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Post by pocketpocket on Dec 13, 2016 8:26:59 GMT
Isn't the console suppose to be turned off during Cart change overs? Inserting a cart into the Saturn whilst the machine is turned on sounds a bit risky to me. Is that normal? I've been turning it off while switching the carts since as mentioned in the first post. My thought process was along the lines of how you could swap out Playstation 2 memory cards while in the system BIOS with no issues, or how the N64 would actually encourage you to switch between the memory card and rumble pack mid-game. I figured as long as a game wasn't running that was accessing the memory card or I wasn't in the Saturn's Memory Management screen it would be safe. Don't know for sure how safe or unsafe that is though and it possibly contributed to the first saves getting corrupted. If you're swapping memory cards then I'd imagine it would be safer, but if you're swapping between the 4MB RAM and the Power Memory then the functionality of the cartridge slot would need to change on the spot accordingly which could cause problems. The second time when I swapped the Power Memory back in while the console was turned off and then the entire cart was corrupted is what concerns me. As I mentioned in the first post, I did copy most of my saves to the system memory, format the cart and then copy them back before this happened. However if Zyrobs' theory that those files were already corrupted is correct then I'd imagine that was the cause.
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Post by pocketpocket on Dec 13, 2016 6:35:02 GMT
Hmm, there was an instance a while back where I got a corrupted save file, almost certain it wasn't a connection issue but could of caused problems regardless. At one point in Sonic 2 on Sonic Jam I had the game crash at the exact point that I finished a zone. I had no choice but to restart the system, and once I did the save file was gone. I'm guessing this is because the game crashed at the exact point that it would of saved your progress, so it didn't get the chance to write the save properly. I had deleted the corrupted file when that happened, but by the sounds of what you're saying, it could of done more damage? Is it still safe to use this cart after it's been formatted or could it still be a bit dodgy?
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Post by pocketpocket on Dec 13, 2016 3:08:08 GMT
I recently got the 4MB RAM expansion which I have been using for Vampire Savior and King of Fighters '97, but I've run into some issues with using it alongside the Power Memory Cart. I initially had some files get corrupted when switching back over to the Power Memory for the first time after using the 4MB RAM. Not everything was lost, but Sonic Jam and Dracula X got corrupted. I figured this was because I had the system turned on at this time on the BIOS. I had previously had no issues switching the Power Memory cart out while the console was turned on and on the BIOS screen, but I thought something may have come up as a result of switching from RAM expansion to Power Memory. To be safe I decided to copy over most of my saves to the internal battery, format the Power Memory and then copy them back over to the freshly formatted cart. However, after switching back to the 4MB RAM to play King of Fighters again and then switching back to the Power Memory (all cart switching done with the power off), I discovered that now the entire cart has been corrupted and all those saves have been lost. I have taken the Power Memory out of the console plenty of times in the past and have never had anything get corrupted, so it seems strange to me that this suddenly happened the second I started using the 4MB RAM. Is there a link there and swapping between different cartridges can result in things getting screwed up, or is it just coincidence? The memory card I'm using is the Tokimeki Memorial green Power Memory if that makes a difference (don't know if that's a third-party cart by Konami or an official SEGA cart? I know that generally third-party memory cards are more prone to corruption on any system).
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Post by pocketpocket on Dec 12, 2016 22:46:26 GMT
I'm not sure why one would need a 3D pad for Rayman. It was more of a curiosity thing on my end. Same with Fighters Megamix. Even though I couldn't see that game being more playable with the analogue stick at all I still wanted to try it and mess around with it a bit, especially since so few games actually use the analogue stick so I'm always pretty interested when anything supports it. Clockwork Knight controls better with the D-pad than the analogue stick for sure. It's common for you to duck when you didn't mean to if you do, which completely halts Pepperouchau's movement. Once you get a feel for it it's not too bad, but the D-pad is still easily more precise.
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Post by pocketpocket on Dec 12, 2016 4:28:05 GMT
One thing I always hated about fighters megamix is the fact it doesnt keep the BGM going when a round is completed unlike fighting vipers that had the same track play until the entire match was finished. It always sucked to be really into a song only to have it reset on round 2 . REally broke up the pace of the game for me I remember that really bugged me with the King of Fighters games on Saturn, since each round was broken up by a loading screen with no music (due to the game loading the next characters that will be fighting due to the whole 3-on-3 aspect of that series). If anything, I do think it can be kind of funny in Fighters Megamix when a match ends so quickly that you barely get to even hear the music get going (fight Bean or Bark with Janet, you can KO them in two hits by just using the gun)
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Post by pocketpocket on Dec 12, 2016 4:24:38 GMT
Y'know, it's funny because just earlier today I was playing the first Clockwork Knight and discovered that it actually supports the analogue stick despite being a launch title, so after that I was thinking "Oh, so maybe it could be possible for Rayman to support it too", but I guess not. Thanks for testing it Lilly! Out of curiosity, which version of Rayman did you test it with, NTSC, NTSC-J or PAL? I've got the NTSC-J version coming in the mail so if you tried a different version I could test that as well in case it's a regional thing, but that seems very unlikely.
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Post by pocketpocket on Dec 12, 2016 1:06:23 GMT
Glad you found the Shuttle Mouse worth the purchase too! I recently also ordered House of the Dead online to use with mine. Welp, Sega Retro duped me again, House of the Dead doesn't appear to be compatible with the mouse. I'm playing the NTSC-J version which is the one that's specifically listed as compatible on the site, and Satakore lists it as compatible as well. I feel like I must be missing something but it doesn't seem to recognize the mouse at all. Good news is that it IS at least compatible with the 3D control pad which offers a bit more precision, but the mouse would definitely be preferable. Other than that, been playing a fair bit of Darius Gaiden. Pretty nice shmup, just sticking to the highest route right now and will go for the other routes after that. Can make it to Stage K before running out of continues currently. It's a bit inconsistent with it's difficulty though, since how well you do is pretty dependent on your power-ups, and unlike something like Parodius where you lose everything upon dying but they put you back to a safe point in the level where you can regain at least a few power-ups to try again with, Darius Gaiden just spawns you straight back where you died immediately without any power-ups meaning that if you're in a hectic section of the game you could easily immediately die again and waste another precious life. I think it would be better if it worked like Touhou where you respawn immediately after dying, but you can regain some of your power-ups that you dropped when you died so that you're prepared to fight again. Also, a small nitpick, but it always drove me insane when power-ups have weird erratic movement patterns like they do in Darius and Gunbird. Nothing more frustrating than seeing a shield power-up that you can't get in time because it keeps going around in circles and dodging you, resulting in you getting killed by enemy fire trying to get it! Still a very good game mind you, but a pretty frustrating one at times.
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Post by pocketpocket on Dec 5, 2016 4:54:19 GMT
The Sega Retro Wiki has a page which lists which games support the 3D Control Pad's analogue mode. segaretro.org/3D_Control_PadAs I have discovered though, it's not 100% accurate, as Fighters Megamix is listed as compatible, despite the game not recognizing the 3D Control Pad when it's in analogue mode. One listed game there that I found unusual was Rayman. Since Rayman came out in 1995, that was before the 3D Control Pad was available. Some games that were released before the 3D Control Pad are still compatible with it's analogue mode due to being compatible with the earlier Mission Stick (the first Panzer Dragoon for example works with the 3D Control Pad's analogue stick for this reason) but Rayman doesn't appear to support the Mission Stick either. Also, since Rayman is a 2D sidescrolling platformer it doesn't seem likely that it would of been made to be compatible with analogue sticks anyway. I don't currently own the Saturn version of Rayman so I can't confirm if it works or not. Has anyone else who owns the game tried this?
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Post by pocketpocket on Dec 4, 2016 20:18:26 GMT
I've actually grown bizarrely kind of attached to the D-pad on the 3D Control Pad for some games. It's nowhere near as precise, but I find that it's easier and more comfortable to perform fighting game special move inputs on because it's less stiff. I have a much easier time playing Cotton 2 with the 3D Control Pad for that reason. There are some games where it's far less practical though. I've had so many deaths in Bug in particular due to how easy it is to accidentally push the D-pad in a diagonal direction, which Bug really doesn't know how to cope with due to the game only allowing you to move in four directions.
On the topic of dream themed games, it's not a Saturn game, but I always felt that NiGHTS and Klonoa both have a very similar atmosphere. Klonoa 2 in particular is quite interesting in that it's subconscious world is divided up into different kingdoms representing human emotions. Both NiGHTS and Klonoa have that slightly surreal feel to them that I love.
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Post by pocketpocket on Dec 1, 2016 2:48:18 GMT
Glad you found the Shuttle Mouse worth the purchase too! I recently also ordered House of the Dead online to use with mine. It's a shame that the PS1 doesn't have the same kind of support with it's mouse for light gun games, I would love it if I could use the mouse to play Point Blank, which is easily my favourite light gun game. Still, the House of the Dead games are up there too. Even if the Saturn port isn't the best, I can still get a kick out of the comically over-the-top stupid gore and atrocious voice acting any time.
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Post by pocketpocket on Nov 30, 2016 9:57:29 GMT
I had a pretty similar experience with NiGHTS actually, as I also played it first through the HD rerelease and didn't think too much of it, but it really clicked with me when I replayed it on the Saturn. I think part of that is because NiGHTS is so unique and hard to explain at first it doesn't really leave the best first impression when just jumping in. I swear that some of the collision detection and hitboxes are a bit iffy on the rerelease as well, especially Gillwing, I constantly seem to take damage when ramming him in the rerelease but that never happens on the Saturn version. Now it's one of my favourite games ever for it's atmosphere, soundtrack and sheer uniqueness. The only real issue I have with it now is just how short it is, but when a game desperately leaves you wanting more after it's over that's a good sign that it's a fantastic game.
I don't find A ranking too taxing in NiGHTS. Once you understand the formula of getting the Ideya as quickly as possible and then racking up as many points for as long as you can, only returning to the starting point at the very last second, it's simple enough to pull off. I'd be more worried about fighting bosses with the D-pad, both Wizeman and also Jackle with that fiddly card throwing attack he does. I definitely highly recommend getting the 3D control pad, it's analogue stick feels amazingly smooth and is wonderful for NiGHTS, it really feels like it was designed especially for that game. It's an excellent control in general too (I actually generally prefer using it for most games even if they don't support the analogue stick) so it's worth the investment.
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Post by pocketpocket on Nov 30, 2016 6:37:33 GMT
Plowed through Arle's campaign in Puyo Puyo Sun today. Today may not have been the most productive of days but I consider it a success since I got to stop Satan from getting a tan.
Absolutely love Puyo Puyo, and Sun is hilarious, but I definitely think that Tsuu is the vastly superior game, which doesn't seem to be that popular an opinion actually, most sites I've visited seem to favor Sun. I just think Tsuu has the better balancing and longevity, especially with the massive and incredibly challenging 32 stages long Rally mode. Sun also seems to be bizarrely missing some of Tsuu's features such as being able to save directly to the memory cart as opposed to the internal battery, which is pretty baffling since Sun came out two years later. Still a great game though, but if you only go with one, I'd say to go for Tsuu myself.
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Post by pocketpocket on Nov 23, 2016 8:30:08 GMT
Dunno if I'd say I suck at the games since I've managed to beat both of them, but I find the Bug games ridiculously hard. The games frequently require near-perfect timing on jumps or else you instantly die, and sometimes trial and error is really the only way to learn that timing (such as the catapults in Splot Act 1 in the first Bug. You don't know how far or how high those things are going to launch you until after you've actually launched yourself out of them, resulting in a lot of trial and error before getting down the precise timing required to bounce off that flying enemy so you get enough hight to reach the next platform). It likes to be really unforgiving at random times too, such as the Loch Ness Monster boss fight where after the first phase you have to complete the rest of the fight without taking a single hit since the knockback from any attack will instantly kill you. The levels are really long and complex too, which wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't for the fact that you can only save after you defeat a boss, which can mean having to do up to five levels plus a boss in one sitting without running out of continues, which can take over an hour on your first try. Other issues such as the somewhat stiff controls and the camera being too far zoomed in that you can't always see what you're trying to jump on don't help either. Both games were pretty satisfying to beat (the first game moreso, since Bug Too's final boss was garbage) but I can't help but feel that the games are a bit cheap with their difficulty some of the time.
Honestly despite all that, I kind of liked playing through the first Bug because despite how flawed it is, I find it has a weird kind of charm due to being such an early attempt at a 3D platformer before anyone really knew how to actually make one. I still think JumpingFlash is the far superior pre-Mario 64 3D platformer though, and Bug isn't exactly a "good" game. It's certainly an interesting game though.
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Post by pocketpocket on Nov 13, 2016 6:28:56 GMT
I love competitive puzzle games like Puyo Puyo, but have never actually played either Baku Baku or Super Puzzle Fighter myself. Street Fighter license aside, what is the superior game? They appear to be very similar in terms of basic mechanics. Baku Baku is far cheaper, but neither of them are particularly expensive (if you're getting the NTSC-J versions anyway). Are they similar enough that you only really need to play one of them, or do they have enough differences that they feel like distinctly different games and are both worth owning?
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Post by pocketpocket on Nov 10, 2016 2:23:26 GMT
Took the plunge and placed an order for Cotton 2: Magical Night Dreams. Loved this game back when I previously owned it, really hope it arrives safely and is in good condition. Also got Gunbird alongside it, it's pretty cheap and I've heard good things about it. I really like cute-em-ups in general, so I'd also like to get Twinkle Star Sprites, Game Tengoku and the rest of the Parodius games down the line, but it's probably going to be a long time before I can afford any of them. Cotton 2 will be my last really big purchase for the year (running out of stuff I'm willing to sell to fund the Saturn collection!).
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