Burning Rangers Beta

Hi Guys,

Just wondering if anyone had any info on the earlier versions of Burning Rangers. I know it isn't everyones cup of tea, but as a kid I loved that game (Wipeout 2097, PD Saga, Radiant Silvergun, & Burning Rangers were the 3 games that are etched into my memory. Sitting there for hours playing them...)

There seems to have been some huge differences between the final released product. The biggest difference was that the beta obviously had a multiplayer mode or at least a single player mode where you could spar with a NPC. To my knowledge only 2 screen shots of this exist in the official sega saturn magazine.

Screen shots show different huds, different weapons (was this feature removed really late?? As the hud still shows what weapon you use to fight fires, but I don't think that ever changes in game), differences in levels, and the soundcheck mode seems to have a lot of voices that never appear in the final game (like navigation commands from every member of the team). I seem to remember there are emails that make little sense in the final game too...

Has anyone come across a beta that sheds light on these lost features?
Just remember it really confusing me as a kid, would love some answers.

Thanks!

 

In addition to the removed versus mode, there is video footage out there showing what appears to be some kind of co-operative feature as well. From what I can tell, most of the stage design was locked down early into the game's development, though the HUD was significantly reworked for the end product, losing the compass pointer (which actually reminds me of the Shenmue Saturn prototype due to how this was implemented) and placing greater emphasis on the voice commands.

Actually, on the subject of Burning Rangers and its innovative navigation system, early builds included placeholder speech by a member of Sonic Team. Other preliminary elements I've noticed in the past are numbered counters to collect instead of the final version's crystals and music with scratch vocals from Takenobu Mitsuyoshi! I meant to do this ages back, but one day I'll edit everything I've found into one convenient clip and upload this for you all to check out - there are some amazing differences!

Finally, those who've seen pre-release builds will surely agree with me that the graphics were slightly better than in the retail code, further proving that BR was rushed in spite of the lengthy delays it experienced. Of course, a few better quality textures and smoother frame rate could very well be the result of preview material being sourced from a development kit rather than a stock console... who remembers that rather technical discussion we had based on AM2's reel of the cancelled 32-bit Shenmue version?

 

Seriously, video footage of a possible co-op feature??? That sounds quite stunning. I think it's a shame the compass pointer went, it adds something to the beta videos.

I'd be first inline to watch that clip. Please let me know when you get chance to do this, it'd be nice to see what you've noticed. I've seen the counters prevoiusly and I do remember reading in SSM that there was a different way to keep your shields up, none of the crystal stuff.

I think the one major thing that has aged Burning Rangers is the graphics. It was a dream that they'd go back with a modern system and try to rework it. I think that there is limited fan love may go against that ever happening though. Seeing some (more) betas, or god-forbid, playing a beta of it would be a truly brilliant experience...

 

I'm currently trying to download several videos so that I can share these with a wider audience, since they contain significant amounts of Saturn prototype builds, including the aforementioned Burning Rangers, plus Sonic R and the notorious Tokyo Game Show '98 version of Sega Rally 2 for the Dreamcast that led to the game receiving a lengthy delay.

On the subject of Sonic Team resurrecting BR, I wouldn't ever rule such a thing out entirely - NiGHTS may have experienced several years in the wilderness, but in more recent times even this beloved franchise has seen a resurgence most probably thought impossible once. Of course, it didn't help that BR was simply too advanced for most consoles to properly realise back in the late 90s.

I'm not sure if you're familiar with Brave Firefighters, but this was intended for the Dreamcast until Sega realised the flame effects were outside the hardware's capabilities, which is why in the end it remained an arcade exclusive. BR was definitely pushing the Saturn a little too hard, though at least the actual gameplay concept was fully realised... well, apart from the abandoned co-operative and versus modes!

 

Anthaemia - not trying to push or anything, but do you have an eta when you might share some of the saturn beta footage. Jsut trying to get some perspective of time.

Ages and ages ago I talked to drx and he mentioned being able to source a BR beta at around 45% complete. Oh if I had the money... we'd all be playing it right now!

I think I remember brave firefighters from the dreamcast magazine. Looked an interesting game, did that ever get to uk arcades?

I know very few 3d games that 'shimmer' like burning rangers! lol

 

I'm sorry for the delay, but I've been experiencing quite a few connection problems lately. When I finally do get that footage, I'll definitely share it here first. As for drx having a 45% complete build of BR, I'm curious to know if this was from before or after the game's production being delayed... I'd certainly love to get my hands on a pre-restart beta, especially one with the multiplayer features intact! Also, I've absolutely no idea whether Brave Firefighters made it to the UK - can anyone help us out with this one? For what it's worth, I don't recall ever coming across the game during my travels.

 

B.F.F. did make it to the UK (and Holland for that matter).

 

Did you know that the Japanese sample version of Burning Rangers has a much higher quality video intro in MPEG plus it's slightly altered as well. I have a video of it up on my site.

Yakumo

 

Wasn't there another, earlier version of the same video with Sonic Team production credits and "coming soon" announcement text? I seem to recall this being used for the non-playable rolling sampler of Burning Rangers on later volumes in the Sega Flash demo disc series (PAL), plus it was featured at the 1997 Tokyo Game Show, based on footage of this event I've seen in the past.

 

sega flash i got a load of em somewere ?
il take a look

 

Drx didn't have it, just knew someone who did. If I had the money he would have got it for me... (so he'd have limited knowledge about what was on the disc, just how the seller described it!) asked the same about panzer dragoon beta's and got some details back. Submitted the details to 'Will of the Ancients' fansite and got limited interest in them, so gave up. Got to hand it to the community though, after I gave up, interest did pick up and they raised the money and purchased the saga and zwei betas that are now floating about...

I did not know that - I watched the video and the only major difference I noticed was the japanease text and voices, as I grew up with the pal version. Least it didn't have the spelling mistake (PAL version says 'sense a spilit second', instead of 'sense a split second').

Anthaemia I don't think the sega flash version had the intro on at all. I do remember the rolling demo using all the characters, not just the two rookies. I remember as kid watching the rolling demo quite a few times and pretending I was playing it (ahh the mind of a child...). That method worked quite well for the MSR dreamcast rolling demo you could play the demo indefinetly by holding buttons down on the second controller!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUaki6WmF28&feature=related

i wish!!

 

could this be it or this the origanal v number?
Burning Rangers v1.003
nope that aint it lol

 

Nah, the video quality is much better and smother. I just checked out the PAL intro, man the song sounds awful in English. I shudder to hear the female track in English.

Yakumo

 

Hahah that's quite awesome for a fan vid. I remember a few years ago a background for PC started circulating that looked very professional. It had a hi-res logo, had to double check it was fan made!

Is that something you have?
Mind sharing the differences between that and the final? Gonna need to dig out my disc now! lol.

So the difference is purely quality? That's pretty cool either way. Is that the disc that was in your store, but is now sold out?

And yeah the JAP versions of the songs sound so much better, although for a sega PAL the lyrics least aren't too crazy.

I remember cracking up in fits of laughter over Sega Touring Car's track that exclaims in the middle of it "It's better than liver"... though to be honest that saturn port really wasn't better than liver and needed to be cooked for longer.

----

Oh and just a question out there... is it Lead Phoenix or Reed Phoenix? It changes throughout the PAL version of the game lol >_< Lead makes more sense to me.

 

x

 

Aww thanks Druid, thought we might have found someone with a beta for a second then....

When I've got a bit of free cash I'm going to have to purchase the japanease retail version. Just reading through some digital copies of sega saturn magazine and there's quite a bit of talk about the beta versions... might have to summarise it all at some point!

Also do you think my other half will kill me if I buy her this?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BURNING-R...642?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45fd49bd3a

lol ^_^

 

x

 

hahaha ^_^

 

Wait what? BR was on the Genny as well? Any more info in this even if it is just using the much better video for a custom saturn release.