shmups.system11.org

just found this. too bad this is in german. looks like the game will be more like gradius, even if this is still prototyp stuff.

http://img243.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1al1.jpg
http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2ap2.jpg
http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3kf6.jpg
http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=4mo3.jpg

Thanks for that, it's quite interesting. According to this, Shin'en wants to discard the isometric view, because many people complained about the invisible borders. Instead it's gonna have a view "similar to titles like R-Type Final, Ikaruga and Gradius V".
Another nice feature will be the ability to save replays and upload them to the N2 server, so you can share them with other people. Sounds promising.

This is like a wish come true for me. Remember I posted they should make NS2 a horizontal shmup? It seems they came to their senses because we all know that the DS is not suited for verts. The guys have talent. I hope they do all the right decision with this game. That means no touch screen gimmicks, no isometric view (check), no two screen support or other dumb ideas.

I wouldn't count on no touch screen gimmicks, but this does look excellent already!

Some translation...

-Shinen will pay all costs for the development. This is unusual, as many devs get paid by a publisher. They do this to have full control about their product, to make the game they want.

-They want to "eliminate" the invisible border by using a different view, that Ikaruga, R-Type Final and Gradius V (read: All other shmups beside Viewpoint, Under Defeat and Silpheed) uses.

-They discarded the idea of using both screen (to simulate a vertical screen) in order to maintain image quality and a 60 fps instead of 30fps. (I`ve heard that before in another thread).

-They drop the multiple-weapon-on-the-fly concept, and change that for one main weapon and something like option pods. Subweapons will have a energy meter (like in NS I would guess).

-They will make additional enemies appear depending on how fast you beat the standard ones (like the bonus rows in Ikaruga, for instance).

-Highscores will be uploadable via WiFi. You will be also able to download and upload stage replays (neat!).

Dropping the perspective view on the screen as well as a easier to handle weapons system sounds much like the game Shinen wanted to make with Nanostray 1 in the first place; this might be the reason for carrying all the dev costs this time. This is really great news. Will this finally be THE portable shmup?

According to this article Shin'en were pressed by the publisher to incorporate touch screen features in the first Nanostray.They make it clear that they didn't like it and that N2 will use the lower screen only to display the HUD.

The one thing that really broke my heart with Nanostray was that all the good stuff was watered down by some little flaws that broke the game for me. Seems like they are really getting serious this time. The Nanostray 2 logo looks darker, the screenshots do too. Shmupboy, if you buy the N-Zone frequently, please keep us in the know (I guess you have a suscription, since the 11/06 issue is not in stores yet).

EDIT: Paying more attention to the small screens again, this seem like the game will be a hori. I thought they would be talking about a screen orientation like Gigawing or RSG. But saying stuff like the screen display will be like "R-Type and Ikaruga" is a bit fuzzy. I can understand that they want to ring a bell in the heads or more "mainstream" players, but R-Type/G5 are horis and Ika is a vert.

Also, the front page says that this article is part 1 of 6. I would say that N-Zone gets release every month, and part 6 will deal with bugfixing and completion, which means that NS2 will be released in 6 months, if they get everything done in time. GO GERMANY!

They should have just said Salamander!



And this alone should make this game truly one to look forward to.
Nanostray shows the potential they have, but had (flawed) design decisions made under pressure.
So hopefully now they are semi independent (they'd still need a publisher)
they can realise their true potential. This could be great!:D

btw, thanks to shmupboy for the links to the interesting article scans!

Considering their design sensibilities fit more with the hori style, this is nothing but a good thing for them. I keep getting the feeling that they could make something approaching a classic if they could just iron out all the little niggling flaws, and it appears that they're doing this (and self-funding for the ability to do so).

One thing that bothered me with nanostray: to score high you had to use nothing but the base weapons; it was the only way you could up your multiplier. It felt like they where teasing you with the fun alternates for each weapon...

Indeed. Every shmup they make is a bit better than the one before it.

Many thanks to shmupboy for scanning. N2 does look promising, I'm looking forward to hear more about it