A Winner Is You 2017 Edition

Salamander (PCE)

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Hcxs4GEfPU...320/salam1.png

Always wanted to play this version. The checkpoint system exclusive to this version makes it more unique, therefore Konami made the right choice. There's never enough variants of this game. :p Asteroid Hell had one checkpoint I kept landing on (the pre-boss one with the enemies appearing around you) until I learned a more consistent recovery (wide clockwise circles timed with making opening exit being @ 4/5 o'clock). Didn't stop it from draining most of my lives, but the 1cc eventually happened.

The only real negative about this port is missing the excellent voice overs and lack of parallax scrolling on last two vertical stages. Was playing on the tinny PSP screen, so during the early de-rust runs I was really confused as to what was going on these stages without the parallax. Also, on the vertical Volcano stage I thought the missiles went down toward the far background plane bellow in Arcade versions? Not sure if remembering right, but if true, must be missing here due to no depth without parallax.


Parting thoughts? Salamander is a true classic everyone, shmup fan or not, should experience. And I'm not just talking the NES version, the PCE and Arcade versions are the real deal. (Yes, I'm talking to you, MrMatthews :P)

Salamander (Famicom)

https://cdn.wikimg.net/strategywiki/...e2_screen4.gif

Took a lot longer then expected for what I consider an easy game, longer then PCE version. Game really isn't near as good as the PCE/Arcade versions. Some funky hit-box stuff going on here too; like the teeth in stage one basically being the shape of an NES tile; and when you think a sun flare in stage 2 is out of the way... think again. :p

Overall, it's part of the Gradius family, so I have to show it some love. Beating the game also came with the 1cc. Brute forced the last stage with 14 lives and finished with 9 lives.

Salamander (PS1 Deluxe Pack played on PSP)

https://i.imgur.com/UO75FcQ.png

Alright, finally, got it with one death during the final speed up section. Loop 2 unlocked. Outside from what I re-learned through PCE recent playthrough, completely forgot the Arcade version and had to re-learn all the differences + do it within 3 lives. Knew I wasn't going to learn the last speed section anytime soon for Arcade layout so my success rate depended on getting to end of game with at least one life remaining.

Some differences between PCE and Arcade is extended stage 2 length, some new tricks on fire stage 3 (plus the top and bottom lava parts are further apart or flames don't arc as high leaving a safe spot in the middle back). Of course stage 4 core boss is much easier on PCE and a nightmare in the Arcade (but figured out a very consistent trick that may be exclusive to Deluxe Pack port due to something I read on Kollision's 1CC blog). Those enemies that circle you in stage 5 gave me no problems in Arcade version with me near the front and options near the back around me. Final boss is different of course, but forgot it's him that sends you back stages if you don't kill him.

LifeForce (PS1 Deluxe Pack played on PSP)

https://i.imgur.com/QLPqSSl.gif

DESTROY VIOLENT ANTI-BIOTICS! Just 1cc'ed this with zero lives to spare for that speed section, heart still beating. So this version has an life extends, which allowed me to finish with lots of mistakes starting with two deaths on core boss. It's also easier to recover here because you can choose your weapon upgrade and you only need two powerups to get the vital missile upgrade that's always being illusive on recoveries for original Salamander.

Never beat the LifeForce version of this game before, so this was a first. Know what else I never beat? Salamander 2. *Cracks knuckles*

I thought you were going to beat NES LifeForce, too

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MrMatthews

I thought you were going to beat NES LifeForce, too

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Is there any difference between NES Life Force and Famicom Salamander? Thought they were the same game.

It's basically the exact same as Japanese version (called Salamander), minus one option pod (2 instead of 3) and missing ending cutscene revealing the pilot to be a girl. Having played 4 versions of this game back to back, I'm really ready for something new, so very hyped to be finally able to start Salamander 2 now.

Interesting, thanks for the info, Thief.

Aero Fighters (arcade)

One of the first shmups I played as a kid so glad to finally clear it, inferior to pretty much any Psikyo shmup but still fun enough.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Thief

so very hyped to be finally able to start Salamander 2 now.

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Good, easily the best game of the (sub?)series ;). Remember Player 2 side is easier than P1

Grats on the 1CCs guys!

19. Super Metroid (SNES Classic):

Nothing too fancy, I just played this game to beat it. 6:33 clear time with a 77% collection rate. Most of my time was spent circling endlessly around Maridia. I’ve only beaten this game a few times, and it seems like this area is always the point when my progression grinds to a halt.

^I gotta confess, I wanted the SNES Classic for StarFox 2, but I want to hook it up for Super Metroid. Still working on Samus Returns.


Also, congrats on getting SNES classic.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by QuickSciFi

Also, congrats on getting SNES classic.

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Honestly, it was hassle-free enough that I wouldn’t have thought congrats were necessary at the time. Just showed up on Launch Day at Walmart at just before 6 and walked out with one a few minutes later.

HALLOWEEN GAME ALERT!!

20. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow ~ Mirror of Fate (3DS):

Total playtime: 10:48

So let’s get this out of the way right now: this is not a “Metroidvania” game. What this is, in essence, is a series of Mega Man X levels strung together, end to end. Yes, the game doles out additional abilities during the course of the game, and you can return to earlier sections of the game and use them to access previously inaccessible areas. With few exceptions, however, the only purpose for backtracking is to access locked rooms containing health, magic, and experience items.

As I’ve said earlier, I take serious issue with the story, so in my opinion, this barely counts as a Castlevania game at all. The graphics are nice, but the level and art design is repetitive and unimaginative. The music is only serviceable. The combat is touchy and clumsy. There were enough positive moments during my playthru to keep my interest all the way through, but I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone hoping for an experience similar to the GBA or DS Castlevania games.

59. Jurassic Park Arcade - Arcade Cabinet
https://i.imgur.com/VeHKdND.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/fqfGFDz.jpg

60. Deadstorm Pirates: Special Edition - Arcade Cabinet
https://i.imgur.com/2xctie2.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/zkExDac.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/qw1kLsM.jpg

'Beat them both with my friend this last Friday at Dave 'N Busters. Both were great fun. With Deadstorm Pirates being the better of the two.

Question:
Is it me, or have arcade cabs gone downhill in terms of game quality? It used to be that they housed the latest in gaming tech. These two games are from 2015 and 2010 respectively, and the graphics look like they could have come out on consoles a decade earlier.