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Rampart
Nov 3, 2016 20:57:01 GMT -5
Post by Discoalucard on Nov 3, 2016 20:57:01 GMT -5
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Rampart
Nov 3, 2016 22:26:36 GMT -5
Post by atariboy on Nov 3, 2016 22:26:36 GMT -5
I enjoyed your overview of this classic.
If it's of interest though, you missed a version. It has been included in emulated form on Midway Arcade Treasures: Extended Play for the PSP, but you don't have the platform in the list.
And while the platforms are listed, your article doesn't mention that it has also appeared on Midway Arcade Origins for the Xbox 360/Playstation 3. Rather, it actually reads like it last appeared on Midway Arcade Treasures for the PS2/Xbox/GCN/PC, other than the now delisted standalone PS3 PSN release. Extremely minor and not inaccurate since the platforms are all noted, but perhaps just slightly confusing enough to warrant a small addition?
And I think it would be interesting to describe how the GBA port fairs if you have access to it, especially given the attention to the older handheld ports. It's less crucial when arcade emulation is involved since besides emulator quality it will be the same on one platform or the next, but this port was a traditional recreation from scratch since the platform didn't have the horsepower to emulate the arcade hardware.
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Post by nerdybat on Nov 4, 2016 3:38:27 GMT -5
I actually use build theme from NES version as my alarm clock. Catchy thingie!
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Rampart
Nov 4, 2016 22:55:33 GMT -5
Post by starscream on Nov 4, 2016 22:55:33 GMT -5
Re: 3rd player on the C64, according to this thread at Lemon64, control is via Keyboard.
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Post by Bobinator on Nov 5, 2016 4:00:41 GMT -5
Re: 3rd player on the C64, according to this thread at Lemon64, control is via Keyboard. ...I don't know why that didn't occur to me. I still can't imagine that'd be remotely comfortable to crowd around, but that makes sense, I guess! I'll try to bug somebody into editing what people have said on this soon. Thanks for the corrections!
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Rampart
Nov 5, 2016 7:25:11 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by 8 Bit Dreams on Nov 5, 2016 7:25:11 GMT -5
Fun fact: The game boy version was used in a experiment to see how quickly one person could manipulate the value of a game on eBay. m.youtube.com/watch?v=MKHk5U8tmfw
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Rampart
Nov 5, 2016 19:46:30 GMT -5
Post by Magma MK-II on Nov 5, 2016 19:46:30 GMT -5
So, which version could be considered the definitive?
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Rampart
Nov 5, 2016 22:04:26 GMT -5
Post by Bobinator on Nov 5, 2016 22:04:26 GMT -5
So, which version could be considered the definitive? For accuracy? DOS version. For being a better game? SNES version, definitely.
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Rampart
Nov 7, 2016 17:19:15 GMT -5
Post by Leona Phoenix on Nov 7, 2016 17:19:15 GMT -5
Couple flubs: "If this territory includes another castle, since this'll give you some bonus points and a safety net." "Grunts can destroy walls destroy walls"
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Rampart
Dec 12, 2016 16:47:24 GMT -5
Post by rodneylives on Dec 12, 2016 16:47:24 GMT -5
Alas, your article has caught the attention of a truefan! That is, me. Please understand that I care deeply about this game, probably more than you'd expect from a sane person, as you read what follows.... Some corrections/suggested additions: - 1P Battles don't last a set number of rounds, but (it seems -- I have no proof of the exact formula and it may actually add a ship or two over time) have a number of ships you have to deplete before you move on. This can be observed, if you managed to clear the board of ships, while it may not end the battle, it does seem to reduce the number of rounds a bit.
- In multiplayer games, if you don't fire, enemy walls don't spontaneously combust, but instead your cannons will pick their own targets if you don't command them! Back in the day we called this "mutiny." If we chose to play a "build up" game (where no one shot at another player until Final Battle), we'd counter this by firing into the water.
- Also there's an obscure feature to 2P (not 3P!) games in the arcade, in that sometimes you'll be able to select a battlefield with player-owned ships! I've never seen this mentioned in any article about the game.
- Another feature that has never been mentioned: in the arcade version there are "point squares" on the board, which can be seen faintly cycling between light and dark green. Capturing these spaces earns bonus points relative to the amount of territory captured at the same time, up to 1,000 points. However, if multiple squares are captured at once you only appear to get points for one of them. Some home versions (SNES and PC) replace point squares with rocks and houses: rocks are just barriers to construction, but can be destroyed with cannons in battle for extra points, and houses earn bonus points if captured, but generate grunts if a piece of laid on one.
- It's possible to destroy cannons in multiplayer if you fire enough shots at them. This can be a huge factor -- neither cannons nor destroyed-cannon rubble can be removed from your part of the board until your next continue.
- A lot more could be said about Famicom Rampart, which is like an entirely different game really, Rampart remade in Konami's image. It's kind of ridiculous, not *bad* so much (and rather more graphically polished than NES Rampart) but fundamentally a lesser game. Also, there's something unique to NES Rampart: after you finish the last level in 1P mode, there's a scene where the enemy fleet surrenders, sending a single red ship flying a white flag to your shore. The game gives you a castle though, and cannons, and it's your choice if you either let it land so they can surrender, or shoot it down. No other port of Rampart has this feature.
- Most of the home ports of Rampart (other than the Konami one and emulation) were made by Bitmasters, who I don't think made many games other than Rampart. Some Tengen employees appear to be involved with it (perhaps as a way to reach traditional distribution channels to get around Tengen's decision to go unlicensed from Nintendo for the NES version?).
- I disagree that the SNES version is generally *better*, but it's very nice kind of like a side game, taking many of the same ideas and expressing them differently. There are some major differences in the rules: only one enemy ship moves at a time (which makes it much easier to destroy other ships, but a real pain to destroy the last one on harder difficulties), and craters from red ships don't last three rounds but disappear randomly. BTW, I have completed every difficulty of SNES Rampart in both modes. It's got other interesting additions, like "Challenge Round" bonus levels that give you a huge board and a single building round to capture as much territory as you can.
- There are TWO major arcade versions: the 3P version with trackballs, and a 2P version with joysticks sold as an upgrade kit. Notably however, the different controls make the game feel very different; the 2P game is easier to rebuild in, the 3P version is easier to attack enemy ships. 2P is probably easier overall. All of the Midway Arcade Treasure ports are of the trackball version.
Whew! Thanks for putting up with all that. Please tune in next week when I tell you way more than you ever wanted to know about KLAX.
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Rampart
Dec 12, 2016 16:51:39 GMT -5
Post by rodneylives on Dec 12, 2016 16:51:39 GMT -5
Oh, also:
The behavior of grunts is a little weird on observation. Grunts don't actually destroy walls or castles until the battle phase, and at that time will only destroy the object they are directly facing. In many versions, you might be able to save the wall/castle by shooting at the grunt quickly enough at the start of battle.
Also, for definitiveness, it is my considered opinion that ONLY THE ARCADE VERSION OR EMULATIONS OF IT IS DEFINITIVE. EVERY ported version of Rampart I've seen has changed the rules subtly, although the DOS version is closest. SNES is great, but not better than arcade, just different. (Arcade is very solidly designed, SNES has more gimmicks but the fact that only one enemy ship ever moves at a time changes gameplay drastically.)
Things to check: how many ships move at a time? When do red shot craters disappear? Are there "point squares?" What happens when you capture the lake on the last level? Is the 2P battleground with player-owned ships available?
Another thing that just came to mind: The first two times you continue in the arcade, you get "upgraded firepower." Not only do you get more cannons on the first round, but all your cannons for the rest of the game will be more powerful (as in, their shots travel faster). This can be detected visually due to the cannons having a different look. In multiplayer games, each player's cannons upgrade for themselves only.
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