Midnight Resistance

[Dire 51]

Anyone have any thoughts on Midnight Reisistance, be it the arcade version or the MD/Genesis port (which is the only one I know of, but clue me in if there are any others)?For those unfamiliar with the game, it was Data East's attempt at Contra, mixed in with elements from DE's own Heavy Barrel. For the longest time, it was the closest thing you could get to Contra on the Genesis.

Admittedly, it has a strange control scheme (which definitely takes a little getting used to), and several frames of animation were cut out of the Genesis port (it's especially noticable when your commando's moving left and right), but it's still a competent game, and one well worth playing. The Genesis version also has much better music than the arcade, I've noticed.

Midnight Resistance on KLOV (http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=&game_id=8688)

Midnight Resistance review at Sega-16 (http://www.sega-16.com/Midnight%20Resistance%20review.htm)

Discuss.

[Gamereviewgod]

I enjoyed plowing through this one. It's not the greatest, a little slow, but fun. The controls in the arcade were an area of issue. It's defintiely better on the Genesis just for that.

[CRV]

I've been doing a lot of research into game developers, and I have a feeling I'm going to become the crazy guy that pops up in forums and says who the real developer is, but here goes: The MD/Gen version of Midnight Resistance was done by ISCO, who also did a few other MD/Gen ports for Data East.

Unlike the reviewer at Sega-16.com, I like the music. Anything Hitoshi Sakimoto was involved in on the MD/Gen was gold, IMO.

And I agree about the control scheme. It's perhaps the one major strike against the game. Definitely not as smooth as Contra.

[Dire 51]

I've been doing a lot of research into game developers, and I have a feeling I'm going to become the crazy guy that pops up in forums and says who the real developer is, but here goes: The MD/Gen version of Midnight Resistance was done by ISCO, who also did a few other MD/Gen ports for Data East.

Unlike the reviewer at Sega-16.com, I like the music. Anything Hitoshi Sakimoto was involved in on the MD/Gen was gold, IMO.

I've got two questions for you:

I've never heard of ISCO, although as it would seem, I've played at least one port they did, possibly more. Would you happen to know what other MD ports they handled?

What other MD games was Hitoshi Sakimoto involved in? I'm curious.

[KJN]

be it the arcade version or the MD/Genesis port (which is the only one I know of, but clue me in if there are any others)?
There are also Commodore 64, Amiga, Spectrum, Atari ST and Amstrad versions.

[CRV]

I've got two questions for you:

I've never heard of ISCO, although as it would seem, I've played at least one port they did, possibly more. Would you happen to know what other MD ports they handled?

Captain America and the Avengers, Two Crude Dudes, Master of Monsters, Midnight Resistance

It wasn't a port, but they also did Verytex. Seems like they just did contract work, which would explain why nobody's heard of them.

List of their console/handheld games:
http://vgrebirth.org/games/search.asp?developers=1444

Rough list of everything, including arcade and computer software:
http://www.smspower.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7917

I've since tweaked it. Hopefully, I'll have my Game Developer Research Institute site up soon.

Official website:
http://www.isco-inc.co.jp/

The site hasn't been updated in ages, which says to me that they may not be around anymore. They haven't done any video games since the Saturn/PlayStation 1 era.


What other MD games was Hitoshi Sakimoto involved in? I'm curious.

Master of Monsters - ASD (composed by Hayato Matsuo, produced by Koichi Sugiyama)

Captain America and the Avengers - ASD (originally composed by Data East staff, Shogo Sakai involved (though he may be DECO staff))

Gauntlet 4 - CASD (Masaharu Iwata also composed)

Bad Omen/Devilish (developed by another "contract developer," Aisystem Tokyo) - CASD

Verytex - CASD (Masaharu Iwata and JKL Furukawa also composed)

King Salmon - SD (composed by Masaharu Iwata)

Board of Education Quiz (obviously not a commercial game) - D

Eye of the Beholder for Mega CD - AS (composed by Yuzo Koshiro, I think)

Midnight Resistance - ASD (originally done by Data East staff, Shogo Sakai involved (though I think he is DECO staff, too))

Death Bringer for Mega CD - ASD

Swap (unreleased?) - ASD

Two Crude Dudes - ASD (originally composed by Data East staff)

C=Composition, A=Arrangement, S=Sound Effect, D=Sound Driver Programming

His discography also mentions Lorelei (ASD) and Super Double Dragon (D), but I don't think they were released (at least not for the Mega Drive). Also, Crying Dragon (SD) is mentioned for the Mega CD (probably not released, either).

Total discography:
http://www.cocoebiz.com/sakimoto/discography/index.shtml

He gets a lot of praise for his later works like Vagrant Story, but his earlier stuff doesn't get enough attention.

[Graham Mitchell]

I agree that Midnight Resistance has great music, especially in the "shop" area between levels. Nice and booming.

The control scheme has always thrown me for a loop in this one, but it's still a good game. I enjoy playing it on Gens every once in awhile.

[Ed Oscuro]

As for the actual levels, they really try to spice them up sometimes. Making them like arenas or having you go up a four-piece elevator. The result is not that good, however. They never really make you have to do something different.
Was anybody else able to understand this?

"Yeah they aimed for variety. The result of this variety was that there wasn't any." LOL

Alright...this is a title I've heard about off and on for a while, guess I'll try it out.

[CRV]

Was anybody else able to understand this?

"Yeah they aimed for variety. The result of this variety was that there wasn't any." LOL

"They aimed for variety, but ended up coming up short."

[Ed Oscuro]

Was anybody else able to understand this?

"Yeah they aimed for variety. The result of this variety was that there wasn't any." LOL

"They aimed for variety, but ended up coming up short."
Interesting how it all boils down to ten words. LOL

Definitely will be checking this one out, finally.

[Dire 51]

CRV - thanks for the info and links! Extremely informative, they are... and this explains why I like Verytex's music so much. :)

KJN - ah, I should have known there were computer ports. Thanks!