Ishambard

Yesterday was a pretty good day for #RetroGaming , especially in the field of beat-em ups.

This is probably just me, but these games felt like THE beat-em up classics for the #SegaGenesis

#StreetsOfRage
#GoldenAxe
#AlienStorm

As a kid, my friend and I played these games countless amounts of times, and I don't think we ever once beat them. I always knew why. Being arcade ports, they were designed to be difficult and unfair.
Thinking on it, Streets of Rage was probably the closest we got to beating. We had reached Mr X once.

Since then, I had beaten Golden Axe and Streets of Rage, and as of yesterday, I can finally say I completed Alien Storm!
There has been something quite nice about putting these three games to bed!

Aug 16, 2024 at 7:21amWeb
Show threadOut of Print ArchiveAug 16, 2024

@ishambard

You're definitely not alone.
I still vastly prefer Streets of Rage 1 to the sequel, despite recognising that 2 is objectively the superior game.

The thing is, feelings and taste is never objective. 😁

Same as how Shadow Dancer remains my all-time favourite Shinobi game.

Show threadIshambardAug 16, 2024

@OutofPrintArchive

Street of Rage 2 has a very strange shift in tone compared to the original.

The original has a few strange elements. Some of the enemies are... a choice. But there was a gritty realism to it, in my opinion.

SoR2 jumps the shark with the enemies and environments. Which isn't a bad thing. In fact, I love the increased enemy variety. But the flow of the stages seems really weird, mostly stage 3 with the pirate ship and horror themed areas. It just feels like they did it because why not? Sure it all looks good! But I looking back at it, it is a bit WTF.

Show threadJudeau (EatTheRich)Aug 16, 2024
@OutofPrintArchive @ishambard I'm aware that you did not ask but I can confirm that Shadow Dancer is the best Shinobi game. 😉
Show threadOut of Print ArchiveAug 16, 2024
@Judeau @ishambard 🥰
Show threadJudeau (EatTheRich)Aug 16, 2024

@ishambard Congratulations!

You know, as much as I love the Golden axe and Streets of Rage series I don't believe I have ever played Alien Storm.

I need to make an effort to give that one a shot.

Show threadIshambardAug 16, 2024

@Judeau

It's a great game, and I highly recommend it if you have a fondness for Genesis Beat Em Ups.

It can be quite difficult. I think I had to play through it about 4 or 5 times yesterday to actually beat it as you only have 3 extra lives and no means to get more.

Most stages end with a shooting gallery like section, where you control an on-screen cursor and blast enemies as they appear on screen.

Show threadJake in the desertAug 16, 2024
@ishambard awesome! Streets is great of course and Golden Axe is one of my favorite game series of all time. 1, 2, and 3! I haven't beaten any. Maybe someday 😂 haven't tried Alien Storm - should probably add that to my list.
Show threadIshambardAug 16, 2024

@jake4480
It brings me do much joy that both you and @Judeau both want to check out Alien Storm!

Part of the reason I got more active and posting about Retro Games was a vague hope that it might get people interested in some of the stuff I have played, and they play it themselves 😁

Show threadjbergAug 16, 2024
@ishambard golden axe’s final boss is such a pain.
Show threadIshambardAug 16, 2024

@jberg

He really is. I am dreading trying to beat the game in a single continue if I want to go for that RetroAchievements mastery 😂

Show threadjbergAug 16, 2024
@ishambard I'm amazed with anyone who managed to get him at all. I reached that fight 50+ times when i was younger only to game over there.
Show threadIshambardAug 16, 2024

@jberg

I got lucky. I managed to reach him with a handful of credits intact and burnt through a number of lives on that fight alone 😅😅

He seemed to break at some point and stopped attacking, just moving up and down along the edge of the screen, but the skeleton minors were hammering away at me, causing most of the damage/deaths

Show threadDudley of Yesterzine Aug 16, 2024
@ishambard @OutofPrintArchive Now do the Master System versions!
Show threadIshambardAug 16, 2024

@yesterzine @OutofPrintArchive

I played Game Gear Streets of Rage and... Well, there was Rage.
Just not in the Streets 😂

Show threadOut of Print ArchiveAug 16, 2024
@ishambard @yesterzine
I’m still surprised at how vastly different the MS and GG versions were.
Both in looks and feel. From movement to the actual fighting.
You’d think since the GG can play MS games it would be easier to do a quick port. But Ancient actually created a completely separate version.
Sadly the GG version has a lot of downsides though.