|
Post by Sarge on Dec 29, 2021 18:48:12 GMT -5
I feel like one's opinion of ActRaiser 2 will be directly influenced by what you think of Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts. It's a very technical platformer, and takes a lot of exacting skill and trial and error to make it through. Your magic spells in particular need to be used effectively, especially against some bosses/mini-bosses. I like it, but in more of a "respectful" way than an "overjoyed to play it" way.
|
|
|
Post by toei on Dec 29, 2021 18:53:36 GMT -5
I remember reading that the Japanese version is easier than the American version, or something like that. That's probably just health and damage, though, not tricky jumps or stuff like that. Anyway, it sounds like something I won't have the time / patience for... but maybe.
So, what do the cool kids use to emulate the NES these days? I'm still using dusty FCEUX, but I'm ready to move on. I'd prefer to use a dedicate emulator btw, not retroarch or whatever unwieldy thing.
|
|
|
Post by Ex on Dec 29, 2021 19:04:21 GMT -5
who else has played Robotrek? I played and beat the game back in the '90s. IIRC my uncle let me borrow it. I remember enjoying the game's comedy and customizeable robot stuff, but honestly don't recall much detail beyond that. I could do with a replay someday, but for now I'm more interested in games I've not played before. I played through this one years ago, the NES version. I ended using a walkthrough because archaic Japanese adventure game. I remember the plot being above average given its time and platform. Not surprised it didn't come over to west in the '80s. what do the cool kids use to emulate the NES these days? Mesen by a mile.
|
|
|
Post by Sarge on Dec 29, 2021 19:24:34 GMT -5
Mesen or Nestopia UE. I tend to stick with Nestopia because I've used it longer, but both are great and highly accurate.
|
|
|
Post by Xeogred on Dec 29, 2021 20:07:00 GMT -5
Interesting, I was using FCEUX for NES as well. Guess it's time for another emulator upgrade.
ActRaiser 2 is definitely a curious one. I love Super Ghouls n' Ghosts and can see the comparison... but the wings/floaty stuff in ActRaiser 2 is pretty wonky haha. I need to give it a real look though.
Did Square have any weird action platformers?
|
|
|
Post by toei on Dec 29, 2021 22:09:10 GMT -5
Xeogred Brave Fencer Musashi gets classified as an ARPG by some but it's really more of a 3D action-platformer IMO. I don't like it much. I can't think of anything in 2D. Enix also had Violinist of Hameln, though, which is a straight platformer on the SNES which also has side-scrolling towns between levels. - So I beat Portopia. My opinion is pretty much the same as Ex . The writing is above-average - this is nice little murder investigation story - surprisingly hardboiled for the NES - with a twist that actually surprised me at the end. Story wise, it's miles ahead of anything else that was out in 1982, when it was first made, or 1985, when it was ported to the NES. But it has some early '80s, fuck-you-kid game design, so I also used a guide. There's a few spots where you need to search with the magnifying glass and there's no hint that there's something there - and you really need to search a specific spot in both cases. This would really need some visual clue in a modern remake (I know the game was remade for Japanese cellphones, don't know if they made that type of change). There's also a 3D maze, which I think was created specially for the NES version, and at some point you have to find a secret wall semi-randomly. Finally, while the twist is kind of cool - again, I can't think of a proper plot twist predating this one, at least in a Japanese game (there must have been some in Zork or some other super early text adventure) - you'd pretty much have to stumble upon what to do by trying out every menu function at random, because it requires you to use the menu in an unorthodox way in a specific location that only happens at that one point. Anyway, it was cool to see Yuji Horii's writing in a completely different style than Dragon Quest. He made two more murder investigation adventure games for Japanese computers after this one, sparking a wave of similar games in Japan. It's said that the NES port in 1985 was partly a test to see if NES fans would buy a game that wasn't in the action genre, so they could work on what they really wanted to make - a RPG (the first-person maze in Portopia has a Wizardry reference in it, famously). Because it sold well, Dragon Quest was made. So this game is significant historically. I can't really rate it. It was definitely obtuse in that early '80s way, but as a short story it's better than I thought.
|
|
|
Post by Ex on Dec 29, 2021 22:33:32 GMT -5
toei - I had forgotten about the 3D maze. That tends to happen in other Japan Famicom/NES adventure games as well, for whatever reason (probably the Wizardry influence). - Wouldn't have expected one of Enix's first published games (1983) to be this: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolita_SyndromeThis game is legit WTF. Literally pedo art of underage girls in various states of undress and even nude. And when they aren't that, they are being mutilated by vicious machinery in gory detail. I advise avoiding screenshots. Not even Simple Man approves of this. And I wish this had a fan translation: - I've found some interesting stuff to check out next month, not all of it RPGs either.
|
|
|
Post by Sarge on Dec 29, 2021 23:15:15 GMT -5
FCEUX is fine, too, especially for the usual commercial ROMs. I used it for a long time as well. Definitely give Nestopia or Mesen a shot and see how you like them, though. (Apparently the other super accurate one is puNES, which I haven't tried.)
|
|
|
Post by toei on Dec 30, 2021 0:01:11 GMT -5
I've found some interesting stuff to check out next month...
Oops. I didn't even realize the theme wasn't live yet when I went and beat Portopia.
|
|
|
Post by Sarge on Dec 30, 2021 1:08:15 GMT -5
I've done that before, too, no biggie.
|
|