A Sengoku tale (some suggestions)

[Antiriad]

Hi,
a couple of years ago I was in a supermarket for shopping. In a basket, I found some PS2 titles for sale at 5 euro (new).
Without thinking too much, I bought the one with a katana on cover and "Tengai" title on it.

I'm not a shmups expert, but I just discovered that Tengai is the European release of Sengoku Blade (and that it runs for 100 euro or more on Ebay).

Now, to my question: I have both a JP and PAL PS2, it is worth to sell Tengai and to buy the japanese Psikyo Shooting Collection Vol 2, or should I buy the PAL release of "Samurai Aces" for other 5 euros and stick with it? Are these good PAL editions?

Thank you!

[professor ganson]

I can't speak to the PAL release, as I've never owned a PAL release of anything as far as I recall. However, I do want to say that Sengoku Ace is a worthwhile vertical shmup-- I like it quite a bit more than Sengoku Blade. Senoku Ace might look a bit dark and ugly at first glance, but its art really grew on me over time. Your normal attack becomes much more forceful when you are close to your target, and that generates a nice balance of risk-reward. It's the only Psikyo game I was able to clear, so it's a bit more beginner-friendly than most Psikyo titles. I'm not sure it's obscure enough to be called a "hidden gem" but I will insist that it's worth checking out. A very solid title by a first-rate shmup company.

[Danny]

Hi,
a couple of years ago I was in a supermarket for shopping. In a basket, I found some PS2 titles for sale at 5 euro (new).
Without thinking too much, I bought the one with a katana on cover and "Tengai" title on it.

I'm not a shmups expert, but I just discovered that Tengai is the European release of Sengoku Blade (and that it runs for 100 euro or more on Ebay).

Now, to my question: I have both a JP and PAL PS2, it is worth to sell Tengai and to buy the japanese Psikyo Shooting Collection Vol 2, or should I buy the PAL release of "Samurai Aces" for other 5 euros and stick with it? Are these good PAL editions?

Thank you!

The PAL Psikyo releases where very good with an exception (I am looking at you Strikers 1945 part 1 & 2 which is 50hz only!) and all had the usual options you would want from a port of that era. I happen to have all the PS2 pal releases and they are worth the money, the Gamestreet 505 stuff is all good quality while the stuff released by PlayIT can be very hit and miss. (Psyvariar Complete was good for example while Strikers was worse than the PS1 port somehow!)

[Mero]

Yes, the STG ports published by 505 Gamestreet are all very good, though I'd probably say flog it (Tengai) if it's worth as much as you say it is (it cost me about £10 back in 2008) and get the Japanese release (which presumably can be had a lot cheaper).