Mega Drive. Yeah!

[JamesC]

I've had some free time today and on a whim, decided to play Ghostbusters on the Megadrive.
This version is an exclusive and bears no relation to the game that was ported to all the home micros a few years earlier. Sega designed this cute action platformer in 1989.
I've had this game for ages but never spent much time with it as it's a bit tricky to start off and I always lost interest.
I'm really glad I persevered with it today because it's a really great game that's totally surpassed my expectations. It controls really well, looks great and has some cool tunes (a very strange off-key rendition of the classic theme though). I especially like the enemy design. There are loads of bosses and mini-bosses and they're really full of character.
A brilliant, quirky action platformer that's definitely worth sticking with. Once you start earning money and buying new gear, it really comes into its own.

[spanky debrest]

I believe Ghostbusters MD was like Whiprush - a project Sega contracted out to Compile. I'm fond of it because it was an early game with cool tunes but I never did get into it.

 

It's also another game that'll likely receive an enhancement patch from some talented Mega Drive devs who have put out a lot of cool stuff recently (it'll feature Winston as a selectable character).

 

 

 

[JamesC]

It'd definitely be cool to see Winston included. 

His stats would have to be the same as one of the other characters though, or it would ruin the game balance. 

[phillv85]

I always wish I’d picked ghostbusters up. I was always waiting to see one for under a tenner when I started collecting and they were always £12-15. Now it’s about £60 🙄

[electricmastro]

13 hours ago, JamesC said:

I've had some free time today and on a whim, decided to play Ghostbusters on the Megadrive.
This version is an exclusive and bears no relation to the game that was ported to all the home micros a few years earlier. Sega designed this cute action platformer in 1989.
I've had this game for ages but never spent much time with it as it's a bit tricky to start off and I always lost interest.
I'm really glad I persevered with it today because it's a really great game that's totally surpassed my expectations. It controls really well, looks great and has some cool tunes (a very strange off-key rendition of the classic theme though). I especially like the enemy design. There are loads of bosses and mini-bosses and they're really full of character.
A brilliant, quirky action platformer that's definitely worth sticking with. Once you start earning money and buying new gear, it really comes into its own.

Yeah, Compile was usually reliable for good quality games, not just Ghostbusters, but also Puyo Puyo.

[Yasawas]

I’ve had this screenshot of Ghostbusters in a folder for months after I almost made a thread about comical retro-gaming screenshots and then bottled it. Anyway, still funny!

 

[electricmastro]

Mega Drive might have the best port of California Games, because of all the little animations which spruce up the game with life.

 

[SMD]

"Genesis" you better watch how you talk around here, lad

[spanky debrest]

Some of the games on the MD Mini 2 console run overclocked to reduce slowdown (such as Viewpoint) but I hope the new ports of Space Harrier and Space Harrier II - which apparently feature smooth scaling - run as intended on actual hardware.

[Rex Grossman]

It’s great the new minj is getting a European release. Not that I’m going to pick one up. Would rather put that money towards a few days of gas and electricity seeing as I have the first one already.

[freddykrueger]

I feel the titles on offer with new one are better than the original mini....but my goodness Sega are really milking the genesis/MD cow

[Oh Danny Boy]

The Saturn mini!!! Sega doesn’t seem keen to acknowledge that they made systems other than the Megadrive. 

[spanky debrest]

Milking the cow with M2 at the helm seems to lead to multiple brand new accurate arcade ports and other significant games being released for the Mega Drive though.

 

This time there are almost a dozen official new games to be added to the system's library.

[SMD]

9 minutes ago, Oh Danny Boy said:

The Saturn mini!!! Sega doesn’t seem keen to acknowledge that they made systems other than the Megadrive. 

 

to be fair they've already said it's because of the chip shortage: https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/06/sega-has-considered-dreamcast-and-saturn-mini-but-is-worried-about-extreme-costs

[Phantoon]

30 minutes ago, Oh Danny Boy said:

The Saturn mini!!! Sega doesn’t seem keen to acknowledge that they made systems other than the Megadrive. 

I think we'll get Dreamcast Mini before Saturn happens. Actually takes less power to emulate decently.

 

Edit: also the Saturn's library is a bit of an odd one where even the Official Saturn mag told us to import. Going for officially released games will result in libraries much less interesting than what us old farts had. For example, a Saturn with no Vampire Saviour would feel wrong.

[Rex Grossman]

2 hours ago, Phantoon said:

I think we'll get Dreamcast Mini before Saturn happens. Actually takes less power to emulate decently.

 

Edit: also the Saturn's library is a bit of an odd one where even the Official Saturn mag told us to import. Going for officially released games will result in libraries much less interesting than what us old farts had. For example, a Saturn with no Vampire Saviour would feel wrong.

They would pack such a thing with Japanese exclusives anyway. That’s what they doing with the new MD Mini.

[mash]

3 hours ago, Phantoon said:

I think we'll get Dreamcast Mini before Saturn happens. Actually takes less power to emulate decently.

 

Edit: also the Saturn's library is a bit of an odd one where even the Official Saturn mag told us to import. Going for officially released games will result in libraries much less interesting than what us old farts had. For example, a Saturn with no Vampire Saviour would feel wrong.

it'd probably be easier to emulate the model 2 and CPS2 games rather than the Saturn conversions. This would get you superior versions of some of the games that were on Saturn. 

[Oh Danny Boy]

8 hours ago, Phantoon said:

I think we'll get Dreamcast Mini before Saturn happens. Actually takes less power to emulate decently.

 

Edit: also the Saturn's library is a bit of an odd one where even the Official Saturn mag told us to import. Going for officially released games will result in libraries much less interesting than what us old farts had. For example, a Saturn with no Vampire Saviour would feel wrong.

Saturn was the console of that generation imo, so many ageless classics and games with character. Completely hamstrung by SEGA America/Europe who didn’t push the console’s strengths. 

 

You could still easily make a console stuff full of classics from just the American/European regions. 

 

[Phantoon]

11 hours ago, Oh Danny Boy said:

Saturn was the console of that generation imo, so many ageless classics and games with character. Completely hamstrung by SEGA America/Europe who didn’t push the console’s strengths. 

 

You could still easily make a console stuff full of classics from just the American/European regions. 

 

It's favourite console while I'm playing it, if that makes sense. It is a bit of a muddled thing; born too expensive at a time when people were least receptive to its strengths. If people as a whole had realised Saturn 2D would end up looking so much better than PlayStation 3D then maybe things could've been different. 

 

I don't know. For me the likes of OoT, Metal Gear Solid, Mario 64 and Resident Evil 2 are definitive releases for that era. Saturn's library is possibly the best of the three for the kind of gamer I am, but nothing reaches those heights. I also wish Sega had done more with the franchises started in the previous eras - a Sonic or a Streets of Rage where they went nuts with the capabilities of the system would've really hit the spot.

[DarhkFox]

A friend bought his dads megadrive collection up to sell on ebay. The temptation was too strong. I got the lot for £200.

 

All boxes and Instructions (although i think one might be missing instructions) . A few NTSC games but they work region free.

 

Ghouls and Ghosts PAL

Cue Ball PAL

James Pond 2: Robocod Classics PAL

Rock and Roll Racing PAL

Sonic 2 PAL

Sonic PAL

Krustys Super Fun House NTSC

Worms PAL

Sonic NTSC

Super Thunder Blade PAL

Mega Swiv PAL

Stargate PAL

Kid Chameleon NTSC

Quackshot PAL

Mega Bomberman PAL

Psycho Pinball PAL

Super Hang On

Tiny Toon Busters Hidden Treasure PAL

Wonderboy in Monster Land PAL

Castle of Illusion PAL

Aladdin PAL

Fatal Fury NTSC

 

+ A few Fifa games that I don't care about.

[phillv85]

Nice little collection there! Might be worth giving those FIFA games a try. Those early ones were really fun.

[JamesC]

Some great games there. 

Psycho Pinball is an underrated gem. 

Same goes for Tiny Toons which is some lovely Konami action.

[AceGrace]

So the Megadrive 2 mini is being released in Europe.  No preorder links yet though

[DarhkFox]

3 hours ago, JamesC said:

Some great games there. 

Psycho Pinball is an underrated gem. 

Same goes for Tiny Toons which is some lovely Konami action.

 

Yeah I believe I've already got Tiny toons but I love the game enough already to have 2 copies now 😄

[Yasawas]

17 hours ago, phillv85 said:

Nice little collection there! Might be worth giving those FIFA games a try. Those early ones were really fun.

 

Those user-controllable goal celebration sound effects in FIFA '95 were as good as the series got imo. Delightfully obnoxious. 

[electricmastro]

Found out that Frogger on Mega Drive is considerably different from the SNES version. Mega Drive being based on arcade while SNES is based on the PS1 reboot. Also has nice music which I understand isn't always there in other versions.

 

 

[phillv85]

6 minutes ago, Yasawas said:

 

Those user-controllable goal celebration sound effects in FIFA '95 were as good as the series got imo. Delightfully obnoxious. 

 

Many a kidney beat was thrown during those celebrations 😂

[JamesC]

I've been messing about with loads of 8 and 16bit platformers recently, and really enjoying them.

I've never considered myself a Sonic fan but the only ones I've spent much time with are the first two.

Today I decided to give Sonic 3 & Knuckles a proper go.

I'm pretty blown away to be honest. It really does feel like something special, with some fantastic , inventive level design and some absolutely gorgeous graphics and sound. Sonic always looked lovely, but this one really pushes the boat out with some cool effects.

The levels feel more expansive in this instalment, and somehow less frustrating, though they haven't reinvented the wheel. This is Sega pushing the concept to the absolute limit. At least as far as could be achieved on the stock Megadrive. It still amazes me, what can be achieved on hardware from 1988!

Something else I'll say for Sonic is that the developers are absolutely clear in their vision of what a 2D Sonic game should be. The controls couldn't be more simple - just the d-pad and jump. They make no concessions whatsoever to Mario World style world maps or platforming physics as became the done thing by this time. This is very much Sega's own, completely different take on the genre. Great stuff but that Sonic & Knuckles lock-on cart is still wacky as hell.

 

[Paulando]

1 hour ago, JamesC said:

The levels feel more expansive in this instalment, and somehow less frustrating

Haven’t got to the infamous barrel in Carnival Night Zone yet, I imagine? 
 

Really good to hear you’re enjoying them. They’re fantastic games and haven’t aged a day, unlike a lot platformers from that era. Definitely try Sonic Mania once you’re done with S3&K, if you haven’t already.

[ulala]

I just can’t get on with s3, definitely prefer 1 and 2