Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom and Shadow over Mystara

[c0ldb33r]

I want to play Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom and Shadow over Mystara. I understand that these were released as a collection on the Saturn in Japan. Is there any other option? Were these released in a different compilation?

Slightly related and funny image:
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s182/c0ldb33r/th_dungeonsdragonsbaby.jpg (http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s182/c0ldb33r/?action=view&current=dungeonsdragonsbaby.jpg)

[The Shawn]

Funny you should bring it up. I recently was looking into finding these games also, but I couldn't find anything other than the pricey Japanese import. To bad, as they look like real fun to play.

[c0ldb33r]

I played Tower of Doom in the arcades. It was awesome!

I seem to recall playing it recently on a capcom compilation, but I must be crazy.

[The Shawn]

Yeah, you must be. As that was my first thought to look to as well. KLOV has an interesting article about the arcade BTW.

[Chainclaw]

Just buy the CPS2 boards and a supergun, and you're good to go. If you're paranoid, get the boards pheonixed.

There is also MAME, if you don't want to go the CPS2 or import Saturn game route.

[Jorpho]

Just use the ROMs in Kawaks on your PC, says I; it runs magnificently. (Kawaks is much more user-friendly than MAME, if that puts you off.)

See also http://www.hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/finalfightclones/finalfightclones4.htm

[G-Boobie]

Just use the ROMs in Kawaks on your PC, says I; it runs magnificently. (Kawaks is much more user-friendly than MAME, if that puts you off.)

See also http://www.hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/finalfightclones/finalfightclones4.htm

Jorpho is 100 percent correct. I own the Saturn collection, but I speak very very little japanese. ROMS!!!

They're both a lot of fun, especially if you play with a friend.

[kedawa]

Just use the ROMs in Kawaks on your PC, says I; it runs magnificently. (Kawaks is much more user-friendly than MAME, if that puts you off.)

See also http://www.hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/finalfightclones/finalfightclones4.htm

I prefer MAMEUI.
I can't get kawaks to run at my monitors native resolution.

[XYXZYZ]

I own the Saturn collection (scored it for $60!) and I never play it. I only play those games on my MAME cabinet.

[stargate]

I prefer MAMEUI.
I can't get kawaks to run at my monitors native resolution.


Yeah, MAMEUI is pretty user friendly. I'm playing Shadow over Mystara right now.

[c0ldb33r]

Thanks guys - I'd prefer not to use ROMs, and I don't want to start with arcade hardware. I was hoping the games were released on a collection disc. Are the versions on the Saturn collection perfect ports?

Why wasn't this released for XBLA? This would be a perfect 4 player XBLA game!

[2Dskillz]

I loved Shadows, but was not aware of Tower of Doom. These games showed a way that beatem ups could have gone to maintain relevance. I guess Guardian Heroes is as close as we get in the states.

[G-Boobie]

Thanks guys - I'd prefer not to use ROMs, and I don't want to start with arcade hardware. I was hoping the games were released on a collection disc. Are the versions on the Saturn collection perfect ports?

Why wasn't this released for XBLA? This would be a perfect 4 player XBLA game!

As far as I know, they're perfect. I've played through both on Saturn and on MAME, and the gameplay is identical.

They haven't been released for XBLA due to the TSR license and the relative obscurity of the games in the states, if I had to guess. They can get away with TMNT Arcade because everyone has arcade memories of it: not so much the D&D games.

I'd rather have Aliens vs. Predator anyway.

[klausien]

I play these with Final Burn XXX on a softmodded XBox. Perfect. You can also play the infinitely superior Aliens Vs. Predator this way.

As for the Saturn double disc, I would advise against it actually. It is too expensive, even with the fact that the price has dropped a bit recently. The game plays well, but the loading times are ridiculous. Constant and a little too long. Really, they kill it for me, and I am on the more patient side of the coin in terms of a system' technical limitations. It's also obviously in Japanese. Save yourself the disappointment.

[Haoie]

Shadow is, without a doubt, the best non RPG spinoff game that D&D ever spawned.

[icbrkr]

Hmm... I've got the Tower of Doom 4 player in the garage. I need to spend some time playing that to the end ;)

[sidnotcrazy]

Man, I loved Tower of Doom! I remember when it first came to our local Aladdin's Castle we all took turns, and finally beat it. Man, what a great game. Sorry, I didn't have anything to add, just wanted to join in the fun of talking about a great game.

[smork]

I have the Tower of Doom CPS2 board and love it! It's definitely the way to go if you have a cab (sound like you don't). These two games definitely need a wider audience.

If you're looking for a similar, but cheaper Saturn game, there's always Tenchi wo Kurau 2...

[Ze_ro]

They haven't been released for XBLA due to the TSR license and the relative obscurity of the games in the states, if I had to guess.
I would think it would be easy enough to remove the D&D branding. I'm not sure what exactly is owned by TSR, but just changing the title screen would seem to be enough... or are there licensed character and location names in the game? Does TSR have copyrights on "bugbear" and "displacer beast"?

De-licensing Alien vs. Predator would be a whole hell of a lot harder unfortunately :(

--Zero

[2Dskillz]

I would think it would be easy enough to remove the D&D branding. I'm not sure what exactly is owned by TSR, but just changing the title screen would seem to be enough... or are there licensed character and location names in the game? Does TSR have copyrights on "bugbear" and "displacer beast"?

De-licensing Alien vs. Predator would be a whole hell of a lot harder unfortunately :(

--Zero

Actually several of those creatures are owned by TSR, Beholders and such. Not to mention specific spell names and such.

[fahlim003]

May as well stick to MAME or the actual CPS2 boards. While the Saturn set is good and accurate there are a few discrepancies.
Tower of Doom - Unlike what is stated on HG101 this does not require the 4MB expansion, that's Shadows, otherwise yes, 2 players max.
Shadows over Mystaria - Requires the 4MB and while not plagued, has frequent loading between scenes. While not lengthy it can kill the vibe quickly and when compared to playing this or Tower in English in MAME or a cabinet it's hard to justify the price even if it is cheaper than the real pcbs. I own it anyway but I had to buy before I tried back then even though I don't really regret it seeing how I don't have a cab or supergun.

Oh, and as smork mentions Tenchi wo Kurau 2 (Warriors of Fate) on Saturn is quite good and is often cheap(cheaper than PS1 iteration). Shame though there is no saving but there are codes to enable some kick ass super moves not found in the arcade or elsewhere. Check it out for certain.

[CosmicMonkey]

I wouldn't worry about a CPS2 set up; it's nowhere near the nightmare that is a full Naomi GD-Rom kit. It's nice and tidy and consists of the main 'A Board' and the 'B Board' games: just like a normal cart console.

You can build a small Supergun that's compatible with CPS2 (2p 6button & 4p 3button) and Neo Geo into a project box. Some things I'd advise sticking with the console ports: CPS3 is one example as the thing is an absolute bloody nightmare. If you want to play 3rd Strike go for the PS2 or DC conversions. However, for Neo Geo and CPS2 It really is then just as simple as running a normal console.

The whole 'suicide battery' problem is easily overcome.

[Vroomfunkel]

Load times absolutely killed it for me on the Saturn version. It stops to load between virtually every screen - drove me insane!

Get Tench Wo Kurau II instead. Identical gameplay, no load times at all. And cheaper. You can't lose!

[fahlim003]

Load times absolutely killed it for me on the Saturn version. It stops to load between virtually every screen - drove me insane!

Get Tenchi Wo Kurau II instead. Identical gameplay, no load times at all. And cheaper. You can't lose!

Indeed, I agree quite so and as I double checked, the super moves code is availible on both PS1 and Saturn although as mentioned TwK2 is cheaper for Saturn.

The code to enter at the title screen is:

R, Y, L, X, A, B, R

Then, in-game, you have d,u,d,u+A for your super attack. Zhang Fei also has the super throw with 720+A.

[otaku]

awesome games! I had the saturn pack (two versions one with ram cart one without) pricey yes but resale value is pretty good also. I miss my copy. Lots of fun. Can always play via emulators.

[Haoie]

It's a bleeding shame neither were released on the PS1!!

[dairugger]

i play both these on my psp using a cps2 emu, both are great games! i remember a couple years back when final burn cracked cps2 emu, or at least i think it was final burn. anyway, does anyone remember some files you added to the emu that made certain effects prettier, like fire,spell effects..? maybe it was kawaks..?