Let's recap: Andro Dunos (ARC/NG).

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30 Nov 2003, 09:14 AM
Recap

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Let's recap: Andro Dunos (ARC/NG).

Andro Dunos (ARC/NG, Visco, 1992.06.15)

Visco has always been a secondary developer. Saving the Drift Out and the Shimasho series they're still to do something really trascendent. Andro Dunos was the first game to clearly show this company's preferences: to imitate relevant games in order to obtain an immediate acceptance. Let's recap:

It's not too hard to realize where this game took the inspiration from just by looking at a single snapshot. Zero Wing and Gradius are evidently "homaged" in Andro Dunos. Visco didn't even try to make something visually different to the late 80's games, and that was their biggest fault. In the moment of Andro Dunos' appearance, games as Last Resort, US Navy (Carrier Airwing) or Thunder Cross II were widely present in the arcades, and they had far better visuals than Visco's little cameo. 'Cause Andro Dunos' gameplay is solid enough to keep you playing for a while. The weapon system is interesting (if you ignore the stupid charging attack, which levels down the main weapon every time it's used), stages' structure is wisely studied and bosses are funny to fight. Some basic enemies are a bit unfair, but you'll learn how to avoid them all.

I'm not trying to say this is a brilliant game, but it's better than it seems to be initially. Graphics are poor, but the music is well composed and a two-player option is included. Just don't play it after your usual Pulstar session.
30 Nov 2003, 11:39 AM
FX

I forgot I had this game in NeoRageX. It must not have been very good, as it doesn't really stick out in my mind as much as it should were it worthy.

Think I'll give it another whack sometime. But not after Pulstar.
30 Nov 2003, 12:26 PM
Rocca

I still have it on my computer, but I never really bothered to play it much. It's weird though, most elements from a good shmup are there, except the one that makes you wanna play it.
30 Nov 2003, 01:59 PM
JefmcC

Andro Dunos was and always will be complete shit. Why play AD when you can play Last Resort or Viewpoint? Even most Genesis shooters are better than AD, (TF3, TF4, Battle Mania 2, Biohazard Battle).

Complete and total crap that's not even worth playing in emulation.
30 Nov 2003, 02:12 PM
NeoZeedeater

Yeah, Andro Dunos is nothing special at all.

Now Flip Shot, that's Visco's best Neo Geo game, I think.
30 Nov 2003, 02:14 PM
PaCrappa

Wow Recap, this is the first game you've shined your spotlight on that I just plain do not like. Not the worst game I ever played but like Jeff, my attitude is "why bother?" To be honest though I don't remember that yellow stage and I like the color. So I guess I'll have to do the NeoRage trick :)

"Now Flip Shot, that's Visco's best Neo Geo game, I think."

Blasphemer! Neo DriftOut!

Pa
30 Nov 2003, 02:33 PM
Nash

i didn't think andro dunos was all that bad. but then again, if it's a shooter, i'm always gonna say that. anyway, it's no blazing star or anything but it's nice to have in the collection and play once in a while.

i've never played flip shot. does it play anything like windjammers?
30 Nov 2003, 02:39 PM
NeoZeedeater

I played Windjammers once a long time ago so I don't remember it well but the games are similar. They're both simple, Pong-type games. I liked Flip Shot a lot more though.
30 Nov 2003, 02:42 PM
Victrix

hack, gag, yuck, yuck :(
30 Nov 2003, 06:25 PM
Recap

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

Yeah, Andro Dunos is nothing special at all.

Now Flip Shot, that's Visco's best Neo Geo game, I think.

It is said to be surpassed by its sequel, Bang Bead, which remained as an MVS proto 'till not too long ago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaCrappa

Wow Recap, this is the first game you've shined your spotlight on that I just plain do not like. Not the worst game I ever played but like Jeff, my attitude is "why bother?"
Pa

Wait until you see Ushio to Tora... :)
30 Nov 2003, 07:07 PM
PaCrappa

I've emulated Bang Bead a bit and it seems to be friggin awesome. Too bad the cart seems to bottom out at over $300. Some day I s'pose.

Pa
30 Nov 2003, 09:02 PM
OmegaFlareX

Yeah, this game is definitely at the bottom of the Neo's shmup library (along with ASO II). I don't like the weapon system at all, I think it's garbage.

I hope none of you still use NeoRageX for emulation purposes. It's the Neo equivalent of Nesticle. Kawaks and Nebula do a faaaaaaar better job, and are plenty fast.
30 Nov 2003, 09:12 PM
Recap

I also liked ASO II. It was more than decent for the time and a great update to the first ASO. Its weapon (armor) system was really deep and unique. You just can't see these titles with the same glass you use for today's games.

For the record, I'm not a great fan of Andro Dunos, and I think it was said in the exposure that's the game's mediocre. But wanted to notify that it's not the shit which is Ghost Pilots.
30 Nov 2003, 09:29 PM
Nash

nooo!!! ghost pilots is good!
01 Dec 2003, 02:10 AM
raystorm

Andro wasn't too good and it can't hold a candle to Viewpoint, Blazing Stars, Last Resort..etc. At least it wasn't a complete pile of shit like Zedblade. Holy cow.. now THAT'S a terrible shooter.

Recap...do you have something against bilinear filtering, eagle or Super
Sai filtering?? Y'know they improve the image no? ;)
01 Dec 2003, 02:40 AM
lithium

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nash

nooo!!! ghost pilots is good!

Ugh. Ghost Pilots is an incredibly slow, and incredibly boring 194X ripoff. Gah, I hate that game.

I've played Andros Dunos a decent amount, but I honestly can't remember a thing about it. Not a good sign.

Do a recap on Pulstar, now there's a shooter.
01 Dec 2003, 02:31 PM
OmegaFlareX

Quote:

Originally Posted by raystorm

At least it wasn't a complete pile of shit like Zedblade. Holy cow.. now THAT'S a terrible shooter.

Why? What's so bad about it (besides the nearly static backgrounds)? I think it's a fun game. As is Ghost Pilots. So what if it's a Kyukyoku Tiger ripoff, I happen to like Kyukyoku Tiger, and GP is the closest thing the Neo has to it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by raystorm

Recap...do you have something against bilinear filtering, eagle or Super
Sai filtering?? Y'know they improve the image no? ;)

If by "improve" you mean "completely butcher the image to look like a hand-smeared oil painting", then yes, you're correct.

Although resizing the images to accomodate scanlines doesn't exactly help things, either.
01 Dec 2003, 03:38 PM
Recap

Quote:

Originally Posted by OmegaFlareX

Why? What's so bad about it (besides the nearly static backgrounds)? I think it's a fun game. As is Ghost Pilots. So what if it's a Kyukyoku Tiger ripoff, I happen to like Kyukyoku Tiger, and GP is the closest thing the Neo has to it.

Although resizing the images to accomodate scanlines doesn't exactly help things, either.

More than accomodating scanlines, I'd speak about accomodating the board's image size limit. If I used the original size they wouldn't be visible in the thread. Anyhow, the pixel distortion is not too ("too") noticeable (I make some cuts here and there, too). I find them very close to the original RGB display.

Oh, and Ghost Pilots is one the most boring, slow, unfair, untested shooting games I've played. And they're not too few.
01 Dec 2003, 03:42 PM
Rocca

Recap on Metal Slug or something, that's something I'd love to read. IRT Andro Dunos, did anyone take the time to finish it???
01 Dec 2003, 03:56 PM
raystorm

Quote:

Originally Posted by OmegaFlareX

Why? What's so bad about it (besides the nearly static backgrounds)? I think it's a fun game.

Well..the backgrounds are static true.. but the game looks way too basic and not much better than most genesis shooters. If it was a genesis or turbo title then I would say the game is ok, but basic. For a neogeo game I expect better as there are other shooters (pulstar, blazing star..etc) that take advantage of what the neogeo can do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OmegaFlareX

If by "improve" you mean "completely butcher the image to look like a hand-smeared oil painting", then yes, you're correct.

Although resizing the images to accomodate scanlines doesn't exactly help things, either.

I do think that those filtering modes improve the image over scanlines personally. An oil painting??..well..I suppose, but it doesn't bother me a bit. I personally prefer NO filtering or scanlines whatsoever. While that makes the image a bit of a pixel fest I think it provides the most "crisp" and bright look. Unfortunately, not every emu allows me to do that except for MAME. The bilinear filtering effect seems automatic for the most part.
01 Dec 2003, 04:03 PM
Rocca

Quote:

Originally Posted by raystorm

Well..the backgrounds are static true.. but the game looks way too basic and not much better than most genesis shooters.

Pretty much how I felt when I first saw this in the arcades. Luckily the arcade I go to today still lives, and has 80% shooters and fighters...u know the way it should be ;)