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Gradius
Mar 24, 2008 12:35:38 GMT -5
Post by vgninja on Mar 24, 2008 12:35:38 GMT -5
Page 6The Game Boy games actually got some nice re-releases on the four-volume Konami Game Boy collection. The Japanese versions of the collection were for the 'ol black & yellow brick, with Super Game Boy support - borders and colored title screens. The European versions were for the Game Boy Color. Nemesis is found on Vol. 1 in both regions (and retitled "Gradius" in Europe) and Nemesis II is on Vol. 3 in Japan and Vol. 4 in Europe (where it was retitled "Gradius II: The Return of the Hero"). Both games were renamed to Gradius for the JP Konami GB Collections too. Most Gameboy games aren't "best of" type of deals. Nemesis is a new game. While the first level is similar to Gradius 1's first stage, the actual level is different. The rest of the levels are all new, though the Moai stage is similar to ones in other games. I feel the game stands well on it's own. Most Konami games at the time weren't just downscaled versions of console games. They usually had something different from the console that made them worth playing on their own: Motocross Maniacs is an original game that plays a bit like Nintendo's excitibike, but stands well on its own. Quarth is based on an arcade game, but has some unique features like power ups and a qualifying score. It is far from toned down. Twinbee Da!! is a new game that seems to be a port at first, but has unique elements. Aside from the first level, the levels are all new. Bosses are all new, aside from a boss rush later in the game. Gameplay is like a combination of the NES sequels and the original arcade Twinbee. Castlevania Adventure isn't the best game in the series, but it was very different from the console Castlevanias with its own unique enemies, a lack of weapons, and features like ropes instead of stairs. The GB Nemesis games were designed around the resolution. The resolution doesn't hurt the games and Konami did a good job of making the games visible on the GB screen. B/W graphics are a non-issue, IMO. Many GB games looked good despite this and it didn't keep the games from playing well.
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Gradius
Mar 24, 2008 14:40:27 GMT -5
Post by ReyVGM on Mar 24, 2008 14:40:27 GMT -5
I think Konami, Capcom and Nintendo's GB offerings were pretty good.
They didn't try to 'fit' the NES versions on the GB, instead they created the games specifically for it. Even when they were ports.
The GB Megaman's are pretty good (especially 4), Ducktales and Darkwing Duck are as good as the NES versions, Castlevania 2 is excellent (don't get me started on the music), same with Operation C and Mario Land 2 & 3 rival some of the NES and SNES Mario games.
The GB Kid Icarus is much more playable than the NES version and Gradius Interstellar Assault is in my opinion much more enjoyable than the GBA Gradius Galaxies.
In all, the GB had a pretty good run. It had a ton of awesome games that most people dismissed as inferior because of the graphics when in fact some GB "ports" were vastly superior to the NES versions (mainly because of better control play).
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Gradius
Mar 24, 2008 14:55:04 GMT -5
Post by Discoalucard on Mar 24, 2008 14:55:04 GMT -5
The big problem I have with a lot of GB games is that the sprites are simply out of proportion. This was obviously done to fit it in a smaller resolution, but when you're playing it on a TV or an emulator, it kinda feels off. Even though some of the Mega Mans are pretty good, that alone make them feel inferior to me.
Some games feel kinda glitchy too. Mario Land 2 is a fantastic game, but there's a lot of stuttering. It feels like it's pushing the little thing too hard. But yeah, Kid Icarus is definitely better on the GB.
There are some good ones though. I think Gradius: Interstellar Assault is kinda the equivalent of Belmont's Revenge - it doesn't really "feel" like part of the main series, but it's still well done and unique in its own way.
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Gradius
Mar 24, 2008 15:03:25 GMT -5
Post by vgninja on Mar 24, 2008 15:03:25 GMT -5
The GB Megaman's are pretty good (especially 4), Ducktales and Darkwing Duck are as good as the NES versions Do you mean Ducktales 2? I found the port of Duck Tales 1 to be somewhat glitchy and inferior to the NES (still not bad, though), but the port of the second one is awesome. I didn't care much for Mega Man 2 GB, but the rest of them are well done (V is my favorite of the GB ones). Capcom did some good stuff for the GB. I didn't find it to be a problem with I, III, IV, and V, but Mega Man II GB has extremely odd proportions for the sprites. Odd music too. Makes me wonder if it was outsourced or something.
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Gradius
Mar 24, 2008 15:23:33 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2008 15:23:33 GMT -5
Quarth is based on an arcade game, but has some unique features like power ups and a qualifying score. It is far from toned down. Quarth is originally an arcade game? And I thought the MSX2 version was the original. I was only aware of MSX2, NES and GB versions. Edit: Apparently there's also the PC-9801 version. Nice.
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Gradius
Mar 24, 2008 16:58:25 GMT -5
Post by vgninja on Mar 24, 2008 16:58:25 GMT -5
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Gradius
Mar 24, 2008 17:29:16 GMT -5
Post by Discoalucard on Mar 24, 2008 17:29:16 GMT -5
Going back to the previous games - resolution definitely affects the game. The sprites are bigger to compensate, which in turn makes the playing field smaller. The result is a view that's cramped compared to the console versions. Usually the speed of the characters is also slowed down, not only so it's easier to control on the smaller screen but to reduce blurring. Mega Man is MUCH slower in the GB versions than the NES versions. There are a number of GB ports that are pretty good, and some of them do have some cool additions, but I'd much rather play Super C than Operation C.
It always kinda bugged me that the Vic Viper isn't animated in the GB versions. For some reason it just makes the movement feel off even though it really isn't. Still, you're right in that I think I was too harsh on it, so I changed the wording a bit to make it clear that it's technically an original game, even though it's heavily based on themes from the console games.
But anyway, the article is almost done. I'm just in the process of gathering MP3s. The anime review at the end is also completed. I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The first episode is pretty bad, but the second two are (relatively) decent. I still haven't figured out how to rip my DVD without the sound going completely out of sync, so only the first episode is up for download. If I can figure something out, maybe I'll put up the other two.
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Gradius
Mar 24, 2008 18:15:56 GMT -5
Post by ReyVGM on Mar 24, 2008 18:15:56 GMT -5
but Mega Man II GB has extremely odd proportions for the sprites. Odd music too. Makes me wonder if it was outsourced or something. GB Mega Man 2 has one the most awesome MM title screen musics ever! And I think the Mobile Gradius should be included/mentioned. If PC versions are included, then Mobile games should too. I know it's a pain due to lack of info, no box arts, hard to get screenshots, terrible emulation, etc. But for the sake of completeness I think they should be covered. And hey, the Mobile Gradius has lots of new levels, so that's something
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Gradius
Mar 24, 2008 21:31:28 GMT -5
Post by Discoalucard on Mar 24, 2008 21:31:28 GMT -5
Alright, you convinced me. I stuck a small section of Gradius Neo. I'm actually kinda surprised by its quality. It's short but pretty fun. It seems like Verizon erased it from its library though. There's a number to download it straight from Konami, and I assume that'll work. I'd pay $6 to have this on my phone forever. At least it'd cancel out the awfulness of Castlevania: Order of Shadows.
But yeah, the article's fully up now, with MP3s and all.
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Gradius
Mar 24, 2008 21:41:28 GMT -5
Post by vgninja on Mar 24, 2008 21:41:28 GMT -5
Mega Man is MUCH slower in the GB versions than the NES versions. The speed varied on the GB Mega Man. II was the fastest and III, IV, and V introduced more slowdown. II was also less cramped. The ironic thing, is that I feel the others play much better than II. I found the level design, music, and challenge to be better, even though there is less movement area compared to NES. I felt V was the best of the GB ones due to the new elements, all new bosses, level design, and the little surprise at the end. I don't agree with the "much" slower in capital letters, though. Movement speed may be slightly slower in the GB MM's, but it's far from slow and the controls are very responsive.
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Gradius
Mar 25, 2008 1:20:01 GMT -5
Post by TheGunheart on Mar 25, 2008 1:20:01 GMT -5
You missed a cameo: the Vic Viper (along with every other aircraft featured in a Konami shump) is also an unlockable in Konami's PS2 flight action game Airforce Delta Strike (Airforce Delta Blue Wing Knights in Japan). When you fly it, it even plays the classic Gradius music.
If you want, I could provide some screenshots of it.
One of the cannon-fodder enemies is also usable in the previous Xbox title, Airforce Delta Storm, but I can't remember exactly which one it was, since I never unlocked it.
If you want, I could provide the screenshots of it.
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Gradius
Mar 25, 2008 1:43:14 GMT -5
Post by ReyVGM on Mar 25, 2008 1:43:14 GMT -5
On the first page I made a mega post listing that cameo and tons of others. I don't know why Kurt didn't use it.
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Gradius
Mar 25, 2008 6:55:35 GMT -5
Post by Discoalucard on Mar 25, 2008 6:55:35 GMT -5
I did use some of it. The fact is, there's just WAY too many cameos to list them all, so I just picked the major ones or ones that I felt were the most interesting.
I wouldn't mind seeing some of those Airforce Delta Storm screens though, especially of all of the other Konami ships.
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Gradius
Mar 25, 2008 11:16:09 GMT -5
Post by daimakaimura on Mar 25, 2008 11:16:09 GMT -5
never knew about gradius gaiden looks like a neat game I got the Anime if somebody want's it, 3 OVA's unsubbed/undubbed
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Gradius
Mar 25, 2008 12:09:44 GMT -5
Post by ReyVGM on Mar 25, 2008 12:09:44 GMT -5
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