Archive for 2018
Final Fight Retrospective and Version Comparison – All Ports Analyzed
Capture Information
– Arcade version captured in MAME via VGA with aspect ratio integer scaling at 1080p60.
– SNES versions captured on Analogue Super NT via HDMI at 1080p60 with cross reference to standard SNES for performance comparison.
– Microcomputers all captured on RetroArch emulation via VGA with integer scaling at 1080p60.
– Sega CD/Mega CD captured on actual hardware with RGB via SCART cable out 240p upscaled via XRGB mini framemeister to 1080p60 using FirebrandX profile.
– NES footage captured on RetroUSB AVS console via HDMI at 720p60 using actual cartridges with cross reference to standard NES for performance.
– GBA footage captured on Gameboy Advance Player official software for initial Haggar scenes at 480i and later on Gameboy Interface homebrew at 240p and upscaled via XRGB mini framemeister to 1080p60. All captures made with S-Video cable.
– Xbox footage captured via component cables at 480p and integer scaled to 960p by XRGB mini framemeister.
– PSP footage captured at 240p (PSP 3000 via component cables with “interlaced” setting to get 240p) and upscaled via XRGB min framemeister to 1080p60.
– PS2 footage captured via component cables at 480i and then deinterlaced and upscaled via XRGB mini to 1080p60 (it appears some combing artifacts were present and not removed, reason unknown).
– Xbox 360 footage captured via HDMI at 1080p60 on actual hardware.
Special Thanks:
– Kerwin Sheldon at Tokkoro for wallpaper: http://www.tokkoro.com/1997216-final-fight-cd.html
– The Cutting Room Floor: https://tcrf.net/Final_Fight_(SNES)
– YouTube user FortunaChan: (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLSCUlYLEJgxGwN6oltUDgw) for his SNES Industrial Area glitched video.
– A View Askew Blog is found at: https://aviewfromaskewsite.wordpress.com/2016/07/12/fixing-amiga-final-fight
2018 in Review Day 5: The Games
The GH101 crew and guests assemble to discuss their most notable games of 2018.
2018 in Review Day 4: The Industry
The GH101 crew and guests assemble to discuss the industry (media, influencers, business, community) in 2018.
2018 in Review Day 3: Nintendo
The GH101 crew and guests assemble to discuss Nintendo in 2018.
2018 in Review Day 2: Sony
The GH101 crew and guests assemble to discuss Sony in 2018.
Fred’s Tech Corner: 3DO USB Host Controller Installation and Setup
Fred recently purchased the USB Host Controller by Mnemo to replace his 3DO’s CD-ROM drive with a USB reader to run games. This video demonstrates how to install, set up, and run games on an FZ-1 (tray loader). The FZ-1 is a solderless solution, for the FZ-10 you will need good soldering skills. Please see below for links mentioned in the video and for the FAQ, which I ask that you read before asking questions. This was not a “review copy” nor was it given for free, this was purchased by me at full price. I have no affiliation with Mnemo and receive no kickbacks from these links. Thanks for watching.
3DO Host Controller site for ordering and getting the BIOS and NVRAM files: http://3do-renovation.ru
Official Web Site for ImgBurn so you can rip your games to ISO format: http://www.imgburn.com/
Official Web Site for WinISO to convert your games from other image files (like bin/cue) to ISO for use in this device: http://www.imgburn.com/
FAQ regarding the device and compatibility: https://gaminghistory101.com/3do-usb-faq/
Wonder Boy Retrospective Part 6: Blue Ball of Happiness
Monster World IV
Released: 1994- Original hardware: Sega Mega Drive (Japan only, fan translated to English)
- Other releases: Playstation 2 (Sega Ages 2500 Vol. 29: Monster World Complete Collection (Japan only), PSN and Xbox Live (as Wonder Boy Sega Vintage Collection), Wii Virtual Console (no longer available to purchase)
- How to play today: Xbox Live Arcade Wonder Boy Sega Vintage collection Xbox 360 (backwards compatible with Xbox One), PSN (PS3)
We’ve now come to the final game in the series and Wonder Boy is now absent from the title. Well that’s because in Monster World IV it’s technically Wonder Girl now. This game would stay in Japan for a very long time and took on the Monster World titles because that was what most of the games were known as over there.
I played Monster World IV on the Sega Vintage collection for Xbox 360 brought to us from the fantastic developers M2 who do very fine work emulating old games to new systems. I brought this game day one for 800 Microsoft points (remember when that was a thing?) so I could play the official English translation of the game. The collection also included Monster World and the English arcade version of Monster Land, it’s well worth purchasing. While I did like Monster World IV it felt somewhat of a back step for the series but there is no denying this is the cutest entry in the series.
You play as Asha tasked with leaving your village to rescue some missing souls. These souls end up being bigger versions of the familiars (or buddies) you had in the previous game. The quests inevitably ends up with you saving the world – because lord knows we need to save the world just one more time. The setting has completely changed you’re now in an Arabian style environment, the game is incredibly colourful and definitely has the looks, pushing the Mega Drive’s colour palette to its limits. The music has also been re done and still maintains the charm and Wonder we have come to expect from the series.
Wonder Boy Retrospective Part 5: Spinning Spears
Wonder Boy in Monster World
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Released: 1991 -
Original Hardware: Sega Mega Drive/Genesis
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Other Releases: Master System, Turbografx CD/PC-Engine CD (as The Dynastic Hero), PSN, Xbox Live, Wii VC
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How to play today: PC, Xbox One, PS4 and Switch (Mega Drive/Genesis Classics Collection)
Wonder Boy in Monster World is up there with one of my favourite games of all time. This was my childhood Zelda, this was my epic adventure and it would stick with me for years to come. I first played Monster World on my original hardware when I was growing up in the 90s. The game captivated me as a child with its colourful graphics, fantasy setting and all sorts of weird but cute monsters running around.
Monster World feels, to me, like the height of the series; after five attempts they finally found the winning formula. Although to fans this debate is often between Dragons Trap, Monster World and Monster World IV (this game’s sequel, but don’t worry all will be explained on that title in the next part).
Gaming History 101 