@@jesuszamora6949 Yeah, that commercial is incredible. In terms of its story, I think Valis is a really interesting series, but I don't think it ever really got the game play treatment it deserved. Also, I'd consider the music from the Valis games to be among my favorites on the Genesis.
@@kubev I agree with all that. That's actually why I'm excited about the Revival Project (Website: www.valis-game.com/) Judging from the art being Valis 1-centric, I'm going to assume its a reboot, which means the series will have another shot at reaching its potential.
There's an anime movie called Genmu Senki Leda and it seems Valis was super inspired by it. Same theme, a girl from the human world in another dimension, a chosen warrior by a magic sword and stuff like that, even the bikini armor thingy lol That's the closest thing you can get to an actual Valis anime, of course aside from the TV commercial.
Thanks for continuing with the series. This is where Valis really reached its peak. The story is nonsensical and the gameplay is pretty average, but the music, art design and the weirdness of the different stages really makes it feel like an epic journey.
Looks like Yuko (the main character) has ditched the school outfit and Mary Janes for 'Season Three'. And this time, she's brought her friends to fight alongside her.
The PC Engine version obviously has a good soundtrack and bright visuals. But the Genesis (Mega Drive) version of Valis 3 shows it can hold its own. I have the game, and it's so much fun. My first exposure to the series. I'm impressed that with the limited hardware, they still could pull off that small anime opening.
Played this one a lot back in the day, and always wondered why It was never adapted to anime. More vibrant and vivid colors on Mega Drive version, and the parallax gives it much more depth.
The commercial for the first game was directed by Hideaki Anno, imagine a Valis adaptation with Evangelion-like deconstruction of the Isekai genre hahahaha
This game is so memorable for me. I looked high and low for the Mega Drive version in my country. I finally ended up getting in a trip to HK with my family. Lucked out in a random game shop.
I remember getting my first copy in a UK store for only 5 pounds! The store was closing down so everything had to go. That was an amazing deal back in 1992 when I bought it.
@@RetroCore Was it the Japanese Mega Drive version or the North American Genesis version, Yakumo? Unfortunately we didn't officially receive this game in Europe.
Great battle Mark! Was excited to see this in my feed this morning. MD version does look like the best version to try out. Shame there wasn’t MD CD version of Valis III.
I can imagine a Mega CD version having the music, cutscenes and stages of the PC Engine version but with the graphical flair of the Mega Drive. No special effect with it being Telenet.
The Genesis/MD version of Valis 3 used the same sound drivers that were used in Gaiares. It was a missed opportunity that Telenet didn’t used them in more of their games.
It does but Telenet had a better sound driver which is used in Vapor Trail and yet another one they use in Granada X, El Viento, earnest Evans and Sol Deace
this was the height of the Valis series, and everything from the gameplay, story & music was outstanding one either format. little bonus if anyone can spot the famous monster in the background of the first boss battle in the PCE-CD/TG16CD version.
@@RetroCore woo hoo! Can't wait to watch it! Here in Toronto we've had snow a few times this year but thanks to global warming winters here have been extremely mild in the last 20 years or so.
Well, just lost all electricity 😢 I was near the end of editing too :(. Hope the file autosaved before the power went out. Today is the coldest this part of Japan has been in 20 years. - 6 today.
Good episode Mark! You gave me the will to repair my Interface Unit NEC CdRom and find a way out to play Valis 3 on the system. Even if I still prefer my MD NTSC version.
The Genesis/Mega Drive version of Valis III is what introduced me to the series, back in the mid-90s. After playing NES games and SNES games as well as Genesis, I was amazed by not only the game play but also the sheer presentation of Valis III (and another game, El Viento that I had bought at the same time). I hadn't seen anything on the SNES with that kind of presentation (maybe Makeruna! Makendou, known as Kendo Rage in the US...with an extraordinarily silly cover, comes close) before those two games. Really fun game. Thanks for continuing the series!
The Mega Drive version looks like it's the version that Telenet wanted to make initially (Better Boss Fights, Parallax Scrolling, Better Shadows) but due to the constraints of the NEC hardware, wasn't able to. But I also wonder if the Japanese gaming magazines (or SEGA) at the time had an influence over the design improvements for the Mega Drive version based on their review of the PCE Game. Great video and content as always Mark. You're an inspiration.
Outside of parallax, what is the NEC hardware not able to do?? And yes, the PCE could do parallax in the game. It's not the hardware per se, but the development team.
I disagree. It’s an improvement mostly due to the fact that they had time to realize what worked and what didn’t. Idk that the PCCD was capable of that boat scene but those boss battles were totally doable.
@@besotoxicomusic The boat scene is was probably the easiest one of all to do parallax on the PCECD version. The water is a BG layer. And just like the MD one, it's just simply hsync scroll offets to make the parallax.
This was a fun comparison. I did enjoy the PC Engine version when I played it, but I recall thinking the MD version was more fun and played better. I also think, despite the removal of some stages, felt like it was about the right length. And the parallax scrolling is nice, though I don't mind the lack of it on PCE. I think one reason for some of the improvements on the MD is that Valis 3 was made before the Super CD upgrade if my dates are correct. That would explain why, aside from the parallax, the backgrounds look simpler and more flat than the MD. A good example is the first stage with the city in the background. Even if the MD had no parallax, there's still a big difference. The limited "buffer" RAM of the regular PCE CD leads to some limitations the cart version would not have, especially as it appears to be an eight-megabit game on MD which was a good amount when the MD game was made. It was interesting how the series evolved from a bit of a mess, to a good game on PCE with Valis 3, and to a game that was even better in some ways on MD with this port. It's a bit of shame the MD never got a version of Valis 4, a direct port of the PCE version. Looking at the box art for that one, it doesn't appear to be a Super CD game either, so an MD version would have been cool to see.
@@RetroCore My understanding is that the Super CD(the memory upgrade to the regular CD, but not the Arcade CD) came out in 1991, around the time of the Duo. Valis 3 looks to be a 1990 release which, if my dates are correct, make it a regular CD game. That's what I meant. I didn't see the Super CD logo on either Valis 3 or Valis 4 covers either. If I have it right, then they are quite limited in terms of the buffer RAM compared to the likes of Gate of Thunder.
I used to play this game alot as a kid on the Sega Genesis. I guess someone can make a mod of this and combine the best of both versions: Genesis gameplay & graphic mix with PC's audios & cutscenes.
Yessss the heart of Valis. They did such a great job with the Megadrive soundtrack on this, the PCE music is one of the all times for me but the MD has real kick and loads of detail, and if I'm honest does play a liiiiittle better.
Don't you slide with the select button or something cockamamie like that on TG-CD? Slide being moved to a real face button for Genesis is a gameplay quality of life improvement to begin with
First time I’ve seen this game was in a electronic story running on a PCE CD. It was imported and was there basically for show off because the console was super expensive back in the day (it was back in Brazil). The Snes was new and seen the cutscene and characters speaking was absurdly awesome! Compared with Mega Drive and Snes games, the voices, cd music and the cutscenes where much better! I know this game isn’t that much, but because of this memory, and also been the first time I’ve seen a PCE (I knew the platform just because of magazines, but that was the first time I saw it running), it’s a special game for me!
For some reason I picked the Genesis version of this game up as a kid. I didn't get the Turbografx version for another 5 or 6 years. The Genesis version just holds more nostalgia for me, though I admit I prefer the TG-CD soundtrack more. I don't think I ever managed to beat this one. That ice stage near the end was my undoing. It's really nice to see some side by side gameplay. It's hard to argue when you're literally looking at both at once. Great vid, Mark!
Mega Drive was also my introduction to the game. I have a soft spot for that version but do own both versions. I'm not sure about which soundtrack I prefer. Some of the CD stuff sounds too cheesy.
@@RetroCore To be fair, the I remake was done after Valis IV, and was a Super CD game. There would have been hell to pay had it not improved the graphical quality over the original CD versions of Valis II-IV, I imagine.
Like some others, Valis III on the Genesis was the first game in the series I played. Despite being a little slow, I enjoyed it a lot back in the day. I found it interesting to see the different levels (and worse control and visuals) in the PCE CD version which I played about a year after. I prefer the Genesis version in just about every way. Even the redbook audio is mostly worse because for some reason, it seems no one knew how to properly mix the audio in the early 90s and PCE Valis III like several other games on the system, is dominated by treble tones and not enough base. I do wish they'd used samples for the percussion in the Genesis version instead of FM, though. I'd love to see a rom hack that adds/extends the other levels into the Genesis/MD version.
Another great episode, Mark, with the extended comparisons. In my opinion, Valis III is a much better game than the first two. I prefer playing the Genesis port, but the PC-Engine CD version is great too, especially the color usage and music. I agree that the control is just a little more refined in the Genesis port, plus having played the Genesis version first, I just can't shake that feeling of something missing with the lack of parallax scrolling. They did a good job faking it in the building-dive sequence, but it hurts not having any parallax elsewhere. Of course, that's forgivable and just the fact the PC--Engine only has the single hardware background layer (definitely the biggest flaw in the design). It probably wouldn't bother me at all-since it doesn't in most PC-Engine games-if there wasn't a Genesis port and if I hadn't played that version first, but there is and I did, so it does annoy me a bit. Quite a fun game though on both systems. Even though I'm probably in the minority on this opinion, I will say that I really like the US case art for the TurboGrafx-16 version of Valis III (not the US Genesis boxart though: that's terrible like as if a 5 year old mad a crayon drawing and then barfed all over it). It's got that same US fantasy art feel as Tom duBois's work for Konami, movie art like for "Barbarella" or "Heavy Metal", or, especially, the various US game boxart from Julie Bell and her husband Boris Vallejo. I'm not sure who did the US TG-16 art for Valis III, but Julie Bell did the US Super Valis IV boxart, which is similar style-wise. Not everyone likes that style of art, and I'm definitely not saying the Japanese Valis III art is bad anything because I like it too, but there's just something special and nostalgic to these types of US fantasy art that some of us in the North American region like. However, even though I like it, TG-16 CD Valis III US artwork is definitely not the best of this type (my favorites are Julie Bell's US Ax Battler art and Tom duBois's US/PAL Sunset Riders boxart and Belmont's Revenge boxart), so I don't expect many have a lot of love for it.
Yeah, the lack of parallax scrolling really does make some PC Engine games look cheap. It shouldn't but it actually puts me off playing some games on the PC Engine. As for the US box art to Valis III, oh man. That is really poor.
@@RetroCore The US Genesis boxart is just so bad, and probably one of the reasons I didn't play the game until you originally covering it on Retro Core there near the beginning. I know I read a review of the US TG-16 version in a magazine (either GamePro or Video Games and Computer Entertainment, since those I had access to). I don't remember the rating, but I guess it never clicked with me nor did I have friends with either version of the game. So, in those situations, where I didn't really have a specific reason to get a game, I only picked games up, new or used, if they had cool box or label art or if they just sounded cool. I definitely remember skipping over Genesis Valis III because the box looked terrible. They should have at least used the US TG-16 CD art, or even just the plain background with the logo like the cart itself...even that would have been better than what we ended up with over here for the boxart. I have to say though that I am definitely glad that I ordered a copy of Genesis Valis III though after seeing that Retro Core all of those years ago. It was the first, but definitely not the last game I've bought based on your videos (probably my favorites that I bought based on your videos were the Assault Suit series, which I had completely missed out on before), so mad props to you Mark for putting out honest and entertaining content for all of these years.
What did they do to poor Yuko on that US Genesis Valis 3 box? You're right that it looks cheap. I only recently noticed that Julie Bell did Super Valis 4's box. It's a nice one and I've always liked her work. The Ax Battler cover, along with me interest in Golden Axe is what got me to buy that one and I did enjoy it. It's quite a good cover, of course.
@@shotgunl They couldn't use the North American Turbo CD boxart for the North American Genesis version because despite the PCE CD version being the original, the Mega Drive port was released first in North America. One year before in fact, North American Genesis version was in 1991 and North American Turbo CD was in 1992. Also, they were handled by different publishers. The Genesis release was by Renovation Products, the American branch of Telenet Japan, while the Turbo CD release was by NEC itself. And apparently they wouldn't share cover arts themselves, hence why they are different.
I was obsessed with this game on Genesis back in the day. With the internet of the time, it was hard to find info on the series. I was dying to know where the other two games were. Then I saw Syd of Valis at a flea market. I could tell from the intro of III that Syd was some sort of retelling of Valis II...but I was not pleased.
Watch out the video timings. They are not quite right, there's part of the Music comparison section still embedded in the Both versions side by side section. Aside from that, wonderful job as always, Yakumo.
@@RetroCore Yep. Got Air Diver and Darwin 4081 too... both fully cased. The vendor didn't seem to know what they were and probably just thought they were video tapes. :)
I laughed hard once I discovered that a Russian group did a bootleg of Valis III by slapping Winx on it. All they did was an adaptation the script to an original story in Russian and Yuko became blond.
Yeah, guys from "Kudos" are (in)-famous for being the biggest trolls in the Russian (bootleg) video games segment of the late 90s and early 00s. Those were the wild times here. Kudos even released a роrn parody quest "Harry Potter and the Female Prisoners of Azkaban" for ps1 back in a day. Lol
I'm pretty sure that Telenet could've done a better job on the PC engine. There are PC Engine titles that feature parallax scrolling, so even a limited application of the effect could've spiced things up. Also, the platform is hardly a real excuse for boring boss battles.
This game was my introduction to the series. The game is fun and while not perfect it is steps above the first 2. Telenet started to understand how to make a good Valis game. Both are great and while I don't mind too much the absense of parallax scrolling in the PCE version (Wish it had tho) it makes a great difference in the MD port, looking more polished, more "16-bit" lol The music is also good in both versions, I like the FM renditions more because they sound a little less cheesy and also those Telenet FM percussions XD Good game overall. Great video as always and hope Valis IV is next, I know both games are a lot more different than these but still would be great to see you finish the series with that one.
Im sure Valis III was also my introduction to the series too. It was also the Mega Drive version. I think the lack of Parallax scrolling really does hurt PC Engine games. They look so flat and basic compared to the Mega Drive. If course if thr Mega Drive version didn't exist the PC Engine version would look fine. Its only when you see both side by side does it start to look dated.
Normally I’d side with PCCDs music and Megadrives graphics but I might have to say the opposite this time. It’s close though. However, the playability differences are still superior on the mega drive hands down.
This game reminds me of the Sufami G.S. Mikami game. Recently I noticed the there's a PC Engine CD Mikami game but sadly is those kind of games where you need to know japanese to enjoy it.
While I can appreciate all of the improvements of the Genesis version, I still prefer the original. I guess I just liked the CD music more and the fact that Rogles was in that one. He was my favorite villain in the series.
Though I own the damned good Genesis version, I prefer the Japanese PC Engine CD version. Same with Valis IV, PCE CD is the one I prefer for it, though I own the SFC version.
@@RetroCore Indeed, the SFC/SNES version is sadly relegated to just Yuuko's successor Rena, or Lena, and the other 2 playable characters got axed. Stages are also quite different, and like the MD version of Valis 3, some stages got axed, and I think 1 new one got added. The SNES and PCE CD Valis IV feel world's different to me as well, almost like an entirely new game (sort of like Drac X between the same two consoles).
Hello always been a fan of the Valis games dont ask me way, i Like both version but the Megadrive one is a more refined game and the resisigned that damn water level on the Pc Engine its solid i remember it taking me hours back in the day to get past it but freezing things, but you got to love that Pc Engine sound track just need to work out how to make a Mega MSU rom now with the PCE music that would be class.
This does not seem to be the direction that the channel is going at this very moment, but I would love to eventually see Battle of the Ports videos on the games in the Street Fighter 3 series.
People who read me: if you like this kind of game, try "Ghost Sweeper Mikami" on SNES (it's easy to find an english patched rom) Very nice game, fun to play, and good musics
Both versions of this game seem very close, even in the side-by-side comparison. The PC Engine would normally have the edge with the color palette.... although I'd say in this case I'd say some of the stages look better on the Mega Drive, with more contrast than the PCE version. The first stage and cutscenes look better on the PCE though. The difference in colors isn't as noticeable as the welcome addition of parallax scrolling in the Mega Drive port though, and it really helps add extra depth to the already decent environments. While I've never played the PCE version, I can tell by watching that it's ever-so-slightly slower than the Mega Drive port... which is expected given the difference in power between the two systems. The music in both versions is very good, but if I'm being honest I find myself preferring the Mega Drive's FM + PSG renditions. Even though the PCE CD could essentially play anything in redbook audio, this soundtrack sounds like it was composed on something like an MT-32 or SC-55, and with no real instruments. The melody and percussion are clear, but there's not much bass compared to the Mega Drive version. Overall this is probably the rare case where the Mega Drive port actually has the advantage over its PCE-CD counterpart. It plays better, has more parallax, great color usage, and depending on your preferences, a better soundtrack. Now if only Telenet was able to use one of the larger cartridges like UMK3 and SSF2 used, then it could add the missing cutscenes, perhaps even with bitcrushed voice samples.
Yep, the MD has the edge. The slight speed increase helps with playability. The parallax scrolling helps with level immersion and the music, well personally I like the chip tunes but that's a subjective one down to taste.
One thing I'm noticing is that the Mega Drive version has the characters much further to the right side of the screen to initiate scrolling compared to the PC Engine version. Really hate it when games do that...
Yeah, I didn't like Valis 3 on MD at first because of that. Still, I decided to return to it and ended up liking the game, but that's different for everyone.
Strangely though, it does not effect gameplay unlike other games which do that. I think it's because you can move back without the screen scrolling with you.
Retro Core Or probably because the Mega Drive has a much better screen resolution than the PCE, and the scrolling is kept with the same distance to the right of the character like the PCE version; it just looks closer to the edge due to the resolution differences.
@@solarflare9078 I think you are mistaken in this case. The Genesis can also run in the same 256-wide mode as PCE, and screen shots of Valis 3 look to be in that lower-resolution mode.
This was the first Valis game I played back in the day, and it got me interested in the series. I played the Genesis (Megadrive) version. I loved the music and switching between 3 different characters. I knew of the PC Engine version but never really played it. It's pretty cool to hear CD versions of those tracks.
Looking back at Japanese games like this, you can really see what a mistake it was to trust Western developers of the 90's with the shadow palette feature. I prefer working with darker colors myself, but they had no concept of what blended well, or how to use highlights. And with their carpet bombing approach to dithering? So many Megadrive ports resembled pirate originals. A shame too, as the Megadrive had one of the best palettes around, if you didn't add the extra effects.
@@RetroCore For the record, whatever they thought were doing, it wasn't just because they were Western developers. I was a professional artist in the 90's. (Only retiring due to health issues.) Nobody I ever met was taught to make those kinds of mistakes. Besides, working with a limited palette is something you're forced to learn when you can't afford 60+ Prismacolor pencils/pens/crayons etc. Especially when you're working with the grocery store alternatives. They really don't blend. If more Western game studios had just swallowed their pride, and hired dedicated art teams (whether or not we could code something deeper than exorcist themed variations of "Hello World!")? ....actually, it would just meant we were responsible for tricking kids who only looked at the back of the box. The Megadrive would have been turned into an Amiga in no time. Sword of Sodan might even get a console exclusive sequel. I think I might actually be grateful for bad art now.
Thanks for a great video once again Mark 💕 A quick question, there is a game theme on the tube that I haven't manage to identified and unfortunately I never got a respond from the UA-camr about the name of the tune. You know any way you can identify tunes from the tube? Thank you for always giving the name of the tunes on your videos, it's really great when you find a great one 💕
Hmm, it's going to be very difficult unless you know what game it came from. Then you could search for that game's soundtrack, if it had one. Many times game music tracks don't have names. What is the track you want to identify?
@@RetroCorethanks for your respond Mark 💕 Well, the track in question is named by the UA-camr in the credits as Okami "arranged" and trust me, I have been trying to find this specific tune to no avail. Have found remixes and such but none that resembles it at all 😓
I wonder how this game would be if we used the combined power of CD and 32X. Same graphics, sound and cutscenes from the PC Engine CD, AND better controls and more challenging bosses from the Megadrive
If he does, I hope he adds SNES Super Turrican and the C64 homebrew Turrican 3 to the mix because, while completely different games, they have music and other assets from T3 so it would be an interesting comparison.
While Super Turriican is a different game, yes, is does share some tunes and uses some stages from previous as well. So its could been included here in a format like this. btw all ports is great to play. btw im did newer interesered in Valis series as its a Japanse exclusive game. But anyway. Personal taste in mind, no other here.
If Yakumo is not doing a Valis IV BOTP because of the differences between the PCE CD and SNES versions, I don't see him including Super Turrican in a Mega Turrican/Turrican 3 BOTP as that's an even more different game.
My understanding is that it was quite fast, despite being 8-bit and it even has a good version of Street Fighter 2, so it was capable. The CD add on didn't add much to the system, just CD audio, PCM audio, and CD storage of course, but that meant it was easy to develop for and it worked out well, at least in Japan.
@@txray3409 Plenty of the graphical flourishes that the Genesis's Motorola 68000 processor can do via plain old brute force coding. Even with the 16-bit graphics blitter, the PC Engine's custom 8-bit processor creates a bottleneck, and it shows on the side-by-side stuff.
There is no doubt that the controls are way better on the Mega Drive. Especially the jump. The problem is that I really like the levels that are exclusive the the PCE, and I really dislike that pipe level that is exclusive the the MD. Add in the music, and I find myself always playing the PCE version.
I like some of the colors in the pcengine cd version better, but the megadrive version seems better all around. If this was an Arcade CD-ROM title, it could probably have all or at least most of the parallax scrolling done in software or something.
It's not even a Super CD title (it's a CD 2.0 title). If it was, they could have easily added in dynamic tiles for parallax. No need for the arcade card for something as simple as this.
@@RetroCore Then you have a pretty rare PCE CD game/re-edition. Even Valis IV is CD 2.0. Only Valis I remake is Super CD 3.0. The Super CD 3.0 didn't even come out until the Japanese Duo in Sep 1991. This game is 1990
Not expecting a Valis IV BOTP anytime soon because once again, only released on two pieces of hardware. I personally think the Super NES version is better. The level design could be better (I was feeling repeated loops of platforms that just go straight on each stage, I’m not really complaining about that) but nothing wrong with the gameplay really, the graphics are good and the music is great! Hearing that Babylon and final stage music makes me want to run far off in the distance! But the PC Engine version has the definite edge in the music department because CD-Rom. I would’ve like to see Valis V happen, it would’ve been on Sega Saturn, PlayStation (console versions exclusive to Japan in October 1996) and Game Boy Advance (called Advanced Valis V like Super Valis IV and have a worldwide release in 2002 published by Atlus). It would still take a standard game level approach (still having Lena as the protagonist) and add something new like leveling up (maximum level being Lv. 99 for Easy [who knows how long that would take?], Lv. 25 for normal and Lv. 10 for Hard) and be like two hours to finish and have progress saving and a good and bad ending to it. It would then be followed up by Valis VI: The End of Valis released in December 1999 locked to the PlayStation exclusively in Japan. Valis VI would be the last chapter for Lena closing up the series (until a reboot was planned for the DS but ultimately cancelled), this final instalment would take the Metroidvania approach (inspired by the classic SOTN) with the level up (maximum being Lv. 99) feature returning, currency being added, lots of items to carry and having the most enemies and bosses to fight. It would have the most content/depth out of them all and being able to play as Yuko after finishing the game. It would be a 2D platformer in the vein of SOTN (I consider it an action RPG, how about you whoever’s reading this comment?), also be a hack and slash with Lena able to pull off combos and magic spells just like Alucard (requiring complex button combinations) and an action RPG (with level up, status effects like being petrified or losing HP, talking to people and buying other weapons/items) all into one game that would be somewhat of a SOTN ripoff. It would also have a good and bad ending. Both Valis V (excluding the GBA version) and VI if they happened would feature high quality FMV (but not on Advanced Valis V) and all Japanese voice acting (even on the GBA version of Valis V). There could have been more for the Valis series besides that nasty adult digital storybook. We could’ve had an anime of it, a manga and merchandise, maybe even spin-offs.
I love your sega recordings. what do you use. i have european mega drive 2. but music is far from that. even better with the emulator: D. I think you should also do the game series for vails.
@@Nathan-rb3qp IMO it is best that that game is forgotten, erased from history. It was blasphemous to the series, and those of us who love the Valis games want nothing to do with it.
Valis was never a top shelf series however I've always found some appeal with the vibe that the game exudes. I had Valis 3 for Mega Drive/Genesis in the very early nineties and it provided a lot of impulse playing sessions at that time, though the game becomes pretty difficult late and I never actually finished it, due to frustration or diminishing interest, and better games that I turned my attention to. That scene at the beginning with Yuko bravely diving off the skyscraper and transforming once she claims the sword always had a lot of cool factor. Sure the PC-CD version had the fully voiced intermissions, which was a big draw back then, but these in particular were so badly acted that they were not really missed in the Genesis version. The PC-CD version also had better quality music however this soundtrack is only just okay to begin with so a negligible downgrade there, as opposed to a comparison between the music on something like Wanderers From Ys for example, where the TG-16 CD has a great advantage over the Genesis/SNES. Overall the Genesis/Mega Drive version of this particular game is the one to get.
You know what I hate most about the sega version: not the cut content (it’s only logical, considering the format), not the music being more basic, but why in hell did they create a new stage, with a boss that doesn’t work in that stage…there’s a reason you sink in the desert sand during this battle in the pce version: it is the way to avoid his attacks, this is just completely broken in the sega version, as there’s literally no place to avoid anything. You simply can’t do a perfect boss fight in that version…for the rest I love both versions
Graphically, the PC-Engine CD version is analogous to RAW photos I take with my compact Canon pocket camera (with the hacked firmware that lets me shoot RAW) while the Mega Drive/Genesis version is analogous to those pictures after I stretch the contrast in "Levels" and do a few other things using GIMP to make the image "pop" more. The colours may be better on PC Engine but everything feels more defined on Genesis. For the music, I think I prefer the dirtier, grungier sound of the Genesis version. I know I rented the Genesis Valis III once, I certainly remember Yuko in her pajamas jumping off the roof of the apartment building to turn into the Valis soldier in midair, but I don't think I actually got very far into it. In any case, it's been almost 30 years so maybe I will give it the old emulation try.
Nice to see such a clean comparison between the two versions of this game. Both versions seem to have some pros and cons: the PC Engine definitely has the best music (not knocking on the Genesis chiptunes though) by virtue of being on a CD format so go figure. It also has the better cutscenes imo because it looks like the Genesis version cropped out some parts of it probably due to cartridge format constraints. The cutscenes in the Genesis version also look darker than they should be for some reason. The Genesis looks much better in the graphical department during gameplay and its use of colors seems to be more true to form whereas the PC Engine's colors looks a bit washed out. Can't say anything about the gameplay since I only own the PC Engine version so I'd just take your word for it and say the Genesis version probably plays better. These are, of course, just my own opinions. What do you think overall?
@@RetroCore It's a game on Newgrounds that came out in 2002. It can best be described as a cross between Metal Slug and Contra. It came out on 6th gen consoles, the GBA (for ONCE it's not a bad port). and mobile phones
Those two tracks you did a side by side comparison of. I have those tracks on a gaming audio cd I compiled myself. To my surprise, I thought those tracks came from the pc engine cd game. Apparantly not, the tracks I have on my audio cd are so much better. They must from an arranged ost or something. Found it! ua-cam.com/video/GbqUahx63LE/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/GbqUahx63LE/v-deo.html I guess someone could rip these back onto the pc engine cd game for an even better experience.
Yeah, there's a few Valis audio CDs which do improve upon the PC Engine tracks. Some of the PC Engine tracks sound so cheesy. The title screen theme has Christmas chimes on it!
After the last video: I’m sad, I guess there are no more Valis games left to compare 10 seconds ago: WHAT!?!? Seriously how did such a junky game keep getting sequels!?
Why is your PCE screen, in the comparison, wider than the MD screen?? That makes no sense as they're both the same resolution. Looking at the video footage of the PCE game, you definitely don't have experience playing this port haha. The MD port controls are *very* loose, where as the PCE controls are tight. I wouldn't say that makes them better - just different. The MD port doesn't have more details in the sprites.. not sure where that's coming form, but I do like some the boss graphic changes in the MD port. I used to love the MD port's music, as that's the first version I played.. but it hasn't aged well over the years and now prefer the CD sound track (or a MD+ version of this game). The MD port is definitely easier, so I'm sure that's why most people prefer it. But after having played both of these games, for so many years, the MD port feels too easy and loses some of its fun. Also, definitely props to Telenet on the CD game. One thing you completely forgot to mention, is that this a CD 2.0 game, but looks like a polished Super CD 3.0 game! Considering Telenet's previous outings on the PCE, which are technically barely average, they really stepped up to the bar on this one. You mention the impressiveness that the cart retains a good amount of cinemas, which is definitely worth mentioning, but fail to make any mention of the CD sys card format. I like your videos, but I'm beginning to think you really don't have a lot of experience with PCE library - and the system overall.
I don't have experience playing the PC Engine game? Is this because I prefer the way the Mega Drive version feels? Of course I have experience playing both versions. I've been playing both versions since the 1990s. I've owned a PC Engine and CD interface in one form or another since the 90s. Even had the Super Grafix at one point. Right now I own the Core Grafix 1 with CD interface unit case and 3 interface cards, 1, 2 and Arcade. So, Im not sure why you would think I'm not familiar with the PC Engine. When I talk about graphical detail in the MD game, it does have more detail. Just look at the background on stage one. Or the tower that is climbed to fight the fire boss (whatever his name was) the PC Engine looks so bland. Also, the lack of parallax scrolling makes the game look flat. This is a sad fact for many a PC Engine games. It doesn't make games play worse but it does effect the looks.
@@RetroCore I literally saw your gameplay footage of the PCE version, and it looks like you've never even played the game. There's a plenty of 'collectors' who just play a few beginning levels of the game and that's it. That doesn't mean you *know* the system. Have you actually beaten the PCE version, let alone the MD version? Anyone familiar with the PCE library definitely would have mentioned the whole CD 2.0 - that was a pretty big deal and is typically a dividing line between the CD library and its maturity (as well as technical capability). Also, I didn't say anything about the lack of parallax because it's the most dead apparent thing. You said detail in a sprites.. a column isn't a sprite. I stand by what I said.. this is a pretty ignorant comparison. I'm not saying the 'say PCE version is over better!'.. I'm saying do an *actual* accurate comparison, not some half ass ' let's look at some ports'.
I really like this game, it's by far the best in the series imo. The Megadrive/Genesis version is definitely better than the PC Engine CD, though. I'm not a fan of the CD music, the cartridge music is much better.
@@Bloodreign1 Well, they were ACTORS, for one. Other than for Ys, I don't think anyone hired actual actors to voice these games. Hell, they probably just used the localization teams and their wives and girlfriends. Granted, neither of the Valis games are as bad as Final Zone II or Last Alert, but God damn they come close.
What a world of difference some parallax scrolling makes in presentation!
It's curious why this game series never became an anime. The material was interesting enough to warrant a series.
There was even a badass anime short-film commercial for the Famicom version of Valis I. This would have been a great anime.
@@jesuszamora6949 Yeah, that commercial is incredible. In terms of its story, I think Valis is a really interesting series, but I don't think it ever really got the game play treatment it deserved. Also, I'd consider the music from the Valis games to be among my favorites on the Genesis.
@@kubev I agree with all that. That's actually why I'm excited about the Revival Project (Website: www.valis-game.com/) Judging from the art being Valis 1-centric, I'm going to assume its a reboot, which means the series will have another shot at reaching its potential.
@@kubev sadly it did become a one episode Hentai OVA the license series has been dead ever since
There's an anime movie called Genmu Senki Leda and it seems Valis was super inspired by it. Same theme, a girl from the human world in another dimension, a chosen warrior by a magic sword and stuff like that, even the bikini armor thingy lol That's the closest thing you can get to an actual Valis anime, of course aside from the TV commercial.
The level of animation they managed to get out of the hardware on both systems for that opening is quite impressive. Inspiring, even.
Thanks for continuing with the series. This is where Valis really reached its peak. The story is nonsensical and the gameplay is pretty average, but the music, art design and the weirdness of the different stages really makes it feel like an epic journey.
Exactly. It's the fantasy like journey which makes this a classic.
Looks like Yuko (the main character) has ditched the school outfit and Mary Janes for 'Season Three'. And this time, she's brought her friends to fight alongside her.
Yep.
The PC Engine version obviously has a good soundtrack and bright visuals. But the Genesis (Mega Drive) version of Valis 3 shows it can hold its own. I have the game, and it's so much fun. My first exposure to the series. I'm impressed that with the limited hardware, they still could pull off that small anime opening.
Played this one a lot back in the day, and always wondered why It was never adapted to anime.
More vibrant and vivid colors on Mega Drive version, and the parallax gives it much more depth.
The commercial for the first game was directed by Hideaki Anno, imagine a Valis adaptation with Evangelion-like deconstruction of the Isekai genre hahahaha
This game is so memorable for me. I looked high and low for the Mega Drive version in my country. I finally ended up getting in a trip to HK with my family. Lucked out in a random game shop.
I remember getting my first copy in a UK store for only 5 pounds! The store was closing down so everything had to go. That was an amazing deal back in 1992 when I bought it.
@@RetroCore Was it the Japanese Mega Drive version or the North American Genesis version, Yakumo? Unfortunately we didn't officially receive this game in Europe.
Great battle Mark! Was excited to see this in my feed this morning. MD version does look like the best version to try out. Shame there wasn’t MD CD version of Valis III.
I can imagine a Mega CD version having the music, cutscenes and stages of the PC Engine version but with the graphical flair of the Mega Drive. No special effect with it being Telenet.
@@RetroCore yep, Treasure certainly had nothing to worry about 🤣
The Genesis/MD version of Valis 3 used the same sound drivers that were used in Gaiares. It was a missed opportunity that Telenet didn’t used them in more of their games.
It does but Telenet had a better sound driver which is used in Vapor Trail and yet another one they use in Granada X, El Viento, earnest Evans and Sol Deace
I played the hell out of both versions back in their time, and I love both. The PCE version can be viewed like a beta of the MD version.
That's an interesting take on the game.
this was the height of the Valis series, and everything from the gameplay, story & music was outstanding one either format. little bonus if anyone can spot the famous monster in the background of the first boss battle in the PCE-CD/TG16CD version.
Well spotted on the PC Engine Easter egg.
Great comparison Mark! Love this series, and the BotP too
Glad you like them!
Hope you're having a great Saturday, Mark.
I am. I have just came back from a walk in the snow. Very rare for it to snow in this part of Japan. Video coming tomorrow.
@@RetroCore woo hoo! Can't wait to watch it! Here in Toronto we've had snow a few times this year but thanks to global warming winters here have been extremely mild in the last 20 years or so.
Well, just lost all electricity 😢 I was near the end of editing too :(. Hope the file autosaved before the power went out.
Today is the coldest this part of Japan has been in 20 years. - 6 today.
Good episode Mark! You gave me the will to repair my Interface Unit NEC CdRom and find a way out to play Valis 3 on the system. Even if I still prefer my MD NTSC version.
I wonder if it's the cog in the CD drive that's bust? That's what was wrong with mine. After a fiddly repair it works like a charm.
The Genesis/Mega Drive version of Valis III is what introduced me to the series, back in the mid-90s. After playing NES games and SNES games as well as Genesis, I was amazed by not only the game play but also the sheer presentation of Valis III (and another game, El Viento that I had bought at the same time). I hadn't seen anything on the SNES with that kind of presentation (maybe Makeruna! Makendou, known as Kendo Rage in the US...with an extraordinarily silly cover, comes close) before those two games.
Really fun game. Thanks for continuing the series!
The Mega Drive version looks like it's the version that Telenet wanted to make initially (Better Boss Fights, Parallax Scrolling, Better Shadows) but due to the constraints of the NEC hardware, wasn't able to. But I also wonder if the Japanese gaming magazines (or SEGA) at the time had an influence over the design improvements for the Mega Drive version based on their review of the PCE Game. Great video and content as always Mark. You're an inspiration.
Outside of parallax, what is the NEC hardware not able to do?? And yes, the PCE could do parallax in the game. It's not the hardware per se, but the development team.
I disagree. It’s an improvement mostly due to the fact that they had time to realize what worked and what didn’t. Idk that the PCCD was capable of that boat scene but those boss battles were totally doable.
@@besotoxicomusic The boat scene is was probably the easiest one of all to do parallax on the PCECD version. The water is a BG layer. And just like the MD one, it's just simply hsync scroll offets to make the parallax.
The Mega Drive version is a big fave of mine. Only one I’ve never played is Valis IV so very much looking forward to your video on it
Sadly no Valis IV as the PC Engine and SFC version are very different.
This was a fun comparison. I did enjoy the PC Engine version when I played it, but I recall thinking the MD version was more fun and played better. I also think, despite the removal of some stages, felt like it was about the right length. And the parallax scrolling is nice, though I don't mind the lack of it on PCE. I think one reason for some of the improvements on the MD is that Valis 3 was made before the Super CD upgrade if my dates are correct. That would explain why, aside from the parallax, the backgrounds look simpler and more flat than the MD. A good example is the first stage with the city in the background. Even if the MD had no parallax, there's still a big difference. The limited "buffer" RAM of the regular PCE CD leads to some limitations the cart version would not have, especially as it appears to be an eight-megabit game on MD which was a good amount when the MD game was made. It was interesting how the series evolved from a bit of a mess, to a good game on PCE with Valis 3, and to a game that was even better in some ways on MD with this port. It's a bit of shame the MD never got a version of Valis 4, a direct port of the PCE version. Looking at the box art for that one, it doesn't appear to be a Super CD game either, so an MD version would have been cool to see.
Sadly Valis III on the PC Engine is a Super CD game. I was using bot my original games for this video which makes a change. Normally I use a ROM.
@@RetroCore My understanding is that the Super CD(the memory upgrade to the regular CD, but not the Arcade CD) came out in 1991, around the time of the Duo. Valis 3 looks to be a 1990 release which, if my dates are correct, make it a regular CD game. That's what I meant. I didn't see the Super CD logo on either Valis 3 or Valis 4 covers either. If I have it right, then they are quite limited in terms of the buffer RAM compared to the likes of Gate of Thunder.
Yeaaaaaah! Loving this valis marathon: next stop, Valis IV!!!
Sorry, no valis IV. The PC Engine and SFC version are too different.
@@RetroCore Dang. Was curious to see what you thought of the remix job they did. Still, loved these vids on the series
I used to play this game alot as a kid on the Sega Genesis. I guess someone can make a mod of this and combine the best of both versions: Genesis gameplay & graphic mix with PC's audios & cutscenes.
That would be pretty cool.
As often: better colours on the PC Engine vs better parallax on the Mega Drive.
Parallax any day for me over more colours.
@@RetroCore I don’t disagree.
Yessss the heart of Valis. They did such a great job with the Megadrive soundtrack on this, the PCE music is one of the all times for me but the MD has real kick and loads of detail, and if I'm honest does play a liiiiittle better.
Don't you slide with the select button or something cockamamie like that on TG-CD? Slide being moved to a real face button for Genesis is a gameplay quality of life improvement to begin with
@@evenmorebetter you're not wrong it took me so long to figure it out was angered haha.
First time I’ve seen this game was in a electronic story running on a PCE CD. It was imported and was there basically for show off because the console was super expensive back in the day (it was back in Brazil). The Snes was new and seen the cutscene and characters speaking was absurdly awesome! Compared with Mega Drive and Snes games, the voices, cd music and the cutscenes where much better! I know this game isn’t that much, but because of this memory, and also been the first time I’ve seen a PCE (I knew the platform just because of magazines, but that was the first time I saw it running), it’s a special game for me!
For some reason I picked the Genesis version of this game up as a kid. I didn't get the Turbografx version for another 5 or 6 years. The Genesis version just holds more nostalgia for me, though I admit I prefer the TG-CD soundtrack more. I don't think I ever managed to beat this one. That ice stage near the end was my undoing. It's really nice to see some side by side gameplay. It's hard to argue when you're literally looking at both at once. Great vid, Mark!
Mega Drive was also my introduction to the game. I have a soft spot for that version but do own both versions.
I'm not sure about which soundtrack I prefer. Some of the CD stuff sounds too cheesy.
Did you get stuck on the part with that Ball thing going up and down?
This one should have been on the pc engine mini! I love the series, too bad everything that happened afterwards :/
Indeed. Guess Konami could not get the rights to this one.
Bad luck, Konami just wants make easy money, there are few games I would like to be on my mini, rights own by konami are less than I hope ...
@@msolom9521 rondo of blood is in there so... 🤷🏻♂️
i liked the genesis version but i still want to play the pc engine ver
Excellent battle!
Turbo cd has a great soundtrack. Its surprisingly detailed on the Genesis. The franchise ended up being redeemed.
Yep, after two pretty poor games the series finally became playable. Well, besides the remake of Valis 1 for the PC Engine CD.
@@RetroCore To be fair, the I remake was done after Valis IV, and was a Super CD game. There would have been hell to pay had it not improved the graphical quality over the original CD versions of Valis II-IV, I imagine.
Very true.
I like the new format of the BOTP when there’s only a few ports. You can compare much more stuff (like music, visuals, gameplay) in detail. 👍🏻
Thanks. I'll use this format when there are only two versions.
Like some others, Valis III on the Genesis was the first game in the series I played. Despite being a little slow, I enjoyed it a lot back in the day. I found it interesting to see the different levels (and worse control and visuals) in the PCE CD version which I played about a year after. I prefer the Genesis version in just about every way. Even the redbook audio is mostly worse because for some reason, it seems no one knew how to properly mix the audio in the early 90s and PCE Valis III like several other games on the system, is dominated by treble tones and not enough base. I do wish they'd used samples for the percussion in the Genesis version instead of FM, though. I'd love to see a rom hack that adds/extends the other levels into the Genesis/MD version.
Another great episode, Mark, with the extended comparisons. In my opinion, Valis III is a much better game than the first two. I prefer playing the Genesis port, but the PC-Engine CD version is great too, especially the color usage and music. I agree that the control is just a little more refined in the Genesis port, plus having played the Genesis version first, I just can't shake that feeling of something missing with the lack of parallax scrolling. They did a good job faking it in the building-dive sequence, but it hurts not having any parallax elsewhere. Of course, that's forgivable and just the fact the PC--Engine only has the single hardware background layer (definitely the biggest flaw in the design). It probably wouldn't bother me at all-since it doesn't in most PC-Engine games-if there wasn't a Genesis port and if I hadn't played that version first, but there is and I did, so it does annoy me a bit. Quite a fun game though on both systems. Even though I'm probably in the minority on this opinion, I will say that I really like the US case art for the TurboGrafx-16 version of Valis III (not the US Genesis boxart though: that's terrible like as if a 5 year old mad a crayon drawing and then barfed all over it). It's got that same US fantasy art feel as Tom duBois's work for Konami, movie art like for "Barbarella" or "Heavy Metal", or, especially, the various US game boxart from Julie Bell and her husband Boris Vallejo. I'm not sure who did the US TG-16 art for Valis III, but Julie Bell did the US Super Valis IV boxart, which is similar style-wise. Not everyone likes that style of art, and I'm definitely not saying the Japanese Valis III art is bad anything because I like it too, but there's just something special and nostalgic to these types of US fantasy art that some of us in the North American region like. However, even though I like it, TG-16 CD Valis III US artwork is definitely not the best of this type (my favorites are Julie Bell's US Ax Battler art and Tom duBois's US/PAL Sunset Riders boxart and Belmont's Revenge boxart), so I don't expect many have a lot of love for it.
Yeah, the lack of parallax scrolling really does make some PC Engine games look cheap. It shouldn't but it actually puts me off playing some games on the PC Engine.
As for the US box art to Valis III, oh man. That is really poor.
@@RetroCore The US Genesis boxart is just so bad, and probably one of the reasons I didn't play the game until you originally covering it on Retro Core there near the beginning. I know I read a review of the US TG-16 version in a magazine (either GamePro or Video Games and Computer Entertainment, since those I had access to). I don't remember the rating, but I guess it never clicked with me nor did I have friends with either version of the game. So, in those situations, where I didn't really have a specific reason to get a game, I only picked games up, new or used, if they had cool box or label art or if they just sounded cool. I definitely remember skipping over Genesis Valis III because the box looked terrible. They should have at least used the US TG-16 CD art, or even just the plain background with the logo like the cart itself...even that would have been better than what we ended up with over here for the boxart. I have to say though that I am definitely glad that I ordered a copy of Genesis Valis III though after seeing that Retro Core all of those years ago. It was the first, but definitely not the last game I've bought based on your videos (probably my favorites that I bought based on your videos were the Assault Suit series, which I had completely missed out on before), so mad props to you Mark for putting out honest and entertaining content for all of these years.
What did they do to poor Yuko on that US Genesis Valis 3 box? You're right that it looks cheap. I only recently noticed that Julie Bell did Super Valis 4's box. It's a nice one and I've always liked her work. The Ax Battler cover, along with me interest in Golden Axe is what got me to buy that one and I did enjoy it. It's quite a good cover, of course.
@@shotgunl They couldn't use the North American Turbo CD boxart for the North American Genesis version because despite the PCE CD version being the original, the Mega Drive port was released first in North America. One year before in fact, North American Genesis version was in 1991 and North American Turbo CD was in 1992. Also, they were handled by different publishers. The Genesis release was by Renovation Products, the American branch of Telenet Japan, while the Turbo CD release was by NEC itself. And apparently they wouldn't share cover arts themselves, hence why they are different.
Love the music
I was obsessed with this game on Genesis back in the day. With the internet of the time, it was hard to find info on the series. I was dying to know where the other two games were.
Then I saw Syd of Valis at a flea market. I could tell from the intro of III that Syd was some sort of retelling of Valis II...but I was not pleased.
Oh yes, sd Valis is a very strange and crappy game.
If I'm right, Valis 3 is the 2nd Valis game on the PC ENGINE ... sweet memories
That's right. Valis 1 was the 3rd.
@@RetroCore No, the sequence was II (1989), III (1990), IV (1991) and then I (1992).
Watch out the video timings. They are not quite right, there's part of the Music comparison section still embedded in the Both versions side by side section. Aside from that, wonderful job as always, Yakumo.
There is? I didn't realise that. 😔
9:50 that's a banger \m/
I found the Japanese Megadrive Valis III at a flea market in Georgia, USA for FIFTY CENTS. That's not even 52 Japanese yen!
That's a deal!
@@RetroCore Yep. Got Air Diver and Darwin 4081 too... both fully cased. The vendor didn't seem to know what they were and probably just thought they were video tapes. :)
I laughed hard once I discovered that a Russian group did a bootleg of Valis III by slapping Winx on it. All they did was an adaptation the script to an original story in Russian and Yuko became blond.
They also did with the first game too
Yeah, guys from "Kudos" are (in)-famous for being the biggest trolls in the Russian (bootleg) video games segment of the late 90s and early 00s. Those were the wild times here.
Kudos even released a роrn parody quest "Harry Potter and the Female Prisoners of Azkaban" for ps1 back in a day. Lol
The colours are more contrasted on the Mega Drive and the play area slightly bigger.
I'd agree with that.
I'm pretty sure that Telenet could've done a better job on the PC engine. There are PC Engine titles that feature parallax scrolling, so even a limited application of the effect could've spiced things up. Also, the platform is hardly a real excuse for boring boss battles.
I agree. Many PC Engine games do have parallax scrolling but I guess that way beyond Telenet's abilities.
This game was my introduction to the series. The game is fun and while not perfect it is steps above the first 2. Telenet started to understand how to make a good Valis game. Both are great and while I don't mind too much the absense of parallax scrolling in the PCE version (Wish it had tho) it makes a great difference in the MD port, looking more polished, more "16-bit" lol The music is also good in both versions, I like the FM renditions more because they sound a little less cheesy and also those Telenet FM percussions XD Good game overall. Great video as always and hope Valis IV is next, I know both games are a lot more different than these but still would be great to see you finish the series with that one.
Im sure Valis III was also my introduction to the series too. It was also the Mega Drive version.
I think the lack of Parallax scrolling really does hurt PC Engine games. They look so flat and basic compared to the Mega Drive. If course if thr Mega Drive version didn't exist the PC Engine version would look fine. Its only when you see both side by side does it start to look dated.
love this game
Hey Retro core, you should do a battle of the ports San Frisco Rush 2049.
I love your content, keep it up!
One day I will 👍
Digging this new format of the show for games with fewer versions. Interesting to watch, eventho I'm not really into the Valis series.
Thanks. I'll be using this format for other games I'd like to cover but only have 2 versions.
Normally I’d side with PCCDs music and Megadrives graphics but I might have to say the opposite this time. It’s close though. However, the playability differences are still superior on the mega drive hands down.
Good video
Thanks.
This game reminds me of the Sufami G.S. Mikami game. Recently I noticed the there's a PC Engine CD Mikami game but sadly is those kind of games where you need to know japanese to enjoy it.
I think GS Mikami is the better game but Valis III offers a more fantasy like vibe that really struck a cord with me as a kid.
While I can appreciate all of the improvements of the Genesis version, I still prefer the original. I guess I just liked the CD music more and the fact that Rogles was in that one. He was my favorite villain in the series.
I think he is mentioned in the Mega Drive game but not seen.
Though I own the damned good Genesis version, I prefer the Japanese PC Engine CD version. Same with Valis IV, PCE CD is the one I prefer for it, though I own the SFC version.
Can't say I've ever played part IV on the PC Engine. I do know it's quite different than the SFC game though.
@@RetroCore Indeed, the SFC/SNES version is sadly relegated to just Yuuko's successor Rena, or Lena, and the other 2 playable characters got axed. Stages are also quite different, and like the MD version of Valis 3, some stages got axed, and I think 1 new one got added. The SNES and PCE CD Valis IV feel world's different to me as well, almost like an entirely new game (sort of like Drac X between the same two consoles).
One video closer to Valis X.
Lol, sorry. Can't be going there.
Hello always been a fan of the Valis games dont ask me way, i Like both version but the Megadrive one is a more refined game and the resisigned that damn water level on the Pc Engine its solid i remember it taking me hours back in the day to get past it but freezing things, but you got to love that Pc Engine sound track just need to work out how to make a Mega MSU rom now with the PCE music that would be class.
A Mega MSU version with PC Engine audio is so doable. That would be a great idea.
If the MD version had a good snare and kick samples, that would song a lot better
I actually prefer the FM kicks and snares here. Sounds more energetic.
Nice on the music section! I skipped to that part 1st.
Very cool. Never heard any of this. All fresh to me.
Fanof game music I see.
@@RetroCore yes sir!
The MD soundtrack reminds me of Gaires for some reason?
Same sound engine used.
Love that sound driver
Next month a 9 part Battle of the Ports of Y's hahaha!
Man, that would take forever!
This does not seem to be the direction that the channel is going at this very moment, but I would love to eventually see Battle of the Ports videos on the games in the Street Fighter 3 series.
All in good time.
People who read me: if you like this kind of game, try "Ghost Sweeper Mikami" on SNES (it's easy to find an english patched rom)
Very nice game, fun to play, and good musics
Gs Mikami is a far better game too IMO.
Has a look of strider to it. Maybe same game mechanics in background?
Strider is a very different game but I can see the resemblance.
I would say the mechanics are more Castlevania-alike than Strider's.
This series gave me an "doujin" vibe, and the songs reminds me a little of Touhou
In a way they are Doujin as Telenet were quite rough in production values.
Both versions of this game seem very close, even in the side-by-side comparison. The PC Engine would normally have the edge with the color palette.... although I'd say in this case I'd say some of the stages look better on the Mega Drive, with more contrast than the PCE version. The first stage and cutscenes look better on the PCE though. The difference in colors isn't as noticeable as the welcome addition of parallax scrolling in the Mega Drive port though, and it really helps add extra depth to the already decent environments. While I've never played the PCE version, I can tell by watching that it's ever-so-slightly slower than the Mega Drive port... which is expected given the difference in power between the two systems. The music in both versions is very good, but if I'm being honest I find myself preferring the Mega Drive's FM + PSG renditions. Even though the PCE CD could essentially play anything in redbook audio, this soundtrack sounds like it was composed on something like an MT-32 or SC-55, and with no real instruments. The melody and percussion are clear, but there's not much bass compared to the Mega Drive version.
Overall this is probably the rare case where the Mega Drive port actually has the advantage over its PCE-CD counterpart. It plays better, has more parallax, great color usage, and depending on your preferences, a better soundtrack. Now if only Telenet was able to use one of the larger cartridges like UMK3 and SSF2 used, then it could add the missing cutscenes, perhaps even with bitcrushed voice samples.
Yep, the MD has the edge. The slight speed increase helps with playability. The parallax scrolling helps with level immersion and the music, well personally I like the chip tunes but that's a subjective one down to taste.
You really think the PCE port is slower because it's less powerful??? I swear the stupid shit people say. I need to screen shot this hahaha
One thing I'm noticing is that the Mega Drive version has the characters much further to the right side of the screen to initiate scrolling compared to the PC Engine version. Really hate it when games do that...
Yeah, I didn't like Valis 3 on MD at first because of that. Still, I decided to return to it and ended up liking the game, but that's different for everyone.
Strangely though, it does not effect gameplay unlike other games which do that. I think it's because you can move back without the screen scrolling with you.
Retro Core Or probably because the Mega Drive has a much better screen resolution than the PCE, and the scrolling is kept with the same distance to the right of the character like the PCE version; it just looks closer to the edge due to the resolution differences.
@@solarflare9078 I think you are mistaken in this case. The Genesis can also run in the same 256-wide mode as PCE, and screen shots of Valis 3 look to be in that lower-resolution mode.
This was the first Valis game I played back in the day, and it got me interested in the series. I played the Genesis (Megadrive) version. I loved the music and switching between 3 different characters. I knew of the PC Engine version but never really played it. It's pretty cool to hear CD versions of those tracks.
Looking back at Japanese games like this, you can really see what a mistake it was to trust Western developers of the 90's with the shadow palette feature.
I prefer working with darker colors myself, but they had no concept of what blended well, or how to use highlights. And with their carpet bombing approach to dithering? So many Megadrive ports resembled pirate originals.
A shame too, as the Megadrive had one of the best palettes around, if you didn't add the extra effects.
I agree. I hated that dithering many western developers used. Looks like crap.
The only western devs that can take advantage of the mega drive are demosceners. Proven by how awesome The Adv. of Batman and Robin looked.
@@RetroCore
For the record, whatever they thought were doing, it wasn't just because they were Western developers.
I was a professional artist in the 90's. (Only retiring due to health issues.)
Nobody I ever met was taught to make those kinds of mistakes. Besides, working with a limited palette is something you're forced to learn when you can't afford 60+ Prismacolor pencils/pens/crayons etc.
Especially when you're working with the grocery store alternatives.
They really don't blend.
If more Western game studios had just swallowed their pride, and hired dedicated art teams (whether or not we could code something deeper than exorcist themed variations of "Hello World!")?
....actually, it would just meant we were responsible for tricking kids who only looked at the back of the box. The Megadrive would have been turned into an Amiga in no time. Sword of Sodan might even get a console exclusive sequel.
I think I might actually be grateful for bad art now.
This suire is an epic baTTLE
Thanks for a great video once again Mark 💕
A quick question, there is a game theme on the tube that I haven't manage to identified and unfortunately I never got a respond from the UA-camr about the name of the tune.
You know any way you can identify tunes from the tube?
Thank you for always giving the name of the tunes on your videos, it's really great when you find a great one 💕
Hmm, it's going to be very difficult unless you know what game it came from. Then you could search for that game's soundtrack, if it had one. Many times game music tracks don't have names. What is the track you want to identify?
@@RetroCorethanks for your respond Mark 💕
Well, the track in question is named by the UA-camr in the credits as Okami "arranged" and trust me, I have been trying to find this specific tune to no avail. Have found remixes and such but none that resembles it at all 😓
I wonder how this game would be if we used the combined power of CD and 32X. Same graphics, sound and cutscenes from the PC Engine CD, AND better controls and more challenging bosses from the Megadrive
I would imagine it would be just the same but with the PC Engine cut scenes.
Very good! You could do the same with valis 4. Some of snes ost are quite amazing.
I'd like to but the PC Engine and SFC version are too different to do a battle of the Ports.
May I suggest Battletoads & Double Dragon for a new Battle of the Ports? After the FC, there were ports for SFC, MD and GB.
That game is on the list for a future episode. One day I'll get around to it 👍
I guess the third time was the charm.
Love the format ! Do you think you’ll do Turrican 3 x Mega Turrican in the near future ? :)
If he does, I hope he adds SNES Super Turrican and the C64 homebrew Turrican 3 to the mix because, while completely different games, they have music and other assets from T3 so it would be an interesting comparison.
If I do it will be Mega Turrican and Amiga Turrican 3 head to head in this format. Some day I will.
While Super Turriican is a different game, yes, is does share some tunes and uses some stages from previous as well. So its could been included here in a format like this. btw all ports is great to play.
btw im did newer interesered in Valis series as its a Japanse exclusive game. But anyway. Personal taste in mind, no other here.
@@RetroCore *insert M. Bison meme screaming YES !*
Take care :)
If Yakumo is not doing a Valis IV BOTP because of the differences between the PCE CD and SNES versions, I don't see him including Super Turrican in a Mega Turrican/Turrican 3 BOTP as that's an even more different game.
What the side by sides drive home is that even with a CD addon, the PC Engine was still just an 8-bit console with a souped up graphics chip.
My understanding is that it was quite fast, despite being 8-bit and it even has a good version of Street Fighter 2, so it was capable. The CD add on didn't add much to the system, just CD audio, PCM audio, and CD storage of course, but that meant it was easy to develop for and it worked out well, at least in Japan.
Yep, it is an 8bit console but probably the most powerful 8bit console made.
@@RetroCore Definitely. You're not going to see games like China Warrior with it's gigantic sprites running smoothly on the SMS or NES.
What an ignorant comment. Tell me, what do you actually think the lack of 16bits is attributing to here? Please, shed some light on this hahah
@@txray3409 Plenty of the graphical flourishes that the Genesis's Motorola 68000 processor can do via plain old brute force coding. Even with the 16-bit graphics blitter, the PC Engine's custom 8-bit processor creates a bottleneck, and it shows on the side-by-side stuff.
There is no doubt that the controls are way better on the Mega Drive. Especially the jump. The problem is that I really like the levels that are exclusive the the PCE, and I really dislike that pipe level that is exclusive the the MD. Add in the music, and I find myself always playing the PCE version.
Yeah, that pipe level is horrible. Nice moving background but the design of the platforming is not good.
I like some of the colors in the pcengine cd version better, but the megadrive version seems better all around. If this was an Arcade CD-ROM title, it could probably have all or at least most of the parallax scrolling done in software or something.
It's not even a Super CD title (it's a CD 2.0 title). If it was, they could have easily added in dynamic tiles for parallax. No need for the arcade card for something as simple as this.
The box says it is a Super Cd title, or at least my original copy does. I'll show it in the next gaming pick ups video.
@@RetroCore Then you have a pretty rare PCE CD game/re-edition. Even Valis IV is CD 2.0. Only Valis I remake is Super CD 3.0. The Super CD 3.0 didn't even come out until the Japanese Duo in Sep 1991. This game is 1990
Sharper more vibrant colors on the Megadrive version... that's strange. I prefer the PC-Engine version though, music is so much better.
Yeah, the music is an odd one for me. I love chip tunes but also like the CD soundtrack.
I appreciate the quality of the CD soundtrack but can't get enough for of those chip tunes!
Not expecting a Valis IV BOTP anytime soon because once again, only released on two pieces of hardware. I personally think the Super NES version is better. The level design could be better (I was feeling repeated loops of platforms that just go straight on each stage, I’m not really complaining about that) but nothing wrong with the gameplay really, the graphics are good and the music is great! Hearing that Babylon and final stage music makes me want to run far off in the distance! But the PC Engine version has the definite edge in the music department because CD-Rom. I would’ve like to see Valis V happen, it would’ve been on Sega Saturn, PlayStation (console versions exclusive to Japan in October 1996) and Game Boy Advance (called Advanced Valis V like Super Valis IV and have a worldwide release in 2002 published by Atlus). It would still take a standard game level approach (still having Lena as the protagonist) and add something new like leveling up (maximum level being Lv. 99 for Easy [who knows how long that would take?], Lv. 25 for normal and Lv. 10 for Hard) and be like two hours to finish and have progress saving and a good and bad ending to it. It would then be followed up by Valis VI: The End of Valis released in December 1999 locked to the PlayStation exclusively in Japan. Valis VI would be the last chapter for Lena closing up the series (until a reboot was planned for the DS but ultimately cancelled), this final instalment would take the Metroidvania approach (inspired by the classic SOTN) with the level up (maximum being Lv. 99) feature returning, currency being added, lots of items to carry and having the most enemies and bosses to fight. It would have the most content/depth out of them all and being able to play as Yuko after finishing the game. It would be a 2D platformer in the vein of SOTN (I consider it an action RPG, how about you whoever’s reading this comment?), also be a hack and slash with Lena able to pull off combos and magic spells just like Alucard (requiring complex button combinations) and an action RPG (with level up, status effects like being petrified or losing HP, talking to people and buying other weapons/items) all into one game that would be somewhat of a SOTN ripoff. It would also have a good and bad ending. Both Valis V (excluding the GBA version) and VI if they happened would feature high quality FMV (but not on Advanced Valis V) and all Japanese voice acting (even on the GBA version of Valis V). There could have been more for the Valis series besides that nasty adult digital storybook. We could’ve had an anime of it, a manga and merchandise, maybe even spin-offs.
Yep, only two versions and they are both quite different than one another.
I love your sega recordings. what do you use. i have european mega drive 2. but music is far from that. even better with the emulator: D. I think you should also do the game series for vails.
I use an original first gen Japanese Mega Drive via RGB.
@@RetroCore thank you. I think my device needs maintenance :D
Valis X: DO NOT RESEARCH.
No valis X on this channel for sure.
@@RetroCore There aren't any videos about that game on the entire internet.
@@Nathan-rb3qp There used to be, I only ever saw one out of curiosity, and never again.
@@Bloodreign1 I would like someone to make an actual video review of that game.
@@Nathan-rb3qp IMO it is best that that game is forgotten, erased from history. It was blasphemous to the series, and those of us who love the Valis games want nothing to do with it.
Valis was never a top shelf series however I've always found some appeal with the vibe that the game exudes. I had Valis 3 for Mega Drive/Genesis in the very early nineties and it provided a lot of impulse playing sessions at that time, though the game becomes pretty difficult late and I never actually finished it, due to frustration or diminishing interest, and better games that I turned my attention to. That scene at the beginning with Yuko bravely diving off the skyscraper and transforming once she claims the sword always had a lot of cool factor. Sure the PC-CD version had the fully voiced intermissions, which was a big draw back then, but these in particular were so badly acted that they were not really missed in the Genesis version. The PC-CD version also had better quality music however this soundtrack is only just okay to begin with so a negligible downgrade there, as opposed to a comparison between the music on something like Wanderers From Ys for example, where the TG-16 CD has a great advantage over the Genesis/SNES. Overall the Genesis/Mega Drive version of this particular game is the one to get.
You know what I hate most about the sega version: not the cut content (it’s only logical, considering the format), not the music being more basic, but why in hell did they create a new stage, with a boss that doesn’t work in that stage…there’s a reason you sink in the desert sand during this battle in the pce version: it is the way to avoid his attacks, this is just completely broken in the sega version, as there’s literally no place to avoid anything. You simply can’t do a perfect boss fight in that version…for the rest I love both versions
Graphically, the PC-Engine CD version is analogous to RAW photos I take with my compact Canon pocket camera (with the hacked firmware that lets me shoot RAW) while the Mega Drive/Genesis version is analogous to those pictures after I stretch the contrast in "Levels" and do a few other things using GIMP to make the image "pop" more. The colours may be better on PC Engine but everything feels more defined on Genesis.
For the music, I think I prefer the dirtier, grungier sound of the Genesis version.
I know I rented the Genesis Valis III once, I certainly remember Yuko in her pajamas jumping off the roof of the apartment building to turn into the Valis soldier in midair, but I don't think I actually got very far into it. In any case, it's been almost 30 years so maybe I will give it the old emulation try.
Nice to see such a clean comparison between the two versions of this game. Both versions seem to have some pros and cons: the PC Engine definitely has the best music (not knocking on the Genesis chiptunes though) by virtue of being on a CD format so go figure. It also has the better cutscenes imo because it looks like the Genesis version cropped out some parts of it probably due to cartridge format constraints. The cutscenes in the Genesis version also look darker than they should be for some reason. The Genesis looks much better in the graphical department during gameplay and its use of colors seems to be more true to form whereas the PC Engine's colors looks a bit washed out. Can't say anything about the gameplay since I only own the PC Engine version so I'd just take your word for it and say the Genesis version probably plays better. These are, of course, just my own opinions. What do you think overall?
Will you ever do a video on Alien Hominid?
made by the legend Tom Fulp, who invented the internet
I've never played that game or even seen it so..... Not any time soon.
@@RetroCore We need more Alien representation in the gaming industry.
@@handlessuck589 engineer gaming
@@RetroCore It's a game on Newgrounds that came out in 2002. It can best be described as a cross between Metal Slug and Contra. It came out on 6th gen consoles, the GBA (for ONCE it's not a bad port). and mobile phones
Those two tracks you did a side by side comparison of.
I have those tracks on a gaming audio cd I compiled myself.
To my surprise, I thought those tracks came from the pc engine cd game.
Apparantly not, the tracks I have on my audio cd are so much better. They must from an arranged ost or something.
Found it!
ua-cam.com/video/GbqUahx63LE/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/GbqUahx63LE/v-deo.html
I guess someone could rip these back onto the pc engine cd game for an even better experience.
Yeah, there's a few Valis audio CDs which do improve upon the PC Engine tracks. Some of the PC Engine tracks sound so cheesy. The title screen theme has Christmas chimes on it!
ive seen so many games with a magical girl with a sword. did valis start this?
No, but it was one of the mainstream types of this game.
After the last video: I’m sad, I guess there are no more Valis games left to compare
10 seconds ago: WHAT!?!?
Seriously how did such a junky game keep getting sequels!?
There's a Valis IV and a pornographic Valis X. There's also a 35th anniversary version in the works
@@RetroCore (sits back and sips cocktail, ready for even more Valis)
Which is the better of the two versions? Meh. I’ll be looking forward to when you finish up with Valis after IV. The whole series does little for me.
Sorry, no Valis IV. The two versions of that are too different.
Retro Core no Valis IV? 😃 oh gee what a bummer bla bla bla 🙂 next!
Would have been nice to get a definitive version of the game with the best of 2 worlds instead of a hentai game
Sadly that will never happen but we can hope the upcoming new Valis will be good.
@@RetroCore Upcoming?
@@RetroCore New Valis? Do tell.
I think there's just the website with a bit of new art so far, but it was just announced a few weeks ago. The website is Valis Revival Project.
Why is your PCE screen, in the comparison, wider than the MD screen?? That makes no sense as they're both the same resolution. Looking at the video footage of the PCE game, you definitely don't have experience playing this port haha. The MD port controls are *very* loose, where as the PCE controls are tight. I wouldn't say that makes them better - just different. The MD port doesn't have more details in the sprites.. not sure where that's coming form, but I do like some the boss graphic changes in the MD port. I used to love the MD port's music, as that's the first version I played.. but it hasn't aged well over the years and now prefer the CD sound track (or a MD+ version of this game). The MD port is definitely easier, so I'm sure that's why most people prefer it. But after having played both of these games, for so many years, the MD port feels too easy and loses some of its fun. Also, definitely props to Telenet on the CD game. One thing you completely forgot to mention, is that this a CD 2.0 game, but looks like a polished Super CD 3.0 game! Considering Telenet's previous outings on the PCE, which are technically barely average, they really stepped up to the bar on this one. You mention the impressiveness that the cart retains a good amount of cinemas, which is definitely worth mentioning, but fail to make any mention of the CD sys card format. I like your videos, but I'm beginning to think you really don't have a lot of experience with PCE library - and the system overall.
I don't have experience playing the PC Engine game? Is this because I prefer the way the Mega Drive version feels? Of course I have experience playing both versions. I've been playing both versions since the 1990s. I've owned a PC Engine and CD interface in one form or another since the 90s. Even had the Super Grafix at one point. Right now I own the Core Grafix 1 with CD interface unit case and 3 interface cards, 1, 2 and Arcade. So, Im not sure why you would think I'm not familiar with the PC Engine.
When I talk about graphical detail in the MD game, it does have more detail. Just look at the background on stage one. Or the tower that is climbed to fight the fire boss (whatever his name was) the PC Engine looks so bland. Also, the lack of parallax scrolling makes the game look flat. This is a sad fact for many a PC Engine games. It doesn't make games play worse but it does effect the looks.
@@RetroCore I literally saw your gameplay footage of the PCE version, and it looks like you've never even played the game. There's a plenty of 'collectors' who just play a few beginning levels of the game and that's it. That doesn't mean you *know* the system. Have you actually beaten the PCE version, let alone the MD version? Anyone familiar with the PCE library definitely would have mentioned the whole CD 2.0 - that was a pretty big deal and is typically a dividing line between the CD library and its maturity (as well as technical capability). Also, I didn't say anything about the lack of parallax because it's the most dead apparent thing. You said detail in a sprites.. a column isn't a sprite. I stand by what I said.. this is a pretty ignorant comparison. I'm not saying the 'say PCE version is over better!'.. I'm saying do an *actual* accurate comparison, not some half ass ' let's look at some ports'.
Just so you know, Valis X is pronounced "cross".
And yes, that game doesn't count at all.
Cross? Yet again why Japanese shouldn't use English words. They often mess them up. Thanks for the info.
Random internet guy: The genesis version sounds great.
(PC Engine CD-ROM laughs in redbook audio.)
Shame the Amiga never got these.
Would have been a laugh or maybe they'd actually port well.
@Benjamin Owuye Jagun I was thinking Sales Curve too. Their Rod.Land port is great.
I really like this game, it's by far the best in the series imo. The Megadrive/Genesis version is definitely better than the PC Engine CD, though. I'm not a fan of the CD music, the cartridge music is much better.
Being American, the Megadrive version beats out the PC Engine by simple virtue of not having to hear that fucking voice acting.
Lol, I've never heard the US Valis III on PC Engine but I'm very glad of that 😅
@@RetroCore It's every bit the shitshow that Valis II is. Want me to send you the ISO for a laugh?
Japanese version is the way to go, can't understand anything, but the actors took pride in their work.
@@Bloodreign1 Well, they were ACTORS, for one. Other than for Ys, I don't think anyone hired actual actors to voice these games. Hell, they probably just used the localization teams and their wives and girlfriends. Granted, neither of the Valis games are as bad as Final Zone II or Last Alert, but God damn they come close.
Do blue print next
Blue print? You mean X?
@@RetroCore no the arcade game
what happened is Telenet went bankrupt and the new owners made about half a dozen hentai games that weren't all that great .....
When you say Valis X is "filthy" is it because the game is terrible or is it the other kind of filth?
Both 😁
the music sounds like farts the graphics are terrible what a turd of video game