I've kind of always had an interest in this series. I know most of the stuff is not good but with being budget titles some seem willing to try something that never could be a full price game (or even should try) before the age of Digital services (sadly even with digital services, I kind of feel Japanese games aren't as experimental as they use to be). Anyways, I've played some decent/good games out of the PS1 series and i'm now thinking about picking up some titles from the PS2 series as they are plentiful and cheap on yahoo. Plus I could use a break from buying overly priced arcade games for a bit. =P So any suggestions on games to get? Even ones maybe you haven't played but are curious about? Obvious answers (and ones I will get) are the Earth Defense Force games. I'm kind of curious to maybe check these out (still thinking about it). Vol 118: http://www.d3p.co.jp/cs/simple/s_20/s20_118.html Vol 116: http://www.d3p.co.jp/nekomura/ (I have the western release of darwin which is the precursor) Vol 114: http://www.d3p.co.jp/cs/simple/s_20/s20_114.html Vol 104: http://www.d3p.co.jp/robotsuku/ Vol 96: http://www.d3p.co.jp/cs/simple/s_20/s20_096.html Vol 73: http://www.d3p.co.jp/cs/simple/s_20/s20_073.html Vol 72: http://www.d3p.co.jp/cs/simple/s_20/s20_072.html Ult Vol 21: http://www.d3p.co.jp/cs/simple/s_20u/s20u_021.html Vol 64: http://www.d3p.co.jp/cs/simple/s_20/s20_064.html There are some others but just don't have the time to pull them all out.
I had the PAL version of vol. 72 (Yakuza Fury). It was fucking horrible and only had 3 levels, so it could be completed in like 20 minutes.
Some (if not every) Simple 2000 games from Ultimate series, were released as normal, retail versions. For example I have retail version of Makai Tensei: http://www.playimport.com/7413-23457-thickbox/simple-2000-series-ultimate-vol-24-makai-tensei.jpg http://media.gamestats.com/gg/image/object/719/719712/makaitensei_ps2jpboxboxart_160w.jpg You should definately pick up Onechanbara games
Was it horrible due to length or controlls/mechanics/etc?? Length is not a huge issue for me since I probably wont really play any of these for very long and they're pretty cheap on yahoo (like $5-$10ish for many). I don't quite get the ultimate series. is it just a budget re-release/reprint of a game then? Any of the ultimate you would recommend (like the makai tensei you have)? I most likely will get #2 or the 3rd one released.
Terrible, barely responsive controls. Of course I wouldn't even have cared about the length if it had at least been fun to play, it IS a budget game after all. Still, like you said, for $5-10 it's not a bad price to try it out, and the main character does look a little like Kazuma from the Yakuza series Wow, looking at Wikipedia I had no idea so many of the Simple 2000 games were released in Europe. I knew about Demolition Girl, Yakuza Fury, Kung Fu and the stupid party game, but had no idea many of the generic-looking games that PS2 bargain bins were full of at one point were actually Simple 2000.
Yep, looks like ultimate series is some kind of reprint. Makai Tensei (also referred to Makai Tenshou) is based on the movie of the same name. I haven't got a chance to play with it for more than 15 minutes, but from what I saw it's some kind of RPG with quirky battle system. When you enter new map/dungeon, you move on square grids in turn based manner (but not in usual disgaea/FFT style - when you make one step, enemies make one step too). Basically you level your character up, buy new weapons, etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFL9BbV8QM4 I would also recommend Vol. 9: Bakusou! Manhattan ~Runabout 3 neoAGE~ - great arcade styled, mission based racing game. Played it for hours on dreamcast. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edHYgwPLaCE Damn, now I'm tempted to buy some kind of Simple 2000 game lot from yahoo auctions.
I finally found a video of it and yeah it doesn't look very good. By screenshots I thought it might be a bit like Kenka Bancho but it seems its a side scroller. =( Checking into them it seems some where but not all. =/ Yeah saw that one last night. Was thinking about it but held off for now. :evil: I spent a few hours last night going over the stuff on D3 website (seems some are missing =/), hit up youtube/nicovideo then checking out what was on yahoo. So far I got/won new copy of EDF2 & Vol 114 (was 340Y new). I have active (cheap) bids on Vol 87, Vol 31 (EDF1), Vol 118, Vol 47, Vol 73, Vol 116, & Vol 21 Ult. Going to see what the damages on all of those are first before getting anymore. =P There are 2/4 more I was considering but the prices where a little high but since I lost out on some arcade hw I might just end up getting them anyways. =P
I wouldn't bother with that one. I'm a big fan of the oneechanbara games, but didn't like 114, couldn't stand it more than 5 minutes.
Too late on that one. If I don't like it, it's not a big issue since it was under 400 Yen for a sealed copy. =P
while we are on the subject of budget games, i'm thinking to throw Sega Ages into the mix while i'm at it. At least I know any of the later stuff is suppose to be godly. Any heavy recomendations? How about some of the arcade/saturn ones like Fighting Vipers, last bronx, Sega Memorial Selection, virtual-on, etc.. Enough content to these to make it worth buying?
*ahem* Here's a great article on EVERY title in the Sega Ages line: http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/segaages/segaages.htm The only remakes from the Classics Collection I actually liked were Virtua Racing and Fantasy Zone...
Treasure Box is probably the second most impressive, and marks the reboot of the series. After that, they are all quality. Fantasy Zone II is just fucking awesome. They basically made a new game running on modded System16 hardware, and then ported it to the PS2. Beautiful. Treasure Box (no explanation needed) Space Harrier II Collection (no explanation needed) Quartet/ SDI (Just fun) Galaxy Force II - first "perfect" port. Replays are nice. Fun game. Phantasy Star Collection (if you're into replaying any of them other than the original carts, this is the way) Similar w/ VF2 and Virtual On. They're not for archival purposes, even though they're obviously not at their native resolutions. They're cheap, and probably worth the buy. VO is one of those gams where I enjoy but I know I'm scraping the tip of the ice berg b/c I suck so bad at it.
If you've not played it on the Saturn you may want to look out for the PS2 release of NiGHTS Into Dreams.
I second that. NiGHTS got a well done port. A shame they did not release a Saturn 3d controller for the ps2 too. The dual shock sux
I've played nights to death. Both regular & christmas nights. So it is out of the question. GaijinPunch, I'm tempted to go after Fantasy Zone II, Wonder Boy, dynamite deka & Virtual On of the sega ages.
Fantasy Zone and Wonderboy are superb games, well worth tracking down. Fantasy Zone also has a nice audio player which will play songs from some of the later Sega Ages games. I would also recommend Puyo Puyo 2 (The nazo puyo games do add to the collection), Gunstar Heroes, SDI & Quartet, Galaxy Force II and Dynamite Deka (if just for the periscope game...). I was very sad when Sega stopped after FZ as the PS2 still had a lot of life and they could have made some other great collections. I would have loved an Outrun collection with Outrun, Turbo Outrun and Outrunners with the Master System, Game Gear, Megadrive and Arcade versions. Also a Bare Knuckle and a Title Fight / Heavyweight Champion collection would have been nice too....
I have a bid going for a fantasy zone. I was going to put a bid in on wonderboy/monster world till I realized I could get a new copy off an import site for cheaper. =P Over all, the good sega ages stuff seems to go for a decent amount on yahoo (1k-2k yen). I probably should have hit up import sites first since one or two I might end up paying equal/slighly less for a used copy then a new one. At least Japanese used copy is almost on par with a just recently opened copy. =P Once a few more auctions end in the next few days I'll post an updated list of everything I've snagged to date (but it probably will be a few weeks/month before I get it). Jamtex, Reading online, it seems there was a rumor that Bare Knuckle collection was possibly going to happen. =(
Totally. I could name tons of collections missing... most conspicuous: Shinobi! These may be the last great things Sega does for a long time (even though technically they just produced them). Still, they're are technical feats and worth praise. I should get the Puyo Puyo one. Fantasy Zone II (not the first!!!!). The first one is part of the first half of the series which is hit and miss... mainly miss. Really cheap 3D for the most part. The Fantasy Zone one isn't bad, but it's not wanking material like FZII. I had a hankering to play Galaxy Force II as I only played it a bit when it came out then got preoccupied. Found 2 on the shelf. 2nd one is yours if you want it. I'll let it go cheap. Really is good fun.
