Grind Stormer

[Melf]

Toaplan gets credit for being one of the pioneers of the Danmaku style of shooter, what we westerners know as the "bullet hell" shmup, and games like Donpachi and Mars Matrix are great examples of this fast paced and ultra twitch style of play. What's interesting is that it got its roots in a Toaplan game that was eventually ported to the Genesis. Grind Stormer was the first game done by Ikeda Tsunemoto, who eventually went on to work at another shmup haven, Cave. Tengen handled the porting job, and sadly the game suffered in the transition. Flickering graphics hindered what could have been a great game, and our full review (http://www.sega-16.com/2007/10/grind-stormer/) has the whole story.

[steve]

My ole pal Bel (whipassgaming.com) told me I was lucky to get this game for $1.99 from Game Crazy last year, said it was scarce. It was hidden all the way in the back of the glass case, and the only reason I saw it was by using the back mirror that they had.

Anyway, I didn't play it for a great length of time but it kicked my ass. It didn't seem all that extraordinary, in fact seemed a bit bland. I'd agree with the 6 based on my limited time spent with it. It was no Galactic Attack (Layer Section) that's for sure.

[Genesis Knight]

On that subject, why do game shops hide rare games that they have priced cheaply? Why don't they put a fair market price on them and display them properly?

At any rate, Grind Stormer isn't that bad, and it's one of the more respectable vertshmups on the system IMO. It's just repetitive - and most of the shmups on the Genesis are, except for the greats (TFIV, MUSHA, etc)

[Iron Lizard]

I know Tengen released this game in the U.S. but are they responsible for the graphics and sound? Didn't they just do what Working Designs and many others have done and just port it and or tweak the game play. It seems unfair to blame the graphics and sound on Tengen. Blame Toaplan

[CRV]

I know Tengen released this game in the U.S. but are they responsible for the graphics and sound? Didn't they just do what Working Designs and many others have done and just port it and or tweak the game play. It seems unfair to blame the graphics and sound on Tengen. Blame Toaplan

Actually, you probably CAN blame Tengen for this.

Just did some googling. The main programmer is Jun Amanai, who I think was working at Tengen in Japan at the time. He later worked on Gauntlet Legends. The assistant programmer, Osamu Yamamoto, later worked on Shinrei Jusatsushi Taroumaru on the Saturn, as did the audio person Kenji Yokoyama.

The review mentions Slap Fight MD. That was actually done by MNM Software, not Tengen.

[ThunderForce]

I know Tengen released this game in the U.S. but are they responsible for the graphics and sound? Didn't they just do what Working Designs and many others have done and just port it and or tweak the game play. It seems unfair to blame the graphics and sound on Tengen. Blame Toaplan

I did played the arcade game before, it has better sound and colors (well of course it's an arcade game!).


Actually, you probably CAN blame Tengen for this.

Just did some googling. The main programmer is Jun Amanai, who I think was working at Tengen in Japan at the time. He later worked on Gauntlet Legends. The assistant programmer, Osamu Yamamoto, later worked on Shinrei Jusatsushi Taroumaru on the Saturn, as did the audio person Kenji Yokoyama.

The review mentions Slap Fight MD. That was actually done by MNM Software, not Tengen.

In the Japanese V-5 MD manual there's a two page commentary from Jun Amanai, project leader (in Japanese of course).

I'm not suprise that Yamamoto and Yokoyama did Taroumaru. Around 1994/1995 is when Time Warner purchase out Tengen/Atari Games and Tengen became Time Warner Interactive (the people who published Taroumaru). So V-5 was ported by Tengen of Japan.

About Slap Fight, if you have proof that MNM Software did the porting job then Melf would edit out my review for the change. ;)

Edit: Here's the scan I did from the V-5 manual for the Jun Amanai commentary. Now we need an translator:

(it's a huge scan)

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/7006/v5manualba1.jpg

[Mecha Pon]

Looks like a gem of a game. I love Toaplan shooters.

[Iron Lizard]

I had just assumed it was ported like Robo Aleste.

[ThunderForce]

I had just assumed it was ported like Robo Aleste.

Robo Aleste is a stand-only game developed by Compile. Tengen did the English translation.

[Iron Lizard]

Robo Aleste is a stand-only game developed by Compile. Tengen did the English translation.

Yes that is what I am saying.

[David J.]

I got it mint and complete for $4.99 earlier this year. Fun game.

[Diogo Ribeiro]

Nice review, I'd forgotten all about Grind Stormer after I played it a few years ago. That difference of versions is something that went by right me since I came off from the game disappointed with the difficulty levels.

I'll have to try and play it again one of these days.


PS: Is it alright to keep writing more reviews for the site before I get confirmation of my previously submitted one?

[CRV]

About Slap Fight, if you have proof that MNM Software did the porting job then Melf would edit out my review for the change. ;)

The ROM contains the following string: "Programmed by Jun Shimizu(MNM)"

Also, Takeshi Maruyama, who programmed the sound on Slap Fight MD, is credited with doing the sound driver on Streets of Rage 2. You'll see in the SOR2 credits (http://www7.tok2.com/home/bgr/md/bareknuckle2/bknucle2.html) that he is from MNM.

[ThunderForce]

The ROM contains the following string: "Programmed by Jun Shimizu(MNM)"

Also, Takeshi Maruyama, who programmed the sound on Slap Fight MD, is credited with doing the sound driver on Streets of Rage 2. You'll see in the SOR2 credits (http://www7.tok2.com/home/bgr/md/bareknuckle2/bknucle2.html) that he is from MNM.

That's for two people.

I need proof that the whole team is from MNM.

It appears that Tengen hired people for the programming job.

[CRV]

That's for two people.

I need proof that the whole team is from MNM.

It appears that Tengen hired people for the programming job.

Well, the supervisor (and one of the composers) is Mikito Ichikawa, who's from MNM. Shimizu is one of the game designers (the other is Tatsuya Uemura from Toaplan). I'm not sure about the graphics people. Hiroki Tatemukai turns up on Beyond Oasis. Here's the full credits (http://www7.tok2.com/home/bgr/md/slapfightmd/slapfightmd.html), BTW.

[ThunderForce]

Well, the supervisor (and one of the composers) is Mikito Ichikawa, who's from MNM. Shimizu is one of the game designers (the other is Tatsuya Uemura from Toaplan). I'm not sure about the graphics people. Hiroki Tatemukai turns up on Beyond Oasis. Here's the full credits (http://www7.tok2.com/home/bgr/md/slapfightmd/slapfightmd.html), BTW.

Tatsuya Uemura is such a kickass music composer.

Oh and I found someone who translated the two page commentary from Jun Amanai:

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=16912

[CRV]

Oh and I found someone who translated the two page commentary from Jun Amanai:

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=16912

Thanks. Now I don't have to bother someone to translate it.

[Aarzak]

Tons of sprite break-up? As annoying as that sounds...............anyone ever feel warm inside when our little Genny's hardware is being absolutely raped by over-ambitious software? :)

[ThunderForce]

Tons of sprite break-up? As annoying as that sounds...............anyone ever feel warm inside when our little Genny's hardware is being absolutely raped by over-ambitious software? :)

Yes and No.

It's great to have so many sprites on screen, but it's annoying when EVEN the bullets are breaking up.

[Genesis Knight]

PS: Is it alright to keep writing more reviews for the site before I get confirmation of my previously submitted one?

I would wait until that first one gets accepted. Then you know that your writing is quality and you can be pretty sure your future stuff will be accepted. (In which case starting writing like crazy. Melf likes content.)

[Diogo Ribeiro]

I would wait until that first one gets accepted. Then you know that your writing is quality and you can be pretty sure your future stuff will be accepted. (In which case starting writing like crazy. Melf likes content.)

Thanks :) When I wrote that Shadowrun review I believe I told him I'd contribute with some more stuff as soon as possible... Took me a year to get back at that, unfortunately, but I've already submitted another one recently.

In any case I already have another review written, with pictures ready as well.

[Genesis Knight]

Since you already got that Shadowrun in, I'd send everything I had. Might be a bit before it all goes up, but it'll make it in his que that way.

BTW, you aren't supposed bother doing pictures for reviews.

[Zebbe]

Yes, you are. Quote from the revised contributor guidelines:


Please try to include screen shots and box art: I will handle the layout, but including your own original screen shots (taken with either Kega Fusion or Gens) and high resolution box art will greatly speed up the time it takes to get your article ready. Simply attach them to your review/feature (which should be in the body of the email). Depending on the length of your article, between 7-10 screen shots will be enough. Please refer to any of our articles to get a better idea of how many screen shots you need to include.

[Genesis Knight]

When did that change?

[Zebbe]

Sometime around when I told Melf he could update the guidelines so that he didn't have too much unnecessary work on his shoulders for this site. I mean, taking screenshots in Kega can anyone do.

[Diogo Ribeiro]

I usually take them just in case they're required later for some reason, though.

EDIT: Like the reason Zebbe brought up.

[VinnyT]

Well, cool.

Looks like I'm downloading an emulator again.

[Genesis Knight]

(Use Kega!)

[Myrkwood]

Damn I need more SHMUPs for my mega drive. Pity here in the UK we didn't get alot of apparently great SHMUPs like Thunder Force III. Also I've been looking on ebay for months for a copy of MUSHA and can't even find a single one. My collection of Mega Drive games is still small because I'm lacking funds and the only real SHMUP I have is Sol Feace on The Mega CD. Which despite bad reviews I actually enjoyed.

[xbrinkx]

After reading the review, I played the game and actually liked it. The colors are kind of bad, but the intensity is great. The stage 2 music is really good as well.

[TheEdge]

This is my favorite Shooters for the Genesis. I have it on my emulator because I never got the chance to pick it up back in the day.

For some reason I just really like the mechanics of the game and the graphics. Also its 2 games in one if you count V-5. :)

EDIT: Bought it for $20 bucks. Just the cart alone. Who cares though I love the game.

[Kollision]

The flicker (and thus the game) isn't nearly as bad as the reviewer states.
I had no trouble at all seeing bullets.

note:
I tried commenting on the review page, but neither my wordpress or my sega-16 accounts/pwds worked.
Is the comment engine temporarily down or do I need to create another wordpress account?

[Curryman123]

I dont like this game. I dont like bullet hell shooters at all.