New Gamasutra Article - TG16 Turns 25

GoldenWheels · 09/24/2014, 04:26 PM

It's hard to recall what I might have thought, or how I might have thought exactly, as an 8-12 year old. But I don't necessarily think R-type would have been a good pack in game.

It's a very good game of course, and better than KC in any case by leaps and bounds. But the way I recall childhood via games, pack ins were often friendly platformers, and that allowed your less-good family members to play too once in a while. Putting in a hard core shooter like R-type....I just don't know that it would have made a big difference. At that age I think I might have had multiple controller-out-the-window moment playing R-type, which really isn't a great experience for a pack in. Hard to say for me though, as in any case I wasn't particularly aware of R-type at that age. Maybe it had more traction than I think.

Interesting to think about if they hadn't redesigned the shell and wasted time on the rubber expansion port thing.

CrackTiger · 09/24/2014, 06:49 PM

One of my Genesis fanboy friends' first purchases was a PBC and SMS R-Type. It was still a big deal to him.

Imagine if he got to play the Turbo version a year or two earlier.

A Black Falcon · 09/24/2014, 09:29 PM

Yeah, R-Type, along with Gradius, were probably the two most popular post-crash shmups of the '80s, and their respective series would remain two of the most popular shmup series until the '00s. Having a great port of R-Type was a big deal. Not everyone likes the game -- the super-hard gameplay is not for everyone -- but it's a fantastic game, and NEC absolutely should have had it as the packin. I know some people would prefer Legendary Axe, but I like R-Type more, myself. Plus it's a known name, not an original IP like Legendary Axe.

esteban · 09/24/2014, 09:54 PM

Quote from: Sadler on 09/23/2014, 07:56 PMHow a thread that started with such an awesome article can devolve into this bullshit upsets me. Christ people, be the bigger man already. At least take it to Fighting Street.

Hahahahha. We have fun.

and we're idiots.

Quote from: A Black Falcon on 09/24/2014, 09:29 PMYeah, R-Type, along with Gradius, were probably the two most popular post-crash shmups of the '80s, and their respective series would remain two of the most popular shmup series until the '00s. Having a great port of R-Type was a big deal. Not everyone likes the game -- the super-hard gameplay is not for everyone -- but it's a fantastic game, and NEC absolutely should have had it as the packin. I know some people would prefer Legendary Axe, but I like R-Type more, myself. Plus it's a known name, not an original IP like Legendary Axe.

Neutopia, the Zelda clone, would have been a better pack-in, if it was a available. I'm trying to remember if it was a launch game...my brain hurts.

jlued686 · 09/24/2014, 10:55 PM

According to Wikipedia:

Alien Crush
China Warrior
Dungeon Explorer
Keith Courage in Alpha Zones
Power Golf
R-Type
The Legendary Axe
Victory Run
Vigilante

To me, Legendary Axe or Dungeon Explorer would've been the best ones. Fuckin' crazy that DE was a launch game. Still one of my favorite games for the Turbo.

Psycho Punch · 09/24/2014, 11:09 PM

The Turbo had a strong selection of launch titles in my opinion, it's just that their follow up wasn't so good.

DeshDildo · 09/25/2014, 12:42 AM

Quote from: guest on 09/24/2014, 10:55 PMAccording to Wikipedia:

Alien Crush
China Warrior
Dungeon Explorer
Keith Courage in Alpha Zones
Power Golf
R-Type
The Legendary Axe
Victory Run
Vigilante

To me, Legendary Axe or Dungeon Explorer would've been the best ones. Fuckin' crazy that DE was a launch game. Still one of my favorite games for the Turbo.

The amount of agree I have with this statement is large.

GoldenWheels · 09/25/2014, 08:32 AM

Quote from: guest on 09/24/2014, 10:55 PMAccording to Wikipedia:

Alien Crush
China Warrior
Dungeon Explorer
Keith Courage in Alpha Zones
Power Golf
R-Type
The Legendary Axe
Victory Run
Vigilante

To me, Legendary Axe or Dungeon Explorer would've been the best ones. Fuckin' crazy that DE was a launch game. Still one of my favorite games for the Turbo.

I agree....if that is the selection that was available I'd have gone with Legendary Axe all day.

GoldenWheels · 09/25/2014, 08:37 AM

Quote from: A Black Falcon on 09/24/2014, 09:29 PMYeah, R-Type, along with Gradius, were probably the two most popular post-crash shmups of the '80s, and their respective series would remain two of the most popular shmup series until the '00s. Having a great port of R-Type was a big deal. Not everyone likes the game -- the super-hard gameplay is not for everyone -- but it's a fantastic game, and NEC absolutely should have had it as the packin. I know some people would prefer Legendary Axe, but I like R-Type more, myself. Plus it's a known name, not an original IP like Legendary Axe.

I understand and agree with most of this. Just feel it is simply the wrong kind of game to be a pack in. The hardcore gamer will always come if you build it, so to speak. Pack ins, especially then, to me were to attract the general gamer crowd--hence, platformers/action games usually.

esteban · 09/25/2014, 10:59 AM

To echo what jlued686 already said: North Americans were really lucky to have something like Dungeon Explorer at launch. When I look what PCE had in Japan for the FIRST YEAR...ouch.

Quote from: GoldenWheels on 09/25/2014, 08:37 AM
Quote from: A Black Falcon on 09/24/2014, 09:29 PMYeah, R-Type, along with Gradius, were probably the two most popular post-crash shmups of the '80s, and their respective series would remain two of the most popular shmup series until the '00s. Having a great port of R-Type was a big deal. Not everyone likes the game -- the super-hard gameplay is not for everyone -- but it's a fantastic game, and NEC absolutely should have had it as the packin. I know some people would prefer Legendary Axe, but I like R-Type more, myself. Plus it's a known name, not an original IP like Legendary Axe.
I understand and agree with most of this. Just feel it is simply the wrong kind of game to be a pack in. The hardcore gamer will always come if you build it, so to speak. Pack ins, especially then, to me were to attract the general gamer crowd--hence, platformers/action games usually.

I agree, GoldenWheels.

Otaking · 09/25/2014, 02:29 PM

Quote from: esteban on 09/25/2014, 10:59 AMWhen I look what PCE had in Japan for the FIRST YEAR...ouch.

Of the games released in 1987 Kato chan & Ken chan and Bikkuri Man World are great IMO.

esteban · 09/25/2014, 04:46 PM

Quote from: HardcoreOtaku on 09/25/2014, 02:29 PM
Quote from: esteban on 09/25/2014, 10:59 AMWhen I look what PCE had in Japan for the FIRST YEAR...ouch.
Of the games released in 1987 Kato chan & Ken chan and Bikkuri Man World are great IMO.

Agreed. But look at how long it took for a decent library to form. I am surprised it wasn't more robust, sooner.

jeffhlewis · 09/30/2014, 11:56 PM

Quote from: guest on 09/24/2014, 06:49 PMOne of my Genesis fanboy friends' first purchases was a PBC and SMS R-Type. It was still a big deal to him.

Imagine if he got to play the Turbo version a year or two earlier.

Hey, SMS R-Type with the FM sound module ain't nothin' to fuck with. It was seriously a good version of the game for the time, though the PCE version had a leg up.

technozombie · 10/01/2014, 04:30 PM

Dungeon Explorer as a pack-in would have encourage the sale of more turbotaps and more controllers. Inviting friends over to play would have encouraged more sales of the system and so on and so forth.

esteban · 10/01/2014, 05:25 PM

Quote from: technozombie on 10/01/2014, 04:30 PMDungeon Explorer as a pack-in would have encourage the sale of more turbotaps and more controllers. Inviting friends over to play would have encouraged more sales of the system and so on and so forth.

I hadn't thought of that. It's sad that it is one of the FEW 3+ player games that really shine on TG-16/PCE.