Dungeon Explorer II and DE (original)

[spenoza]

So, I've finally had a chance to play into DE II a bit. It is indeed very much like the original. I'm a little disappointed they didn't use the SCD memory to update the visuals a little as some backdrops and environments are still pretty plain. And it's been long enough since I played DE (original) that I can't remember how it handled large number of enemies on-screen, but it's my impression (based on my crappy memory) that DE II actually seems to be less good at keeping slowdown at bay when the enemies pile up.

Otherwise the game is fun, as expected.

[NecroPhile]

Yeah, they certainly kept the look of the original.  That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I wouldn't have complained if they'd spiced things up a bit.  My memory is similarly fuzzy, but I don't recall any glaring difference in slowdowns; I'll have to do a little comparison testing tonight.

[CrackTiger]

I've always thought that DEII is a huge improvement visually. The only aspect that stood out as inferior to me was the sound effects.

[ccovell]

And the dark, drab colours.  I loved the "metallic" look of a lot of the gfx in the original Dungeon Explorer, however.

The SFX took a dive, because the original had music/sfx by the great Macco, whereas the 2nd one looks like it used Hudson's less powerful-sounding sound driver.

I was disappointed by the same sound quality hit in Neutopia --> Neutopia II.

[Keranu]

There are some nicer tiles in DEII from what I could tell (I haven't played it much), but yeah I was pretty disappointed that the graphics overall weren't updated as much as they could've been. Kinda like the Mega Man games.

[PCEngineHell]

I still have not played this one. Only the Sega CD title and DE1 on hu-card. I really need to get off my butt and pick it up. Ive had plenty of chances to do so, and keep buying other shit instead.

[CrackTiger]

I love the graphics in Dungeon Explorer, but DEII redid many similar backgrounds in the same style while still noticeably improving them. In magazine preview sceenshots it did look like DEII was going to be more like a CD version of DE1 and some of the earlier dungeons purposely mimic the original.

But the further you get into DEII the more you'll see not only a crazy variety of original backgrounds, but also some graphic styles similar to later Super Famicom games, particularly Square RPGs. The starting characters may lead some people into thinking it's just more of the same, but they all upgrade into new classes and there are lots of hidden characters to unlock.

DEII 's graphics are just about as good as they 'would've' been done by anyone back then on a 16-bit console. Many of the new backgrounds compare to DE1 more like how the SNES Megaman X games compar to the NES Megaman games. I don't have screenshots covering both entire games, but there really is a big difference.

[Ceti Alpha]

I still have not played this one. Only the Sega CD title and DE1 on hu-card. I really need to get off my butt and pick it up. Ive had plenty of chances to do so, and keep buying other shit instead.

Tell me about it. I shouldn't be thinking of picking up any other game.

But yeah, though I haven't played the game, from the screenshots and clips I've seen it definitely looks like a visual improvement over DE.

[spenoza]

If what I've read out and about on the 'Net is correct, the SNES Crystal Beans (Dungeon Explorer) had its music done by Macco, or whatever his full name is, I can't remember ATM.

[CrackTiger]

If what I've read out and about on the 'Net is correct, the SNES Crystal Beans (Dungeon Explorer) had its music done by Macco, or whatever his full name is, I can't remember ATM.

Crystal Beans' music, like the maps, is mostly ported straight from DEII and they did an amazing job recreating the CD tracks. From what I remember though, the rest of the music like everything else original about the game isn't so hot.

DEII uses some of the same sfx from DE1, but it doesn't do stereo like the original where if you're shooting stuff on the right side of the screen you'd here the sfx favoring the right side of the speakers. All the original PSG in DEII doesn't sound very good. It's always lame when a CD game gets zero effort put into any PSG (like Dracula X), but it doesn't drag a game like DEII down.

[ParanoiaDragon]

I don't recall too much original stuff in Crystal Beans, I own it, though, I haven't beaten it yet.  It's like a really abbreviated version of DE 2, & yeah, most of the music, isn't the bad.  As for the PSG in DE 2 & Rondo, I like the music in both of those, though honestly, they could've been done better for sure!

[CrackTiger]

I don't recall too much original stuff in Crystal Beans, I own it, though, I haven't beaten it yet.  It's like a really abbreviated version of DE 2, & yeah, most of the music, isn't the bad.  As for the PSG in DE 2 & Rondo, I like the music in both of those, though honestly, they could've been done better for sure!

The playable characters, many (all but the final?) bosses, towns and world map are all different, don't fit in and are all downgrades in my opinion. I really like the DEII holdover tracks in Crystal Beans, it's too bad they tried to make a cutesy short version of DEII instead of just a short version.

I also appreciate the DEII & Drac X PSG for what it is. In Drac X there are only like 2 brief PSG track and the pause sound effect, so it's no big deal anyway. I was disappointed with the PSG in DEII only because of how amazing it was in the original game.

[Joe Redifer]

I like the PSG in Dracula X that plays in the area right before you fight a boss.  It is foreboding and kicks all sorts of audio anus. Nothing says "16-Bit Graphics" like that music!

[geise]

I like the PSG in Dracula X that plays in the area right before you fight a boss.  It is foreboding and kicks all sorts of audio anus. Nothing says "16-Bit Graphics" like that music!

I like that music composition wise.  There are so many SCD games that do that though.  Most have some kick ass Redbook audio, and a mix of not so good PSG music. 

As for DEII I was also disappointed in the sound effects compared to DE1, but overall I enjoyed DEII just as much if not more than DE1

[Shark Cannon]

How does DE II compare to the Sega CD game?  I have a copy of DE II a work for $100 and I've been considering picking it up.  I really enjoyed the Sega CD game but disliked the TG-16 one (an opinion not very many people seem to share).



Sorry to bump a 4 month old thread but it seemed like a better idea than starting a new one.

[nat]

I haven't played the SEGA CD game, but I know that Dungeon Explorer II (Turbo) and Dungeon Explorer (SEGA CD) are two entirely different games and share very little other than name. I'm not sure why you didn't like the original DE on the Turbo, but if you didn't like that one, you probably won't like DEII.

[Mathius]

I have both DE1 on the Sega CD, and Turbo. Nat's right, they are both VERY different games. The Sega CD version has better graphics, but the difficulty level is atrocious if your playing single player. Plus, I think the Turbo version's dungeons are layed out in a less confusing way.

[esteban]

I'm not sure why you didn't like the original DE on the Turbo, but if you didn't like that one, you probably won't like DEII.

This is all you need to know, really. Of course, we here will urge you to give DE on turbo a second chance!

In fact, even if you dislike the Turbo games, you should listen to the fantastic tunes these games offer.

Otherwise, save your money .

[Sinistron]

  not like Dungeon Explorer?!?!  Total insanity- obviously.

[NecroPhile]

not like Dungeon Explorer?!?!  Total insanity- obviously. 

Especially for anyone that really liked playing the Sega CD version.  Seems strange, considering the four titles (including Crystal Beans) are unmistakeably Dungeon Explorer games and offer near identical game play mechanics.

[esteban]

not like Dungeon Explorer?!?!  Total insanity- obviously. 

Obviously.

[JoshTurboTrollX]

DE I and II- are excellent games.  DE III (At the end credits of the Sega CD ver.  it says Dungeon Explorer III) is more like gauntlet than the turbo versions are.  The sound effects especially are Gauntlet like.

[Shark Cannon]

It's probably because I played the Sega CD one first and was more used to its RPG like leveling system (X number of kills = level up).  Gameplay wise the first DE seemed ok but I really didn't like the leveling system (random stat boost after killing a boss).  It seems like a minor complaint but since I can't get any friends to play classic games with me that don't contain the word "Mario" I have to play sinle player and tend to lose interest in these types of games if something about them irritates me.  Perhaps I gave up on it too early, as obviously no one else shares my opinion of the game

not like Dungeon Explorer?!?!  Total insanity- obviously. 

Especially for anyone that really liked playing the Sega CD version.  Seems strange, considering the four titles (including Crystal Beans) are unmistakeably Dungeon Explorer games and offer near identical game play mechanics.

[spenoza]

The stat boost isn't random. Watch the color of the crystal and grab it when the color matches the stat you want to increase.

[Shark Cannon]

Really?
I knew it didn't make sense for my warrior to keep getting int boosts.  I should have assumed I was doing something wrong instead of blaming the game.  I'll definitely have to give it another try as I clearly don't know what I'm talking about.

[esteban]

Really?
I knew it didn't make sense for my warrior to keep getting int boosts.  I should have assumed I was doing something wrong instead of blaming the game.  I'll definitely have to give it another try as I clearly don't know what I'm talking about.

Don't be hard on yourself. 

Plus, there are unlockable characters who rock.

[gekioh]

In my honest opinion I like all the DE games, including Crystal Beans and Sega cd version. It is definately true that the SCD version is much more like Gauntlet, plus everything is all compressed into one little area with 6 dungeons to chhose from on different corners of the screen, where as the Turbo versions you are actually exploring all over the place etc etc. What I did like about the Sega cd version better is that you could actually buy newer weapons and armor peices throughout the game and each time it changed the look of the sprite/character which i though was ultra rad.

[gekioh]

And Shark-Cannon, if you ask me, DEII is a very nice buy, and at only $100, I wouldnt wait to long to get it, thats a pretty nice steal, by today's standards. I have seen this go for almost double that on the evil bay!

[exile]

I always wondered about the sega CD game What was that game like? Is it worth owning original?

[Ceti Alpha]

Really?
I knew it didn't make sense for my warrior to keep getting int boosts.  I should have assumed I was doing something wrong instead of blaming the game.  I'll definitely have to give it another try as I clearly don't know what I'm talking about.

A lot of people seem to miss that. It's tempting to just snatch up the crystal right away, so it's easy to miss. Though it's an extremely important part of the game. Definitely give it another shot. DE is top 3 huey material, if not #1.

[nat]

Seconded, I picked up the game brand new back in 1991 when I was a dumb kid and thought the screenshots on the back looked the coolest out of the TG-16 games they had available (I don't recall what the others were). Little did I know it'd turn out to be one of the funnest games I'd ever own, and retain that title to this day despite my collection being in excess of 600 games and spanning 10+ consoles.