Ys Book 1 & 2 - GamePro review (and other stuff from old magazines)

Joe Redifer · 10/08/2007, 01:23 AM

Scanned from GamePro's December 1990 issue. Read it. Just read it.

How much of the game do you think GamePro played in order to write their review? 0%? Less than 0%? Or did they just adapt NEC's press kit into a formal review? I have always hated GamePro since I was older than the 6-10 year-old market it was clearly aimed at.

Turbo D · 10/08/2007, 01:37 AM

omfg, I now hate gamepro

I can't believe that they wrote that shit its all completely wrong.

Keranu · 10/08/2007, 03:19 AM

"360 degree scrolling screens with an overhead perspective make for phenomenal 'you are there' role play action."

I'm having a hard time figuring out if this is a review or an advertisement.

CrackTiger · 10/08/2007, 04:04 AM

I like how the femesexual reviewer says that the whole point of the game is exactly the opposite of what it really is. Then it goes on to say how the game "sports standard roleplay interface", just like all that ram-slamming in Phantasy Star, Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior.

Its also logical to conclude that having two games on the same disc makes the adventuring twice as intense. Like if Sim Earth had included Sim City, then the management simulationing would also have been twice as intense.

And although I liked that the earlier GamePro TG-CD reviews included disc size, this genius actually makes a point of saying that the 500+ megs of size is all "gameplay data" instead of CD audio.

The best part is how at the very end its last two words contradict its very first two words, by making it appear that Ys is pronounced "eez".

Keranu · 10/08/2007, 04:12 AM

Quote from: guest on 10/08/2007, 04:04 AMThe best part is how at the very end its last two words contradict its very first two words, by making it appear that Ys is pronounced "eez".

Haha, I got a kick out of that too.

When he says there is 20 minutes worth of animtaion sequences, I wonder if that's including the character portraits when speaking during the game? Because without those, I could only see about maybe eight minutes or so.

CrackTiger · 10/08/2007, 04:24 AM

Quote from: Keranu on 10/08/2007, 04:12 AM
Quote from: CrackTiger on 10/08/2007, 04:04 AMThe best part is how at the very end its last two words contradict its very first two words, by making it appear that Ys is pronounced "eez".
Haha, I got a kick out of that too.

When he says there is 20 minutes worth of animation sequences, I wonder if that's including the character portraits when speaking during the game? Because without those, I could only see about maybe eight minutes or so.

Well, technically, the credits is kinda an animation sequence and the "The End" screen animates forever, so really the game has infinity minutes of animation sequences.

Joe Redifer · 10/08/2007, 04:50 AM

My favorite part is when it says "you're pretty much a spectator to the onscreen action" in battles since it supports a standard role-play fighting sequences. Nothing could be further from the truth, and that proves that didn't even turn the game on once. I wonder if they got any letters about that, or if any TG-CD owners even bothered with GamePro. Granted, I own the issue and a TurboCD unit, but I got the issue before I got a Turbo CD!

TR0N · 10/08/2007, 05:56 AM

Now where's that scan of EGm with its Ys 1&2 review.

I remember when they really hyped the game and gave it a 10.

Which urged me more back then to get a TG16+Turbo CD just to play it

Still if i would rate to it myself i don't think i give it that high of a score.

ParanoiaDragon · 10/08/2007, 06:39 AM

Quote from: Joe Redifer on 10/08/2007, 04:50 AMMy favorite part is when it says "you're pretty much a spectator to the onscreen action" in battles since it supports a standard role-play fighting sequences. Nothing could be further from the truth, and that proves that didn't even turn the game on once. I wonder if they got any letters about that, or if any TG-CD owners even bothered with GamePro. Granted, I own the issue and a TurboCD unit, but I got the issue before I got a Turbo CD!

Same here, I didn't get the Turbo CD until a year or so later.

RuninRuder · 10/08/2007, 08:52 AM

Quote from: Keranu on 10/08/2007, 04:12 AMWhen he says there is 20 minutes worth of animtaion sequences, I wonder if that's including the character portraits when speaking during the game? Because without those, I could only see about maybe eight minutes or so.

The numbers he used (24 minutes of voice, 14 bosses, 150 items, 43 music tracks, 20 minutes of animation) are ALL listed on the back of the box (and were probably mentioned in a press release as well). Joe's notion of the reviewer playing little or none of the game is probably right on.

OldTurboBastard · 10/08/2007, 12:40 PM

Quote from: TRON on 10/08/2007, 05:56 AMNow where's that scan of egm with it's Ys 1&2 review.

I remember when they realy hyped the game and gave it a 10.

I remember that too. I think Ninja Spirit was given a 10 in the same issue, and at the time you never saw 10's in EGM. I was stoked!! looking back there was probably some bribery invloved in those reviews....although y's is certainly worthy of a 10

This review is pretty bad with all the flat out incorrect statements..did they even play the game???

Nazi NecroPhile · 10/08/2007, 01:26 PM

GamePoop demonstrates it's ineptitude once again.

Quote from: CrackTiger on 10/08/2007, 04:04 AMIts also logical to conclude that having two games on the same disc makes the adventuring twice as intense. Like if Sim Earth had included Sim City, then the management simulationing would also have been twice as intense.

I too found this quite amusing. Since I have Ys Book I and II, Ys III, and Ys IV, does that mean that the adventuring is four or eight times as intense? Am I supposed to add or multiply? I'm so confused.

Joe Redifer · 10/08/2007, 07:03 PM

Here is the EGM review from their 1991 Videogame Buyer's Guide. I don't think it had an actual regular issue review.

I should post more interesting stuff from this issue. They even rated the systems OMG!

rag-time4 · 10/08/2007, 07:21 PM

Quote from: Joe Redifer on 10/08/2007, 07:03 PMHere is the EGM review from their 1991 Videogame Buyer's Guide. I don't think it had an actual regular issue review.

I should post more interesting stuff from this issue. They even rated the systems OMG!

Joe, did you notice that the last paragraph of the second review begins by saying that Y's plays like any other RPG

Both "reviews" are commercials.

Ah, the blessings of a "free press"

CrackTiger · 10/08/2007, 07:34 PM

Quote from: Joe Redifer on 10/08/2007, 07:03 PMHere is the EGM review from their 1991 Videogame Buyer's Guide. I don't think it had an actual regular issue review.

I remember Ys I & II having a regular EGM issue review, my memory may be wrong, but I still remember what it looked like.

Joe Redifer · 10/08/2007, 07:46 PM

Quote from: rag-time4Joe, did you notice that the last paragraph of the second review begins by saying that Y's plays like any other RPG

Yeah, both reviews suck. But at least the EGM one is somewhat entertaining to read.

Black___Tiger, I scoured my old issues of EGM and I could not find an Ys review, nor could I find reviews for anything else in this mag. Perhaps this issue substituted for a regular issue that year.

CrackTiger · 10/08/2007, 07:54 PM

I still have the memory of a standard verticle scored review in EGM, but since it was 20 years ago, I may be wrong.

It may have originated in another Buyer's Guide, since the 1992 issue reprinted the scores vertically as they originally appeared.

While checking google for old EGM scans, I came across this review of Ys I & II on imdb.com.

Joe Redifer · 10/08/2007, 08:01 PM

Here's the Ninja Spirit review in that same issue:

Up next... maybe the ENTIRE PAGE they dedicated to the TG-16 console itself?

I think Super Monaco GP on the Genesis was the first game in EGM to ever score a 10. That game sucked ass!

nat · 10/08/2007, 08:10 PM

Quote from: guest on 10/08/2007, 07:54 PMWhile checking google for old EGM scans, I came across this review of Ys I & II on imdb.com.

The best part about that review is that it's four years old, and in those four years, only "1 of 1" people has found it "useful."

OldTurboBastard · 10/08/2007, 09:56 PM

Quote from: Joe Redifer on 10/08/2007, 07:46 PM
Quote from: rag-time4Perhaps this issue substituted for a regular issue that year.
Pretty sure that was the case for this one. Props on posting the reviews for both games. "Sushi-x" - I remember when he showed up - "Who's this f@ckin' guy???".

Keranu · 10/08/2007, 10:22 PM

Quote from: guest on 10/08/2007, 07:54 PMWhile checking google for old EGM scans, I came across this review of Ys I & II on imdb.com.

Hahahaha, oh boy!

At least you didn't post my old GameFAQs reviews I wrote in middle school... those were just embarassing to the max!

Joe Redifer · 10/08/2007, 11:45 PM

Due to the many, many posts here in this thread demanding to see more, I am forced to oblige! But since I am going to post 3 whole pages for your viewing pleasure, I am going to post them as clickable links instead of images! That's right, all you have to do is click on the text that looks a bit different from the rest of the text below and a whole new screen will open with a page from EGM! This truly is the future... who needs flying cars? Be careful not to let your browser shrink-to-fit the image or it may be hard to read.

EGM dedicates an ENTIRE PAGE to discuss the TurboGrafx-16 Entertainment Supersystem!!

EGM also did a similar thing for the TurboExpress Portable Supersystem.
(Love how their specs are almost completely different than the TurboGrafx-16 Entertainment Supersystem specs they gave)

EGM spends their own money to dedicate an ENTIRE PAGE to the SuperGrafx-16 Entertainment Supersystem!!!

Ceti Alpha · 10/08/2007, 11:46 PM

I totally remember these reviews.

I'm almost positive that I bought Ninja Spirit because of that review. However, I wasn't disappointed in the least. It is a sweet game and I would have given it the same scores.

Just amazing though. Thanks for posting those Joe. Memory lane.

Joe Redifer · 10/08/2007, 11:50 PM

EGM always made sure their information was 100% accurate at all times.

nat · 10/09/2007, 12:12 AM

Quote from: Joe Redifer on 10/08/2007, 11:50 PMEGM always made sure their information was 100% accurate at all times.

It's funny you mention that.

Look at the "specs" given for the SuperGrafx system. Maximum resolution 160x146? Maximum colors on screen 128? All this after an article touting the SuperGrafx as NEC's next generation console! The specs they list are inferior to the specs they list for the TurboGrafx! I'm in awe that this misinformation actually made it to publication.

Keranu · 10/09/2007, 12:58 AM

HAHAHAHHAA! Thanks so much for those hilarious scans, Joe! That's just too, too, way too funny!

Quote from: natLook at the "specs" given for the SuperGrafx system. Maximum resolution 160x146? Maximum colors on screen 128? All this after an article touting the SuperGrafx as NEC's next generation console! The specs they list are inferior to the specs they list for the TurboGrafx! I'm in awe that this misinformation actually made it to publication.

I know! I was thinking the same thing! They're making the newer system look worse! And like Joe said, it's funny how different the Turbo Express specs are than the TurboGrafx-16 Entertainment Supersystem! I think I can understand EGM fooling someone with the Turbo Express specs, but the Super Grafx spec list was just downright stupid!

Ceti Alpha · 10/09/2007, 01:05 AM

QuoteLook at the "specs" given for the SuperGrafx system. Maximum resolution 160x146? Maximum colors on screen 128?

OMG... That is just ridiculous. I guess these magazines thought that they could lie to their readers because they were "too young" to understand.

Or it could be just lazy writing. Probably both.

Joe Redifer · 10/09/2007, 01:16 AM

EGM checks and rechecks their facts to make sure their information is 100% correct. If published specs for a system you own change from one issue to the next, the innards of your machine actually change to reflect what is published in EGM.

Did anyone notice that the SuperGrafx uses the NES processor? On the SMS page, they listed it having 256 colors with 52 onscreen at once. For the GameBoy, the resolution is listed as 320x224. All pure awesomeness.

OK, now for the numbered reviews of each system... actual ratings! How do you think the mighty SuperGrafx compared to the wimpy NeoGeo?

Click here to find out!

Quite a large image, so it's just a link.

Ceti Alpha · 10/09/2007, 01:23 AM

QuoteEGM checks and rechecks their facts to make sure their information is 100% correct. If published specs for a system you own change from one issue to the next, the innards of your machine actually change to reflect what is published in EGM.

hahaha!! Joe, I bet you don't even know when your being sarcastic or not anymore.

Your use of sarcasm is, as Darth Vader would say, "Most impressive".

I just can't believe that the Supergrafx was able to muster so much out of the NES processor. Simply amazing. That NEC - always pulling rabbits out of their hats. i.e. Johnny Turbo.

ccovell · 10/09/2007, 01:38 AM

Ahh, good old EGM. That buyer's guide was one of their best issues. Super Famicom Preview, a couple of 10s for Turbo games in one issue... oh, and massively incorrect tech specs.

But I wouldn't take EGM to task about the CPUs for the TG and NES: they are essentially 6502s. The TG's has several great instructions added in, and the NES' has a few taken away, but they are very code-compatible with your average 6502 program.

rag-time4 · 10/09/2007, 02:52 AM

Quote from: Keranu on 10/08/2007, 10:22 PM
Quote from: guest on 10/08/2007, 07:54 PMWhile checking google for old EGM scans, I came across this review of Ys I & II on imdb.com.
Hahahaha, oh boy! At least you didn't post my old GameFAQs reviews I wrote in middle school... those were just embarassing to the max!

Would those be your Ys 1, 2, and 4 (I, II, IV) that are still up there?

There are a lot of Turbo games that don't have reviews on Gamefaqs. I've been too lazy to do many. I've only done one.

Joe Redifer · 10/09/2007, 03:03 AM

I've only had a couple reviews actually posted on GameFAQs. I've written more, but they were never posted. Even the ones that did go up take awhile to be posted. Why?

OldTurboBastard · 10/09/2007, 02:25 PM

This got me thinking about "Team Game Pro" that was put together around this time - you filled out a survey and sent it in and eventually they printed a list on one the pages of GamePro. I was on it - i had dreams oof packages from gamepro coming in the mail full of games that needed to be reviewed....nothing ever happened of course. Does anyone have the issue? If i recall it was a page full of about 100 names.

CrackTiger · 10/09/2007, 02:42 PM

I love how the SuperGrafx gets good scores even though it only had 3 games and Sushi-X says that developers seem "non commited", but they all trash the SMS for lack of good software and the Gameboy is a "joke" that is soon to be "extinct"

The Turbo CD's $400 price keeps it from boosting the TG-16 scores, but the $400 Turbo Express gets higher scores than the TG-16.

Even the Lynx gets better scores than the SMS. The editors blame the SMS's catalog, but its clear that it never stood a chance in the press.

I'm assuming that the "SFX" would become the Super Famicom. Too bad the Neo Geo can't compete with unreleased consoles. They should've pointed out how poor the Neo Geo holds up to the Playstation 3 as well.

Keranu · 10/09/2007, 05:53 PM

Quote from: rag-time4 on 10/09/2007, 02:52 AM
Quote from: Keranu on 10/08/2007, 10:22 PM
Quote from: guest on 10/08/2007, 07:54 PMWhile checking google for old EGM scans, I came across this review of Ys I & II on imdb.com.
Hahahaha, oh boy! At least you didn't post my old GameFAQs reviews I wrote in middle school... those were just embarassing to the max!
Would those be your Ys 1, 2, and 4 (I, II, IV) that are still up there?

Yep!

Joe Redifer · 10/09/2007, 07:21 PM

And the Lynx outperforms both the Genesis and TurboGrafx. This was said most likely because it had hardware scaling. Other than that, their games pretty much all looked like complete ass. Blue Lightning was the only one that I enjoyed. Which would you rather have, a Turbo Express or a Lynx?

handygrafx · 10/09/2007, 08:44 PM

Quote from: nat on 10/09/2007, 12:12 AM
Quote from: Joe Redifer on 10/08/2007, 11:50 PMEGM always made sure their information was 100% accurate at all times.
It's funny you mention that.

Look at the "specs" given for the SuperGrafx system. Maximum resolution 160x146? Maximum colors on screen 128? All this after an article touting the SuperGrafx as NEC's next generation console! The specs they list are inferior to the specs they list for the TurboGrafx! I'm in awe that this misinformation actually made it to publication.

I remember this. even when I read it in 1990, I knew INSTANTLY it was wrong.

handygrafx · 10/09/2007, 08:49 PM

IIRC, Video Games & Computer Entertainment had a pretty good review of Ys Book 1 & 2. can't find it though.

I remember when Ys III was reviewed in another issue of the same magazine, the reviewer said that he only liked about 1/4 of the music selections.

Joe Redifer · 10/09/2007, 09:05 PM

Here's some more interesting stuff. First from that same EGM 1991 Buyer's Guide:

I actually had one of those cards!

Ninja Lords, huh?

And from Mega Play, the ALL SEGA ALL THE TIME magazine:

Awesome.

CrackTiger · 10/09/2007, 09:44 PM

I remember that card, what EGM's propaganda doesn't mention is that the card does list cpu speeds. It just also includes MIPs. From what I remember, that card was the most accurate spec comparison I saw back in the day. Certainly much less misleading than the specs tossed around in mags like EGM.

I've never seen any promotional material from NEC/TTI that compares specs against the SFC. I'm guessing that they're only refering to interviews or just making it up altogether.

Joe Redifer · 10/09/2007, 09:58 PM

The "Nintendo" comparisons they speak of are comparisons to the NES, not the SFX.

CrackTiger · 10/09/2007, 10:14 PM

Quote from: Joe Redifer on 10/09/2007, 09:58 PMThe "Nintendo" comparisons they speak of are comparisons to the NES, not the SFX.

I don't remember ever seeing a MIPs spec for NES anywhere, so that might have something to do with it.

Cleria · 10/09/2007, 10:24 PM

I have to go way back to the Ys part.

I just hate it when people type it like Y's. Why did that ever start? I don't see an apostrophe anywhere - do you guys?!

That's like me typing Halo: "Hello".

CrackTiger · 10/09/2007, 10:26 PM

Quote from: Cleria on 10/09/2007, 10:24 PMI have to go way back to the Ys part.

I just hate it when people type it like Y's. Why did that ever start? I don't see an apostrophe anywhere - do you guys?!

That's like me typing Halo: "Hello".

Many official Y's games spell it that way.

Joe Redifer · 10/09/2007, 11:45 PM

The Sega Master System version had the apostrophe. It was also the first version of Ys ever released in the mighty US of A, so that might account for it back in those days in the press.

Cleria · 10/10/2007, 12:15 AM

Uhm no?

When did the Master System come out?

*Wikipedia's it*

Damn the press...it looks better w/o the apostrophe though doesn't it?

CrackTiger · 10/10/2007, 02:53 PM

Quote from: Cleria on 10/10/2007, 12:15 AMUhm no?

When did the Master System come out?

*Wikipedia's it*

Damn the press...it looks better w/o the apostrophe though doesn't it?

The Sega Master System came out in 1986, but Y's SMS was released in 1988 and had the word Y's all over it. I have the IBM/Apple version, which is the only other Ys game released in the mighty Northern America before the Turbo-CD version.

It came out a year after the SMS game, but they did manage to spell the title (in/)correctly as "Ys".

Check out the game disc of Ys IV PCE to see a very large "Y's".

Joe Redifer · 10/10/2007, 07:21 PM

I definitely prefer it without the apostrophe. I wonder what missing letters its inclusion could possibly represent.

CrackTiger · 10/10/2007, 08:54 PM

Quote from: Joe Redifer on 10/10/2007, 07:21 PMI definitely prefer it without the apostrophe. I wonder what missing letters its inclusion could possibly represent.

I always thought of Y as being a name and the title was refer to Y's vanished omens. Plus everyone in my hometowm called it "Why's" until I got the Turbo CD version.

Joe Redifer · 10/10/2007, 08:55 PM

Ah, a possessive apostrophe! That Y is just so greedy!