Developer Overview: Treasure

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Originally Posted by EmperorIng

Posting some videos you like? :p

Treasure was/is the king of hit-n-miss; a natural consequence of putting too many ideas into one game. Sometimes it worked (Alien Soldier). Most of the time it's a mix of good and bad (Dynamite Headdy, Silhouette Mirage). I think Konami outdid Gunstar Heroes with Contra Hardcorps. The better Genesis boss rush run-n-gun! :D

Guardian Heroes wins the award of "game that tries hardest to make me care about its shitty plot." Talking, talking, talking, talking... I thought this was a beat-em-up.

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Yeah, Treasure's best games are amazing, but then they have some average ones, and some not-so-good games as well. Definitely hit or miss.

I figured this would be the appropriate place to ask as I've been doing some soul searching in regards to the Nintendo 64's library of games, so to the point:

What is the consensus on Treasure's Mischief Makers?

It often receives the crown for best 'hidden gem' on the system, a term I've grown to hate, but is it deserving of that title because it is an overlooked game that is good or is it an overlooked game that shines amongst mediocrity?

Mischief Makers is terrific, though the added "Shake! Shake!" annoys me. Still can't believe the N64 received so many Treasure games. I can only imagine how Troublemakers and Bangaioh could have looked on Saturn.

Treasures only "miss" as far as I'm concerned is Stretch Panic, which is still an interesting concept. I'll usually lump Light Crusader in there as well given some spotty design decisions and kinda dull gameplay, but it's not really a bad game.

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Originally Posted by Lync

I figured this would be the appropriate place to ask as I've been doing some soul searching in regards to the Nintendo 64's library of games, so to the point:

What is the consensus on Treasure's Mischief Makers?

It often receives the crown for best 'hidden gem' on the system, a term I've grown to hate, but is it deserving of that title because it is an overlooked game that is good or is it an overlooked game that shines amongst mediocrity?

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I like it. It has a good energy about it. In comparison to the N64 library, it's only direct competition is pretty much Goemon's Great Adventure and Yoshi's Story, which are solid (Goemon more so however). It is definitely elevated significantly if you're not into the 3-D platformers, racers and sports games that are commonplace on that hardware though. A light in the fog more than a hidden gem maybe.

If Mischief Makers was released on the Playstation or Saturn, it would still match up pretty well against similar games on those systems. Klonoa, Tomba, Pandemonium, Clockwork Knight, The Adventures of Lomax, etc.. I'd say it's an above average game on any system of it's era. It's a good pick-up for $10.

Mischief Makers is good but not fantastic IMO. It gets repetitive and the level designs are not very interesting. The graphics and sound don't do it any favors, either. It's still pretty solid, it just isn't exciting. It wouldn't be high on my list of 2d/2.5d platformers from that era, for sure. Not as good as Silhouette Mirage either, if we're comparing it within Treasure games.

I'd take Gunstar Heroes over Contra Hard Corps any day. Admittedly, this is partly because I just can't get very far in Contra and it aggravates the living hell out of me sometimes, but I also prefer the weapons system and over-all artistic style and feel of Gunstar Heroes.

As for Light Crusader...I recently played through it again, and while many parts are fun some are so ridiculous that it almost saps the fun out of it (moving barrels on ice and making sure they hit moving platforms you can't see, anyone?) It's alright, and I'm glad I own it, but there are much better games in my opinion in that genre.