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| (Source: Turbo Play Magazine Archive) |
1) 4 - Character Advancement: practice/experience based advancement, stat or level increases, multiple classes or characters,
2) 3 - Combat: character stats used for combat, additional combat options,
3) 3 - Items and Equipment: store to buy and sell,
4) 1 - Story: main story at the forefront;
5) 0 - Exploration:
6) 0 - Quests and Puzzles:
Cadash represents a subset of beat'em-ups that I actually enjoy, those that employ weapons, spells, and (especially) a fantasy theme. My favorite of these are the D&D games on the Japanese Saturn [Tower of Doom and Shadow over Mystara], which I'm sure would do well if they ever decided to release them in the U.S. (if they have, I've missed them, and would appreciate someone telling me).
Beat'em games tend to contain certain aspects that ensure we won't see many on this list, or played for the blog proper. Most notably the game world progresses level by level and puzzles and quests are non-existent. A lack of NPCs, stores, character levels, and stats keep most of these games from even being considered, but Cadash does employ some of these, yet not enough for me to put it on my play list.
I haven't actually played Cadash, and I based the score on videos of the first couple levels, so I may be off. As always, correct me if I'm wrong or if anyone feels I should really play through this game for the blog. Hopefully Guardian Heroes for the Saturn doesn't turn out to be the only game I end up playing from this genre. Only time will tell (unless someone wants to look it up).
Cadash is originally an arcade game released on the TurboGrafx-16 and Genesis. The TG-16 version enhanced the arcade version to better balance the classes, and offers the original four classes; however, the Genesis version only included two of the four. For those looking to play the game, it's included in the Taito Legends 2 released on the Xbox and PC (original game and hardware is expensive).
Edit: It turns out the game does offer shops to buy and sell equipment. So, based on the comments below, I'm adding this back to the list. It'll be a year before I get to it, but I'll need to think about getting it sometime soon. If anyone has any suggestions for what version I should get, then speak up before then. I'm thinking the Taito Legends 2 version, which has some other games I want to check out.
AFAIK, both of Capcom's Dungeons and Dragons beat 'em ups were released in the arcade in the United States, featuring more players at once than the Saturn ports. I'm not positive about the second game, Shadows Over Mystera, but I have fond memories of playing Towers of Doom at a local video rental store.
ReplyDeleteYep, you're right, both came out:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7668
http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7667
It's too bad they never made it to a console outside of Japan. Maybe if the Saturn lasted a bit longer we would have seen it released.
I would,almost say cadash is more of an RPG than guardian heroes. Realy I don't think either really qualify that much. That said I love cadash and have played the arcade and genesis versions. I also love Guardian Heroes.mi think both are action RPGs with an emphasis on action.
ReplyDeleteAlso cadash does have stores you use to upgrade equipment and by items and potions and herbs.
ReplyDeleteOh and there are NPCs that give you information in towns. Bit nothing super useful.
ReplyDeleteI guess I was a bit mistaken then. I think I'll add it back to the list. That means I need to pick it up sometime.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips. I'll probably get it for the Xbox on Taito Legends 2, unless someone has a copy for the TG-16 they're willing to lend me. It won't be for a year or two anyway.
Don't get me wrong. I think it probably doesn't deserve to be on the list. Just like Guardian Heroes on the Saturn. Both are way more action than RPG. But I would definetly recommend you play this. MAME version is good to try ou as well if you want to play Kalierra coop online. The reason I say this is Guardian heroes is way more action and beaten up oriented than Cadash. Cadash uses action but it's simple action to represent RPG elements while Guardian Heroes plays more like a beat em up with special moves and whatnot. Cadash uses simple attacks and damage done based on stats and equipment and spell used. So it is more Rpg like in a way. In any case the game is not that long to play on any console. Wouldn't be a large time investment. I don't really know where you line lies on this. You didn't include legend of Zelda but this has more RPg elements than than Zelda 2. But is more linear. Maybe a few years down the road you should play it for a few hours and decide then. In any case you can't go wrong playing this game whether it makes the cut or not.
ReplyDeleteAfter retreading your post again I think this ight just make you ualifacations. Also more RPG than like than the Capcom D and D brawlers. This is the only arcade game I ever played where you had to grind and make equipment decisions in an RPG like manner.
ReplyDeleteI see where you're coming from, and I think it's the isolated levels that make it feel less like an RPG and more action oriented. I've added it back to the play list. I expect it to be fairly short and I'll probably beat it in a weekend.
ReplyDeleteI don't really think of it as an RPG, but I enjoyed Cadash quite a bit as a youngster.
ReplyDelete