Kyouyyoykyoyoykoykyuyuyuyuyuuyueaahahoooo Tiger

[Arkhan Asylum]

The Namco thread that spawned the Taito thread spawned this thread.

Lets all talk about how awesome this game is.

It's one of those games that rarely gets talked about when shooters come up.

It's great for various reasons:
1) It's not in fucking outerspace
2) You're a helicopter
3) the mechanic where bombs dropping off you and blowing shit up if you get shot is sweet


Tiger Heli on NES was one of my favorite games.  Eventually, when I found this existed on PC Engine, I peed a little.  I was fortunate enough to get it in a stack of games that came with the Duo-R I got years ago.   

The actual art in Kyuukyoku is nicer than the NES obviously, but I do kind of miss the ... plastic/glass looking forests and stuff in the NES one.



I think the PC Engine's version of the soundtrack was better than the arcade, too.  The percussion was better for sure, and I prefer the PCE's leads.

If you took the arcades bass, with the rest of the PCE one, that would probably sound pretty dope.

I'm going to punch thehaze or paul and make them mash it up into an acidtrip remix.

[Digi.k]

[pixeljunkie]

I used to have the "PC-E Game" bootleg of this - later got a legit one, lol. Such a great game, I need to crack it open again soon.

[exodus]

this game always felt a lot like raiden to me!

[Arkhan Asylum]

this game always felt a lot like raiden to me!

Raiden's like a wannabe version.  You're not even a sweet helicopter in Raiden.

Raiden's music isn't so great, either.  It's pretty loud/harsh, muddy, and not as jammin' really. 

KT definitely has better percussion.  For some reason, the music in it sounds like it belongs in Dungeon Explorer.    It's got that same lead / echo thing going on.

[EmperorIng]

Tiger Heli is a different game. Kyuukyoku Tiger is the sequel to Tiger Heli, and obviously is bigger, better, and more interesting in every conceivable way. The NES port of K-Tiger isn't bad, but the PCE and Genesis ports of K-Tiger (Twin Cobra in the west) are both admirably done.

Kyuukyoku Tiger is a very well-made game, even if two of its weapons are completely undesirable and practically death sentences (green and yellow). Epic length as well.

The best sounding version of the K-Tiger score is, for my money, on the Genesis/Mega Drive. Just listen to those powerful guitars and pulsing, in-your-face drums in Tsugaru! Combined with the ultra-percussive explosions, MD K-Tiger is quite a treat, even if its graphics are a little muddier and less attractive than the PCE port.

this game always felt a lot like raiden to me!

That is because K-Tiger was such a huge hit that it is more or less the template for all the vertical shooters in the 16bit era. Raiden was actually specifically developed as a Kyuukyoku Tiger clone. Raiden just did the sensible thing and cut down K-Tiger's 4 weapons (with 2 being useless) to two (with one being -almost- useless)!

Everyone and their mother were making Raiden and K-Tiger clones back in the arcades in the early 90s.

[turboswimbz]

this game always felt a lot like raiden to me!

Raiden's like a wannabe version.  You're not even a sweet helicopter in Raiden.

Raiden's music isn't so great, either.  It's pretty loud/harsh, muddy, and not as jammin' really. 

KT definitely has better percussion.  For some reason, the music in it sounds like it belongs in Dungeon Explorer.    It's got that same lead / echo thing going on.

I like the Super Raiden sounds actually, the original is pretty ehhhh.  KT over D Explorer would fit pretty well, I'd like to see a mash up lol.

 I never really thought about it.  but it's true Raiden is like a poor mans K-tiger so to speak.  I always thought in the let's compare videos that the Genny music was good but the Towns version was my favorite...but it's not a console so screw it. 

[Arkhan Asylum]

Tiger Heli is a different game. Kyuukyoku Tiger is the sequel to Tiger Heli, and obviously is bigger, better,

I'm aware.  I just mean I sometimes miss that weird graphical style they were doing on NES games.   some games had this weird appearance to them whenever "shiny metal stuff" was involved.

Magmax, Tiger Heli, and Xevious come to mind.   

Tiger Heli just also used it for the trees for whatever reason.   The trees look like plastic, lol.

The best sounding version of the K-Tiger score is, for my money, on the Genesis/Mega Drive. Just listen to those powerful guitars and pulsing, in-your-face drums in Tsugaru! Combined with the ultra-percussive explosions, MD K-Tiger is quite a treat, even if its graphics are a little muddier and less attractive than the PCE port.

I love the Megadrive percussion, but would prefer the leads from the PCE one to mix with it.

The PC Engine one loses the whole "tsugaru" thing in the Tsugaru song.    I always assumed they called the song Tsugaru because of the percussive clacking noise in the arcade version that sounds like the signature sound of tsugaru shamisen.

I could be mistaken, I honestly have no idea if that's why.   

but, the PC Engine's leads and background arpeggios are sooooo smooth in that song.  Just add the drums from the MD one!


MD one had the best percussion, by far.   The arcade one's was kinda weak.




lol.  those trees.

[EmperorIng]

I do love those plastic trees and swimming pool water. And toy cars! It's like the whole game takes place in a play place in a kid's backyard. =)

[Psycho Punch]

As I mentioned in another thread the first level tune is my alarm clock music. It's awesome enough to make me willing to get out of bed.

I use the Sega version of the tune though (sorry)

[Gypsy]

I don't have a ton to add but I do love this game and I revisit it regularly.

[ccovell]

Kyukyoku Tiger and Tatsujin both use Macco's sound engine (arranged by him, too?) so, yeah, that wonderful random-pulsewidth sample gives it its grit.

[ParanoiaDragon]

IIRC, the music in this was done by the same guy who did DE, Legedary Axe 2, Bonk 1 & 2, & I think Maniac Pro Wrestling if I remember right.  At the very least, it's all the same sound engine.  I think Shubibiman is the one that originally pointed it out to me.

[Arkhan Asylum]

IIRC, the music in this was done by the same guy who did DE, Legedary Axe 2, Bonk 1 & 2, & I think Maniac Pro Wrestling if I remember right.  At the very least, it's all the same sound engine.  I think Shubibiman is the one that originally pointed it out to me.

If it's all the same composer that really explains a lot about what I said earlier.   Half those tunes sound like they want to be in DE.

[ccovell]

Not all the same composer.  Macco's engine but as far as composers go:

Tsukasa Masuko AKA "Macco"
Works: Dungeon Explorer, Bonk's Adventure / PC Genjin, Kyukyoku Tiger, Maniac Pro Wrestling (as "Sound Director"), Tatsujin*, Tensei Ryu*

Hirotoshi Suzuki AKA Hiro T. Suzuki AKA "Steinberger" Hiro
Works: Legendary Axe II / Ankoku Densetsu, Maniac Pro Wrestling, King of Casino*, Nekketsu Dodgeball

Hirohiko Takayama
Works: Bonk's Revenge / PC Genjin 2, Tensei Ryu, (PC Genjin 1*), Galaxy Gayvan (CD), Death Bringer (CD)

* = no solid proof.

[exodus]

it's true, raiden's main failing was you don't get to be a sweet helicopter
would this game have sold better if it were named "raidin' copters" ??

[spenoza]

Bonk 2 definitely has a different sound engine. Completely different from 1. Composition style sounds quite a bit different to my ears as well.

I like Kyukyoku Tiger, but I prefer Raiden. It was such a high-class graphical presentation in the arcade. For home versions I'd say they're a lot more similar, but in the arcade Raiden was the distinct winner in my book.

[Arkhan Asylum]

I like Kyukyoku Tiger, but I prefer Raiden even though you're not a sweet helicopter. It was such a high-class graphical presentation in the arcade. For home versions I'd say they're a lot more similar, but in the arcade Raiden was the distinct winner in my book.

fixed.

[JAPJAC]

JAPJAC`s TFP Fanitsu Capcom Power System CHANGER Definitive Resource is the first extensive and only competent expose in English on-line is here!:

(Under the TFP Features section):

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[ParanoiaDragon]

Bonk 2 definitely has a different sound engine. Completely different from 1. Composition style sounds quite a bit different to my ears as well.

I like Kyukyoku Tiger, but I prefer Raiden. It was such a high-class graphical presentation in the arcade. For home versions I'd say they're a lot more similar, but in the arcade Raiden was the distinct winner in my book.

Did you mean Bonk 3?  That's a completely new engine, & I always wished they stuck with the original.  The first 2 use the same sound engine, & Bonk 2 even reuses several songs.  One of the projects I aim to working on is a remix of Bonk 3 CD, to make it sound like a souped up version of the Bonk 1/2 sound engine.....if i ever get any time to do it that is!

[ClodBusted]

3) the mechanic where bombs dropping off you and blowing shit up if you get shot is sweet

I had to reread this several times, until I understood that what you meant wasn't a sweet person, but rather gameplay related.

Thanks for creating this topic.

[sirhcman]

I love this game (probably my favorite "PC Engine" game). It is difficult but fair and you can't go wrong with the chiptunes version of the soundtrack. It is worth a play through for the music alone!

[spenoza]

Bonk 2 definitely has a different sound engine. Completely different from 1. Composition style sounds quite a bit different to my ears as well.

Did you mean Bonk 3?  That's a completely new engine, & I always wished they stuck with the original.  The first 2 use the same sound engine, & Bonk 2 even reuses several songs.  One of the projects I aim to working on is a remix of Bonk 3 CD, to make it sound like a souped up version of the Bonk 1/2 sound engine.....if i ever get any time to do it that is!

Are you sure? I mean, I haven't been into the code, but Bonk 2 (Revenge) sounds VERY different from Bonk 1. It sounds like it has a totally different instrument set and composition style. I would argue Bonk 2 and 3 sound more alike than 1 and 2.

[ParanoiaDragon]

It's gotta be.  For instance, I've played the tunes back to back that are in both games, I just can't tell a difference.  Plus, a lot of the sound effects sound the same to me, like when you get hit, or the bonking noise.

[GoldenWheels]

I was playing this last night....does anyone get anything BUT the red weapon? I got the yellow once but the damn thing changes so slow I never risk seeing past that. And the yellow side weapon one kind of sucked.

AND WHY DO THE FUCKING "S" SHOT POWERUPS FLY AWAY FROM ME!!!!!!

[blueraven]

Never played it but I love this thread 

[EmperorIng]

I was playing this last night....does anyone get anything BUT the red weapon? I got the yellow once but the damn thing changes so slow I never risk seeing past that. And the yellow side weapon one kind of sucked.

The Blue Weapon, at full power, is the best weapon in terms of damage and coverage. In fact, if you power up the Blue fully, you won't need anything else to beat the game - outside of the random death from a sniper tank.

Later in the game you'll want to be able to perch in an opposite corner and still hit a boss, instead of having Red, which still forces you to be close to hit. Yellow is a penalty weapon. Toaplan dev's assure us "it has its uses," but we know better. Much like the Green weapon in Fire Shark/Same Same Same.

AND WHY DO THE FUCKING "S" SHOT POWERUPS FLY AWAY FROM ME!!!!!!

From a great translation of one of Toaplan's devs talking about Kyuukyoku Tiger:

http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-yuge1/

—Even when you were playing around, you always made your deadlines though.

Masahiro Yuge: We set out deadlines ourselves, but if we gave ourselves too much time it would be embarassing to us as programmers. Everyone felt that way. Also, whether we were screwing around, eating, or sleeping, all we thought about was games. You know the way the items in Kyuukyoku Tiger swirl around the screen? One day when I was on lunch break, I saw the zigzag pattern in my donburi ramen and though, "this is it!", and hurried back to the office to code that pattern in for the items.

—Really?! I thought the items were coded so as to move away from your ship when they were released.

Yuge: It wasn't like that. That's just the donburi pattern being faithfully reproduced.

[GoldenWheels]

goddamn Masahiro and  his ramen!!! Was playing Raiden on Snes (eww, I know) a few days ago and the power ups kind of do the same thing. Freakin' annnoying.

Do like Tiger but Avenger is the superior PC Engine heli shewty IMO...

[FraGMarE]

Oh hell yes, the PCE version of Kyukyoku/Twin Cobra is badass... hey, whadda ya know, Arkhan DOES sometimes like GOOD games.  XD  lol ZING!

But seriously, it's awesome.  So is the PCE version of Daisenpuu/Twin Hawk. 

And you shut your whore mouth about Raiden!  lol

[EmperorIng]

He just means Raiden Trad on the Super Nintendo, which is rightly mocked as a huge piece of shit.

[GoldenWheels]

Ha!

Yeah I don't have the TG version (wish that I did) and the SNES version kind of embodies exactly what you think of for SNES shooters. Slowdown, bland graphics, the whole magilla.