Mega Drive. Yeah!

[Rex Grossman]

Super Splash Wave has a new video up about the making of Sonic the Hedgehog.

 

https://youtu.be/69AOVtOUatY

[Mr Monday]

52 minutes ago, Shimmyhill said:

It’s been a few years but I’m on a retro love in fest… Anyone in here have one of the Amstrad Mega PC things? I remember at the time having both a megadrive and much better PC (486 sx2 50) but still this thing had something about it that made me want one - never got one and no real interest in one now…. But then watched some YouTube about restoring the Mega PC and surprised to learn its the ultimate Megadrive due to the output to a monitor!

With the Mega PC you need the original monitor or a similar multi sync one that supports the PC and MD output.   When they come up for sale they go for a lot of money.  I used to want one as well or the sexier Japanese Tera Drive.  
 

 

[Oh Danny Boy]

Been on an Ultimate Qix gaming session for hours. There’s something simply satisfying about its gameplay mechanic. 

[spanky debrest]

Ultimate Qix / Volfied is a favourite of mine because you can play for survival and / or points, and the balance of risk-reward in the basic gameplay is exquisite.

 

I watched a Sega Lord video the other night about the quality and merits of the smallest-sized Mega Drive games, mostly early or originally downloadable 256K Sega Net titles. Volfied stuck out like a sore thumb, punching way above its class.

[Oh Danny Boy]

50 minutes ago, spanky debrest said:

Ultimate Qix / Volfied is a favourite of mine because you can play for survival and / or points, and the balance of risk-reward in the basic gameplay is exquisite.

 

I watched a Sega Lord video the other night about the quality and merits of the smallest-sized Mega Drive games, mostly early or originally downloadable 256K Sega Net titles. Volfied stuck out like a sore thumb, punching way above its class.

Watched the exactly same vid last night too. Why I loaded up Ultimate Qix 🙂

[Goemon]

Port of Final Fight being worked on for the MD, have to say it looks really nice

 

 

[carlospie]

On 24/09/2020 at 11:47, Dudley said:

Yeah, weirdly it's cheaper to buy the "Mega Games" style cart Gunstar was on than Gunstar.

 

Plus said cart has 1 more good game on it.  Also Alex Kidd and Altered Beast.

 

Alex kidd looks so dumb in that pic. Like your annoying work colleague who never leaves you alone. 

[PikaStu]

When I was a bairn in the 80s, my favourite book was Richard Scarry’s Busiest People Ever…

 

The other night I saw The Mexican Runner play a Megadrive game based on this… “Richard Scarry’s Busytown”

 

 

I never knew this was a thing! Apparently came out in 1994. It’s actually pretty well done for an edutainment title! Lots of speech which is impressive.

 

[PikaStu]

Also, what’s everyone’s thoughts on the attempted port of the best Castlevania game?!

 

if this can be achieved it’ll be an incredible achievement and I can’t wait to try it!

[Yasawas]

But the Mega Drive already has the best Castlevania game!

 

I'm actually serious. Love it.

[PikaStu]

5 minutes ago, Yasawas said:

But the Mega Drive already has the best Castlevania game!

 

I'm actually serious. Love it.

Aye it’s a fine game and incredibly impressive visually!

[Oh Danny Boy]

https://retro-bit.com/valis-collection/
 

New Valis collection coming to the Megadrive for those with a bit of cash to burn. Looks lovely like all of the Retrobit reissues but gave those games a bash recently via the Evercade and thought them a bit meh. 

[Oh Danny Boy]

Just put a pre order in for the Cursed Knight which is due out later in the year. Looks like a very good game, plus Sega Lord X rates it which is enough for me.

 

 

[Goemon]

The Cursed Knight is already out, I have my copy sitting right here

 

I guess they sold their initial batch and are producing more.

[Yasawas]

I've somehow just seen Ranger X for the first time and I'm utterly stunned by how good it looks. I can't believe it's from 1993. Five minutes of playing hardly does it justice but it all comes across as a bit of a faff to play tbh, which I assume is why it's not as exalted as Gunstar or Hard Corps?

[Adrock]

Would it be stupid to spend on a mister system just for the mega drive?

[Oh Danny Boy]

6 hours ago, Goemon said:

The Cursed Knight is already out, I have my copy sitting right here

 

I guess they sold their initial batch and are producing more.

Oh yeah, the kickstarters have gone out. They are doing a preorder for general release atm. How does it play? Gets two thumbs up? Looks ambitious and feels like a proper game, which is what I look for in a homebrew release . 

[Protocol Penguin]

6 hours ago, Adrock said:

Would it be stupid to spend on a mister system just for the mega drive?

Not really? MiSTers are great, and in my experience, completely accessible for anyone to put together and set up. Plus, you’d be able to play 32X and Mega CD games for maximum Sega kick. Saturn games too, eventually.

[spanky debrest]

6 hours ago, Yasawas said:

I've somehow just seen Ranger X for the first time and I'm utterly stunned by how good it looks. I can't believe it's from 1993. Five minutes of playing hardly does it justice but it all comes across as a bit of a faff to play tbh, which I assume is why it's not as exalted as Gunstar or Hard Corps?

 

You need a six-button controller to be able to fully control your movements (simultaneously controlling two separate components). It's an unusual/ tricky mechanic that might ask a lot of an unsuspecting player.

 

6 hours ago, Adrock said:

Would it be stupid to spend on a mister system just for the mega drive?

 

I don't think so.

 

If starting from scratch, a fully modded multiregion Mega Drive with flawless video and enhanced audio output, bundled with a high quality scaler and a high-end flashcart will probably have a comparable cost to a MiSTer setup (rising component prices nonwithstanding).

[JamesC]

7 hours ago, Yasawas said:

I've somehow just seen Ranger X for the first time and I'm utterly stunned by how good it looks. I can't believe it's from 1993. Five minutes of playing hardly does it justice but it all comes across as a bit of a faff to play tbh, which I assume is why it's not as exalted as Gunstar or Hard Corps?

It's one of my favourites and if you're used to modern games with loads of buttons, you'll soon get the hang of the controls.

A lot is made of the 6 button option, which allows you to control your Ex-up but it's not really necessary. In fact, I'd say get used to the standard 3 button controls first and see how you get on. I've completed the game on original hardware and can confirm that full Ex-up control is not really necessary.

I'd say it's a game for which you need to read the instructions, which is probably why it's not as exalted as the others you mention. A lot of people don't realise you can switch weapns when docked with the Ex-up because it isn't explained in-game.

[Goemon]

Chalk up another who loves Ranger X, it’s one of my favourites on the system.

 

It has loads of ideas that are well executed.

 

One that I didn’t realise for a while, is that the mech is solar powered. Doesn’t sound like much but they do use it, for example one level being in bright sunshine above the tree line and fully shaded below it. You’re forced into the shadows to destroy things but have to come up to recharge.
 

Also has some amazing graphics and music, I was listening to the OST just yesterday.

 

Only negative I would say is that it’s possibly a bit short.

 

1 hour ago, Oh Danny Boy said:

Oh yeah, the kickstarters have gone out. They are doing a preorder for general release atm. How does it play? Gets two thumbs up? Looks ambitious and feels like a proper game, which is what I look for in a homebrew release . 

 

TBH I haven’t had a chance to play it yet,

[Phantoon]

12 hours ago, Adrock said:

Would it be stupid to spend on a mister system just for the mega drive?

Not at all. And if you decide you want more later it's a hugely capable bit of kit.

[Yasawas]

16 hours ago, JamesC said:

It's one of my favourites and if you're used to modern games with loads of buttons, you'll soon get the hang of the controls.

 

That's a strong reason I'm not into modern games 

 

You've both sold me on giving it a proper go over the weekend though - it just looks and sounds too interesting not to. I do have, and was using, a six-button pad but a cursory go was impossible to coordinate so I'll take it a bit slower. Might even read the manual! It was after playing that I heard about the solar-powering mechanic that @Goemontouched on and it all started to sound like it might be more experiment than game, but I'm re-enthused now. 

[Goemon]

17 minutes ago, Yasawas said:

 

That's a strong reason I'm not into modern games 

 

You've both sold me on giving it a proper go over the weekend though - it just looks and sounds too interesting not to. I do have, and was using, a six-button pad but a cursory go was impossible to coordinate so I'll take it a bit slower. Might even read the manual! It was after playing that I heard about the solar-powering mechanic that @Goemontouched on and it all started to sound like it might be more experiment than game, but I'm re-enthused now. 

Pacing is important. The levels aren’t long and it’s more about taking your time to tackle things

[JamesC]

A lot of people seem to give up pn Level 2 (where it's important to understand the solar charging mechanic) which is slower and more methodical than most levels.

I think people playing it on an emulator are unlikely to know about the various mechanics so bounce off the game.

It's definitely one of the best on the system though, and isn't that complicated, just maybe not very intuitive.  

[merrychan]

19 hours ago, Goemon said:

 

One that I didn’t realise for a while, is that the mech is solar powered. 

I love Ranger X and never realised this.

 

I immediately thought of the shafts of light in the cave level and how I run out of energy in there often

[Goemon]

3 minutes ago, merrychan said:

I love Ranger X and never realised this.

 

I immediately thought of the shafts of light in the cave level and how I run out of energy in there often

Bingo!

 

I wonder if, like @JamesC says, a lot of people give up on level 2 and it’s because you’re underground and you need to use the shafts of light to keep your mech powered otherwise you WILL run out of power and die.

 

I’m not sure what the manual tells you about this so it could be like a puzzle they want you to figure out, as it was a right light bulb moment for me when I realised.

[Quest]

It's in the manual:

 

 

 

[TehStu]

Happy birthday Mega Drive, first released in Japan today, 1988

 

 

[SMD]

One of the GOATs