Topic: MSX Emulation (Read 1925 times)

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Hey, so I was wondering if anyone knows anything about MSX emulation, or the MSX in general. I really don't know too much about it other than that it was a popular console (computer???) in Japan in the 80s and early 90s. I have no idea if it ever left Japan or what games it even has. The reason I'm asking is that I've found two translated games that seem pretty interesting that I'd like to try out. The first is Illusion City, which is an RPG that takes place in a post-apocalyptic Hong Kong. From it's brief description, it sounds a little like Shin Megami Tensei without the demon summoning. The other game I've found, and the game I'm more interested in, is XZR II. Here's the description I found.

Quote
XZR 2 (also known as Exile) is the second part of an action RPG trilogy by Telenet Japan.

It features Sadler, an Islamic assassin. The plot of the game details Sadler’s adventures during the Christian crusades (roughly 1120 A.D), to attempt to unite the world under one god and achieve world peace. He meets historical figures, such as Hugues de Payens and Pythagoras. Along the way he also performs a Masonic ritual in an attempt to revive Noah, and kills several god-deities from other cultures.

XZR2 takes the form of overhead map screens where you wander towns and speak with people, and side-scrolling action-platform stages. It was also released in the West, in English, on the Sega Megadrive and the NEC Turbografx CD-Rom, under the title Exile (the third game was released only on the PCE-CD under the title Exile: Wicked Phenomenon, and was translated into English by Working Designs).

The original translation of XZR2 on other systems changed several religious names and details, and also removed a lot of drug references (originally healing items included cocaine and hasheesh). So if you enjoyed the MD/PCECD versions, this should allow you to experience the story in a truer form. The original game in the trilogy, XZR, was released only on the MSX and at this time is untranslated. This translation of XZR2, by Django of MSX Passion, is a partial translation, which also includes a help file in French.

That is the most unbelievable plot I've ever seen. I really don't care about the gameplay, I want to play a game where you're an Islamic prophet/assassin that attempts to resurrect Noah, uses cocaine to heal, and symbolically destroys entire cultures by murdering their gods.

So yeah, tell me about the MSX and MSX emulation. What are some other games worth checking out?
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I had a prefectly working MSX 1/2 emulator, but I can't seem to find it. Anyway, the original 2 Metal Gear games were on the MSX, might be worth checking them out. I've played Metal Gear 2, it's pretty good for an old game. Awful controls though. It was something like, to go prone, you had to hit the shoot button and some other random button. This meant if you got the timing off, rather than going into a sneaking position, you would shoot, alerting all the guards in the area.

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Quote from: XZR I
XZR:Idols of Apostate

Released in 1988 for the MSX and PC88 in Japan, XRZ introduces the anti-hero and protagonist of the series, Sadler.[1] Sadler is a Syrian assassin on a journey to kill Caliph, his father. This is the only game to never receive a North American release and therefore does not have Exile in its title.

The game centers around Sadler and his mission to assassinate the Caliph. The game starts in Baghdad and follows Sadler to Babylon, where he must defend the Euphrates River from pollution, visit the Tower of Babel in search of unicorns, and become baptised in a Jewish village. Eventually, Sadler makes his way back to Baghdad and murders the Caliph. It is then revealed that the Caliph was his father and they were separated when Sadler was kidnapped as a baby by assassins. The game then switches focus and enters a subplot about a Mongol invasion before Sadler is warped to the 20th Century, where he must assassinate Russia's General Secretary and America's President, ending the game.

I am being completely serious when I say this, I'm not exaggerating for effect or anything, but I don't think I've ever wanted to play a game more than I want to play XZR right now.
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I've never played an MSX game but now I'm interested in emulating it as well, because not only does that sound ridiculously amazing, but I also just found this on Wikipedia:

Quote from: Auf Wiedersehen Monty
The player controls Monty as he travels around Europe collecting money in order to buy a Greek island - Montos, where he can safely retire. Gameplay is in the style of a flick-screen platform game, similar to many such games of the 1980s such as Technician Ted and Jet Set Willy. Some screens (such as those representing the Eiffel Tower and the Pyrenees) bear some relation to their real-life counterparts but most are just typical platform game screens.

Auf Wiedersehen Monty contains many interesting features and peculiarities for the player to discover. Examples include being suddenly attacked by a bull's head in Spain after collecting a red cape (presumably a reference to bullfighting), a car being dropped in one of two places on entering a screen representing Düsseldorf in West Germany, a chef's hat found in Sweden (a reference to the Swedish Chef of Muppets fame; also, the two rooms representing Sweden are subtitled Bjorn and Borg), and a record in Luxembourg that when collected makes Monty breakdance to the game's title music (this may be a reference to Radio Luxembourg).

It is possible to get to areas of the game more quickly by flying from an airport using air tickets which can be collected throughout the game. Some parts of the game can only be reached in this manner.

As well as money, there are other miscellaneous objects to collect in the game for points. This was important as you need a certain number of points to get to Montos. These are often particular to the country Monty is visiting (such as berets in France). Bottles of wine or a glass of beer in West Germany cause Monty to briefly become drunk and his control to become slightly erratic leading to a reversal of controls, repeated jumping or Monty climbing any ladders or drainpipes he encounters.

edit: woah i also want to check out king kong 2 for the msx-2 to see how it compares to the famicom one
editedit: goodness i found a map for it and it looks like a completely different game
Last Edit: December 08, 2009, 01:23:16 pm by Vellfire
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There are about 30 different emulators for the MSX.  They even have them for the Dreamcast, Wii, PSP, and DS, so finding an emulator you like shouldn't be hard.

As for games some of the better ones are Metal Gear 1 & 2, Vampire Killer, Final Fantasy, SD Snatcher, Maze of Galious, and Dragon Slayer.
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I recommend blueMSX. also BLUE'S JOURNEY
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The first metal gear has some awesome music. It makes you feel young almost.
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the second metal gear has even better music

because it actually has more than 3 songs


and they're also actually really cool


and if you played the first vr missions for psx, you probably recognize half of them
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They even have them for the Dreamcast, Wii, PSP.
I'm fairly sure there aren't any PSP emulators that can play any commercial games. I'd love it if you could prove me wrong, however.

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I'm fairly sure there aren't any PSP emulators that can play any commercial games. I'd love it if you could prove me wrong, however.

http://www.qj.net/psp/homebrew-emulators/msx-emulator-gets-huge-update-for-cheatorz-pspmsx-v140.html

I've never played an MSX game but now I'm interested in emulating it as well, because not only does that sound ridiculously amazing, but I also just found this on Wikipedia:

edit: woah i also want to check out king kong 2 for the msx-2 to see how it compares to the famicom one
editedit: goodness i found a map for it and it looks like a completely different game

I've played Auf Wiedersehen Monty, but not on the MSX. It's OK but Monty On The Run is much better.
Last Edit: December 08, 2009, 11:08:10 pm by Jingle My Bell Bitch
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yeah metal gear 2 has some rad tunes, especially the intro
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My uncle had one of those. I tried to use it but it wasn't working anymore. That's my experience with this semi-ancient piece of computer.
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http://www.zophar.net/msx.html

Zophar.net usually has any emulator for windows systems.
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i've always wanted to play blue's journey...
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Ha Ha! That music brings back memories! Funny vid.
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I'd recommend blueMSX for playing MSX or MSX2 games.

Also if you hate backtracking and tedious fetch quests stay away from Metal Gear 2. It takes like 10 hours to complete just because you go back and forth the same areas throughout the game.

EDIT:
Oh and the load times between areas are atrocious iirc.

The tunes are pretty rad though.
Last Edit: December 09, 2009, 01:24:41 pm by Supra Mairo
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Quote
Also if you hate backtracking and tedious fetch quests stay away from all metal gear games.
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what do you mean all


the only other time i can recall that is the stupid temperature card in mgs1