Topic: RetroActive #7 Poll - TurboGrafx Edition!

[Jonnyboy117]

All of these games are available on Virtual Console, with prices ranging from 600 to 900 Wii Points. All were nominated by RFN listeners in the RetroActive game nomination thread! Voting results will be hidden until the poll ends on the morning of Thursday, July 2.

Please use this thread to lobby for your favorite game or to learn more about the games, if you are undecided.

Note: Both Ninja Spirit and Cho-Aniki have appeared in two previous polls. A "three strikes and you're out" policy will be applied for these games, win or lose, after this poll, meaning they will not be eligible for any future RetroActive polls in the foreseeable future.

Bonk's Revenge is a 2D platformer, the sequel to Bonk's Adventure. (600 points) Video

Ninja Spirit is a 2D action game. (600 points) Video

Military Madness is a turn-based strategy game with hex-based maps. Hudson is currently developing a follow-up to this game for the WiiWare platform. (600 points) Video

Cho-Aniki is a horizontal shoot-em-up with CD-based music. (900 points) Video

Chew Man Fu is a top-down, character-based puzzle/action game, similar to the Lolo series. (600 points) Video

[AV]

no Neutopia or Super Star Solider ??
 

[vudu]

OHBOYOHBOYOHBOYNINJASPIRITNINJASPIRITNINJASPIRIT

I'll honestly be happy with any of these games, but I gotta go with Ninja Spirit.  It's something I've been meaning to play for the past year but just haven't gotten around to it.

Since I'm the one who nominated Ninja Spirit, I feel I should talk it up at least a bit.    Here's my original pitch:

I'd like to nominate Ninja Spirit.  It's a platformer for the TG-16 meaning it's perfect because no one's ever played it before.    It's fairly similar to Ninja Gaiden, but much more playable from what I hear (read:  it doesn't have a batshit insane difficulty level).

It has been recommended by Jeremy Parish as well as our own Steven Rodriguez.

Fun fact:  It was the first game to ever receive a perfect 10 from EGM.

[TJ Spyke]

I would have loved Super Star Solider in it, but since it's not:

GO CHO ANIKI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ninja Spirit did not get a perfect 10 from EGM. Only 14 games have gotten that honor:

Metal Gear Solid
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Soulcalibur
Gran Turismo 2
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec
Halo: Combat Evolved
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Metroid Prime
Halo 2
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
BioShock

[adadad]

I'd like to nominate Ninja Spirit.  It's a platformer for the TG-16 meaning it's perfect because no one's ever played it before.    It's fairly similar to Ninja Gaiden, but much more playable from what I hear (read:  it doesn't have a bat**** insane difficulty level).

It may not have the difficulty in the main gameplay but that falling through the sky with the ninjas coming up at you...jesus christ. I must've tried that 50 times before looking it up on the internet and finding out how to get into the perfect position to not get hurt. Talk about money guzzling arcade games, that bit is cheaper than chips.

[vudu]

Ninja Spirit did not get a perfect 10 from EGM. Only 14 games have gotten that honor:

Wrong.  Your list reflects "Platinum" awards (i.e. a 10 out of 10).  However, the Platinum awards didn't exist until the late 90s.  Do you really think that no game prior to 1998 earned a 10 even though the magazine had been around since 1989?

[TJ Spyke]

It's certainly possible. PC Gamer has been around since 1993 and have never given a game a perfect score, Game Revolution since 1996 and also no perfect scores. GameSpot has only given out 4 perfect scores.

Are you sure you aren't thinking Ninja Spirit got 10 from 1 reviewer? A game does not count as having a perfect score if only some of its reviewers give it a 10 (i.e if 2 reviewers give a game a 10 and another gives it a 9, the game does not have a perfect score).

[Jonnyboy117]

If games cannot be perfect, then review scores DEFINITELY can't be perfect. All of my reviews and scores are extremely imperfect. ;-)

[GoldenPhoenix]

Ninja Spirit is terrible from what I played, it is pretty much run forward and hit the same enemies with some of the lamest boss battles ever.

[NWR_Neal]

This is going to be a war between Cho Aniki fans and Ninja Spirit fans.

MAN BEAMS A GO GO, BABY!!!! GO CHO ANIKI! RAH RAH!

[NovaQ]

Ninja Spirit. It's got to be Ninja Spirit.

[DAaaMan64]

We might almost need to TG-16 polls. I love Lords of Thunder way to much for this. It's one of my most played downloaded anythings on Wii.

[NWR_insanolord]

Chew Man Fu may have an awful title but it's my favorite TG-16 VC game and is one of the best games I've bought on the VC that I'd never previously played, and that list includes two games that are now in my personal all-time top ten. I know it has no chance, but I voted for it.

[NWR_Karl]

Anyone who doesn't choose Ninja Spirit is in league with global terrorism.

[NWR_DrewMG]

Anyone who doesn't choose Ninja Spirit is in league with global bearrorism.

fixed.

[NWR_Karl]

It's a very real threat that needs to be taken seriously.

[gojira]

I voted for Ninja Spirit.  It's been a game that has very much drawn my attention since I saw a review of it on Retroware TV.  The game having elements of Metal Storm definitely helped my interest. 

[Jonnyboy117]

I'm leaning towards Ninja Spirit or Bonk's Revenge, but I think Chew Man Fu looks really good too. I already have Cho Aniki but don't think there's much real (serious) discussion to have over that one -- it's included because so many people voted for it previously. I thought there might be Iran-level protests if I left it out of the poll.

[Mop it up]

I don't have a Turbo-Graphix-16 so I'll have to skip this RetroActive. See you all next time!

I'm actually not finished with the last RetroActive. Don't lock it yet!

[vudu]

I thought there might be Iran-level protests if I left it out of the poll.

Political discuss is not allowed on the forums.

[Stratos]

Wow. I was dead set on voting Ninja Spirit until I saw that Military Madness was on there. I am very curious about that game.

What to choose, what to choose...

[NWR_Lindy]

Ah, the TG-16...now you're stepping into my territory.

Firstly, yes, Ninja Spirit did receive a 10.  I actually have/had that issue of EGM, now that I think about it.  I may have tossed them all, but I used to have crazy issues of GamePro/EGM back in the day.  Ninja Spirit was a virtual replica of the arcade game, which was highly sought-after back in the day.

Bonk's Revenge is a really good platformer, Ninja Spirit is a bad-ass action platformer but hard as hell, Military Madness is a cool little strategy game (kind of a dumbed-down Advance Wars), Cho-Aniki is legendary, and Chew Man Fu is ass.

[Stratos]

Are you voting, Lindy?

I still can't decide. I'm leaning towards Ninja Spirit because I was a big supporter of it last time. I'm also thinking that Ninja might be a better game for disscussion purposes. Military Madness is more of a personal choice because I love those types of strategy games. I may just get both when I D/L the one for the feature.

[vudu]

I would really like to play Military Madness, but a strategy game just doesn't have a good chance of winning a RetroActive Poll.  It's the least-known of the games (except maybe for Chu Man Fu) and it's a niche genre.  Your vote will be more appreciated if you go with Ninja Spirit. 

[Stratos]

I would really like to play Military Madness, but a strategy game just doesn't have a good chance of winning a RetroActive Poll.  It's the least-known of the games (except maybe for Chu Man Fu) and it's a niche genre.  Your vote will be more appreciated if you go with Ninja Spirit. 

It's not a matter of what will win for me. I weigh what I actually want to play, what I am most curious about and also which game would spur our conversation and the crews discussion best.

In that regard, I think Cho-Aniki already has had any compelling and relevant conversation on multiple podcasts. So that is out in my mind. All we'd get from that game would be inuendo and jokes. Though I could be proven wrong.

[vudu]

It's not a matter of what will win for me. I weigh what I actually want to play, what I am most curious about and also which game would spur our conversation and the crews discussion best.

Tell ya what, I'll play Military Madness with you sometime and we can have our own thread to chat.

[Stratos]

My hand is now being twisted behind the scene. Someone is being mean

[NovaQ]

I still can't decide. I'm leaning towards Ninja Spirit because I was a big supporter of it last time.

Once you go ninja, you never go back.

[TJ Spyke]

I would really like to play Military Madness, but a strategy game just doesn't have a good chance of winning a RetroActive Poll.  It's the least-known of the games (except maybe for Chu Man Fu) and it's a niche genre.  Your vote will be more appreciated if you go with Ninja Spirit. 

Actually, I think most gamers have at least heard of Military Madness. I never even heard of Ninja Spirit or Chew Man Fu before they came out on the VC. I had only briefly heard of the Bonk series before the first game came out on VC. I was aware of the Cho Aniki games.

[NWR_insanolord]

Ah, the TG-16...now you're stepping into my territory.

Firstly, yes, Ninja Spirit did receive a 10.  I actually have/had that issue of EGM, now that I think about it.  I may have tossed them all, but I used to have crazy issues of GamePro/EGM back in the day.  Ninja Spirit was a virtual replica of the arcade game, which was highly sought-after back in the day.

Bonk's Revenge is a really good platformer, Ninja Spirit is a bad-ass action platformer but hard as hell, Military Madness is a cool little strategy game (kind of a dumbed-down Advance Wars), Cho-Aniki is legendary, and Chew Man Fu is ass.

I'm pretty sure you're thinking of a different Chew Man Fu. The title and story may be ass, but the actual game is quite good.

[broodwars]

You know, I'd ordinarily agree about there being nothing "serious" to discuss about Cho Aniki, but considering our last two retro games have been seriously difficult and hardcore (and I'd argue "crappy" in the case of Zelda II) it would be nice to have something not so serious for the RFN crew to lampoon.  It just occured to me, though: why isn't Lords of Thunder in this poll?  That was a TurboGrafx game, wasn't it?

[GoldenPhoenix]

You know, I'd ordinarily agree about there being nothing "serious" to discuss about Cho Aniki, but considering our last two retro games have been seriously difficult and hardcore (and I'd argue "crappy" in the case of Zelda II) it would be nice to have something not so serious for the RFN crew to lampoon.  It just occured to me, though: why isn't Lords of Thunder in this poll?  That was a TurboGrafx game, wasn't it?

I agree with broodwars.

[Stratos]

It just occured to me, though: why isn't Lords of Thunder in this poll?  That was a TurboGrafx game, wasn't it?

I was thinking maybe a separate poll for the TG-CD but Cho-Aniki is a CD game. Better luck next time I suppose.

Jonny, I think going to platform specific polls was a great idea. Are we going to keep it that way outside of the periodic 'second chance' polls? That way N64 and GC games won't always dominate polls.

[Stratos]

You know, I'd ordinarily agree about there being nothing "serious" to discuss about Cho Aniki, but considering our last two retro games have been seriously difficult and hardcore (and I'd argue "crappy" in the case of Zelda II) it would be nice to have something not so serious for the RFN crew to lampoon.  It just occured to me, though: why isn't Lords of Thunder in this poll?  That was a TurboGrafx game, wasn't it?

I agree with broodwars.

Why am I not surprised?

[broodwars]

You know, I'd ordinarily agree about there being nothing "serious" to discuss about Cho Aniki, but considering our last two retro games have been seriously difficult and hardcore (and I'd argue "crappy" in the case of Zelda II) it would be nice to have something not so serious for the RFN crew to lampoon.  It just occured to me, though: why isn't Lords of Thunder in this poll?  That was a TurboGrafx game, wasn't it?

I agree with broodwars.

Why am I not surprised?

If you know anything about our history, you probably should be surprised. 

[vudu]

You know, I'd ordinarily agree about there being nothing "serious" to discuss about Cho Aniki, but considering our last two retro games have been seriously difficult and hardcore (and I'd argue "crappy" in the case of Zelda II) it would be nice to have something not so serious for the RFN crew to lampoon.  It just occured to me, though: why isn't Lords of Thunder in this poll?  That was a TurboGrafx game, wasn't it?

Both Cho Aniki and Lords of Thunder have been discussed in earnest on the podcast already.  I'm not sure the crew would have much to say about them that hasn't been said before.

Jonny, I think going to platform specific polls was a great idea.

I echo this statement.  I also wouldn't mind seeing the occasional genre-specific poll.

[Stratos]

You know, I'd ordinarily agree about there being nothing "serious" to discuss about Cho Aniki, but considering our last two retro games have been seriously difficult and hardcore (and I'd argue "crappy" in the case of Zelda II) it would be nice to have something not so serious for the RFN crew to lampoon.  It just occured to me, though: why isn't Lords of Thunder in this poll?  That was a TurboGrafx game, wasn't it?

I agree with broodwars.

Why am I not surprised?

If you know anything about our history, you probably should be surprised. 

You should see the PMs she's sending me about the game and how horrible it is. She really does not like Ninja Spirit.

[vudu]

All the more reason to vote for it!

[GoldenPhoenix]

Hasn't Lindy been the only podcaster to even play Cho Aniki? I'd say there is plenty of ground to cover about the actual game.

[vudu]

Not playing a game doesn't stop the staff from talking about it at great lengths.

[Jonnyboy117]

I've had Cho Aniki for a few months now. Haven't played it extensively, but I mentioned it on the show, I think. Of course, I have Lords of Thunder too but haven't played that one in ages. I didn't want to include any shmups in the poll, for various reasons (although I do like the genre), but I made the exception for Cho Aniki because of its popularity in previous polls. Also, I do think there's at least one of us on RFN (maybe two) who haven't actually played it yet, whereas I think all four of us got Lords of Thunder in its hey day on the show.

[Flames_of_chaos]

Hell why wasn't Twinbee in this poll, Lords of Thunder, and Star Parodier.

[Stratos]

Maybe Jonny will save them for a genre specific poll that is for shooters?

[Jonnyboy117]

Okay, I finally voted for Bonk's Revenge because I can't resist a good platformer. The only other Bonk I've played was the GameCube remake of Bonk's Adventure, which was fun and quite humorous.

[vudu]

Out of curiosity, can you see the results of the poll before it is final?  If so, you really should vote immediately after you create the poll.  Otherwise, you have an unfair advantage. 

[NWR_Neal]

Hell why wasn't Twinbee in this poll, Lords of Thunder, and Star Parodier.

...Because there isn't room for 10 games...

[AV]

Hell why wasn't Twinbee in this poll, Lords of Thunder, and Star Parodier.

...Because there isn't room for 10 games...

Whenever you do TurboGrafx 2 include those games and Neutopia or Super Star Solider 

[NWR_Lindy]

Yes, I have voted.

For this poll, I voted with my heart...and my loins.

[Stratos]

Yes, I have voted.

For this poll, I voted with my heart...and my loins.

Oh dear. I think you should have Mrs. Lindy play the game too and see what she has to say about MAN-BEAMS.

[NWR_Lindy]

hahaha I'm not even going to go there.

[Stratos]

hahaha I'm not even going to go there.

Then I guess I will follow suit

[nintendo1945]

i have to go with Cho Aniki. The discussion resulting from that one will be priceless.

[AV]

i just beat cho aniki so i'm soooooo over that game. The boss battle are pathetic . The only really hard part is that some levels have 2 or more before you finish so it can be tedious.

FYI you have infinite man beams. Just stop shooting and comes out.

[NWR_insanolord]

I think people are really overestimating how good the Cho Aniki discussion would be.

[DAaaMan64]

I think people are really overestimating how good the Cho Aniki discussion would be.

No I disagree. We've beaten that game to death.

[NWR_insanolord]

I think people are really overestimating how good the Cho Aniki discussion would be.

No I disagree. We've beaten that game to death.

That's what I'm saying. I know it's fun to make jokes about it but what this is proposing is a lot of serious discussion about the game which wouldn't be any good. How much discussion can you get from a shmup, really?

[vudu]

I think people are really overestimating how good the Cho Aniki discussion would be.

I agree.  The only reason the game has any notoriety is because of its sexual overtones, which have already been discussed on RFN.  By all accounts it's a completely mediocre game with nothing that sets is apart from dozens of other TG-16 shumps besides dudes in speedos.

[Flames_of_chaos]

Wow 3 way tie.

[Stratos]

You can't do that!...can you?

Wow. But there are still a few days left in the poll. I'm sure it will break.

[NWR_Lindy]

Luke, non-staff can't see the results, so keep them under wraps!

[Stratos]

Deny everything and memory wipe the witnesses!

Though I am curious, do we have a contingency for another tie, or even a 3-way tie?

[TJ Spyke]

I think with the last tie it was decided by the staff which game would be discussed. I imagine the same would happen here, the staff would break the tie.

[broodwars]

Deny everything and memory wipe the witnesses!

Though I am curious, do we have a contingency for another tie, or even a 3-way tie?

Last time this happened (last poll with Zelda II), it came down to James picking the winner.  God help us all.   

[Stratos]

Well, I thought they let James break the tie because he didn't get to vote for some reason.

We could always have a quick runoff poll between the tied games. Hopefully there will be no riots like in some countries when this happens.

[NWR_Lindy]

OMG, Chew Man Fu IN A LANDSLIDE!

/spread FUD

[Stratos]

OMG, Chew Man Fu IN A LANDSLIDE!

/spread FUD

At least I'm not alone in being a FUD
Thanks making me not feel left out

[NWR_insanolord]

Lindy's Chew Man Fu bashing makes me feel a lot better about mocking his ethnicity on Twitter. That game is awesome.

[TJ Spyke]

OMG, Chew Man Fu IN A LANDSLIDE!

/spread FUD

At least I'm not alone in being a FUD
Thanks making me not feel left out

You're a female urination device?

[MegaByte]

I think Bravoman should be in the next TG-16 poll.

[Stratos]

OMG, Chew Man Fu IN A LANDSLIDE!

/spread FUD

At least I'm not alone in being a FUD
Thanks making me not feel left out

You're a female urination device?

I was VERY tempted to say something along that line when Lindy called me a FUD in the podcast thread. But I kept my mouth shut. Ha ha. What say you to that, Mr. Lindemann?

[NWR_Lindy]

Hey, I never said I was "a FUD".  That was all Stratos.  I just spread them, I'm not one of them.

[Stratos]

Hey, I never said I was "a FUD".  That was all Stratos.  I just spread them, I'm not one of them.

A FUDDER spreads FUD. Therefore you are a FUDDER.

[TJ Spyke]

Damn it. Cho Aniki always comes close to winning.

[NWR_insanolord]

Well my beloved Chew Man Fu didn't win, but it did tie for last instead of losing outright, and some other smart person did vote for it, so I'll take it as a moral victory.

[NWR_Neal]

If I knew Cho Aniki was gonna **** the bed, I would've voted for Chew Man Fu. That game's awesome.

[vudu]

Wow, very close!  HOORAY FOR NINJA SPIRIT!!!

I still want to play Bonk's Revenge sometime.

[NWR_Neal]

After taking a break from this because of E3 and other busy things (and the fact I've never been a big Zelda II fan), I'll be buying Ninja Spirit sometime over the next few days and join in on the fun.

[Stratos]

Wow, what a fight.

[kraken613]

No man beams...... One of these days I am going to actually play or replay these games when you do. I have been to busy then forget too....

[TheYoungerPlumber]

I voted for Chew Man Fu, mostly because it was described as a Lolo-like game and I loved playing that on the NES.

[Stratos]

Where's Snipper64 with his MAN-BEAM avatars when you need them?

[broodwars]

Meh, Cho Aniki will rise again, bigger and stronger than ever to fight the long, hard fight in a future poll. 

[vudu]

So how about someone starts a discussion topic for this game?