So for shits and giggles, I decided to check out the arcade original of Altered Beast, after seeing how exceedingly fine and average the Genesis port/pack-in was. And well, I can sorta understand the infamy to a degree now.
AB is something you're supposed to do a run or two to get a feel for the enemies and how they work, but in the Genesis port they're so pitifully easy even in your initial state that it doesn't really matter. Here though, you NEED to actually keep yourself on edge, since they can and will hitstun the shit out of you if you're not careful. I only had difficulty with Stage 4 there, while here Stage 3 and 5 were giving me a hard time with how often enemies can appear, as well as your initial state actually feeling super weak before you get powered up, taking about 3-4 hits instead of 1-2. Controls are also stiffer, making it harder to get to the white wolves in time as well as pull off jumps and punches quickly due to turning and jumping not being as consistent ehre.
Even with this newfound insight... I still think this game is easy and short enough to not really get mad or bitter over. Annoyed, sure, but its difficulty is seriously overblown. In ABG, only annoying boss was in Stage 4, while here? Every boss is a joke, easily downed with the B-button spam. It's even possible for the last boss to get Toad Maned by jumping and pressing that button, since the range is just enough to damage and go through their head. It also doesn't change how you don't get immediately hit until the enemy's sprite and animation is actually ready to deck you, just bumping into them neutrally is fine.
I dunno, is this just one of those cases where I actually had to experience it as it was originally presented? I can see maybe getting mad if I had to pop in several quarters instead of using FinalBurn Neo's insert coin button repeatedly, or having only this as my Genesis game for a bit instead of just emulating it whenever. Still, that's a huge maybe, cause it's like, The Game Ever Made at the end of it all.
AB is something you're supposed to do a run or two to get a feel for the enemies and how they work, but in the Genesis port they're so pitifully easy even in your initial state that it doesn't really matter. Here though, you NEED to actually keep yourself on edge, since they can and will hitstun the shit out of you if you're not careful. I only had difficulty with Stage 4 there, while here Stage 3 and 5 were giving me a hard time with how often enemies can appear, as well as your initial state actually feeling super weak before you get powered up, taking about 3-4 hits instead of 1-2. Controls are also stiffer, making it harder to get to the white wolves in time as well as pull off jumps and punches quickly due to turning and jumping not being as consistent ehre.
Even with this newfound insight... I still think this game is easy and short enough to not really get mad or bitter over. Annoyed, sure, but its difficulty is seriously overblown. In ABG, only annoying boss was in Stage 4, while here? Every boss is a joke, easily downed with the B-button spam. It's even possible for the last boss to get Toad Maned by jumping and pressing that button, since the range is just enough to damage and go through their head. It also doesn't change how you don't get immediately hit until the enemy's sprite and animation is actually ready to deck you, just bumping into them neutrally is fine.
I dunno, is this just one of those cases where I actually had to experience it as it was originally presented? I can see maybe getting mad if I had to pop in several quarters instead of using FinalBurn Neo's insert coin button repeatedly, or having only this as my Genesis game for a bit instead of just emulating it whenever. Still, that's a huge maybe, cause it's like, The Game Ever Made at the end of it all.
BlazingWaters
1 year ago