The Official "The Brothers Duomazov" Thread

[Bardoly]

Due to popular demand (and the inability to post review comments), this thread will be the official comment thread for "The Brothers Duomazov" TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine/SuperGrafx review website.


The following TurboGrafx-16, PC Engine, and SuperGrafx games have been reviewed (most with screenshots and some spoilers) by "The Brothers Duomazov" and are listed below.  Your comments on these reviews/games are welcomed in this thread.

NOTE:  These reviews often contain spoilers, so reader beware!

1941 Counter Attack - reviewed March 19, 2009
1943 Kai - reviewed February 16, 2009
21 Emon - reviewed October 31, 2012
3x3 Eyes - reviewed August 12, 2009

Addams Family - reviewed January 28, 2010
Advanced V.G. - reviewed October 21, 2009
Adventure Island (Dragon's Curse) - reviewed November 6, 2010
Aero Blasters - reviewed February 14, 2009
After Burner II - reviewed February 15, 2009
Ai Choaniki - reviewed June 11, 2009
Air Zonk - reviewed February 15, 2009
Akumajou Dracula X: Chi no Rondo - reviewed May 25, 2009
Aldynes - reviewed August 29, 2009
Algunos - reviewed April 24, 2009
Alice in Wonderdream - reviewed October 23, 2011
Alien Crush - reviewed February 16, 2009
Alnam no Kiba (Fang of Alnam) - reviewed February 12, 2011
Alshark - reviewed November 18, 2012
Altered Beast - HuCard - reviewed February 16, 2009
Altered Beast CD - reviewed May 24, 2009 by IvaNEC
Altered Beast CD - reviewed June 14, 2011 by Ai Cho Alexei
Andre Panza Kick Boxing - reviewed February 19, 2009
Ane-san - reviewed October 18, 2009
Ankoku Densetsu (Legendary Axe II) - reviewed June 21, 2009
Aoi Blink (Blue Blink) - reviewed November 25, 2010
Appare Gateball - reviewed January 9, 2011
Armed F, Formation - reviewed August 22, 2009
Art of Fighting - reviewed February 9, 2010
Artist Tool - reviewed December 2, 2009
Astralius - reviewed January 6, 2010
Asuka 120% Maxima BURNING Fest - reviewed February 13, 2009 by Duomitri
Asuka 120% Maxima BURNING Fest - reviewed July 31, 2009 by IvaNEC
Atomic Robo-Kid Special - reviewed February 17, 2009
Auleria (Gensou Tairiku Auleria) - reviewed June 18, 2009
Avenger - reviewed March 5, 2009

Babel - reviewed April 20, 2011
Bakuretsu Hunter Duo Comic - reviewed January 18, 2010
Bakushou Yoshimoto no Shinkigeki - reviewed September 30, 2009
Ballistix - reviewed February 17, 2009
Barunba - reviewed February 20, 2009
Basted - reviewed May 2, 2009
Batman - reviewed February 19, 2009
Battle Ace - reviewed September 20, 2009
Battle Royale - reviewed December 5, 2009
Bazaaru de Gozaaru no Game de Gozaaru - reviewed December 11, 2010
Be Ball - reviewed May 24, 2011
Benkei Gaiden - reviewed March 15, 2009
Beyond Shadowgate - reviewed June 23, 2009 by IvaNEC
Beyond Shadowgate - reviewed April 1, 2010 by Ai Cho Alexei
Bikini Girls - reviewed October 8, 2012 by IvaNEC
Bikini Girls - reviewed March 7, 2011 by Ai Cho Alexei
Bikkuriman World - reviewed January 26, 2010 by IvaNEC
Bikkuriman World - reviewed March 10, 2009 by Ai Cho Alexei
Black Hole Assault - reviewed April 22, 2013
Blazing Lazers - reviewed February 19, 2009
Blodia - reviewed October 8, 2009 by IvaNEC
Blodia - reviewed February 23, 2009 by Ai Cho Alexei
Blood Gear - reviewed March 4, 2009
Bloody Wolf - reviewed March 11, 2009
Blue Blink - reviewed November 25, 2010
Body Conquest II - reviewed October 28, 2011
Bomberman - reviewed February 20, 2009
Bomberman '93 - reviewed October 11, 2009
Bomberman '94 - reviewed October 13, 2009
Bonk 3 CD - reviewed April 13, 2011 by IvaNEC
Bonk 3 CD - reviewed November 24, 2009 by Ai Cho Alexei
Bonk 3: Bonk's Big Adventure - reviewed February 6, 2010 by IvaNEC
Bonk 3: Bonk's Big Adventure - reviewed May 30, 2009 by Ai Cho Alexei
Bonk's Adventure - reviewed February 2, 2010 by IvaNEC
Bonk's Adventure - reviewed February 16, 2009 by Ai Cho Alexei
Bonk's Revenge - reviewed February 3, 2010 by IvaNEC
Bonk's Revenge - reviewed July 3, 2009 by Ai Cho Alexei
Bonze Adventure - reviewed May 21, 2011
Bouken Danshaken Don - reviewed August 20, 2009
BoxyBoy - reviewed December 27, 2009
Brandish - reviewed January 18, 2011
Bravoman - reviewed March 22, 2009
Bubble Bobble II: Rainbow Islands - reviewed December 18, 2010
Bubble Bobble III: Parasol Stars - reviewed June 7, 2009
Bubblegum Crash - reviewed September 17, 2010 by IvaNEC
Bubblegum Crash - reviewed February 13, 2009 by Duomitri
Burai - reviewed January 19, 2011
Burai II - reviewed February 6, 2011
Burning Angels - reviewed November 15, 2010
Buster Bros. - reviewed May 29, 2009

Cadash
CAL II
CAL III
Camp California
Cardangels
CD Denjin
CD Denjin
Champion Wrestler
Champions Forever Boxing
Chase H.Q.
Chew Man Fu
Chiki Chiki Boys
Chikudenya Toubee
China Warrior
Choaniki
Choujikuu Yousai Macross 2036
Choujikuu Yousai Macross: Eien no Love Song
Chouzetsu Rinjin Bravoman
City Hunter
Cloud Master
Cobra
Cobra II
Color Wars
Columns
Coryoon
Cosmic Fantasy
Cosmic Fantasy 2
Cosmic Fantasy 3
Cosmic Fantasy 4 Chapter 1
Cosmic Fantasy 4 Chapter 2
Cosmic Fantasy Visual Collection
Cotton
Cratermaze
Crest of Wolf
Cyber Core
Cyber Cross
Cyber Knight
Cyber Knight


----- When I get the chance, I will finish listing and linking all of their reviews here and link each name to its webpage.

NOTE:  These reviews often contain spoilers, so reader beware!

[Bardoly]

This slot reserved for future use.

[Bardoly]

Well, the Brothers posted up a review of Anearth Fantasy Stories today, and while I have no real knowledge of this game, I really enjoyed reading this review.  They really seemed to give this RPG high marks.  Has anyone else played it before, and do you agree/disagree with this review?


This review does make me wish that this possible translation-into-English project come to fruition.

[soop]

Brilliant.  Just read a (great) review of 1941 that makes me want it even more.

As an aside, I keep most good browser tabs open, but I can't stand animated tab icons, so I always close TBD.  Other than that it's always enjoyable.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

I played a bit of it (maybe an hour) when m1 first posted his guide, but I got distracted by something shiny and never got back to it.  I really want to play through it, though, especially now that I have a real copy.

As an aside, I keep most good browser tabs open, but I can't stand animated tab icons, so I always close TBD.

You can use adblock plus to keep the icon from loading at all.  

[soop]

I can't see it... I used it to block a gif, but apparantly not that one.

*edit* the Aeroblasters review is making me want to play it, and also progress.  I had a feeling of it being very difficult, but the way it's framed here - "you have to die to progress" makes me think of it in a different light.

[esteban]

I can't see it... I used it to block a gif, but apparantly not that one.

*edit* the Aeroblasters review is making me want to play it, and also progress.  I had a feeling of it being very difficult, but the way it's framed here - "you have to die to progress" makes me think of it in a different light.

Hell yes, AeroBlasters is worth it! I put a lot of pain into the Genny Air Buster and TG-16 AB...there are moments when I choke (bad habits die hard...you gotta learn to try new strategies).

Anyway, I encourage you to keep playing.

[Mathius]

Well, the Brothers posted up a review of Anearth Fantasy Stories today, and while I have no real knowledge of this game, I really enjoyed reading this review.  They really seemed to give this RPG high marks.  Has anyone else played it before, and do you agree/disagree with this review?


This review does make me wish that this possible translation-into-English project come to fruition.

After reading that review I am putting it on my wishlist. What a gem! Hopefully in the next five to ten years we can get a translation. Nightwolve?

[King_Vidiot]

I wish the reviews were tagged/sortable by genre...with so many of them, it would be a big help for people trying to find pce ideas

[M1Savage]

Yes! Been looking forward to the Anearth review for a while now and it couldn't have come at a better time. Here's hoping that the renewed interest in this game will lead to a translation soon which would make my guide unnecessary. Great review for a great game!

[ElSeven]

I periodically check TBD as the posted reviews are a great read.  I'm happy to see that they (finally!) reviewed AFS and gave it the high marks it deserves.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the translation comes to fruition so we can experience this game in english 

[shubibiman]

Anearth Fantasy Story is one of the greatest games on the PCE. I played through it 5 years ago and it was such an original experience. It's battle system somewhat reminded me of T-RPG and the story is much more interesting than many other RPGs'. Some puzzles were very difficult to get through too. It's definitely on par with Manji Maru.

[NightWolve]

Well, the Brothers posted up a review of Anearth Fantasy Stories today, and while I have no real knowledge of this game, I really enjoyed reading this review.  They really seemed to give this RPG high marks.  Has anyone else played it before, and do you agree/disagree with this review?


This review does make me wish that this possible translation-into-English project come to fruition.

After reading that review I am putting it on my wishlist. What a gem! Hopefully in the next five to ten years we can get a translation. Nightwolve?

Looks like you've been missing that Translation Compensation thread. It's been "green-lighted" by SamIAm and EsperKnighty.

[Mathius]

Well, the Brothers posted up a review of Anearth Fantasy Stories today, and while I have no real knowledge of this game, I really enjoyed reading this review.  They really seemed to give this RPG high marks.  Has anyone else played it before, and do you agree/disagree with this review?


This review does make me wish that this possible translation-into-English project come to fruition.

After reading that review I am putting it on my wishlist. What a gem! Hopefully in the next five to ten years we can get a translation. Nightwolve?

Looks like you've been missing that Translation Compensation thread. It's been "green-lighted" by SamIAm and EsperKnighty.

Sweet!

[Bardoly]

I wish the reviews were tagged/sortable by genre...with so many of them, it would be a big help for people trying to find pce ideas

Great idea!  I will do what I can later on after getting all of the reviews in the first post.

[Bardoly]

Review/Interview-with-the-developers of Night Creatures out recently!

Very well-written post.  Includes brief interviews with 2 of the developers of Night Creatures.  Having never played the game yet, after this review, I'm apprehensively looking forward to trying this game out in the near future.

[CrackTiger]

Night Creatures is much more satisfying to figure out and beat than most games. I committed myself to finishing it after an extreme PCE fan challenged me to do it and have enjoyed the game for what it is ever since. It's so cool that it is related to Transylvania, since it is one of the only computer games I'd played before getting my first PC in the late 90's. Night Creatures definitely has a familiar spooky vibe, even if it is more humorous.

It sounds like Dave Albert disliked the idea of consoles in general and knew very little about the PC Engine. I believe that he would be shocked by the artistic achievements of so many developers who pushed camels through the eye of a needle for both memory cards and the tacked-on mass storage device.

[Mathius]

Yeah he seemed to be "out of the loop" a bit after developing NC. I am not one to fan rage on him though.

[esteban]

Review/Interview-with-the-developers of Night Creatures out recently!

Very well-written post.  Includes brief interviews with 2 of the developers of Night Creatures.  Having never played the game yet, after this review, I'm apprehensively looking forward to trying this game out in the near future.

WHAT????!!!!! Well, this marks the THIRD awesome thing I have missed whilst M.I.A.

I will happily read this later...

[jlued686]

That was an outstanding article! Really, really well done.

I want to like Night Creatures, I really do. That and Ghost Manor. I love the goofy/horror theme of both games, and know that they've both found fans over the years. Unfortunately, try as I might, I always come to the same conclusion: these games are awful.

[esteban]

That was an outstanding article! Really, really well done.

I want to like Night Creatures, I really do. That and Ghost Manor. I love the goofy/horror theme of both games, and know that they've both found fans over the years. Unfortunately, try as I might, I always come to the same conclusion: these games are awful.

They suck it. I find Monster House (Ghost Manor, whatever) to be more fun/playable/doable than Night Creatures, though.

[Bardoly]

Well, the Brothers have posted up a couple more reviews recently:

Seiya Monogatari (Anearth Fantasy Stories) Taikenban - This is a promotional disc with a short demo mode.  It seems that it's main redeeming value is a hidden Easter Egg shot-'em-up hidden in the game - Cychorider.  I would love to try the game, but I don't know if I'll ever get the chance.


Awesome Stuff... in Not-So-Awesome Games - This is an interesting article about weak games which surprisingly have a nugget of good gameplay, design, graphics, and/or music buried somewhere in them.


Both of these reviews are worth reading... so, do so!

[ccovell]

Wow, they sure busted out the thesaurus for those pieces!

Good articles as always, though reading some Hemingway would do you guys wonders.   

[Arkhan Asylum]

Where is a PP review!!! O_OooooooOoOoo___O

[CrackTiger]

Wow, they sure busted out the thesaurus for those pieces!

Good articles as always, though reading some Hemingway would do you guys wonders.   

Wow, they sure busted out the thesaurus for those pieces!

Good articles as always, though reading some Hemingway would do you guys wonders.   

[Bardoly]

Where is a PP review!!! O_OooooooOoOoo___O

Maybe if you send them a free copy?  

I'm not even sure of how to contact them.

[Arkhan Asylum]

Yeah where has Nat been?  He doing ok?

[Bardoly]

...And they've posted up another review today on their website!

Flash Hiders - review of a fighting game which I do not have, but after reading the review, I'm going to put it on my wish list.

[Arkhan Asylum]

frash hiders is pretty jawesome.

[seieienbu]

I imported the SFC version of Flash Hiders, Battle Tycoon, a long time ago.  I always meant to pick up Flash Hiders for comparison's sake at some point.  Does it need 6 button controllers to work correctly?

[SignOfZeta]

The difference between Flash Hiders on PCE and Flash Hiders on SFC is like the difference between chocolate and shit.

Regarding the interview with ex-Manley & Associates guy, I see where he's coming from, but I think he's overemphasizing the money angle. The people who worked on Night Creatures almost certainly were paid way more than the people that made Dracula X or Street Fighter II. Japanese programmers got paid SHIT back then, earning as little as a dollar per hour of work, doing 18 hour days, and sleeping under their desks. The reason 16-bit-era soft from Japan is 99/100 superior to the western stuff is because Japanese would, most importantly, put up with that bullshit but also because that generation had convinced themselves that working on something you loved was its own reward. It's the same reson kids would do piece work cell painting for $12 a day. They just wanted to be involved in the anime industry. Now the Koreans are doing it.

The pathetic amount of money NEC was paying for the game was probably the same as what it took to make Magical Chase or Dragon Slayer. It's just that Americans won't put up with they crap and often times they don't do as good of work with tiny budgets.

[CrackTiger]

The difference between Flash Hiders on PCE and Flash Hiders on SFC is like the difference between chocolate and shit.

Regarding the interview with ex-Manley & Associates guy, I see where he's coming from, but I think he's overemphasizing the money angle. The people who worked on Night Creatures almost certainly were paid way more than the people that made Dracula X or Street Fighter II. Japanese programmers got paid SHIT back then, earning as little as a dollar per hour of work, doing 18 hour days, and sleeping under their desks. The reason 16-bit-era soft from Japan is 99/100 superior to the western stuff is because Japanese would, most importantly, put up with that bullshit but also because that generation had convinced themselves that working on something you loved was its own reward. It's the same reson kids would do piece work cell painting for $12 a day. They just wanted to be involved in the anime industry. Now the Koreans are doing it.

The pathetic amount of money NEC was paying for the game was probably the same as what it took to make Magical Chase or Dragon Slayer. It's just that Americans won't put up with they crap and often times they don't do as good of work with tiny budgets. 

Which one sucks and why? The SFC version looks similar and improves some of the shared backgrounds from what I've seen. But I haven't played much of the PCE version and none of the SFC game.

[SignOfZeta]

Flash Hiders only existed because if the OVA length quantities of anime sequences. The SFC doesn't have these. It's the same reason why the SFC ver of Emerald Dragon is crap. A game predicated on CDROM technology is greatly lessened when you cram it into a puny cart.

Granted, the cut scenes are tedious at times, but they are the whole point of the game. The fighting is clearly a secondary concern.

[Aggie Tsubi]

Ouch, that write-up on Dragon Spirit in the "Awesome Stuff... in Not-So-Awesome Games" piece hurts. I admit that I'm not a big fan of the Turbo version of this game (I greatly prefer it on NES, where it's much faster and controls better), but even that version doesn't deserve to be raked over the coals to THAT extent. I don't think the 6th stage is really anything unusual from the rest. Nearly every stage has its own unique, clever challenge, from the erupting volcanoes to the closing in spiked walls to the flickering lights, just to name a few. I'm also curious where IvaNEC got the idea that the Dragon Spirit soundtrack is "highly overrated". I'm quite involved in the VGM fan scene, both with the OST/AST collectors community and with the fan remix/arrangement community, and Dragon Spirit isn't at all a soundtrack that I see mentioned or praised a lot. I'm a huge fan of the soundtrack myself, and I don't think it even gets the attention it deserves, let alone then some. I'd love to agree and say "Yeah, it is really insanely popular", but from what I've experienced, I can't. If people are talking about Shinji Hosoe's music at all (which isn't that common to begin with), they're more likely to be praising something like Ridge Racer or Street Fighter EX than bringing up Dragon Spirit.

The funny thing here is that the Duomazov article points out the stage 6 theme as an exception to what is supposedly an otherwise unremarkable soundtrack, but I can't even really remember that tune off the top of my head right now. Yet I can distinctly recall and hum the melody of tracks from stage 1, stage 2, the final stage, etc., even without hearing them for months, quite possibly more than a year. I guess that just shows how much tastes in music can vary. What's a forgettable soundtrack to one is a fantastic soundtrack to another, and a track that's the highlight of the game for one is one of the weaker, less memorable tracks to another.

[Emerald Rocker]

The Dragon Spirit soundtrack is very highly-regarded within US-based Turbo communities -- in "best music" threads, various tracks from the game are always referenced.

When you venture into forums frequented by people who listen to actual good music across a variety of systems, then the DS soundtrack doesn't have much of a reputation at all, as you pointed out.

[CrackTiger]

A review of Faceball is up.

pcengine-fx.com/reviews/duomazov/2013/03/faceball.html

[Bardoly]

A review of Faceball is up.
pcengine-fx.com/reviews/duomazov/2013/03/faceball.html

Ah, you beat me!

Anyways, decent review for this game with lots of screenshots.  The question that I didn't get answered was, up to how many players at the same time are supported by this game?  I assume either 2 or 4.

[JoshTurboTrollX]

A review of Faceball is up.
pcengine-fx.com/reviews/duomazov/2013/03/faceball.html

Ah, you beat me!

Anyways, decent review for this game with lots of screenshots.  The question that I didn't get answered was, up to how many players at the same time are supported by this game?  I assume either 2 or 4.

4 player simultaneous play!

[shubibiman]

A review of Faceball is up.
pcengine-fx.com/reviews/duomazov/2013/03/faceball.html

Ah, you beat me!

Anyways, decent review for this game with lots of screenshots.  The question that I didn't get answered was, up to how many players at the same time are supported by this game?  I assume either 2 or 4.

4 player simultaneous play!

This pic looks familiar.

[Tatsujin]

still need le sampler disc of this

[shubibiman]

I knew it looked familiar.

[Bardoly]

Wow, the brothers are on a roll!

New review up for Faceball Taikenban.

It seems that this is simply a bare-bones demo copy which should be for collectors only at this point.

[JoshTurboTrollX]

still need le sampler disc of this

Wow, the brothers are on a roll!

New review up for Faceball Taikenban.

It seems that this is simply a bare-bones demo copy which should be for collectors only at this point.

Indeed.

[PunkCryborg]

After not seeing a review for Metamor Jupiter on duomazov I looked up some on the internet and came upon this one http://1cclog.blogspot.com/2013/02/metamor-jupiter-pc-engine-cd.html
This guys reviews are top notch and he has a very nice writing style. I'd love to see guest reviews up on the duomazov site. Edward (kollision) reviews would fit in perfectly.

[ccovell]

I wrote a review/pictorial a while back too:   https://chrismcovell.com/MetamorReview/

[NightWolve]

pcengine-fx.com/reviews/duomazov/2013/01/seiya-monogatari-anearth-fantasy-stories.html

Hmm, some "Anearth Fantasy Stories" promotional CD had a shooter hidden in it all along ?? News to me!! Is that true for the full CD game ?? The reviewer says it's an Easter Egg, but doesn't provide the code for how to access it. Looks a bit like "Summer Carnival '93 -  Nexzr Special." More info please!

[Tatsujin]

pcengine-fx.com/reviews/duomazov/2013/01/seiya-monogatari-anearth-fantasy-stories.html

Hmm, some "Anearth Fantasy Stories" promotional CD had a shooter hidden in it all along ?? News to me!! Is that true for the full CD game ?? The reviewer says it's an Easter Egg, but doesn't provide the code for how to access it. Looks a bit like "Summer Carnival '93 -  Nexzr Special." More info please!

no, this shewty tech gem is only available on the taikenban disc (mook) of Anearth Fantasy Stories and looks like this:

/getattachmentoq9.jpg
/2irp7qfmc9.jpg
/08123115580001xx7.jpg

[shubibiman]

pcengine-fx.com/reviews/duomazov/2013/01/seiya-monogatari-anearth-fantasy-stories.html

Hmm, some "Anearth Fantasy Stories" promotional CD had a shooter hidden in it all along ?? News to me!! Is that true for the full CD game ?? The reviewer says it's an Easter Egg, but doesn't provide the code for how to access it. Looks a bit like "Summer Carnival '93 -  Nexzr Special." More info please!

This game is the fastest SHMUP ever! really crazy how fast everything goes! Unfortunetaly, it's just a 2 minute mode game.

[Bardoly]

Fiend Hunter review posted up today!

Looks like a standard action/platformer with some RPGish elements (buying items at shops).  I had only read a very little about this title before reading this review.  I was already inclined to getting this game, and this review has strengthened that desire.

[PunkCryborg]

There's a facebook page now
wayback.facebook.com/pages/The-Brothers-Duomazov