Paprium: The Official Thread Mk 2

[Armoured Priest]

I have a Plasma 720p TV that I use for older systems and retro gaming. Older consoles seem to fare better in terms of picture quality when I have to use composite cables. I picked up a retrotink mini, and that has improved the picture somewhat (got it for streaming purposes, and it's ability to be used for multiple older systems).

I'd prefer to use my Mega SG. I'm glad I still had a working Genesis on hand to play this thing (My model 1 died some years ago, so using a model 2). I just don't have the room for a CRT.

[Sarge]

Just finished Arcade mode on Very Hard. Took two attempts: one a couple of days ago, and today with some foreknowledge. I have to say, given the development history, the fact that this turned out to be an actually good game is pretty mind-blowing. I have some quibbles with some of the hit detection in spots, but it's way, way above the bottom-feeders of the genre. I'm glad he made it right and got us a working product... and I definitely won't be investing in the next one, because good grief.

[AggroSky]

I got my cartridge in a few days before Xmas. I've been putting in some time, an hour or so here or there when I can. Here was my experience and my initial thoughts so far:

-I have a modded (PAL and Japan region switches, overclock, etc) model 1601-22 that I use for all of my Genesis gaming. However, Paprium wouldn't boot past the copyright screen. Not sure if this was specifically because it was modded, or because it was of the -22 designation. Thankfully, being an enthusiast and all, I have a plethora of different Genesis models in my closet...

-I pulled out a standard 1601 and it booted perfectly. Right to the mini game that is. That was a funny surprise and I laughed quite loud. I lost, so I reset and then the game booted properly this time.

-My cartridge came intact with no rattling. However, on the second day I decided to hook up my Sega CD so I could try the CPU 2nd player, and when I pulled the cartridge out the metal chip protector came loose. So I opened the cart and removed it. It continues to work fine.

As for the game itself, I am genuinely impressed. For me, it's hard to believe I am playing a Genesis game sometimes, it looks and sounds that good to me. Anyway, I'll break it down into the great and not so great things. Although honestly I have very few complaints:

Great Things

-The presentation is absolutely stellar. It really DOES look like a Neo Geo game at times. Massive sprites, loads of enemies on screen with no slowdown and minimal flicker, huge sprawling stages divided up into sections, an insane amount of branching paths, a stellar soundtrack etc.

-I love the weapons and the fact that the game lets you actually USE them. Many beat em ups back in the day severely limited your ability to use weapons for more than a few seconds before they disappeared. I appreciate that Paprium lets you use them for extended periods of time, the mounts are fun too!

-I love that you can play the game in a standard arcade mode (of which the new routes are added as you unlock them) or in the "RPG Explore the City" Original mode. Original mode is a challenge and quite literally allows you to get lost in the city. There are so many ways to go and secrets to find it's a bit overwhelming sometimes. I have seen complaints that things aren't straight forward enough, but what's wrong with discovering mysteries on your own sometimes?

-DETAILS DETAILS DETAILS. The details, for a 16-bit game are just fantastic: A pair of roaches watching you fight from a stone pillar in the foreground, enemies walking in front of the screen before they come join the fight, a mother and her child cowering in front of a grocery store in fear, a drunken dude at a bar barfing in the background, lit cigarettes sitting on a table, gobs and gobs of background art and graffiti, lights flickering in the subway as the trains race by, neon lights in the foreground and background, trash scattered around the environment, the night club stage with the bar, great depth and detail on that one! I could go on and on...

-Playing with a CPU second player using the Sega CD is really really cool. The AI isn't the greatest, but it does well enough. I quite enjoy it and prefer to use it rather than not...

-Gameplay is fluid and I feel the hit detection and grabs are fairly tight, if not perfect.

-The game is fun! And there is a ton of things to see, places to explore and enemies to fight. I feel like it's one of those games where you could play it over and over and over again and still find secrets months or years later.

-It's easily on par with the best beat em ups on the Genesis, bar none.

The Not So Great Things

-The somewhat basic gameplay. I mean, look, I know this is a 16-bit beat em up. But I was hoping for a bit more than a Streets of Rage 1/2 level moves list (pretty sure it doesn't quite even reach Streets of Rage 2 in terms of the variety of attacks/combos). This is such a massive game with so much to see, and a lot of ambition. Why would you saddle a game of this magnitude with such a limited move set and lack of even basic combos? This is genuinely my ONLY real let down with Paprium. And that's not to say that the game isn't fun or that the moves that are here aren't satisfying, because the game is still great and fun to play IMO. I just feel that it would benefit greatly from a few more moves/combos per character.

-The Pills. They are fine. The mechanic is fine. It's a neat idea. The whole getting addicted aspect is unique and interesting to be sure. But again, when you pop a pill, there isn't really anything you can do except one move. And that unfortunately gets old fairly quickly for me. I found myself just ignoring the pills after a while because I don't even find them that interesting or useful, except maybe in a pinch. Now, if popping a pill opened up a new move set, even a limited one, that would go miles to making pills that much more interesting. Streets of Rage 3 sort of did this with your special attack charge meter which allowed you to perform certain super attacks and made the game a lot more fun I thought.

-Lastly, and this is a very minor thing, but someone mentioned in this thread that the sounds of your punches and kicks lack "IMPACT". As in, the sounds are sort of muted a bit when you punch. So it makes you feel less powerful. I can sort of see that, although honestly Fonzie could have been going for more realistic punching and kicking sounds. I mean, when you punch someone in real life it's not particularly loud heh...

So, is Paprium worth playing? Absolutely. I love it and I love the fact that it makes my Genesis feel new again. And I know that this has been a LONG road for all of us and that Fonzie has burned up a lot of goodwill over the years. But I will have to say, WM delivered a complete, playable and most importantly FUN game. Could it use some more tweaking? Yes, for sure. Does it work on all Genesis hardware? No it doesn't... But I've heard through the grapevine that tweaking and increased compatibility is planned and will happen. Hence the jack port on top of the cartridge. I still have a ways to go with the game, for instance, I haven't unlocked any of the bonus characters yet or played all the paths. But I plan on continuing on.

Big thumbs up from me!

[Stifu]

The whole getting addicted aspect is unique and interesting to be sure.

Is it? It's in Xeno Crisis and in Mother Russia Bleeds.

[Barone]

100nf as I haven't any pf caps on hand. But again, I don't think that is super critical in this case if all they are doing is trying filter out some noise from the expansion port. But again, the others I have that work do NOT have a ceramic cap attached to the expansion at all. I've seen that on model 2 units but I don't recall it being present on the model 1s.

I'm still not convinced, I'll sever the capacitor in my VA3 and see what that does.

Some revisions may have a more stable, less noisy expansion port while others may really need extra attenuation.

[matteus]

Some revisions may have a more stable, less noisy expansion port while others may really need extra attenuation.

Fingers crossed we get an example of this working soon 🙂

[Joe Redifer]

has anyone reached this part yet?

Yes,



My capture Fonzie-fied:

[Devil N]

Just to let everyone know, I'm currently aiming to launch my review on January 12th... assuming anyone would be interested that is lol

We can definitely use some quality in-depth video reviews. All of the videos out there at the moment (including my own) are either very shallow cursory glances or just poor in quality. High quality edited footage combined with a thought-out well-written script will go a long way.

[Spendle]

Order destination: UK
Current location: Carvin, France
Last update: 21/12/2020 @ 07:37

I ordered a Mega SG on Sunday evening so I'm curious to see which lands on these shores first: Paprium or the Mega SG. I feel I already know the answer!

No idea if there's a slowdown over the festive period in France but I had hoped/expected things to get moving again this week now that the border/Covid testing issue is sorted. I shan't be holding my breath though!

[inqualls]

For those of you in the US, my advice is to contact USPS customer support with the package info. They have a form on their website that only takes a few minutes to fill out. I just sent them my info last night. Copies shipped in the US are coming from:

Ship My Orders
4031 Industrial Center Dr.
Suite 705
North Las Vegas, NV 89030

There is also a phone number on the Ship My Orders website to contact customer service. If I don't hear anything from USPS regarding my search inquiry in the next 48 hrs. then I'm going to give these guys a call. USPS is so backed up that even utility bills have been delayed up to 15 days passed their cycle where I live.

Edit: The Post Master has already started contacting me via email about the delay. They have opened an investigation this morning. Looks like I'm finally getting somewhere.

[nieds16]

Delivery target: Brazil
Status: Las Vegas USA - Shipping...
Last update: 14/12/2020 - 08:20

Ticket opened on 23/12/2020 about the lack of tracking number and no answers so far.

Exact same shipping date, time, and location for mine, but going to Louisville, KY so domestic vs. International. I have also put in a few tickets, not about the tracking number, without a response. Ordered a grand stick and a few copies of the game. Was thinking the grand stick could be holding everything up but other people have received theirs. I live in a tucked away neighborhood so not afraid of porch pirates. Missing a bluray movie shipped the 12th which would have gone in the mailbox. Everything else ordered this month came in without issue.

[nieds16]

Delivery target: Australia
Shipping History:
13/12/2020 - 23:19 - Las Vegas USA - Packing...
14/12/2020 - 08:14 - Las Vegas USA - Shipping...
Parcel content:
PAPRIUM LIMITED(E) [PRE-PAID] USD$80.1 x 1 ¹
PAPRIUM MANGA [PRE-PAID] x 1 ¹
¹: Past pre-order(s).

Support ticket asking for tracking number sent on the 16th. Response ticket telling me it will update when it says shipped sent two hours after I replied to fonzies meme asking for it.

So you got an update saying it was packed at a certain time? Mine just says shipped. Mine probably hasn't even been packed then which, honestly, makes me feel better. Didn't want to ship until after christmas.

[Rapha7]

Exact same shipping date, time, and location for mine, but going to Louisville, KY so domestic vs. International. I have also put in a few tickets, not about the tracking number, without a response. Ordered a grand stick and a few copies of the game. Was thinking the grand stick could be holding everything up but other people have received theirs. I live in a tucked away neighborhood so not afraid of porch pirates. Missing a bluray movie shipped the 12th which would have gone in the mailbox. Everything else ordered this month came in without issue.

It might be that the status is random at this point. But it does make sense that the Grand Stick is holding things up, at least outside of Europe, as I don't recall anyone receiving one from Las Vegas... In my case it still says "Packing..." and I did order a GS III, together with an Investor and a Classic Edition. Of course I opened a ticket and got no response since the 22th

[inqualls]

And just like that USPS gave up looking. After only thirty minutes I received a new email from the USPS stating they cannot help me with the information I provided because there's no tracking number. Guess it's time to call WM's shipping partner about that tracking number. Geez, after an 8 year wait you'd think Fonzie would have gone with an actual shipping company like Fedex or UPS. I would have gladly paid the extra shipping cost at this point. USPS has been behind on mail since September for crying out loud!

[kenshinsp]

Still no answers on email yet I opened a ticket too explaining the situation of Brazilian people hope fonzie take a look at it soon ^^