So looking at some YouTube it seems the Japanese version has more lenient times for missions: eg, Mission 1 = Japan 105 seconds, USA/PAL = 95 seconds.
I need to confirm if the challenge times have been adjusted but this might explain why i can’t get close to some of the challenge times! FFS.
Huh, wonder if that is the result of publisher meddling when it was brought overseas?
I’ve got a Japanese PS1 disc on the way, looking forward to this!
FML so it turns out USA Runabout 2 removes neGcon support.
Confirmed my neGcon + PSX-USB adapter + emulator settings are working with Gran Turismo, Ridge Racer, and… Japanese Runabout 2.
At this rate I may as well play it through again in Japanese. Hmm.
I have a region free PS2 so this game sounds like a candidate for putting on my list.
Thinking about why this may have been removed. I suspect this was done in relation to the swapped buttons for accept/cancel in Western regions. The NeGcon button layout is more suited to the Japanese way of using circle to confirm and X (I on neGcon) to cancel.
On Japanese Runabout 2 you can pause the game and plug in different types of controllers and the pause menu will change to reflect the relevant button labels. Great way to test things.
I’ve been getting into Crazy Climber this weekend. I adore it! Once you get used to the controls you can’t still just rely on muscle memory, you’re always thinking about what move to make next with your arms and legs. Great stuff, even if I’m still relatively rubbish at it.
The Wonderswan port is impressive and I wish we saw another one on the DS. It’s almost like a precursor to the vertical two screen-orientation games on there.
And I can’t possibly forget this special guest appearance, more over at the Wii thread…
Argh. I just can’t stick Super Runabout (DC) PAL.
Does the USA or Japan version have any better framerate?
That reminds me of some of the licence challenges for Gran Turismo 3.
Very challenging on Japanese or NTSC versions, even harder on PAL by shaving those good times down a bit more.
Yes!
It’s peaking that they’d lower times for both USA and Japan when I’d expect them to be increased, at least for less hardcore Western gamers and unoptimised PAL coversions.
Vs Super Mario Bros. is brutal! Spent a few hours on it yesterday and only managed to get to world 5. Intentionally missing warp zones to experience every level.
Not sure how I’m going to get through world 5 on one credit, 5-2 destroys me every time with that hammer bro near the start…
Ha, I need to revisit. What Switch controller are you using?
Both handheld mode and the Pro Controller, if only because I was getting thumb blisters with the former! As much as I love how crisp the Joy-Con button switches are, the small buttons do make sliding your thumbs around a bit painful in the long run haha.
If you have any tips for world 5 let me know!
I can’t do MARIO with the buttons.
It’s much more comfy with larger buttons.
Got to world 6, now it’s 6-3 giving me trouble, some brutal jumps near the end. I think they might have reused this level in (from?) JPN Mario 2, it feels familiar.
Vs Super Mario Bros aside, I finally started Puyo Puyo Chronicle on 3DS. Nothing particularly interesting here despite the excellent presentation, the RPG mode is very conforming of generic modern RPGs with quests, crafting etc etc.
Also played some of the new Jajamaru-kun game that Hamster made on 3DS. It’s an interesting one, it feels authentic to games of the Super Famicom era with its spritework and even its slowdown, but I can’t say I’m engrossed in it despite the fun boss battles and level design variety. Might be down to the dodgy collision detection with the platforming and enemy projectile attacks, something about it makes it unsatisfying to play.
3D Classics Gunstar Heroes is next on the list!
Yes, I recall that now - some levels from SMB2J are mixed in there.
Game Gear Micro bingeing continues - finished Sonic, Puyo Puyo 2, Out Run, and Baku Baku Animal so far.
Started playing the copy of 3D Bare Knuckle 2 (Streets of Rage 2) that I picked up a couple of weeks ago. Wow. This game simply rocks. While I appreciated the simplicity of Famicom Double Dragon II, this just ups the ante in every possible way with its tense encounters, weapons and risk-reward attack choices. The audiovisual presentation ups the intensity as well.
M2 did such a good job with the 3D, this might be the most useful application of the technology to an old Sega game that didn’t use super scaling. Like @FiZiX mentioned in the pick-up thread of swag, you can line up your shots naturally without having to think about sprite sizes. And like 3D Gunstar Heroes, M2 has split the backgrounds into dozens of layers, creating a proper 3D presence with them rather than individual distinct layers. Really impressive stuff.
Also finally got round to playing Puyo Puyo Chronicle, which I bought almost a year ago. It’s alright, the RPG mode is rather phoned in and by-the-numbers compared to Compile’s efforts with Madou Monogatari and Nazo Puyo. Dull environment ideas and copy-paste quest design. And yet it’s hard to resist this game’s charms due to the superb presentation, the transition to a 3D patchwork world is a first for the series and it works.
Recently got hooked on Diablo-style games: Minecraft Dungeons with my son and Phantasy Star Online on the Dreamcast. Minecraft Dungeons is surprisingly good - recommended on the platform of your choice. And being able to play PSO with others online in 2020 still makes me smile.
imo switch to the gamecube or PC version of PSO. Same game with way more options and new weapon skins and content.
I have the GC version, too, but there’s no equivalent to the DreamPi for it yet. Trying to keep the experience authentic so Dolphin is not really an option. And I’m already about 50 levels in on the DC character. Plus, I just like hearing the console’s startup music. 
