NecroPhile's game clears and mindless musings

[Arkhan Asylum]

Dungeon Explorer has the most ambient soundtrack on the PCE.   Best Echo/Panning use ever.

[esteban]

'nuff said.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Clear #12 - Dead Moon



A cool shewty with great parallax, sweet tunes, nice boss designs (the skeletal end bosses more so than the ho-hum mid bosses), a handy tally for shewty efficiency, and sensible transitions from one level to the next (fly up to the moon, across the moon's surface, descend into a crater, etc.)  The only drawbacks are the enemies being rather bland, geometric shapes and it being easy; the latter is good for me and my weaksauce skillz, and those looking for more challenge can stick around for another loop, which cranks up the difficulty a notch.

[roflmao]

Wow, NecroPhile, I think you just sold me on this game.

[PCEngineHell]

I really have to admit, I find Dead Moon to be a real bore. Its just about the most plain shooter out there. The strongest point was the background graphics. The player ship design was not too bad, but honestly just felt like a rip off of the ships from the Toaplan shooters. I am really surprised Natsume was willing to bother with it. My only guess is they got the rights on the cheap. When I think about this game I often just relate it to other meh shooters out there like Rock On on PCE, Darwin 4081 on Mega Drive, or Zed Blade on NeoGeo. Basically just shooters that are clearly first efforts, instead of products from a seasoned group or programmers. Doesn't mean they are terrible. Just terribly average.

[esteban]

I really have to admit, I find Dead Moon to be a real bore. Its just about the most plain shooter out there. The strongest point was the background graphics. The player ship design was not too bad, but honestly just felt like a rip off of the ships from the Toaplan shooters. I am really surprised Natsume was willing to bother with it. My only guess is they got the rights on the cheap. When I think about this game I often just relate it to other meh shooters out there like Rock On on PCE, Darwin 4081 on Mega Drive, or Zed Blade on NeoGeo. Basically just shooters that are clearly first efforts, instead of products from a seasoned group or programmers. Doesn't mean they are terrible. Just terribly average.

"Terribly average" is the best way to put it—with a bit more inspiration, these games could really have been better. I think there is a polish to Dead Moon (decent controls, no blatantly offensive aesthetics, an internal cohesiveness of ideas/themes/play mechanics) that seemingly  elevated it above mediocrity, but Dead Moon is, at heart, pretty damn generic.

I still enjoyed the game, but that's because I am a slut for the genre and I have played such abominable shot-em-ups that Dead Moon gets credit for simply being meh.

I have commented on Rock On (a poor, intellectually-challenged man's R-Type) as NOT being horrendous (I've enjoyed it, for what it is), but I can't help but wonder how much more enjoyable a finely-executed R-Type clone would have been.

Similarly, Dead Moon could have been SO MUCH MORE.

End of rant.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Clear #13 - Final Zone II



"Sorry, this happens to be my hobby."

The Good - pretty good tunes (if often cheesy), decent replayability from being able to pick different characters on most levels (replete with unique music and weapons)

The Bad - bland backgrounds, too easy (though the latter half picks up a bit), very short, clunky shewty stage

The Ugly - the real reason to play this game is for the abysmal voice acting, lousy yet funny script, and a good bitch slapping when your woman gets mouthy

[Mathius]

...and possible the worst cover art ever seen on US soil.  

[esteban]

I liked the music in Final Zone II.

What's your theory on the totally random vertical shoot-em-up helicopter stuff?

Was it a random unfinished demo that they threw into the game for the hell of it?

[Nazi NecroPhile]

It's just there to change up the action, with the jet-pack-over-the-water being a similar idea (but with boats!).  I like the idea, actually, it's just the implementation that stinks; fix the slow ass 'copter, add a few more, different enemies, and it'd be a lot more fun.

[VestCunt]

...and possible the worst cover art ever seen on US soil. 

Nothing will ever top Takin' It to the Hoop.

[esteban]

It's just there to change up the action, with the jet-pack-over-the-water being a similar idea (but with boats!).  I like the idea, actually, it's just the implementation that stinks; fix the slow ass 'copter, add a few more, different enemies, and it'd be a lot more fun.

Yes, those shoot-em-up stages were very monotonous (same strategy over and over)...had we been tasked to actually think/alter/develop different strategies to overcome different obstacles/enemy patterns/etc., it would have been very nice.

I also wish that the different attributes of the mechs played a larger role in the "strategy" of the game. Maybe if we were allowed to switch mechs at certain points (and the stages were designed with specific mechs in mind)--maybe this would have given the game more depth. I just feel that the different playable characters are wasted.

The game itself suffers from poor controls (IMHO)....had the controls not been as clunky, had the flow of the game been smoother...damn, it would have been a fun romp instead of a plodding detour into quicksand. Momoko is fast, though.

LAZER WHIP!

[blueraven]

Clear #5 - Dracula X

There's not much new to say about this one - if you like platformers at all, you owe it to yourself to get this one.  It's about as perfect as a game can get: fantastic scenery, nicely done cut scenes, an awesome soundtrack, superb controls, beautifully animated sprites, and excellent replay value with hidden exits, branching paths, and two playable characters.

HA! I had 321 continues. Nice thread BTW. And holy shit.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Clear #14 - Götzendiener



Even though it feels like an unfinished beta, I love this game for its unique isometric view and its heroine, Princess Kick Ass!  Where else can you find a damsel in distress that has to save herself when the would be hero is snuffed in the opening cinema?

The Good - red book tunes in cut scenes, nicely animated sprites, half of the scenery looks pretty good, a few small puzzles to figure out, and great cut scenes where the Princess progressively loses more and more of her clothes

The Bad - the in game chip music is pretty meh the first go 'round and downright grating after it loops a couple times, the other half of the scenery is bland and lacks detail, and it'll pause/crash at least a couple times while you're playing

The Ugly - slow down galore, the controls are clunky and slow, and the levels are often mostly empty, with few enemies to fight or puzzles to solve (you'll see plenty of spots where they surely planned more but ran out of time to implement 'em)

[esteban]

I got stuck in Gotzendiener years ago... I gotta re-visit it.

I agree--it is a rough, flawed little game that has personality and is unique (for PCE, anyway)...

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Clear #15 - Hatris



I'd rather have a well done port of Tetris (especially with a two player mode), but I still enjoy it for what it is: a falling block puzzler that lets you zone out and drop hats quickly, no intricate strategy required.

The Good - catchy tunes, reasonably paced action, decent looking title/stage select/ending screens, and getting to burn the customers

The Bad - it's rather easy and the difficulty never really ramps up much, bland in game graphics, and no two player mode

The Ugly - the customers!

[roflmao]

Congrats!  I didn't know this game had an ending.   I'll have to try harder.

[esteban]

Hatris!

'nuff said.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Clear #16 - Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water



The Good - nicely drawn, colorful artwork, decent length (not terribly short but not drudgery either), most scenes are animated and change often, unobtrusive loading (mostly in the background while you're watching something else), and cool fan art at the end.

The Bad - mostly forgettable tunes, no puzzles to solve, and not in English 

The Ugly - NA

[Arkhan Asylum]

You left out : "No titties"

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Clear #17: Cosmic Fantasy



Everything great (and not so great) from Cosmic Fantasy 2.  If ya love CF2, ya gotta give this one a go.
 
The Good - lovable characters; humorous story line with good looking cinemas; riding Monmo (cattank jr.) to safety when you're hurt; nice backdrops during battles (unlike CF2's black screens and dungeon/overworld back grounds); and two tasty nude scenes of Saya.

The Bad - bland looking overworlds, dungeons, and towns; encounter rate, especially later when money and experience are useless; and only two Saya bathing scenes.

The Ugly -  L  O  A  D  I  N  G  !   It loads a lot: in towns, every few screens in cut scenes, before battles, after battles, and even during battles.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Clear #18 - Cosmic Fantasy 2



The Good: fantastic story, if a bit sad; large cast of engaging characters; numerous, great cut scenes; and a few nice tunes.

The Bad: arrogant Frenchy computer, though the ending leads me to believe he's only half French; battle pacing is slowed down when using a group attack weapon (minor annoyance only); missing status attacks; the "CF3 Coming Soon" poster sucks 'cause it didn't happen; loading/reloading of each character portrait during conversations; and much of the WD 'humor' hasn't aged well or wasn't all that funny to begin with.

The Ugly: the encounter rate can get pretty tiresome at times, but it's really not that bad - instead of walking around and around to grind up a couple levels, just walking from point a to point b will often yield enough experience to be ready for the next challenge.  Either way you're killing x number of enemies, but it's a killer when you've gone to far and need to retreat quickly, so plan accordingly.

[bob]

Swell work here.
Is there an engrish tranny of CF1?

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Is there an engrish tranny of CF1?

Dave Shadoff is (was) working on one, but it seems to be stalled (clicky).  It's pretty playable for gaijin, though, as it's very linear and there are no puzzles to solve.  You can get all the menus from the linked video, and runin showed me this handy-dandy site for item lists, magic descriptions, etc. (run it through google translate).

[bob]

Is there an engrish tranny of CF1?

Dave Shadoff is (was) working on one, but it seems to be stalled (clicky).  It's pretty playable for gaijin, though, as it's very linear and there are no puzzles to solve.  You can get all the menus from the linked video, and runin showed me this handy-dandy site for item lists, magic descriptions, etc. (run it through google translate).

My lord, sounds like more work than play. 
You are an inspiration.

[tpivette]

CF1 is the only game in the series I don't have. Have to pick that one up...

Any plans to clear CF3 or 4.1/2?

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Any plans to clear CF3 or 4.1/2?

Yep, I'm planning to play 'em in order.  I might sneak something else in between 'em, though.

[PunkCryborg]

Yep, I'm planning to play 'em in order.  I might sneak something else in between 'em, though.

like Energy?

[Mathius]

I really do wish the encounter rate wasn't so damn high. It cancels out the music at every battle then restarts it afterwards. It keeps me from hearing the whole tune.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Clear #18.5 - Cosmic Fantasy Visual Collection

Interesting but not of much value, other than to complete your PCE Cosmic Fantasy collection and for a peek at Babbette's nips.  At well over an hour, it takes a lot longer to get through than I expected (load, load, load some more!), but there's sadly precious little original artwork shown during the narration between cut scenes.  Why show me just the boring old logo when there's surely plenty of production sketches and fan art that could've been used?

P.S. - CF1 scenes 3 & 6 and CF2 scene 4 are the good stuff.  Giggitty.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Clear #19 - Cosmic Fantasy 3



The Good: the expected CF humor and cast, many cute enemies that look like they might've escaped from Jim Hensen's puppet lab, and a preview of a Babette bitchslapping at the end.

The Bad: meh tunes (worst is the vocal track used in boss fights); enough status ailments for itself and all those missing from CF2 too, but at least they don't do much other than prolong the battles a bit; the cutscenes took a hit, as now many of 'em are just on screen portraits and text (like what is seen often in cart rpgs); it never crashed, but there's a bug towards the end that piles up all the enemies at the edge of the screen; and the encounter rate is pretty rough, but at least you can run from most any battle.

The Ugly: the battle system is needlessly complex, allowing you to pick between up to three weapons and how to use it; the hit/miss rate is abysmal, with roughly 40% of your main attacks being ineffective (though stuff like magic almost always connects); and the bosses are either wimps or pre-determined ass kickings*.

* - [spoiler] the main party gets their collective ass handed to 'em with one hit kills, just so someone else can ride in and save the day in an equally lopsided victory over the boss [spoiler]

[roflmao]

* - [spoiler] the main party gets their collective ass handed to 'em with one hit kills, just so someone else can ride in and save the day in an equally lopsided victory over the boss [spoiler]

Thanks for keeping this thread going, Necromancer!  I find your feedback very informative.

Also, that's a great way to hide spoilers!  I'm totally stealing your method if I need to in the future.

[esteban]

Also, that's a great way to hide spoilers!  I'm totally stealing your method if I need to in the future.

Indeed it is.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Clear #20 - Riot Zone



It's no Final Fight, yet it's good fun and it likely wouldn't catch near as much flak if Hawk and Tony really did go down fighting... together.

The Good: colorful, varied, and nicely detailed backgrounds; great tunes from the folks at T's Music; controls are mostly spot on; lots of tasty street meat to eat and bonus point stuff to nab; nifty little wanted poster cut scene between levels; big sprites with not too much flickering; Lance the human porcupine; and I like the little rats scurrying about the floor, but you unfortunately can't pick 'em up and huck 'em at the enemy

The Bad: rather easy; not many enemies (too many palette swaps); in addition to special moves being executed by the RUN button, you can press buttons I and II simultaneously, which leads to accidental use when you're trying to jump kick someone; no weapons to pick up and no destroyable stuff (boxes, barrels, etc.); and some stiff animation, particularly Tony's stick-in-ass walk

The Ugly: no two player mode! 

[ParanoiaDragon]

Ah, someone who likes the tunes in Riot Zone!  It seems like most people don't like the music, but I think it's great!  It might not be my top tier choice, but still great. 

As for the rats scurrying about, & not being able to pick em up & throw them.....hmmmmmm, maybe we could do something like that in Dragon Arm!  I'll try to remember to mention that in our development for it, but if you end up beta testing it, try to remember that as a suggestion incase I forgot to mention it!

[esteban]

Riot Zone...a bit more love (variety of enemies) and it would have been better, IMHO.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Clear #21 - Godzilla



A great vs. fighter second only to Kabuki Itouryodan, but keep in mind I'm hardly a vs. fighter connoisseur.  Unless you're a collector, though, save the monies and get the PCE version with its all important bonus rounds.

The Good: great presentation (a bit like participating in a play) with fancy opening cinema, cool path/monster select screens, and 'bout card' screens showing each round's contestants; varied, sizeable, and good looking beasties; lots of fitting growls and beastly roars; and while it's a bit slow (kinda expected for giant monsters), it controls very well, especially considering there's only one attack button.

The Bad: Godzilla won't roar on command in one player rounds (why's that 'move' even in there?); you fight less than half the available opponents, so it's kinda short; clinch timing seems cheap, where 'zilla is often too slow to chomp (forget using a special move); and one player mode has you controlling Godzilla only - other monsters are playable only in two player mode and only after they're unlocked/beaten (see below)

The Ugly: the scoring is broken by the omission of the bonus rounds, making it nigh impossible to unlock the last two bosses.  I understand not bothering with the translation costs for the US version, as the quiz rounds don't add much to the fun factor and many gaijin wouldn't know the answers anyway, but couldn't they have adjusted the points required (or rewarded) easily enough? 


Gah!  I'm way behind, but I'll try to catch up and post more frequently. 

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Clear #22 - Cosmic Fantasy 4, Chapter 1



There's no one fatal flaw, but all the negatives added together make it hard to love.  Still, it's worth a shot for CF fans.

The Good: you get to whack what might be Wizda's long lost cousin; handy spell icons make attack spells gaijin friendly; a few nice tunes (my fave was in the ice cave); lots of different battle backgrounds that change often to match your surroundings; a few easy maze/puzzles to figure out; nice cinemas..... eventually; and the most important - Saya tittehs!

The Bad: lengthy digi-comic sequence at the beginning, and not a terribly good one either; the first half cinemas are mostly crap, with mostly unanimated talking portraits; dumb mosaic transition into and out of battles (just like the SNES!!!); they look good, but there's quite a few recycled enemies and background tiles from CF3; and the encounter rate is rough.

The Ugly: clunky, slow battle system with meter filling BS; possibly game ending bug*, so make sure you alternate save slots just in case (good practice for any RPG really); and Saya's abuse was just too much.

* - [spoiler] After the Saya tentacle rape/molestation, don't make a bee line to save her with Yu.  Find and talk to the two hurt guys (the rest of Saya's party?) in town first, else you'll never find the two bodies and you won't be able to leave town [spoiler]

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Clear #23 - Cosmic Fantasy 4, Chapter 2



Not surprisingly, it's a lot like Chapter 1; it's still flawed, but most of what sucked in Chapter 1 has been fixed or at least improved upon.  Get it, play it, love it!

The Good: starts off again with a digi-comic, but this one is shorter, funnier, better animated, and action packed; oft humorous story line continued from CF2; lots of different enemies, including various betitted descendants of CF2's harpies; though there's not enough, the cut scenes are great; sizable dungeons with plenty of hidden passageways and puzzles to figure out; and another Babette shower scene!

The Bad: half the story is told with just spoken dialog while you stare at the characters on screen - you don't even get portraits this time; shops no longer show who can use what equipment; overuse of status effects; hp/mp don't refill on level up this go 'round; tedious encounter rate (it wouldn't be CF without it!); slow starting where it's hard to tell what to do or where to go; and some annoying in-battle sprite flicker.

The Ugly: stupid meter filling BS - it's ridiculously slow in the beginning, but it's not so bad after leveling up and with more people in your party; and the final boss fight was rather BS.

[TR0N]

Congrats NecroPhile man i wish some body would fan-translate cf 1,3,4.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Clear #24 - Cratermaze



A fun little game that's like a cross between Lode Runner and Bomberman - bury enemies alive from an overhead perspective or bomb 'em with the occasional, short lived bomb item (amongst other weapons).

The Good: bouncy tunes; fast pace; three difficulty levels with more, different enemies (clear it to unlock expert mode); plentiful temporary weapon items, freeze timers, speed downs, etc.; and short cinemas not found on many hueys

The Bad: only two bosses out of 60 stages; even on expert mode it's not terribly difficult; and occasionally two enemies will be directly on top of each other, leading to a cheap death (they can't both fall in the same hole)

The Ugly: NA

[esteban]

Not that you played the JP version, but:

DAMN! I don't think I've beaten this game? Can we compare this to the ending of the Japanese version? Are all the characters (in the image) the same (except our Protagonist, far-left, with the cute helmet)?

Doreamon is missing...but are the bosses the same?

I wonder  about these things. 

[CrackTiger]

In the scene where Doraemon is dreaming of a sideways vagina, his hands are animated to look like he is masturbating.

Cratermaze has the same soundtrack as the arcade, while Doraemon Meikyu Daisakusen has a new original soundtrack.

The final bosses are different. These shots are from The Brothers Duomazov-

[esteban]

CrackTiger: I love all the screenshots/info! Is this from one of your unfinished projects?

I didn't expect the music to be different, now I want to compare the two. 

AND, I don't think I ever saw the arcade version! Damn.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Clear #25 - Order of the Griffon



A great huey RPG with a decent if predictable story line.  Don't listen to the 'all US exclusives suck' naysayers - it's well worth your time.

The Good: lots of different enemies requiring different plans of attack; dancing skeletons (yes, I'm easily entertained); good selection of different characters to pick from to build varying parties; plenty of spells, weapons, and armor to collect; D&D aficionados would surely prefer more control over the stats, but I liked not having to worry about what they all meant to battle outcomes - just load up the best goodies you can find and kick ass; and the dungeons are plenty big and take time to clear (but see below).

The Bad: the tunes cut out as soon as you attack; a few cheap spots where you can get insta-killed by entering the wrong room (save often); lots of attack misses, but at least enemies miss too (kinda like CF); an overly abrupt ending; and the dungeons are often quite maze like, repetitive looking, and long, forcing you to bust out the graph paper (or just download 'em).

The Ugly: the backgrounds look fine when you're moving around, but every room is empty and you only get a description of what's there.  There's a coffin in the corner?  Where?!?

[esteban]

The music cutting out, I remember that.

[JoshTurboTrollX]

Clear #25 - Order of the Griffon

The Ugly: the backgrounds look fine when you're moving around, but every room is empty and you only get a description of what's there.  There's a coffin in the corner?  Where?!?

That's your DM explaining the situation!!  Use your imagination!

I think the music cutting out is my MAIN problem with the entire game.  I remember surveying the battle for long enough to hear the entire battle track.  It's a damn fine song too!!  It's a shame they got lazy and killed the music once someone made an attack...

[Nazi NecroPhile]

That's your DM explaining the situation!!  Use your imagination!

Heh, I suppose so.  Still, they could've added a little variety in the scenery.


Clear #26 - Maison Ikkoku



The Good: decent if basic tunes and artwork; a few rather humorous moments, particularly with your 'girlfriend'; it's translated into English (one of only two such PCE digi-comic adventure games); and guest star Lummy!

The Bad: even in English there's stuff I don't understand - I presume reading the manual or watching the anime would help a lot; obscure goals; and an anti-climatic ending.

The Ugly: lots of ways to get a game over and no game save, just passwords.  Thankfully the passwords are easy to read and input, but you'll want to check a walkthrough to avoid dead ends and spending hours on the password screen.

[esteban]

Ha, never knew this had L'Anglican Church version. Interesting, perhaps...

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Clear #27 - Motteke Tamago



A fun little game and a worthy addition to your multi-player party lineup, though it's a rung or two down from the greatness of Bomberman '93 / '94.

The Good: cute as a button, catchy tunes (choose between redbook and chippy), and a good variety of power ups to snag, dangers to avoid, and different modes to try.

The Bad: it's hard to win fights, a bit on the short side, and only three different worlds to visit.

The Ugly: Kinda pricey and no real case...... for now.