NES games on the PCE

spenoza · 12/09/2008, 06:59 PM

Tom, I know you had a project or two moving a couple NES games to PCE. How are those coming along? I ask because I had a thought. If Castlevania II could be brought to the PCE it could be the beginning of something nice. Some nice tile edit tools, your new sound engine. Simon's Quest could be redone specifically for the PCE, enhanced and improved such as to kick more ass.

Anyone else think this sounds at all interesting?

guyjin · 12/09/2008, 07:44 PM

YES! Castlevania 2 is my favorite of the NES castlevanias, and one of my all time faves, regardless of what everyone else says. I'd LOVE to see a PCE version!

hoobs88 · 12/09/2008, 11:20 PM

That would be awesome! The Bubble Bobble franchise was incomplete with Rainbow Islands, Parasol Stars, and Don Doko Don...all it was missing was the first chapter and that is being worked on now. Castlevania II would be a nice addition to Dracula X.

TurboXray · 12/10/2008, 12:28 AM

spenoza: I took a break. They were pretty intense to build out. Lots of crazy hand optimizations for the emulation code and such. <wipes sweat>

Castlevania was just a test to see how the code carries over. The way it works is, I wrote all the NES video, video, and mapper emulation as a core that can be copied into another NES project. Thereby reducing the amount of work to get a NES rom working on the PCE. Castlevania was up and running in just to short days. I was pretty surprised since I had to do some modifications to the Megaman emulation code to get it working.

In theory, you can add additional hacks to the NES rom for more colors and what not - but it does require a veteran hacker. I was hoping to drum up some interest in the hacking community with making the hacks and source public. The problem is, it requires a firm knowledge of both PCE and NES hardware. That might scare off some people. Dunno. Anyway, I only know of one person who used the back end code successfully to get another NES rom working - Contra. I've not seen the game project personally though.

If I do another NES patch, it would probably be Zelda 1/2 or Megaman 2. Not sure if I would do a Castlevania 2, but I would help out if someone were to start such a project

peperocket · 12/10/2008, 03:39 AM

hey rich, do we have any chance to see Castlevania and Megaman full emulated (With sound ?)

spenoza · 12/10/2008, 09:01 AM

Well, crap. I'm not a veteran hacker. I'm pretty novice. I would be dependent upon tools to get at and manipulate data. I would be happy to help with any such enterprise should a more experienced hacker step up. I'm good with dialogue.

ParanoiaDragon · 12/12/2008, 10:33 PM

I don't think CV or MM are totally finished. As it is, Keranu & I still have work to do on both, but were focusing on CV first. I haven't had much time for making music, plus, trying to work on our main FU projects has taken me away from CV.

spenoza · 12/13/2008, 11:11 PM

There's something truly wrong with calling a project FU, even if it IS the abbreviation of the full name.Yeah, project? Well, FU!

Tatsujin · 12/18/2008, 10:27 PM

Quote from: guyjin on 12/09/2008, 07:44 PMYES! Castlevania 2 is my favorite of the NES castlevanias, and one of my all time faves, regardless of what everyone else says. I'd LOVE to see a PCE version!

wasn't castle II that simon's quest in the west? i thought that's the most horrible of all of the castles ever released??

guyjin · 12/18/2008, 10:41 PM

Quote from: Tatsujin on 12/18/2008, 10:27 PMwasn't castle II that simon's quest in the west?

That's the one!

Quotei thought that's the most horrible of all of the castles ever released??

You thought wrong. NES Castlevanias in order: 2 > 3 > 1.

termis · 12/18/2008, 10:55 PM

Yeah, I dunno why Castlevania II has a bad rep with some people. I thought it was an excellent game, and much like say, NES Bionic Commando or Strider, the adventure-theme being added into the gameplay made the title quite fun.

spenoza · 12/19/2008, 05:55 PM

It's because CV2 is so damn confusing if you don't already know what's going on or have a walk-thru. All the characters lie to you and the clues are about as obtuse as they get.

I'd love to see this game cleaned up a little.

ParanoiaDragon · 12/20/2008, 03:07 AM

I'd love to see the game remade into a Castleroid, more like the Sorrow games, but, I suppose it'd be like Order of Ecclesia if they redid it.

Arkhan Asylum · 12/21/2008, 04:11 AM

i actually like Castlevania 2 the most of the nes castlevanias also. a PCE port would be sweet.

spenoza · 12/21/2008, 10:48 AM

Well, with the improved graphics and audio capabilities of the PCE it would be possible to improve CV2 significantly, and it would allow a chance to update shitty dialogue as well.

Frankly, CV2 is quite a bit Metroidvania already, and enough so for me. I get sick of rocket jumps and crap like that.

Arkhan Asylum · 12/21/2008, 05:14 PM

Imagine Simon's quest, with Dracula X visuals/sfx.

O_O ooooo.

This would be awesome.

spenoza · 12/22/2008, 11:37 AM

Well, for my part, I'm trying to be much more realistic about this. Even if CV2 ever gets a PCE port, it'll be running the original engine, and the best we can hope for is expanded palettes for sprites and possibly a revised music engine. I'm perfectly happy imagining the game with a few more colors and dialogue cleanup. But then, I've always been something of a realist at times.

ParanoiaDragon · 12/23/2008, 01:44 AM

I love rocket jumps & the like! Anyhoo, technically, this game could look like Drac X, though, I'm pretty sure all of the sprites would have to remain the same size as the original game. And on that note, you'll be seeing a remake of CV1 before CV2, as I believe CV1 is easier to hack IIRC.

spenoza · 12/23/2008, 08:25 PM

Even if it graphically looked like Drac X I think the much lower grade animation would give it away.

Arkhan Asylum · 12/24/2008, 06:47 AM

lower grade animation?

er?

I'd much rather see a Simons Quest remake than a CV1 remake. Probably because im sick of everyone goin OMG CASTLEVANIA 1 I LUBS IT ON THE BINTENDO!

>_<

not you guys, just, people in general.

spenoza · 12/24/2008, 06:40 PM

I think people are prone to forgetting how clunky the first CV game is compared to the subsequent titles in the series. But that doesn't mean it's a bad game.

And it'd surely be much easier to make prettier sprites than to hack the game to have additional frames of animation. DracX has very nice animation sequences, where CV2 is typical NES low animation sprite game.

ParanoiaDragon · 12/24/2008, 10:03 PM

Yeah, I think Tom's looking to add frames of animation, at the least to Simon. We also talked about making the sprite just a little bigger, not sure if that will work. As for CV2, all I know is, that both Mega Man 1 & CV1, they are pretty easy to hack compared to other games in the series. BTW, I believe we're going to be using the Simon sprite from the X68000 Simon, which we agreed is the best looking Simon.

spenoza · 12/24/2008, 10:10 PM

Gee, do I have a Simon preference? I dunno... I prefer non-Simons. Trevor and Richter are just cooler ;)

ParanoiaDragon · 12/26/2008, 11:23 PM

I like Richter, Julius, & Leon myself, but, since CV1 is Simon, we will use the best looking version of him.

Arkhan Asylum · 12/27/2008, 08:49 AM

I prefer Maria here....

lol.

Screw it. we hack CV2 and make it Maria's Quest.

albinoMithos · 12/27/2008, 09:25 AM

Quote from: guyjin on 12/18/2008, 10:41 PM
Quote from: Tatsujin on 12/18/2008, 10:27 PMwasn't castle II that simon's quest in the west?
That's the one!

Quotei thought that's the most horrible of all of the castles ever released??
You thought wrong. NES Castlevanias in order: 2 > 3 > 1.

You are a sick sick blue ball of a man, you know that? (Btw I didn't think it was horrible just not my fav.

)

Keranu · 12/28/2008, 03:34 AM

Here is the remake Simon sprite design I made for the project awhile back:

simonal4.png

The one on the left is from a X6800 game, the one in the middle is the X6800 sprite shruken to the size of the Castlevania NES sprite, and the one on the right is the one I reworked. Haven't worked much at all on this project and in a long time since I was busy with other things, but I hope we'll be able to add extra animation for the reason spenoza mentioned.

guyjin · 12/28/2008, 01:23 PM

I dunno... it looks sort of muddy...

CrackTiger · 12/28/2008, 02:22 PM

I still can't believe how awesome Keranu was able to make that Simon sprite at NES size. When I first heard about the remake, I didn't think that it could turn out very good if everything had to keep the same proportions, but now I believe that any NES to PCE remake can be brought up to 16-bit quality.

runinruder · 12/28/2008, 03:05 PM

Quote from: guest on 12/28/2008, 02:22 PMI still can't believe how awesome Keranu was able to make that Simon sprite at NES size.

I agree, it looks excellent. Good job, K.

spenoza · 12/29/2008, 12:29 AM

That's actually pretty cool. More modern Simon design with retro pixel sizing. It'll be nice if everything gets worked out all happy-like.

Arkhan Asylum · 01/08/2009, 06:36 AM

I think he needs more red or something, but that is just me. It is badass either way!

but.... can it be maria instead?

Spman2099 · 05/24/2009, 07:24 AM

Quote from: ParanoiaDragon on 12/20/2008, 03:07 AMI'd love to see the game remade into a Castleroid, more like the Sorrow games, but, I suppose it'd be like Order of Ecclesia if they redid it.

It is arguably the first Castleroid. Way ahead of it's time. Certainly had flaws, but it did a whole lot right. It seems that most recently Simon's Quest has come under more attack due to the extremely popular AVGN's video on it. But mainly it is just a bunch of sheep who never played the game mindlessly attacking it. http://www.screwattack.com/AVGN/2006/Castlevania2

But than again, it always had it's detractors. Either way it was a great game. If anyone here hasn't played it but loves the Castleroid's, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of this. It's a chance for you to see the roots of the Castleroid genre.

P.S. But better that Castlevania 3? Really? I still consider that to be the best game on the NES... Also in the running for best Castlevania game (probably placing third behind Rondo of Blood and Symphony of the Night).

blueraven · 05/24/2009, 03:38 PM

Quote from: guyjin on 12/18/2008, 10:41 PM
Quote from: Tatsujin on 12/18/2008, 10:27 PMwasn't castle II that simon's quest in the west?
That's the one!
Quotei thought that's the most horrible of all of the castles ever released??
You thought wrong. NES Castlevanias in order: 2 > 3 > 1.

I agree, guyjin.

CrackTiger · 05/24/2009, 09:04 PM

Quote from: Spman2099 on 05/24/2009, 07:24 AMIt is arguably the first Castleroid. Way ahead of it's time. Certainly had flaws, but it did a whole lot right. It seems that most recently Simon's Quest has come under more attack due to the extremely popular AVGN's video on it. But mainly it is just a bunch of sheep who never played the game mindlessly attacking it. http://www.screwattack.com/AVGN/2006/Castlevania2

But than again, it always had it's detractors. Either way it was a great game. If anyone here hasn't played it but loves the Castleroid's, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of this. It's a chance for you to see the roots of the Castleroid genre.

"Castleroids/Metroivania's" were actually pretty common during the 8-bit days. Off the top of my head: Battle of Olympus, Faxanadu, Rambo, Legacy of the Wizard, Rygar, Millon's Secret Castle, Clash at Demonhead, Blaster Master, Strider, Wonder Boy III, Lord of the Sword, Spell Caster, Zillion... If anything, Simon's Quest stood out as being one of the poorer ones. I still love it and the overall aesthetics and presentation make it much more attractive than it would be if it relied on it's design/gameplay.

It was so crazy when SotN came out and ever since people have been talking about how revolutionary it was.

ParanoiaDragon · 05/25/2009, 12:22 AM

I know that Simon's Quest was a Castleroid, but, I would like a re-envisioning that restructures it & gives it more upgrades & a map system, etc. like the more recent ones.

Arkhan Asylum · 05/25/2009, 12:36 AM

Quote from: ParanoiaDragon on 05/25/2009, 12:22 AMI know that Simon's Quest was a Castleroid, but, I would like a re-envisioning that restructures it & gives it more upgrades & a map system, etc. like the more recent ones.

all that crap makes the game too easy.

Its like having a map for Dragon Slayer IV! Blasphemy.

My map system of choice is graph paper, and a pencil!

Mirado Black Warriors to be precise

Spman2099 · 05/25/2009, 12:49 AM

Quote"Castleroids/Metroivania's" were actually pretty common during the 8-bit days. Off the top of my head: Battle of Olympus, Faxanadu, Rambo, Legacy of the Wizard, Rygar, Millon's Secret Castle, Clash at Demonhead, Blaster Master,
Strider, Wonder Boy III, Lord of the Sword, Spell Caster, Zillion... If anything, Simon's Quest stood out as being one of the poorer ones. I still love it and the overall aesthetics and presentation make it much more attractive than it would be if it relied on it's design/gameplay.

It was so crazy when SotN came out and ever since people have been talking about how revolutionary it was.

Sorry I should have clarified. When I said Castlevania 2: Simons quest was arguably the first Castleroid, what I meant was that it was the first Castlevania game to play with the free form Metroid gameplay style. I certainly don't believe that it was the first side scrolling adventure game. I always took a Castleroid as directly referring to a Castlevania game that played with the more open concept gameplay of the Metroid series. http://castlevania.wikia.com/wiki/Castleroid

However I do recognize that some people have used the term to describe other games with similar styles that do not involve the Castlevania series whatsoever. So once again, I should have clarified.

About people feeling SoTN was revolutionary; I am sure a certain amount of that was just people being excited over a very polished well put together game.

P.s. Faxanadu was badass!

Arkhan Asylum · 05/25/2009, 02:18 AM

Battle of Olympus, Faxanadu and Drasle Family are all badass.

**Drasle Family = DS IV = Legacy of the Wizard = <3

ParanoiaDragon · 05/26/2009, 01:46 AM

Bah, I want my map! And I want Exp. points!! When it comes to CV's, I think Portrait of Ruin is my favorite, SotN is actually one of my least favorites, with OoE as my least favorite. Here's a list from best to worst for me:
PoR
DoS
HoD
AoS
SotN
CotM
OoE

As for the PS2 games, I do enjoy them, though I enjoy CoD most I think, even though neither is what I really want. I hope this new one for PS3 is a true Castleroid, it'll probably be 3D, but, if it's done right....