MAME ROW #78 - Insector X

[obsidianspider]

This is the MAME Random Of the Week #78

The three random numbers for this week are: 867 1892 802

Click here to vote! Which game do you choose for MAME ROW #78?

The result of the poll is posted on Wednesday, so we have Monday and Tuesday for experimentation.

867
Game Name: Kid Niki - Radical Ninja (US)
Company: Irem (Data East USA license)
Year: 1986
ROM file name: kidniki.zip

1892
Game Name: Tank Busters
Company: Valadon Automation
Year: 1985
ROM file name: tankbust.zip

802
Game Name: Insector X (World)
Company: Taito Corporation Japan
Year: 1989
ROM file name: insectx.zip

What is the MAME ROW?

MAME ROW stands for MAME Random Of the Week. We randomly select an arcade game from the 0.78 MAME Reference Set to play on the week. The idea is to play games we've never played before, interact with other forum members, post hi-scores, share game strategies, fun facts, and (the most important) HAVE FUN!

Notes:

1. We usually post hi-scores screenshots after playing with only one credit. If you used more than one credit, please mention it on your post.

2. There's no need to use RetroPie to join the MAME ROW! You can play it on any platform you want.

3. Feel free to post your hi-score (or any content about the game) anytime you want on the previous rounds topics (link below).

Every Monday we create a topic at the "General Discussion and Gaming > MAME Random Of the Week" forum section with the 3 random games to be voted. And on Wednesday we check the result.

These "rules" are constantly being improved!

Previous Rounds

[GtBFilms]

Excellent selection, I've not tried them yet, but the Tank Busters video reminded me of playing a sit-down first-person perspective tank game in the arcades. I had to do a bit of searching but eventually found it: Tokyo Wars.

I suspect my poor little raspberry pi won't be able to run that one though.

Edit: turns out this is tricky for emulation. But someone has made a remake. Tokyo Warfare.

Right, now back the MAMEROW games...

[thelostsoul]

@gtbfilms I never was into(realistic) tank games, but the footage looks interesting.

For the games selection, off course Tank Busters, as the other games don't look interesting to play for highscore. Still didn't added the tank game, but surely I will, regardless of which game wins this election.

[grant2258]

@obsidianspider said in MAME ROW #78:

Company: Irem (Data East USA license)
Year: 1986
ROM file name: kidniki.zip

kid nikki it has to be this i a damn wonderful game!

[obsidianspider]

Initial impressions:

Kid Niki - hit detection on his sword attack seems wonky. Sometimes it hits an enemy, sometimes not, ending in death.

Tank Busters - Steering is weird and the game is pretty boring. I'm not totally sure what the goal is to complete a level.

Insector X - Typical Taito. A fun horizontal "cute 'em up", but challenging in a fun way.

[grant2258]

@obsidianspider

what version of mame are you using?

[obsidianspider]

@grant2258 MAME 2003. I use that for most games unless they don't work, then I'll try fbalpha

[grant2258]

kid niki plays perfect for me are you using the lastest version from the source or the bin install

[obsidianspider]

@grant2258 I'm on the latest binary. I just updated this morning.

All that said, it could just be 1980s game mechanics, or I suck at Kid Niki. Or both. ;)

[grant2258]

@obsidianspider

lol thats true its all in the eye of the beholder. I always use the source. I tried the other games Insector X reminds me so much of newzealand story the feel of the game and the music

[mediamogul]

@obsidianspider said in MAME ROW #78:

Insector X - Typical Taito. A fun horizontal "cute 'em up", but challenging in a fun way.

I happen to be going through a cute 'em up phase at the moment with games like 'Air Zonk', 'Fantasy Zone' and 'Cosmo Gang: The Video', so I'll have to give that a shot.

[GtBFilms]

All pretty playable games this week.

I thought Tank Busters was a little dull after a few games though, and I'm not sure what it was about Insector X but it felt a bit lacking - perhaps I'm used to the more heavy-duty weapons from R-Type, and the power-ups in this one just felt a bit puny by comparison.

Kid Niki I actually enjoyed more than I expected, and although it's clearly a memory sort of game, I did enjoy playing it. I didn't encounter any control issues (using lr-mame2003 and 0.78 romset).

So this week my vote goes to Kid Niki. (although I will be happy whatever is chosen, none of them are bad games)

[mediamogul]

@gtbfilms said in MAME ROW #78:

I'm not sure what it was about Insector X but it felt a bit lacking

One thing that hurts it's presentation is that the music and sound effects are really thin and unsatisfying for such a visually interesting game. The Weapons really begin to improve by the beginning of the third level if you don't die, but even if you do, that particular level offers up enough of the power-up bugs to get you back on track pretty quickly. While it doesn't measure up to the best of the genre, it's more than a fair bit of fun that had me wanting to play "just one more game" for well over an hour. If this guy ever teamed up with Stanley the Bug Man, there'd be hell to pay.

[AndersHP]

@mediamogul Sorry for going OT, but which is your favourite Fantasy Zone? I love the Master System version, but that's purely for nostalgic reasons.

[mediamogul]

@andershp

The Master System version is great and also the first one I ever played, so I'm really nostalgic for that as well, but over time, I'd say the arcade original has become my personal favorite.

[obsidianspider]

This week's winner is Insector X

[grant2258]

only 2 days of voting! so not fair for kid niki lol :)

[obsidianspider]

@grant2258 We only have two days of voting every week. You can still play Kid Niki, no one is stopping you :)

[grant2258]

@obsidianspider

lol im just upset our kid niki lost. ill go spit the dummy out :)

[mediamogul]

I always like to compare arcade games with their home ports and I was very interested to read that the Genesis port of 'Insector X' used improved sound and a more realistic approach to the graphics. However, after playing it, I feel that it's a pretty big step down. Everything unique about the game is stripped away, leaving a stiff and generic shooter, no different than what you'd expect to find in 'Action 52'. Supposedly the Famicom has a much more faithful port and I hope to get around to trying it out as well.