I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

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Marc
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by Marc »

Yeah the saves are a pain in the ass. One blot on otherwise superb ports.
There are certain titles that I'm never going to finish without a LOT of practice (looking at you Ninja Spirit), but that's not really possible with the whacko system they've gone with.
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by BIL »

^^^ Hit me up 4 dem Saigo tipz :wink: I'd put the savestate at stage 4. st1-2 won't teach you much, and st3 lacks the game's deadliest enemy, the Samurai. After you've gotten used to them, practice st6. st5 and st7's gas traps require intensive routing, and there's the electric fence of dicks that is the st7-2 Ninja Pit, but none are nearly as deadly as st6 in the long run.

Gemini Wing's out tomorrow. Image Been looking forward to this one, particularly as at one point early on it was listed as "tentative." I hope Silkworm shows up at some point too. Killer OST on this one, by later Konami STG and Castlevania alum Metal_Yuhki.
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by trap15 »

Gemini Wing is also incredible for having such an intricate and deep scoring system for a 1987 game, based on effective use of your resources and quick dispatch of key enemies. viewtopic.php?f=5&t=50676

Really a gem of a game, so glad it's coming to ACA.
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by BIL »

Superb, this is exactly what I knew I'd be needing. BRINGER is a badass nom de guerre for powerup carriers. Image
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Particularly having played lots of Argus no Senshi in recent months, I'm again struck by GW's resemblance - offhand, I guess at least the same art designers were involved? Inimitably 'orrible-yet-cute mythic prehistoria, toothy fiends firmly grounded in blue skies and green greens. Giant lampreys have never looked so cuddly! Nor have the aircraft-mounted flamethrowers incinerating them! Wild Fang, now that be Tecmo goin balls-out brutal Image

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That stage 4 BGM, god damn. Image One of the most darkly turbulent classical pieces I've heard from any game OST. I wonder if he nicked it from somewhere, I've known him to do that. :lol:

Speaking of, compare Gemini Wing's st2 outro ambience to E5150 off Mob Rules. I wonder if that's another, albeit much subtler Sab nod in Yuhki's Tecmo discography. Image

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ACA (PS4 tested) controls sharply as expected, and just like Trigon, the Hi Score mode allows autofire with an attached On/Off note. Also noticed a few small but very welcome improvements to the UI. You can now disable the automatic "upload score?" prompt at the end of non-HS/Caravan credits. The menus feel tightened-up too, nice and snappy. The manual's also a bit larger-res, easier to read from the couch. Good attention to detail chaps, it's not unnoticed Image
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by Marc »

Gemini Wing is a weird one. Not quite sure what to make of it yet.
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by trap15 »

BIL wrote:Speaking of, compare Gemini Wing's st2 outro ambience to E5150 off Mob Rules. I wonder if that's another, albeit much subtler Sab nod in Yuhki's Tecmo discography. Image
Wow, that's a fuckin deep cut. Definitely inspired sounding.
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by BIL »

Holy fuck, E.D.F. outta absolutely nowhere. :shock:

Only played the SFC's "Super" version, thought it was pretty alright. Always a wait n'see with Jaleco, time to consult MAME. :mrgreen:

Got some good tunes, I know that much. Image
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by Jeneki »

This gen is pulling out the old games I never expected to see again.

Gemeni Wing is a nice surprise. It seems to be a resource management game, using and replacing special weapons throughout the whole level. I like this implementation better than expiring powerups. Also it looks like bosses are balanced so you don't need to save all your special attacks for them. If there ever was a game to cure people from saving bombs into death, this appears to be it.
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Marc
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by Marc »

BIL wrote:Holy fuck, E.D.F. outta absolutely nowhere. :shock:

Only played the SFC's "Super" version, thought it was pretty alright. Always a wait n'see with Jaleco, time to consult MAME. :mrgreen:

Got some good tunes, I know that much. Image
I picked it up anyways, despite being pretty underwhelmed with the SNES version back in the day (mind, I liked Super R-Type, so what do I know :D ). I hate to think how much I've spent on this series between Switch and PS4 over these last few years. That's without the little aggravation that growing inside me where I want them all on the portable machine, causing me to double-dip on the stuff I picked up on PS4 before I owned the Switch....
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by Sengoku Strider »

If nothing else, E.D.F. has a pretty awesome soundtrack going for it.
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by BIL »

Found the arcade one exactly as stubbornly okay as the SFC version, only at a fraction of the cost - and slowdown! - and therefore a lot more agreeable. :mrgreen: IMO, it instantly gets a lot more interesting once you reach weapon lvl3, which enables Gradius-style formations. Especially cool since your Options block bullets, enabling some nice bayonet tactics.

MASSIVE STORY SPOILERS FOR STAGE 2 :o
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Also holy cow I don't recall that happening on SFC. :shock: That's one for the Dick Stock thread! Image

Is AC stage 3 missing from the SFC version? Feels like it... was pleasantly surprised to see terrain in the first half, and ceilings/floors further in. Can't recall anything but wide-open stages on SFC - not an innately bad thing, and as IREM regularly demonstrated, you don't need walls to create downright claustrophobic intensity - but ala Irem, I like a bit of variety.

The BGM is in st3-2 is outstanding, gives me a melancholic Castlevania IV vibe.

I find the st2 BGM amusingly, though not at all unpleasantly reminiscent of Barry Manilow's Copacabana. :lol: However ARMED SATELLITE is stone cold killer :o Beautiful piano rendition by composer Tsukasa Tawada, here:

https://twitter.com/TsukasaTawada/statu ... 7195727872

I found a bug in the PS4 version's image resizing options - when I scale it down, it crashes out. Will undoubtedly be patched swiftly (I see there's already been one update). I wish other emulation specialists were as good about this. Why yes I do own SNK 40th. :evil:
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by BrianC »

Switch has both versions of EDF. :)
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by BIL »

Other than the new stage elements (like st2's Hyuge Battleship + turret rush), I think the AC's biggest gain is the relative lack of slowdown. The SFC version is one of those games where firing doubles as a slowdown button - with the game's innate simplicity, being able to go foot-to-the-floor for a screenload of ripping explosions is a lot more satisfying (and a lot more intense, obviously).

Image

Currently practising Trigon and Image Fight's respective loops, so EDF's similarly unforgiving hitbox doesn't feel at all unusual. Had I gone straight into it I might've had to adjust. :mrgreen:

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Touchier than it looks Image Dunno how you're supposed to nail both halves of the latter two middleweights plus all of their support zako with Vulcan, maybe 100% destruction is easier with the other shot types? A substantial game, feels like.
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by BIL »

Sounds right, been getting good results with Laser in stages 2 & 3. :smile:

With the game's emphasis on nailing fleeting, aggressively sniping zako, I think it gains a lot from L3's Gradius formation and its dragnetting. Bit like an R-Typesque finally breaking out the Force equivalent, haha.

Image

Edit: was replying to a post re: Lazor effectiveness, a ghost must've ate it :o Image
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by Zach Keene »

BIL wrote:Edit: was replying to a post re: Lazor effectiveness, a ghost must've ate it :o Image
I deleted it because I missed the part about also getting all the zako, never actually managed that. :)
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by BIL »

Oh right :mrgreen: I can just about nail both midboss halves with pointblanked Vulcan, but I miss a lot of zako. From early impressions it seems Vulcan and Laser are the ones to use, barring Nuke/Homing being late bloomers.
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by JohnR1900 »

Sengoku Strider wrote:The Life Force/Salamander release is an insane amount of value for the price.
It definitely is. I'm also so glad I have the Salamander Deluxe Pack on Saturn and Salamander Portable on PSP.

I wish more people could play Konami's Xexex with an ACA release.
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by BIL »

Now that Flak Attack, A-JAX and Trigon are home and dry (I always associate those three, via the Shooting Battle ASTs), XEXEX is my #1 Konami pick for sure. Of stuff whose hardware is already emulated by ACA, I hope they continue with the IREM M92. Kaitei Daisensou came out absolutely perfect, bring on R-Type Leo and Gun Hohki.

(and Geostorm and YUSHICOPS Image)

Spot The Dobie!
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Suddenly realised what EDF's strikingly melancholic st3 BGMs were reminding me of: RefleX's st2 BGMs A Fight to Continue Eternally and Stairs to the Ruin. Rare that an STG soundtrack can evoke Jirurun's driven sorrow and Barry Manilow! Tsukasa Tawada is awesome.

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Thunder Dragon announced. Imma buy it but you best gimme mah TD2, muhfucka! Image Image

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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by Tokyo-J »

Thunderdragon is coming to Archives on Switch and PS4. Info Via Elixir from Impress Game Watch.

https://twitter.com/shmups/status/1309542484662341632
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by Bassa-Bassa »

Has it been set what's the deal with Saint Dragon's 3rd stage boss? Was it skippable only in the US version? How's the Japanese version in the AKA series?
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by BIL »

Not familiar enough with the game to say (I've cleared the third stage, can't recall a boss skip), but MJR likes the ACA version:
MJR wrote:I have loved Saint Dragon unconditionally since it came out, own the PCB too, so of course I bought it right away.

That feeling when I got into third slot on the rankings, straight away (my nick is CAI) :D

Image
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by Bassa-Bassa »

The 3rd boss can seemingly be skipped in some versions by not destroying the last (6th) big laser-shooting structure. These things are easy to destroy if you use autofire but without it you normally don't bother. Next time check it without destroying it, please!
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by EmperorIng »

New Hamster releases announced!

Bero Bero Beh, Guzzler, Nova 2001, Rod Land, Fairyland Story, Kuri Kinton, and Liquid Kids!

Myself, I am most excited about that Liquid Kids release! Saturn scalpers wail in anticipation of the shrinking market for their investments. Also really dig Fairyland Story and Rodland, so it's great to see some single-screen Taito platformers get some loving as well. I dig Taito's cute as much as I dig their surrealist sci-fi - I'm a man for all seasons. 8) Liquid Kids might be one of the apotheoses of Taito Cute, after all. The 'walking' animation of Hipopo in water is simply irresistible.
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by BIL »

Delighted to see Mizubaku there :mrgreen: ala Metal Black, Bubble Symphony and Elevator Action Returns, VING's Saturn conversions are beautiful, but being on discs, they all have the minor annoyance of loadtimes. They're brief, to be sure, but by definition it's enough to take me out of the REAL ARCADE FEEL (as that neckbeard Johnny Turbo used to say). Doubling up on any and all of 'em. :cool:
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by EmperorIng »

Plus it'll be nice to play Fairyland and Kuri Kinton (well, uh, maybe I won't get that one) on a large TV without the blurriness of Taito Legend 2's conversions.
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by trap15 »

I'm surprised to see Nova 2001 on there, I swear it was released on PS4 at least a long time ago? I'm pretty sure I own it even :lol: Maybe the announcement was for switch version?

As for the actually new ones, Mizubaku Daibouken should be nice, and I'm always into Thunder Dragon 1 even if it's a bit janky. Maybe I'll actually get into Rod Land with this release, never really spent any time with it.
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by BIL »

EmperorIng wrote:Plus it'll be nice to play Fairyland and Kuri Kinton (well, uh, maybe I won't get that one) on a large TV without the blurriness of Taito Legend 2's conversions.
I'm curious about Fairyland, seems like a Patient Zero for Taito's single-screeners the way their Front Line is for Ikari et al. Although I'm terribly spotty on my history with that lovable subgenre. I can barely Bubble Bobble. Speaking of, Rainbow Islands is getting downright painful to wait on, I hope there isn't some legal bullshit WRT its BGM. Biggest missing 80s Taito name next to Rastan, imo.

Never played Kuri Kinton myself, wasn't hoping for the best tbh :lol: That Hard Gay Michael Bolton, though. :o I know it's probably supposed to be Shin from HNK, but that's unmistakably Hard Gay Michael Bolton. Image

Thunder Fox, there's a scrolling Taito brawler I hope shows up. Not a lot of Ninja Warriors x Rolling Thunders out there, and this one works! The MD version is god awful. Well no, it's just entirely mediocre. And "Thunder Fox MD" does sound like a cool late 80s tv show about a badass surgeon who solves crimes and bangs all the cute young interns. But it loses everything that makes the AC one pop! EG massive crowds and MAXIMUM SPEED:

Safety first, kids!
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trap15 wrote:I'm surprised to see Nova 2001 on there, I swear it was released on PS4 at least a long time ago? I'm pretty sure I own it even :lol: Maybe the announcement was for switch version?
Yeah precisely, same for Gradius II - the Switch-only stuff is either first-party Nintendo, or a former PS4 exclusive arriving three years late. :mrgreen:

Glad to see Rod Land (best name ever :shock:), I get the feeling Jaleco's early-90s AC stretch was where they finally graduated to average. Image Enjoying EDF a lot, solid game.

Given Jaleco's proliferation on ACA, I'm guessing Rodland's lore-related puzzler and hardware stablemate Soldam will be here before long. Its attract mode demands a cursory inspection! I only dabble in the genre but I know them nice choons

TFW EXCITING GAME
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by professor ganson »

I'm probably alone in being excited about picking up Star Force. We played this in a tournament here years ago, and I struggled with a port on XBOX (Tecmo Classic Arcade) which didn't seem to have the original aspect ratio. I assume that's not a problem here. In my experience with their ports on the PS2, Hamster doesn't make these kinds of errors.

I would get Star Force today except I've been using a Switch lite lately and I think the game will be too tiny on there. When the new-and-improved Switch hits the market, I'll get Star Force right away.
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by Sumez »

BIL wrote:Rainbow Islands is getting downright painful to wait on, I hope there isn't some legal bullshit WRT its BGM. Biggest missing 80s Taito name next to Rastan, imo.
Somewhere Over The Rainbow is public domain now.
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Re: I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

Post by EmperorIng »

Among the many announcements made today, the new shmups revealed for ACA are Rabio Lepus and... the venerable Gradius III! That's an exciting one. The first 'port' in over a decade.

I really hope Hamster pushes some of the options of the PS2 version, as unlikely as that is.
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