Air Buster

[JFLY]

Wow! The color on PC Engine version looks great! Is this game rare on that system?

[Joe Redifer]

I think so, the prices are sure a lot higher for that version... at least from what I've seen on casual lookings.

[Majestic_Lizard]

Well, the pictures you posted look very close. Because of the small size of the pics the color differences stand out, but the detail is actually better on the Mega Drive version. I've played both versions and the Genesis version controls better and has more detailed sprites for the most part. Its not quite as colorful but its from the days when the Genesis had quality control (pre SNES). Also, the PC Engine version is so difficult that its tedious.

Thunderblade and Super Thunderblade are based on the same arcade game and therefor the same premise. They approach that premise differently due to hardware limitations. The "Super" was merely added to distinguish it from the master system title ACCORDING to Yuji Naka (one of the developers of the game).

Some good examples of games that were better on the Turbo Grafx 16/PC Engene are:
Twin Cobra/Tiger Heli (Megadrive version looks like an NES game)
Cadash
Raiden Trad
Atomic Robo-Kid (gameplay wise only)
Splatterhouse (compared to Splatterhouse 2)
Devils's Crush (only slightly)

Some examples of games that were better on the Mega Drive are:
Atomic Robo-Kid (graphic-wise only)
Altered Beast
Truxton (only slightly)
Air Buster/Aeroblasters
Super Thunderblade
Space Harrier 2 (compared to Space Harrier 1 on PCE)

Rastan Saga 2 was terrible on both systems.

The problem with the Genesis / Megadrive was that in 1991 Sega started allowing all of these shitty third party developers to saturate the market with bad Genesis games in the hope of beating the SNES with quantity. The games of 1991 through 1994 (with some exceptions) were far worse than the original titles offered in 1989, 1990, and early 1991.

Games like El Viento, Bimini Run, Ernest Evens, Dark Castle, and tons of other ones that were just utter trash. Stuff like that just kept being released and gave the Mega Drive a bad name. Fortunately there were games like Streets of Rage 2, Thunder Force 4, and Sonic 2 that still maintained a lot of quality.

The PC Engine didn't have this problem in Japan because it had a strong consumer base there long before the Super Famicom came out. The Mega Drive did not.

[PHANTOM2040]

One good thing about this game is it looks feels different than most shooters. It is very bright and colorfull. The level designs really stand out. Also most don't have a 2 player mode.

Bad side is weapons systems are average and you have to grab anything fast sometimes and not get what you want. The loading seems it could have been avoided.

Overall I'd give it a 7.5

[Kollision]

Twin Cobra/Tiger Heli (Megadrive version looks like an NES game)

So not true. Thanks for even further underrating this nice port.

EDIT: Gosh, just now I saw the guy wrote this in 2006.

[ThunderForce]

One of my old reviews, and yes noting changed. Still a great shmup for two players and in ways it is better than the PCE port. Also the Genesis version is more truer to the arcade version than the PCE port.

[BrianC]

Rastan Saga 2 was terrible on both systems.

i know this is an old post, but it was terrible in the arcade too. its not the ports' fault. Also, wolf team is far from a poor developer.

[Aarzak]

Yeah, Rastan Saga/Nastar Warrior is a friggin' turd. It's in "Taito Legends 2".

On-topic, this game was featured on the old Nickelodeon show "Nick Arcade". A few other shmups were featured (Thunder Force III, Gaiares which was never played, Vapor Trail and Steel Empire off the top of my head).

[BrianC]

Yeah, Rastan Saga/Nastar Warrior is a friggin' turd. It's in "Taito Legends 2".

On-topic, this game was featured on the old Nickelodeon show "Nick Arcade". A few other shmups were featured (Thunder Force III, Gaiares which was never played, Vapor Trail and Steel Empire off the top of my head).

Sol Deace was on it too, if I remember correctly. I also remember Gun Nac, though that is nes.

[sg1000]

OH WOW! I've been looking for this game, I first saw it on TurboGraphx-16. Didn't know it was on Genesis too

[oldskool]

Review link is down.

[Liquid Snake]

Games like El Viento, Bimini Run, Ernest Evens, Dark Castle, and tons of other ones that were just utter trash.....

El Viento is a trash game? Are you sure what you're talking about?

[Sega Genesis]

good game that many overlook

[Crackdown]

All the links for this are sadly broken, does anyone have a working one?

I got this game fairly recently and I must say its fantastic, expecially in 2-player mode. I would say this is a real hidden gem for the Megadrive.

[Segasocks]

The two player mode has terrible slowdown and i find it unplayable,are you sure your playing on real hardware at 60htz?Maybe the power glove makes the difference?
The single player game is excellent and features great graphics and sound with interesting variety in the levels and types of bosses.The power up system can become annoying when you pick up something you dont want,but the constant appearance of them means you will never have to go far without powering up your ship.This makes the game a little less frustrating than most of the shooters on the system.Overall a great game and well worth picking up,just dont expect much from the two player mode