Heavy Unit

[Arkhan Asylum]

This game really blows.

Does it get any better?

I feel like maybe it does and I am just not giving it enough attention, but after the 3rd level I find myself wanting to smack my face against the screen.

[Bernie]

lol.  I just bought this one.  I wonder what I am in for?

[_Paul]

I get killed on the first enemy so I can't help you there.

[Senshi]

I get killed on the first enemy so I can't help you there.

LOL...i thought i was the only one. That's why I sold this game a week after i bought it. Props to anyone who can play this game.

[shubibiman]

The firts enemy is the most annoying in the game. Things get smoother later on.

[Keranu]

lol I didn't realize how funny the name of this game was until I read this thread's title.

[RegalSin]

This is a challenger shooter, the enemies reoccur in
a specific order, like megaman. The game does give little hints to what might occur.

1. When the skulls go towards you just shoot,
2. However you see those two things, which looks like nest because they are.
3. Then the sequence of the cannons.
4. The obvious positons of the snake heads.
5. Then the position of the archers.

This shooter looks really nice to play like dragon spirit, but unlike Spirit, I was looking foward to transforming like Macross shooter, ( which I assume is later, after you get a power up ).

[nat]

lol I didn't realize how funny the name of this game was until I read this thread's title.

Ha, yeah, I was going to make a witty comment about my own Unit-of-Lead, but I'll refrain.

[Tatsujin]

In this rare case, I like the MD version better

[Arkhan Asylum]

I played the game for a good few hours and was like "man this game is fuckin dumb".

It seems it doesn't really get any better.  It's stale.

At least the cover art is good

Its like Side Arms with autism or something.

[Tatsujin]

Its like Side Arms with autism or something.

[ParanoiaDragon]

In this rare case, I like the MD version better

Yes, exactly!  This is one of those cases where the Genny/MD version is soooooooooo much better!  The PCE version of Heavy Unit is not only a terrible conversion, but it's just a straight up embarrasing Turbo game!

[rag-time4]

Yeah i got this from santa so i guess you can day i asked for it!

[RegalSin]

Okay you know, I do not really think you gave this game a chance. The only problem I have is the sound was so distracting, from the enviorment, and winning can be like a lottery, especially with calculated projectiles.

The MD version of the game is not the arcade game. It is a completly differnt version of the same series of events, but on the MD. In fact the MD is actually shorter then the PCE game itself, and while the stage is easier, the bosses are challenge.

The PCE game, some enemies do not want to die, or I do not have the right equipment to take out a certain enemy. When you transform, you will get power ups that will affect certain enemies more.

The MD game, the fact the game uses bigger sprites ( at least from my point of view ) it makes it a bit harder to manuver when transformed. I mean you look really cool but, your a more easy target.

Also the PCE game you have to use both A and B buttons to fire a spree of bullets, before you get your power up, otherwise you will find the release rate to be kinda slowy. Take the arrow guys below. You can take em out only if you button mash or get the bomb upgrade. Even if you button mash, you need to be at a
certian level before they go down.

They are both great games, and the only way the game gets annoying if you die to the point where your score does not count, and you just want to see the ending.

There are also slightly differnt animations for bosses.

[Digi.k]

hmmm should i pick this up.. the difficulty puts me off and graphically one of taito's poorer ports to pce ??

Difficulty has gotta be easier than rabio lepus right ??

however I kinda like taito's sound for the pce games including this one.....

[Samurai Ghost]

Yeah, I found this to be a really crappy game. The only thing that redeems it is how insanely impossible it is right out of the bat which is pretty funny. But once you manage to clear the first stage and get powered up the game is incredibly easy and bland, as long as you don't die. Then it is frustratingly difficult and bland until you get powered up again.

It's worth $5-$10 just to have it but I wouldn't spend much more than that as you'll probably get bored of it in favor of any number of vastly superior side-scrolling shooters on Hueys. At least Rabio Lepus has some graphical charm; it seems the designers of Heavy Unit just give up halfway through the game and slapped the levels together last-minute.

[Arkhan Asylum]

Rabio Lepus is great.

It's just fucking hard

[Opethian]

Saint Dragon is fookin hard. I usually die in the last level of Heavy unit, damn wall maze

[Arkhan Asylum]

Saint Dragon ain't hard, cripple.

[soop]

I like St Dragon.

[EmperorIng]

Whoa-ho, what a bump!

I've been playing this a bit in Ootake, and liked it enough to order a copy. I played quite a bit of both the PCE port and the MD Special revision, enough to share some thoughts.

I think people tend to like Funari's* MD version based on that it looks better and is far easier. In fact, it's extremely easy - enemies rarely get the chance to fire a shot at you, and once you are powered up, you can expect to cruise through half the game before enemies muster up the courage to block your advance. It's pleasant and showcases some groovy graphics, but it doesn't win over any fans through its ho-hum appeal.

Kaneko/InterState's PCE version, by contrast, looks like a second-rate NES game - though with the exception that it throws a lot of stuff on the screen without flicker or slowdown. I didn't even know the second stage was supposed to be underwater until I played the MD version. What it lacks in looks it makes up for in playability. The game is far more aggressive (the opening bit is hilariously designed to fuck over players non-stop), and it rarely lets up in that aggression. The smaller sprites make for tighter maneuvering, and the end result is a pretty enjoyable game. The game has a lot of R-Type segments where if you memorize where to position your ship during some crucial moments (like the... crate-snake things) you will have a far better time of it. There's usually never a power-up too far away after death, allowing for some semblance of recovery.

I wouldn't call the game my favorite shooter on the system, but it offers up some pretty furious fun. I encourage others to try it out via emulation (or the MD port, if things are too difficult!).

*I can't help but link to this site. It's so addicting to finally get a sense of which companies were actually working on these ports as opposed to the generic publisher labels like Taito and NCS/Masaya (the latter of which barely seems to have done any games themselves on the PCE).

[PCEngineHell]

I've always liked Heavy Unit on PCE. Its one of those games where the challenge makes the game. Visually I thought the game was standard fare. Nothing outstanding, but nothing terrible either.

[Gredler]

I've not imported a bunch of games, but in one of the two lots of games I ever ordered this game was mixed in.

I hated it at first, and gave up quickly, only to return and try again shortly after.

The opening segment is incredibly difficult, and frustrating.

I end up retrying the stage over and over until I start a good run, and once you get past that it's very fun.

I got this game alongside KC&KC, Image Fight, R-Type 1 & 2, and 3 other games for >$20, so I'd say yeah this game was worth getting. For a few dollars it's well worth it, but I wouldn't go seeking this game with the amount of shooters available that I enjoy more.

[esteban]

Time to find my old posts on this game...

UPDATE: pending...

[Gredler]

Time to find my old posts on this game...

UPDATE: pending...

Annnnnnnnddd?

I am tempted to go back and play this, I've played so many shooters on the system sense then, I wonder if I can test my mettle and get far in this game?? Probably not..

[EmperorIng]

Well, there's a somewhat simple litmus test...

If you use the word "hard" to describe the difficulty of...

-any Soldier game
-Down Load
-Gunhed
-any Thunder game on Normal

Then Heavy Unit is probably 2hardcore4u. The opening segment will kill the unprepared 90% of the time, based on my expert calculations.

[esteban]

Time to find my old posts on this game...

UPDATE: pending...

Annnnnnnnddd?

I am tempted to go back and play this, I've played so many shooters on the system sense then, I wonder if I can test my mettle and get far in this game?? Probably not..

Ha! I knew there was something I forgot to look for.... 

Well, there's a somewhat simple litmus test...

If you use the word "hard" to describe the difficulty of...

-any Soldier game
-Down Load
-Gunhed
-any Thunder game on Normal

Then Heavy Unit is probably 2hardcore4u. The opening segment will kill the unprepared 90% of the time, based on my expert calculations.

What's funny is that once you get slightly powered-up, you can waltz through some sections with very little skill...even the first time playing said section (this was my experience...but it was kool because I got to appreciate the "walking around" aspect.)

[Gredler]

Well, there's a somewhat simple litmus test...

If you use the word "hard" to describe the difficulty of...

-any Soldier game
-Down Load
-Gunhed
-any Thunder game on Normal

Then Heavy Unit is probably 2hardcore4u. The opening segment will kill the unprepared 90% of the time, based on my expert calculations.

Did Nulltard put you up to this!?!?!?!

I will have you know I am a hardcore gamer with elite skills at conquering videogame challenges!!! I know games inside and out, like the back of my hand, from prime to time, and whatnot.

Listen, that last segment of Blazing Lazers is very challenging. and frustrating. and challenging. Soldier games, also, have very difficult endings. It's not my fault, it's the final stages of these game's fault. Download's bulletes come out of no where, and are small, hard to see... and the backgrounds are distracting! Those thunder games are fun, but the bosses... They have these quick patterns, I have a difficult.. time with...

I am good at videgames, GOOD AT THEM!! I SWEAR.





Everything will be ok. Everthing. Ok.

[EmperorIng]

What's funny is that once you get slightly powered-up, you can waltz through some sections with very little skill...even the first time playing said section

Oh definitely; the game opens up after that initial hurdle. There are some very nasty checkpoints thrown in to keep you on your toes as well. Full-power + autofire can make quick work of some stage enemies, but surprises (crate snakes) and erratic boss patterns can quickly send you back down into pound-town.

This isn't even counting the second loop (which I haven't reached).

Download's bulletes come out of no where

They come out of enemies. That's it; back into the loony bin.

[esteban]

Ok, I don't think anyone cares, but here is my take on Heavy Unit, circa 2014:

11/13/14

Heavy Unit is really unbalanced...the beginning is ridiculously tricky, like, the first few moments of the game are literally going to scare away most folks...but then, later, when you power-up, you can stomp all over your opponents.

And, to be honest, some parts of the game seem genuinely interesting (Heavy Unit is not just another generic shootemup...you have a mech, and can walk, and the enemies/stages are OK).

But there is no learning curve...it will shift suddenly from TOO HARD to TOO EASY to MODERATE....

I'm pretty certain I beat PCE Heavy Unit years ago. However, it might have been on MAME (1999-2000, ha!)

https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=18025.msg379846#msg379846

Because I have free time, and self-absorbed, here is an older post...circa 2XXX:

Damn, it might have been a different forum. I had a nice, detailed scoop on Heavy Unit.

I wish I had saved some of my old stuff.

[Gredler]

but here how I take on Heavy Units:

This is how I felt about it, "Unbalanced." Once I got through the crazy opening area it seemed to ease up so much, then suddenly spike again. There did not seem to be a middle ground or any sort of ramp from difficulty to difficulty.

[deubeul]

I love Heavy Unit. There's one of the PcE's fastest scrolling near the end of the game.

[EmperorIng]

but here how I take on Heavy Units:

This is how I felt about it, "Unbalanced." Once I got through the crazy opening area it seemed to ease up so much, then suddenly spike again. There did not seem to be a middle ground or any sort of ramp from difficulty to difficulty.

The only difficulty spike is if you die, because you have to work hard to get back to a reasonable level.

And even then, if you die in this game, it's going to be because you crashed into terrain, because the game is extraordinarily kind with the amount of hits a shield can take.

I managed to go through the last half of the game blind and could tank it out - including the tricky final boss - thanks to the shields. It really lessens the difficulty.

I am a little disappointed... The game finally came in today, and I 1CC'd it on my second attempt. The opening isn't even tough anymore, since I figured out through trial and error the exact positioning to survive easily every time. The hardest part of the game, imo, is probably the power-up spam that makes you risk transforming back into a ship during the final boss. Well that, and the opening to the final stage - lots of bullets.


Pic: Final boss before he gave up the cyber ghost

Still, lots of fun! I made it all the way near the end of the second loop (boss of 2-4) before a stupid death killed my excellent run.

[esteban]

but here how I take on Heavy Units:

This is how I felt about it, "Unbalanced." Once I got through the crazy opening area it seemed to ease up so much, then suddenly spike again. There did not seem to be a middle ground or any sort of ramp from difficulty to difficulty.

The only difficulty spike is if you die, because you have to work hard to get back to a reasonable level.

And even then, if you die in this game, it's going to be because you crashed into terrain, because the game is extraordinarily kind with the amount of hits a shield can take.

I managed to go through the last half of the game blind and could tank it out - including the tricky final boss - thanks to the shields. It really lessens the difficulty.

I am a little disappointed... The game finally came in today, and I 1CC'd it on my second attempt. The opening isn't even tough anymore, since I figured out through trial and error the exact positioning to survive easily every time. The hardest part of the game, imo, is probably the power-up spam that makes you risk transforming back into a ship during the final boss. Well that, and the opening to the final stage - lots of bullets.


Pic: Final boss before he gave up the cyber ghost

Still, lots of fun! I made it all the way near the end of the second loop (boss of 2-4) before a stupid death killed my excellent run.

I never figured out the "safe spot" in the opening scene, but knowing that it exists changes my strategy.

Also, there are six loops in Heavy Unit.

So, really, you just barely started your journey.

Please keep us updated on your progress.

I made it to third loop.

[EmperorIng]

If you managed that without using a continue, I'd be seriously impressed.

I have some serious doubts that the subsequent loops would add difficulty on top of the second loop's suicide bullets. I  can't see the screen getting much more cluttered than it already is, especially in parts like the opening of stage 3 or the pink glob spam of stage 4.

[EmperorIng]

I can rightly declare esteban a liar, as I can attest with all certainty that there are only two loops.

I was able today to beat Heavy Unit without losing a single life:



All in all, as I said above, this game is actually very easy. Keep in mech form, don't grab too many speed-up icons (mostly for the huge S spam that happens before the final boss), and memorize where all the shield icons are. If you do those things, there is very little in this game that can kill you if you safely maneuver away from obstacles and avoid getting hit too many times while your shields are active. Seriously, your shields take so many hits that a boss can hit you 7 or 8 times in quick succession and you will still be good. It nullifies the challenge for a large portion of the game.

not that I will complain too hard! i love feeling like a superplayer by beating an easy game.

[esteban]

I can rightly declare esteban a liar, as I can attest with all certainty that there are only two loops.

I was able today to beat Heavy Unit without losing a single life:

Did you notice the blinking cursor as the ending song concludes?

Tap along with it (alternating I and II buttons) and you will unlock Tres Lupe. 

[EmperorIng]

It will be some time before I feel like putting away 40+ minutes playing a slow easy game (again) to get to a loop that may or may not be there (no information about the loop anywhere else online). Wish you would have spoken up before I tried it again, because I was really ready to go where no one has gone before in the realm of "clearing easy PC engine games". 

It seems like a needlessly esoteric way to hide away more of the game, not that I imagine the game would increase in difficulty after loop 2.

[Arkhan Asylum]

WHO REVIVED MY THREAD AND DIDN'T EVEN TELL ME.

damn


This game still sucks, btw.

[EmperorIng]

Nah, it's super easy but it's good. 
Not that I'd call it great, or original - a respectable mid-tier shooter. Which is pretty good because there are so many lousier PCE shooters, like Toilet Kids, Deep Blue, Hani in the Sky and Barunba.