PCEngineFans.com - The PC Engine and TurboGrafx-16 Community Forum
NEC PC-Engine/SuperGrafx => PC Engine/SuperGrafx Discussion => Topic started by: Sinistron on February 27, 2008, 03:25:40 AM
-
Played this again last night with the missus- this game is great-
figured I'd share my thoughts on it...
You could be a girl or a guy- the one player default is the girl though you can switch it to be the guy-
I'm not too sure about the story but they seem to be vampires- during the cutscenes it looks like they have fangs- and some evil dracula dude appears later so that would seem to confirm the vampire theme. They also have two little cutesy wootesy rodent friends- a pink one and a blue one.
Levels- I'm not sure how many "worlds" there are as I haven't cleared it yet- in truth I don't think I beat the fourth (or fifth?) world boss yet- my excuse is that I play this one with the girlfriend- so ummm- yeah. If she doesn't get too far I kill myself off so she can start again with me. If I'm at the boss though Im fighting 'em regardless. I know it sounds lame- but she got better at it- even faced off the last boss we fought once without me. Lol. Anyway- the worlds get bigger the more you progress- the first world is only a few screens before you fight the boss- a rabbit on a unicycle tossing spinning plates. The second stage (haunted mansion) is about twice the size or longer- when you continue you start up at the beginning (for the first level) or halfway through for longer levels.
Gameplay- gameplay is awesome. You each (unless playing solo) have sceptors- which you use to shoot enemies (both fixed and regenerated) with. Powerups extend the reach and power of your shots- but sadly there aren't that many power up levels to attain. After the enemies receive the maximum amount of blows they can stand- they become colored bubbles. The bubbles still have to be cleared in order to beat the stage before the timer runs out and some floating ninja comes out- you know the drill. There are two ways to clear the bubbles- either shoot them several times or throw them into bubbles of different colors- shooting them usually just turns up a measly piece of fruit- but throwing them into different colored bubbles yields powerups, fruits and magic points. Throwing the bubbles into bubbles of the same color (contrary to what I read on vgden) produces two red (quicker, pissier- similar to red enemies in Parasol Stars) enemies- not the best play. Enemies also turn red if left alone for too long. Also with throwing bubbles- you can set it up so that you can throw bubbles into several bubbles (as long as the one you're throwing is a different color) for a greater yield- and when a bubble is cleared you'll see the defeated enemy pop out of the bubble- if you grab him/her quickly you can keep tossing him/her around for even more goodies. The ONLY thing that I find silly about this game is that throwing bubbles into enemies does nothing. Go figure. Other things- If there are no partitions in your way- you can go through the side of the screen and come out the other side- same with top and bottom- just like Parasol Stars. Obviously this game is similar to Parasol Stars- there are even speed-up shoes and at times it approaches (maybe even surpasses) the zany frenzy of Parasol Stars. You can also jump on top of each other if you're playing two player- and if the platforms you're on allow it- you can jump down to the next lowest by pressing down and jump. Magic spells- as far as I can see there's only two- and you'll need enough magic points to make them work. You select which spell to use by pressing select and then use the spell by keeping your finger on up and attack and then releasing. One spell is some kind of bomb that spreads across the screen and then spins back- the other are the rodent pals which act as "options" giving you more shooting power- especially helpful for the bosses as they can be pretty tough. You start off with three lives and can gain more from points and such- there is no instant continue however- it's from checkpoints as I noted above.
Graphics- I love the graphics. Colorful and cute as hell- and the backgrounds go the extra mile by always being animated- there's some backgrounds in a later level I saw where it looks like you're in a castle elevator and there's multilayered vertical scrolling. Awesome for this type of game.
Music- I love the music as well- I am most reminded of the music in Bakusho Yoshimoto- I turned the game on hoping for real zany and zippy music- but this music definitely grew on me.
Cutscenes- plenty of cutscenes- one after each world. Not much for me to comment on here- I guess they're good- certainly fit this type of game.
Difficulty- you quickly get the hang of it. It can get rough if you play like I do with someone who can't really be called a gamer- but the missus loves this one and as I said has gotten better. The bosses are the most difficult part of the worlds- there was a boss that was two large lizards that seemed a pain in the ass- just have to learn the patterns and then they're easily beaten. I suspect we'll be beating this game soon- when the missus has some more spare time.
Replay value- Hell yes. Addictive. You can play this one for hours and not tire of it- Especially the two-player mode.
Recommended? Absolutely- especially if you like Parasol Stars and Don Doko Don- then it's a no-brainer. It's not an intense shooter or RPG- but it is one of my more enjoyable CD titles. Also for those of you who like to play Parasol Stars or Bonk III or Splash Lake or whatever the hell you play with your missus (or vice-versa- hey I'm not trying to be sexist here) who isn't a casual gamer- then this is a must.
Is it as great a game as Parasol Stars? No. Few games are. There are so many goddamn goodies in Parasol Stars, so many secrets and the speed and music are so infectious that it's hard really for anything to compete- but this is definitely a great time to be continuously had from the same department.
-
Sounds awesome, thanks for the review. Assuming that this isn't a pricey title, I'll try to pick 'er up sometime.
-
Have you ever played Don Doko Don? How does it compare? Which is better?
I haven't played either and I'd like to know which one to pick up first.
-
Nat- when I first played Don Doko Don I was seriously underwhelmed- it's so far down the ladder from Parasol Stars its insane. Has a real chintzy feel to it. It HAS grown on me- and certain aspects of it are really nice (the bosses)- but as a whole it doesn't really cut it. IMO Pop 'n Magic (or is it Pop n' Magic? lol) is leagues better.
Necro- It's not cheap- I bit the bullet and paid a whopping 60+ on this puppy- I'd definitely see how much Dean's got it for assuming it's in his next sale...
-
Necro- It's not cheap- I bit the bullet and paid a whopping 60+ on this puppy- I'd definitely see how much Dean's got it for assuming it's in his next sale...
Ouch! I'll have to hold off on this one, unless D-Lite has a sweet deal for one.
-
It'll be you vs. me on that one, buddy.
-
Have you ever played Don Doko Don? How does it compare? Which is better?
I haven't played either and I'd like to know which one to pick up first.
Don Doko Don is like a banana that has gone all black and squishy. You know it's still a banana but have trouble getting excited about eating it.
However, Pop 'n' Magic is great, some brilliant music (the seaside music is awesome), nice graphics, really well drawn visual scenes and fun to play.
-
It'll be you vs. me on that one, buddy.
It's on like Donkey Kong, beeyotch! :twisted:
Not really; unless he has two, it's all yours. After buying a bunch of sealed games and Cotton, I should lay off the spending for a bit.
-
Have you ever played Don Doko Don? How does it compare? Which is better?
I haven't played either and I'd like to know which one to pick up first.
Don Doko Don is like a banana that has gone all black and squishy. You know it's still a banana but have trouble getting excited about eating it.
However, Pop 'n' Magic is great, some brilliant music (the seaside music is awesome), nice graphics, really well drawn visual scenes and fun to play.
Excellent way to put it. Especially the banana bit.
Actually- I believe it was your website that got me really interested in picking Pop 'n Magic up...
-
I was reading this going huh??? Then I realised I thought it was about Pop 'N Music. :oops:
-
Jesus, if only this game wasn't $$$.
Also, I'd thought you folks might be interested in how Pop 'n Magic was totally disrespected back in the day (http://archives.tg-16.com/archive-four/DW-01-27.jpg). I have yet to play the game, myself.
-
Can't believe Turboplay said it wasn't playable- then again- not many of their reviews were on the money, eh?
Awesome to see those issues up though Esteban... :D
I also don't know about that "many of the power-ups look the same!" business- the only one that looks the same are the shoes- the magic points are candies as the review noted- and the shoot power-ups are sceptors. The fruits are points and I certainly wouldn't call them power-ups.
-
Can't believe Turboplay said it wasn't playable- then again- not many of their reviews were on the money, eh?
Awesome to see those issues up though Esteban... :D
I also don't know about that "many of the power-ups look the same!" business- the only one that looks the same are the shoes- the magic points are candies as the review noted- and the shoot power-ups are sceptors. The fruits are points and I certainly wouldn't call them power-ups.
The same fellow who bashed Pop N Magic called Astralius (runin's favorite game) a "promising game". Well, he didn't say that, but he did create a positive impression of the game. I have no desire to bash Victor Ireland, because sometimes he was a bit quirky. :)
I suppose we all are, to a degree.
-
The same fellow who bashed Pop N Magic called Astralius (runin's favorite game) a "promising game". Well, he didn't say that, but he did create a positive impression of the game.
Maybe he played only the shark part.
Otherwise, he's insane.
-
if you are familiar with the genesis version, this translation is virtually identical graphically, with the exception that most of the dual-plane scrolling is missing.
The above quote is from Victor Ireland talking about the pce version of forgotten worlds, but he did say that the pce version had a better looking weapon shop :-s
-
The same fellow who bashed Pop N Magic called Astralius (runin's favorite game) a "promising game". Well, he didn't say that, but he did create a positive impression of the game.
Maybe he played only the shark part.
Otherwise, he's insane.
if you are familiar with the genesis version, this translation is virtually identical graphically, with the exception that most of the dual-plane scrolling is missing.
The above quote is from Victor Ireland talking about the pce version of forgotten worlds, but he did say that the pce version had a better looking weapon shop :-s
Ha! A long time ago, long before runin's legendary commentary on Astralius, I was lamenting the fact that it was never released here in the States (sorry!). To be fair, I had been warned by Kaminari that my feelings were misplaced, but that didn't stop me discounting Ireland's thoughts on the game... (http://archives.tg-16.com/turbo_play_0005.htm#more) (Go to the "IGS" heading). There are links to the page scans in there.
If I had time, I'd re-write this section with runin's insights in mind. :)
-
Ha! A long time ago, long before runin's legendary commentary on Astralius, I was lamenting the fact that it was never released here in the States (sorry!).
I can understand that. Before I bought the game, I thought it was going to be at least decent. It looked pretty cool from a distance, and I'd enjoyed other IGS efforts.
But, oh lord, Astralius is so, so bad. I honestly can't think of a game that was more painful to play through than that one.
-
The same fellow who bashed Pop N Magic called Astralius (runin's favorite game) a "promising game". Well, he didn't say that, but he did create a positive impression of the game.
Maybe he played only the shark part.
Otherwise, he's insane.
if you are familiar with the genesis version, this translation is virtually identical graphically, with the exception that most of the dual-plane scrolling is missing.
The above quote is from Victor Ireland talking about the pce version of forgotten worlds, but he did say that the pce version had a better looking weapon shop :-s
Ha! A long time ago, long before runin's legendary commentary on Astralius, I was lamenting the fact that it was never released here in the States (sorry!). To be fair, I had been warned by Kaminari that my feelings were misplaced, but that didn't stop me discounting Ireland's thoughts on the game... (http://archives.tg-16.com/turbo_play_0005.htm#more) (Go to the "IGS" heading). There are links to the page scans in there.
If I had time, I'd re-write this section with runin's insights in mind. :)
In that article, you mention Radiance only bringing Sidearms to the table, but, IIRC, both Talespin & Darkwing Duck were by Radiance as well! That's 3 games they did :)
-
Ha! A long time ago, long before runin's legendary commentary on Astralius, I was lamenting the fact that it was never released here in the States (sorry!).
I can understand that. Before I bought the game, I thought it was going to be at least decent. It looked pretty cool from a distance, and I'd enjoyed other IGS efforts.
But, oh lord, Astralius is so, so bad. I honestly can't think of a game that was more painful to play through than that one.
Truer words were never spoken. When I finally got around to playing Astralius, I realized that you endured quite a bit of pain for brief moments of "relief" (i.e. less crappy moments) in the game.
Plus, I'm a sucker for musical motifs in video games, movies (that's why the live-action He-Man movie was elevated to a higher level of goodness).
The same fellow who bashed Pop N Magic called Astralius (runin's favorite game) a "promising game". Well, he didn't say that, but he did create a positive impression of the game.
Maybe he played only the shark part.
Otherwise, he's insane.
if you are familiar with the genesis version, this translation is virtually identical graphically, with the exception that most of the dual-plane scrolling is missing.
The above quote is from Victor Ireland talking about the pce version of forgotten worlds, but he did say that the pce version had a better looking weapon shop :-s
Ha! A long time ago, long before runin's legendary commentary on Astralius, I was lamenting the fact that it was never released here in the States (sorry!). To be fair, I had been warned by Kaminari that my feelings were misplaced, but that didn't stop me discounting Ireland's thoughts on the game... (http://archives.tg-16.com/turbo_play_0005.htm#more) (Go to the "IGS" heading). There are links to the page scans in there.
If I had time, I'd re-write this section with runin's insights in mind. :)
In that article, you mention Radiance only bringing Sidearms to the table, but, IIRC, both Talespin & Darkwing Duck were by Radiance as well! That's 3 games they did :)
You are totally correct, sir. I never had Darkwing Duck (I just got it a few weeks ago) and I never paid attention to Talespin. I will have to correct this :) Thanks.
-
Also, I guess I might mention, that Tengen was supposedly working on Marbel Madness & Peter the Packrat(or something like that).
-
aw, man! marble madness for the TG16 would have been so awesome. :cry:
-
aw, man! marble madness for the TG16 would have been so awesome. Crying or Very sad
Oh, I know. :cry:
-
I love the graphics.
Fail.
-
Also, I guess I might mention, that Tengen was supposedly working on Marbel Madness & Peter the Packrat(or something like that).
Get out! Damn, that would have been awesome (not sure what the hell Peter the Packrat was, but how can you go wrong with a title like that?0
-
I love the graphics.
Fail.
Fail?---
ummm- ok... I don't love the graphics? 8-[
Will that help me get a passing grade, Professor Asshat?
Perhaps you can enlighten the classroom with what the graphics on what is essentially an 8-bit single screen bubble bobble type platformer should look like and exactly how they should contextually respond to said graphics while experiencing them.
-
:D Don't let him get you riled up, the graphics are great, i don't know of any single screen platformer with better graphics on either the Duo, Snes or genesis.
-
Also, I guess I might mention, that Tengen was supposedly working on Marbel Madness & Peter the Packrat(or something like that).
Get out! Damn, that would have been awesome (not sure what the hell Peter the Packrat was, but how can you go wrong with a title like that?0
I played the packrat game awhile back, I think I have the rom & played it on MAME. It's ok, but both would've been cool to have, no doubt, especially Marble Madness!
-
Also, I guess I might mention, that Tengen was supposedly working on Marbel Madness & Peter the Packrat(or something like that).
Get out! Damn, that would have been awesome (not sure what the hell Peter the Packrat was, but how can you go wrong with a title like that?0
I played the packrat game awhile back, I think I have the rom & played it on MAME. It's ok, but both would've been cool to have, no doubt, especially Marble Madness!
Hey PD, I finally found some screenshots for Riftwar Saga! You mentioned this game a bazillion years ago, but I had never even heard of it. I looks like it could have been pretty neat. Do you know anything about it?
-
Also, I guess I might mention, that Tengen was supposedly working on Marbel Madness & Peter the Packrat(or something like that).
Get out! Damn, that would have been awesome (not sure what the hell Peter the Packrat was, but how can you go wrong with a title like that?0
I played the packrat game awhile back, I think I have the rom & played it on MAME. It's ok, but both would've been cool to have, no doubt, especially Marble Madness!
Hey PD, I finally found some screenshots for Riftwar Saga! You mentioned this game a bazillion years ago, but I had never even heard of it. I looks like it could have been pretty neat. Do you know anything about it?
I know nothing about it, other then those few pictures. Where did you find them?
One thing, an old friend of mine who visited me way back then(92?) told me that his friends dad, was working on some kind of hack n slash for the Turbo, & my friend got to play it, & said it was pretty cool, but, they cancelled it for some reason. I've always wondered if that game he spoke of was indeed Riftwar Saga. I'd love to find roms of these unfinished games. Who knows how many unfinished games there truly are, hidden somewhere!
-
Also, I guess I might mention, that Tengen was supposedly working on Marbel Madness & Peter the Packrat(or something like that).
Get out! Damn, that would have been awesome (not sure what the hell Peter the Packrat was, but how can you go wrong with a title like that?0
I played the packrat game awhile back, I think I have the rom & played it on MAME. It's ok, but both would've been cool to have, no doubt, especially Marble Madness!
Hey PD, I finally found some screenshots for Riftwar Saga! You mentioned this game a bazillion years ago, but I had never even heard of it. I looks like it could have been pretty neat. Do you know anything about it?
I know nothing about it, other then those few pictures. Where did you find them?
One thing, an old friend of mine who visited me way back then(92?) told me that his friends dad, was working on some kind of hack n slash for the Turbo, & my friend got to play it, & said it was pretty cool, but, they cancelled it for some reason. I've always wondered if that game he spoke of was indeed Riftwar Saga. I'd love to find roms of these unfinished games. Who knows how many unfinished games there truly are, hidden somewhere!
Seriously, you had the inside scoop! Ghost Manor, unknown hack-n-slash, etc. !
I posted a link to the Riftwar scan, but it didn't generate any interest (I'm not sure why... the game is a big mystery! Who doesn't like a mystery?)
http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=4729.msg82549#msg82549
Apparently, there was a series of fantasy novels based on the Riftwar / Midkemia universe, so this game was definitely based on the book(s). That alone is somewhat interesting. I don't know if the books are any good, but I'll probably check 'em out just for the heck of it.
I have more neat stuff I found coming soon. :)
-
I am gonna be the Devil's advocate here and suggest that Don Doko Don is the better of the two games. I have been a huge fan of the Bubble Bobble games and after noticing that sellers were trying to make a sale with these games they would name drop "Bubble Bobble". Don Doko Don was initially supposed to be titled Bubble Bobble 4 and is made by Taito. It has great music, similar enemies, and similar power up items...everything you would expect from a Bubble Bobble game. Pop N' Magic on the hand only has a couple of powerups, the stages all seem the same and quite monotonous (the only thing to break the monotony is end bosses and new worlds every 10 stages) and the only similarity to Bubble Bobble would be that when wave your wand at an enemy, they get trapped in a bubble. You can't even combo enemies together to get more points or giant fruits.
-
that's not exactly true hoobs- there is a way to combo an enemy bubble into multiple bubbles.
As for your assessment on don doko don-
I have to say that the music is horrendous, the graphics look like an early computer game, and that the game is 1/10th the fun of Pop 'n Magic...
also it'd be a pitiful sequel to Parasol Stars- one of the greatest ever.
Just my opinion of course... :D
-
Necro bump! I just got this game and it's pretty rad. I might even try to clear it :)
Any other fans?
-
Necro bump! I just got this game and it's pretty rad. I might even try to clear it :)
Any other fans?
I have wanted this game for a while. I had a chance to buy it cheap years go and I can't believe I bought some bullsh@t like Star Mobile or Color Wars instead....
...I never pick the winners.
-
Pop N Magic is fun and better than Don Doko Don, but way behind Parasol Stars. graphics are Ok but colours are not always well chosen. The background graphic tricks are cool though. I don't think it's the best game in its category but it's still a cool game. Star Mobile is cool too but not in the same genre.
-
The music is kind of lame, but other than that, the game is f*cking great. One of my favorite games on the console.
-
I got to level 4 and yeah the background scrolling is really awesome! I also found out if you pause the game you can toggle the screen size to more of an arcade setting by pressing up and down when paused.
-
I will gladly pay postage for anyone willing to send me the game. Thanks in advance (http://junk.tg-16.com/images/pcds.png)