what was EGM's 1989 Game of the Year: Legendary Axe or Ghouls 'n Ghosts ?

[handygrafx]

GOTY 1989 was awarded in the 1990 Video Game Buyer's Guide (EGM Number 5, December 1989)



best game of 1989 was either Ghouls 'n Ghosts on Genesis or Legendary Axe on TurboGrafx-16.

I know both games won several awards. Legendary Axe was certainly TurboGrafx-16 game of the year but was it also overall GOTY, or was that overall best game of 1989 given to Ghouls 'N Ghosts?

I can't quite remember.

wish I still had that magazine :/

I'd like to get a confirmed answer. I've already Googled. most of what I read seems to be off people's memory which as we know is often wrong (even though sometimes it's right).  Some say it was Legendary Axe, some say it was Ghouls N Ghosts.   

I don't trust the info on Wikipedia either, which happens to say it was Ghouls 'n Ghosts.

[Turbo D]

wow, I had no idea legendary axe was so popular!

[Sinistron]

I distinctly remember it being Legendary Axe- best for all systems.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

EGM picked GnG.

VG&CE picked LA.

Message Ends.

[handygrafx]

I discovered that I did actually have my copy of that issue packed in a box ^__^   
(sadly, the awesome-looking cover, of which there is a picture of in my OP, was torn away long ago)

from that same magazine:



So it was Ghouls 'N Ghosts for Genesis that won The Best Game Of The Year

they also awarded, as I thought, best game for each system.
Legendary Axe won Best Game Of The Year for TurboGrafx,
but not best game overall which was indeed given to GnG.


It's slightly confusing because you see best game was also given to Legendary Axe.
the difference is, it's with (TurboGrafx).   

Ninja Gaiden won best game for Nintendo
WonderBoy 3 won best game for Sega Master System.

[Sinistron]

MOTHER FUCKER!

A great memory- dashed to bits.   


-to clarify Handy- not calling you a motherfucker-
just the sting.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

What the hell?!?  I can see giving Fighting Street best background music in a game (maybe - it's a stretch), but never for sound effects.  What does the rest of that article say?

[handygrafx]

here's the rest of the article 'The Best and Worst of 1989'   
from EGM Number 5, December 1989 (aka 1990 Video Game Buyer's Guide)
which was on newstands & in mail boxes around November 1989

I apologize for the quality, they are not scans but from my camera.



some of these are funny

http://www.imagepup.com/up/qa2f_1199740732_EGM1989_2.jpg
http://www.imagepup.com/up/tjyh_1199740266_EGM1989_3.JPG
http://www.imagepup.com/up/O566_1199740340_EGM1989_4.JPG
http://www.imagepup.com/up/PgJm_1199740426_EGM1989_5.JPG


Legendary Axe - Ghouls 'n Ghosts  reviews

http://www.imagepup.com/up/2DAB_1199740546_EGMLAreview.jpg
http://www.imagepup.com/up/vGhx_1199740654_EGMGnGreview.jpg

[handygrafx]

MOTHER FUCKER!

A great memory- dashed to bits.   


-to clarify Handy- not calling you a motherfucker-
just the sting.

I know, I know.

sometimes my memory turns out to be wrong. actually on lots of things, and I'm like:
'what the fuck?'  'I don't remember that'  'I was sure it was like this/that but it's not!'
etc, etc.

It's much sweeter when something you *think* you remember from say, the late 80s, or whenever
turns out to be true, turns out to be the way you remembered it or pretty much the same.

[Paisa49]

Wow, talk about a blast from the past. Good stuff.

[handygrafx]

as mentioned, Video Games & Computer Entertainment awarded Legendary Axe with overall best game of 1989. 
I do not have the magazine though, and I don't know which issue it's in.   

it would be nice to see that.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Funny stuff indeed.  Here's my favs:

Best Sound in a Game: Fighting Street and its "true-to-life voices"
Worst movie of 1989: Star Trek V
Most Unintelligible Spelling in a Game: Keith Courage

Good stuff, good stuff - thanks for sharing.

[Turbo D]

If those dudes played the supergrafx version of ghouls n' ghosts, they would flip. It totally owns the genny!

[handygrafx]

If those dudes played the supergrafx version of ghouls n' ghosts, they would flip. It totally owns the genny!

in most areas of graphics, yes, but not in music/audio, where Genesis had a big advantage.

those dudes got to play SuperGrafx Ghouls 'n Ghosts by mid 1990.  they talked about it and previewed it several times that year, they said it "destroys the Genesis version".  they kinda over-hyped it even though it was still an awesome translation of the arcade for the time. 

by 1994 though, the Sharp X68000 computer recieved a pretty much arcade-exact port which truly destroyed the SuperGrafx and Genesis versions  (heh we've been over that before here).

[nat]

If those dudes played the supergrafx version of ghouls n' ghosts, they would flip. It totally owns the genny!

in most areas of graphics, yes, but not in music/audio, where Genesis had a big advantage.

Are you serious? The Genesis GnG sounds fucking awful.

[handygrafx]

If those dudes played the supergrafx version of ghouls n' ghosts, they would flip. It totally owns the genny!

in most areas of graphics, yes, but not in music/audio, where Genesis had a big advantage.

Are you serious? The Genesis GnG sounds fucking awful.

yes I am serious.

Anyone that knows Genesis Ghouls 'n Ghosts well, knows the music was outstanding.  read the EGM review of it I posted.

Like many of the other early (1988, 1989, 1990) Japanese-developed MD/Genesis games, GnG had exellent sound, especially considering the Genesis audio hardware, while decent, wasn't as good as that of the SNES or later systems.   Genesis audio was however without a doubt, better than that of the PC-Engine (without CD-ROM of course) and better than that of the SuperGrafx which had the same 6-channel sound chip as the PCE.

if you listen to SuperGrafx Ghouls 'N Ghosts music, it indeed sounds worse than the Genesis version.

you can disagree with me all you want and say you 'prefer' the SuperGrafx music/audio more, which is fine, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but technically, the Genesis 10-channel audio hardware allowed for higher-quality music/audio than PCE or SGX.   To me, this is very apparent when comparing GnG on Gen vs SGX.

[MissaFX]

If those dudes played the supergrafx version of ghouls n' ghosts, they would flip. It totally owns the genny!

Yeah, I was about to say something about that.  I was reading the review going, wow I never thought they would give a super grafx title such an award...oh genesis...

The super grafx version totally pwns.  It feels just like the arcade and sounds like it too.  Kicks my bum like the arcade version too.  I was never good at that game.  I usually die because some enemy spawns right where I am standing and I am already throwing weapons to kill another enemy or three.

[handygrafx]

just to show you how much the graphics of SUPERGRAFX Ghouls 'n Ghosts was downgraded from the arcade:

ARC - 1988

video:

SGX - 1990

video:

GEN - 1989

video:

note all the missing detail -  I could show you many more comparisons

also, the back-cover of X68000 version



snippet of a short review

The x68000 version of Ghouls'n'Ghosts is supposed to be so good as to literally eclipse the Mega Drive and the SuperGrafx versions. Everything apparently looks and feels arcade perfect from the color palette to the graphical definition of the sprites and the backgrounds.

http://www.illusionware.it/x68000/gng-x68.htm

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Genesis audio was however without a doubt, better than that of the PC-Engine (without CD-ROM of course) and better than that of the SuperGrafx which had the same 6-channel sound chip as the PCE.

This is highly subjective, as not everyone thinks that FM is superior (there's also more to channels than highest number wins).

[PCEngineHell]

Genesis audio was however without a doubt, better than that of the PC-Engine (without CD-ROM of course) and better than that of the SuperGrafx which had the same 6-channel sound chip as the PCE.

This is highly subjective, as not everyone thinks that FM is superior (there's also more to channels than highest number wins).

Yea,I was about to say,I don't really like the Genesis versions audio as much as the Supergrafx either. It sounds more tiny and busted. Graphically,I'm fine with both,but do like the Supergrafx more. It obviously had the edge there.
Yea,not arcade perfect,but really close at the time,and esp for the price of admission to get to play such a close port.

[spenoza]

The two sound systems use different means of representing audio. They cannot be directly compared easily and, ultimately, what sounds better ALWAYS comes down to opinion. In listening tests "lesser quality" audio often rates better to untrained ears because it's louder. People equate loudness with better. So really, opinion is everything. The Genesis isn't so much better as different.

And let me tell you, as the owner of a Genesis 2 model (VA 1., not all Genesis units sound the same. Mine happens to sound a lot like ass, whereas Joe Redifer's recordings from his unit at home sound great.

As usual, this is all a moot point.

you can disagree with me all you want and say you 'prefer' the SuperGrafx music/audio more, which is fine, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but technically, the Genesis 10-channel audio hardware allowed for higher-quality music/audio than PCE or SGX.   To me, this is very apparent when comparing GnG on Gen vs SGX.

[handygrafx]

to me, the SuperGrafx GnG music sounded tinnier, even though it was clear. the Genesis audio sounded richer because of the FM Synth.    most people's opinions tend to favor the Genesis version's music.

the graphics of the SGX version were much better in most areas  (resolution, color, sprite size/detail, background detail). Although I've seen many regular PCE games with better use of color / more color, than SGX GnG.

[PCEngineHell]

to me, the SuperGrafx GnG music sounded tinnier, even though it was clear. the Genesis audio sounded richer because of the FM Synth.    most people's opinions tend to favor the Genesis version's music.

the graphics of the SGX version were much better in most areas  (resolution, color, sprite size/detail, background detail). Although I've seen many regular PCE games with better use of color / more color, than SGX GnG.

You'll have to point these people out. I don't know anyone who likes the Genesis version audio more...

[handygrafx]

okay, give me awhile, I'll dig up some opinions.




1.) 

The sound on this game was inferior to the Genesis version.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/turbo16/review/R78408.html

2.)

Superb conversion that out-does the much hailed Megadrive version. Lovely graphics are let down only a little by the sound

http://pcenginebible.roarvgm.com/HTML_Games/Ghouls_n_Ghosts.htm

3.)

E.Phoenix
Hey, everyone and there pet fish has played this game, so just know that this version is graphically slightly better than the Genesis version. The sound is not as good as the Genesis

http://www.gamezero.com/team-0/final_word/super_grafx/dai_makaimura.html

4.)

But there is definitely a jarring effect to see those awesome Daimakaimura graphics while jangly PC Engine tunes play in the background.

http://www.the-nextlevel.com/board/showpost.php?s=963d6f4a61f52fe24258fb26e9e90cf9&p=946042&postcount=8

5.)

the MD daimakaimura is obviously the most weak console-port (if not counting the SMS G'n'G, but which wasn't that bad, regarded to its hardware) exept of the control (as joe described it) and the audio which is probably the best of all releases

6.)

The SG version sounds great on stage 1, but I think it loses it a little in the subsequent stages.

7.)

There was also a port to the Japan-only NEC Supergrafx, which plays pretty well, and looks pretty decent. But the colors are off, even compared to the Genesis version, and the music isn't too hot either.

http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/gng/gng2.htm

8.) 

Superb conversion that out-does the much hailed Megadrive version. Lovely graphics are let down only a little by the sound, but it's a top game nonetheless.

SOUND: Great tunes, but sound could have been better.

http://pcenginebible.roarvgm.com/HTML_Games/Ghouls_n_Ghosts.htm

that for starters, I will find more.

p.s. I shall not start a war either, it's just that I was always under the impression it was widely accepted that the SuperGrafx version had better graphics but the Genesis version had better sound.

[nat]

to me, the SuperGrafx GnG music sounded tinnier, even though it was clear. the Genesis audio sounded richer because of the FM Synth.    most people's opinions tend to favor the Genesis version's music.

the graphics of the SGX version were much better in most areas  (resolution, color, sprite size/detail, background detail). Although I've seen many regular PCE games with better use of color / more color, than SGX GnG.

You'll have to point these people out. I don't know anyone who likes the Genesis version audio more...

Yeah no kidding. Not to start a war or anything.... But I always thought, until this thread, it was the SGX version that had the widely accepted better sound.

Although I guess I'm fairly biased since I'm not a fan of the Genesis "sound" to begin with. That said, however, there are a few select Genesis soundtracks out there that are friggin' rule. Virtually all the Sonic games, for example.

[PCEngineHell]

For me its stuff like Thunderforce 4,Streets of Rage 2,Shinobi 3,and Castlevania Bloodlines. To me those are great examples of the audio ability. Ghouls and Ghost on it however sounded like ass.

[Joe Redifer]

Blah blah blah.

Did the SuperGrafx version of GnG allow diagonals like the Genesis version does?  What I mean by that is if you are running in one direction or the other in the arcade and suddenly you press a diagonal motion, your character comes to a dead stop.  Very annoying.  This does not happen on the Genesis (though you can make it control like that if you want).  I much prefer the diagonals being on, makes the game MUCH more playable to me.  I recently went through the Genesis version on Professional a week or two ago, twice!  No cheats.  Beat Loki's ass.  Fantastic game that holds up great (and yes, I like the audio).

[spenoza]

I would like to declare that I don't even like the arcade original music. The whole game is kinda fun, but mostly just too hard. Graphically, sure, it's fine. Musically, the tunes are just "meh".

[handygrafx]

Although the arcade audio is technically superior,  I perfer how the Genesis version sounds.   not unlike how the Genesis audio is technically superior to that of the SuperGrafx, some people prefer how the SuperGrafx sounds.

[Tatsujin]

beside the SGFX daimakaimura wasn't released at that time, you can't compare those two really. but it's a joke anyway, since the MD Daimakai could look such a lot better than it did. just watch the 2nd level, it's a sheer cheek what they did to the BGs. best grafx of the year my ass!
but in one thing i have to agree, the MD version brings the best BGM with.

[handygrafx]

there was an 11 month gap between the release on MD/Genesis and SGX.
August 1989 ---> July 1990

[Tatsujin]

yeah..7 month too late for the goty 1989.

[Tatsujin]

i'm a huge makaimura fan (probably my most loved game-serie ever) and i own any japanese console releases of that serie (inc. any gaiden & spin offs etc.) up to now (beside the x68k version, which i'm still looking for in a good shape).

the MD daimakaimura is obviously the most weak console-port (if not counting the SMS G'n'G, but which wasn't that bad, regarded to its hardware) exept of the control (as joe described it) and the audio which is probably the best of all releases (beside of the c64 home computer tim follin SIDs).

the SGFX version is superior to the MD version, no doubts, but still about a half light year behind the arcade original. it shows a lot of details which wheren't included in the MD version, but never in the brilliance as the arcade did.

still i like to play both of the ports about the same, the one for the better audio/control the other for the amaizing grafx at that time.

[Joe Redifer]

There are spots where the SG version definitely looks better than the Genesis version, but there are also a few spots where it looks worse (stage 3-1 for example).  I'm not sure why the far background layer in the Genesis version is cropped, or letterboxed below and above a certain point.  That's just weird.  I wish the Sega version was 8 meg.

The Genesis version is super easy on the hardest mode, but super fun as well!

[handygrafx]

i'm a huge makaimura fan (probably my most loved game-serie ever) and i own any japanese console releases of that serie (inc. any gaiden & spin offs etc.) up to now (beside the x68k version, which i'm still looking for in a good shape).

the MD daimakaimura is obviously the most weak console-port (if not counting the SMS G'n'G, but which wasn't that bad, regarded to its hardware) exept of the control (as joe described it) and the audio which is probably the best of all releases (beside of the c64 home computer tim follin SIDs).

the SGFX version is superior to the MD version, no doubts, but still about a half light year behind the arcade original. it shows a lot of details which wheren't included in the MD version, but never in the brilliance as the arcade did.

still i like to play both of the ports about the same, the one for the better audio/control the other for the amaizing grafx at that time.

I shall add you to the list of people that think the MD/Genesis audio is better than that of the SGX  ^__^

There are spots where the SG version definitely looks better than the Genesis version, but there are also a few spots where it looks worse (stage 3-1 for example).  I'm not sure why the far background layer in the Genesis version is cropped, or letterboxed below and above a certain point.  That's just weird.  I wish the Sega version was 8 meg.

The Genesis version is super easy on the hardest mode, but super fun as well!

true, there are spots were even the Genesis version's graphics look better than the SGX version.  Those spots are few and far between however.

stage 3-1 is one example.   the way the background layers / parallax scrolling is done,  is different in the SGX version.   there's no seperation between the broken bridges and the distant blue towers.    in arcade and genesis these are seperated into different layers.

Arcade:

Genesis:

SuperGrafx:

[Joe Redifer]

Add me to that list as well.  The SG version sounds great on stage 1, but I think it loses it a little in the subsequent stages.

[Tatsujin]

the biggest prob was, that sega did such a huge amount of inhouse ports of any arcade games at that time, so they couldn't go deep into each game details due to manpower weakness i guess. but everbody knows, the MD was much more capable of what it shows in the daimakaimura port.

@handy: feel free to do that ^__^

[handygrafx]

just think if Sega or Capcom did a 16-meg port in 1991, they could've come much closer to the arcade, even more so than the SuperGrafx.  since the SuperGrafx version didn't really take advantage of its color capabilities, a stronger Genesis port could've rivaled it in color.  also, the distant background in the SGX ver didnt have many colors at all, maybe just 8.  Genesis could've done more.

The X68000 version is a masterpiece though.  pixel for pixel the same as the arcade.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

just think if Sega or Capcom did a 16-meg port in 1991, they could've come much closer to the arcade, even more so than the SuperGrafx.  since the SuperGrafx version didn't really take advantage of its color capabilities, a stronger Genesis port could've rivaled it in color.  also, the distant background in the SGX ver didnt have many colors at all, maybe just 8.  Genesis could've done more.

Sounds pointless to me - of course the Genesis port could be better, but so could the SuperGrafx version.  Neither game pushed the hardware to the absolute limits.

[Joe Redifer]

I think if Capcom programmed a Genesis version, the audio would be ass.

[PCEngineHell]

just think if Sega or Capcom did a 16-meg port in 1991, they could've come much closer to the arcade, even more so than the SuperGrafx.  since the SuperGrafx version didn't really take advantage of its color capabilities, a stronger Genesis port could've rivaled it in color.  also, the distant background in the SGX ver didnt have many colors at all, maybe just 8.  Genesis could've done more.

Sounds pointless to me - of course the Genesis port could be better, but so could the SuperGrafx version.  Neither game pushed the hardware to the absolute limits.

This is the best post so far here. We never did see the Supergrafx pushed to the edge.We all know the Genesis port could have been better,given we have seen that system pushed to the extreme with  a few titles,but we can only speculate how awesome the game could be done on a 16-20 meg Hucard for Supergrafx again with a better understanding and know how of the system implemented.

[awack]

                 super grafx                             genesis                         


                 super grafx                              genesis



First part of level 3, this is one of the few areas in the genesis version that hold up well against the super grafx but still not on the same level in my opinion.

Through out the game game the super grafx version shows more color, more detail, better drawn tiles/background objects, and better effects such as your special attack, enemy deaths and the tree animation on the first level.

What i like about the genesis version is the level of difficulty, the super grafx GnG kicks my ass and you only have 3 continues, i also like sound better.

[Turbo D]

The supergrafx version pwns the genny, period! Everyone knows it.

What i like about the genesis version is the level of difficulty, the super grafx GnG kicks my ass and you only have 3 continues

More continues are unlockable. Also difficulty is able to be adjusted. Its all done in an arcade like manner; very cool.

just think if Sega or Capcom did a 16-meg port in 1991, they could've come much closer to the arcade, even more so than the SuperGrafx.  since the SuperGrafx version didn't really take advantage of its color capabilities, a stronger Genesis port could've rivaled it in color.  also, the distant background in the SGX ver didnt have many colors at all, maybe just 8.  Genesis could've done more.

But they didn't, haha. The genny can never compare to the awesome color capabilities of the might pcengine! everyone knows it too. 512 vs 64.



oh ya, add me to the list of people who like supergrafx version sound better. Since when has a genny game had great sound? har har har

[Joe Redifer]

Through out the game game the super grafx version shows ... better drawn tiles/background objects...

The purple wall in level 3-1 looks much too repetitive to me.  Too tiled.  I can't say the Genesis version never does that, but I hate it whenever repetitive tiles show up in ANY game.  It looks fuckin' ugly.

As for the pics, why are you playing the Genesis version on PRACTICE?

More continues are unlockable. Also difficulty is able to be adjusted. Its all done in an arcade like manner; very cool.

You mean by inserting more tokens?

[ParanoiaDragon]

When it comes to music, the Genesis, seems to have more of an arcade sound from that era.  Alot of games sound like the Genny, but, I've always hated that sound(I guess that would be the FM that makes it so scratch, tinny, whatever sounding).

Anyways, something I'm curious about, is why EGM said that Legendary Axe has dual scrolling backgrounds in their review?  Are they saying it has paralax, or that some levels scroll vertically?  I know it doesn't have paralax, & I don't recall vertical levels, & frankly can't imagine them.  I know the 2nd game has vertical levels, but, not the first one.

[Joe Redifer]

Legendary Axe does scroll up and down, not just horizontally.  But I think that's a pretty lame excuse to say "dual scrolling"".  You'll find that quite often EGM (as well as ALL of the other mags) didn't know what the hell they were talking about (only when they said something that I personally disagreed with, of course).

[Turbo D]

More continues are unlockable. Also difficulty is able to be adjusted. Its all done in an arcade like manner; very cool.

You mean by inserting more tokens?

It looks like an arcade boot menu or something dude. Definitely check it out. You can find all the cheats at t2k ( thanks OD  )

[Joe Redifer]

Well fuck yeah!  An arcade-like boot menu makes ANY game 1000x better!  I am setting my Genesis on fire now and buying every SuperGrafx copy in the world!  ;)

[Kitsunexus]

Fuck this audio debate shit. I will lay it down for you.

TG-16: Sounds like a Sega Master System with better drums.

Genesis: Sounds like a DX7 and a telephone having sex.


They both suck on the audio front. THE END.

[awack]

More continues are unlockable. Also difficulty is able to be adjusted. Its all done in an arcade like manner; very cool.

True, I'm going mostly by memories of 1991 when i had a super grafx with GnG, grandzort, 1941 and aldynes, i didn't know of any codes back then for GnG, i could never beat grandzort or GnG, i no longer own the super grafx or any of the games because my brother took them and sold them to a used video game store many years ago....MOTHA.....FUCKA!