Random Toy Reviews: 8-Bit Flashback

Showing posts with label 8-Bit Flashback. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

8-Bit Flashback: Kettō Transformers Beast Wars: Beast Senshi Saikyō Ketteisen

Up until the last few years Transformers never really translated well into a video game. There are surprisingly more Transformers related video games than one might think, but few of those are worthy of playing let alone buying. Some of these games never made it to U.S. store shelves and for the most part we didn't miss anything (i.e. Famicom's Mystery of Comvoy). However Takara did make a Beast Wars II fighting game for the Game Boy in Japan. Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars: Beast Warriors Strongest Decisive Battle. Is that not the longest video game title you've ever seen?!

For years I never knew this game existed. When I learned of the game I had to track down a copy since Game Boy is region free. I wasn't able to find a boxed copy at the time so I settled with just the cartridge.

The game is playable if you can't read Japanese, but figuring out the menus and the moves for each character can be cumbersome so I wanted to share some info a TFW2005 member gave me when I purchased the game in 2008.

I'm not a big fan of the fighting video game genre, but the Beast Wars characters make good combatants in this style of a game. The starting line up includes the Maximals LioConvoy, Scuba, Cheetus, Convoy and Star Upper. The Predacon line up includes Galvatron, Megastorm, Guiledart, Megatron and Artemis & Moon (listed as Predacons for balance reasons).

Each character has their own unique list of moves and super moves and yes, they can transform. Galvatron and Megastorm take less damage in their vehicle modes to compensate for their slower speed and lack of jumping.

The character Star Upper was the winner of a design a character contest held by a unknown Japanese magazine. It's too bad he was never made into toy form as the character model looks fantastic!

From what I know of the game the fighting is based around a story. According to TFWiki.net the story goes:

" A super-powerful energon crystal is discovered on Earth, and various Maximals and Predacons fight amongst themselves and against one another to get to it. After the player defeats Megatron (who is always the final enemy, even if you're playing as him) in the cave of the crystal, they are shown a unique ending depending on whom they are playing as. "

In addition to the one or two player main game there are also a few different mini games, but I've haven't spent much time with these games so I can't give much input. There are however secret characters you can unlock for use in these mini games. Starscream, BB, DJ, Ikard and Scylla are available.

Star Upper, Artemis & Moon, Starscream and BB are unlocked after achieving certain tasks (or by a password).

To unlocked the other hidden characters (DJ, Ikard and Scylla) enter the following codes on the character select screen:

DJ = Select + Down + A

Scylla = Select + Up + A

Ikard = Highlight Scuba and press Select + A

There are a few Game Genie codes I was given, but I don't have a Game Boy Game Genie to test the codes.

01C001C0 - Unlock Star Upper and Artemis/Moon
010302C0 - Unlock Starscream and BB in shooter game
01FE03C0 - Unlock All mini games/sticker option

The game is fun to play - even if you suck at fighting games like myself! Some of the characters seem to be easier to use than others, but again I never was good at memorizing fighting and special moves for games such as this. It was awhile after I bought this game before I this information was shared with me so I hope this helps. I don't think the game is incredibly rare, but it took me a while to find it and that was 4 years ago.

Move List:

Legend:
< = back
> = forward
^ = up
v = down
A = Button A
B = Button B

To charge your BP meter, simply hold A, B, and v simultaneously
When your BP meter is fully charge, hold A, B, and ^ to get a hyper
attack. To transform, press the SELECT button

Galvatron - top right
---------
Robot Mode:
Twister Axe: v > B
Death Ascension: > v > B
Cross Revenge (up): v < A
Cross Revenge (down): v B
Chaos Pressure (BP move): v > v B
Gaia Tornado: > v > A
Kill Needle: v B
Gaia Crush (BP move): v > v B
Lio-Tooth: v v > B
Lio-Typhoon: < v > B
Soul Impact (BP move): v > v v > B
Sky Cannon: v B
Planet Burst (BP move): v > v B
Critical Hammer: v B
Knuckle Bazooka: > v > B
Megaton Bomb (BP move): v > v B
Sting Mine: v < A
Cyclone Cannon: < v > A
Storm Bash: < v > A
Assault Ray (BP move): v > v v > B
Electric Shock: B (repeatedly)
Scubathrust: < v > B
Surumerang: v > B
Vulcan Lash (BP move): v > v B
Scubadive: > v > B
Tail Whip: v A
Kraken Knock (BP move): v > v B
Tail Thrust: < v > A
Evil Impact: > v < A
Evil Slash: > v > B
Laser Buster (BP move): v > v B
Megaton Press: > v > B
Tyrannorevenge: v < A
Tyrannostomp: > v > A
Night Raid (BP Move): v > v v > B
Plasma Cannon: v > B
Giga-Attack: < v > A
Convoy Driver: < v > B
Zetsu (unstoppable) Convoy Driver (BP move): v > v B
Counter Hammer: v < A
Megaton Hammer: > v > B
Megaton Slam: < v > B
Gigaton Bomb (BP Move): v > v B
Sniper Shot (diag. up): v B (jumping)
Rolling Assault: v < A
Last Resort (BP move): v > v B
Phantom Arrow: v v > B
Surprise Attack: > v > A
Delta End (BP move): v > v B
Zweite Press: < v > A
Dritte Blow: > v > B
Vierte Reflector: v v B
Du-Ton Tackle: v > A
Tri-Ton Throw: > v > B
Tetra-Ton Press: > v > A
Black Hole Cluster (BP move): v > v B
Crazy Knuckle: B (repeatedly)
Stealth Blow: > v > A
Star Upper: > v > B
Star Upper Kai (BP move): v > v B
Drop Kick: > v > A
Star Revenge: v < A
Star Upper: > v > B
Star Upper Kai (BP move): v > v v > B
Moon Attack: v > B
Artemis Slash: < v > A
Artemion Hammer (BP move): v > v B
Moon Head Attack: > v > B
Gloomy Moon Punch: v A
Rapid Rabbit (BP move): v > v < B

Monday, February 13, 2012

8-Bit Flashback: Shatterhand (NES)

When I got back into buying/collecting NES games I was first looking to re-acquire a few of the games I had as a kid. While looking around the 'net for these games I ran across the box art for Shatterhand and I thought, "wow, how corny looking is that?". The art was so typical of a 90's video game. However there was also something about the box art that had me intrigued. I think I found the cartridge for a buck or two a local video game store so I had to try it out. I judged this game by it's cover and I'm happy to report that after playing the game is a lot of fun and one of the best NES games in the console's library.

The game starts off with a pretty cool semi-animated intro. I was always a sucker for games that told the story through animated sequences.

The game was released in 1991 by Natsume and is a side scrolling action game. The game play is very similar to Sunsoft's Batman or even Konami's various Castlevania games. You play as guy with prosthetic hands and all the combat takes place at close range. I found this refreshing and a chance a pace from the Contra style games where your character is armed with a gun. You character can't upgrade his own attacks per se, but he can find various alpha and beta symbols that arm him with 1 of 8 different robot companions. The little robot hovers behind your character just over his shoulder and attacks when you attack. The attacks vary depending on your combination of symbols collected. Some lob grenade type attacks while others attack up and down. Collect three symbols and your character will be encased in an all powerful armor where for 15 seconds your attacks launch fireballs. During these 15 seconds you are also invulnerable. Your attacks are quite responsive which makes the game fun to play. One of the things I hated about Sunsoft's Batman NES game was the slow responsiveness when attacking. All the platform jumping wasn't that well executed either. Thankfully those problems don't plague this game. The linear levels include all sorts of your standard platforming fun. The difficulty is just right - not too easy while not too hard.

After having fun with all the NES games I decided to take the plunge and buy an authentic Famicom system. While doing research on games to buy I discovered that Shatterhand had been released in Japan as Tokkyuu Shirei Solbrain.

From what I can tell there are several differences between this and the U.S. version. I've yet to be able to find the game for a decent price so I can't comment much more on the differences.

One day I hope to be able to find the game as I am very intrigued by the changes I found out - such as the submarine level from Shatterhand being replaced with a circus level with the boss being two ladies. It was common for Nintendo to censor their games and change things during the localization process. I believe you may be able to play this game online HERE or play Shatterhand HERE.

If you're looking for a fun "beat 'em up" side scrolling action game that is a bit different from all the rest then I strongly encourage you to track down this game. Perhaps you can find a cheap copy @ GameGavel.com?

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

8-Bit Flashback: Power Blade (NES)

In addition to my room full of toys that I feature here on this blog I also have a decent video game collection that I'd like to share. I'll start off my new feature, X-Bit Flashback with one of my favorite NES games - Power Blade.

I've often heard that this game is a rip-off of the Mega Man franchise and after I first played the game I can see some of the similarities. Your character is primarily dressed in blue. The game play is very very similar and you can even select the order of the various levels you want to tackle. However I found out that most of these similarities first originated with the Japanese Famicom game. In Japan Power Blade was called Power Blazer. Take a look at your character and tell me if you get a Mega Man vibe.

Thankfully however when the game was ported to the NES for U.S. audiences the game was given a face lift.

This anime looking Mega Man wanna be hero was replaced with a more generic western "action hero". Your character wasn't the only thing that changed when it Power Blade was replaced. While the level design basically stayed the same the graphics were changed and updated. The difficulty level also changed making Power Blade so much easier than Power Blazer. I own both versions of this game and I can concur with this statement. Power Blazer in my opinion is on the same difficulty level as the first Castlevania game.

The game takes place in the colony of New Earth in the year 2191 and follows NOVA, the Chief Security Officer of a super computer called the Master Computer. He must restore the Master Computer which has been taken offline by aliens by retrieving data tapes located in six sectors. Armed with a boomerang he must complete all six levels, overcoming obstacles and defeating any enemies in his way. The game's name comes from an item found in several levels; The Power Suit is an item that looks like a helmet. When collected Nova automatically equips the metal suit. This allows the player to shoot energy blasts known as "Power Blades" in any of the 8 directions and through most surfaces.

The game can easily be found online (such as GameGavel.com) for a few dollars and is worth the purchase. It's easy to say that if you are a fan of the Mega Man franchise then you'll probably like the game, but even if you've never played any of the blue bomber's games I think you'll find Power Blade a fun "blast from the past". If you want to give the game a test run then check out a playable version HERE courtesy of VirtualNES.com.