jp
10-29-2007, 03:59 AM
Found some interesting information today. :nod:
In 1993 a lot of Tecno Soft's staff left to create a studio called CAProductions. Now, this means that the last games these people really worked on were Thunder Force IV and the arcade version of Hyper Duel. They MAY have worked on Blast Wind, since I speculate that Blast Wind was originally intended to be an arcade game, but got canned for arcades, and then ported to the Saturn way later, but thats just speculation. But they definitely on Thunder Force IV (the last really good entry in the series) and did Hyper Duel (which only had one thing holding it down, which was fixed in the remake, so whatever, the base game is still fecking awesome). At any rate, I've always found it odd that Tecno Soft's quality dropped off MAJORLY when the 32-bit era came in, and their primary greatness came in the form of a collection, a remake, and Blast Wind.
Now, lets look at CAProductions shall we and see what they made.
http://www.caproduction.co.jp/
I think anyone into the "hardcore obscure yet painfully awesome" scene will see three things that will set off the "Holy shit!" meter.
1. Bulk Slash - Not a very well known game, thankfully, because if it was its rarity would shoot prices through the f'ing roof. Regardless, most hardcore Saturn nuts know it as an awesome little 3D mech game that does a good job of using 2D sprites in 3D environments.
2. Zenki - Really good SNES beat 'em up.
3. Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire - :SM23
For those not in the know, Sapphire is probably the most expensive shooter that isn't a Neo-Geo game (or a shitty Darius boss rush mode). Its a PC-Engine CD game that requires the arcade card. I had it as well briefly (think I sold it to help me buy my second Navi HiSaturn, this was after I had sold my PC-Engine Duo though so its all good), and... it pretty much could hold its own against 32-bit shooters. It had a jammin' soundtrack, GORGEOUS graphics, and really good (and in retrospect) Tecno Softish gameplay. Sapphire was fucking awesome.
But, holy shit, Tecno Soft people made Zenki, Bulk Slash, and Sapphire? If those games all have the same director then I'm thinkin' Iuchi might be losing his crown as king of hardcore. :sneaking:
In 1993 a lot of Tecno Soft's staff left to create a studio called CAProductions. Now, this means that the last games these people really worked on were Thunder Force IV and the arcade version of Hyper Duel. They MAY have worked on Blast Wind, since I speculate that Blast Wind was originally intended to be an arcade game, but got canned for arcades, and then ported to the Saturn way later, but thats just speculation. But they definitely on Thunder Force IV (the last really good entry in the series) and did Hyper Duel (which only had one thing holding it down, which was fixed in the remake, so whatever, the base game is still fecking awesome). At any rate, I've always found it odd that Tecno Soft's quality dropped off MAJORLY when the 32-bit era came in, and their primary greatness came in the form of a collection, a remake, and Blast Wind.
Now, lets look at CAProductions shall we and see what they made.
http://www.caproduction.co.jp/
I think anyone into the "hardcore obscure yet painfully awesome" scene will see three things that will set off the "Holy shit!" meter.
1. Bulk Slash - Not a very well known game, thankfully, because if it was its rarity would shoot prices through the f'ing roof. Regardless, most hardcore Saturn nuts know it as an awesome little 3D mech game that does a good job of using 2D sprites in 3D environments.
2. Zenki - Really good SNES beat 'em up.
3. Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire - :SM23
For those not in the know, Sapphire is probably the most expensive shooter that isn't a Neo-Geo game (or a shitty Darius boss rush mode). Its a PC-Engine CD game that requires the arcade card. I had it as well briefly (think I sold it to help me buy my second Navi HiSaturn, this was after I had sold my PC-Engine Duo though so its all good), and... it pretty much could hold its own against 32-bit shooters. It had a jammin' soundtrack, GORGEOUS graphics, and really good (and in retrospect) Tecno Softish gameplay. Sapphire was fucking awesome.
But, holy shit, Tecno Soft people made Zenki, Bulk Slash, and Sapphire? If those games all have the same director then I'm thinkin' Iuchi might be losing his crown as king of hardcore. :sneaking: