[AC] [DC] Mars Matrix

[icycalm]

http://insomnia.ac/reviews/cpsystemii/marsmatrix/

An awesome review by Doctor Fugue -- brief and to the point, displaying a thorough understanding of the game's mechanics, even at high skill levels, and dissecting them without boring manual regurgitation. -- And extremely well-written too. A model Insomnia review in all respects. I really hope we'll be seeing more from him in the future. This and his part in the Contra 4 review make me very hopeful.

If anyone wants to read more on the game there's also Rando's review on Shmups, but though there's some good stuff in there, it's easily one of his worst reviews, with tons of random comments about the DC port, and a few quite frankly annoying comments directed towards people like me and Recap (mainly regarding the port's quality). Still, a must-read for those who are very interested in the game:

http://www.shmups.com/reviews/marsmatrixrev2/

Now a request. The screens with the review suck, and are most probably from the US version to boot. If anyone could take a few screens from the Japanese version, and especially if you can play a half-decent run and capture some decent bullet-hell moments, with loads of gold on-screen etc., and perhaps also one picture showcasing two-player simultaneous play -- that would be awesome. Ideally, Dominic himself would have done this, and perhaps he eventually will, but in any case if anyone can help I'd be grateful.

[Doctor Fugue]

A couple of people have asked me why I do not mention the Dreamcast port in the review. There is a simple answer:

This is a review of the GAME, not of the PORT.

In case this still confuses people, I will elaborate. The review discusses the game as it appeared upon release. A port is based on the original, but is necessarily different. One must understand the original game in all aspects before even beginning to discuss the qualities of a port. Thus, it would be confusing to include any mention of the DC port during a review of the original game.

Ports do not require reviews, they only need to appear as an appendix of changes.

The Dreamcast port of Mars Matrix does have quite a few changes, and I have no wish to go through them all. However, aside from picture resolution differences which I am admittedly terrible at discerning, there are two main considerations to be made when playing the game on a DC.

1) The counterstop possibility has been removed by the addition of two extra digits in the score. However, it is extremely important to note that the scoring systems are also changed. Scores will be at least 20 percent higher on the Dreamcast during similar runs. When comparing high scores, keep the DC and Arcade scoreboards separate.

2) It is possible to use different buttons for different weapons on the Dreamcast. DO NOT DO THIS. The timing of the close-range weapon is altered, as is the initiation time of the mosquito barrier. This ruins the carefully-planned stages and removes the greatest feature of the game (single-button play).

I will work on getting a few screens together, please forgive the tardiness.

[icycalm]

This is a review of the ORIGINAL GAME, not of the PORT.

Fixed. (Because the port is a game too...)

In case this still confuses people, I will elaborate.

I think I've already said all there is to say on this matter in this article:

http://insomnia.ac/commentary/ports_and_compilations/

It would be best then to direct people there, instead of raising the same tired issues again and again in random game threads. If anyone has anything to add, the best place to do that would be in that article's dedicated thread (there isn't one currently, so whoever has something to add can simply start one).

A port is based on the original, but is necessarily different.

Not necessarily.

Ports do not require reviews, they only need to appear as an appendix of changes.

It depends on how big the differences are. There are ports (admittedly very few) that deserve even longer reviews than the original games they were based off.

Now all the above is really off-topic -- like I said, if you or anyone else wants to discuss these matters further (and actually HAS something to say on them...), please start a new thread.

Your comments on the port, however, are very much on-topic and very welcome. One thing bothers me though:

2) It is possible to use different buttons for different weapons on the Dreamcast. DO NOT DO THIS.

It doesn't seem to me that you have provided sufficient reasoning for this. Immediately after it you say that "The timing of the close-range weapon is altered, as is the initiation time of the mosquito barrier" -- but what do these facts have to do with whether the player of the DC port uses multiple buttons or not? No matter WHAT he does, "the timing of the close-range weapon is altered, as is the initiation time of the mosquito barrier" -- or do these changes occur only when you use multiple buttons?

This ruins the carefully-planned stages and removes the greatest feature of the game (single-button play).

What is this "this" you are referring to here? The altering of the timing of the close-range weapon and the initiation time of the mosquito barrier, OR the player's ability to choose the option to use multiple buttons?

[Doctor Fugue]

Sorry for being off-topic, I didn't think to create a new thread.

The changes in timing only occur if the player uses multiple buttons; using a single button emulates the arcade controls.

"This" refers to the altered timing that occurs through using multiple buttons instead of one.