Thexder Neo

[Marten]

Fans of the original Thexder, and later sequel Thexder 2: Firehawk, might be excited to know that the franchise is coming back (after a previous renewal last decade resulting in the rather tepid "Thexder 95").

Thexder Neo will premiere on the PSP and apparently a Playstation 3 version is also planned.

http://www.siliconera.com/2009/09/17/thexder-neo-shooting-for-a-worldwide-launch/

Joystiq has VIDEO, and just listen to the remastered theme!

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/22/square-enix-reveals-transformed-thexder-neo-for-psp/

[MusicallyInspired]

Niiiice! Too bad it's not coming to XboxLive Arcade. It looks so faithful to the original! I may just have to get a Sony product just for this game....

That theme is AWESOME!

[Ari]

I'm impressed!
Looks very faithful to the original. It's getting more and more difficult to resist the urge to get myself one of those PSPs... 

[BlueMax]

Very cool...  I had the idea for a 3D Thexder years ago, but noone in charge liked the idea.  This looks even cooler...  very true to the original (remember the L16 supercomputer?  There it is in the remake screenshots!)

[Rhizome]

Very tempted to get the PSP version.

[gortmertl0]

Thanks for the info!  Looks like a great update for Thexder; too bad it doesn't look like (for now) that it will be released for PC...

Aside from the over-reliance of game windows (Look !!! Multiple windows, and you're running Windows 95 !!! Get it??? GET IT???) -- several years too late, I might add, as Win3.1 was old hat by then -- I rather enjoyed Thexder 95.

Now I'll have to fire up my Win98 machine to give it another play!

Gary

[Alistair]

How different is the original and the Win95 remake? I have the boxes for both but have never played either.

I think I was always afraid of the 'recharging the robot' deal.

Regards,
- Alistair

[gortmertl0]

How different is the original and the Win95 remake? I have the boxes for both but have never played either.

I think I was always afraid of the 'recharging the robot' deal.

I had to buy a new Win98 machine a few months ago, but I still haven't had a chance to load games (including Thexder95) on it yet...  So, I'm going from a memory that's at least 13-14 years old, but here goes! :

In the Win95 version, Thexder flies to different planet/levels to liberate them; each planet has a ''theme'' -- Ice planet, Egypt planet, Lava planet, etc., and each has its own unique challenges stemming from the various environments -- Ice = slippery, etc.

You can still change from robot to jet, but there is a now third mode: the tank, for those really cramped spaces.

Instead of the single laser, you now had multiple weapons and power-up items designed for use in certain situations and environments (special bombs, lasers(?), etc.).

The biggest change was that instead of a single game window, there were multiple smaller windows flanking the center gameplay window -- a veritable Head-Up Display array.  The various windows would show things like the type of enemy you were attacking, your various specialty weapons/bombs available, info from HQ (I think) -- you could minimize them if you wanted, though, just like any other Windows window.

If you liked the original and its first sequel, I'd say it's definitely worth a try.


BTW: What do you mean by 'recharging the robot'?  I'm a little confused by that phrase...     


Gary

[MusicallyInspired]

Nothing about Thexder 95 is even remotely similar to the original Thexder. The levels are all different, the music is all different, the interface is all different. Basically the only thing that's the same is what makes Thexder Thexder in the first place: you run and shoot enemies, you can also fly and shoot enemies. In Thexder 95 you can also turn into a tank, though. The pace and the energy of the first two games is completely missing. I think the game is altogether awful. I played a good chunk of it, too. It just seems all around boring. If it's really a remake of the first game it's a completely re-imagined rendition.

Thexder Neo is everything the original Thexder was and hopefully more.

[Alistair]

Interesting responses.. thanks , guys.

On recharging the robot- I thought you had to periodically take Thexder to a charging station to refuel so he doesn't die, or something? Or am I confusing games here?

- Alistair

[gortmertl0]

Interesting responses.. thanks , guys.

On recharging the robot- I thought you had to periodically take Thexder to a charging station to refuel so he doesn't die, or something? Or am I confusing games here?

MI is quite correct; Thexder95 is not a direct update/remake of either of the first two entries, but rather a re-imagining of the series.  It is quite different from the first two, with some minor elements in common.  Therefore, it is easy to see why fans of the orginals did not take to Thexder95.

As for recharging Thexder in the first game, using your laser on specific energy-laden enemies or completing the current level would fill up your energy meter.  There were no recharging stations, per se, but the ''energy enemies'' (two red spheres sandwiched between two silver discs) were scattered throughout each level.

Gary

[BlueMax]

Don't forget the energy/enmax bonuses at the end of each level.  Definitely go through the fist several levels WITHOUT turning on your shield - you get a much bigger bonus for it!

[Alistair]

So I'm wrong about the recharging stations- good. I may revisit it then

- Alistair

[BlueMax]

I just watched the joystiq link and just about SQUEALED!     It's TOTALLY true to the original!  I recognized all the levels (except for the new big boss guy) but all the enemies are in the same places, move the same way, etc!  The music was even a gorgeous rendition!  I grew up with the Tandy1000 music... the IIGS sounded a little too rock-like, IIRC. 

Man...  there has to be a PSP emulator out there...  if only it would come to PC! 

[endre1952]

There is a PSP emulator written in JAVA:

http://jpcsp.org/

Reportedly, it is rather slow and runs only a handful of commerical games.

BTW, I already tried Thexder Neo on my PSP, it's pretty cool!

[BlueMax]

I just watched a complete walkthrough - it's a 100% port!  Oh.... beautiful!!

[Alistair]

If you saw the walkthrough/playthrough, was the music good?

- Alistair

[BlueMax]

If you saw the walkthrough/playthrough, was the music good?

- Alistair

I had to listen at low volume to avoid offending the wife...  what little I heard was very good - and finally non-repetitive!  I almost wouldn't mind the original theme all the way through, but the variance fits the moods better.

[Marten]

Thexder Neo came out on Playstation 3 on January 27, and a demo was released today.

[MusicallyInspired]

It's official. I'm getting a PS3........*as soon as possible.








*years from now