Aaaah, Klax - one of my finest hours. I played the Amiga port quite a bit and got fairly good. Then the bar at my college got an arcade machine. My first go on the arcade cab just came together brilliantly - and my name was at the top of the high score table for two whole weeks. Neat.
When KLAX was being developed (and even when it started shipping) there were no stereo Lynx units. Some of the development hardware had been modified to simulate the stereo design that was being implemented in the redesign of the custom chips. KLAX was definitely the first stereo game for the Lynx. Quote from Stephen Landrum, Eoyx
Klax is my favorite puzzle game of all time. Apparently, though, we got a totally different Game Boy version in the US, done by Mindscape. It bore a much greater resemblance to the standard Klax playfield, but had scarce audio. Also the Genesis Tengen version is the only home version programmed by the original Atari programmer, if I remember correctly.
My game programming class had us make our own 3D version of Klax in the XNA engine/C#. I consider myself to be an avid gamer and I surprisingly never played this game before. I downloaded roms from several consoles and arcade to get an idea of the game.
Considering it was the work of Atari (Though technically the arcade and home divisions are unrelated, so I suppose it doesn't really count), and the sheer absurd number of ports that exist, including a 2600 port... This further cements the reality that Atari absolutely didn't care about it's 8 bit home computers, even while still releasing new models into the late 80's, yet nobody really released games for it anymore... Figures...
Yep - there was clearly more than one Atari, and they didn't care to help each other out. Atari could have had some of the best exclusive games, as could Sega have had, across the 80s and 90s. Clueless companies.
The Tengen Genesis port also has 2 players like the Namco MegaDrive version, but it isn't vs. It's just two seperate games going on at the same time in split screen.
@@luisemilio1143 The Mindscape version is the one that was released in the UK. As I've had mine since it was released for the Gameboy. Didn't even know about the port shown hear.
I used to own and played the Sega Game Gear port of Klax. Always did dig the first background in the game with the cars in a parking lot of some area i could never tell if it was a shopping center or business of sorts!
I actually like this game, I played the Japanese Megadrive version to hell back in the day! I love the batternburg reference to the Gameboy version! Great vid as usual Mark
@@RetroCore I've been playing it alot on SMD. It's about priorities and quickly assessing the state of the board and deciding where to put the piece. Then it's about leading your shots on moving ships and not wasting cannon balls. S standard ship takes 4 and a small brown job takes 2. A ship with big white sails is a priority as it shoots flaming oil. Do not place your cannons to close to the edges or you will need a single piece and not get one. If you have time, quickly surround a different tower with walls to add a cannon each turn. Each additional tower adds a cannon each turn to put down. Expand your territory to add space in small portions - don't always try to surround another tower by expanded territory alone. It's very difficult. Easy mode gives you more time to put down pieces but it doesn't make much difference.
Never thought it had so many ports. I like Klax for being a precursor to all those Columns games from later. Although the story with shutting down the cake factory was a bit sad :(
I think next to Krusty's Fun House. This is a game I own the most console versions of. Next to Tetris, I spent quite a bit of time on this puzzle game back in the 90's. I do like the Lynx version where you can turn the console vertical to play it.
Thanks for the video. I just saw this yesterday for the lynx and will have to go back and grab it. Funny how ive seen this game on shelves for years but very played it. Guess ive been missing out lol
Great puzzle game Klax is Mark. In fact, I played this more times than Tetris. A timeless classic that I purchased just about all the ports for it and enjoyed all of them and personally it's never a dull moment playing them. 8^) Anthony..
It is the 90s ? Man i must have overslept 7 decades. Well. good to see that RetroCore is still around doing Battle of the Ports videos, although after nearly 8 decades, that's also kind of creepy.
The Amstrad CPC was a pretty competent 8-bit micro, yet sadly many devs didn't bother giving it love, sadly. Klax on the CPC really shows how good the system was when developpers put up some efforts.
Actually owned this on the SAM Coupe lol, interesting version, code and sprites/ blocks straight from the Spectrum version, with back grounds from the ST and Amiga, played well though if I remember rightly (although did slow down a bit when it got really busy - I think....)
@@RetroCore GX4000 had a version too I think (rarely) slightly enhanced from the Amstrad version- but as the standard CPC was quite good I guess it could be really good? never got the chance to play it at the time.
Your GameBoy version summary is PERFECT! Another one of those "I can't stop laughing" moments of BotP. (That and mocking the Famicom version as an Amiga game)
You've put in a ton of time to get this one out the door so well done for playing all those nots so good versions and many thanks for your Battle dedication Mark. I had the Megadrive version but I'm very partial to the excellent Lynx conversion, those little extras like the scaling make it rather lovely, also those sounds are spot on with great speech and decent ploppy noises for the blocks.
Yeah, this took a whole day to make, we're talking 12 hours minus the video encoding. I can see why you'd like the Lynx port. It's quite a good version.
Great coverage. I first got hooked on Klax on the Genesis. I have a copy of it for X68000, but my X68000 needs to undergo a bunch of surgery before it can return to The Nineties.
US or JP version? the US version is nice with all its options and trippy in-game music but the JP version plays the best out of all the versions I tried (MD, SMS, PCE, etc.) and the 2 player versus mode is lot of fun! I wish someone who do a new mega drive version that combines the best of the US and JP versions :D
@@ryzmaker11 US. I was introduced through Sega Channel in the 90s along with Junction. More recently picked them up on eBay and still have fun playing Klax 2 player with Mom. It doesn't have a VS mode but it does have 2 player split screen. It plays 2 seperate 1 player games at the same time, which is cool. It can feel like a race to keep up with each other.
@@Lightblue2222 Nice picks mate. Junction is a pretty good puzzle game with some ace music and Klax is a true classic. I did know about how the 2 player mode works in the US version but never thought of it as a "race", interesting. And 2 players with mom is amazing. I know myself some gamer girls (and who don' just play final fantasy but also sonic, timesplitters, etc.) but I'd like to get my mom into gaming too which will be quite the challenge haha (she kinda hates that LOL but it's mostly misconceptions as she thinks it's just superficial entertainment but I want her to understand that it can be a clever hobby with a huge artistic dimension).
@@ryzmaker11 hehe.. yea she played the puzzle games on the Sega Channel back in the day, so I decided to pick them up for old times sake. Junction is harder for me but I'm really good at Klax and Columns.
I played this a lot on Midway Arcade Treasures. All the console ports are great. There is also a US Gameboy version by Mindscape which is more true to the arcade.
I love this game! When I was a kid I had it on the Master System for a while and loving puzzle games like Tetris I was obcessed with it. I got really good at it too.
I think the PC Engine and Mega Drive versions... "MSP and DSA" might probably be the original game designers themselves! Perhaps that's why they're that good?
SEGA of America was doing promotional give away when you bought a GameGear in 90/91, and If you filled out a survey card which had a list of games you could check mark you wanted, and SEGA would send you one on that list for free, and it was how I got Columns(not the first game on the list I wanted), but I ended up being addicted to it after a while, and when I saw KLAX on sale for $22 USD(I clearly remember the price because my mother hated spending more than $30 on a GG game) at my local Rose's department store I think 93 I remember I begged my mother to get the electronics clerk to get it out of the glass display case saying things like my grades have been really good in school, etc.. eventually she broke down, and bought it for me. I remember playing it a bunch the first few days I had it, but overall it ended up being one of my least played Game Gear carts, and since I've just not been a huge fan of KLAX compared to Columns, and way more so TETRIS which is one of my favorite game series of all time next to Pac-Man.
Nope, I knew that. I do use that feature but mostly in later stages. I hope some of that entered the footage I used for the show. Or just my luck that I cut all those bits out.
Great video, as usual! Never played because I'm not a big fan of puzzle games. I wonder what "commercial" meaning the marketing of a game for 2600 in 1990 could have had. I mean, did someone really play 2600 in 1990? Unbelievable.
I never felt Klax was a well designed game, the drop meter was pointless, the blocks should have fell onto the pile to punish the player, but as there were single blocks, it was all too easy to create a Klax (the big X) over and over, and very little chance of getting lucky and creating a cascade of blocks. There should have been double tiles wide or tall to add some challenge too. Strange there was never a SNES version too, but I heard that was intentional, Tengen/Atari pushing out the game on as many formats as possible because Nintendo wouldn't give them a license.
@@DeAthWaGer Oh yeah, We had Zoop adverts in every magazine in the UK too, and I used to get US mags like Gamepro and EGM and see them blasted too. But there was a goldrush of everyone wanting to make the next Tetris. Columns is the only one I think even got remotely close.
Lynx Klax rules, especially for the LX Rudis music and sample audio. It’s a terrific showpiece for the hardware. The US Genesis and TG-16 versions are very solid, as one would expect as the arcade developers created those. The NES version was playable but very dull and turned me off on Klax for many years.
(before video) I LOVE THIS GAME. Ooh, I used to be really good at it too. 0:16 DAMN. That's a lot of ports... 6:30 DOSBOX is known to not handle this game well. 8:04 The differing patterns are a nice touch, something I wouldn't of minded on other versions I've played... 9:28 Looks like an input_repeat issue. 11:40 Looks like the Spectrum and Amstrad ports were actually made by competent people... 12:46 I'd expect no less from the PCE though... 22:00 Played this one a lot, and it is also on the PISSTEAM PSX SMS EMU disc. 24:10 ...would likely be better than the official release... :/ One of my favorite things to do in this is rig up a 'BIG X' to get loads of points, as well as chain clears.
I grew up with the C64 version and thought it was brilliant, but it certainly looks lacking here! Will need to boot it up again. Also, chocolate cake simulator, matching the Battenburgs, brilliant XD
Great video :-) , but I miss 4 official releases (not emulation compilations like Midway Treasures): Game Boy western release, Gameboy Advance, Sam Coupé and Sony PlayStation (Arcade Party Pak, it was a port). There was also a release for GX4000/CPC Plus which is just the regular version with a new title screen when you switch on the system.
It seems like the C64 version can only have one falling block at a time, no wonder it feels so slow. I think I had the Amiga version but I'm honestly struggling to remember.
Best home version of Klax goes to Mega Drive (the Japanese version by Namco) while best handheld version goes to Lynx. YAY, two of my favorite hardwares ever 😊👍 The 2 player competitive mode included in the Mega Drive Japanese version is a neat addition! Had quite some fun playing it with a friend some time ago. Also this version has better controls than the Mega Drive US or PC Engine versions but the latters have more options. The Sega 8-bit versions on the other hand I thought were rather awful. The narrower cursor makes things unnecessary trickier. Also the tiles falling mechanic is quite broken as the tiles come in too fast which also looks unrealistic. The game quickly becomes unplayable... Something tells me that the Famicom version is actually better. The Game Boy version though, it looks awful and games like this or Puyo Puyo obviously don't work very well on monochrome systems ^^'
@@solarflare9078 Chocolate Cake Simulator?? Sounds like I missed something xD But yeah, I remember that there is another Game Boy version but it was also bad, wasn't it?
It was made by Mindscape, but it overall looks closer to the arcade in terms of the falling blocks. Still has those same stripes from Chocolate Cake Simulator though.
@@solarflare9078 Haha, I get the cake joke now. Yeah, hard to render color-based games on the OG Game Boy ^^ Still one of my fav' handheld systems, though!
I agree that the control on the C64 port isn't the best, however due to the slow pace, this is the only version that I was ever able to make the large "X" on. You need to set up the two sides, then drop the 9th tile right in the center, making four diagonal klaxes at once. I was very disappointed in the Amiga version. I thought it looked nice, but the difficulty sucked.
To Mega Drive Japan: Oooooh. I don't know if I'll say that the graphics on the blocks are better. Look at the animation when they are approaching the paddle. It looks super choppy compared to the western version. Also, the scaling is a little rough too, with only 4 approaching frames compared to the western version's 6-8.
I never even thought of # of frames in the animations. Comparisons of different console versions can get pretty intense due to the amount of technical details.
John Smith I always pay attention to animation frames. Stuff that has less frames than another thing stands out quite ugly to me, sometimes even comparable to 8-bit.
Yeah, the animation isn't as good but I was talking about the actual graphics. The western one uses dithering which looks messy compared to the more solid look of the Japanese one.
@@RetroCore but most if not all versions use dithering which is totally fine. in fact, some versions SHOULD have used more dithering. the pc engine version for instance where the first background looks very flat and the holes on the side look cheap. in comparison, the amiga version used more dithering for the holes and looks even better than the arcade in that regard dithering is a great way to create all kinds of effects (shading; shadow; transparency...) and was more or less commonly used for every systems up to the N64
@@RetroCore Not many people knew there was such a computer as the Sam coupe! Odd version though. All the backgrounds etc are lifted off the atari ST version while the tile sprites are from the spectrum. Has a good version of the arcade tune though. Played at roughly the spectrum speed, maybe a bit faster.
I liked Klax, but as a colorblind person, once they start adding colors that look too similar, I'm out, can't play it anymore :P This is one where the only version I physically owned was on the Atari Lynx and I had fun with it to the extent that I could. Definitely one of the better games on the platform, despite my handicap!
In this respect, the TurboGrafx / PC Engine version is the worst. The cyan and white block look exactly the same... until they are right next to each other, and at that point, you're screwed.
PCE had highest resolution of any 4th generation console, but it's nominal highest resolution of 512x242 was hardly ever used, although it's noninal medium resolution mode of 320x242 was used frequently : Ninja Spirit SideArms Forgotten Worlds Legend of Hero Tonma R-Type Ys I & II Mr. Heli TV Sports Football TV Sports Basketball Zero Wing Loom Might & Magic 3 Puyo Puyo others... Plus the Arcade card Neo Geo fighter ports full-screen scaling/zooming effect was simulated by switching into a medium/high resolution. PCE/TG-16 games with an option for medium resolution "Arcade Mode" to better simulate the aspect ratio of the arcade cabinet's original vertically-positioned monitor: Alzadick: Summer Carnival '92 (1992, CD) 1943 Kai (1991, SGX) Burning Angels (1990, HuCard) Cyber Core (1990, HuCard) Daisenpuu (1990, HuCard) Dragon Saber (1991, HuCard) Dragon Spirit (1988, HuCard) Final Soldier (1991, HuCard) Image Fight (1990, HuCard) Nexzr (1992, SCD) Soldier Blade (1992, HuCard) Steam Hearts (1996, SCD) Super Raiden (1992, SCD) Super Star Soldier (1990, HuCard) Tatsujin (1992, HuCard) Toilet Kids (1992, HuCard) Travel Epuru (Travel Epule) (1992, HuCard) Twinbee (DETANA!! TWIN BEE) (1992, HuCard) The PCE resolution is actually quite programmable. From a PCE programmer's notes: "Here are the maximum resolutions that I can get on my PC-Engine system and video monitor: Low resolution (5Mhz clock): 282 x 242 Regs: $02,$00,$23,$0A,$00,$0E,$00F1,$03 Med. resolution (7Mhz clock): 377 x 242 Regs: $03,$02,$2F,$07 (rest are the same) High resolution (10Mhz clock): 565 x 242 Regs: $00,$08,$46,$04 (rest are the same) My TV (Panasonic, NTSC) has much less horizontal overscan visible (the usual 256 at the 5Mhz clock), but the full 242 lines are visible all the same. The majority (90%) of games on the PCE run at 256x239 lines of resolution, although some standouts do more (R-Type, Sherlock Holmes) or less (1941, Dragon's Curse.) The display hardware of the PCE can also be coerced to do interlacing, though unlike the SNES and MD, not all TVs accept this signal."
@@ShallRemainUnknown the pc engine has the most flexible resolution capabilities out of the 4th generation BUT several factors such as sprite limitations hold back these possibilities which is why the majority of pc engine games only run in 256x224 pixels whereas the majority of amiga or mega drive games run in higher resolution than that (respectively 320x256 and 320x224 pixels) and the minority of pc engine games that use a resolution higher than 256x224 are usually plagued by various issues (slowdowns; even more limited scrolling capabilities than usual; even more flickering than usual...) you just have to look at r-type or mr. heli to see about that it doesn't hurt games with static screens though so it's very nice for things like digital comics also interesting to notice is how despite the added horsepower of a secondary GPU, the supergrafx still runs 4 out of its 5 games in 256x224 pixels and even then a game like aldynes still has some cases of sprite flickering and slowdowns
the pc engine version runs in the same resolution as the mega drive versions (320x224 pixels). there are quite a few other pc engine games that use a similar resolution whereas on mega drive it's the majority of games that use such resolution (sonic; columns; golden axe; strider; popful mail; etc.)
@@ShallRemainUnknown also not sure about the interlacing part in your quote but the mega drive *does* have interlaced modes and it's actually used in at least 2 games: sonic 2 and combat cars, both for the split-screen versus modes. it's a great and impressive feature. crazy to see basically 2 times sonic 2 running on a 16-bit console while other systems at the time couldn't even run 1 time the same game :D
Wait, a NES game that can't use the sound effects and music at the same time? And i 10000% agree with your Gameboy review, the cake factory simulator is much better than all the other crappy and boring versions.
There's actually a lot of hidden stuff in the GB Color port accessed via passwords - Snake and Minesweeper-style mini-games, actual and... ahem... "alternative" histories of Klax and various other little Easter eggs. Also no GX4000 version - is it too similar to the CPC port to be included?
Klax never did it for me. I remember seeing it in the arcade and going "...who is this even for?" as it was nestled between the Pit Fighter and E-Swat cabinets.
I guess it mostly stayed in the states. Never saw one in the UK and never expect to see one in Japan yet I can see the original Tetris cab every now and then.
The C64 has to be the worst version, yet I played it an awful lot of time back then. I'd go as far as saying it was my favourite tetris like game at the time (along with Duotris, I wonder if somebody else remembers it and its dope music!). I didn't know better!
@@RetroCore It's one of those C64 releases that only circulated in continental Europe. We also had "Game Boy Tetris" on the C64 which had a fake Gameboy bezel!
Back then I never played Klax, because I was a huge shump fan. But I can remember that the C64 Version was well reviewed here in Germany www.kultboy.com/testbericht-uebersicht/1431/
You missed the abacus version Mark. Just kidding XD! Some ports are surprisingly good, and the Game Boy one seems a shitty version of Yoshi's Cookie. I played a lot to the western Megadrive and Master System ports. It's a difficult game.
I wish the 7800 version was included. While it was not oficially released, it was actually completed back then. Here's a link if anyone wants to see it: www.atariprotos.com/7800/software/klax/klax.htm
I had the first version of the mega Drive port when I was younger and I've played it a lot. The only bad point is that the difficulty goes up pretty fast. About the amiga port, I can't get why they decided to use dithering, while the graphics are better without it.
Its a another direct Atari ST port with no effort use of the Amiga (except the sound). Klax is a game that could easy has been done in 32 colors (or even 64 color half brite mode), but its only uses 16 colors instead. But its not a bad game in any means throught.
@@ArtificialOrangeStudios The Klax for GBA is pretty good, pretty much the only reason to get the cartridge. The Marble Madness port that goes with it is a huge disappointment and half of the levels are missing.
Tried this on C64, then ST and finally the Lynx. Never understood why it was rated so highly :-)) Lynx version was best version i played, but the actual gameplay left me cold Give me Tetris, Columns etc any day. Sounds like the Coin-Op was the version to try?
What was it with Atari porting anything that was remotely successful to every system in existence? It’s also amazing how ubiquitous this game seems to be in barcades I’ve visited in the USA.
And yet from the late 80's onwards they completely ignored their 8 bit microcomputer range (even though new models, revised were still released around 1987 and 1988) Klax got an Atari 7800 port, a 2600 port, NES port, a c64 port, but Atari's own 8 bit micros were left out in the cold? They must REALLY have had a low opinion of that system huh...
@@KuraIthys The 8-bit line had support from Warner era Atari, but Tramiel was only trying to get rid of excess software when he took over the home division. His sights were set on getting the ST out there.
Apparently one of the uber rare Japanese variations of Atari Lynx Klax is lacking key features: main game is lacking most of the sound/ voice effects of the 'real' version Static Title Screen (quiet) Select A Wave Screen (1,6,11,11, no sound effects when moving cursor) Klax Wave Screen (quiet) Main Game (tapping as tiles come down, no sound/voice effects as Klax are made, no clapping when a level is passed)
I dunno how explain it, but like a knocking...often used like secret knocking on doors used when you have underground ... It is very universal, so ....
You missed an opportunity to show off a console you have only done so rarely. Klax had an Amstrad GX4000 port, I'd imagine it's virtually identical to the CPC version, which in this case would probably make it actually a decent game to play, much like it's port of Pang.
@@RetroCore Having now actually played Klax for the GX4000 (yes, really) I can confirm that it is identical to the CPC original, a little disappointing when the console could do more than the computer but at the very least it plays nicely with a controller even if the GX4000's controller is pretty awful...
Aaaah, Klax - one of my finest hours. I played the Amiga port quite a bit and got fairly good. Then the bar at my college got an arcade machine. My first go on the arcade cab just came together brilliantly - and my name was at the top of the high score table for two whole weeks. Neat.
When KLAX was being developed (and even when it started shipping) there were
no stereo Lynx units. Some of the development hardware had been modified to
simulate the stereo design that was being implemented in the redesign of the
custom chips. KLAX was definitely the first stereo game for the Lynx.
Quote from Stephen Landrum, Eoyx
OMG that Game Boy version description! I really fancy some chocolate cake now though...
19:48 That game boy description. Anyway, that's the best the monochrome Game Boy can do? At least Klax got a well-needed Game Boy Color port later.
LOL chocolate cake simulator nice. Always loved my childhood experience with the mega drive port though. Especially two player mode.
Klax is my favorite puzzle game of all time. Apparently, though, we got a totally different Game Boy version in the US, done by Mindscape. It bore a much greater resemblance to the standard Klax playfield, but had scarce audio. Also the Genesis Tengen version is the only home version programmed by the original Atari programmer, if I remember correctly.
I'm sure they did the PC Engine version too.
My game programming class had us make our own 3D version of Klax in the XNA engine/C#. I consider myself to be an avid gamer and I surprisingly never played this game before. I downloaded roms from several consoles and arcade to get an idea of the game.
That's a cool project.
Considering it was the work of Atari (Though technically the arcade and home divisions are unrelated, so I suppose it doesn't really count), and the sheer absurd number of ports that exist, including a 2600 port...
This further cements the reality that Atari absolutely didn't care about it's 8 bit home computers, even while still releasing new models into the late 80's, yet nobody really released games for it anymore...
Figures...
Yep - there was clearly more than one Atari, and they didn't care to help each other out.
Atari could have had some of the best exclusive games, as could Sega have had, across the 80s and 90s.
Clueless companies.
The Tengen Genesis port also has 2 players like the Namco MegaDrive version, but it isn't vs. It's just two seperate games going on at the same time in split screen.
I still compete with Mom for high score
Oh, I didn't know that. Thanks for the info.
I used to have this on the Sega Genesis or as you know it the mega drive and it was really fun to play
The Gameboy also had two versions, the other version was developed by Mindscape and Tengen and well, it looks more closely to the arcade version
Bummer, I wasn't aware of that one.
Yeah, but the problem is that it’s kind of rare, there are few videos of it
@@luisemilio1143 The Mindscape version is the one that was released in the UK. As I've had mine since it was released for the Gameboy. Didn't even know about the port shown hear.
Hasn't been the 90s for over 20 years, and there's still time for Klax. Amazing game.
I used to own and played the Sega Game Gear port of Klax. Always did dig the first background in the game with the cars in a parking lot of some area i could never tell if it was a shopping center or business of sorts!
I always had the idea that it was a drive in theater.
@@RetroCore Interesting.
I actually like this game, I played the Japanese Megadrive version to hell back in the day! I love the batternburg reference to the Gameboy version! Great vid as usual Mark
Always loved the sound this cabinet made in an arcade, but I never played it because I thought it was going to be too hard to play for a kid.
I can understand that. As a kid I wouldn't have touched this.
I really like the CPC colour palette. It's just so warm and orangey. I just realised I would really like a Rampart episode, another Atari game...
Ah, Rampart I could never play. If I get a chance to understand the game I'll add it to the list of future shows.
@@RetroCore I've been playing it alot on SMD. It's about priorities and quickly assessing the state of the board and deciding where to put the piece. Then it's about leading your shots on moving ships and not wasting cannon balls. S standard ship takes 4 and a small brown job takes 2. A ship with big white sails is a priority as it shoots flaming oil. Do not place your cannons to close to the edges or you will need a single piece and not get one. If you have time, quickly surround a different tower with walls to add a cannon each turn. Each additional tower adds a cannon each turn to put down. Expand your territory to add space in small portions - don't always try to surround another tower by expanded territory alone.
It's very difficult. Easy mode gives you more time to put down pieces but it doesn't make much difference.
Never thought it had so many ports. I like Klax for being a precursor to all those Columns games from later.
Although the story with shutting down the cake factory was a bit sad :(
Columns came out actually in 1989, before Klax.
@@diecarro79 I always thought those were later but I guesd I was wrong. My bad. Thanks !
Yeah, everyone needs cake.
I think next to Krusty's Fun House. This is a game I own the most console versions of. Next to Tetris, I spent quite a bit of time on this puzzle game back in the 90's. I do like the Lynx version where you can turn the console vertical to play it.
Thanks for the video. I just saw this yesterday for the lynx and will have to go back and grab it. Funny how ive seen this game on shelves for years but very played it. Guess ive been missing out lol
It you like action puzzle games then it's a good buy for the Lynx. Especially because that version is rather well done.
@@RetroCore thanks
Great puzzle game Klax is Mark. In fact, I played this more times than Tetris. A timeless classic that I purchased just about all the ports for it and enjoyed all of them and personally it's never a dull moment playing them. 8^)
Anthony..
It is the 90s ? Man i must have overslept 7 decades. Well. good to see that RetroCore is still around doing Battle of the Ports videos, although after nearly 8 decades, that's also kind of creepy.
Hehe, there's no way I'd be around in 2090. I'd be 115 by then.
We used to have the arcade machine at my school in the first half of the 90s. Much fun, definately with two players.
You had arcade machines in your school? Wow, that's kind of cool.
The Amstrad CPC was a pretty competent 8-bit micro, yet sadly many devs didn't bother giving it love, sadly. Klax on the CPC really shows how good the system was when developpers put up some efforts.
Was 1st introduced to this on Sega Channel.
Then later had it for ps1 in Arcade Party Pak "probably emulation", and now I have the Genesis cart.
That Gameboy version description. I fucking died, ahahahahaha.
You know how to be funny Retro Core. Well played!
I now have cravings for battenberg...thanks a bunch!
😁
Two things kickstarted the 90's: Nirvanas' Nevermind and KLAX.
Actually owned this on the SAM Coupe lol, interesting version, code and sprites/ blocks straight from the Spectrum version, with back grounds from the ST and Amiga, played well though if I remember rightly (although did slow down a bit when it got really busy - I think....)
I wish I had known about that version.
@@RetroCore GX4000 had a version too I think (rarely) slightly enhanced from the Amstrad version- but as the standard CPC was quite good I guess it could be really good? never got the chance to play it at the time.
They should modify the Gameboy Version to be based on what you jokingly described it as.
Your GameBoy version summary is PERFECT! Another one of those "I can't stop laughing" moments of BotP. (That and mocking the Famicom version as an Amiga game)
Never knew Klax looked so addicting. Wish my Lynx worked
You've put in a ton of time to get this one out the door so well done for playing all those nots so good versions and many thanks for your Battle dedication Mark. I had the Megadrive version but I'm very partial to the excellent Lynx conversion, those little extras like the scaling make it rather lovely, also those sounds are spot on with great speech and decent ploppy noises for the blocks.
Yeah, this took a whole day to make, we're talking 12 hours minus the video encoding.
I can see why you'd like the Lynx port. It's quite a good version.
Great coverage. I first got hooked on Klax on the Genesis. I have a copy of it for X68000, but my X68000 needs to undergo a bunch of surgery before it can return to The Nineties.
That's the sad thing about old tech. I hope you get it working again.
Liking this in advance! Easily my fav puzzler on Genesis. I got to level 70+ last time I played.
It puts me in the zone.
US or JP version? the US version is nice with all its options and trippy in-game music but the JP version plays the best out of all the versions I tried (MD, SMS, PCE, etc.) and the 2 player versus mode is lot of fun! I wish someone who do a new mega drive version that combines the best of the US and JP versions :D
@@ryzmaker11 US. I was introduced through Sega Channel in the 90s along with Junction.
More recently picked them up on eBay and still have fun playing Klax 2 player with Mom.
It doesn't have a VS mode but it does have 2 player split screen. It plays 2 seperate 1 player games at the same time, which is cool.
It can feel like a race to keep up with each other.
@@Lightblue2222 Nice picks mate. Junction is a pretty good puzzle game with some ace music and Klax is a true classic. I did know about how the 2 player mode works in the US version but never thought of it as a "race", interesting. And 2 players with mom is amazing. I know myself some gamer girls (and who don' just play final fantasy but also sonic, timesplitters, etc.) but I'd like to get my mom into gaming too which will be quite the challenge haha (she kinda hates that LOL but it's mostly misconceptions as she thinks it's just superficial entertainment but I want her to understand that it can be a clever hobby with a huge artistic dimension).
@@ryzmaker11 hehe.. yea she played the puzzle games on the Sega Channel back in the day, so I decided to pick them up for old times sake. Junction is harder for me but I'm really good at Klax and Columns.
Wow, level 70. Now that's some hard core skills.
I love how you say "a good port" and just in that moment you miss a klax XD
🤪😂
I wonder why there isn’t a “Super Klax”. It would be the Super Nintendo version if it had existed.
I was hoping this week you would do Klax.
I play this often. So glad he chose this one.
I played this a lot on Midway Arcade Treasures. All the console ports are great. There is also a US Gameboy version by Mindscape which is more true to the arcade.
I love this game! When I was a kid I had it on the Master System for a while and loving puzzle games like Tetris I was obcessed with it. I got really good at it too.
Very cool. Love this one.
I think the PC Engine and Mega Drive versions... "MSP and DSA" might probably be the original game designers themselves! Perhaps that's why they're that good?
Just looked up the original devs, initials match
I think you're right. 👍
I wish it really was cake simulator, but it delivers real cakes to your house on demand
Now that would be a game that would sell by the millions.
SEGA of America was doing promotional give away when you bought a GameGear in 90/91, and If you filled out a survey card which had a list of games you could check mark you wanted, and SEGA would send you one on that list for free, and it was how I got Columns(not the first game on the list I wanted), but I ended up being addicted to it after a while, and when I saw KLAX on sale for $22 USD(I clearly remember the price because my mother hated spending more than $30 on a GG game) at my local Rose's department store I think 93 I remember I begged my mother to get the electronics clerk to get it out of the glass display case saying things like my grades have been really good in school, etc.. eventually she broke down, and bought it for me. I remember playing it a bunch the first few days I had it, but overall it ended up being one of my least played Game Gear carts, and since I've just not been a huge fan of KLAX compared to Columns, and way more so TETRIS which is one of my favorite game series of all time next to Pac-Man.
Great video, but it seems you forgot that you can push the blocks back up the conveyor belt 😉
Nope, I knew that. I do use that feature but mostly in later stages. I hope some of that entered the footage I used for the show. Or just my luck that I cut all those bits out.
@@RetroCore I suspected you knew about it 🙂
BTW, The version on the Lynx is my favorite.
Great video, as usual! Never played because I'm not a big fan of puzzle games. I wonder what "commercial" meaning the marketing of a game for 2600 in 1990 could have had. I mean, did someone really play 2600 in 1990? Unbelievable.
CPC version was my fave, damn great port.
It is impressive. Maybe one of the closesed Arcade ports on the system.
So many ports of this game!!!
I never felt Klax was a well designed game, the drop meter was pointless, the blocks should have fell onto the pile to punish the player, but as there were single blocks, it was all too easy to create a Klax (the big X) over and over, and very little chance of getting lucky and creating a cascade of blocks. There should have been double tiles wide or tall to add some challenge too.
Strange there was never a SNES version too, but I heard that was intentional, Tengen/Atari pushing out the game on as many formats as possible because Nintendo wouldn't give them a license.
Makes sense about Atari vs Nintendo.
They were too busy trying to push Zoop down our throats. Ads EVERYWHERE. We yanks even got to rent it for free from Blockbuster.
@@DeAthWaGer Oh yeah, We had Zoop adverts in every magazine in the UK too, and I used to get US mags like Gamepro and EGM and see them blasted too. But there was a goldrush of everyone wanting to make the next Tetris. Columns is the only one I think even got remotely close.
*SEGA Master System was the best!* ⭐️
It was a great port. If only it had a banging soundtrack like the NES version.
Lynx Klax rules, especially for the LX Rudis music and sample audio. It’s a terrific showpiece for the hardware. The US Genesis and TG-16 versions are very solid, as one would expect as the arcade developers created those. The NES version was playable but very dull and turned me off on Klax for many years.
(before video) I LOVE THIS GAME. Ooh, I used to be really good at it too.
0:16 DAMN. That's a lot of ports...
6:30 DOSBOX is known to not handle this game well.
8:04 The differing patterns are a nice touch, something I wouldn't of minded on other versions I've played...
9:28 Looks like an input_repeat issue.
11:40 Looks like the Spectrum and Amstrad ports were actually made by competent people...
12:46 I'd expect no less from the PCE though...
22:00 Played this one a lot, and it is also on the PISSTEAM PSX SMS EMU disc.
24:10 ...would likely be better than the official release... :/
One of my favorite things to do in this is rig up a 'BIG X' to get loads of points, as well as chain clears.
I own the NES Tengen version, but the Genesis version looks pretty good too
That NES version is thumpin'
That it is. 🤪
I grew up with the C64 version and thought it was brilliant, but it certainly looks lacking here! Will need to boot it up again.
Also, chocolate cake simulator, matching the Battenburgs, brilliant XD
Great video :-) , but I miss 4 official releases (not emulation compilations like Midway Treasures): Game Boy western release, Gameboy Advance, Sam Coupé and Sony PlayStation (Arcade Party Pak, it was a port). There was also a release for GX4000/CPC Plus which is just the regular version with a new title screen when you switch on the system.
It seems like the C64 version can only have one falling block at a time, no wonder it feels so slow. I think I had the Amiga version but I'm honestly struggling to remember.
Yeah, it is kind of like that. It's such a poor attempt.
Awesome episode, Mark! Thank you!
You're welcome. 👍
Best home version of Klax goes to Mega Drive (the Japanese version by Namco) while best handheld version goes to Lynx. YAY, two of my favorite hardwares ever 😊👍
The 2 player competitive mode included in the Mega Drive Japanese version is a neat addition! Had quite some fun playing it with a friend some time ago. Also this version has better controls than the Mega Drive US or PC Engine versions but the latters have more options.
The Sega 8-bit versions on the other hand I thought were rather awful. The narrower cursor makes things unnecessary trickier. Also the tiles falling mechanic is quite broken as the tiles come in too fast which also looks unrealistic. The game quickly becomes unplayable...
Something tells me that the Famicom version is actually better. The Game Boy version though, it looks awful and games like this or Puyo Puyo obviously don't work very well on monochrome systems ^^'
What Game Boy version? Unless you meant the other game, Chocolate Cake Simulator.
@@solarflare9078 Chocolate Cake Simulator?? Sounds like I missed something xD But yeah, I remember that there is another Game Boy version but it was also bad, wasn't it?
It was made by Mindscape, but it overall looks closer to the arcade in terms of the falling blocks. Still has those same stripes from Chocolate Cake Simulator though.
@@solarflare9078 Haha, I get the cake joke now. Yeah, hard to render color-based games on the OG Game Boy ^^ Still one of my fav' handheld systems, though!
I agree that the control on the C64 port isn't the best, however due to the slow pace, this is the only version that I was ever able to make the large "X" on. You need to set up the two sides, then drop the 9th tile right in the center, making four diagonal klaxes at once.
I was very disappointed in the Amiga version. I thought it looked nice, but the difficulty sucked.
Yeah, the Amiga one was stupidly tough.
To Mega Drive Japan:
Oooooh. I don't know if I'll say that the graphics on the blocks are better. Look at the animation when they are approaching the paddle. It looks super choppy compared to the western version. Also, the scaling is a little rough too, with only 4 approaching frames compared to the western version's 6-8.
I never even thought of # of frames in the animations. Comparisons of different console versions can get pretty intense due to the amount of technical details.
John Smith I always pay attention to animation frames. Stuff that has less frames than another thing stands out quite ugly to me, sometimes even comparable to 8-bit.
Yeah, the animation isn't as good but I was talking about the actual graphics. The western one uses dithering which looks messy compared to the more solid look of the Japanese one.
@@RetroCore but most if not all versions use dithering which is totally fine. in fact, some versions SHOULD have used more dithering. the pc engine version for instance where the first background looks very flat and the holes on the side look cheap. in comparison, the amiga version used more dithering for the holes and looks even better than the arcade in that regard
dithering is a great way to create all kinds of effects (shading; shadow; transparency...) and was more or less commonly used for every systems up to the N64
Yes a great CPC version. Just shows what the machine can do when better programmed.
Indeed. Just a shame it was subject to crappy ZX Spectrum ports most of the time.
Man that BBC Micro looks like a chore to play! Hehe..
It was 😕
Sam Coupé version is missing... Thanks for the video.
Always like the SAM version. Lovely music.
I didn't know there was a Sam Coupe version. Oh well 😕
@@RetroCore Not many people knew there was such a computer as the Sam coupe! Odd version though. All the backgrounds etc are lifted off the atari ST version while the tile sprites are from the spectrum. Has a good version of the arcade tune though. Played at roughly the spectrum speed, maybe a bit faster.
Tengen were responsible for the NES port, Hudson were only the publishers. The credits up top only list English names, for reference
I liked Klax, but as a colorblind person, once they start adding colors that look too similar, I'm out, can't play it anymore :P This is one where the only version I physically owned was on the Atari Lynx and I had fun with it to the extent that I could. Definitely one of the better games on the platform, despite my handicap!
In this respect, the TurboGrafx / PC Engine version is the worst. The cyan and white block look exactly the same... until they are right next to each other, and at that point, you're screwed.
Hi Mark the pc engine version is very high res! I didn’t know of engine could do high res. Thanks great video.
PCE had highest resolution of any 4th generation console, but it's nominal highest resolution of 512x242 was hardly ever used, although it's noninal medium resolution mode of 320x242 was used frequently :
Ninja Spirit
SideArms
Forgotten Worlds
Legend of Hero Tonma
R-Type
Ys I & II
Mr. Heli
TV Sports Football
TV Sports Basketball
Zero Wing
Loom
Might & Magic 3
Puyo Puyo
others...
Plus the Arcade card Neo Geo fighter ports full-screen scaling/zooming effect was simulated by switching into a medium/high resolution.
PCE/TG-16 games with an option for medium resolution "Arcade Mode" to better simulate the aspect ratio of the arcade cabinet's original vertically-positioned monitor:
Alzadick: Summer Carnival '92 (1992, CD)
1943 Kai (1991, SGX)
Burning Angels (1990, HuCard)
Cyber Core (1990, HuCard)
Daisenpuu (1990, HuCard)
Dragon Saber (1991, HuCard)
Dragon Spirit (1988, HuCard)
Final Soldier (1991, HuCard)
Image Fight (1990, HuCard)
Nexzr (1992, SCD)
Soldier Blade (1992, HuCard)
Steam Hearts (1996, SCD)
Super Raiden (1992, SCD)
Super Star Soldier (1990, HuCard)
Tatsujin (1992, HuCard)
Toilet Kids (1992, HuCard)
Travel Epuru (Travel Epule) (1992, HuCard)
Twinbee (DETANA!! TWIN BEE) (1992, HuCard)
The PCE resolution is actually quite programmable. From a PCE programmer's notes:
"Here are the maximum resolutions that I can get on my PC-Engine system and video monitor:
Low resolution (5Mhz clock): 282 x 242
Regs: $02,$00,$23,$0A,$00,$0E,$00F1,$03
Med. resolution (7Mhz clock): 377 x 242
Regs: $03,$02,$2F,$07 (rest are the same)
High resolution (10Mhz clock): 565 x 242
Regs: $00,$08,$46,$04 (rest are the same)
My TV (Panasonic, NTSC) has much less horizontal overscan visible (the usual 256 at the 5Mhz
clock), but the full 242 lines are visible all the same.
The majority (90%) of games on the PCE run at 256x239 lines of resolution, although some standouts do more (R-Type, Sherlock Holmes) or less (1941, Dragon's Curse.)
The display hardware of the PCE can also be coerced to do interlacing, though unlike the SNES and MD, not all TVs accept this signal."
@@ShallRemainUnknown the pc engine has the most flexible resolution capabilities out of the 4th generation BUT several factors such as sprite limitations hold back these possibilities which is why the majority of pc engine games only run in 256x224 pixels whereas the majority of amiga or mega drive games run in higher resolution than that (respectively 320x256 and 320x224 pixels)
and the minority of pc engine games that use a resolution higher than 256x224 are usually plagued by various issues (slowdowns; even more limited scrolling capabilities than usual; even more flickering than usual...) you just have to look at r-type or mr. heli to see about that
it doesn't hurt games with static screens though so it's very nice for things like digital comics
also interesting to notice is how despite the added horsepower of a secondary GPU, the supergrafx still runs 4 out of its 5 games in 256x224 pixels and even then a game like aldynes still has some cases of sprite flickering and slowdowns
the pc engine version runs in the same resolution as the mega drive versions (320x224 pixels). there are quite a few other pc engine games that use a similar resolution whereas on mega drive it's the majority of games that use such resolution (sonic; columns; golden axe; strider; popful mail; etc.)
@@ShallRemainUnknown also not sure about the interlacing part in your quote but the mega drive *does* have interlaced modes and it's actually used in at least 2 games: sonic 2 and combat cars, both for the split-screen versus modes. it's a great and impressive feature. crazy to see basically 2 times sonic 2 running on a 16-bit console while other systems at the time couldn't even run 1 time the same game :D
Wait, a NES game that can't use the sound effects and music at the same time?
And i 10000% agree with your Gameboy review, the cake factory simulator is much better than all the other crappy and boring versions.
There's actually a lot of hidden stuff in the GB Color port accessed via passwords - Snake and Minesweeper-style mini-games, actual and... ahem... "alternative" histories of Klax and various other little Easter eggs.
Also no GX4000 version - is it too similar to the CPC port to be included?
I wasn't aware there was. GX-4000 Version. Bummer.
Klax never did it for me. I remember seeing it in the arcade and going "...who is this even for?" as it was nestled between the Pit Fighter and E-Swat cabinets.
I hope it was ESWAT that took your money that day 👍
@@RetroCore It did. Though Aliens already took most of it. XD Man, 1990 was pretty lit for arcade games!
I wonder if the person that did the art for the Namco Japanese port noticed that the smaller unlit Drop Meter lights are slightly Golliwog face-ish.
Really? I'll have to go back and check that. Never noticed myself.
I died when you got to the game boy version.
Imagine how dead I was having to play them all 😂
Hang on though, me and my mate played a ton of this on Amiga, it definitely had a 2P mode!
It probably does but it maybe like the Arcade one where you don't actually Battle the other player?
Retro Core Ah, got ya. Yeah it was just play at the same time rather than a proper versus mode.
I dont remember the Amiga version looking that bad. Loved it on the Amiga back then.
Everything looked better in the past.
Inc me LMAO!
Tbh i never knew klax was an old arcade
I grew up with the mega drive version
Yep,. It was an arcade but I'm not sure if it was popular as I've never seen a real cabinet.
I guess it mostly stayed in the states. Never saw one in the UK and never expect to see one in Japan yet I can see the original Tetris cab every now and then.
There was 2 versions of Klax for the Game Boy - the Mindscape one is different from the early Hudson Soft Japanese release
Yeah, someone else pointed that out. I wasn't aware of that one.
The C64 has to be the worst version, yet I played it an awful lot of time back then. I'd go as far as saying it was my favourite tetris like game at the time (along with Duotris, I wonder if somebody else remembers it and its dope music!). I didn't know better!
Can't say I'd even heard of Duotris.
@@RetroCore It's one of those C64 releases that only circulated in continental Europe. We also had "Game Boy Tetris" on the C64 which had a fake Gameboy bezel!
Great video Mark! Did you try the vodka and apple juice yet?
Not yet. Been too busy to drink but it's sure on my list of drinks.
@@RetroCore Cool!
Quick question: Can it still be time for Klax in 2020, or do we have to wait 70 years when we enter the next 90s?
Hmm, I think we need to wait 😁
Back then I never played Klax, because I was a huge shump fan. But I can remember that the C64 Version was well reviewed here in Germany
www.kultboy.com/testbericht-uebersicht/1431/
Who was playing Atari 2600 games in 1990?
There are still people playing and even making them nowadays!
Only played the emulated version on the PSP, haven't played any ports.
You missed the abacus version Mark. Just kidding XD! Some ports are surprisingly good, and the Game Boy one seems a shitty version of Yoshi's Cookie.
I played a lot to the western Megadrive and Master System ports. It's a difficult game.
Lol, abacus version.
I wish the 7800 version was included. While it was not oficially released, it was actually completed back then. Here's a link if anyone wants to see it: www.atariprotos.com/7800/software/klax/klax.htm
I wanted to include it but couldn't get the rom to play.
I had the first version of the mega Drive port when I was younger and I've played it a lot. The only bad point is that the difficulty goes up pretty fast.
About the amiga port, I can't get why they decided to use dithering, while the graphics are better without it.
No idea about the dithering. It is a horrible look for sure.
@@RetroCore indeed. It's way better without it.
Its a another direct Atari ST port with no effort use of the Amiga (except the sound). Klax is a game that could easy has been done in 32 colors (or even 64 color half brite mode), but its only uses 16 colors instead. But its not a bad game in any means throught.
So PC Engine and Megadrive best version!?
Hmm, maybe the PC Engine version is the overall best.
Wasn't there also a GBA version of Klax?
Not that I'm aware of.
@@RetroCore just looked it up, there was, it was on the same cartridge as the GBA Marble Madness. ruclips.net/video/Yid__3fmyDc/видео.html
@@ArtificialOrangeStudios The Klax for GBA is pretty good, pretty much the only reason to get the cartridge. The Marble Madness port that goes with it is a huge disappointment and half of the levels are missing.
Tried this on C64, then ST and finally the Lynx.
Never understood why it was rated so highly :-))
Lynx version was best version i played, but the actual gameplay left me cold
Give me Tetris, Columns etc any day.
Sounds like the Coin-Op was the version to try?
It's not as good as Tetris for sure but it is a nice idea.
There's also an X68000 port, by the way.
Read the description
I know. I mention about it in the video discription.
"Skidrow leading the scene" (Is it the same Skidrow we know today?)
It's not the music group if that's the one you're thinking of 😋
@@RetroCore I was thinking of a warez group seen on a few PC games. Perhaps it was indeed the same Skidrow?
What was it with Atari porting anything that was remotely successful to every system in existence? It’s also amazing how ubiquitous this game seems to be in barcades I’ve visited in the USA.
And yet from the late 80's onwards they completely ignored their 8 bit microcomputer range (even though new models, revised were still released around 1987 and 1988)
Klax got an Atari 7800 port, a 2600 port, NES port, a c64 port, but Atari's own 8 bit micros were left out in the cold?
They must REALLY have had a low opinion of that system huh...
@@KuraIthys The 8-bit line had support from Warner era Atari, but Tramiel was only trying to get rid of excess software when he took over the home division. His sights were set on getting the ST out there.
In this case, it was solely to piss off Nintendo
What you think about to make battle of the ports of Disney,s Aladdin?
Not possible. All the versions are different games, not ports.
Such a dull game, like sorting your sock drawer. Well done on slogging through so many versions!
Where's the Sam Coupe version ??
Never knew about that but I do know about the NEC PC-98 and X68000 versions. Couldn't get those to work though.
Where I come from, this is how construction is handled.
Apparently one of the uber rare Japanese variations of Atari Lynx Klax is lacking key features:
main game is lacking most of the sound/
voice effects of the 'real' version
Static Title Screen (quiet)
Select A Wave Screen (1,6,11,11, no sound effects when moving cursor)
Klax Wave Screen (quiet)
Main Game (tapping as tiles come down, no sound/voice effects as Klax are made,
no clapping when a level is passed)
I'm surprised it was even released in Japan.
Is it still the 90s?
It was one of my first C64 games, fun game, but im terrible at it.
20:19 Did I just hear what I think I heard?
What did you hear I wonder?
I dunno how explain it, but like a knocking...often used like secret knocking on doors used when you have underground ... It is very universal, so ....
@@RetroCore that infamous knock in the door
I have this for the SAM Coupe. It's not a great conversion unfortunatley.
You missed an opportunity to show off a console you have only done so rarely. Klax had an Amstrad GX4000 port, I'd imagine it's virtually identical to the CPC version, which in this case would probably make it actually a decent game to play, much like it's port of Pang.
I didn't know this was on the gx000 😕
@@RetroCore Having now actually played Klax for the GX4000 (yes, really) I can confirm that it is identical to the CPC original, a little disappointing when the console could do more than the computer but at the very least it plays nicely with a controller even if the GX4000's controller is pretty awful...