1CC or die sucker! Ex's time to beat: 19 minutes (my third run - the successful one) Ex's rating: 6/10
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Post by Sarge on May 8, 2021 0:32:38 GMT -5
Huh, that's pretty short, even by shmup standards.
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