dantemdie
Saturn Player
Joined: January 2017
Posts: 113
Location:
PSN: danteMdie
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Post by dantemdie on Mar 27, 2017 8:38:40 GMT
Finished parallel 1 with Dark Savior and moved on to Story of Thor 2.
Each of these games are unique and i definetely consider them one of the best in the system. Dark Savior's platforming can be frustrating sometimes but as soon as you get the feel of the camera everything just starts flowing a lot better. I'll eventually finish the other 4 parallels.
As for story of thor, i've just started and i'm already mind blown. Gorgeous visuals and the interesting combat system makes it worthwhile my time spent with it. From a first look perspective, the game doesn't seem to have a very deep story, but it's enough to understand motivations.
Either way, when i play games like these i can't stop thinking on how special Saturn really is.
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Post by bultje112 on Mar 27, 2017 9:22:09 GMT
Just started in on Panzer Dragoon Saga (only have Disc 1). We don't have a jaw-drop emoji in the picker, so this one will have to do: the opening of saga alone blew me right out of my room back in the day.
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Post by pocketpocket on Mar 28, 2017 7:12:44 GMT
Played through Baku Baku Animal today. It could of been great, but personally I felt like the controls killed it. They are way too unresponsive for a fast-paced puzzle game like this and the jerky animation of the blocks moving left and right constantly threw me off and resulted in me constantly overshooting where I wanted to place blocks. Maybe I'm just bad, but I never have these kind of control issues with Hanagumi Taisen Columns, Magical Drop III or the far more difficult Puyo Puyo Tsuu, where the controls were far snappier and precise. Still managed to beat it though. There is a good game under there and the crazy back and forward combos make for a very intense game. Is Puzzle Fighter any better with the controls? If they're better in that game I feel like I'd really enjoy it.
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Post by davyk on Mar 28, 2017 8:23:54 GMT
That's really weird. Your experience of Baku Baku is at odds with my own. I found the controls responsive and precise. Maybe you're a player of very high skill and notice lag that others wouldn't? I know high skill level shmup players can detect a frame or two of lag - no doubt higher level tetris players would too. You've certainly mentioned a few of the better puzzle games in your post so you are experienced in the genre.
I have read many reviews of this game and control issues have never been mentioned in any of them.I ran a Baku Baku competition in work with the Saturn rigged up to a projector and it went down a storm - noone mentioned any control issues - although many of those people would be casuals.
Maybe there's something wrong with your copy of the game?
Are you playing the PAL version on a PAL machine? I've noticed sticky control when playing NTSC Tetris Plus on a PAL console with the AR cartridge for example.
I know sticky control when I feel it - the pretty awful Tetris S on Saturn has iffy controls but I haven't noticed it with Baku.
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Post by pocketpocket on Mar 28, 2017 23:43:08 GMT
Hmm, strange. I'm playing the NTSC-J version on a Japanese console. The best way I can describe it is that as you move pieces from one space to another, it does a slight pause in between moving to the next space, so when you move a piece to the next space, it goes half way, does an awkward pause, then continues moving again, as opposed to immediately snapping to the next space like it does in Puyo Puyo. The pause throws me off because without a grid to show me that it hasn't moved to the next space yet I'm left thinking that it's moved the full space, and it makes moving pieces feel more sluggish as a result since there's extra frames in that animation too. I definitely really enjoy these kinds of vs puzzle games, especially Puyo Puyo Tsuu which I have managed to beat but found very challenging, but I don't know if I'd say I'm at a high skill level. If anything my issues with Baku Baku's controls probably more to do with my inability to judge blocks' position well! In all honesty it's probably something you can get used to with practice but I find it super jarring and off putting going from other puzzle games to Baku Baku.
Upon checking Magical Drop again I noticed that it actually also has a similar delay with an in-between movement frame, but I feel it's less intrusive there due to the dotted line instantly moving to the next space even before the jester avatar at the bottom has caught up, so you know exactly how far you're going to move instantly. I also looked up Puzzle Fighter on Youtube and noticed that it doesn't appear to have the in-between movement frames of Baku Baku, so I will look into getting that in the future when I can afford to place an order.
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Post by davyk on Mar 29, 2017 8:24:15 GMT
Weird.....
My version of Baku is PAL and it runs full screen so seems to have some sort of work done on it.....maybe this is an NTSC thing? Maybe the PAL version doesn't have that control issue? I certainly don't remember it being like as you have experienced.
I have Puyo Tsu as well.I'll check both again and compare notes. Have the PAL version of Puzzle Fighter - it wasn't PAL optimised but I didn't notice any control lag. I'll give that test too on both PAL and JPN consoles.
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Post by dtss on Mar 29, 2017 11:23:07 GMT
I don't claim to be a freak at puzzle games but I do quote enjoy them. Baku being my favourite of them all on the Saturn. Can't say I've found any control issues either.
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Post by xDerekRx on Mar 31, 2017 5:33:02 GMT
Going through my large backlog of Saturn titles now
Ghen War - Finally got around to playing this one after all these years. I remember watching the short video on the demo sampler back in the day. So far 5 levels in and liking it so far. Its interesting playing this after Congo (Away teams other title) which was made with the same engine. Most of the same assets were used in both games like the map and pause screen. However you can tell the engine was originally for this game as everything works a bit better as far as the physics. Although Congo still outdoes it when it comes to draw distance and backgrounds. That being said Ghen War for being a 1995 Saturn title looks great. Lots of big polygon enemies and bosses. Good weapon variety. The maps also have a decent look to them with good texture variation. And so far the live action movies have been surprisingly good. The acting is actually B movie enjoyable and not awkwardly bad.
Last Bronx - Ive always liked a lot about this title but finally gave it a good long play for once. Im not a huge fighting game guy but I love the way all of AMs titles look on the Saturn. Again as most know the only thing that holds this one back a tad is the glitching graphics on occasion but it isn't that often. I think I personally might like LB better than all of them (VF1, VF2, FV, FMM). I like the weapon based character designs and just the overall look of this one. The 3D backgrounds are just great as well. Its impressive they were able to do that and still maintain a great frame rate. Again the only sacrifice is the glitching on occasion. Actually looking forward to unlocking all of the short character movies in Saturn mode.
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Post by pocketpocket on Mar 31, 2017 6:23:44 GMT
I haven't played it in years but I remember loving Last Bronx as well and feeling it was incredibly underrated. I don't currently own it so I can't revisit it and see how well it holds up immediately but it's on my list of games to pick up again in the future. The bonus disk and poster included with the Japanese version were a plus too.
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sych
"Living for the fantasy" -NIGHTS INTO DREAMS- The Classic Saturn Gem!!!
Joined: July 2009
Posts: 2,660
Location:
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Post by sych on Mar 31, 2017 15:37:14 GMT
Haven't played much Saturn as I've been abroad for work but I can say I have finally completed Gungriffon and Bug Too! recently. Bug Too! was such an epic challenge so I'm relieved I now have the option of a FULL level select when I next play it as a reward for my troubles.
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Post by xDerekRx on Mar 31, 2017 17:53:48 GMT
I haven't played it in years but I remember loving Last Bronx as well and feeling it was incredibly underrated. I don't currently own it so I can't revisit it and see how well it holds up immediately but it's on my list of games to pick up again in the future. The bonus disk and poster included with the Japanese version were a plus too. The more I play it the more underrated it feels. Its such a shrugged off game by most. VF2 , FV, FMM are mostly remembered likely as they were released at a time of relevancy. Last Bronx was also released when games like Dead or Alive and other 3D fighters were jumping on the scene. But that being said the gameplay and overall graphics are great. It was also released during the late rushed port era that saw House of the Dead, Sky Target, and Touring Car get rough home versions. Which makes the backstory of Last Bronx even more enjoyable. Anthaemia will fill in the blanks but it sounds like the original arcade team that developed it refused to allow the game to farmed out to a 3rd party and thus handled the development themselves. This is likely why the game turned out so well. Funny tidbit about the 2 Disc edition. There is an ad for Last Bronx on the back of a few late 97 North American Saturn game manuals. I will have to go through my collection to maybe scan one. But it clearly states that something like "2-discs of action" . So Sega of America had fully intended to release both discs at one point enough to advertise it. Probably dropped the idea to save money. Last Bronx seemed to have quite a fanbase and brand in Japan as there was a movie, comics, toys etc.
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Post by barryburton on Mar 31, 2017 18:34:55 GMT
Haven't played much Saturn as I've been abroad for work but I can say I have finally completed Gungriffon and Bug Too! recently. Bug Too! was such an epic challenge so I'm relieved I now have the option of a FULL level select when I next play it as a reward for my troubles. Congrats Sych and nice to see you back. Especially for Bug. You're a better man than me, I generally give up on platformers on the first level e.g. Sonic 3D, Pandemonium, Earthworm Jim 2 etc etc.
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Post by barryburton on Mar 31, 2017 18:38:19 GMT
I haven't played it in years but I remember loving Last Bronx as well and feeling it was incredibly underrated. I don't currently own it so I can't revisit it and see how well it holds up immediately but it's on my list of games to pick up again in the future. The bonus disk and poster included with the Japanese version were a plus too. The more I play it the more underrated it feels. Its such a shrugged off game by most. VF2 , FV, FMM are mostly remembered likely as they were released at a time of relevancy. Last Bronx was also released when games like Dead or Alive and other 3D fighters were jumping on the scene. But that being said the gameplay and overall graphics are great. It was also released during the late rushed port era that saw House of the Dead, Sky Target, and Touring Car get rough home versions. Which makes the backstory of Last Bronx even more enjoyable. Anthaemia will fill in the blanks but it sounds like the original arcade team that developed it refused to allow the game to farmed out to a 3rd party and thus handled the development themselves. This is likely why the game turned out so well. Funny tidbit about the 2 Disc edition. There is an ad for Last Bronx on the back of a few late 97 North American Saturn game manuals. I will have to go through my collection to maybe scan one. But it clearly states that something like "2-discs of action" . So Sega of America had fully intended to release both discs at one point enough to advertise it. Probably dropped the idea to save money. Last Bronx seemed to have quite a fanbase and brand in Japan as there was a movie, comics, toys etc. Nice bit of Last Bronx reminiscence there. I got it on release due to the SSM UK review and wasn't disappointed. Haven't met another person in real life who had it, but I think it plays much better than the other two 3D fighters i owned, VF2 and Fighters Megamix. For me, anyway- i know VF2 has a lot of fans and that it's quite technical, I just find it a little slow and "floaty".
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Post by thewhitefalcon on Apr 1, 2017 2:07:30 GMT
Spent some time with Courier Crisis. This game got a lot of hate BITD (and some today even) but I actually quite like it. I'd seen one recent review who said that it gave him a Crazy Taxi vibe, and I think I agree with that. Although Sega would never have had people being run over.
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Post by pocketpocket on Apr 1, 2017 3:42:14 GMT
Haven't played much Saturn as I've been abroad for work but I can say I have finally completed Gungriffon and Bug Too! recently. Bug Too! was such an epic challenge so I'm relieved I now have the option of a FULL level select when I next play it as a reward for my troubles. Good job on Bug Too! Both of the Bug games are brutally difficult, but I'd say Bug Too was the harder game due to having longer worlds (stuff like Antennae Day is such a marathon to complete in one sitting) and being less forgiving with continues, as opposed to the first Bug that gave out continues pretty regularly and let you keep them after saves. Bug Too's finale was a bit underwhelming to me due to how laughable the final boss was and the fact that my copy of the game was scratched so it crashed on the ending cutscene and booted me back to the Saturn BIOS, but I'm still proud of actually beating that game. The first Bug had a much more satisfying final boss if you ask me. Myself I recently played After Burner II. I struggled with it on my first attempt on normal mode about a week ago, so I tried it again today on easy and managed to beat it relatively easily (but only because of the continue feature). I feel like I better understand how the game works now though so I'd like to give normal another shot. It's super overwhelming at first and you're dying every few seconds until you fully understand the purpose of the throttle button and how to properly dodge missiles. 3D multi controller works super well with this game, much better than it does in Space Harrier, but I'm always kinda worried that I'm gonna break the analogue stick with how wildly and quickly I'm jerking it around in After Burner. After all, the analogue stick on my multi controller arrived broken and I had to actually fix it myself, so that's left me with the impression that it could easily happen again. Also, on Last Bronx again, I would totally watch that live action direct to video movie they released in Japan. It looks so amazingly cheesy and low budget, bet it would be great fun.
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