just discovered the awsomeness that is Metal Storm

[Flam]

definitely worth the money if you don't own it. Great mix of a platform/puzzle game which is right up my alley

[treismac]

Have you ever tried to play through the game again after beating the game once? Good heavens. Neither the skill nor the patience have I.

[kupomogli]

Irem games are less skill, more memory. Metal Storm is garbage, just like R Type and any other Irem memorization game that is painted over to look somewhat like a skill based game.

[M.Buster2184]

Offhand, what does this game normally go for? I know a store near me has a copy or two in stock, but not sure what a fair price is.

[TheRetroVideoGameAddict]

I've only played the first one once for the NES circa 1996 but I remember highly enjoying it and wanting to play it again. Sadly I haven't pursued the game for my collection as of yet but I do plan on it soon once I check a few more off my "to get" list.

[jperryss]

Metal Storm is awesome. Definitely more memorization needed than your typical platformer, but still requires a ton of skill. And the second loop is brutal. I hate R-Type but I love this game.


I've only played the first one once for the NES circa 1996 but I remember highly enjoying it and wanting to play it again. Sadly I haven't pursued the game for my collection as of yet but I do plan on it soon once I check a few more off my "to get" list.

I think there's only one.

[Bloodreign]

Irem games are less skill, more memory. Metal Storm is garbage, just like R Type and any other Irem memorization game that is painted over to look somewhat like a skill based game.
Irem games are more than memorizers, you also need skill otherwise it'll be a credit eating fest. Also Irem didn't do just shooters (though R-Type along with Gradius are the fathers of the horizontal shoot em up), they did stuff like the awesome Nina Spirit (memorization isn't needed in that one, twitch reflexes and skill to know weaponry use is key to survival) , Kickle Cubicle, a puzzle type game where you must use your brain to solve how to finish each level before time runs out (in other words , skill), Hammerin Harry, a platformer that again relied on skill and knowing how to properly use your hammer to get you through each level. Then we have Undercover Cops, a beat em up that again requires no memorization, you had to use skill like any other beat em up out there.

R-Type might rely on some memorization (along with Gallop -Armored Police Unit), but it also relied on you knowing which powerups were best for the area you were in (you don't memorize, you can choose to change weapons for the situation, doesn't mean you have to), also relies on twitch reflexes. You'd probably have an easier time with X-Multiply, but that game has at least one BS checkpoint by stage 4, don't die near the boss or have no powerups upon revival. The game included in the Arcade Gears pack, Image Fight, would definitely eat you alive as you must have skill to pass each stage. X-Multiply does get quite difficult, but it's a gradual difficulty curve that kicks you in the balls come loop 2. Definitely not the hardest of Irem shmups (yes these are both in my collection on Saturn as well as Image Fight on NES) .

Apparently you haven't played enough Irem titles to cast final judgment on their games, they didn't make games to be cakewalk, they made them to be money makers, like any other company that made coin-op games out there. You could say the same about stuff that Capcom, Taito, and Konami made as well (as well as Toaplan, remember when I turned you on to Fire Shark, that one also required memorization of where enemy formations would enter the screen).

In other words, quit hatin' on Irem.

Edit: As for Metal Storm, it's a great challenge, and one I can proudly say I have in my collection (along with some other Irem goodies).

[treismac]

Irem games are less skill, more memory. Metal Storm is garbage, just like R Type and any other Irem memorization game that is painted over to look somewhat like a skill based game.

"Garbage"??? Metal Storm has so much going for it for as a platformer and as a not-so hidden gem in the NES library that you will need to do more than bemoan memorization's importance in Irem games to make even the flimsiest case against it being a solid game.


Irem games are more than memorizers, you also need skill otherwise it'll be a credit eating fest. Also Irem didn't do just shooters (though R-Type along with Gradius are the fathers of the horizontal shoot em up), they did stuff like the awesome Nina Spirit (memorization isn't needed in that one, twitch reflexes and skill to know weaponry use is key to survival) , Kickle Cubicle, a puzzle type game where you must use your brain to solve how to finish each level before time runs out (in other words , skill), Hammerin Harry, a platformer that again relied on skill and knowing how to properly use your hammer to get you through each level. Then we have Undercover Cops, a beat em up that again requires no memorization, you had to use skill like any other beat em up out there.


-Spot on lauding of Irem, trimmed for the sake of space.-

Edit: As for Metal Storm, it's a great challenge, and one I can proudly say I have in my collection (along with some other Irem goodies).

Well said! A brilliant rebuttal and so well said that I won't fault you (much) for forgetting to mention the iconic and influential Kung-Fu Master. ;) Truth be told, I actually like its spiritual successor Vigilante a decent bit as well.

[Polygon]

I've never played it, but it's on my wanted list. Too bad it's expensive and continuing to go up in price.

[Tanooki]

I hate r-type and pure memorization games. I like to have a little variety than pea brained line following type design. Metal Storm I own and I don't consider it that at all. The game has solid mechanics, very decent looking visuals and quality audio effects too more than I'd usually expect of a similar style NES title. Sure it's hard, but it's fair, not cheap hard.

[jperryss]

I hate r-type and pure memorization games. I like to have a little variety than pea brained line following type design. Metal Storm I own and I don't consider it that at all. The game has solid mechanics, very decent looking visuals and quality audio effects too more than I'd usually expect of a similar style NES title. Sure it's hard, but it's fair, not cheap hard.

Have you gone through the 2nd loop? The later stages are VERY memorization-heavy.

[TheRetroVideoGameAddict]

Ordered a copy for my NES on eBay today after reading comments of the game within this thread, I paid $47.99 for it but it's cool because I have the cash to burn and I want to expand my NES collection beyond the same ol' same ol'. Which is something I've been doing a lot of in 2013.

[WCP]

The thing I always remembered about Metal Storm, was that it almost looked 16-bit to me. Seemed like one of the more advanced NES games graphically.

[Flam]

Ordered a copy for my NES on eBay today after reading comments of the game within this thread, I paid $47.99 for it but it's cool because I have the cash to burn and I want to expand my NES collection beyond the same ol' same ol'. Which is something I've been doing a lot of in 2013.

I paid $50 which seemed like the going rate on Ebay. I feel that it is worth it, one thing I don't like is that it is a one hit and die game, but I can get over it. This is a good top 10 list http://www.snackbar-games.com/features/best-to-play-now/what-are-the-ten-best-nes-games-to-play-now/ which Metal Storm is on.

[XYXZYZ]

I love Metal Storm. I first played it during that "Let's all play" challenge thread. I had one week to finish Metal Storm, which I had never played before. (I was emulating it on a MAME cabinet) I did manage to finish it in three days, here's my post after finishing it-


FINISHED. I used about 600 credits to do it, but I finished Metal Storm. (Normal mode, I'm not torturing myself with Expert mode) I must say that was a gratifying experience, an excellent platformer that requires a good mix of memorization and plain old skill. It can be rather difficult, but fortunately you get unlimited credits and a password feature.

What really got me was the stage six boss. That sumbitch is fsking HARD. The final boss is a joke though, like the one in Gradius.

My best score was 163,550.

[treismac]

This is a good top 10 list http://www.snackbar-games.com/features/best-to-play-now/what-are-the-ten-best-nes-games-to-play-now/ which Metal Storm is on.

Sweet, practical list. Nice share.

[Tanooki]

No I never have second looped it, but I don't like doing that stuff anyway so I wouldn't know. Also I do agree it almost looks 16bit, kind of like a lower colored tg16 game of sorts.