What game do you really like that most would consider to be crap/mediocre?

[OverDrone]

Dynamite Duke and Insector X are two games I think would probably qualify with me here.

I liked the latter enough to beat it the other night. One or two of the checkpoints are really cruel, but I enjoyed manipulating the heavy-handed rank system and some of the music and graphics that appear later on are pretty good. Of course the lack of parallax in the backgrounds leaves the game looking pretty flat, but hey.

Diggin' the Duke too. The SFX are too loud compared to the BGM, but there aren't many games like this on the machine and I like the semi-awkward dodging/aiming mechanic, far more interesting than just controlling a crosshair IMO.

[SpaceHarrier]

Of course the lack of parallax in the backgrounds leaves the game looking pretty flat

It's something that happens on many PC Engine games but on Mega Drive it's quite unusual BUT with Insector X the Arcade original already lacked parallax so it's kind of ok situation BUT even in this similar case, Altered Beast Mega Drive's version added some parallax which were lacked on the Arcade original so it would have been cool too for Insector X even more since it's a shoot & parallax are at their best on this style of game.

Diggin' the Duke too. The SFX are too loud compared to the BGM, but there aren't many games like this on the machine and I like the semi-awkward dodging/aiming mechanic, far more interesting than just controlling a crosshair IMO.

Just too bad it was released a bit too early so, due to the cartridge size restriction at that moment, 3 stages are missing on the Mega Drive port. Still, it's a cool game yeah. I would have loved to see more Cabal-shooter releases back then, i have great memories playing NAM-1975!

[OverDrone]

Either way I appreciate the graphical rejig in the MD version of Insector X, much more appealing to my sensibilities than the arcade original. There is some reasonable spritework going on here and there, and the last boss looked nice (for a hideously mutated insect, anyway).

I've never played the arcade version of Dynamite Duke so I don't know what I'm missing as far as those three stages go. I'll have to check out a vid.

NAM 1975 would have been a nice port in itself, but unfortunately probably outdated by the time an 8 MEG cart would have been feasible (for a comparatively low-key arcade game such as that title).

[SpaceHarrier]

I also way prefer the new sprites's graphical direction as well as the new music of the Mega Drive's Insector X port. It's only the lack of parallax which will always make the game kinda bland-looking. Parallax are & will always be one of the best visual effects, it's a natural beauty.

[SEGA.GENESIS1989]

Insector X is an okay game. I had high expectations that this game would be great after reading a quick snippet in a gaming mag back in the day (credit to the writer who got my hopes up unnecessarily). Considering that the game is based on insects, you would expect that the game would have a more organic feel in the way it plays and looks. Bio-Hazard Battle does a better job in this department.

[SpaceHarrier]

Not only in this departement.

Still Insector X is a "good little shooter" IMO.

[Modelboard4]

GA2 seems a less inspired version of GA with a unique and strange art direction. However I quite like this game at all is like an extra content for the first game and also has a phenomenal soundtrack, so I really do not understand people who like the original game not like the sequel, after all it's more of the same, of a more plumb which is good!. Street Fighter does the same thing today and everyone loves ...

not that I like fighting games but scrolling beat em ups were quite boring very quickly when I played them as a kid and golden axe two was more of the same without adding much. Golden axe 2 like streets of rage 3 and final fight 2 and 3 are all games that went a follow up too far.

[Obviously]

Not only in this departement.

Still Insector X is a "good little shooter" IMO.

I like it. The Genesis version was done by Hot-B who was also responsible for Steel Empire.

[SEGA.GENESIS1989]

Not only in this departement.
Still Insector X is a "good little shooter" IMO.

I like it. The Genesis version was done by Hot-B who was also responsible for Steel Empire.

I remember that the article I read stated that Hot-B was producing the game but recent material are unsure who actually developed the game. Was it actually Hot B or Taito? Anyone know?

Comparing both games, IMHO Steel Empire kicks the utter living sh*t out of Insector X visually. I found the overall level of quality found in Insector X quite poor even if it is a port of the arcade game.

The level of difficulty found in Steel Empire is alot more gratifying compared to Insector X: The boss battles in Insector X are boring.

I suppose that I am just disappointed that the game itself didn't live up to the back story. The concept of the game sounds great:

The player controls an insect-sized warrior named "Kai", who takes on a vast army of cyborg insects to free the insect world from the dark ruler queen.

So much potential for what could have been a great shooter.

[OverDrone]

Someone on Shmups posted a translation of an interview with the dude from Hot-B who made Steel Empire and worked on the MD version of Insector X, that pretty much cleared it up for me. He also talks about the GBA port of Steel Empire as well.

[SEGA.GENESIS1989]

Ah thanks. I managed to find the interview:

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=41905

[SpaceHarrier]

Well, same as Bio-Hazard Battle, Kōtetsu Teikoku plays in a quite far higher division compared to Insector X.

Sadly & thanx to the huge bunch of morons sellers around the world (these guys must be put in jail), Kōtetsu Teikoku starts to really cost a lot :x it's one of the few MD shooters among the pricey ones that i still need to get along with the 1st Battle Mania.

Kōtetsu Teikoku boxart is superb! Crying too, but in its case, the game plays better in its Genesis version thanx to its autofire which better fits the game & which is lacking in the Japanese release. (but as a consequence you have to deal with that nonsensical Genesis boxart so, act like me, buy both xD the japanese version with the full package & the Genesis version cart only :] )

[Segadream]

King Arthur's world for the snes.
It is a bit hard on some stages but fun once you get the hang of it.
I really think it is a great game, I don't think most other do though.
I also really like The secret of evermore on the snes.
It has this spot in my heart that I just have to play it every two to three years.
And the music.....ahhh.....it takes me back.
NFL football 94 is another game I enjoy, which is strange because I do not like
any other sports games.
I aslo really enjoy Firehawk for the nes.
I like the cart too.

[OverDrone]

I didn't know about the autofire in Steel Empire.

The box art isn't bad on the US version IMO, same with Bio Hazard Battle, which in it's case does tend to convey what you will be playing better than the NTSCJ one, as weirdly artistic as it is. I do like my shmups to have spaceships on the cover, pretty much at all times

[SpaceHarrier]

The autofire concerned Bio-Hazard Battle

& since when you control a space ship in this game? Nah its US boxart is one of the numerous Genesis bullshit boxarts, sorry to say.