The Renovation Best to Worst

Several years back I sold off my CIB Renovation collection:

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/j...vation_set.jpg

Now, in remembrance, let's discuss Renovation: The Best to Worst!

Best: El Viento, the game easily beats all the Valis titles and recalls Shinobi. Gaiares is also a runner-up as far as shmups go, one of the best. I also enjoyed Granada alot and Elemental Master.
Worst: Beast Wrestler, because Earnest Evans is actually playable despite the screwy physics. Final Zone is far from the worst, but not exactly delightful either. Exile was also mediocre because of the awkward battles, though again not the worst.

Alot of Genesis fans seem to like Gain Ground but I couldn't really get into it.

im afraid i am not very familair with renovation sorry
but i do remember that i always wanted arrow flash

What would be your take on master of monsters? worth buying?

I always have a soft spot for Arcus Odyssy. Was fun, reasonably challenging, and had some interesting levels.

Beast Wrestler is one of the games I consider "so bad I love it". It can be frustrating to control, unfairly difficult, and just plain broken at times... but I always liked the setting and visuals.

Master of Monsters was and is one of my favorite Genesis games ever. If you like strategy games, you might enjoy it. Obviously not as deep as modern counterparts, but it's a great pick up and play strategy game. Simple hex based maps with varied terrain and troops.

I do like a good think-em-up, I managed to get hold of a copy of warsong a few weeks ago, haven't had a chance to play it yet though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nemesis enforcer

What would be your take on master of monsters? worth buying?

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I'd say so, but maybe not for the expensive prices you'd pay for it as there are better strategy games on Genesis like Liberty or Death.

Renovation really did give us some great games.

Gaiares deserves to be in any shoot'em up fan's collection as does Elemental Master which was a great Technosoft game. Whip Rush is pretty fun as well. Vapor Trail is kind of cool but not one of my favorites.

Gain Ground is love it or hate it and Arrow Flash is like it or really dislike it. I've never been a huge fan of Granada even though loads of people absolutely love it. I did really like Final Zone though for what it's worth even though it's a far less than perfect game and definitely an acquired taste.

I never much cared for the Valis games or Earnest Evans and El Viento but I'm glad they were brought over here. I've never been a fan of the Ys series either.

Haven't really played much of the remaining games due to lack of interest.

Sure they might not have always given us the best box art (even though I personally really enjoy kitschy old box art) but we did get some fairly Japanese games that we may not have otherwise.

whats traysia about ?

It's just a really mediocre RPG. I never played it myself but I never heard anything good about it.

okay
i wont make an effort in hunting it down then

I rented Beast Wrestler as a kid. I REALLY wanted to like it.


When I bought a copy recently, I thought the same thing. I REALLY wanted to like it.


No such luck.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 5233

I'd say so, but maybe not for the expensive prices you'd pay for it as there are better strategy games on Genesis like Liberty or Death.

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But isn't Liberty or Death as rare as Xbox one fans? I've looked for it before, couldn't seem to find a complete copy at a resonable price. But I do live in the UK & it was a US exclusive.

Some of the creatures in Beast Wrestler are actually really awesome looking but the game is just... bad.

I own, or have owned, Final Zone, Valis III, Gaiares, Soul Feace, Vapor Trail, Earnest Evans, and El Viento and I have played all of the rest of Renovations offerings. They are one of my favorite early Genesis publishers.

That said, I ended up hating Final Zone, I bought it because one of the pics on the back of the box made it look like it had pseudo-3D rail shooter levels like Space Harrier. As it was, I would have liked the game better if it had better audio, especially explosion sound effects.

Valis III is simply the early Genesis' Castlevania III, and it is a great Action Platformer. I will never part with this game and own it for TG16 CD as well. Gaiares is too slow for me and music doesn't inspire me to keep playing, I'm not sure what else to say about it besides I don't like any version of Gradius for the same reasons. Soul Feace is awesome and came with my Sega CD 1, I love the varied levels and the fact that it has a huge capital ship level and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the music. I haven't played Vapor Trail much, but picked it up because it is 2-player simultaneous cooperative, oh and the music rocks.

Whip Rush though, was my first Genesis shooter and it met my every expectation. R-Type was and is my favorite shooter of all time and Whip Rush carried its feel over to 16-bit, without being derivative, for me anyway. I played Thunder Force III later and was surprised that Whip Rush flat out ripped off some of its bosses.

Earnest Evans sucks, there I said it, it should have been good but it's just weird and impossible not to get hit. El Viento is better but not by much, the graphics are ugly and I don't like the music. The fake scaled explosions were neat at the time though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nemesis enforcer

But isn't Liberty or Death as rare as Xbox one fans? I've looked for it before, couldn't seem to find a complete copy at a resonable price. But I do live in the UK & it was a US exclusive.

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I've never seen a complete copy, but damn if I gave my cart only away during the last Secret Santa. :/

Of what I've played...

Arcus Odyssey - It's probably Wolf Team's best game, technically speaking. But I think El Viento's more memorable.
Arrow Flash - Cool music, but really easy - too much so for my tastes.
Beast Wrestler - A massive guilty pleasure. For all its flaws, the game has a place in my heart.
Dino Land - Dull pinball game. Probably the least memorable Wolf Team game on the MD.
Earnest Evans - A terrible game, but the idea's so crazy I can't help but have a bit of affection for it.
El Viento - Brilliant game, probably my 2nd favourite out of the whole lot. A bit janky in places, but the sheer amount of action here is to die for.
Elemental Master - Great music once again. Not many other titles like this on the system either (Undeadline...Twinkle Tale, I think?) - a very good game.
Exile - I've barely touched this, but the main thing I remember is the translation as it's probably the worst on the system. Even worse than Beast Wrestler.
Final Zone - Neat idea (like most Wolf Team games), shoddy execution (like most Wolf Team games). Crippling slowdown.
Gaiares - I love the game's gimmick, and the music's cool too. It's a good shmup.
Gain Ground - One of my 10 favourite MD games, and the best game here for me. There's nothing quite like it at all.
Granada - Now you're talking - Wolf Team at their finest. It's what they do.
Jennifer Capriati Tennis - Not the WORST tennis game on the MD, but still pretty terrible. Miserable graphics and even worse A.I.
Sol-Feace - One of my favourite MD shmups, very underrated. Some brilliant boss fights.
Vapor Trail - One of the best shmup songs on the MD, but other than that I don't feel much about it tbh.
Whip Rush - Perfectly serviceable shooter, nothing wrong with it at all.
Ys III - I rather like this game...Oath in Felghana is better, but I think the original deserves a bit more than it gets.