Re Smash TV - The only boss I had real trouble with was Scarface - that was the level 2 boss. It was a cheating cunt but if you maxxed your lives out you had a chance of getting past without having to continue. 

I never did....

With the level 1,2 and final boss you have to destroy all sections that flash when you hit them. That takes the armour off - then you can start to damage the actual boss.  The snake boss is a bit hit and hope too but I never had too much trouble with it as long as my life stock was healthy. The game can throw quite a few 1ups at you but there is randomness involved.


But I did "beat" the game on the limited credits it gives you. Got the 10 keys, accessed the Pleasuredome (which is just a screen filled with lady shaped bonus pickups....ahem). The game then throws a curve ball at you and activates turbo mode.....

It's a magnificent port. I played it to death back in the early SNES days. A real favourite of mine.

Technically, Smash TV was a miracle. I noticed some graphic breakup on occasions when things got really manic but it was rare and didn't affect gameplay.

The only other game that rivals its sprite shifting is Super Aleste - incredible tech achievement - close to being a real bullet hell game.

That's level 2 of Super Aleste and is my personal best example of Mode 7.

Levels 1 and 2 are too long for a shmup. That's probably its only real flaw. Level 1 in particular is a real slog and it probably put people off. Given it's a 12 level game (though some are very short and are just opportunities to quickly power up) it does seem OTT.

I 1CCed it on Normal which isn't a huge achievement. Pleased me but there are harder modes that are mental.

Master of Darkness (GG) 

Shameless Castlevania rip of by SIMS released for the Master System and Game Gear by Sega in 1993.

It's the usual Count Dracula hunt, just like the games that inspired it. Its starts off abit more grounded in reality though. The first level sees you travel up the River Thames in Victorian London, with the first boss being none other than Jack the Ripper. After that it's the more common monsters/spirits that you fight.

The controls are tight, but the level design let's it down slightly when compared to the masters at Konami. You'll find yourself in situations where taking a hit is unavoidable a bit to often.

Graphics are very good for the hardware, the music is OK, not bad but forgettable. Basically if you like Castlevania you'll enjoy this, but at the same time your better off playing any of those over this.

3/5

On a side note the Game Gear version of this is very good compared to the Master System version. Every level is either resized or slightly redesigned in order to be playable of the systems lower resolution/smaller screen. Sonic 1 which I played  earlier this year was another example of a Game Gear game being designed right, as oppose the the copy and paste unplayable Master System ROMs that it often got. Yes you Sonic 2.


My reviews

Funkstain wrote:

What always surprised me about that game on the SNES (or in my case Super Famicom I guess) was the smoothness. Other games were slowdown city, especially that early on in the console's life, with more than about 5 sprites on screen (final fight urgh) - but that game chucked out dozens if not hundreds of moving things and barely a flicker Played it A LOT and yes was bitterly disappointed by the pleasure dome considering it took me months to reach it remember being mildly jealous that the Megadrive port, whilst a bit shit, included the gore and explosive deaths (flying eyeball when stepping on a mine etc) but that's kids for you

What surprised me most was when you said we should totally buy Castle Crashers because it looked fun and I didn't want to buy it but you badgered me into it and then when I bought it and you didn't.

Time_on_my_hands wrote:

I've almost worked my way through a Mame2003 full set on my cabinet, getting rid of clones and crap and discovered Violent Storm - I missed this out on my scrolling beat em up tour, but I'm glad I found it now if only for the unashamedly campy styling and extra cheesy soundtrack.

Skimmed a walkthrough video earlier. Glorious trash, would play.

DK '94 - best game on the GB. One of the best platformers ever on anything.

Play it on the Super Gameboy for a special border with cabinet art. It's beautiful.

I need to make sure that's on the top 100 list.

I enjoyed going back to the first 4 levels and using the whole moveset.

Any interest in changing the topic to Turrican games?  Was watching a vid of Mega Turrican the other day and it looked great, realised I've only played the series on Amiga (and only briefly).

We could do run & guns, sure.  I've never played more than a stage or two of Metal Slug, which is a ridiculous state of affairs really.

Beehive level was one of the toughest for me.  Switch to the green(?) shot that's weaker than the default weapon but homes in on targets.  Takes a little longer but allows you to focus on avoiding enemies without the need to constantly adjust your aim.

Edit: And the invincidash move is an essential equip.

Moot_Geeza wrote:

Any interest in changing the topic to Turrican games?  Was watching a vid of Mega Turrican the other day and it looked great, realised I've only played the series on Amiga (and only briefly).

I went through a phase in my teens of completing Turrican 2 once a week. Borderline obsession.

The Megadrive and SNES versions have never grabbed me in the same way (too linear). The grapnel was interesting, but not as much as exploring in T2. Interested to hear how you get on.

I feel a tier list coming on.

retroking1981 wrote:

It really did blow me away, best game I've played in a couple of years I think. Literally could not stop once I started, I did it all in three days. That's quite a rarity for me these days.

This used to be my favourite game on the Gameboy (along with Zelda).

Had a blast on NES Contra. Showed my shambling wreck of run and gun skills compared to former glory when I 1CCed this. It's a tough game. I was playing with a stick though so I'm going to revert to pad and try again. It's still as good as it was back in the 90s. 

@Moot_Geeza I'd consider G&G to be part of the genre.