GG Aleste

The Game Gear often gets a bad rap for not having enough good games. While the system does have its fair share of crap games, it usually isn't given enough credit for its great ones. I don't think the Game Gear is a better overall system than the Game Boy or Lynx but it was superior in a few areas. I think the Game Gear Sonic and Shinobi games are better than any platformers on the B&W Game Boy or Lynx. Compile's Aleste games are better than any shooters on its competitors.

http://www.ngy1.1st.ne.jp/~momochi/untiku/aleste6.jpg

Those familiar with Compile's shooters will know that their games have a certain feel to them different than any other developers'.

GG Aleste I and II not only feel like Compile's console shooters, they also maintain the same quality despite being portable games. GG Aleste II can hang alongside Blazing Lazers and M.U.S.H.A., IMO.

GG Aleste(1991)
http://kelesis.free.fr/hp/compile/gg...alesteshot.png

GG Aleste II(1993)
http://kelesis.free.fr/hp/compile/gg...leste2shot.png

Unfortunately these Game Gear games were not released in North America. The first one only came out in Japan and the second one came out in Japan and Europe. The European version is called Power Strike II. Despite sharing the same name as a Master System game, it is not the same game. SMS Power Strike II is a great Aleste game but it isn't as good as Game Gear Power Strike II.

Any fans of the GG Aleste games here?

Damn great thread.

It sucks that these games were never released in the US...

Man I didn't even know that there was a Powerstrike 2...I have Powerstrike on the SMS and it is very good.

Thanks. The series is pretty messed up and confusing when it comes to names. Space Megaforce has the Aleste name in Japan although it could just as easily pass for a Gun Nac sequel.

Gun Nac is also very underrated. I think it's the best shooter on the NES and even better than the SMS Power Strike games.

Do you know if GG Aleste played more like Zanac/Powerstrike, or MUSHA/Blazing Lasers?

Much love for the Aleste series. Power Strike II is one of my favorite 8-bit console shooters. The GG ones are indeed cool.

They feel closer to the 8-bit Zanac/Power Strike stuff in terms of weapons but the look has a bit of a Blazing Lazers flavour. All these shooters have similarities that make them hard to compare. Since Blazing was originally based on the Gun Hed license, it has no Aleste name but I think it pretty much counts as part of the series.

It's ironic that you made this thread, considering I'm selling my GameGear and the only two games I have for it (Ax Battler, GG Aleste II). Admittedly, GGAII is a damn fine shooter, but it's really hard to fully enjoy when the GG's screen/backlight makes it look like it's wrapped in a plastic bag or something.

How is Axe Battler btw? I've never played that game but always been intrigued by it.

I have GG Aleste II. It's a but on the easy side for a Compile shooter, but it's still pretty damn good. My main gripe is that it's hard to see what you're doing when the backgrounds are scrolling super fast. That Game Gear could be a blurry mess sometimes.

Damn. I misread the title as GC Aleste.

THanks for the info just the same.

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Originally posted by Gutsman
How is Axe Battler btw?

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Think Zelda II or Gargoyle's Quest - top-down overworld, side-scrolling action sequences. I never got very far in it. The difficulty is quite frustrating, due to the control and hit detection that's a little off. There are random encounters in the overworld, and if you get hit by the enemy at all (that's right, just once), the battle ends and you're back on the world map. Very scream-inducing if you're trying to collect money or those little jars that power your magic.

Since the game subtitle is "A Legend of Golden Axe", I'm guessing it's an entry in the series. I'm selling it for $5. It's not worth much more than that.

I have the Brazilian "Tec Toy" release of Power Strike 2, and I do like it a lot! It's one of Compile better shooters, IMO - kind of half-way between their older "random enemy storm" games and the structured level design of Musha. Too bad the GG screen is so hard to see - I'd kill for a way to play it on a home system.

One thing to consider when you discuss the GG version of any game, especially one that looks as nice as Aleste in emulated screengrabs, is exactly what OmegaFlareX said:

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it's really hard to fully enjoy when the GG's screen/backlight makes it look like it's wrapped in a plastic bag or something.

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You'd be far better off to play the game on the Master system which is going to be identical, but with double the resolution, and 100x easier to see. Even if you absolutely gotta have a portable game, Aleste isn't the way to go. What fun is a blurry scrolly shmup? Bah to GG, I say.

Lawrence.
(Not bitter, I swear)

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Originally posted by NEOGEOman
You'd be far better off to play the game on the Master system which is going to be identical, but with double the resolution, and 100x easier to see.

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What does this mean? There's no Master System port of GG Aleste 2 (Power Strike 2 on the SMS is completely different).

It would be nice if someone hacked the ROM so it could be burned onto an SMS cart for home play. I'm sure it's possible, eh?

The hardware is identical, so I don't see why not.

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What does this mean?

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It means I haven't a clue what I'm talking about, and I should be avoided.

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The hardware is identical, so I don't see why not.

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Almost. The GG is like an SMS+. It has the same hardware, with more colours. Games programmed for the SMS can be played on the GG without any problems, but GG games, with extra colour data, give the SMS fits.