How Is Your SNES Gaming Going?

[dunpeal2064]

I definitely agree that Contra is way harder co-op. Its not the typical issue of more enemies (Actually pretty sure Contra keeps the number of enemies in tact, could be wrong), but that the game (correctly) keeps the camera locked on the player. Perfect for an action game, but less perfect for poor player 2, that will often either get sniped/rammed by an enemy for being too close to one side, or scrolled into a death in even the simplest vertical sections. The player skill skew doesn't help either though, and I've never played the game co-op with another practiced player.

Man, screw Final Fight!

This is a series I am highly interested in, but oddly have never played. I was always a SoR kid. Which would you recommend to jump in on, if I wanted to get a sort of "overview through one game"?

Anyways I also brought this up in another thread and got nothing, but has anyone here conquered Hagane? I tried it out again recently and quickly saw why it has a hard reputation as well... zero continues.

Conquered, no. I booted it up on an emulator to give it a test spin and see if the cart would be worth picking up, fairly quickly decided "Fuck yes it is", and have been waiting to do so before going too deep with it. Insanely slick game from what I played so far.

[Ack]

Contra's co-op can't be credit fed the way some run and guns can. I have done amazingly well in Metal Slug with less experienced players, but that's because they tend to act as a bullet sponge. Since it's on freeplay, it's not a big deal; they can hop back in anytime. No dice on Contra though.

[dunpeal2064]

Indeed, my first attempt with a friend last week at a co-op Contra 3 Normal run had him out of the game on Stage 1

I do like that this one has an option for how you can tackle the overhead stages, either locked onto one regular-sized screen or split screen (Which lets you tackle the objectives twice as fast!). From what I recall of our short time there, though, the overhead stages get quite nasty with the slowdown when co-op'd.

[Xeogred]

Man, screw Final Fight!

This is a series I am highly interested in, but oddly have never played. I was always a SoR kid. Which would you recommend to jump in on, if I wanted to get a sort of "overview through one game"?

Probably the original, but where? Hard to say haha. I was hoping the Sega CD version had a secret menu for options, but I'm not finding anything. The Sega CD version is much more faithful to the arcade original, can have more enemies on screen, etc. What's interesting is that I made it to the final level playing this version a few days ago, on the flip side I got a game over on the 4th stage in the SNES version that I've always hated. I've beaten the SNES version several times before, but that stage can always be a deal breaker and maybe I've forgotten how to handle the boss (he does this lame invisible like snatching grab that sucks up half your health per hit).

The US SNES games were also censored, they replaced the two female enemies with some dudes instead. I didn't notice any other differences.

There is Final Fight and then Final Fight Guy. Final Fight has Cody, kind of the Axel of the series I guess. Then there's big man Haggar who freaking rules for a big guy, he's got awesome grab moves and hits like a tank, still has some speed and great range. Final Fight Guy replaces Cody with... Guy. Who's like a ninja and super fast, I probably like him more than Cody. Beyond that I don't think there's any other major differences between the releases. Just depends on whether you want Cody or Guy. I think the Cody version is more available if you're going for a cart.

The arcade version also has a newer XBLA/PSN release too I believe. I think you can infinite quarter feed it to get through. Probably on par with the Sega CD version.

Nostalgia aside, playing them back to back I'd say I probably like the Sega CD version more. Despite having an extra level in there and more enemies on screen at once, it's interesting I managed to get further in that than my attempt at the SNES version the next day. I think the SNES version changes up that 4th stage a lot and extends it, while throwing 500 enemies at you or something. It's seriously a very boring level, there's just something about it I've always hated. Like I noted above unlike other beat em' ups, a game over in this game sends you back to the start of the level. So it's a pain if you drain the lives at the boss like I did. This level didn't seem to be annoying at all in the arcade/Sega CD version.

2-3 are great games. 3 is comparable to SoR3 in that it includes running, way more moves, even a Hadouken maneuver for every character, and both games have a lot more characters. They're short 30-45 minute romps and easy to get through. But they never leave a huge mark on me. Despite being a Nintendo kid, I've always been a SoR guy myself so I might be biased. But I have some nostalgia and respect for Final Fight 1, despite it being a really challenging game to get through.

You should also check out Mighty Final Fight on the NES, it's freaking cool.

EDIT: Oh, the Sega CD version does have an options menu. And in this version a continue will spawn you right back in the action where you got a game over. But... I still failed to beat it and I think I was right outside the door to the final boss. You only get 2 continues. Damn this game is brutal. I keep trying Haggar, but I might try Guy or Cody now. I'm so pissed with 2-3 attempts, I really have to beat this (again) now.

[Betagam7]

Are the Contra's easier with co-op? I forget how it works. Shared lives would be a potential handicap. Maybe enemy numbers are higher or have more HP? Not sure.

The difficulty does seem to change depending which version you are playing. Back in the day I owned Super Probotector (PAL version) and you only get the true boss on Hard. I have never beaten it on this difficulty.

I borrowed the Japanese Contra 3 and iirc the true boss appeared on Normal and yet I beat him.

I think the Japanese version also had the Konami code iirc.

[Xeogred]

Betagam7, I've beaten a few Contra's since that discussion.

I can't even lie, I was watching some more Contra videos last night and laughed when I saw some co-op action. I seriously forget it was even a thing. I mean, Hard Corps had the player two HUD up in the top right... but yeah, after beating Contra, Super C, Operation C, Contra 3, and Hard Corps, the thought of these in two player basically never crossed my mind.

I'm sure they're cool for some random fun with a gang of friends, but yeah. These games felt perfect going completely solo.

[o.pwuaioc]

Betagam7, I've beaten a few Contra's since that discussion.

I can't even lie, I was watching some more Contra videos last night and laughed when I saw some co-op action. I seriously forget it was even a thing. I mean, Hard Corps had the player two HUD up in the top right... but yeah, after beating Contra, Super C, Operation C, Contra 3, and Hard Corps, the thought of these in two player basically never crossed my mind.

I'm sure they're cool for some random fun with a gang of friends, but yeah. These games felt perfect going completely solo.

While great solo, they're just fantastic with a friend, well, at least Contra and Contra III. Haven't played Super C or Hard Corps with anyone else.

[Tanooki]

I've grown fed up with the Retron 5 being a dust bunny magnet. Did a step against that today. Went and bought a T shaped splitter for my power strip, and then dug out both the SNES DK Set console and my modded NES top loader and popped them both back into the cabinet.

I fired up Actraiser for just a moment as a test, but was happy to restart it and at least clear that first act on Fillmore which was fantastic. I buy TVs I know (LEDs) that work with old stuff very well and the image quality barely took a hit over the dumb R5 as it is. Sharp yet very slightly soft, no ghosting, no blurring, nothing nasty happening -- runs like a dream. Same can be said going 4 stages in (then dying on polar bear boss) of TMNT2 too.

[Xeogred]

I love my Buffalo SNES USB controller. It will be hard to pull me back away from emulation again and Nintendo gets all the blame. Won't give me the shaft a third time!

[mas]

I actually played some turtles in time and some final fight 2 and 3 over the weekend. It's nice to appreciate games that I physically don't have or collect and I can just play them and enjoy them.
Since I have a new job and set hours in the afternoon I can get more playtime especially today since it's pouring out all day