Share your hidden gems and insider tips

Clyde

@thelostsoul said in Share your hidden gems and insider tips:

Btw, I missed the first line of your posting saying its Arcade.

It may have not been there at the time of your post, as Matty's post was edited after that.

@MattyL42
I think @thelostsoul meant that you should mention the version of the games you recommend here, as many games were published for many different systems, and not every version of a game is recommendable.

Just trying to help untangling your conversation. 😇

thelostsoul

@clyde I think there must be just a small misinterpretation. Everything is fine and resolved. Thank you for the positive intention.

I am currently testing out some new findings on the PC Engine / TurboGfx-16. As this system never got a release in Europe and I never played it, all of these games are Hidden Gems to me. So, I will not post anything from it. But man, what a console I missed.

Clyde

@thelostsoul The PCE/TGX-16 has two of the best Flipper games I know, Alien Crush and it's successor Devil's Crush (Devil Crash in Japan). Another Flipper game, Time Cruise II, doesn't come near those two, but has an interesting multi-screen layout.

The system also has some nice Shoot'em Ups like Gunhead, Paranoia, PC Denjin / Punkic Cyborgs, and Super Star Soldier.

Finally, if I'd known back then that the Shinobi port for this system was that close to the Arcade version that I could play as a youngster in a nearby video rental shop, I'd have done my utmost to get that console. I just love that game up to this day.

So much for the gems I found for this system … yet. You're very welcome to share your own findings.

thelostsoul

@clyde said in Share your hidden gems and insider tips:

@thelostsoul The PCE/TGX-16 has two of the best Flipper games I know, Alien Crush and it's successor Devil's Crush (Devil Crash in Japan).

I am aware of those too, off course. Because they got so much recommendations. There is even a third game of this series released on the SNES, Jaki Crush.

The system also has some nice Shoot'em Ups like Gunhead, Paranoia, PC Denjin / Punkic Cyborgs, and Super Star Soldier.

This is crazy how many good shmups are on this system. I excluded (almost) all Arcade ports. The system have its own superb original shmups. For the CD titles, I only could just include some of them, because storage and I also have Playstation and Mega CD games.

So much for the gems I found for this system … yet. You're very welcome to share your own findings.

Ok then, I think I will do this for this system too.

thelostsoul

PC Engine

First of all, I want to say this system never came out officially in Europe/Germany and so every game of it is somewhat hidden gem to me. That makes it hard to me to decide and I just include popular games as well (which I tried to avoid in this thread, but whatever). Nevertheless, I want to share my findings. In my hand selected virtual collection are almost 90 games included, only 4 of them are CD titles. For the CD titles, I have not more space. Even if I would have, the need for manually editing files makes me reluctant to add more games. I will leave out many titles here. Generally arcade ports aren't included and if, then there is a reason for it.

I also don't make a difference between TurboGrafx-16 and TurboDuo games - if they run on the emulator. Whenever I can, I play the US version of the games. Strangely, some US versions didn't work, so I had to search for a different rom. Some games are friendly in Japanese versions, even with text they are still playable I think. And be aware that the US titles are often completely different.

There will be some mediocre games too, just because they are not very well known or have unique style or ideas in it. Some of them are excluded anyway, for not flooding. For the must have needs (just my opinion), I marked those titles with bold <Must Have>.

Shmups (13)

I start with the strength of this system, the Shoot'em Ups. CD titles aren't covered here.

Air Zonk (USA) / PC Denjin – Punkic Cyborg <Must Have>
A horizontal Cute'em Up shooter, which parodes the Bonk character and other shooters for this system.
Barunba (J)
A bit of average horizontal shooter, with the twist of rotable gun. Yes, you can rotate it, but sadly only in one direction.
Cyber Core (U)
A standard vertical shooter with bugs as theme. Awesome! Some compare it with Dragon Spirit.
Gunhed (J) / Blazing Lazers <Must Have>
One of the legendary classic top vertical shmups! This is just a must have. There is also a special edition called Gunhed Taikai for specifically made for highscore runs.
Metal Stoker (J)
A top down multi directional shmup in a maze like area. Not the usual stuff, but fun.
Override - Mission Code -Override- (J) <Must Have>
A good and solid vertical shmup recommended by many people.
Psycho Chaser (J)
A nice top down vertical shmup where you can change your weapon on your will. It is represented as a run and gun, but it is still a typical shmup.
Psychosis (U)
Horizontal shmup. Did you ever want play R-Type with 2 satellites? This game have a similar gameplay feel to it, but it comes with an original interesting story - for its time.
Sinistron (U)
A slower paced horizontal shmup. You can open the ships "mouth" to shoot in more directions. And charged up, your ship does damage everything surrounding it with a shield like weapon. Plays mediocore, but somewhat unique.
Soldier Blade (U) <Must Have>
STOP everything now! I mean everything, stop breathing, stop thinking! Get this vertical shmup and play it for the rest of your life! Ok, that was a bit dramatic, but this game is so good. Played it twice in my life. I know, I get a bit giggly. There is a Special Edition too, known as Caravan Stage, specifically for highscore runs only.
Super Star Soldier (U) <Must Have>
Another system defining and highly praised vertical shmup for this system.
Terra Cresta II - Mandrer no Gyakushuu (J)
A solid and less known vertical shmup. There is an editor for the formations you can setup, if you collect them ingame.
W Ring - The Double Rings (J)
A less known and more or less "nothing special about" horizontal shooter. It plays solid and everything seems to be fine. Why not, if you need more shmups?!

Other genres (31)

There are a lot of other type of games which you should definetely try out. CD titles aren't covered here.

Alien Crush (U) <Must Have>
An often recommended and excellent pinball game with Alien theme. Also check out Devil's Crush!!
Batman (J) <Must Have>
A top down maze like type of gameplay with Batman made by the same company (Sunsoft) who made the NES Batman game. This one plays a little like Pac-Man, but evolved and modernized.
Battle Lode Runner (J)
Probably the best version of the game of all time. It even got a 4 player mode, puzzle mode, level editor and some other bonus.
Bomberman '94 (J) <Must Have>
Another classic which does not need any introduction. This version counts as one of the best ever. Or Bomberman '93, but at least one of them is a must have for this console.
Bonk's Adventure (USA) <Must Have>
Actually, this is the mascot for the PC Engine system. A great series of Jump & Runs. You must include all 3 games, Bonk's Revenge and Bonk 3 too.
Busou Keiji Cyber Cross (J)
Side scrolling kick and punch type of game, maybe comparable to Altered Beast. To me not very exciting and a bit of boring gameplay. But got so many recommendations, I had to include. The music is really catchy.
Chew Man Fu (U)
A puzzle like top down maze game, where you have to move balls to right color.
Circus Lido (J)
A cute puzzle like single screen sideview platformer. Take enemies with your tongue and feed them to a plant.
City Hunter (J)
Side scrolling Act/Adventure. Not sure if the Japanese language is a barrier, but the animations and backround graphics are so nice to watch. Based on an anime, not the Jacky Chan movie.
Cratermaze (U) / Doraemon: Meikyū Daisakusen <Must Have>
A top down maze game originally a Doraemon licence. Collect items, dig holes, do oldschool maze stuff.
Die Hard (J)
Top down action game based on the movie. Originally this came out for the NES, but his version is superior to it. Not sure if this is a high quality game.
Doraemon - Nobita no Dorabian Night
Another title where I am not sure about its quality. It's a strange jump and run with cute graphics and so it got me.
Dungeon Explorer (USA)
An Act/Adventure RPG game with classes. Up to 5 players can play this simultaneously! Secret of Mana could only do 3.
Final Lap Twin (USA) <Must Have>
Combine Racing with RPG and you get this. HOW?! Yeah, crazy mix. Seems to be the norm on this system. If you prefer, it have also normal racing game included.
Gekisha Boy (J) [T+Eng] <Must Have>
In this game, you are a photographer with comic graphics. You get points by photographing interesting objects. On this one, I actually got a translation.
Genji Tsuushin Agedama (J)
A side scrolling run and gun shooter with autoscroll. If you like Contra or Gunstar Heroes, this is similar to those games.
Ghost Manor (U)
Side scrolling platformer with horror theme. Maybe gameplay and level design wise its just average, but I like its art style and atmosphere. It feels like playing an Amiga game.
Gomola Speed (J) <Must Have>
Some say its like Snake and Gauntlet mixed up. You have to get all pieces of your worms part and then find the exit. Later stages have scrolling too.
Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu (U)
Another side scrolling platformer. Its about loosely based on jackie Chan.
Legendary Axe, The (U) <Must Have>
Side scrolling action game. As a launch title and with gigantic sprites, this was the answer to Castlevania. This is one of the games defined this system.
Mesopotamia (J) / Somer Assault <Must Have>
An unique side scrolling action game. The main protagonist and its movement is different than anything else.
Military Madness (U) <Must Have>
A turn based strategy game. Another title defined the PC Engine system.
Moto Roader II (J)
This is something like Micro Machines/Rock'n Roll Racing like racing game. I don't like it much, but it gets high praise and is a system defining title.
Neutopia (U) <Must Have>
Practically the answer to Zelda. It's an Act/Adventure and gets good reviews. There is a similar sequel.
Parasol Stars - The Story of Bubble Bobble III (U) <Must Have>
Third game of the Bubble Bobble series. Its kinda like the other games, but with a parasol. A parasol is not an umbrella!
ShockMan (U) <Must Have>
This is your Mega Man on PC Engine. Some stages are normal horizontal shmups. The graphics style and story dialogs are cute and pleasing.
Skweek (J)
A cute action-puzzle game, half puzzle, half action. Walk over all tiles to win the game. About the versions of this game for other systems, I am not sure if this is the best one, but I think it is.
Time Cruise (U) <Must Have>
In case you want more pinball, this is one. The table goes even to the side, its huge. And it got some interesting ideas, so it does not get boring so fast.
Tricky Kick (USA)
Actually not really inventive, its still a solid and cute puzzle game, where you have to put same animal to others to win the game.
Valkyrie no Densetsu (J)
It is somewhat a top down like action, shooter, adventure game. I am not sure right now. Originally an Arcade title, this version have some differences, including a password system. So, I favor this version.
World Court Tennis (USA) <Must Have>
A tennis game with an additional RPG mode. These crazy mixes on the system. Lovely.

CD titles (4)

These are the only CD games included with my collection. There are a lot more games for this, but I don't have enough space for it and just pass on them now. All of the soundtracks from these games are fantastic, alone that is a reason to play them.

Akumajou Dracula X - Chi no Rondo (SCD)(JPN)02.iso <Must Have>
One of the must have titles for this system! It's Castlevania and its one of the best of its kind. And it have CD music! Also known as Rondo of Blood. It is the direct prequel to Symphony of the Night, but game mechanic is still classic Castlevania. I just learned the SNES version Dracula X is based on this game, but changed a lot.
Gate of Thunder (SCD)(JPN)02.iso <Must Have>
Another system defining horizontal shmup. Here is everything spot on. It reminds a bit Thunder Force 3, so if you liked that, you will like this too.
Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire (ACD)(JPN)02.iso <Must Have>
Sapphire for short, a system defining vertical shmup. This game is crazy, it feels like a shmup for the Playstation! Graphics and action everywhere!
Seirei Senshi Spriggan (CD)(JPN)02.iso <Must Have>
Spriggan for short and guess what?! A system defining vertical shmup! This game have a slight Aleste like feeling to it, no wonder, the working title was Aleste. Incredible graphics style.

Removed for Arcade (6)

Finally, here are some games I removed in favor of the Arcade version, after some more research before posting here.

Bloody Wolf
Arcade version is based on Battle Rangers. PCE version is only 1 player. Not sure if it is easier, cant tell it now.
Cadash
The Arcade version does look and sound better and is the original version. So there is no reason for PCE.
Don Doko Don
A Bubble Bobble inspired game, but with a hammer and a bearded man.
Genpei Toumaden
Side scrolling samurai/horror theme action game. Very nice style on the graphics.
Marchen Maze
A top down jump and shot like game with cute graphics.
Splatterhouse
A side scrolling brawler with splatter and horror theme. Really fun to play. This version remains excellent, but the Arcade version is told to be better. Part 2 and 3 came out for the Mega Drive/Genesis.

Edit: Added the tennis+rpg mix game, one of the most important titles. Forgot it, I don't know how.

Clyde

@thelostsoul said in Share your hidden gems and insider tips:

Doraemon - Nobita no Dorabian Night

I stumbled upon another Doreamon title for the PCE yesterday: Doraemon: Meikyū Daisakusen (engl. Cratermaze). A simple, not very difficult maze game with cute music and a relaxing pace. I just wanted to test it, but kept playing until after the first boss fight at level 30. Then I made a save state to continue another time.

It should also be suitable for young children because of its cuteness, slow pace, and flat learning curve.

edit: Care to add the japanese Title of Air Zonk, "PC Denjin – Punkic Cyborg(s)", to your list? It may help people like me who use the japanese names to identify the game.

thelostsoul

@clyde said in Share your hidden gems and insider tips:

I stumbled upon another Doreamon title for the PCE yesterday: Doraemon: Meikyū Daisakusen (engl. Cratermaze).

If you give a closer look to the list, that game is already included. ;-)

A simple, not very difficult maze game with cute music and a relaxing pace. I just wanted to test it, but kept playing until after the first boss fight at level 30. Then I made a save state to continue another time.

The game is interesting and fun to play, definitely want try it out. The whole concept seems not to be very new, but it plays and feels great.

edit: Care to add the japanese Title of Air Zonk, "PC Denjin – Punkic Cyborg(s)", to your list? It may help people like me who use the japanese names to identify the game.

I agree and done. I remember wanting doing it in original posting, but just forgot. Thanks for reminding it.

Clyde

@thelostsoul said in Share your hidden gems and insider tips:

If you give a closer look to the list, that game is already included. ;-)

Ah yes, I somehow missed to look for Cratermaze although I mentioned it myself. 😳

I agree and done. I remember wanting doing it in original posting, but just forgot. Thanks for reminding it.

Thanks! *couch* Maybe do the same for Cratermaze? 😇

thelostsoul

Done. ;-)

Btw, I had problems with two of the Arcade games for Mame, so I included them back to PC Engine. Splatterhouse had the wrong orientation and I did not knew how to correct it. But that is ok, as I just install the PCE version. Bloody Wolf had no sound on Mame. So, back to PCE version. I don't want troubleshoot here, just reporting.

mitu

For the Turbo CD - Lords of Thunder is a well regarded shmup with top notch music. Not quite the hidden gem, but in the spirit of your quest for new games on the PC Engine.

thelostsoul

@mitu I read a lot recommendations to this game. Unfortunately I don't have much more space on my Micro SD card here. That's why I missed so many CD games. If you have more of these, you can post them. Do you play Turbo CD games?

mitu

@thelostsoul said in Share your hidden gems and insider tips:

Do you play Turbo CD games?

Besides the Castelvania one (Rondo of Blood), no. I enjoyed very much Blazing Lasers and played the hell out of Bomberman '94 (one of the best Bomberman IMHO).

EDIT: Size-wise, you can compress the CD images to CHD for the TurboCD emulator. For instance, Akumajou Dracula X - Chi no Rondo is about 296 Mb on-disk compressed in CHD format.

VictimRLSH

I still have to get vic-20 rolling on my Pi build, but I always loved playing the Vic-20 version of Omega Race, even more so than arcade. The only difficulty was I had to crack it myself because I didn't have a write protect on my vic-20 RAM expansion, and the program had protection vs. copying to RAM. I imagine there is a proper crack for it now.
Any love for the vic-20 version of that here?

thelostsoul

I was searching for the newest entry in Mame Row, then found some other games by accident. I want to emphasize, I didn't play these games much, just read about them and tried if they are working. Further more on Mame2003 I discovered some mediocre quality games and included them as a small list without description.

Arcade Games

To me the most interesting games in this list was some shmups with some unusual features, like Rohga Armor Force and Captain Tomaday.

Mame2003 (9 Games):

lr-mame2003 (v0.78)

Dragon Breed
dbreed.zip
A solid horizontal shmup made by Irem. The special thing is, the hero is riding a dragon, who can block enemy attacks. This reminds me to another similar title, which I forgot the name.
Cosmic Cop / Armed Police Unit Gallop
cosmccop.zip
Another horizontal shmup by Irem. This is somewhat a racing game too, more or less. There is a timer and going to right side of screen speeds the scrolling up and left for speed down. The goal is to stop some mad cars.
The Legend of Silkroad
silkroad.zip
A side scrolling brawler with moves executed like in Street Fighter 2. This game is the reason why I found all the others in this list. It is the one played by Mame Row currently.
Hammerin' Harry
hharry.zip
A side scrolling action platformer, where the hero have a big hammer to hammer down everything in his ways.
Tumble Pop
tumblep.zip
Single screen action platformer like Bubble Bobble. The character have a big vacuum-cleaner and must suck in enemies and spit them out to kill it.
Armored Warriors
armwar.zip
Side scrolling brawler with mechs by Capcom. It features the remarkable ability to take up parts of enemy and gain its powers (not switchable like in Mega Man!).
Blood Bros.
bloodbro.zip
Gallery Shooter type of game, which plays like a modern Cabal (and was a sort of sequel to it). Solid, nothing special about it, just not well known.
Xain'd Sleena / Solar Warrior
xsleena.zip
The first stage plays like a linear Turrican and then next part is a shmup like Gradius. So, it constantly switches the type of game each stage.

Honorable mentions: Act-Fancer Cybernetick Hyper Weapon, Black Tiger, I Robot, Time Killers, Asterix

Mame2010 (2 Games):

lr-mame2010 (v0.139)

The Astyanax
astyanax.zip
Side scrolling action platformer in a fantasy world. Reminds me a little to the PCE game Legendary Axe.
Rohga Armor Force / Wolf Fang
rohga.zip
A side scrolling shmup, or like a run and gun type on the ground. The player can construct his own mech or get a predefined one. Cool thing is, that mech can ride on parts of the background. If he loses his big mech, he plays as a small character and can fly around. According to Wikipedia, the game is related to Vapor Trail and Skul Fang; need to check out too for whats going on.

FBA (1 Game):

lr-fbalpha (v0.2.97.43)

Biomechanical Toy
biomtoy.zip
A horizontal run and gun game, with nice looking comic graphics and animations. Gameplaywise, comparable to Metal Slug, but not in same degree of quality.

Neo Geo / FBA set (4 Games):

lr-fbalpha (v0.2.97.43)

Aggressors of Dark Kombat
aodk.zip
Maybe not really hidden, but I didn't know about the concept before looking further into it. It is a 2D fighting game like Street Fighter, but combined as a Final Fight like brawler mechanism. The fighter does jump with a button and can freely walk around.
Andro Dunos
androdun.zip
Solid horizontal shmup. The player can change the set of weapons anytime he wants. Otherwise not really groundbraking. Just widely unknown and solid.
Captain Tomaday
ctomaday.zip
An untypical vertical shmup. The hero is a tomato with arms and he does not shoot, but stretch its arms to punch enemys (greetings from Rayman I suppose). Ok, thats weird and interesting enough to be tested. Looks quite funny to me, with cute graphics. No English information on Wikipedia found.
Voltage Fighter - Gowcaizer
gowcaizr.zip
A superhero based 2D fighter. The twist is, if player wins, he gets a special move from his opponent. Unfortunately he can only carry 1.

Thats it for now guys (and ladies). I would be happy if you try some of these games out and find something interesting for you.

VictimRLSH

@thelostsoul Yes, love Dragon Breed and Captain Tomaday. The fact that the dragon is indestructible adds a very unique element to the game, especially when you have to dismount to grab something on the ground.

Also recently discovered The Speed Rumbler (srumbler.zip) MAME 2003. THIS GAME IS COMPLETE CHAOS!!! The state of disorder in the battles is a lot of fun. When your car is destroyed, you have a chance to jump out and fight on foot with your tiny little gun until you are supplied with a new car (but often just get ran over...)

mediamogul

@victimrlsh said in Share your hidden gems and insider tips:

When your car is destroyed, you have a chance to jump out and fight on foot with your tiny little gun until you are supplied with a new car (but often just get ran over...)

This puts me in mind of 'Boogie Wings', an amazing hidden gem that I don't believe has made this page yet. Game play is best described in the excerpt from hardcoregaming101 below

The first thing one notices about the airplane is the “skyhook”, the grappling hook swinging under it, carries a mine that acts as a smart bomb if thrown with the second button. The mine can also be used to destroy enemy planes and vehicles, by moving the joystick in circular motions and using the chain as a wrecking ball. This idea already elevates the strategic component Boogie Wings, but this is just the beginning. The hook, when empty, can be used to pick up and throw almost everything in the game, be it other enemy vehicles and soldiers, or pieces of landscape (trees, statues, crates, etc), making for an especially versatile weapon. It takes a while to get used to it, but in the hands of the most skilled players, it becomes a great advantage.

When your biplane is lost, the game becomes a run 'n gun as well, even allowing the pilot to eventually take control of several other vehicle types, such as tanks, steam punk robots and even a pogo stick. I'm definitely going to pair this and 'The Speed Rumbler' together later this evening for some extended chaotic fun.

Here's a video of 'Boogie Wings' in action.

thelostsoul

@mediamogul Yes, Boogie Wings is definitive under appreciated hidden gem. It is one of those rare shmups where your hero jumps off the vehicle and then you still fight. I would love to see a list with this feature. Definitvely check this out if you (the reader) didn't yet.

I didn't include it here, but on a different thread and then forgot about it. Maybe we should start collecting all games from the topic (every other topic too) and do a user defined list for easier include and share.

mediamogul

@thelostsoul said in Share your hidden gems and insider tips:

Maybe we should start collecting all games from the topic (every other topic too) and do a user defined list for easier include and share.

I'd be a huge task, but a welcome effort.

VictimRLSH

@mediamogul What romsets is Boogie Wings compatible with? Not seeing it in my MAME 2003 set, but I can play it on the laptop from my master set.

mediamogul

@victimrlsh

I'm using 0.106 with AdvanceMAME.