- Wouldn't it be funny to be invincible when you crouch ? - Oh ! And when you use the jet pack in 1V1 fights, your hitbox becomes broken ! - Wonderful game design, guys. I think we just need to add a few things... - How about the more you take hits, the less you can fight ? - And just make a move where the CPU can grab your character and makes you unable to move so you always take damage and it can repeat it ad vitam ? - Ok, we clearly have a game that will shake Capcom and SNK.
I have a soft spot for this game. Believe it or not, the gameplay is actually pretty consistent. Which move you get to do depends on 1) how much energy you have, 2) which button you press, and 3) your distance to the enemy. If you crouch or fly, you're safe from taking damage, but you don't regain energy. If you stand or walk, you gradually regain energy, but you're vulnerable to being attacked. You can also rapidly hit the punch and kick buttons back and forth to get energy back faster, but how fast will depend on how much health you have. Yeah, the platforming sections suck balls, but thankfully, you can turn them off in the options (it's like the devs knew). You can also turn off the back step in the options, so that you're character will turn around right away instead. The thing is, once you get the hang of its quirky fighting system, you can reliably do moves and be able to fight back better. And lets not forget the rather nice animation (your character actually looks like they walk, planting a foot on the ground, versus the old "slide" movement so many games used at the time). There's also a lot of moves at your disposal, and the music is fantastic (the cartridge version's music is better IMO). It would have been nice if there were more than four robots to choose from, but this was pre-Street Fighter 2, so fighting games weren't known for having much of a roster. I wrote a review for this game on SEGA-16, and caught a lot of flack for giving it a 5 out of 10. But I still stand by that 5, damn it😆
I made sure i have all three versions in the collection Mark. I love Heavy Nova. Now i have to replay them all over again. Another great BOTP edition from you brother man. 8^) Anthony..
Heavy Nova, and Cyborg Justice and likely others I forgot, were useful in that it meant I never even wanted to try Rise of the Robots. I already knew what it would be like.
There were a number of fighting games in the early 90s that did the "knock the player down for an inordinately long time" thing. You could always tell who didn't have an intuitive grasp of what type of elements ruined the player's connection to a game.
Yeah, but at least Fatman is laughably bad. Like they knew it was a turd and they were incapable of making a decent game they decided to make everything about it over the top stupid. This is just pathetic bad. Couldn't even get someone who could sing to do the intro music for the Mega CD.
This was one of the first games I had gotten for Genesis / Megadrive. I loved the opening cinematic, but the gameplay was subpar but you got use to it....😅
@@RetroCore Unless my memory fails me (and it usually does). Black Hole Assault was the sequel to Heavy Nova. We never got Heavy Nova on Sega CD here in the U.S.
All versions gives an impression of being played on a 50hz system, despite each version running on 60hz hardware. And the audio problem on the X68000 version must be the reason why Micronet never allowed a re-release of the game on Project EGG.
Do you get to keep the free games if you sign up for Project EGG service for 1 month and quit or is it like gamepass? There are a few I want to buy like Mad Stalker, and I'm hoping Aquales becomes available for digital sale as I can't justify $90 for the physical collection even though it has a couple other interesting games.
I'm fascinated by X6800 games- I wasn't even aware of the computer back in its prime, but this would have been my dream machine, just based on the quality of original and ported games I've seen over the years- well, except for this one I guess... but there has to be some rotten apples in every bunch
My rental store had some imported games and one of those was Heavy Nova. I like the music but the game isn't good. But since I've rented it on a weekend, I had to play it for 3 days so I have some memories of this game. Funny enough, I ended up using the purple robot as an enemy on my fan made Avengers game :)
@@RetroCore Correct on Wikipedia. Sega Retro also says it's a X68000 game as well. As for Wikipedia, I've honestly lost a lot of trust on that site, especially after some... certain history exposed with it
I'll say one thing for Superman 64, they cancelled the PS1 version, in the end there was just the N64 version. I guess Heavy Nova still got less ports than Rise of the Robots, so they were sparing a fair number of people from suffering. They should have called it Heavy Dump.
Oh gawd, I remember Classic Game Room reviewing the Genesis version back in 2008 and it's one of his funniest videos because of how awful it is. I also could only stand to play the Sega CD version for about ten minutes. You truly put yourself through the ringer for us playing a game so incompetently made it has "Earth" misspelled as "Erath." To quote CGR: "This is without a doubt the worst video game on Erath. (sic)"
No way! Cyborg Justice is a beat-em-up. And a good one at that. Heavy Nova is a fighting game, and one of the worst. Fighting Masters is far better than this.
Before Sega got Street Fighter, I routinely had to deal with awful fighting games on Sega while my SNES friends were living the dream. I recall this one and Black Hole Assault being especially horrible on my Sega CD.
I was really disappointed when I got this game to play on MegaCD. There was no reason for a game that didn’t have any improvement over the cartridge version. Even Sherlock Holmes’ game showed the potential of the add-on.
Japanese were without a doubt the best game developers in the late 80's and early 90's, but they sure had their fair share of turds. This game being a steaming example.
Yeah man the only redeeming quality of this game is the music and it's such a waste being locked behind a terrible game. This is definitely another I didn't know originally got it's start on the X68k which is neat trivia. 😎
I’ve heard about this famously bad game but the music is banging for such a bad game, shame Micronet didn’t make a good game and it’s no wonder they’re not around anymore and what’s interesting is that I prefer the music in the Mega Drive version of Heavy Nova over the Mega CD and X68000 original , great battle of the ports as always and I must sympathise that you had to play this stinker of a turd which is has to be more playable than Tongue of The Fatman.
Oh, Micronet never made a single good game. All of their games sucked on every system. I think I read somewhere that Sega actually bought them in the 2000s.
Micronet did well with Junction and Raiden Trad (though that could've been even better if another dev did it). Heavy Nova is surely not their best effort.
Unpopular take: Heavy Nova is the only game that shows what the reality of mech fighting---if it ever comes into being---will really be like: slow, awkward, and ridiculously unnecessary.
how comes Micronet, a piss poor game developers can make this bad games on Genesis and X68000? i had never play this game before so yea, from what you said alongside the other piss poor games studios, i should not try myself
Yeah, this game is janky as hell and doesn’t play well at all by the looks of it. I’d struggle to control my robot too. Man, these early fighting games don’t age well at all.😂 Heavy Nova/Black Hole Assault is no exception. If you want a good 16-bit robot fighter, I’d recommend Mad Stalker as that game plays WAY better than this steaming pile of a game.
Death Crimson is widely known as the absolute worst game on the Sega Saturn but then it got 2 pretty good Dreamcast sequels. The devs would then go on to make Melty Blood and Under Knight Inbirth.
Ugh, this game. I had it on the SEGA CD. It plays like your robot is drunk and wading through molasses.
That's because it's "heavy"
The pain and agony. It is all coming back. 😂
Indeed. Playing this again was not a plesent experience 😅
- Wouldn't it be funny to be invincible when you crouch ?
- Oh ! And when you use the jet pack in 1V1 fights, your hitbox becomes broken !
- Wonderful game design, guys. I think we just need to add a few things...
- How about the more you take hits, the less you can fight ?
- And just make a move where the CPU can grab your character and makes you unable to move so you always take damage and it can repeat it ad vitam ?
- Ok, we clearly have a game that will shake Capcom and SNK.
Yep. This game is so broken.
This is one of those games that everyone at the jr high lunchrooms raved about and now it's we liked this crap?
SF2 barely released when this came out. I can excuse the fighting segments but there's no excuse for the hideous platforming
@@gc3k Yeah but even Street Fighter 1 steam rolls this game.
@@KorenLesthe true indeed
I have a soft spot for this game. Believe it or not, the gameplay is actually pretty consistent. Which move you get to do depends on 1) how much energy you have, 2) which button you press, and 3) your distance to the enemy. If you crouch or fly, you're safe from taking damage, but you don't regain energy. If you stand or walk, you gradually regain energy, but you're vulnerable to being attacked. You can also rapidly hit the punch and kick buttons back and forth to get energy back faster, but how fast will depend on how much health you have. Yeah, the platforming sections suck balls, but thankfully, you can turn them off in the options (it's like the devs knew). You can also turn off the back step in the options, so that you're character will turn around right away instead.
The thing is, once you get the hang of its quirky fighting system, you can reliably do moves and be able to fight back better. And lets not forget the rather nice animation (your character actually looks like they walk, planting a foot on the ground, versus the old "slide" movement so many games used at the time). There's also a lot of moves at your disposal, and the music is fantastic (the cartridge version's music is better IMO). It would have been nice if there were more than four robots to choose from, but this was pre-Street Fighter 2, so fighting games weren't known for having much of a roster.
I wrote a review for this game on SEGA-16, and caught a lot of flack for giving it a 5 out of 10. But I still stand by that 5, damn it😆
I made sure i have all three versions in the collection Mark. I love Heavy Nova. Now i have to replay them all over again. Another great BOTP edition from you brother man. 8^)
Anthony..
It looks like one of those games that are actually good but need the patience and will power to get the feel for.
I'll have to try it sometime.
i knew about the x68k one but this is the 1st time i can watch it...thanks
You're very welcome
Heavy Nova, and Cyborg Justice and likely others I forgot, were useful in that it meant I never even wanted to try Rise of the Robots. I already knew what it would be like.
At least there is a silver lining to this one 😅👍
There were a number of fighting games in the early 90s that did the "knock the player down for an inordinately long time" thing. You could always tell who didn't have an intuitive grasp of what type of elements ruined the player's connection to a game.
you: "it still plays better than Tongue of the Fatman"
me: that's not an achievement
(maybe more like avoiding a crime against humanity)
At least it looks and sounds decent. Can't say that about Fatman.
Yeah, but at least Fatman is laughably bad. Like they knew it was a turd and they were incapable of making a decent game they decided to make everything about it over the top stupid. This is just pathetic bad. Couldn't even get someone who could sing to do the intro music for the Mega CD.
😅 So very true.
Heavy Nova is ABSOLUTELY AWESOME and STUNNINGLY AMAZING
Bot
This was one of the first games I had gotten for Genesis / Megadrive. I loved the opening cinematic, but the gameplay was subpar but you got use to it....😅
i play the heck out of this game. fun on keyboard too. love this game. one of my favorite games.
Ahh, another game that could be so much more with better playability! Thanks for being brave to play this to show us the different versions!
My pleasure!
I listen to the Mega-CD theme regularly. I've hardly played the game though.
Probably the best way to make use of the disc.
If I recall correctly, this and Sol-Feace were Japanese Mega CD launch titles released on the same day in 1991.
They were the only launch titles. Sega didn’t even make a single launch title for the Japanese release.
Ah, that was Black Hole Assault I think you mean. Or was that the sequal to this crap?
@@RetroCore Butt Hole ASSault you mean?
@@RetroCore Unless my memory fails me (and it usually does).
Black Hole Assault was the sequel to Heavy Nova. We never got Heavy Nova on Sega CD here in the U.S.
Ha! I do enjoy it when mark puts himself through such..errr....unique games?
Lol, I can't say I do.
All versions gives an impression of being played on a 50hz system, despite each version running on 60hz hardware. And the audio problem on the X68000 version must be the reason why Micronet never allowed a re-release of the game on Project EGG.
Indeed. On the X68000z the game crashes at the load prompt while on emulators it has sound issues and graphical issues depending on the emulator.
Do you get to keep the free games if you sign up for Project EGG service for 1 month and quit or is it like gamepass? There are a few I want to buy like Mad Stalker, and I'm hoping Aquales becomes available for digital sale as I can't justify $90 for the physical collection even though it has a couple other interesting games.
The only reason why I like this game's soundtrack is the sampled use of the roland R8 snare. or is it from the sound canvas?
the soundtrack does go pretty hard tho
I'm fascinated by X6800 games- I wasn't even aware of the computer back in its prime, but this would have been my dream machine, just based on the quality of original and ported games I've seen over the years- well, except for this one I guess... but there has to be some rotten apples in every bunch
Oh yes. Theres quite a few stinkers on the X68000. Luckily there's a lot more good stuff.
My rental store had some imported games and one of those was Heavy Nova. I like the music but the game isn't good. But since I've rented it on a weekend, I had to play it for 3 days so I have some memories of this game.
Funny enough, I ended up using the purple robot as an enemy on my fan made Avengers game :)
It's Robo Barny
Correction:
Apparently the Mega CD version was actually the first (was seemingly a launch title), and the X68000 version came out last (April 1992).
I think Wikipedia says that but upon further research it does seem the X68000 version was first.
@@RetroCore Correct on Wikipedia. Sega Retro also says it's a X68000 game as well.
As for Wikipedia, I've honestly lost a lot of trust on that site, especially after some... certain history exposed with it
I remember reviews not being kind to this one. Rightfully so.
The only Heavy Nova I own was done by Robert Palmer. Guess I didnt missed much
Something ill admit is that it does have some neat sprite work, if only if the game was smoother in animation and movement, it might've had a chance
I'll say one thing for Superman 64, they cancelled the PS1 version, in the end there was just the N64 version. I guess Heavy Nova still got less ports than Rise of the Robots, so they were sparing a fair number of people from suffering. They should have called it Heavy Dump.
Yeah but the PS1 version looked actually good compared to the licensing rush job on the N64
The leaked ps1 version was actually ok due to the team behind Vectorman making it.
It's a shame the good version was never released.
Oh gawd, I remember Classic Game Room reviewing the Genesis version back in 2008 and it's one of his funniest videos because of how awful it is. I also could only stand to play the Sega CD version for about ten minutes. You truly put yourself through the ringer for us playing a game so incompetently made it has "Earth" misspelled as "Erath." To quote CGR: "This is without a doubt the worst video game on Erath. (sic)"
Very close to Cyborg Justice.
Nah that was better... just awkward that one.
No way! Cyborg Justice is a beat-em-up. And a good one at that.
Heavy Nova is a fighting game, and one of the worst.
Fighting Masters is far better than this.
Cyborg Justice was waaaay better than Heavy Nova.
Love the soundtrack but the game was unplayable during the boss fights. Kind of a shame, if given some work it could've have been a sleeper hit.
If only the controls were more responsive.
The problem with releasing the vids on Friday is that I now have to talk to the wife on Saturday.
Lol 😅 sorry man.
Cant remember ever owning or playing this, I think I'd seen on demo in a store or something, I'm guessing I got lucky haha... 😅
You sure did get lucky. It's a pretty poor game.
Before Sega got Street Fighter, I routinely had to deal with awful fighting games on Sega while my SNES friends were living the dream. I recall this one and Black Hole Assault being especially horrible on my Sega CD.
Black hole assault that name alone spells trouble 😂
I regrettably own this on the Genesis. What an ambitious turd
Very unfortunate but on the flip side you can boast it's identical to the Mega CD version.
I was really disappointed when I got this game to play on MegaCD. There was no reason for a game that didn’t have any improvement over the cartridge version. Even Sherlock Holmes’ game showed the potential of the add-on.
Indeed. It's identical besides the audio.
Remeber importing this on the mega cd on release and being upset mmm.
I'm not surprised. I was more upset when I found out he cartridge version was identical.
Orthopedic
Don't tell me Earnest Evans was also on the X68000...
lol, thankfully not but Arcus Oddessy and Granada were.
I always enjoyed the name of this game. That's pretty much the only good thing about it.
Japanese were without a doubt the best game developers in the late 80's and early 90's, but they sure had their fair share of turds. This game being a steaming example.
Yeah man the only redeeming quality of this game is the music and it's such a waste being locked behind a terrible game. This is definitely another I didn't know originally got it's start on the X68k which is neat trivia. 😎
I wanted to like Heavy Nova and Blackhole Assault so badly. I wish there was a quality of life patch for the bad controls and hit detection.
Why would they ever make a sequel to begin with?
Very good question but they did. At least the 2nd time round X68000 owners were spared.
A quality hack could help things but even then the game is probably still going to be rather bland.
Another rare moment: A crap Sharp X68000 game
Yep. But then again a crap developer.
This is indeed a rough game 😅
Yep
Broken mechanics but excellent soundtrack
I’ve heard about this famously bad game but the music is banging for such a bad game, shame Micronet didn’t make a good game and it’s no wonder they’re not around anymore and what’s interesting is that I prefer the music in the Mega Drive version of Heavy Nova over the Mega CD and X68000 original , great battle of the ports as always and I must sympathise that you had to play this stinker of a turd which is has to be more playable than Tongue of The Fatman.
Oh, Micronet never made a single good game. All of their games sucked on every system. I think I read somewhere that Sega actually bought them in the 2000s.
Micronet did well with Junction and Raiden Trad (though that could've been even better if another dev did it). Heavy Nova is surely not their best effort.
Raiden is their claim to fame if oy to say its a billion times better than the crap on the SFC.
The concept is great if was just executed actually good would of been great game
I fully agree. There's a good concept here that's let down by crap controls.
@@RetroCore I'm just finding out there was a squeal??
Can't wait to see AVGN review this turd!
He probably isn't aware of it because it wasn't on a Nintendo system :p
This game make the mega CD look weak...
It makes the X68000 look like an Amiga 😅😋
Wait a minute.... so, Rise of the Robots is a remake of this game? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Unpopular take: Heavy Nova is the only game that shows what the reality of mech fighting---if it ever comes into being---will really be like: slow, awkward, and ridiculously unnecessary.
So very true.
Looks frustrating.
It is. The controls are so unresponsive.
how comes Micronet, a piss poor game developers can make this bad games on Genesis and X68000? i had never play this game before so yea, from what you said alongside the other piss poor games studios, i should not try myself
Well the soundtrack on Heavy Nova is pretty good at least, that is the only saving grace.
make sense, but shame on Micronet for everything else
Micronet we're just crap at making games. Most of their stuff is awful but do you know who bought them? Sega!
@@RetroCore wait really? Sega bought that studios?
This is the first time that is the most disappointed Battle of the Ports - all three versions shown here have poor gameplay.
Yep, all versions stink.
Perhaps the game was too heavy for your emulators. 🕶️
Lol. Nice one.
Yeah, this game is janky as hell and doesn’t play well at all by the looks of it. I’d struggle to control my robot too. Man, these early fighting games don’t age well at all.😂
Heavy Nova/Black Hole Assault is no exception. If you want a good 16-bit robot fighter, I’d recommend Mad Stalker as that game plays WAY better than this steaming pile of a game.
Not a very inspirated game. Seems very hard to play in all versions.
Decent music, crap gameplay.
Holy crap. That's the worst walking animation I have ever seen. It looks a like beginners class in 80s Robot Dance. what the hell?
I wonder if Heavy Nova inspired Rise of the Robots... 🤔🤔🤔 I mean, both games are crap...
Not impossible, but it didn't get released in the UK, so the ROTR developers likely never played it unless they went out of their way to import.
@@Silanda I know. I'm just joking, but you never now... 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
What I don't understand is how a game this terrible got a sequel.
Death Crimson is widely known as the absolute worst game on the Sega Saturn but then it got 2 pretty good Dreamcast sequels. The devs would then go on to make Melty Blood and Under Knight Inbirth.
@@Nathan-rb3qp That doesn't really answer the "why" a terrible game gets a sequel though.
@@SomeOrangeCat I guess they just wanted to have a second try at it.