As my "buy way more old games than you probably should" thing continues, today I only spent $17, but got great stuff... SNES Yoshi's Island ($6), for one, but finally the store that got a Sega CD a few weeks ago got another Genesis 1, this one with a working power supply... so I got a Sega CD. :) The Genesis 1 it came with seems to be broken, but oh well... since I only have one Genesis 1 power supply I can't use them together anyway... (running it with my Genesis 2 I got a few months back). Price (SCD, Genesis, power supply, RFU)? $5... untested, but fortunately the thing that I wanted, the Sega CD, works fine. :) Had to clean the connector, but now it works, battery RAM included... (I can tell because it's full -- three Lunar saves are filling it up. Sadly no Lunar game, though... :()
Hmm, Sega CD games... not many available around here. I've only seen Battlecorps, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Loadstar, Sewer Shark, Star Wars: Rebel Assualt (*tries to tell self:* I already have two copies of the better PC version... I already have two copies of the better PC version...), and Third World War. Since getting all of them would cost about $23, I might end up with all six (though I might be able to resist Sewer Shark, given its quite poor reputation)... we'll see.
... I know I've made previous threads like this, but still... (though it is true that as the summer progressed I greatly slowed down my game buying -- just didn't have enough money... bought a lot of stuff the first month, but quite less since then. Still, I got stuff like Illusion of Gaia ($10, haven't started it yet), Mario Paint with mouse and mousepad (also $10 - more for the novelty of the thing...)... a $5 copy of Donkey Kong Country III... Genesis games like Ranger-X and (personal favorite of mine) Outrun 2019... I just got a Genesis in the beginning of t summer yest I have about 35 games... Dynamite Headdy, Lightening Force, Thunder Force II, Sonics 1, 2, and Knuckles, Rocket Knight Adventures, Contra: Hard Corps...Hardball III (my favorite baseball series...)...
Oh yeah, and Turrican for Gameboy. :) (The Turrican series is awesome, I was really happy to find this one, despite the obvious problems that come from porting a PC(Amiga, Commodore 64, etc, not DOS or Mac)/Genesis game to the Gameboy... you have five weapons, for instance, which are a bit confusing to access, and the massive levels lead to tiny sprites (to try to fit everything on the screen)... oh well, fun anyway.)... Metroid: Zero Mission for GBA too. Plenty of others too, everything except what I got today is on my IGN list. (I like lists, so I enjoy keeping it up to date... it's so much simpler than spreadsheets or pieces of paper and the back pages of notebooks and stuff, like I used to do! :D)
Here are the Sega CD games you need to get:
Silpheed [overhead shooter from Game Arts]
Keio Flying Sqaudron [crazy side-scrolling shooter]
Panic! [crazy-weird maze game with bizarre cut-scenes]
Sonic CD
Lunar: The Silver Star
Heart of the Alien [Out of this World Part 1 and 2]
Rise of the Dragon [cyberpunk adventure game by Dynamix]
Add Snatcher, Shining Force CD, Dark Wizard, Lunar: Eternal Blue (I want that one more than Silver Star... Silver Star is good too, but I have already played Lunar Legend... and yeah, the SCD version is better, but still.), Popful Mail, Robo Aleste, etc...
The first question, though, is if the six games I can get are worth getting... considering the price, the answer is probably "yes, regardless if they're really worth it", I think... :)
... because darnit, I need an inferior version of a game I already have! ... really, it's more about accessibility -- this goes for other games too. Would I be considering getting Darkstone for PSX if the PC version was available? No, probably not... though I did get Mega Man X for SNES despite having owned the just as good PC version for 10 years, so you never know... :) (so far, I just have Loadstar and Third World War...)
Sonic CD... the PC and Gamecube versions are far cheaper, I think... is it really worth the extra money just to be able to play the game on a Genesis controller?
Oh, its a Sega CD II... do the different bios revisions make any real difference though?
ABF, I happen to have TWO 32X systems at this moment in time. I could probably sell you one of them if you are interested (it uses the Genesis 1 style power adapter and it does require a crossover audio/video cable which you can probably find on eBay or something, so it's not complete it's just the unit itself). If not, eh, I'll do something with it.
I do want a 32X, but they have a lot of parts, and like with all these old consoles it's a lot easier to find just the console by itsself than with the parts... of course I haven't seen any actual 32Xes for sale, but still... like this Sega CD -- looking online, the power supply that I needed was $10-$12... but then the pawnshop got in another used Genesis 1 with power supply and the guy sold me the Genesis1/SCD2 combo with that power supply and a RFU for $5. I know Genesises have very little value, but still...
Of course, the Genesis itsself doesn't seem to work (the power light comes on, but the game doesn't start... can it be saved?), so it really was just for the Sega CD, and there was no gaurantee that it'd work... I'm just happy that it does. :)
Anyway... yes I want a 32X, but it needs stuff... spacer for the cartridge port if you want it to be secured in well, the crossover cable (must have to use), a power supply...
Hmm, I need more information on how the 32X sets up. I found online a Sega CD II user's manual (scanned official manual, that is), which was really helpful, I wonder if I can find a 32X one... I don't think that the power supply will be the problem this time though -- the power supply won't be the problem. Might cost a bit, but the 32X uses a Genesis 2 power supply (model 2103), not a Genesis 1 (1602) one, and Genesis 2's with their power supplies seem to be a bit more common than 1's with the cables... its that spacer (if you want the 32X to fit in well and not wiggle around and crash when you bump it or something, right?) and those cables...
Now what should I do with this extender (the block of plastic that the SCD2 uses to make the Genesis 1 fit)... put it in the closet I guess. :) Wish I had the extension port cap and cover for that Genesis 1, as the Genesis 2 cover doesn't exactly fit right, but oh well...
Stupid Sega... just to play those five 32XCD games you need three power bricks all plugged in at once... what a pain! Why couldn't they have at least gone the GC (or PS2 slim, or X360) route and put the brick in the middle, if they didn't want to have it internal...
Let me tell you exactly the details of the system. It has a spacer, two metal thingies which seem to just hold open the cartridge slot "doors" (I guess), a cable to connect the 32X to the audio video output of the Gensis itself, and a power connector (you will use the audio video connector you use on your Genisis by plugging it into the "out" on the 32X).
Only the data cable, the power cable, and the 32X are needed. The spacer isn't needed at all on the Genesis 1, and on the Genesis 2 it appears to only be for aesthetics and just in case you accidently drop a heavy weight on top of the 32X to prevent damage in some freak accident, so really you never actually need the spacer, but fortunatly mine did come with one. The weird metalmajiggers are something that even people that HAVE it tend to ignore because of how friggin' hard they are to install. Their purpose, as I said above, seems ENTIRELY to hold open the doors on the Genesis (and maybe some sort of "ground" or RF protection, but considering the device works fine without them...). The majority of people never even bother. I did just to see if I could and never bothered removing them, but no worries as they aren't needed at all (the device itself holds open the doors, really they are weird...). Mine didn't come with the power adapter, but it uses the exact same adapter that the Genisis 1 and Game Gear use, so I used my Gamegear adapter. It's the crossover data cable that's going to be the toughest find. There are guides for using parts you can get from radio shack to make your own, if you want, or you can buy one of these home-made ones from eBay. They work fine, as it's just analog data and not much shielding is needed for that short distance.
As for games, while some didn't like it, I loved Knuckles Chaotix and I plan on getting some sort of strange magical hummingbird side scrolling shooter game.
From what I've experience the best way to play 16-bit Sega games is with the JVC X'Eye. It's basically a Genesis/CD combo unit, but the CD part is much less prone to messing up since it's top-loading. The original Sega CD is a drive-loader, so after a while you have to tilt the whole thing on its side to reposition the laser eye. Then, just attach a 32X to the top and you're ready to go.
No, there's one power adapter for the Genesis 1 and Sega CD (both models), and another one for the Genesis 2, Game Gear, and 32X... the 32X doesn't use the Genesis 1 power adapter.
Anyway, the trick is finding a 32X-Genesis 2 connector cable. Looking at a few places (sega-parts.com, ebay) the Genesis 1-32X cable is available and cheap, but the Gen 2 cable isn't there and I'd prefer to use my Genesis 2, not a Genesis 1... hmm, where else to look...
Quote:From what I've experience the best way to play 16-bit Sega games is with the JVC X'Eye. It's basically a Genesis/CD combo unit, but the CD part is much less prone to messing up since it's top-loading. The original Sega CD is a drive-loader, so after a while you have to tilt the whole thing on its side to reposition the laser eye. Then, just attach a 32X to the top and you're ready to go.
I spent $20 for a working Genesis 2 with an official 6-button controller, 2 games, and the cables, and now $5 for a Sega CD with power supply. X'Eye? $80-$100... and as I said, I have a Sega CD 2, the top-loader kind... sure they have their issues too, but still, the price and no 32X compatibilty (X'Eye doesn't work with 32X, right?)... but particularly the price. Just not worth that much more.
Ah I see. My mistake then, but it sure does use the Game Gear power adapter.
And yeah, the hunt for that cable can be annoying. That's why I just ordered a cheap makeshift cable made out of cat-5 and some connectors.
I'm not bothering with an X-Eye because those things are hard to come by. Besides, the Sega CD model 2 is top loading as well. It's part of the uber fusion with a Genesis 2 and a 32X, except in that flash video where they used a Genesis 1 for some reason (it lacks stereo sound after all, unless you use some headphones or mod the thing). And of course, the Genesis 3 is pathetic as it can't connect to the Sega CD, either model.
Quote:(it lacks stereo sound after all, unless you use some headphones or mod the thing)
male to male stereo miniplug cable, headphone jack on the front to the Sega CD 2's 'mixing' port. Presto, stereo sound... if you use the red/white RCA jacks for your sound, that is. At least that's how I think it works... oh right, you also need a Genesis 1 A/V cable, to use the yellow video plug. Unless you have a separate speaker system so you can plug the RF into the TV and the red/white audio plugs into the speakers that is...
Quote:And yeah, the hunt for that cable can be annoying. That's why I just ordered a cheap makeshift cable made out of cat-5 and some connectors.
Ordered?
Quote:(X'Eye doesn't work with 32X, right?)...
No, it works perfectly with the 32X. I have one hooked up right now.
Still, its three times more expensive, or more...
A Black Falcon Wrote:male to male stereo miniplug cable, headphone jack on the front to the Sega CD 2's 'mixing' port. Presto, stereo sound... if you use the red/white RCA jacks for your sound, that is. At least that's how I think it works... oh right, you also need a Genesis 1 A/V cable, to use the yellow video plug. Unless you have a separate speaker system so you can plug the RF into the TV and the red/white audio plugs into the speakers that is...
Ordered?
Yeah. From some shady drifter site. Would have made it myself except I don't have a soldering iron which is pretty much a requirement from all those instructions, plus it was ultra cheap. Only reason I trusted the site was due to a couple people on a message board I go to saying the guy was "cool" and did a fine job. The only issue, which the guy freely admits, is due to the nature of it you can't really bend up the cord very much or the soldered connections could break and need to be reattached. If I find that link again I'll put it here for you. Guy does good work, considering what he's got to work with. If you'd prefer something a little more... official... well you tell me. I wouldn't mind paying a DECENT price for something like that myself.
I got Battlecorps. First impressions: "Mechs! Cool!" Good music too. Got to love those oldschool games though, you get three lives, one continue, and 13 levels... and run out of lives and it's back to the beginning. :)
... I also got Koudelka for PSX... ($5 for each of the two) they also had FFVII, but that was $10, and just like all the times I saw the PC version years back, I convinced myself out of getting it without much trouble... the fact that I only had $15 in cash and would have had to use debit when I didn't really want to was an added reason, but "I really don't need another PSX RPG I won't play anytime soon" sure was part of it too... :)
I mean, I have Persona 2 (good but it's got a few annoying flaws like "run in circles to level" and I have some issues with the plot presentation... still worth having though...), Grandia (Zzzz), Final Fantasy Tactics (I got it more to have than anything else, I don't have the time for this game right now...), Alundra 2 (decent but ultimately dull), Star Ocean: The Second Story, and now Koudelka (Survival horror RPG, really... the RPG combat is not as scary as a Resident Evil, but its fun anyway... decent plot and a nice battle system. You move around and stuff, I always prefer that to "two lines stand there and hit eachother"...), and the only one I'm even 10 hours into is Star Ocean (which is the best of them, of course, which is why I'm farthest in it... reached disc 2 recently. Awesome game...)...
Oh yeah, and Yoshi's Island is good, but not quite as good as Super Mario World I'd say. Now if I can only find some of the Kirby games... :)
I prefer the GBA version of Yoshi's Island myself. It's a pretty much perfect port (only with smaller screen space) but that graphical consideration aside, the main preference is the addition of a bunch of new bonus levels. Those were fun. Also, it's portable.
Yeah, only 48 normal levels, definitely less than SMW (60 or 70?)... of course SMB had 32, SMB2 just 18 or so (though Lost Levels has 54 or so...), SMB3 100 or so levels (but they are much shorter)...
I don't like instant-kill spikes... why are they in a Mario game? It's kind of odd... invincible Yoshi, the you-must-catch-Mario mechanic (and usually you can)... but lots of bottomless pits and instant-kill lava pits and spike beds... (I've played Yoshi's Island some before, but playing it more now I notice this more...)
Mario has always had instant death traps. If it wasn't spikes, it would be lava, which kills you even when you have star power. And, Mario World has instant death spikes too, like those uber spiked pillars that come down at ya (also instant death no matter what you got). These just take that to the next level and are all along walls and ceilings. They can be destroyed with eggs though, so fire away (well the ones that you find on the wall and such).
I seem to recall weird lava placement in some games with it actually defying gravity and above your head. Might have been this one. Yeah, it does use a lot of instant death traps in some of the harder levels, but that's also not a first. I seem to recall a simply offensive (in every sense) number of bottomless pits in later stages of Super Mario Bros, and especially in Lost Levels.