What have you been up to lately with your Genesis / Mega Drive?

[+remowilliams]

Finished my first RPG ever on the Genesis, 33 years late? 

 

 

 

Spoiler

 

[CaptainBreakout]

I spent a good deal of my weekend trying to fix my Sega CD model 1.

 

I replaced the drive belt and got the CD tray to function fairly well. Got the drive working on the bench with a cell phone charger to open and close the tray.  Found a problem with the closed micro-switch and fixed it with a spacer. Now the unit seems to know when it's open and closed.

 

I was all prepared to recap it, but it looks like the laser won't read at all.  I ordered a new laser on eBay, so looks like I have to wait for it to arrive before I can do the next step.

[Bloodreign]

My latest Genesis pickup, T2 the Arcade Game, now I have both 16 bit versions of it. This one's wacky, almost every digitized sprite is replaced with redrawn sprites, save for John Connor's on the truck level. Had kind of been wanting this one, since it was still dirt cheap, but starting to run out of dirt cheap pickups for this console.

[Tanooki]

Before going into work yesterday I went into the half price books, oddly ignored the gaming stuff to start in rear and almost ran out of time to find a big WALL of SNES games with stacks of Genesis to both sides!  I eyeballed two in the case I wanted to get my hands on, price was lower than online -- Ranger X and Adventures of Batman & Robin to I paid up and late last night after cleaning them gave it a shot.  Ranger X I got confused on in stage 2 and couldn't figure out how to complete it.  Batman though, I must be missing some mechanic because the game is utterly infuriating, it's like I'm throwing spitballs at the endless(?) supply of enemies and slowly watch that health erode from endless unavoidable hits. :\  I think it could be a hard but fair game, but I tossed the controller, broke my first genesis pad though it was on its way out anyway.  Now I need another 6 button controller.   It lost against a 100 year old solid wood cabinet that laughed it off.

[ImmyChan]

I just picked up my first Mega Drive after years of playing in emulation as well as a HDMI adapter, a flash cart and a wireless controller. The first thing I'm playing through is an FPS game called Zero Tolerance, it's actually great fun even though it's very simple and hasn't aged well

[Tanooki]

Batman is going back f that game it's awful.  I'd call it the Genesis version of GnG, except it has one of those, and the capcom game plays well, has fair balance, it's just naturally a hard game.  Batman is just rife with really bad design, questionable mechanics, a shit ton largely unavoidable hits, and a stupid supply of endless enemies so forget pacing yourself.  The weapon stock is like using a pea shooter, but you're so mobbed charging it for about 2 seconds or so to do an effective shot is playing with fire, while the more effective jump kick can not hit anythin on the same level you are, the foot just won't connect and then you get slapped for it from behind.  Sega crafted one beautiful turd.

 

Ranger X though I got to the end of stage 3 and ran out of tries.  The design on that one is quite good, super unique more than batman for playing up some hardware strengths yet coupling it with some unique game design mechanics that work, pacing and going slow, working it out so you don't just get whacked is the name of the game there...and even then, it's tougher than average stuff.

[+remowilliams]

I should note that I chose Sword of Vermilion while watching BastichB's latest magnum opus:

 

 

[SegaShooters]

Got two original Sega Genesis 3-button controllers cheap that were a dirty mess - I LOVE the original Genesis 3-button controllers!

The Start and fire buttons didn't work and the D-pads barely moved when pressed.

After opening up the controllers (and it took a good while to get some of the rusted and mostly stripped screws out) I washed all plastic parts, cleaned all contacts multiple times, used a few sprays of electronic contact cleaner, re-assembled, and they both work fine now.

[Tanooki]

You know I think it was at this site maybe a couple years ago, someone here had new old stock 3 and 6 button controllers for sale, tied/bagged but no papers and no box.

 

Was it this site and do anymore still exist?  That would be worth finding out as the site search fails me.

[+jeremiahjt]

I have not been playing much Genesis lately, but I have been thinking about starting Dungeons & Dragons: Warriors of the Eternal Sun. From a cursory look, it reminds me of Dungeons & Dragons: Order of the Griffon, which I really enjoyed.

[+remowilliams]

I've thought about it for a while, and I'm very strongly considering picking this game up next.

[DragonGrafx-16]

On 3/28/2024 at 9:56 PM, Tanooki said:

Batman is going back f that game it's awful.  I'd call it the Genesis version of GnG, except it has one of those, and the capcom game plays well, has fair balance, it's just naturally a hard game.  Batman is just rife with really bad design, questionable mechanics, a shit ton largely unavoidable hits, and a stupid supply of endless enemies so forget pacing yourself.  The weapon stock is like using a pea shooter, but you're so mobbed charging it for about 2 seconds or so to do an effective shot is playing with fire, while the more effective jump kick can not hit anythin on the same level you are, the foot just won't connect and then you get slapped for it from behind.  Sega crafted one beautiful turd.

 

Ranger X though I got to the end of stage 3 and ran out of tries.  The design on that one is quite good, super unique more than batman for playing up some hardware strengths yet coupling it with some unique game design mechanics that work, pacing and going slow, working it out so you don't just get whacked is the name of the game there...and even then, it's tougher than average stuff.

I've gotten to stage 4 of Ranger X but it's a difficult boss I think... been a while.

[+jeremiahjt]

4 hours ago, remowilliams said:

I've thought about it for a while, and I'm very strongly considering picking this game up next.

You mean Warriors of the Eternal Sun, right?  I am close to starting it.  I also thought about Warsong or Lunar: Silver Star. but Warriors of the Eternal Sun is the one right now I want to play the most.  I really enjoyed Order of the Griffon.

[Tanooki]

I'm coming off my waking day of work part of the week... just leading into it I ended up getting Phantasy Star II locally finally.  I so want to just turn that on right now and try and get Rolf up to Lv5 or something safe to not get slaughtered moving to the next town, dungeon or whatever.  I've got the Hint Book for the game, it was a freebie a few years back as it was fairly battered in some ways, no pages missing though, no stains either or water damage at least.  It's kind of helpful knowing what to expect price wise, the maps as well, and on its own a bit of a stumper due to early poorer design but coupled with a quality faq it makes for a stellar bit of kit.  No shame, with my hours, am all about the maps to just go to A-B to get into the next.

[+remowilliams]

On 4/3/2024 at 7:37 PM, jeremiahjt said:

You mean Warriors of the Eternal Sun, right?  I am close to starting it.  I also thought about Warsong or Lunar: Silver Star. but Warriors of the Eternal Sun is the one right now I want to play the most.  I really enjoyed Order of the Griffon.

 

Yes I meant Warriors of the Eternal Sun (although I am interested in Order of the Griffon as well...)

 

I also noticed that someone has developed a patch for Warriors of the Eternal Sun to correct a number of bugs in the game.

 

https://github.com/planetchili/wotes_patch

[CapitanClassic]

On 4/3/2024 at 4:37 PM, jeremiahjt said:

Warsong or Lunar: Silver Star. but Warriors of the Eternal Sun is the one right now I want to play the most

I can fully endorse Warsong (Langrisser: The Descendants of Light). I originally played it back on the Genesis after renting Shining Force, and I was very happy with my purchase. The game reminded me a lot of Advance Wars (GBA), or a game of the time, Conflict (NES). I loved the little battle animations where the commander blasts opposing troops.

 

It isn’t too long of a game, only 20 missions, but many of the levels seem kind of unfair. With troops being mostly useless, and always the worry about perma-death. There are also multiple leveling up/class changes, so it does have a little bit of replayibility (save-states are a godsend)

[r_chase]

I'm not sure what to do yet, but I might look into the Scorpion Engine for a homebrew kinda ting or two. I'm kinda busy learning how to program through browser game engine project that I just contributed to on GitHub. I wonder if Scorpion Engine can import JSON files as game logic or whatever.

In the meantime, after learning JavaScript, I'm for learning some Golang. :3

[Van Halbgott]

Both models I have are put up.

 

Only the original model (Model 1) has a decent collection because I neglected my other model (Model 2) which I had bought first before.

 

Then I bought the original model later and I enjoyed it more.

 

The photo is when I had it out.

I bought it back out now.

 

GENESIS DOES.

 

Edited May 5 by Van Halbgott

[Maztr_0n]

I really was addicted to True Lies for sometime, somehow. But once i got a flashcart, i was messing about with all kinds of games i didnt want to risk buying! Like Revolution X, the game without depth-perception and with too much Steven Tyler!

[+-^CrossBow^-]

I played a bit of Eliminate Down since I just received my Retro-bit release of this earlier this week. Haven't been able to get past the stage 6 boss yet though.

 

In addition to that game, I've also been playing AsteBros again. That game I find to be overly difficult as well, especially the bosses. But I finally figured out that the game sorta requires some grinding so you can defeat enemies over and over to gather the resources needed so the blacksmith can forge better weapons that might appear for you at the start of the levels. I also know most of the bosses are just a method of figuring out their pattern, but it seems some of them also are more easily defeated using one character over another as well. As an example, I kept getting my rear end handed to me on the Circus boss that has the mini games you have to play between your salvo of attacks. Well the wizard didn't seem to move quick enough or have enough power on his spells to do much damage. The knight always has to get in close for his hits to register. So I figured out the theif/rogue character ended up being the best choice since I could use the bow to fire from a distance more safely and also nimble enough to handle those mini game sections in between.

 

[Razzie.P]

I decided to finally play through Shining Force CD last week.  I loved the first 2 SF games, but for some reason, never started CD or the one(s) on Saturn.   

 

I finished the first book and am now near the end of the 2nd.  The first book was ok, but I'm really loving the second.  Something about the brisk pace and simple, one-beat story is really working for me.  

[NE146]

55 minutes ago, Razzie.P said:

I decided to finally play through Shining Force CD last week.  I loved the first 2 SF games, but for some reason, never started CD or the one(s) on Saturn.   

 

I finished the first book and am now near the end of the 2nd.  The first book was ok, but I'm really loving the second.  Something about the brisk pace and simple, one-beat story is really working for me.  

Don't be like me though.. I bought Shining Force CD when it first came out, finished Books 1 and 2 and really enjoyed it! Only to find decades later in the age of the internet... that there was also a Book 3 and 4!! I had zero idea and totally missed them. 

 

It's been so long at this point I would basically have to start 1 & 2 again to get to try them.. I will do it some day. 

[Razzie.P]

On 7/7/2024 at 10:52 PM, NE146 said:

Don't be like me though.. I bought Shining Force CD when it first came out, finished Books 1 and 2 and really enjoyed it! Only to find decades later in the age of the internet... that there was also a Book 3 and 4!! I had zero idea and totally missed them. 

 

It's been so long at this point I would basically have to start 1 & 2 again to get to try them.. I will do it some day. 

Yeah, I wouldn't have know it either.  I just finished the 2nd book, and couldn't see anything about the others.  Even the manual just has a line about "3 adventures in 1" and doesn't really explain it, that I can see.   So, without a backup cart, it's a bit annoying that you have to delete your save files just to access the new ones.  😕

 

Oh well... loving the game overall but sure wish I could have kept my character stats or at least known about that before starting... like, specifically call that crap out in the manual fer crying out loud!

 

Starting Book 3 today

[Gamemoose]

I'm making my way through Sonic 1 after 30 years, thanks to the power of the Genesis Mini's save states. I always botched the Labyrinth Zone by about ACT 2 or 3 (the "water stage") but finally moved beyond.

[+remowilliams]

Yes, an unmentioned point for me there.  Even on my preferred real hardware play - save state functionality is often very important for various reasons.