View Full Version : Gaiares...not well liked?
Hiryu
07-28-2005, 12:06 AM
I'm curious to hear others opinions on this game. I really loved this game when it came out. I think to this day it's in my top 5 shooters from the 16 bit systems. Fast forward to present and I see some retro reviews and game info sites that say the game was either loved or hated by shooter fans, or just annoying. Nice bosses, cool backgrounds, I always thought it was pretty solid.
NeoZeedeater
07-28-2005, 12:23 AM
I bought it back in the day and enjoyed it. I didn't think it was as good as Thunder Force III in gameplay but it had some of the coolest bosses and cinemas at the time.
midgey
07-28-2005, 12:27 AM
Definitely one of my favorite shmups as well. Its not insanely difficult, but still difficult enough to keep it challenging every time. The soundtrack is top notch especially the intro music and first stage.
The weapon system is probably my favorite in any shmup I've ever played (which admittedly isn't as many as it should be). Are there any other games like this?
Policenaut
07-28-2005, 12:32 AM
I really love it. And never forget the intro, a few good minutes of anime style cinematics that really impressed me back in the good old days. A great shooter, not in the same level as Thunder Force III, but a quite enjoyable shooter.
Daniel Thomas
07-28-2005, 12:49 AM
It's the difficulty thing. In a perfect world, there would be an option to play with continuing ships. That alone would have meant the world to so many gamers.
I also think you really need a good joystick to play Gaiares, or any of the Gen shooters, really well. I remember Sega's own joystick was practically indestructable. Joypads just can never compete.
Overall, it's well-regarded by most, loved and hated by some.
Dire 51
07-28-2005, 01:19 AM
I love Gaiares. Ever since first playing it shortly after it was released, I've been a fan.
SkiDragon
07-28-2005, 02:38 AM
The weapon system is probably my favorite in any shmup I've ever played (which admittedly isn't as many as it should be). Are there any other games like this?
G Darius is really quite similar. I havent played too far into Gaiares, but in both games you shoot out a capture device thing to absorb new powers. The difference is that in G Darius the weird fish act more like "options" with different weapons.
AlexKidd
07-28-2005, 05:10 AM
I enjoy this game a lot. My second favorite genny shooter after truxton. Though like others have mentioned it's one flaw was that it was way too difficult. It's worth playing with an invincibility code to see the whole game. All of the levels and bosses were cool and unique and the game actually had a decent ending.
Sosage
07-28-2005, 07:23 AM
It's a great game...just one that seems to get passed over for M.U.S.H.A or the Thunderforce series when people are digging for shmups on the Genesis. At least Dr Dave (http://www.videogamearchive.com/dpsightz/adverts/genesis/genesis_gaiares.jpg) and Jamie Bunker approve (http://videogamearchive.com/dpsightz/adverts/genesis/genesis_gaiares_alt.jpg) of Gaiares...
Hiryu
07-28-2005, 11:07 AM
Jamie Bunker!! I remember those ads... Wonder what ever happened to that guy? 8-)
rbudrick
07-28-2005, 11:19 AM
It was a real sleeper at the time...it got very good reviews, but it's difficulty level was very harsh, I remember making it to level 4 or 5 or 6 or something w/o cheating. What was there, like 12 levels?
Great game, and I think it could have competed perfectly well with the likes of TF III if it weren't for the difficulty.
-Rob
Lord Contaminous
07-28-2005, 12:08 PM
Gaiares ripped off Gradius in some aspects.
NE146
07-28-2005, 12:42 PM
What I remember about it was getting super excited because of the writeup in EGM. From all the pictures I thought the bosses looked amazing. But when I played it, it seemed a little less exciting than I thought it would be. Still nice though :)
Jamie Bunker!! I remember those ads... Wonder what ever happened to that guy? 8-)
He's still around. He actually emailed me some different Renovation ads, after seeing the Gain Ground and Gaiares reviews on my site. Sadly, he's lost the mullet. :P
jsiucho
07-28-2005, 12:53 PM
I bought it when it originally came out, hard as balls,, but I enjoyed it a lot. I need to buy one again. Great Game
JS
rbudrick
07-28-2005, 01:27 PM
What I remember about it was getting super excited because of the writeup in EGM. From all the pictures I thought the bosses looked amazing. But when I played it, it seemed a little less exciting than I thought it would be. Still nice though
Same here, dude. I remember after seeing the EGM hype thinking this was the GREATEST shooter ever, period. It was indeed pretty damn good, but not as good as they made it out to be.
He's still around. He actually emailed me some different Renovation ads, after seeing the Gain Ground and Gaiares reviews on my site. Sadly, he's lost the mullet.
I remember that dude in the ads...what the hell was he in those for again?
-Rob
Graham Mitchell
07-28-2005, 01:55 PM
Gaiares is a great shooter. I haven't played it in years because I haven't seen it around. I got it for $10 new in Hawaii when it came out, and it was potentially the best $10 I ever spent. Telenet was awesome.
I remember that dude in the ads...what the hell was he in those for again?
-Rob
He supposedly gave the ads some credibilty, since he was a professional game tester at the time.
heybtbm
07-28-2005, 05:31 PM
I'm curious to hear others opinions on this game. I really loved this game when it came out. I think to this day it's in my top 5 shooters from the 16 bit systems. Fast forward to present and I see some retro reviews and game info sites that say the game was either loved or hated by shooter fans, or just annoying. Nice bosses, cool backgrounds, I always thought it was pretty solid.
...heh, someone's been to PrePlayed on the West side recently.
Hiryu
07-28-2005, 05:46 PM
...heh, someone's been to PrePlayed on the West side recently.
It's been a while actually. :) Why?
Daniel Thomas
07-28-2005, 07:04 PM
I remember that dude in the ads...what the hell was he in those for again?
-Rob
He supposedly gave the ads some credibilty, since he was a professional game tester at the time.
Now there's an interview I'd love to see! Get him back and email him some questions for your site. Budge, nudge.
Even without the super-cool joystick, Gaiares is a shooter classic. I loved how it was trying to outdo TF3 with the funky visual effects, and yeah, I enjoy the difficulty. Back then I was actually able to play pretty far without cheating, and the levels were just terrific. I'd love to see something like the battle through the space junk or the twin suns again.
heybtbm
07-28-2005, 07:34 PM
...heh, someone's been to PrePlayed on the West side recently.
It's been a while actually. :) Why?
I saw Gaiares there about 2 or 3 weeks ago. I was checking out the Genesis games yesterday and noticed it was gone.
junglehunter
07-28-2005, 08:48 PM
It's a great game...just one that seems to get passed over for M.U.S.H.A or the Thunderforce series when people are digging for shmups on the Genesis. At least Dr Dave (http://www.videogamearchive.com/dpsightz/adverts/genesis/genesis_gaiares.jpg) and Jamie Bunker approve (http://videogamearchive.com/dpsightz/adverts/genesis/genesis_gaiares_alt.jpg) of Gaiares...
Those 2 links lead to the same person...Jamie Bunker. ;) LOL
maxlords
07-28-2005, 09:03 PM
I found it hard as hell as well, but it's a damned good game. One of the better Genny shmups for sure!
PDorr3
07-28-2005, 09:58 PM
I just got this game, havent played much but it is definitly unique and fun. I love the way you acquire your weapons, by drawing them out of your enemies. Reminds me of kirby how you suck up the enemies for their powers.
UnInformer
07-28-2005, 10:46 PM
Game Informer gave this game a 9.25/10 in one of their Classic GI reviews. One of the handful of times I agree with them on classic reviews.
One of, if not the best game I ever got for under $2. This and MUSHA are tops for me as far as Genesis shooters go. But then again, it seems to be a top or near-top pick for everyone posting here so far. Well, almost everyone. No haters so far, anyway.