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Sega Genesis/MegaDrive Appreciation Thread: Alien Storm > Golden Axe

My actual set-up is a modded Model 2 with S-Video, Model 2 Sega CD, and then the 32x. I also have a CDX, since it tends to be more reliable as far as reading CD games is concerned.
 
Anyone here own a MegaJet? I kinda want one just to have but they are crazy expensive.

I've used one. Its fine if you want a japanese Mega Drive, but i'm not a huge fan of having the controller built on it. I can let it slide with the nomad since its meant to be a fully portable system. It bothers me when its meant to be a home system. Its cool as a collector's item, but not practical as a system, in my opinion.
 
One day before I leave this earth I'd like to beat the US version of Dynamite Headdy. This past summer I attempted to legitimately beat that game, but I only got so far. I didn't commit as much time to the game as I wanted to though so I'm hoping one day I can sit down with and spend as much time needed to learn the game'd ins & outs. It's easily one of my favorite Genesis games and could quite possible be my favorite Treasure game.

dynamite-13.png


fuck this guy SO HARD

(brilliant concept for a boss fight though, in Treasure's tradition)
 

CrunchinJelly

formerly cjelly
I've used one. Its fine if you want a japanese Mega Drive, but i'm not a huge fan of having the controller built on it. I can let it slide with the nomad since its meant to be a fully portable system. It bothers me when its meant to be a home system. Its cool as a collector's item, but not practical as a system, in my opinion.

Can you actually use the controller port for one player or is it solely for a second player?
 
Can you actually use the controller port for one player or is it solely for a second player?

Its solely for 2nd player, just like the Nomad, far as i know.

Edit: Dynamite Headdy is an excellent, but incredibly hard game. Getting
The real ending
was a huge pain, but incredibly satisfying.
 
Yeah, the Genesis has no s-video support unless you get both the Genesis and 32X hard modded. European import RGB cable plus expensive powered converter box would be the only upgrade over composite that doesn't require a hard mod.

There is one thing to note though, the Genesis 1 has only mono composite for the back port. Stereo on the model 1 only comes from the front headphone jack. This is probably why the model 2 has a new video output jack -- so that they could put stereo on the back, which makes using a Sega CD with it in stereo MUCH easier. I mean, to get stereo on a model 1 Genesis with either model of Sega CD, you need to use a male-to-male headphone-plug audio cable to connect the headphone jack of the front of the Genesis to the Mixing port on the back of the Sega CD. Yes, that's what the Mixing port is for, for anyone who doesn't know -- to get stereo when hooked up to a Model 1 Genesis.

With the model 2 Genesis, you get stereo out of the Sega CD with no cables required, since it has stereo on the back video output.

I know that people talk a lot about how the model 2s are more likely to have worse video hardware, and sometimes audio too, but at least you get stereo with no hassles! But anyway, my point was that the Genesis 2 actually has two different composite cables -- there's a mono one, and a stereo one. Obviously the stereo one is better, but a mono one does exist for whatever reason; I have one, because I found it locally for very cheap. The 32X uses the same cables as the Genesis 2, I should note. So with a Genesis 1 and a 32X you need both the 32X-to-Genesis-2 cable AND the adapter that plugs it into a Genesis 1, while with a Genesis 2 all you need is the first part of that cable, the adapter isn't needed. 32Xes definitely do not always come with the Genesis 1 adapter; mine didn't, for instance, it just came with the 32X-to-Genesis-2 cable.

The other 32X thing I'd say is that with a Genesis 2, I would recommend getting the spacer (that goes in between the Genesis 2 and the 32X) if you don't have one. See, if you leave the 32X plugged into a Genesis 2 long term, and don't have the spacer, over time it can bend the Genesis circuitboard, because all of the weight of the 32X is all going down to the board through the cartridge port. With the spacer those problems are gone, it distributes out the weight. The spacer is needed because, of course, carts sit deeper into a Genesis 1 than they do a Genesis 2.

Wow, that's a lot of info...though, to tell the truth, I knew all of that already. Hah. But thanks, though! It's definitely good info for everyone else!

I've had my Genesis 1/CD2/32X since I was a kid. I still have the boxes for the Sega CD and 32X with everything in them. If you look at the picture I posted earlier, you can see the 1/8 cable that I think came with the Sega CD sticking out of the Genesis, which is connected to the mixing port in the back of my Sega CD, which has left and right coaxial cables coming out of it. Here's some pictures I took just now to show it better:


And yeah, I know that the Genesis 1 and 2 use different cables. You can use the video out cable that goes from the Genesis 1 into the 32X to convert the connecter for the Genesis 2/32X to work with the Genesis 1. I don't know if that works with the stereo one, though, since my 32X only came with the mono one. I've only done that once or twice, because NBA Jam's graphics are a bit glitchy in parts through the 32X, and because Shadow of the Beast doesn't work at all with the add-ons connected...and, actually, that showed up glitchy when using a video cable, so I had to RF it. Heh.

I knew about the S-Video video thing beforehand, which is why I was only asking about the SCART to component thing, mainly because I wasn't sure if I really needed an expensive converter or not for a CRT TV. I only mentioned S-Video because I was saddened that one never existed, because it's what I use for everything else on a CRT (besides the RF-only consoles, and Master System).

Oh, I still have that spacer you're talking about, but I don't plan to get a Genesis 2 to use it with. If anything, I'd get one just to have a spare Genesis around for an extra room or something. It'd certainly make Shadow of the Beast easier to play. Hah.



Did you customize the controls in Sub-Terrania?

I always do this before my playthroughs, it makes everything much easier.

Such an amazing game.

Nope, I didn't...maybe I should next time. I don't think I even went into the options menu. :(
 

woodypop

Member
One day before I leave this earth I'd like to beat the US version of Dynamite Headdy. This past summer I attempted to legitimately beat that game, but I only got so far. I didn't commit as much time to the game as I wanted to though so I'm hoping one day I can sit down with and spend as much time needed to learn the game'd ins & outs. It's easily one of my favorite Genesis games and could quite possible be my favorite Treasure game.
Is this another one of those instances where the US version was made more difficult than the JPN counterpart, like with Contra Hard Corps?
 

Yuterald

Member
dynamite-13.png


fuck this guy SO HARD

(brilliant concept for a boss fight though, in Treasure's tradition)

I never even made it to that guy...What exactly am I in for when I return to that game, lol! =*(

I got to the stage after the stage where you play it shoot-em-up style with the giant evolving baby face boss. So cool.

Is this another one of those instances where the US version was made more difficult than the JPN counterpart, like with Contra Hard Corps?

Yeah, apparently. The JPN version was a lot easier, but I'm not sure in what regard. It's so hard that most people consider the Japanese version to be the real version because the NA is almost "broken" to some degree. Had something to do with continues, possibly? I don't remember, lol!
 

arit

Member
Yeah, apparently. The JPN version was a lot easier, but I'm not sure in what regard. It's so hard that most people consider the Japanese version to be the real version because the NA is almost "broken" to some degree. Had something to do with continues, possibly? I don't remember, lol!

I think you started with one continue, had more health and bosses took less damage. I do not know if it was a pal only thing, but some boss sprites/colors got changed too.
 

televator

Member
Speaking of mods, to my knowledge, no one has been able to clean up the hissing noise from REV. 1 - 6.8 model 1 stereo audio output. The noise is so irritating to me. I really wish someone could figure it out.
 
My second favorite system of all time behind the NES.

Really enjoyed the beginning of the life cycle.

Forgotten Worlds
Revenge of Shinobi
Thunder Force 2
Ghouls N Ghost
Golden Axe
Tommy Lasorda Baseball
Phantasy Star 2
 

Shaneus

Member
I enjoyed pretty much the whole lifecycle. And all that cartoony, real "video-gamey", super-colourful sprite-based stuff it just seemed to do better (or have more examples of it) than the SNES to me. So games like Micro Machines, Gunstar Heroes... super bright and fun.


It's probably been asked in here, but what's the best way to get back into playing my old carts again? I'm assuming that "modded console" is the answer, but don't even know what mods are available, let alone which specific console version I should do it for.

Or is there a particular knockoff console that behaves like the real thing? When I last investigated it, there were a few that emulated it, but it was all really poor emulation that always managed to screw something up. You'd think there'd be some kind of SOC now that's basically the guts of the MD shrunken down, rather than relying purely on software to do the job.
 

Katzii

Member
dynamite-13.png


fuck this guy SO HARD

(brilliant concept for a boss fight though, in Treasure's tradition)

I cannot get past this guy for the life of me. Pretty much halts my progress every damn time, even if I can get close to him without losing many lives (if any).
 

smbu2000

Member
Speaking of mods, to my knowledge, no one has been able to clean up the hissing noise from REV. 1 - 6.8 model 1 stereo audio output. The noise is so irritating to me. I really wish someone could figure it out.
Is there hissing coming from the headphone speaker out on those models? I didn't notice anything on my early JP MD1 using the headphone jack.

I also have a rev7 MD1 and the hissing is BAD on that through the headphone jack. Lowering the volume slider on the MD alleviates it somewhat, although I have to raise the volume on my AV amp to compensate for the lower volume when I use it.

Have you tried adjusting the volume slider on you MD/Genesis?
 

smbu2000

Member
Yeah. But there are still some annoying Sega CD games that don't recognize the backup cart. I believe Dungeon Master II is one of those, and it takes up all of the Sega CD's internal memory. Obnoxious.
I had assumed that there were some games that wouldn't be compatible with it (early release games?), but to be incompatible and use up all of the internal memory is just awful...

OT: Just bought a nice 6 pack of MD games (CIB) for 1,600 yen shipped. That includes good games like Thunder Force III, Gunstar Heroes and Wonder Boy V: Monster World III. TF3 usually goes for around that price by itself so it's a pretty good deal.

I already have those games on other formats; GH on VC/XBLA, MW Complete Collection on PS2, and Thunder Force Gold Pack 1 on Saturn, but it's still nice to have the original MD carts.
 

televator

Member
Is there hissing coming from the headphone speaker out on those models? I didn't notice anything on my early JP MD1 using the headphone jack.

I also have a rev7 MD1 and the hissing is BAD on that through the headphone jack. Lowering the volume slider on the MD alleviates it somewhat, although I have to raise the volume on my AV amp to compensate for the lower volume when I use it.

Have you tried adjusting the volume slider on you MD/Genesis?

Not sure about the JP Megadrive, but I know I have Revisions 3, 5, and 6.8 -- all of them hiss through the headphone jack. Turning down the volume slider does help, but not enough IMO. I've just seen a video where the guy doing the AV mod gets the stereo straight from the chip near the headphone circuit (as opposed to the common method of getting it from the headphone contacts) in order to avoid the added noise. However I've read that doing this might alter the some aspects of the sound (like the bass level). I might have misread that though...

I might have to try that method out myself and compare the sound to an un-moded Genesis. I figure I have enough of them lying around anyway, so why not put that to some use. :p But that's gonna have to be a rainy day project. There's so many other things I need to sort out first.
 

televator

Member
Hmm... I've been curious lately about the extent the effects of the SCD add on. So you play a SCD game like Sonic CD, and apparently some sounds come from the Genesis and into the SCD via the mixing cable and the SCD mixes it with music and other things that it produces itself... But what about regular genesis games? I'm guessing that all the audio from cartridge games just gets passed through the cable, unaltered by the SCD?
 

BocoDragon

or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
Hmm... I've been curious lately about the extent the effects of the SCD add on. So you play a SCD game like Sonic CD, and apparently some sounds come from the Genesis and into the SCD via the mixing cable and the SCD mixes it with music and other things that it produces itself... But what about regular genesis games? I'm guessing that all the audio from cartridge games just gets passed through the cable, unaltered by the SCD?

Pretty much. It's just the analog mixing of the two sound sources. I don't think there's a downside to playing a Genesis game through a Sega CD, if that's what you're getting at.
 

televator

Member
Pretty much. It's just the analog mixing of the two sound sources. I don't think there's a downside to playing a Genesis game through a Sega CD, if that's what you're getting at.

I was just wondering if that would be a way of getting noiseless audio without getting my hands dirty. My understanding is that the SCD does produce cleaner audio, but I guess that's limited to SCD games. Ah, well...
 

stewy

Member
while waiting for the next Generation 16, i started watching Chronsega...not bad so far! interesting stuff here

Phantasy Star III is killing me. I decided I needed to finish it because the most interesting bits happen right at the end. Promise the next episode is coming soon-ish.

Edit: I noticed you linked Generation 16 002 there. You know there are 7 episodes online, right? :)
 

IrishNinja

Member
Phantasy Star III is killing me. I decided I needed to finish it because the most interesting bits happen right at the end. Promise the next episode is coming soon-ish.

Edit: I noticed you linked Generation 16 002 there. You know there are 7 episodes online, right? :)

wait, you're involved with these? man i'm only halfway through ep 1 of chron and as a master system kid, it's blowing my mind. i gotta crash soon but tonight i'm all over these, this is the kinda info i've been looking for from books for a while now!

and yeah, i got all caught up on Gen 16 from this very thread putting me onto it, can't wait for the next one!

PS III...which character did you run with? i beat all of em near launch in the day, but i imagine it's not holding up well, it was (rightfully) the bastard child even then
 

stewy

Member
wait, you're involved with these? man i'm only halfway through ep 1 of chron and as a master system kid, it's blowing my mind. i gotta crash soon but tonight i'm all over these, this is the kinda info i've been looking for from books for a while now!

and yeah, i got all caught up on Gen 16 from this very thread putting me onto it, can't wait for the next one!

PS III...which character did you run with? i beat all of em near launch in the day, but i imagine it's not holding up well, it was (rightfully) the bastard child even then

I'm involved with Generation 16, not Chronsega.

I'm doing a run that will end with Aron (mostly because I want footage of his ending). Just started the third generation. Then I get to sift through all the footage. Oh, and the footage of the four other games for Episode 8 as well :)
 

IrishNinja

Member
that's so awesome. you guys' show is so thorough, it's really cool learning about the imports we didn't get (as noted, surprisingly few so far), and the changes to the ones we did. i've shown a few friends the Tetris ep because the licensing story is so insane, and it was great to have it laid out the way you guys did.

I subscribed immediately; keep 'em coming and if there's anything I can do to help (most of my carts are years later from where you guys are/not rare sadly, haha) lemme know! feel free to bump this thread when you get ep 8 & beyond up as well.
 

BosSin

Member
I really want to get a 50/60hz mod done to my megadrive before I start re-visiting games from my childhood.
I would do it myself, but am more worried about screwing up the case than anything else.
There's a place that does the mod but it's a semi-long tube ride away and the line that goes there always seems to be shut down whenever I try making my way over.

Also, I've seen some youtube videos and people have me worried that some screwy side-effects happen after carrying the mod out, for example
- one video had a dude running PAL Revenge of Shinobi (which I own) in 60hz and the audio was faster than it should be
- also, some people say that the mod screws around with trying to play 32x games
 

(mat)

Member
Was always a Nintendo kid growing up, so I never had a chance to play too many Sega games.

I did, however, stumble upon a garage sale last year, where I picked up a Genesis with two controllers, Sonic 2, and Earthworm Jim. Talked her into selling it all for $2. Hah!
 

Dice

Pokémon Parentage Conspiracy Theorist
Yo the combat in Phantasy Star 2 is so weird.

I did, however, stumble upon a garage sale last year, where I picked up a Genesis with two controllers, Sonic 2, and Earthworm Jim. Talked her into selling it all for $2. Hah!
NICE
 

dark10x

Digital Foundry pixel pusher
Whaaaa! The megadrive version was the shit, it was the dogs bollocks.

Simply put, it was superior
At the time maybe, but have you played both recently? The Capcom game features much tighter controls, better level design with a great flow, and arguably nicer visuals and audio.
 

BosSin

Member
At the time maybe, but have you played both recently? The Capcom game features much tighter controls, better level design with a great flow, and arguably nicer visuals and audio.

I would have to give both another go, but I remember each one having their own strengths.

In particular I enjoyed the animation, music and certain aspects of the gameplay more in the MD version
 
What do you guys think about this one? I mean that does seem pretty cheap for a repro of Alien Soldier. Label looks kinda funny though (I know its a repro, but still).

Sounds like its meant specifically for japanese carts. I don't know, i'm a little weary. I got a really nice repo, with a custom case even, for 50 bucks, and its worked flawlessly.

I haven't really jumped into the japanese side of things yet, but even then, i'm on the side of caution on this one.
 

Dice

Pokémon Parentage Conspiracy Theorist
At the time maybe, but have you played both recently? The Capcom game features much tighter controls, better level design with a great flow, and arguably nicer visuals and audio.
What kind of sick joke is this? I didn't even have a Genesis back then but Aladdin was THE SHIT then and it still is. Level design can be argued depending on preferences, but much tighter controls? No way. The gameplay on it is hella sluggish. I also think the graphics are way better on Genesis and the midi may be lower quality but the music is better.
 

Dave Long

Banned
What are people thoughts on the best Mickey Mouse game? Castle vs World vs Mania?
Castle of Illusion is the best one. No question there.

World of Illusion is beautiful and super easy. It's also co-op though, so if you're playing with young kids or inexperienced gamers (say a wife or girlfriend...) then it's a great choice.

Mickey Mania is a solid game, but IMO it's not nearly as good as the other two.
 

Teknoman

Member
Sounds like its meant specifically for japanese carts. I don't know, i'm a little weary. I got a really nice repo, with a custom case even, for 50 bucks, and its worked flawlessly.

I haven't really jumped into the japanese side of things yet, but even then, i'm on the side of caution on this one.

Yeah i'm probably just going to wait on that, and just snag one from one of the more well known places. Was it the repro that was made to look like NA Genesis games (Red genesis banner, etc.)

As far as playing actual JP Megadrive carts, you can just use a game genie.
 

Scavenger

Member
Yeah i'm probably just going to wait on that, and just snag one from one of the more well known places. Was it the repro that was made to look like NA Genesis games (Red genesis banner, etc.)

As far as playing actual JP Megadrive carts, you can just use a game genie.
I checked the sellers ebay account a bit and I think the megadrive games he is selling are just Asian bootlegs from the 90's and not the higher quality reproduction carts made nowadays. I bought one from the seller and it shipped today. Hopefully it arrives this or next week and hopefully it works.
 

djtiesto

is beloved, despite what anyone might say
Anybody play any of the Super Fighter Team/Watermelon "new" games? I really like what little I've played of Star Odyssey and Pier Solar. Pier Solar is very Lunar-influenced, and Star Odyssey is very reminiscent in tone to Phantasy Star 2, though it may feel a bit dated at this point (not a problem for me, since I like really old RPGs)
 

Tain

Member
dark10x said:
At the time maybe, but have you played both recently? The Capcom game features much tighter controls, better level design with a great flow, and arguably nicer visuals and audio.
Aladdin on Genesis, like other Shiny games, has some simple-ass movement that makes me feel like I'm throwing a sprite around on a screen. If I'm remembering right, SNES Aladdin has a player character with some, you know, states that govern movement. I remember the stages being pretty sloppy in the Shiny game, too.
 
I've never felt that either Aladdin came controlled noticeably better than the other. They're both very solid. Genesis title being a bit faster-paced, but that's not necessarily either a boon or a mark against it, just different.

And to the claim that nobody owned it: IIRC, it was the top-selling third-party Genesis game at around 4 million units moved, ahead of NBA Jam (around 2 mil), but behind the first-party efforts Sonic the Hedgehog (20 mil) and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (6 mil). It didn't do too shabby. (Although admittedly my source is a wiki, so this data could be entirely false, I dunno)
 
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