Battle of the Ports - Night Striker - ナイト・ストライカー (Show #37)
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- Please think about supporting the show by becoming my patron. Thanks so much!
/ bofp
---------------------------------------------------------------------
I loved this game back when it was released mostly due to it's Blade Runner esque feel and amazing Zuntata sound track. This is Taito's Night Striker.
Time Guide:
00:28 - Arcade
05:26 - Mega CD
10:09 - PlayStation
14:41 - Sega Saturn
There's also a PlayStation 2 emulated version found on the Taito Memories II collection but since it's emulated and not an actual port it's missing from this video.
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
This is by far my fave Battle of the Ports episode. Night Striker was my "big" game in the arcade. It had a sit down cockpit like cabinet and I was fascinated by both driving and flying. When I stumbled over this game in my Saturn collecting I was thrilled and became an immediate target on my must have short list. Yakumo has done an excellent job as usual highlighting the home console cross section of this under-loved classic.
Have you noticed that the PlayStation version doesn't even have the correct line scrolling for the sky? Instead it uses a cheap parallax scrolling effect :)
Retro Core I noticed and although not terrible it did look a little pasted on....The controls looked a little clunkier as well but I will never be making a personal comparison. You've done it already!
assisstedloving
I think the controls look cluncky mainly due to the PlayStation controller. The D-Pad on it is nasty in my opinion.
My arcade had the sit-down version too. The speakers in it were awesome and the bass noises (explosions, getting hit and the music) made the whole thing vibrate. It was really impressive.
The synthwave-style soundtrack deserves its own release!
I think it was actually released on CD back in the day. Actually. It was released a year or so back on vinyl. Here's my review video ruclips.net/video/B5C5Ap26FgM/видео.html
Another classic game from Taito. One of the few companies able to give Sega a run for their money regarding sprite scaling tech.
That Saturn intro movie is cheese-tastic too!
Night Striker is a great little railshooter. The Blade Runner aesthetic, multiple routes/endings, use of shields instead of having your ship outright explode when hit, and of course the excellent Zuntata soundtrack. Definitely worth having in your collection.
Indeed and even better fir Saturn fans simce they have the best version of all. For years I only owned the Mega CD game (Still own the original game I bought and it's mint ! ) then found out Ving were converting it. I was so pissed to find out it was only on the PlayStation but a year later Ving came through with the Saturn version and it was well worth the wait.
Retro Core VING did excellent work. Their Saturn Taito conversions were usually on par with or better than their arcade counterparts. Other companies who handled Taito ports weren't nearly as good.
Saturn Memories True. I don't think VING made one bad Saturn game. Elevator Action Returns, Mizu Dai Baker and other none Tailored games were all well done. I wonder what became of VING?
Retro Core I have no way of confirming this for sure, but... ja(DOT)wikipedia(DOT)org/wiki/%E3%83%93%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B0
Saturn Memories
Yeah, I found out that VING now make radio controilled stuff for models and so on. Quite a change really and a shame too as they really did some quality game work.
I've the Saturn and Taito Memories versions of this game, that sweet Zuntata music really helps boost exactly how great this game is.
Saturn Taito Memories? I think your getting mixed up with the PS2 collections. On the Saturn it was a standalone game published by Ving.
I do wish they had added the Mega CD OST though.
The double sized sprites for the Sega-CD I believe to avoid sprite shearing due to 32-40 sprites on a line limitation. The VDP have a bit to make the sprite double size so it's 32x32 on screen, but double sized pixel. So this allowed more sprite to be displayed horizontally. If you played Space Harrier, you could see some shearing when there's many sprites on a scanline.
Good info.
I never even heard of this before, maybe it was around in a couple of arcades around my way and I didn't notice, but I guess I missed out, it looks great!
When I watched this video, I kept thinking "this is what Super Thunder Blade should have been like "
Night Striker is the stuff you think of in your dreams. You enjoy it that much.
I have to admit that I've been a fan of it since first playing it on the Mega CD almost 27years ago.
Well, there have been times when you can clearly see the hardware wasn't _that_ up for the job, but it's playable and that's all that matters.
Damn that saturn version looks smooth. Must try and get a copy
It sure is. If you like Space Harrier then you'll love Night Striker.
Speedkingfox0007 Yeah! The Saturn port is virtually perfect - visual fidelity takes a marginal hit (i could only tell the difference between the saturn and arcade port comparing screenshots side by side) and it even includes a special campaign with a new stage type and a unique end boss! Gameplay's spot on in general.
This game is average at best. Might wanna try it on mame before breaking the bank. Even space harrier is a much better game. Dont fall for the hype
@ajsingh it’s better than Space Harrier
Reminds me of the Batwing levels from Ocean's Batman: The Movie Amiga game.
And 3D sections from Sega CD Batman Returns
you all prolly dont care at all but does any of you know a trick to get back into an instagram account?
I was stupid forgot my login password. I would appreciate any assistance you can offer me
@Davion Fabian Instablaster ;)
@Nickolas Reuben thanks for your reply. I got to the site through google and Im trying it out atm.
I see it takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.
@Nickolas Reuben It did the trick and I now got access to my account again. I am so happy:D
Thanks so much, you really help me out!
That's a really impressive Atari Lynx version of Night Striker! What? That was the Sega CD version!? Oy vey.
The intro in the two Ving ports are missing in-between animation frames of the guy getting into the car; he disappears into the car instead of climbing into the cockpit. Worse yet, in the Saturn version, the sprite priority of the guy is wrong; instead of sitting on top of the car, his sprite is actually BEHIND the car! The Sega CD port got this aspect correct and Taito had way less to work with there.
True about the animation frames. A very odd choice. I can only think that Ving used the PlayStation code for that section on the Saturn which is why they are the same. Not sure why the guy is behind the car though. A very odd oversignt. The Saturn port came later than the PlayStation so that would explain why the actual main game has the far better draw distance, correct line scrolling for the sky and runs much smoother.
Also in the Ving ports, the tunnels before you begin the first stage are straight but in the Sega CD and Arcade versions, the tunnels curve a few times.
Tempora158
Arcade version is suoerior to home ports
Tempora158 my eyes must be poor because i can't see the guy on the car sprite full stop... i do see the missing frames tho.
its crazy how bad the Sega CD version of this looks when the Sega CD has a few batman games which look miles better. the Sega CD is more capable than this, the Devs was probably amateurs or lazy
Well Sega CD does scailing at fairly lukewarm speed from what I have seen so no it's not lazy dev
@@ajsingh4545 Watch how much better the scaling on the driving levels of Batman Returns CD is, and realize how wrong you are.
@@31leoceara Nice try, but no dice. The frame rate in those batman driving levels is barely hitting 30 FPS so they sacrificed performance over detail. Sometimes it feels like it's stuck in the 20s, feels very sluggish.
@@ajsingh4545 The scaling done in the first level alone of Batman Returns CD is something the SNES could only dream of doing.
@@31leoceara Well yeah, because the Snes can only rotate and scale one background layer, not the sprites.
I had to come back and watch this one again. That Sega CD port is impressive because it still looks playable while being a blocky mess.
It is totally playable. The only thing wrong with it is that it IS a blocky mess.
Compared to Batman Returns or SoulStar it's not that impressive scaling or resolution-wise. But yeah it plays alright.
Another arcade favorite of mine, Night Striker deserved a better port for the Sega CD back then.
Guess that's why neither it or the Saturn version was brought to the US.
They probably thought it wouldn't sell. I don't think the PlayStation version left Japan either.
Great video as always. Zuntata has a special place in my heart. Now do The Ninja Warriors!
Ninja Warriors is in the pipeline :)
Retro Core Fantastic! I can't wait to see it :)
I have the PS1 port and it's enjoyable, but you are right, the draw-distance and frame-rate take a hit. Saturn port is a lot closer.
The Saturn version is still a good bit cut down from the arcade from what I can tell (playing it in MAME). It's lower frame rate with less action on screen (enemies move slower or with less animation effects). Scaling is different in places too. That said it seems to have a nicer darker look than when running in MAME. Not sure what is correct, but it looks better that way.
i wonder where they put the polygons in the ps1 version in order to comply with sonys anti-2D policy
the floor maybe?
The anti 2D policy was just the idiots in the US branch of Sony. In Japan they had loads of lovely 2D games.
That game shows us what Sega themselves could have done with improved home ports of Golden Axe/Altered Beast/Space Harrier and other arcade hits they had that could not be ported on the regular Genesis without too much concession... It's a little late now :-/
"Welcome to the Fantasy Zone, get ready!"
Oops, wrong game.
It's best played with MAME64's autofire settings function. That just makes the already good autofire even better.
Taito's scaling technology was a bit wonky compared to Sega's at the time.
Very true.
are mdcd, ss and ps version hard to find?please let me know,i would like to pick them up if i can go to japan
The Mega CD... "YOU ARE DEAD."
No idea why I found that funny.
It is an odd thing to write. Even if it was a direct translation from Japanese.
Gotta love the Sega CD review in Sega Power 😂
"if this is a CD game then I'm a lump of cheese called Rupert. Whoever designed it probably thinks that CD stands for completely dull, because that's exactly what this game is'
19% score
What a dick that review was.
@@RetroCore Sega Power one of THE worst Sega magazines going in UK.
Reviewers were terrible.
There's a PS2 version?
Nope. Unless you count the Taito Memories version but that's just emulation of the Arcade ROM.
@@RetroCore That's what I meant, I knew in your video it's emulated but could not find any info about it!
Both the Saturn and Playstation ports are a bit disappointing IMO. The Mega CD version had the arranged soundtrack, and I think slightly superior audio all round (the Saturn, Playstation, and I think arcade versions are purely mono, the Mega CD version isn't). It also fixed the gratuitous Engrish in the endings. The 32-bit versions didn't inherit the improvements, and the Saturn's extras didn't make up for the lack of an arranged soundtrack IMO.
The ideal port would be the Saturn version using the Mega CD audio.
Usually I like pseudo-3D games like this, but this one looks to be very hectic. Too hectic to my taste.
It is hectic but the cool soundtrack will keep you coming back for more.
So PS1 is the best version?
Absolutely not. The Saturn is the best home port by far.
The Saturn version costs over a 100 bucks🙁
Bummer.
It's an average game at best....dont lose sleep over it
Burning Force for Mega drive looks better than Night Striker for Mega CD
Well, to be fair, Burning Force has a lot less going on.
@@RetroCore I guess with the scaling of all those buildings and stuff. Panorama Cotton has a similar amount of stuff going on I'd say
Panorama Cotton is very impressive on a visual point.
A mere 2/10 for the Playstation version by Spanish Magazine, Ultima Generacion 🤣
Well, it is poor compared to the Saturn but still, 2 is pretty low.
@@RetroCore I thought UK Press could be hard, but it has nothing on European Press at times 😂