Caladrius rated for PEGI. Incoming localization?

[Alfred]

505 games bringing formerly Japan-Exclusive Shooter Caladrius to Xbox 360 in Europe.

http://www.purexbox.com/news/2015/08/50 ... _in_europe

[Oniros]

505 games bringing formerly Japan-Exclusive Shooter Caladrius to Xbox 360 in Europe.

http://www.purexbox.com/news/2015/08/50 ... _in_europe

This is quite the interest turn of events. I guess Moss realized that there was very little money to be made from a 2015 X360 release and decided that the licensing fee was more profitable for this? I only hope it comes out in NA too. And that it becomes backwards compatible with the Xbone in the future.

[NeoStrayCat]

Yeah...no, I find this fishy, for one thing, I don't see an announcement...yet, on 505 Games mentioning this anywhere on their socials or it on their site. But hey, anything's possible, I assume.

[Astro City II]

It's not fishy. The digital English manual is hosted on the xbox.com server:

http://download.xbox.com/content/533007 ... 150212.pdf

[HydrogLox]

Yeah...no, I find this fishy, for one thing, I don't see an announcement...yet, on 505 Games mentioning this anywhere on their socials or it on their site.

505 Games (Street) did publish the PAL PS2 Raiden III in 2006 - so it's not too much of a stretch. I do however have my doubts that UFO Interactive is interested in publishing Caladrius in the North American market (which they did for the PS2 Raiden III).

[NeoStrayCat]

@Astro City II
Yes, I know there's a manual, nothing in there says its from 505 or anything, just Moss bringing this out digitally whenever they feel like it, even as I already mentioned before, the game's achievement list is already translated in English for those that already own the import version, so yeah...

@HydrogLox
I see, but yeah, as I said, anythings possible. Wish it would come sooner than later.

[HydrogLox]

It finally showed up on the US Xbox website!

... and it's back (for how long, who knows).

[NeoStrayCat]

It finally showed up on the US Xbox website!

... and it's back (for how long, who knows).

Well, PEGI ratings kept on changing the dates since it didn't come on the 1 or 2 times it was supposed to be out, this next date has it for 9/4 (same on the overview on the game page from the xbox site) (which is 2-morrow), and hope to damn it that it comes out soon. Its been long, but it will be worth it.

[NeoStrayCat]

Anyways, on second thought now, Caladrius is now actually available, for $20. Just the base game for now, no word on DLC (but it'll have them anyways.)
---
Edit/Update: Opening song is instrumental, it was voiced in the JP release (also, it seems story dialogue also isn't voiced , except battle/other voices, which kinda explains the English release being about 770MB's to the JP version 801MB size), also, update to latest version is included in the digital release. (I.E Version switch to 1.00 to 1.10 is accessible), still start with the 3 starting characters.

[CloudyMusic]

Cool, purchased.

[DoomsDave]

Didn't see this posted in the thread but it's also coming to PS4.

http://gematsu.com/2015/07/caladrius-bl ... ounced-ps4

[Immryr]

Sweet. I was gonna get the 360 version, but I might wait it out and get the ps4 one now.

[DestroyTheCore]

Calabrius Blaze is a far superior version according to ACSeraph the Caladrius authority. I guess I would rather pick a physical copy for PS3 or PS4.

[HydrogLox]

Didn't see this posted in the thread but it's also coming to PS4.

http://gematsu.com/2015/07/caladrius-bl ... ounced-ps4

As you know there is also a topic for that: Caladrius Blaze being ported to PS4 by H2 Interactive

Calabrius Blaze is a far superior version according to ACSeraph the Caladrius authority. I guess I would rather pick a physical copy for PS3 or PS4.

There may also be other factors to consider (AFAIK):

• MOSS developed Caladrius for the Xbox 360
• MOSS subsequently developed Caladrius AC
• Shanghai Riceman Technology Co. Ltd developed Caladrius Blaze PS3 under direction from MOSS
• H2 Interactive is handling Caladrius Blaze PS4

Some more "discerning" members aren't too happy with H2 Interactive's handling of the Steam version of Raiden IV OverKill†, so the PS3 version of "Caladrius Blaze" may still turn out to be preferable - and the Xbox 360 Caladrius is "all" MOSS (if that is something that matters to you).

† Raiden IV OverKill PS3 was also developed by Shanghai Riceman Technology Co. Ltd under direction from MOSS.

[CloudyMusic]

I've never played this before, and given what Blaze is still selling for, I figure $20 for the localized digital version is good to figure out whether I like it enough to drop money on Blaze. If I don't like it, I can save my money, and if I do, hey, I'll have supported MOSS's localization efforts.

[Alfred]

If you don't buy this game Moss will never release another game in the West again please financially support them just saying. Anyway I was very pleased with the low low price of £14.99 and that we have the Japanese leaderboards hope we get DLC asap. I'm just really enjoying the game so much better then KOF Sky Stage. Caladrius is my favourite Moss STG and my best game of the year.

Not many people have uploaded a score to the ver 1.10 leaderboards which is strange maybe it just come out?. I might be able to get in the top 10 in the world because this.

Great points being made by Hydroglox thank you for being a voice of reason on this thread. Hope to see you on the leaderboards soon my friend.

[ACSeraph]

the Xbox 360 Caladrius is "all" MOSS (if that is something that matters to you).

It really shouldn't matter to anyone. Moss designed and directed it; it doesn't matter who programmed it if the job was done correctly.

As for Blaze being the superior, definitive version (currently), don't mistake that for there being anything wrong with Vanilla. Content-wise Blaze is undoubtedly superior, and Evolution is my personal favorite version of the game because of the increased scoring depth and additional content. But, if you were just directly comparing 360 Vanilla to Blaze Original I think the differences would be lost on most players.

Blaze Original is essentially a rebalance that fixes certain annoying issues from Vanilla such as low ship speed and adds in 2 additional characters. The final result is a somewhat easier game that feels cleaner and better to play overall, but this will be less obvious depending on your character choice.

360 Vanilla 1.10 is essentially an attempt at giving 360 players their own Blaze-like rebalance. In my opinion 1.10 is inferior to the Blaze rebalance, because certain enemy patterns were needlessly nerfed and the zako basically never shoot. I don't think Moss put any effort into it at all, rather, they just shat out a port of AC original and called it a day. Thing is though, AC original is essentially a novice mode, so it's damn sure not a good replacement for Blaze Original. Vanilla 1.0 is pretty brutal actually, so my guess is the 1.10 patch was an attempt to make the game more accessible for the Western audience.

But even after saying all this, I still appreciate the 360 version. Vanilla is undoubtedly the most difficult version of the game, and Blaze does not include it. My Lilith score in Vanilla required true perfection. There really is no room for error at the high level in Vanilla, and that makes it worth having alongside Blaze for serious players.

tl;dr

Shanghai Riceman did a great job with Blaze and should not be disrespected for not being Moss.

Vanilla is good and includes the most difficult version of Calarius which is not available in Blaze. Blaze is still king, but buying 360 Vanilla is not a waste of time or money. However, 1.10 is a lazy bullshit novice mode, so don't be tricked into thinking it's a replacement for Blaze.

[HydrogLox]

Moss designed and directed it; it doesn't matter who programmed it if the job was done correctly.
...
Shanghai Riceman did a great job with Blaze and should not be disrespected for not being Moss.

That was never my intention. I typically bring up the Shanghai Riceman angle to remind people that Moss has chosen not to develop any expertise on the PS3 - so nothing new (patches, DLC or otherwise) should be expected there. Now ideally Moss should be "accountable" for what other companies are doing to its intellectual properties on its behalf but I think the relationship with H2 Interactive seems to be much more "laissez faire". Again this isn't to "disrespect" H2 Interactive but to temper some members' expectation that the PS4 version will supplant the PS3 version of Blaze - I expect that at best the PS4 version will simply be no worse than the PS3 version and I also don't expect to see a physical PS4 release as that isn't H2 Interactive's "modus operandi". (Also it seems that at least for now Moss has chosen not to develop any PS4 expertise).

However, 1.10 is a lazy bullshit novice mode, so don't be tricked into thinking it's a replacement for Blaze.

Now this I find interesting - especially as 1.10 seems to be the default on this release. For one I would have preferred them identifying it as an "Xbox 360 Novice" mode rather than an (d)evolution of 1.0 but more to the point there is a "hint of superficiality" about this that concerns me. Does this mean Moss is too busy with doing a good job on Raiden V to bother or is Moss struggling across the board and we will see this trend fully born out in the released Raiden V product? (rhetorical question) Given the state of the industry the latter is more likely than the former.

Vanilla is undoubtedly the most difficult version of the game, and Blaze does not include it. My Lilith score in Vanilla required true perfection. There really is no room for error at the high level in Vanilla, and that makes it worth having alongside Blaze for serious players.

In general I never quite understood the fixation on a "definitive" version - tastes vary wildly and people shouldn't be surprised if they like a version other than the one that is labeled as "definitive". While I like having "Raiden IV OverKill" on the PS3, I'm mostly drawn back to the Xbox 360 Arcade version as I find OverKill's game play a bit distracting. Also when a "more difficult" version of a game kills me off I just feel a little less idiotic.

Anyway, Thank You for the detailed "Vanilla vs. Blaze" assessment.

[GhostGK]

I was just going to get it!
Guess it'll wait & see..

Fingers crossed for PS4 port & localization!

[HydrogLox]

Guess it'll wait & see..

Fingers crossed for PS4 port & localization!

Why? See: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. In this case the bird is Caladrius, while future versions of Blaze ... you get the drift.

[GhostGK]

Guess it'll wait & see..

Fingers crossed for PS4 port & localization!

Why? See: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. In this case the bird is Caladrius, while future versions of Blaze ... you get the drift.

Who know what, you're right..

I've heard high praises for the game & I'm a fan of Suzuhito Yasuda's works..
I sure I won't regret it..

[emphatic]

Game On Demand is region locked, no? I have a J-NTSC console, but would prefer buying the game off the Swedish marketplace, as I'm not sure how to pay for games on the Japanese marketplace nowadays.

Also, I've asked this many, many times, but never gotten a definitive answer. Can you play this full screen on a 4:3 display, or will I get letterboxing?

[davyK]

Also, I've asked this many, many times, but never gotten a definitive answer. Can you play this full screen on a 4:3 display, or will I get letterboxing?

You can adjust the size of the screen in the options but you can't go greater than 100%. At 100% the game fills the screen vertically and has small borders left and right - so I'm guessing on a 4:3 screen you will still get borders on the left and right.

[ACSeraph]

The borders actually have a slight gameplay function as they track your break status, so I'm guessing they can't be turned off completely. If there's a way I can test it on an HDTV I'll do it for you and tell you the results.

[HydrogLox]

The borders actually have a slight gameplay function as they track your break status, so I'm guessing they can't be turned off completely.

ILLUST = NONE turns off their function but doesn't make the pillars go away (tried it on a Sony KV-27FS100). In essence the game play area is always pillar-boxed regardless of the display's aspect ratio and on 4:3 displays only an internal 16:9 box is ever used by the entire game (i.e. letter boxing) - in effect window boxing the game play area on a 4:3 display.

[emphatic]

The borders actually have a slight gameplay function as they track your break status, so I'm guessing they can't be turned off completely. If there's a way I can test it on an HDTV I'll do it for you and tell you the results.

Thanks a lot!

ILLUST = NONE turns off their function but doesn't make the pillars go away (tried it on a Sony KV-27FS100). In essence the game play area is always pillar-boxed regardless of the display's aspect ratio and on 4:3 displays only an internal 16:9 box is ever used by the entire game (i.e. letter boxing) - in effect window boxing the game play area on a 4:3 display.

So, black bars above and beneath unless you zoom on the TV? How unfortunate, I'd love to play this full screen in my EGRET II.

[AntiFritz]

I don't know if someone has mentioned it somewhere before but this isn't available to us in australia on 360. I guess that's to be expected these days though.

[Alfred]

The DLC is out now.

[Oniros]

The DLC is out now.

Blaze DLC?

[NeoStrayCat]

The DLC is out now.

Blaze DLC?

No, just Sophia and Lilith, though no 8bit Music or the Gamer Pics yet in the English release (though you can still get them from the JP XB Store and make it work in the English release). Both characters are $3/£2.39 each, and price dropped as well in the JP XB Store to 324Y each.