Share your hidden gems and insider tips
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@meleu said in Share your hidden gems and insider tips:
Hey, this game deserves a set of achievements!!
It does indeed. I've had a couple of good runs on that game and then several where I barely make it out of space dock. Good to see you back btw and always nice to hear about your work on cheevos. A friend of mine has a kid who's obsessed with them and he always like hearing me talk about about the advancements that you've posted here in the past. Keep up the great work.
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@mediamogul That kid obsessed with achievements might want to check out Star Ocean 3: 'till the End of Time. It was originally a PS2 game, and runs perfectly on PCSX2, and there is also a PS4 remake with the cheevos in there as well. There are hundreds of achievements, some extremely difficult.
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He's mostly into the NES at the moment, but I'll be sure to pass it along all the same. Thanks.
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@meleu said in Share your hidden gems and insider tips:
check this out: www.sinneslochen.com/1.php
There's an "s" missing from the address: www.sinnesloschen.com/1.php
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@clyde said in Share your hidden gems and insider tips:
There's an "s" missing from the address: www.sinnesloschen.com/1.php
Fun fact: "löschen" means "to delete" in German, whereas "lochen" means "to perforate". :)
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For a little while now, I've become moderately obsessed with the obscure puzzle game 'Square Deal', released in North America for the GameBoy. A Vegas-themed falling block puzzle game where 52 cards fall and are eliminated in poker hands is such a unique idea and makes for a real mind-bending challenge. I've been trying to find the definitive version of the game to play on RetroPie, but it's been tough, as the arcade original, 'Gun Dealer' and the Famicom port, 'Cadillac' both lack the ability to cycle through the available preview cards. This one feature removes much of the luck factor, making it almost entirely a game of skill.
It turns out that the North American 'Square Deal' was originally released as 'Cadillac II' on the GameBoy in Japan. In all of my research, it's never mentioned that the sequel ever got a Famicom port. However, I kept reading confused accounts that the original 'Cadillac' was re-released under the name 'Great Deal'. Today I gave 'Great Deal' a try and it is actually not a re-release of the first game, but rather a full color port of 'Cadillac II/Square Deal', entirely in English no less. With card cycling, a much improved soundtrack and better graphics, I'm very pleased to say that I found what's arguably the definitive version of this hidden gem.
As an addendum, I'll also make mention of a later arcade variant in the series that I discovered along the way, named 'Gun Dealer '94'. Here, the card suits are removed, in favor of a multi-colored system that can also be matched and chained in combos. While this is a lot of fun and adds yet another level to the game, removing the association to suited playing cards loses a bit of the charm for me personally. Still, it's a great game in its own right.
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Recently I found some more secret jewels (I just want avoid typing hidden gem again, oh doh it happened again) for the NES. There are titles I never heard of before and don't want hold them back. Have fun.
NES (12 Games):
lr-nestopia
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Anticipiation
A board game by Rare with the Donkey Kong Country music composer! This is quite unique game, where you watch a drawing and have to guess what it is and type the English words. -
Astro Robo Sasa
A single screen shooter like game, where you have to collect energy tanks (or shoot them). The interesting thing about this a little basic looking game is the controls. There is gravity, plus you fly in the opposite direction you shoot. -
Captain Skyhawk
A vertical shmup by Rare. The specialty is the 3D like isometric view, much like Zaxxon, but vertically played. I didn't play it yet, but saw in YouTube 3D stages like in Afterburner too. -
Kabuki Quantum Fighter
A platformer, plays great, fluid and good control, looks nice, sounds well with catchy themes. The main attack is his hair. A cool game I always wanted try out since my youth,. -
King Kong 2: Ikari no Megaton Punch
Here we go, a King Kong action adventure game by Konami. The player controls King Kong himself from a top down perspective. He can punch and jump around and have to find the boss in each stage. -
Shufflepuck Cafe
I know the game for Amiga and just learned about the NES port. This is a One on One hockey game, where you control a paddle. Unfortunately this is best played with mouse, but still its fun with gamepad too. -
Solar Jetman
This is the third part of the first game done by Rare, which was Jetpac for ZX Spectrum under the publisher name "Ultimate Play the Game". So this game on the NES have some historical importance to me and it seems to be a great game. It is a multi directional shooter game, with gravity effects. -
Zen Intergalactic Ninja
Action platformer by Konami based on a comic license. It starts out in isometric view and changes to side scrolling stages. The graphics has detailed sprites backgrounds and the level design isn't boring, as every level seems to have new ideas.
And now some games where translation patches was used.
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Choujin Sentai Jetman
Based on a tv series, which is the ancestor to Power Rangers and have similar ideas in it. It is a simple side scrolling action platformer, nothing spectacular unless you reach the boss. Then you transform into a mecha and fight a fighting game (with bad controls) with huge sprites. -
Cocoron
More basic platformer! It plays basic, looks basic and have nothing special about it, or does it? Yes. You start the game by creating your character by choosing not only the appearance, but also his skills. -
Metal Slader Glory
A recently translated Japanese story based anime visual novel adventure game. The graphics are pixel art by a manga designer and it looks outstanding, even requiring a special chip.
I learned about the much better audio experience on the Japanese version of Castlevania 3 and used it with a romhack to make it more different.
- Akumajō Dracula 3 / Castlevania 3
Improved Controls mod
The Japanese version of Castlevania 3 uses a special chip, which can be played back on a Japanese Famicom only for much better and richer sound. There are also some other small regional differences, like censorship and other minor differences. I used a romhack for this version of the game for improved controls, where jumping is just as high as you hold jump button and control while in the air and more. This mod is also compatible with a translation for it.
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@thelostsoul said in Share your hidden gems and insider tips:
King Kong 2: Ikari no Megaton Punch
Here we go, a King Kong action adventure game by Konami. The player controls King Kong himself from a top down perspective. He can punch and jump around and have to find the boss in each stage.If you haven't already, be sure to check 'Konami Wai Wai World' and 'Wai Wai World 2'. In the first game you can play as Simon Belmont from 'Castlevania', Mikey from 'The Goonies', 'King Kong' from 'King Kong 2: Ikari no Megaton Punch' and you can even fly the Vic Viper from 'Gradius' or TwinBee from 'TwinBee'. The different characters need to be rescued and then used to access certain areas that others can't. I'm not as big a fan of the second game, but there you can play as a host of characters as well. The concept of controlling so many characters is actually reflected in the name, as "Wai Wai" is a colloquial Japanese onomatopoeia for "crowded room".
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@mediamogul Wow, nice find! I just looked quickly through a YouTube video and will definitely add this too. The crossover is awesome! Konami was used to be such a great company back than.
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@thelostsoul said in Share your hidden gems and insider tips:
Konami was used to be such a great company back than.
That is very true. It pains me to see them producing pachinko machines almost exclusively now. If you really want to deep dive into their library, be sure to also check out their massive amount of games released for the MSX. That version of 'Metal Gear' blows the NES version out of the water and while 'Vampire Killer' is not superior to 'Castlevania', it turns the game into more of an arcade experience that is pretty unique. I've already written above about their shockingly impressive MSX port of 'Q-Bert' and on top of everything else, they released many wholly unique titles that all have that solid Konami feeling.
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@mediamogul Yeah, I would like to test out the Q-Bert you talked about. Sounds interesting, but I am not into adding another home computer based system with mouse or keyboard. I already played Metal Gear for MSX on the pc a while back just out of curiosity, but I did not have any English patch and didn't know what to do then. That game is a true master peace and no comparison to the NES "crap" (sorry if someone like that version).
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@thelostsoul said in Share your hidden gems and insider tips:
but I am not into adding another home computer based system with mouse or keyboard.
You'd be surprised. Most of the games just use the controller. However, I do understand the inclination to stay with consoles for the simplicity factor.
but I did not have any English patch and didn't know what to do then.
The English localization is actually already there, it's just that you need to use the BIOS for the European Philips NMS 8250. After that, the game just loads up in English.
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@mediamogul finally tried Square Deal. At first it was like meh, but then you get sucked in, and just like poker you start thinking "If I drop this card here, how many outs does that leave me to form a hand?". You always have the flush as the cop-out, but they are not worth hardly anything, and unless you are SURE you can get rid of all 52 cards, a massive trap.
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@victimrlsh said in Share your hidden gems and insider tips:
At first it was like meh, but then you get sucked in
That was pretty much my experience as well. It's a shame that with tens of thousands of retro games at our disposal, titles like this can sometimes be get lost in the mix when the hook, however strong it may be, isn't immediately recognizable. Regardless, if you truly love puzzle games for the challenge they offer and want a clever application of a unique theme, this one delivers like few can.
Something else I discovered is that I was entirely incorrect about 'Great Deal' being a Famicom port of 'Square Deal/Cadillac II'. After spending more time with it, I believe it might actually qualify as a sequel. It was released a full year later and offers the welcome ability to match diagonally, as well as introduces two Jokers in every round that can be used as wild cards to complete any hand. This goes a long way to making the game more accessible to casual puzzle game fans, allowing several more match options, while at the same time adding another strategic layer for seasoned players looking for combo strategies.
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@thelostsoul You surely need a hobby … wait, you already have one. :D Thanks for your contribution!
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@clyde ... and some sleep. Thanks for the kind words. 🖖
I actually should start playing. -
Race Drivin' a Go Go on PS1 (Japan)
We know that the ports of Hard Drivin' and Race Drivin' to consoles and home computers have been poor at best with awful controls and extreme difficulty. However, this version is fast, half-decent and very playable and you can actually stay on the track!
There are two distinct game modes : one with new tracks (don't bother with this, it's rubbish) and the original Race Drivin' (with some added bizarreness). The game is in English except for the menus but it doesn't takeong to figure out what's what.
The original game mode has the original, super stunt and autocross tracks. You can select Full Automatic, Manual (with clutch - good luck with that) and Semi-Automatic (manual with no clutch - my preferred option). You can change the difficulty, switch between Km/h and Mph and more importantly switch off the annoying voice over that shouts "Let's go" "Oh My God" and so on. You just need to experiment with the menus unless you know Japanese of course....some items are obvious.
The other added bizarreness is that you have a garage and can get new vehicles added. For beating the Phantom Photon I was given a frog to race in (yes, that's right).
Look beyond the oddities and in my opinion it's a great version. Not sure why "a Go Go", maybe the developers were Wham! fans.
A gem in my opinion.
(Avoid the PS2 version - it's an emulation of the arcade and runs at about 50% speed - on a real PS2. Awful. What were they thinking?).
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It happened... again...
NES (4 Games):
lr-nestopia
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Bio Force Ape
A prototype/unreleased action platformer almost 100% complete. But man, what a game with high speed scrolling and fluid animations on the NES, where even Sonic would be impressed. Gameplay wise you run around in a maze like level and beat enemies by punching and throwing them. It just feels unlike any other game on this system. -
Moon Crystal (with English translation)
A Japan only side scrolling action adventure like platformer. The graphics are so wonderful and the animations even more impressive. Can't say how good this game actually is, but got good reception. -
Mr. Gimmick
Side scrolling Jump and Run type of game. Graphical wise this game is similar to Kirby, colorful, cute and damn good looking. The platforming action is solid and the star attack with his special ability makes this game so unique to play. -
Splatter House: Wanpaku Graffiti (with English translation)
This is a different game then the others from this franchise and came out for NES in Japan only, more like a parody of the series as a side scrolling platformer. Not perfect, but worth checking out.
GB (4 Games):
lr-gambatte
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Amazing Penguin
Practically a single screen maze like game on rails. Goal is to deactivate all switches in a room, but you and the enemies can move on the rails only. Deactivating all switches around an area will destroy all enemies within. -
Batman: Return of the Joker
This is a different game from all other ports with this title. And a technically damn impressive one for this system, exactly what you would expect from Sunsoft. Gameplay wise it is side scrolling action as you would expect, but much bigger sprites than in the other GB Batman title. -
Bomberman GB 3 (with English translation)
A Japan only Bomberman title for the Game Boy! Probably not ground breaking new, but everything is right spot on here, from presentation, graphics, sound quality, gameplay. Every start of the level an objective will be shown. -
Megalith
A puzzle game, where the player can move blocks in sideview. Goal is to land all those blocks to the ground without breaking them. A simple, but still unique game.
GBC (4 Games):
lr-gambatte
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Crystalis
This is a remake of the NES action adventure game from SNK. It may look like a port first, but there are a lot of differences in soundtrack, gameplay and more. -
Puzzle Master
A match block Columnes style puzzle game. But it feels just so good to play this, I don't know why, probably because of the whole presentation and style. There are consumable items with special effects too. -
Quix Adventure
Ok, I wasn't sure if this game can be called hidden gem, but at least this version maybe. This one have the same Quix gameplay mechanic you already know (if not, you should). It even features an Adventure/Story mode (probably the reason for its title). -
Super Robot Pinball
I am by no means a Pinball expert, but I like trying out new and unknown variants. This one is a badass robot themed table. Unfortunately I don't have an English patch for this Japan only gem and so I don't know if I miss something important here. I think, you collect robots there?
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@mediamogul Definitely going to check these games out this weekend. Thanks!
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@brigane said in Share your hidden gems and insider tips:
I recently stumbled across Gunbarich. This is a Arkanoid similar game. I dont know if I would call it a hidden gem but it seems like an interesting game.
I use advancemame with this since it's not a part of the mame2003 set.Sorry for the slight necro-post but Gunbarich should now work in mame2003-plus.
@Brigane It seems to run okay on advancemame and it's very entertaining . The only trouble I'm having is the highscore won't save :(
I'm not sure about Gunbarich's hiscore function in mame2003-plus, but let's say AFAIK it works.
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