I agree with skinny. Of course, he's probably just playing us and will sweep in with a 1000% increase later on, but I mean it. Defender isn't a shooter/shmup, or at least not a typical one. Source: I don't like shooters and I love Defender!  Sure, you're literally shooting stuff, but there's a freedom to roam that you don't see in other shooters. Although the comparison to Kung Fu is apt, in that both have a set of rules that is simpler to understand than to explain concisely. 

This was my first version of Defender, via emulation in 2003. I was very impressed with the sound and graphics, which, as primitive as they seem at first, also hold more information and cues than the surface indicates. This is the best port, IMO. Maybe because all the other ports are on 2nd gen hardware. Although nothing compares to the arcade cabinet once you get used to the controls, which are more like a flight sim with combat thrown in.

Anyway, personally I'm legit bad at games so here is my lowly participation score, subject to update but probably not by much.

34,900
38,600
40,700

thats a bad ass tv! 
 

I agree. Ya know, over the years it's always been for me "new tv, new features, bigger, better" but lately I've been pining for one of these old CRTs to scratch that true oldschool itch.
 

It's been a really busy week, but hopefully I can get some time this weekend. If I get a chance to play, I'll post whatever I end up with.

I'm going to sit here and enjoy being in second place for the short time that it lasts.

You should go and beat my 400K score so you end second place, right behind Gloves this week.  
 

I consider the Atari 2600 port to be pretty much the best one.
I like the NES port, but the Atari one is just much more fun to play.  
 

The 2600 port a lot more faithful to the arcade, right?

It's weird that they changed so much for the NES port.


 

Hey all, I finally took the time to hook my NES Classic up to my recording tools. If interested, I'd be happy to broadcast my gameplay of Defender II. I'm still in practice mode, but might be interesting to watch I dunno don't judge me jeez.

I am at work right now, so I wouldn't be able to watch it, but sure, if you stream at a later time, I will be interested in watching it.
 

Yeah it'd be in a few hours from now, as I too am working at the moment.  

Alright. I will be interested in watching it.
If I can find time to do another run this week, I will too live stream it.  

 

Hey man, you should upload your twitch streams to Youtube. I really wanted to see your Kabuki Quantum Fighter stream but I missed it.

 

I don't know about anyone who's on NA, but back in the day, the top guns would play for over 24 hours straight on a single credit.
 

I'm kinda scared to upload anything to YT right now because I've been neglecting it for the last two months, and my fans are the rabid type, who like to be like "Hey this isn't IGI 2 what are you doing!?".
 

Not sure if it is more faithful as I didn't get to play the original arcade game much other than a few rounds in MAME.
But played it on our Atari quite a lot and always had a blast.
This NES port is fun, I like playing it, but it seems to lack some magic that the Atari port had.
 

In the Nintendo version they took out the part where you put the people down on the ground. Neither is faithful to the controls (not enough buttons) but the Atari version is less so.

Thanks grinder!

Gloves you should get one! It really does give another type of experience which I like a lot. Good luck in searching.
 

One major difference with the NES port is not being able to carry the humanoids and bring them back down to the planet surface. And the ground doesn't explode and all landers turn into mutants when all the humanoids are destroyed. These original aspects from the arcade would have added to the challenge and intensity but they were changed for some reason.

Also in the arcade you can warp to higher levels using the stargates by entering when you are carrying humanoids.

I prefer to use my old CRT for NES games because no lag. There will probably be at least some lag with any flat screen.

Plus NES games were meant to be played on a CRT. It looks natural.

 

Wait... IGI as in I'm Going In?


Man, I haven't thought about that game since.... whenever a demo of it came out

Yeah that game lol. I did a full playthrough of it on YT years ago, and am currently about halfway through the sequel (which is nowhere near as good as the first game, I am sad to say).
 

so tell them to piss off? 

Lol the majority of my subs come for me playing IGI. I have over a million views on the original series alone, which is saying something for a guy who only recently hit 2k subscribers. But yes, I may have to break the news sometime and be like "yo I'm sorry guys but I need a break from IGI 2, it's a terrible game".

speaking of terrible games have you played defender II?