MSX is one of the few platforms I wasn't aware of as a kid. I hadn't previously been overly impressed with the game footage I've seen, but the games you've shown here certainly do look impressive. I also find the concept of a standards based 8-bit computer very interesting. It was almost the precursor of what happened in the 16/32 (now 64) bit era. OS provided by Microsoft and hardware provided by third party.
A sizable portion of those games were MSX1 games, so I would add « Knightmare 2 : Maze of Galious", and "Salamander" (and, really any Konami Megarom for that matter).
I was going to point the same, all are MSX games, only Vampire Killer and Metal Gear were a MSX2 game. It is a shame that by the time the MSX was launched there were already more powerful systems like the Atari ST and the Amiga that prevented it from having more relevance.
@@segadorn Aleste is also MSX2. Suggestions for MSX2 games: Golvellius 2, hydefos, Feedback, undeadline, Zanac ex, Aleste 2, Super laydock, phantasm soldier, Ys 1 and 2, psychoworld, Quinpl, Treasure of Usas etc. Kings valley 2 and Gradius 3/Nemesis 3 are MSX1 games with some minor MSX2 enhancements like backgrounds and colours and less sprite flicker.
@@imqqmi You are right, i dind remember Aleste as a MSX2 game. I had a Canon MSX back in the day, never managed to get a MSX2 and then upgraded to Atari ST. Great, interesting, days.
You didn't get the full experience of Aleste, you'll need to borrow an FM-PAC or a cartridge with the YM2413 synth chip as well for improved sound. And also note that the game needs 2 fire buttons. You only shot the secondary weapon, the primary weapon for which you can pick up the numbered upgrades is much much stronger and you'll easily destroy the bosses within time limit. Picking up more of the same number increases its size/range. The P powerups improve the secondary weapon you used. Metal gear uses an SCC cartridge (also a synth chip), seems to be missing from this video. Weird that you found the second fire button on Gradius/Nemesis but not Aleste X-D There was a trick to get horizontal scrolling, if you look at Hydefos, it's really smooth up/down and scrolling horizontally. It isn't using the full height of the screen as a trade off probably. Konami on the MSX wasn't well known for getting the most out of the MSX2.
Hi thanks for the info and tips. My friend who lent me all of it, says that the MegaflashROM SCC+ SD cartridge I was using should have synth. We just ned to work out how to enable it I’m guessing… Would be cool to hear the difference
Ouch, imagine trying to play the Gradius/Nemesis/Parodius games with only level one ship speed and weapon. The pickups that appear after destroying (usually an entire wave of) enemies are ship and weapons upgrades. Each of the blue rectangles at the bottom of the screen represent a different one, and you can upgrade most of them at least couple of times. Each pickup will cycle forward through the available power-ups, but you have to select them yourself by pressing a button or key, I don't know which button on the MSX though. I guess it could be the space bar
MSX is one of the few platforms I wasn't aware of as a kid. I hadn't previously been overly impressed with the game footage I've seen, but the games you've shown here certainly do look impressive. I also find the concept of a standards based 8-bit computer very interesting. It was almost the precursor of what happened in the 16/32 (now 64) bit era. OS provided by Microsoft and hardware provided by third party.
A sizable portion of those games were MSX1 games, so I would add « Knightmare 2 : Maze of Galious", and "Salamander" (and, really any Konami Megarom for that matter).
Cool, thanks
I was going to point the same, all are MSX games, only Vampire Killer and Metal Gear were a MSX2 game. It is a shame that by the time the MSX was launched there were already more powerful systems like the Atari ST and the Amiga that prevented it from having more relevance.
@@segadorn Aleste is also MSX2. Suggestions for MSX2 games: Golvellius 2, hydefos, Feedback, undeadline, Zanac ex, Aleste 2, Super laydock, phantasm soldier, Ys 1 and 2, psychoworld, Quinpl, Treasure of Usas etc. Kings valley 2 and Gradius 3/Nemesis 3 are MSX1 games with some minor MSX2 enhancements like backgrounds and colours and less sprite flicker.
@@imqqmi You are right, i dind remember Aleste as a MSX2 game. I had a Canon MSX back in the day, never managed to get a MSX2 and then upgraded to Atari ST. Great, interesting, days.
Love me some MSX. Maybe it's time I fire up my Panasonic FS-A1 again and try to actually beat Vampire Killer for once :)
Had one “rented” problem was very few games😢
You didn't get the full experience of Aleste, you'll need to borrow an FM-PAC or a cartridge with the YM2413 synth chip as well for improved sound. And also note that the game needs 2 fire buttons. You only shot the secondary weapon, the primary weapon for which you can pick up the numbered upgrades is much much stronger and you'll easily destroy the bosses within time limit. Picking up more of the same number increases its size/range. The P powerups improve the secondary weapon you used.
Metal gear uses an SCC cartridge (also a synth chip), seems to be missing from this video.
Weird that you found the second fire button on Gradius/Nemesis but not Aleste X-D
There was a trick to get horizontal scrolling, if you look at Hydefos, it's really smooth up/down and scrolling horizontally. It isn't using the full height of the screen as a trade off probably. Konami on the MSX wasn't well known for getting the most out of the MSX2.
Hi thanks for the info and tips. My friend who lent me all of it, says that the MegaflashROM SCC+ SD cartridge I was using should have synth. We just ned to work out how to enable it I’m guessing… Would be cool to hear the difference
You know your MSX stuff, imqqmi.
peace be upon you sir
Ouch, imagine trying to play the Gradius/Nemesis/Parodius games with only level one ship speed and weapon.
The pickups that appear after destroying (usually an entire wave of) enemies are ship and weapons upgrades. Each of the blue rectangles at the bottom of the screen represent a different one, and you can upgrade most of them at least couple of times. Each pickup will cycle forward through the available power-ups, but you have to select them yourself by pressing a button or key, I don't know which button on the MSX though. I guess it could be the space bar
Yeah hey, makes you wonder how far people have got like that. Thanks for sharing those tips.
Dude, you sound exactly like "Found and Explained"... or are you!?
😄
Knightmare is actually a MSX 1 game