Gleylancer

[bargora]

Maxlords, I think you said that you like this game. And I think I've asked this before, but I might get a better response here with you import maniacs.

Do you (or anybody else) like it $100-$150 worth, though? I mean, this is one friggin' expensive import shooter.

[maxlords]

Honestly, I find that it's well worth the $100. I don't know if I'd pay high dollar for it ($150 or so) but it's easily worth the $100 if you're a hardcore shmupper. For those of you who are wondering, it's a horizontal shmup, slightly reminiscent of Thunderforce 3 in gameplay style. The bosses are VERY easy, but the levels get fairly challenging toward the later stages. The weapons are excellent, with a wide variety, and the graphics have some VERY impressive parallax scrolling.

The thing I found most interesting about Gleylancer is the option configurations. The game allows you to gain 2 little options that follow you around like in the Gradius games. However, when you start a new game, you select the formation they will be in for the WHOLE game. There are something like 8 formations, and depending on what formation you choose, your strategies and gameplay will be radically different, as you can't attack the same way with many of the configurations. It's a well-designed horiz shmup with moderate difficulty, great replay value (for a game that has the same enemy patterns all the time) and excellent control.

As for the expense, it's one of the top priced shmups for the Mega Drive. The other two that I can think of (excluding Panorama Cotton) are Eliminate Down and Slap Fight. Eliminate Down, while very cool, is UNBELIEVABLY hard, so hard that it's almost unfeasible, and it still runs around $100+ a copy. Slap Fight, the next one on my list, I've yet to have seen for sale....EVER. Gleylancer is the easiest of the three to get (though still very rare) and definitely the more well-rounded of the high $ MD shmups that I've played. I hope that helps you a bit on it! :) Too bad you're not closer, I'd invite you over to play it!

[Dire 51]

I'm going to have to see if my contact can get Gleylancer... it looks too awesome for me not to have.

[ArnoldRimmer83]

Hmm. Gleylancer and Eliminate Down both sound pretty interesting. I'll have to try them out sometime.

[maxlords]

Hmm. Gleylancer and Eliminate Down both sound pretty interesting. I'll have to try them out sometime.

If you can afford em, they're worth it. Just remember that Eliminate Down, while awesome, is REALLY REALLY REALLY hard! Like almost Rayxanber II hard :) Here's some ED screens (swiped shamelessly from Akira's shmups site!):

http://www.classicgaming.com/shmups/reviews/elimdown_rog/5snake.gif

http://www.classicgaming.com/shmups/reviews/elimdown_rog/11lev3.gif

http://www.classicgaming.com/shmups/reviews/eliminatedown/edown1.gif

I've seen level 3....once. lol!

[GaijinPunch]

Is there no cheat mode?
I suck at shooters. If there's no FREE PLAY mode, I'll never finish it. :)

[maxlords]

Is there no cheat mode?
I suck at shooters. If there's no FREE PLAY mode, I'll never finish it. :)

I don't KNOW of a cheat mode for it, but I hope there is! It's too hard otherwise!

[ArnoldRimmer83]

I got the roms to Gleylancer and Eliminate Down very recently thanks to a friend. Gleylancer is pretty nice. Reminds me of Gradius with the option system. Since Konami never made a Gradius game for Genesis, I guess this game will make a decent substitute. It had a pretty long intro for a shooter.

Eliminate Down is pretty hard, but seems really good. The graphic style of the game reminds me of R Type.

Thanks for recommending these games Maxlords. I would definately love to import them someday, though considering their price range it probably won't happen soon.

[GaijinPunch]

I know these are big, but I figure torturing Max in public is something everyone will enjoy.

http://www.classicgaming.com/japangaming/bonus_dir/chirashi/megadrive/advancedbusterhawkgleylancer1.jpg

http://www.classicgaming.com/japangaming/bonus_dir/chirashi/megadrive/advancedbusterhawkgleylancer2.jpg

[maxlords]

GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH *faints, gets up, stares, falls down, and faints again*

OMG I MUST HAVE THAT PRINT AD!!! I MUST!!! *bows down before gaijinpunch*

[esquire]

Honestly, I find that it's well worth the $100. I don't know if I'd pay high dollar for it ($150 or so) but it's easily worth the $100 if you're a hardcore shmupper. For those of you who are wondering, it's a horizontal shmup, slightly reminiscent of Thunderforce 3 in gameplay style. The bosses are VERY easy, but the levels get fairly challenging toward the later stages. The weapons are excellent, with a wide variety, and the graphics have some VERY impressive parallax scrolling.

The thing I found most interesting about Gleylancer is the option configurations. The game allows you to gain 2 little options that follow you around like in the Gradius games. However, when you start a new game, you select the formation they will be in for the WHOLE game. There are something like 8 formations, and depending on what formation you choose, your strategies and gameplay will be radically different, as you can't attack the same way with many of the configurations. It's a well-designed horiz shmup with moderate difficulty, great replay value (for a game that has the same enemy patterns all the time) and excellent control.

As for the expense, it's one of the top priced shmups for the Mega Drive. The other two that I can think of (excluding Panorama Cotton) are Eliminate Down and Slap Fight. Eliminate Down, while very cool, is UNBELIEVABLY hard, so hard that it's almost unfeasible, and it still runs around $100+ a copy. Slap Fight, the next one on my list, I've yet to have seen for sale....EVER. Gleylancer is the easiest of the three to get (though still very rare) and definitely the more well-rounded of the high $ MD shmups that I've played. I hope that helps you a bit on it! :) Too bad you're not closer, I'd invite you over to play it!

Sorry to dig up an old thread here, but this was the only one that came close to my search for Mega Drive Shmups. I recently looked into acquiring Gleylancer, Eliminate Down and Slap Fight for the Mega Drive and was somewhat shocked by the prices these games go for. What gives, are they that rare? or are their prices dictated more by demand? Is there any way to find these for $100 or less. Thanks.

[Bighab]

I have scored Gley Lancer off of Yahoo Japan for $45-$50US before. Maxlords has a good story on how he got his Eliminate Down, I'm sure he'll tell it. :D I have a few Gley Lancer hong kong versions arriving soon that look almost identical to the Japanese version.

[Cthulhu]

Most valuable games are costly because of rarity, not because of being good or bad. If a game is both good and rare, then it becomes really expensive. The MD shmups are like that... these games are all really good but also really rare.

Is it worth the $100 to $150? If you're expecting to get 2 to 3 games worth of content packed into one title, no. If you're expecting a cool game that has a lot of collectors value, then yes.

[maxlords]

Well, I'd say Gleylancer is worth the $100-150. It's an EXCEPTIONAL horiz shmup. Quite easily my favorite horizontal shooter EVER. I traded about $120 worth of games for my copy...got it in Europe.

As for Eliminate Down, I'd say it's good, but way WAY WAY too hard. I don't consider it as valuable gameplay-wise as Gleylancer. I managed to get my Eliminate Down off eBay for $35. I convinced the seller to end the auction early and sell it to me direct as he had had no bids for 6 days and it was a 7 day auction. Afterwards, I found out a BUNCH of people were waiting to snipe it, and all of em were all grumpy with me :D Mine has no manual, but for $35, I'm not complaining!

As for Slap Fight...I've played the ROM and it's CRAP. It's a direct conversion of the arcade game, known in the US as Alcon. It's just nothing special...reminds me a lot of Xevious, but not quite as good. Definitely not worth the coin for gameplay.

All three are QUITE rare, hence the extremely high $ values. It's not that they're stunning games... (well, Gleylancer is and ED would be if it wasn't bloody impossible) but they're very hard to find.

Same goes for Panorama Cotton....not as good as the rarity dictates. Just cause it's rare/spendy doesn't necessarily mean it's good.

[rhiohki]

Well, I'd say Gleylancer is worth the $100-150. It's an EXCEPTIONAL horiz shmup. Quite easily my favorite horizontal shooter EVER. I traded about $120 worth of games for my copy...got it in Europe.

As for Eliminate Down, I'd say it's good, but way WAY WAY too hard. I don't consider it as valuable gameplay-wise as Gleylancer. I managed to get my Eliminate Down off eBay for $35. I convinced the seller to end the auction early and sell it to me direct as he had had no bids for 6 days and it was a 7 day auction. Afterwards, I found out a BUNCH of people were waiting to snipe it, and all of em were all grumpy with me :D Mine has no manual, but for $35, I'm not complaining!

As for Slap Fight...I've played the ROM and it's CRAP. It's a direct conversion of the arcade game, known in the US as Alcon. It's just nothing special...reminds me a lot of Xevious, but not quite as good. Definitely not worth the coin for gameplay.

All three are QUITE rare, hence the extremely high $ values. It's not that they're stunning games... (well, Gleylancer is and ED would be if it wasn't bloody impossible) but they're very hard to find.

Same goes for Panorama Cotton....not as good as the rarity dictates. Just cause it's rare/spendy doesn't necessarily mean it's good.

Sad thing is...I was offered a complete and mint Gleylancer about 2 years ago for $40. At the time, I wasn't into Mega-Drive shooters so I turned it down. One of the very few times that I regret turning something down. :(

[Arthur-Otaku]

Gleylancer and eliminated down are md shooters with snes graphics, I need to say more?

I got my complete gleylancer here in Brazil for 10 dollars only, really mint, I know that you will not believe me but it's truth

[Spartacus]

I recently looked into acquiring Gleylancer, Eliminate Down and Slap Fight for the Mega Drive and was somewhat shocked by the prices these games go for. What gives, are they that rare? or are their prices dictated more by demand? Is there any way to find these for $100 or less. Thanks.

I think you could reasonably expect to find Gleylancer under $100. I did and I'm just a guy who shops Ebay diligently. Slap Fight and Eliminate Down are two I haven't seen on Ebay under $100 while I was watching, but anything can happen on Ebay so don't get discouraged. I found my copy of Darwin 4081 for $2 in a pawnshop of all places! So if Ebay prices are intimidating you, just expand your search area. You never know with video games. That's why I love this hobby!



As for Slap Fight...I've played the ROM and it's CRAP. It's a direct conversion of the arcade game, known in the US as Alcon. It's just nothing special...reminds me a lot of Xevious, but not quite as good. Definitely not worth the coin for gameplay.



Personally, I find Slap Fight to be an interesting game. It was the first space shoot'em-up created by Toaplan. The Arcade version was licensed and produced by Taito and was called Alcon in the US and Europe. Most of what I've read about the arcade game has been pretty positive....
http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=A&game_id=6843
http://coinop.org/g.aspx/101541/Slap_Fight.html

There's a review for MD Slap Fight at Game FAQ's that gives it a 9 out of 10 here....
http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/genesis/review/R57145.html

The Genesis Collective lists "Power Wing" as an alternate title and Moby Games claims "Power Wing" is the US Genesis version of Slap Fight, but I couldn't find much information about it. DP lists Slap Fight as a Tengen JPN exclusive and in an article titled "Made in Japan", the #2 issue of Video Game Collector magazine called Slap Fight one of the rarest Megadrive imports . They described it as well done but outdated. The PCB is the same one used for Tiger Heli which only allowed for one layer + sprites, so it wasn't going to get too fancy, but I think they did a damn fine job with the game. You fly over a planet surface that changes from woodlands to installations with plenty of things to shoot for powerups. There's end boss's and the music isn't shabby. It's a tough little old school verticle shooter!

here's a pic of my copy next to the article I read about it in VGC...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/spartacus34669/IMG_0443.jpg

Some of the games you see in the pic, I broke the $100 threshhold. But the one game that pleased me the most to have was Divine Sealing and it's findable under $50. I HIGHLY recommend it! I haven't gotten real far in the game because of premature orgasms, but don't let my experiences dissuade you from getting it!

[esquire]

here's a pic of my copy next to the article I read about it in VGC...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/spartacus34669/IMG_0443.jpg

Some of the games you see in the pic, I broke the $100 threshhold. But the one game that pleased me the most to have was Divine Sealing and it's findable under $50. I HIGHLY recommend it! I haven't gotten real far in the game because of premature orgasms, but don't let my experiences dissuade you from getting it!

Nice!! Impressive collection. Care to give a list of all the games you have there? I can make out some, but not all of them. Thanks.

[Spartacus]

Nice!! Impressive collection. Care to give a list of all the games you have there? I can make out some, but not all of them. Thanks.

Here's a link to a bandwith hogging pic that will let you read the titles a little more clearly.....

http://mysite.verizon.net/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=actual&linkpath=http://mysite.verizon.net/res0wvu5/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/img_0443.jpg&target=tlx_new

The top four are PAL
2nd row down and 4th from the left is Daisen Pu aka Twin Hawk
3rd row down and 4th from the left is Battlemania 2
4th row down and 7th from the left is Bio-Ship Paladin aka Gunship Gomera
4th row down and 9th from the left is Kyukyoku Tiger

When I bought Xenon 2, which I believe is only available in PAL format, I didn't have any way to get it running. Eventually I bought a modded Genny from D-Lite that let me play it. When I first tried the game I thought 'Oh My! This has some real toe tappin' tunes to it!' Then I realized that even though my system would let me start it at 50Hz and switch it to 60Hz to see it, the timing was never going to be correct. Kinda messed with my head. It hasn't stopped me from buying PAL games completely, but everytime I do I wonder if I'm ever going to really play the game the way it was supposed to run. I've been permanently scarred by my Xenon 2 experience. I did find and buy Xenon for the SMS, but I haven't tried it yet to see if it too was hard locked at 50Hz.

[esquire]

Just curious, seeing you're from the US, why did you choose to collect the import versions of Sagaia/Darius II, Lightening Force/Thunder Force IV, Arrow Flash, Truxton/Tatsujin, Galaxy Force II, Crossfire/Super Air Wolf, Bio Hazard Battle/Crying, Trouble Shooter/Battle Mania, Twin Cobra/Kyukyoku Tiger and both versions of Dai Sen Pu (Jap and Pal)?

Also it looks like you have the Japanese version of Zero Wing. I recently picked up the PAL version for the funny Engrish conversion. I can tell you it works on my Genny 2 without any converter and no problem runing at NTSC.

[Spartacus]

Just curious, seeing you're from the US, why did you choose to collect the import versions of Sagaia/Darius II, Lightening Force/Thunder Force IV, Arrow Flash, Truxton/Tatsujin, Galaxy Force II, Crossfire/Super Air Wolf, Bio Hazard Battle/Crying, Trouble Shooter/Battle Mania, Twin Cobra/Kyukyoku Tiger and both versions of Dai Sen Pu (Jap and Pal)?

Also it looks like you have the Japanese version of Zero Wing. I recently picked up the PAL version for the funny Engrish conversion. I can tell you it works on my Genny 2 without any converter and no problem runing at NTSC.

I do seem to be missing the point of owning Zero Wing if I'm missing the bad engrish, huh?. I'll look into getting PAL copy, and thanks for informing me it will work just fine. As for the rest of my choices, I indulge myself a little bit with artwork variations. That's all that's about.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/spartacus34669/IMG_0453.jpg