After Burner 2 appreciation

[pixeljunkie]

So, I just recently got my hands on a Cyberstick and an XHE-3 and I can't stop playing After Burner 2. This really takes me back to spending all my birthday cash playing the giant arcade version with the moving seat way back when.

So, how many levels are in the PCE version? It's starting to get really difficult around stage 15 for me.

[Mathius]

It's a good port. I've been playing it via the ED and really enjoyed a lot of the scaling effects. Even the refueling ship scales in which is the only 16-bit port that does this I believe. One weird thing is the canyon level where the walls are choppier than Thunder Blade on the Master System yet the inner floor is smooth as silk. It's kinda jarring.

[PukeSter]

Amazing port considering the hardware.

There's 21 levels. The highest I could ever get was 15. I don't know how different the Easy difficulty is either.

[Digi.k]

It's a good port. I've been playing it via the ED and really enjoyed a lot of the scaling effects. Even the refueling ship scales in which is the only 16-bit port that does this I believe. One weird thing is the canyon level where the walls are choppier than Thunder Blade on the Master System yet the inner floor is smooth as silk. It's kinda jarring.

yup that canyon level... yuck

I certainly think this is one of the better ports NEC Ave have done.  Only downside is that it's not full screen.

[roflmao]

This is one of my favorite games to pop in when I only have a handful of minutes to play. I *love* the soundtrack. I listened to it at work today, as a matter of fact.

[VenomMacbeth]

I love all the super scaler PCE ports, especially After Burner.  I'd like to get one of those controllers you mentioned, as adjusting the throttle with the select button is awkward.

[Gredler]

This has always been one of those games that was magical in the arcades, but when I got home to play it I was disappointed. The entire experience of the arcade helped me see past my vast inadequacies in ability to play this game, so when I get home and try and play it I get no where. Back in the day I mostly played the SMS and NES ports, later the Genesis one, and now only recently tried the turbo version and it's still not grabbing me like the arcade did.

Recently I was at a nephews birthday party at a Chuck-E-Cheese and they had the most recent After Burner there, Climax I believe it was called, how appropriate for a children's birthday party restaurant. Needless to say I stole tons of tokens from the kids and played the game excessively, and loved it. So much fun, and I really think it might be the flight stick. The chair and experience outside of the controller were nothing to write home about, and one of the two cabinets had a broken arcade stick from the youngsters hanging off of it, but it was still a blast to play.

It was after this that I thought "maybe now is a good time for the turbo version to get a try" and I fired it up on my EverDrive. I just wish I could get halfway decent at the game, it just feels so random and fast, I must be a sluggish dullard to not be able to memorize or react to the patterns. Fun, but not like those arcade experiences for me.

[johnnykonami]

I love the soundtrack too.  I was kind of a Space Harrier kid (my absolute favorite), but Galaxy Force 2, Power Drift, and Outrun didn't escape my attention.  Power Drift has some amazing music too.  I think between the Afterburner II, Power Drift, Space Harrier and Outrun ports, the AB2 one is one of the better ports.  I think we've had the discussion before here, but Space Harrier was a super disappointment to me when I had it on the TG-16.  As others have pointed out, it was a pretty good job considering, but I think AB2 and Outrun probably have it beat.

A couple years later I picked up Sega Ages for the Saturn and got my itch scratched, probably played those versions more than any other home ports.  I think they are fairly arcade perfect, but I have come to realize that something is always different that you may not have realized.  Damn close if they aren't.

Oh, and did anyone play Afterburner Climax?  I remember wanting to play the arcade one but never got the chance, I was stoked when it came out on Xbox 360.  I had a decent time with that one too.

[Mathius]

I really REALLY need to get an arcade flight stick for my Saturn. I've put that off for far too long. I have the US Sega Ages and with two full arcade flight stick experiences on there there just isn't any excuse. Especially with prices becoming more inflated.

[johnnykonami]

I'd still love to pick up some Twin Sticks for Virtual On.  I'm sure I don't even wanna know what they are going for now...

[imparanoic]

yes, afterburner 2 was excellent during 1990, best for 8 and 16 bit era

but retro modding a flight stick from saturn or ps2 is a bit extreme

maybe get the ps2 ages sega 2500 remake ( it's ok, but a bit low budget looking) and use a hori analog twin stick or maybe the hori analog flight stick

[pixeljunkie]

Yeah, I've maxed out at Stage 15 so far on AB2. I am gonna' give it another go today and see what I can do. The soundtrack is great as mentioned.

I realllyyyy wish Power Drift worked with the cyberstick. I think analogue controls would help that one. Such an ambitious port.

[TurboXray]

So, I just recently got my hands on a Cyberstick and an XHE-3 and I can't stop playing After Burner 2.

Most people don't know that AB on the PCE supports analog controllers (well, a specific one). Are either one of these two sticks able to run PCE AB in analog controller mode?

[pixeljunkie]

So, I just recently got my hands on a Cyberstick and an XHE-3 and I can't stop playing After Burner 2.

Most people don't know that AB on the PCE supports analog controllers (well, a specific one). Are either one of these two sticks able to run PCE AB in analog controller mode?

Cyberstick does support it...it's an x68k stick..the XHE-3 is the adapter micomsoft made so x68k controllers could be used with the PCE.

[TurboXray]

Space Harrier doesn't support it, right? It would be nice to hack in analog controls for it. Though I don't own, so I can't test it out. I do have a PCE mouse, which would make SH and other similar games more fun to play IMO (if hacked for it).

[Digi.k]

Space Harrier doesn't support it, right? It would be nice to hack in analog controls for it. Though I don't own, so I can't test it out. I do have a PCE mouse, which would make SH and other similar games more fun to play IMO (if hacked for it).

iirc I think thunderblade and outrun supported it... :O  I could have sworn I saw a similiar device being advertised along with those games.

[TurboXray]

Space Harrier doesn't support it, right? It would be nice to hack in analog controls for it. Though I don't own, so I can't test it out. I do have a PCE mouse, which would make SH and other similar games more fun to play IMO (if hacked for it).

iirc I think thunderblade and outrun supported it... :O  I could have sworn I saw a similiar device being advertised along with those games.

Just saw this (again, because I forgot about this vid):

. Operation Wolf looks like a lot more fun with it.

[Gredler]

Danm the would be fun to mess with, and would make this a lot more appealing to play at home If only there were more available, if any hahah

[pixeljunkie]

Space Harrier doesn't support it, right? It would be nice to hack in analog controls for it. Though I don't own, so I can't test it out. I do have a PCE mouse, which would make SH and other similar games more fun to play IMO (if hacked for it).

no space harrier support, sadly

[Psycho Punch]

Oh my god. How come those 5 games all have analog support as a hidden feature? Afraid of NEC getting mad about third party controllers with adapters for the PCE being officially supported?

I watched the video from Superdeadite's channel (the best on youtube) and this owns even if there are only five games. Guess the N64 wasn't the first console supporting analog controllers.

[Gredler]

Oh my god. How come those 5 games all have analog support as a hidden feature? Afraid of NEC getting mad about third party controllers with adapters for the PCE being officially supported?

I watched the video from Superdeadite's channel (the best on youtube) and this owns even if there are only five games. Guess the N64 wasn't the first console supporting analog controllers.

I thought 5200 was first analog stick based controller? There were also trackballs/mice and paddles/knobs before that which were analog.

The more I see this the more I want to start getting some flight sticks again, I used to love flightsticks but somehow have never wound up with any that still work.

[Mathius]

I believe Vectrex had the first analogue traditional controller. But you never know....

[Psycho Punch]

By the way, Superdeadite states that Op. Wolf on the arcade had the UZI being just a handle for an analog stick, I thought it was infrared/optic based? Didn't the machines have to be repaired all the time because of the gun failing or am I thinking of another game?

2: PCE devs, please tell me there is documentation for the stick's interface when connected through the adapter... it would be fun to do another game with analog support. Or maybe an adapter for other analog controllers (i want to believe).

3: Micomsoft is an unsung hero of gaming.

[martinine]

I really REALLY need to get an arcade flight stick for my Saturn. I've put that off for far too long. I have the US Sega Ages and with two full arcade flight stick experiences on there there just isn't any excuse. Especially with prices becoming more inflated.

The Christmas that Sega Ages came out in the US, a buddy of mine got it. I was really excited to play Outrun on it. Somehow we started playing Afterburner, and I got into some kind of crazy zone where the game looked slow to me. It was like I could see everything a split second before it happened. I couldn't believe it, but I beat the whole game without dying without ever really playing it before. Easily a favorite Christmas memory and seemingly unbelievable, but I swear it's honest truth. Ha!

[o.pwuaioc]

I was never great at this, even though I liked it better than, say, Space Harrier. However, if I ever upgrade to cabs, I want one of these bad boys:



Best game cameo in best movie.

[Mathius]

By the way, Superdeadite states that Op. Wolf on the arcade had the UZI being just a handle for an analog stick, I thought it was infrared/optic based? Didn't the machines have to be repaired all the time because of the gun failing or am I thinking of another game?

I noticed this last time I played OW at Galloping Ghost last year.

I really REALLY need to get an arcade flight stick for my Saturn. I've put that off for far too long. I have the US Sega Ages and with two full arcade flight stick experiences on there there just isn't any excuse. Especially with prices becoming more inflated.

The Christmas that Sega Ages came out in the US, a buddy of mine got it. I was really excited to play Outrun on it. Somehow we started playing Afterburner, and I got into some kind of crazy zone where the game looked slow to me. It was like I could see everything a split second before it happened. I couldn't believe it, but I beat the whole game without dying without ever really playing it before. Easily a favorite Christmas memory and seemingly unbelievable, but I swear it's honest truth. Ha!

Wow that's awesome!

[wilykat]

The more you know: Both Atari 5200 and Vectrex came out in the same month (Nov 1982) so both gets the first analog joystick award.  However there have been analog controller before, a single line motion including Atari paddle (1978) and about 500 different Pong clones.

Back to the topic, is there any info on DIY analog controller or schematic for these games?  PC style analog joystick pops up a lot at Goodwill, that provides X and Y analog plus 2 buttons so it would be easy to adapt it to work on these games.

[TurboXray]

The more you know: Both Atari 5200 and Vectrex came out in the same month (Nov 1982) so both gets the first analog joystick award.  However there have been analog controller before, a single line motion including Atari paddle (1978) and about 500 different Pong clones.

Back to the topic, is there any info on DIY analog controller or schematic for these games?  PC style analog joystick pops up a lot at Goodwill, that provides X and Y analog plus 2 buttons so it would be easy to adapt it to work on these games.

I nominate Ccovell!!!

[ccovell]

I nominate Ccovell!!!

Jeezus, again!!??

What about Deadlite?  He's the guy with the various Micomsoft adaptors.

[Mathius]

I nominate Ccovell!!!

Jeezus, again!!??

What about Deadlite?  He's the guy with the various Micomsoft adaptors.

Collaboration begin!

Start!

[SignOfZeta]

The more you know: Both Atari 5200 and Vectrex came out in the same month (Nov 1982) so both gets the first analog joystick award.  However there have been analog controller before, a single line motion including Atari paddle (1978) and about 500 different Pong clones.

Back to the topic, is there any info on DIY analog controller or schematic for these games?  PC style analog joystick pops up a lot at Goodwill, that provides X and Y analog plus 2 buttons so it would be easy to adapt it to work on these games.

In the early days of gaming analog was more common than digital, partially because in many cases a large portion of the hardware was analog as well. When you are dealing with an arcade machine or console that literally does not have a CPU, analog is a lot easier to work with. Analog sticks (and digital) were also commonly used on personal computers since their inception.

I don't know why people seem to think that stuff started in the 90s.

[TurboXray]

Hmm.. I dunno about being easier to work with. Digital is simpler to implement (less hardware) and is simpler to read as well. I think analog was considered a natural interface because it simulated real life in many situations. I'm sure that, in the early days, games were seen to mimic reality rather than create their own universe and rules, and so they would expected to naturally evolve into something more life like, realism, when the hardware matured to a certain point. And in a way, they were right (thinking of this point in time). There just happen to be a temporary diversion along the way.

 But it is interesting to see games start out with analog controls as the standard input (late 70's, early 80's), then migrate over to digital controls (gamepads), and then back again to analog when 3D generation picked up steam (PS/Sat/N64).

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Obviously they're nothing like a analogue stick in how they're used, but aren't both the PCE mouse and pachinko controllers analogue? 

[Mathius]

Obviously they're nothing like a analogue stick in how they're used, but aren't both the PCE mouse and pachinko controllers analogue? 

That''s a damn good question. I would assume a pachinko controller would have to be analogue. Though I could envision a digital workaround sorta working.