Konami Arcade Advanced 6-in-1 joystick

[ClassicBoy]

I just picked up the Konami 6-in-1 joystick last night at Target and thought I'd post some quick thoughts about it.

 

Majesco has just released two new all-in-one joysticks to capitalize on the success that Jakks and Radica have had lately with their x-in-1 joysticks. One is simply Frogger and the other is a collection that includes Gyruss, Frogger, Time Pilot, Scramble, Rush N Attack, and Yie Ar Kung Fu. Why Majesco would include Frogger in a collection and then as a standalone joystick game for the same price is beyond me. If anyone knows what the difference between the dedicated Frogger and the Frogger on the 6-in-1 stick are, please chime in.

 

The joystick for the six-in-1 feels fairly cheap. It has an odd rock-like texture on the base of the stick and an oversized knob. It is also feels fairly light compared to the Jakks sticks. It has two small "fire" buttons on each side of stick to make both righties and lefties happy. I should note that somehow the button configuration combined with the shape and width of the joystick base made my "firing" thumb cramp up very quickly while playing Gyruss.

 

The games (based on maybe five minutes of play time on each title):

 

Frogger: The graphics are nice and look fairly close to the arcade. However, the game sounds completely foreign to me. The music and sound effects are even further off than Frogger on the GBA Konami collection. To me, the music and sound effects in a game like Frogger are almost as important as the gameplay and graphics. Without the familiar tunes and sounds, it just doesn't quite seem like Frogger to me. Perhaps the dedicated Frogger stick is closer to the arcade?? I'd love to know.

 

Gyruss: Gyruss is one of my all time favorite games. Played it for hours and hours in the mid-eighties to earn enough tickets at the local arcade to "win" a Darth Vader speakerphone. This version of Gyruss is not even close to the arcade game. I believe this is a port of the NES version of Gyruss. All the graphics have been "spruced up" and super-sized." The sound effects and music are "off" also. This version all has bizarre bases and what-not in the middle of the screen starting with the second level. This should have been called "Gyruss Turbo" or something as it's definitely not the arcade game and it has definitely been mucked with in an attempt to make it "better." This is a shame as the GBA version seems almost "spot on" to the arcade. I should also note that there is massive slowdown when too many enemies are onscreen.

 

Scramble: I don't have a whole lot of insight into this one. I didn't play it much in the arcade "back in the day." It's graphics seem pretty much as I remember. It was fun to play but I couldn't tell you how far off from the arcade it is.

 

Time Pilot: I loved playing this on the Colecovision way back when and tried to play it whenever I encountered a Time Pilot machine in the wild. This seems fairly close to the arcade in graphics and gameplay. However, one important sound effect is completely missing. I always loved the sound that your ship makes as it fires. It's very recognizable and a big part of the experience, if you ask me. It's completely absent from this version. Your ship makes no sound as it fires. You hear the other planes fire on you and you hear their explosions as you hit them but the rhythmic sound of your own firing is completely absent. Boooo.

 

Rush N Attack: I know nothing about this game in the arcade. However, the graphics and sound effects are very NES-like. So, I wouldn't be surprised to find out it's another NES port. (Perhaps they all are.)

 

Yie Ar Kung Fu: Whatever.

 

Overall, I would grade this joystick a C+. I'm sure it will be fun for kids and newbies to classic gaming. However, for those of us that count on accurate graphics, gameplay, and sound to transport us back to a simpler time and place...it misses the mark big-time.

 

I'll keep this in my collection but would probably not recommend this to anyone look for the definitive arcade versions of these games.

 

Now, if anyone knows what the answer is behind the "double dipping" of Frogger on both joysticks is, please let us know. I think it was a pretty questionable move on Majesco's part to release Frogger in a collection stick and then also in a stand-alone stick on the same shelf (for the same price!). I should note that I scoured in the info on the packages to determine what the Frogger differences might be. I could find nothing to lead me to believe that Frogger in the collection is any different than Frogger by itself. Strange marketing.

 

At any rate, I just wanted to throw my two-cents out there for anyone who was thinking about picking up this new joystick.

[ClassicBoy]

Sorry about the typos...wish I could go back and edit. Oh, well.

[Trip_Cannon]

I was going to post the same question today. I was at Target last night and noticed the same thing. What's the difference between the stand alone Frogger and the 6 in 1 with Frogger in it!? Why would they do something like that?

 

I had some of the same concerns with the Konami joystick. Most of the games didn't look like the arcade counterparts at all. What's up with that?

[ClassicBoy]

Bump.

 

Anyone buy the dedicated Frogger stick yet? How close is it to the arcade?

 

Anyone?

[PaulEMoz]

I'd never even heard of this. I love some of those games, but I'm not paying for shoddy or NES versions. Konami needs to release a compilation for the current-gen consoles.

[video game addict]

Theres a collection on GBA. I can play on Gameboy adpater on Cube, does that count?

[PaulEMoz]

Theres a collection on GBA.  I can play on Gameboy adpater on Cube, does that count?

 

No. It's only got about 5 games on it!

 

A 20-game Konami pack, like Midway Arcade Treasures, would be a thing of beauty.

[video game addict]

Theres a collection on GBA.  I can play on Gameboy adpater on Cube, does that count?

 

No. It's only got about 5 games on it!

 

A 20-game Konami pack, like Midway Arcade Treasures, would be a thing of beauty.

 

Yes. Yes it would! I'm still a bit pissed I've never been able to find the PSX collection. I'd also like to see a larger collection, maybe some of their old MSX games, there were a couple released for the Jap PSX, and on Saturn to I believe.

[Agent X]

It's odd that the conversion of Frogger has fallen short, since Majesco released an absolutely awesome Frogger rendition for the Sega Genesis back in 1998. That game was very close to the arcade game--a nearly perfect conversion, other than some rearranging of the score/status elements to compensate for the horizontal orientation of a standard TV (as opposed to the vertical orientation of the original arcade game). I would've expected Majesco to deliver a similar quality port here.

[Jess Ragan]

Oh yeah? You should try the unreleased *Game Gear* version of Frogger. It's even more awesome than the Genesis game thanks to larger stages, more detailed graphics, and gameplay that's tons of fun. If you'd like to try it, you should be able to find the ROM at www.smspower.org.

 

JR

[Flojomojo]

Anyone have a pic or link of this new system? I can't find one.

[Vic George 2K3]

Konami's Arcade Advanced for the GBA is lacking a game options option like that of Namco Museum and Pac-Man Collection (number of lives, et al.). Same complaint goes for Atari Anniversary Advance for the GBA. Both are good carts but they are still one sandwich short of a full picnic.

[RMila75]

A 20-game Konami pack, like Midway Arcade Treasures, would be a thing of beauty.

 

You're damn right!

And it would have to include Time Pilot 2. A very fun and very overlooked game. Different and yet similar to the original.

[ClassicBoy]

Anyone have a pic or link of this new system?  I can't find one.

 

Here's one...sorta. You really can't see it that well. It doesn't look like this has shown up on ebay yet, either.

 

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?produc...uct%5Fid=322113

[Trip_Cannon]

And right next to it was the Frogger only system:

 

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?produc...uct%5Fid=322112

[mechanized]

I bought this as well. It's currently on sale at my local Target for sixteen dollars and some change, but is set for a normal price of $19.99. Not a bad price for a 6-in-1 stick.

 

Now, my own thoughts on it.

 

HARDWARE:

 

Stick: The stick does feel 'cheaper' than a Jakks stick, and there is a noticable difference in weight. The weight issue can go either way, either it'll matter to you or it won't at all. The unit only requires Three AA batteries, where the other sticks typically require Four. The Menus are somewhat spartan, so I'm inclined to think they've simply found a more energy efficient build, but I haven't played my batteries dead on any of these X-in-1 sticks, so remember that is an uninformed suspicion, but also remember that manufacturers set up battery ports for how much energy they require and keep battery life in mind. The stickers around the stick's base are attractive enough, but they don't really 'pop' out or are particularly eye-catching. As a true negative to the stickers, they lack a top coating for protection from, say, superficial scratches, excessively sweaty hands playing for too long, or a slightly spilled drink. I would actually say this single feature is the defining feature in the 'cheap' feel of the controller. The stick is well-molded, unobtrusively oversized, and seems responsive, though for my first outing with Yie Ar Kung-Fu I was finding my jumping a little irregular, but I truly suspect it was more to do with my never having played it before and not knowing how to work with the game's jumping physics, since I did kick ass in some Rush'n Attack when I had never played THAT before, either. The stony look of the controller is purely aesthetic, it did not feel uncomfortable to me, or anything. The two sets of buttons at either side of the controller was a good addition that I wish other X-in-1 controllers had done, so bonus points to Konami for that one. There is an irritating issue with having to advance all the screens preceeding the game menu (I think there are six) with the start button, but it's pretty trivial.

 

Summary: Generally, the controller does feel more cheaply made all around and the stickers really should have had a protective clear coat on them, but the stick handles very well, it is appropriately priced for the lost 'quality', it uses three batteries rather than four, it has two sets of buttons on either side of the stick, the stick is appropriately responsive, and the strange stony molding of the base does not disrupt its handling.

 

SOFTWARE:

 

In order of memory...

 

Rush'n Attack: A much better game than I expected. I had never played this in any incarnation prior to this controller, but its look is overall a bit better than NES in quality. It's an interesting game about a woefully ill-equipped soldier dropping behind enemy lines to disable their secret weapon. With only a knife, and the occasional shanking and robbing of a guy that looks just like you, only in Orange (I thought he was a POW at first, and he killed me!), your goal is basically to make it from one end to the other, laying down the stab left and right and jumping over some of the most poorly concealed landmines in history. It plays well, even extremely well, considering it is one of those awkward placements of an Up = Jump game. It might not be entirely faithful to the arcade (I've never played it there) but it is a good game in its own.

 

Yie Ar Kung-Fu: If this game had better hit detection, I'd certainly love it. For now, it's frustratingly fun, and it's the only time I can say "I beat Wang!" without sounding like I've done something that makes Jesus cry. Or perhaps, I still sound like that, but that's not what happened, so it amuses me thusly. The game plays well enough, and if I can get better acclimated to the jumping mechanics of the game, I'm sure I'd do much better. I never played the arcade version, so I cannot speak on its port quality, but it stands well on its own. Looks like high class NES.

 

Gyruss: I love this game, but have never been able to find it in the arcades. It plays well in this stick, the controls are responsive, I had no concerns about quirky movement like I might on the 5200 version, and the music sounds good. The game's appearance looks like average SNES quality, and could even be built on an issue of that console generation. The boss battles are in place, flying meteors, and swarms of enemies. I encountered no issues of slow-down when playing, but maybe I'm just good enough that I don't have that many enemies living long enough to slow the game. All in all, far from a disappointment.

 

Scramble: I'd never played this one before, but it feels like the long lost brother to Moon Patrol, or Galaxian moon-lighting in another game. I never saw this in an arcade, or elsewhere, for that matter, so I have no idea on its port quality. If it's as old as I suspect it is, though, then the port (while potentially not entirely faithful) was excellent. It looks appropriately dated, like something I'd play on an 80s arcade machine, and it sounds appropriate besides. Tricky game, but fun once you can get the bomb timing down.

 

Time Pilot: Man, if I had played this game when I was a kid, I'd have never gotten out of elementary school. This game effing rocks! I'd never played this before, but I had seen it here and there, mostly on consoles (I think?) but this was my first time playing it. I took to this game immediately, shooting down enemy planes left and right, taking down zeppelins, bombers, and then I died, but I had beaten the default high score by a good 35,000 points. Pretty encouraging! So I went and played it more and more, and this game quickly rose on my list of favorite games. I'm reading that it is not a perfect port from the arcade, but damn it, it's good enough! Great, even!

 

Frogger: Damn you, Frogger! I'm just not that good at this game, but it looks pretty on-par with the arcade generation. The music does seem a little wonky, but that's offset, for me, by the familiar sound effects I hear when playing, like the Contra-esque death sound, et cetera. Handles very well, perhaps the best I've seen handle excepting some compilation iterations, and while it might not be a perfect port, oh well.... this is still a great port of Frogger.

 

Summary: Wonky music here and there, some missing or different sound effects, but generally they all play well, even very well, and while not being perfect arcade ports, consider when the last time you played a perfect arcade port was, and after that, consider settling with bunch of admirable ports in an affordable stick.

 

OVERALL: The hardware is sturdy enough, but in comparison to Jakks' sticks, they feel cheaper. The software is close to top notch, easily in the top five rungs of the ladder as far as X-in-1 Joysticks go.

Everything handles well, plays well, and though the ports aren't perfect, I would wonder how many 'perfect' ports are actually in circulation, but just for a moment.... before I return to playing some Good or Great ports on the Konami 6-in-1.

 

If you can get it at Target while it's on sale, do it. It'll still be fairly priced at $19.99 after Saturday, but right now it's very well-priced on sale for $16 and some change.

[Inky]

A 20-game Konami pack, like Midway Arcade Treasures, would be a thing of beauty.

 

You're damn right!

And it would have to include Time Pilot 2. A very fun and very overlooked game. Different and yet similar to the original.

 

When is Sega gonna release their classic arcade games in a pack for modern consoles?

 

Tac-Scan, Star-Trek, Turbo, Zaxxon, Congo Bongo, Pengo, Super Zaxxon, Daytona, Astron Belt....

[Adrian M]

Yet another butchered all-in-one game collection.

The Konami one did seem to have the most promise out of all of them, but reading this review, I've sworn off these things forever.

 

I'd rather just play the real deal at Funspot or via the roms rather than settle for the half-hearted ports included in this unit.

[RMila75]

When is Sega gonna release their classic arcade games in a pack for modern consoles?  

 

Tac-Scan, Star-Trek, Turbo, Zaxxon, Congo Bongo, Pengo, Super Zaxxon, Daytona, Astron Belt....

 

Exactly! These are must-play games for classic arcade fans.

Star Trek (cool game!) might pose some licensing problems for Sega, but they have no excuse on those other titles.

Tac-Scan would be SO damn cool.

[ClassicBoy]

I encountered no issues of slow-down when playing, but maybe I'm just good enough that I don't have that many enemies living long enough to slow the game.  

 

Thanks for the "dig." I do alright, as well. :wink:

[ClassicBoy]

And Mechanized,

 

You have to admit that the graphics in Gyruss look nothing like the Gyruss arcade graphics. Sure it might still be a fun game but most people, I think, are looking for accurate translations...or Heaven forbid, emulations.

 

Regarding Frogger, the music completely blows it for me. Not to mention that his hopping sound isn't anything like it sounds in the arcade. Fairly important for the "total feel."

[mechanized]

You have to admit that the graphics in Gyruss look nothing like the Gyruss arcade graphics.  Sure it might still be a fun game but most people, I think, are looking for accurate translations...or Heaven forbid, emulations.

 

Nah, the Gyruss looks much more console than it does Arcade, but I'll stand by it being a good conversion, or just a plain good game. I would say, though, that "most people" aren't looking for accurate translations. This is one of those issues where we have to remember the 'Target Market' ...the disassociated gamers of the world that are looking to wax nostalgic, yesteryear's child gamers turned parents who are looking for a fun gift for their children or for trips and can bridge the generation gap a little at the same time, et cetera. For the target audience, these are great games in a portable joystick for a decent price, comparable or even better priced than a lot of games out there, certainly cheaper than a console or a new release.

 

Are they accurate translations from Arcade to a Joystick? No... and honestly (and at risk of upsetting anyone) we would be on the foolish side to ever expect such, especially at that price, on compilations. Discrepancies in hardware changes over the years, specific hardware and or software techniques tailored to specific games, and growing sophistication of software development over the years would make cramming the correct software to handle all these different variables a fairly large and expensive undertaking.

 

Are they good Versions of Arcade games for compilation on a portable joystick thing? Across the list, for this Konami 6-in-1, I would say Yes, and then I would recommend the purchase.

 

Regarding Frogger, the music completely blows it for me.  Not to mention that his hopping sound isn't anything like it sounds in the arcade.  Fairly important for the "total feel."

 

It's a good version of Frogger, it's just not *the* Arcade Frogger. That said, it does sound a little odd to me, too, but honestly... it's not a Fun Time Destroying Element.

 

And by the way.... thanks for taking the dig in the spirit it was given.

[sega saturn x]

I love gyruss but i think ill stick with my nes carts since i was so disapointed with the namco one. Man that thing was way way to small!

[SteveW]

Tac-Scan, Star-Trek, Turbo, Zaxxon, Congo Bongo, Pengo, Super Zaxxon, Daytona, Astron Belt....

 

I thought Astron Belt was a laserdisk game? I'd really be impressed to see a handheld version of that one! But that would be a licensing problem too, considering the game footage originally came from a Japanese Star Wars rip-off called (in America) Message From Space.

[NovaXpress]

I would say, though, that "most people" aren't looking for accurate translations. This is one of those issues where we have to remember the 'Target Market' ...the disassociated gamers of the world that are looking to wax nostalgic, yesteryear's child gamers turned parents who are looking for a fun gift for their children or for trips and can bridge the generation gap a little at the same time, et cetera. For the target audience, these are great games in a portable joystick for a decent price, comparable or even better priced than a lot of games out there, certainly cheaper than a console or a new release.

That's what I've been saying all along: these products aren't aimed at classic gamers. It just happens to be cheap and convenient to use old games for this new popular format plus they get a little name recognition value as well.

 

But I don't understand why it's easier to program a simulation of a game rather than use emulation.