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Post by VectorX on May 18, 2013 15:36:09 GMT -5
Nice, how does Vindicators compare with the arcade original?
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Post by TrekMD on May 18, 2013 15:37:09 GMT -5
Nice, how does Vindicators compare with the arcade original? That just arrived and I've not had a chance to test it. If it follows general NES fashion, it'll be its own version of the game.
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Post by wyldephang on May 19, 2013 20:24:59 GMT -5
That's a nice collection, Trek! My favorite series on the NES was Mega Man, but there's a good number of other NES games I'd look forward to playing if I had the means to do so. I've entertained the idea of buying a clone console.
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Post by TrekMD on May 19, 2013 20:36:57 GMT -5
That's a nice collection, Trek! My favorite series on the NES was Mega Man, but there's a good number of other NES games I'd look forward to playing if I had the means to do so. I've entertained the idea of buying a clone console. Thanks! This clone was too cheap to not buy it. I figured it made sense to get it and get some games that I don't have on my other systems.
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Post by wyldephang on May 21, 2013 2:28:22 GMT -5
You're welcome. The NES library is one of the largest and most plentiful in the retro collecting market. You shouldn't have much difficulty finding the best games for a reasonable price! Before I buy a clone, I'd like to try to repair our old machine. For one, the locking mechanism that keeps the cartridge docked in the down position has failed, so I can't depress the game into the console. Also, the 72-pin connector is worn and dirty. After those two problems have been addressed, the system should be working. At that point, I'll need to buy an A/V cable because ours has been misplaced.
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Post by TrekMD on May 21, 2013 7:07:04 GMT -5
So, I've noticed! Tons of game for it.
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Post by gliptitude on May 21, 2013 10:48:35 GMT -5
Standouts in your NES haul are Bionic Commando and the first Contra game. Bionic Commando is among my very favorite console games.
Is this your first immersion in NES, Trek? If you're looking for recommendations, here's mine:
(Bionic Commando) (cyberpunk nazi hunting platformer with no jumping?!)
MARBLE MADNESS (perhaps the best port of this game)
Super Mario Bros 2 (the most stylish and surreal installment in the franchise)
Goonies II (epic platforming adventure game, intended as a sequel to the movie, with many unique and curious elements)
RBI Baseball 3 (fun for 2 players, especially if you were an MLB fan in 1990. Base stealing is ridiculously fun and unrealistic in this game.)
Otherwise there's the undisputed classics, (Zelda, Contra, Metroid, Super Mario Bros 1 & 3), some early hits that are still fun, (Excite Bike, Punchout) and the repetitive but quality Mega Man series.
A lot of NES games you can spend a lot of time with and are intriguing, but have annoying or depressing aspects to them, in my opinion, (Karnov, Rygar, Blaster Master, Jackie Chan, Guardian Legend, Gunsmoke, Ghosts n' Ghoblins..).
Tons and tons of games worth checking out on this console. ... eh probably you already knew that though.
BTW, I have been spending a bit of time lately on Nintendoage.com, and they have a very supportive homebrew community. ... So I am trying to figure out why the homebrew game selection for NES is so much smaller than Vectrex?
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Post by VectorX on May 21, 2013 11:42:21 GMT -5
MARBLE MADNESS (perhaps the best port of this game) How does it compare to the Genesis version, do you know? Because I was surprised at how good that was (I thought you could only play it with a trackball for best results!). BTW, I have been spending a bit of time lately on Nintendoage.com, and they have a very supportive homebrew community. ... So I am trying to figure out why the homebrew game selection for NES is so much smaller than Vectrex? Was the NES easy or hard to program for? That's all I can think of. Anyway, back to the original subject matter, I'm currently having fun with Space Rubbish, an interesting turn on Asteroids.
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Post by gliptitude on May 21, 2013 12:01:01 GMT -5
I only briefly tried out the Genesis version, in emulation, years ago. As I remember, it was a bit smoother on NES, (played NES version just a week or two ago). I think the graphics are well suited to NES, that it doesn't benefit from the upgrade to Gen, and looks quite nice as "8-bit" game. Controls are perfect on a NES pad. I can't really say one is better, just that the NES one is among the best games on that console, and holds up very well. ... Having attempted to learn about both Vectrex and NES programming, (and yet not succeeded at either), it appears to me that NES is easier to program, more accessible and that NES programming requires much less in the way of graphics tweaking. The NES seems to have been designed for more specific functions, with a more modular palette of functions, which every game uses in a similar way. Vectrex seems more open ended and there is a huge issue of graphics display complications. NES game cartridges entail an additional MAPPER component, which has lead homebrewers to salvage old carts in order to get the particular mapper they need. ... Apparently this is NOT a significant obstacle in making a new NES cart though, as there are adequate new stock mappers available. Only thing I can think of is that NES games are typically longer and more complex, games with a story and great variety in levels and sprites - lots of material to come up with. Sorry to digress from thread topic.
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Post by VectorX on May 21, 2013 12:05:20 GMT -5
Controls are perfect on a NES pad. Yeah that's what surprised me, is how very good the control is just by using the good ol' Genny pad (I don't think a trackball controller was ever made for the system). I still wouldn't mind having that game if I were to come across it for a decent price, and I never really loved the arcade original or anything either. Sorry to digress from thread topic. Topic drift happens, not a real big deal.
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Post by wyldephang on May 21, 2013 13:43:17 GMT -5
BTW, I have been spending a bit of time lately on Nintendoage.com, and they have a very supportive homebrew community. ... So I am trying to figure out why the homebrew game selection for NES is so much smaller than Vectrex? I think there's a healthy homebrew community for the NES, but perhaps we don't hear as much about it. After all, NES homebrewers struggle to create games that stand out amidst a library that already includes Mario, Castlevania, Metroid, Bionic Commando, Mega Man, Final Fantasy, and Zelda. Since the Vectrex faded out so early in its lifespan, I think there'd be a greater demand for games to bolster the library. The Dreamcast suffered a similar fate, and incidentally, it has one of the largest homebrew communities I've ever seen. Homebrew games tend to travel through Dreamcast channels rapidly, as every game can easily be burned onto a CD-R with minimal costs incurred on the part of the player.
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Post by TrekMD on May 21, 2013 16:28:52 GMT -5
Yep, first time digging into the NES. I tested all the games I got and only one won't work with the clone, Gauntlet. Though you can start the game and all, gameplay doesn't work right as your character moves through walls and doens't grab objects. His fire/weapons also have no effect on enemies. I was told the Tengen games might be an issue with clone systems for the NES. I am lucky that only one game did not work and that it only cost me $5. Thanks for the recommendations. I'll keep them in mind. I have been checking the homebrew community but it does seem to be small. Not sure why either. I did already order one homebrew game, though, Assimilate. No, it has nothing to do with the Borg. Check it out: nessylum.wordpress.com/
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Post by wyldephang on May 21, 2013 19:43:54 GMT -5
Castlevania III is another title that may not work with your clone. Nothing beats native hardware, but a clone machine is often too tempting an offer to pass up. The NES machines are an aging lot. With proper maintenance, they'll last for many years, but a lot of previous owners have neglected their consoles. It's tough to get behind a used console sale when you're not altogether certain of what awaits at the other end of the transaction. That's why a clone console, which comes with a guarantee, is a safer choice in most situations.
I'd love to cast some recommendations your way. Before I start, I should mention that I started gaming in the late 1980s, well after the Space Invaders vogue had passed and console-specific games were being made. A lot of the NES titles, my first games, were too time-consuming for the arcade. For instance, you could immerse yourself into The Legend of Zelda for hours, but an arcade machine would be designed to have quick, non-stop action, constantly rotating through customers to maximize profit. So, keep in mind that we're likely to have different tastes.
You already own some of the best arcade-style NES games: Contra, Life Force, Bubble Bobble, and so forth. While we're on that subject, I would highly recommend buying a copy of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Manhattan Project. It's a fantastic side-scrolling beat-'em-up with two-player support, and I believe it overshadows the first two TMNT games. Other arcade-style action titles for your consideration include Castlevania, Ninja Gaiden, Blaster Master, and Gun Nac.
As a new NES collector, I think you'll want to eventually pick up the essentials: Super Mario Bros. 3, The Legend of Zelda, Mega Man 2, Punch-Out, and Metroid are among the best recommendations I can make, along with anything Glip recommended. In fact, the entire Mega Man series is solid; I liked MM3 and MM5 the best, but MM2 seems to be the overwhelming favorite. If you're interested in the more peculiar titles, I remember having a lot of fun with Little Nemo and A Boy and His Blob, so I'd suggest tracking them down.
I have a great appreciation for role-playing games. As such, I couldn't leave without recommending Dragon Warrior III, the preeminent RPG on the console. I believe it sets a standard of polish and production that not even the first Final Fantasy game managed to reach. If you like the concept of RPG games, but you're averse to turn-based battle mechanics, I'd recommend Crystalis, a game that truly had no precursor. It's similar to The Legend of Zelda, but with the emphasis on NPC interaction and leveling up. My term for this type of game is "action RPG," a style that would be perfected in the 16-bit generation with The Secret of Mana and Illusion of Gaia.
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Post by TrekMD on May 21, 2013 21:48:17 GMT -5
Thanks wyldephang. This particular clone couldn't be beat at $15!
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Post by VectorX on May 22, 2013 8:19:33 GMT -5
If you're interested in the more peculiar titles, I remember having a lot of fun with Little Nemo and A Boy and His Blob, so I'd suggest tracking them down. Although original, a lot of people didn't think Boy/Blob was very fun, so I wouldn't pay too much for it, although I don't think it's real expensive (but I could be wrong, as I don't know much about the NES). I'd recommend Crystalis, a game that truly had no precursor. Another highly-rated fan favorite there
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