Does Quartet (arcade) ever end?

[HawkClay]

I never beat the arcade version of the game and was curious if it ever ends. I've beaten the Master System version so many times that I could do it in my sleep, but even with owning the actual arcade game, I've never actually beaten it. I've only managed to make it as far as the levels started repeating about level 30 before I gave up thinking there was no end.

Anyway, I'm curious if the levels stop repeating at some point or if it's just an endless loop? If it's beatable, then I want to beat it!

[Luminous]

It sounds like it might be like Gauntlet.

[Bruhaha69]

http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/arcade/b/quar.htm

This looks like the 2-player version. Maybe 4 player goes on forever?

[HawkClay]

I can't see anything. :( Any idea how many levels it takes to reach that point by chance? If you played every level only twice, that's still 60 something levels! :O

[Bruhaha69]

70 levels my friend......70

[HawkClay]

So it seems that you probably have to beat every level twice like Super Ghouls n' Ghosts or something. OK, so now that I know, I can plan on beating it now! :D

Quartet, you gettin' a beat down!!! :SM6

[Bruhaha69]

hahah, good luck

[Frogacuda]

I remember when I was a kid I played Transbot for like 8 hours straight hoping to see an ending that would never come.

[jp]

I remember when I was a kid I played Transbot for like 8 hours straight hoping to see an ending that would never come.


:SM14

[Bruhaha69]

I never realized it, but it seems like Transbot was a conversion of Sega's Transformer arcade game. Not exactly the same, but the same basic horizontal shooter. Also similar the way you go underground and control a ship that can turn into a mech. Not at your command like in the arcade, but it just has to be based off of it.

One big difference is that it appears the arcade game eventually ends where Transbot goes on forever and ever and ever.

Nevermind. It looks like the arcade game was based on the home game. Weird. "Astro Flash" in Japan.

http://www.arcade-history.com/index.php?page=detail&id=131

Kinda cool.

[Frogacuda]

I never realized it, but it seems like Transbot was a conversion of Sega's Transformer arcade game. Not exactly the same, but the same basic horizontal shooter. Also similar the way you go underground and control a ship that can turn into a mech. Not at your command like in the arcade, but it just has to be based off of it.

One big difference is that it appears the arcade game eventually ends where Transbot goes on forever and ever and ever.

Nevermind. It looks like the arcade game was based on the home game. Weird. "Astro Flash" in Japan.

http://www.arcade-history.com/index.php?page=detail&id=131

Kinda cool.

AAaactually, Transbot is an sequel of sorts to an earlier Sega game on SG-1000 based on the Orguss license. Orguss was a little different (you could choose when to transform, there was a timer, etc) but the connection is very clear. I guess they didn't have the license going for the next game so they just made up original characters.

[Bruhaha69]

Interesting. I like finding out about forgotten (largely) games the roots of older games I played as a kid.

retrobaseorguss (http://www.retrobase.net/pages/show.php?platform=sega_sg_1000&title=Orguss)

Wow, you weren't kidding. Definitely looks like Transbot by this screen.

This ad has a short clip of it in action, too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxODbzOdSmI

Thanks for the info, Frog.

[Frogacuda]

The game plays just like Astro Flash arcade, really. you can switch between robot and ship mode. There's 3 levels that flow into each other and a 4th level unlocked by some obscure means (I think it has to do with destroying the enemies on the ground). Apart from the anime license, it should be regarded as a part of the same series.

Oh yeah, and Astro Flash arcade isn't a port of the SMS one, it's a totally new game, a sequel. It's kind of a mix of Transbot and Orguss in gameplay. I just submitted this info to Arcade History so they get it straightened out, heh.

Just one of those series that most people don't realize is a series. A lot of people don't know there were 5 Penguin Land games either.

[Bruhaha69]

Penguin land is the same as Doki Pen, right (Action Fighter code made sense YEARS later, haha)? If I had to guess games in the series, I would think Pengo was in the group. What else belongs? Not the DC Pen Pen game, right?

[Frogacuda]

Penguin land is the same as Doki Pen, right (Action Fighter code made sense YEARS later, haha)? If I had to guess games in the series, I would think Pengo was in the group. What else belongs? Not the DC Pen Pen game, right?
No, it's not related to Pengo. I'm just talking about proper Penguin Land games.

The 5 games in the series are:

http://www.eden.rutgers.edu/~tfahs/penguinland.jpg
Doki Doki Penguin Land (SG-1000) -This is the original, never released here.

http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~t-suzuki/vol.9/Penguin_Land_3_d.gif
Doki Doki Penguin Land Uchuu Daibouken (SMS)- This is the sequel, set in space for some reason. This is the one you know as "Penguin Land"

http://www.eden.rutgers.edu/~tfahs/penguingb.png
Penguin Land (Gameboy) - This is kind of an adaptation of the original and kind of not. It's not done by Sega and it kind of sucks, but it sold decently anyway.

http://www.jacksonboyle.com/images/reviews/dokidokipeng2.jpg
Ikasuze! Koi no Doki Doki Penguin Land MD (Genesis/SegaCD) - This was originally distributed via the japanese equivelent of the Sega Channel, but it also appeared on the Sega CD compilation Game no Kanzame Vol 2.

http://ages.sega.jp/vol23/dokipen_screen5b.jpg
Doki Doki Penguin Land (PS2) - This was part of Sega Ages Vol 23: Sega Memorial Collection.

[jp]

Which one would you say is the best Frog?

[Frogacuda]

The SMS one. The original is also very good. The Genesis one gets good after like level 10, but it doesn't really add anything to the formula. Haven't played the PS2 one yet.

[HawkClay]

It's funny, I have all those Penguin Land games except for the one on Sega CD (well, the original is also on the PS2 compilation as well, I don't have the actual original version). What's even crazier is I was playing the PS2 version last night before going to bed! I hadn't even seen this post at the time either! :O Weird how that worked out!

As far as my personal favorite, I'd also say the Master System version. The rest of them are good, but I think the extra nostalgic feelings I have for the Master System game put it a little above the rest (it was the first one I played). The rest are good, just more of the same, so you really can't go wrong with any I'd say... and if you liked it, then get more! :D

And now I'm going to have to spend a lot of time on Quartet so that I can finally beat the game! Thanks for your help!

I too played the heck out of Transbot trying to beat it... Glad I didn't get TOO hung up on it! :p

[DarthArcturus]

I really need to get around to playing more SMS games.

I bet you guys haven't played this one:

http://www.consolevision.com/members/covers/sms/penguinland.jpg

:p

[Newport420]

Hawk..... you call the date and time and I'll be there to beat Quartet with you on your arcade cab. Only stipulation is a massive sack of weed and plenty of beer. Not saying you have to supply, just that we roll a bunch of J's before we start playing and just go marathon style.

I love quartet.