PS2 shmup demo + PSP shmup article in OPM June 2006 issue...

[PC Engine Fan X!]

In the latest issue of the U.S. Official Playstation Magazine dated June 2006 and is issue #105, there is a PS2 shmup demo on the OPM DVD-Rom demo disk to enjoy. ^_~

Also shmup related news, there is a U.S. PSP game review of Gradius Collection on page 101 of the June 2006 issue of OPM.

Here it is presented in it's entirety:

-----------------------------------
Publisher: Konami

Developer: Konami

ESRB: E (Electronic Software Ratings Board's recommendation -- Rated "E for Everyone")

MSRP: $39.99 USD

"Gradius Collection" -- Shoot!

Gradius Collection should be rated "M" (for "Mature" meaning no one under age 17 can purchase it in USA stores) -- not because it's violent (unless you think a pixelated spaceship shooting pixelated versions of those crazy {Moai} heads from Easter Island qualifies as violent) or because it has nudity. It doesn't have either of those. Really, the reason it should have that rating stems from the amount of profanity that will spew from your mouth and the possible injuries incurred from slamming your PSP into a brick wall.

You've might've guessed by now that nearly every single game in Gradius Collection is hard -- really hard. If you've never been exposed to these kind of old-school shooters, Gradius Collection is not a good place to start -- unless you want to torture yourself. For the hardcore shooter fan, it's not much better. The problem is the PSP controls feel pretty sluggish; the D-Pad is more problematic than the analog nub, but the nub is less precise than the D-Pad. It's even more difficult to navigate through a level with dozens of little bullets flying everywhere when the controls don't feel as precise s they should be.

Another problem -- that really doesn't have to do with the game itself -- is the PSP screen. It can be pretty hard to see some enemies and bullets because of the PSP screen's notorious problem with dark colors. That you can stretch the game to fill the PSP screen tends to exaggerate the issue, but the screen feels really, really small if you're trying to play these games in their normal aspect ratio (meaning 4:3 TV screen type).

Still, these are the Gradius games, and they remain shining examples of shooter design and old-school difficulty. However, when that difficulty is unintentionally ramped up because of flaws in the PSP design or because of what seem to be shoddy controls, then the whole experience take a pretty drastic dive. But fans of shooters like Gradius and its sequels may enjoy that anyway, since they're usually gluttons for pushiment when it comes to their favorite genre. | Review by OPM's Giancarlo Varanini |

Pros: The ports are well done in terms of visuals and music

Cons: The controls and the PSP screen make for some problems

Score: 2.5 out of 5

57,300 "Trivia for Nerds" --
Some arcade versions of Konami games, including Gradius had a default high score of 57,300. In Japanese, the digits of "573" are written in kana as "Ko-Na-Mi," a play on the publisher's name.
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It's not very often that a PS2 shmup demo appears along with a PSP shmup review article in the USA based OPM but for the month of June 2006, there they are. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[D]

shmup demo on the OPM DVD-Rom demo disk to enjoy.

eeerrm...yeah.....erm.........WHAT GAME?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

For D,

It is none other than the USA PS2 demo version of Irem's R-Type Final on the June 2006 OPM June 2006 DVD-Rom demo disc itself.

Sorry to keep you in suspense... ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[professor ganson]

Quote: "The problem is the PSP controls feel pretty sluggish; the D-Pad is more problematic than the analog nub, but the nub is less precise than the D-Pad."

Exactly my worry. As I just wrote earlier today in the Capcom Collection thread, I was worried about this. Varth and 1941 are simply unplayable for me for exactly these reasons. I doubt that I will pick up this Gradius pack-- a shame, since this was one of the main reasons I wanted a PSP. Here's hoping the Ghouls 'n Ghosts game works out.

[bVork]

Quote: "The problem is the PSP controls feel pretty sluggish; the D-Pad is more problematic than the analog nub, but the nub is less precise than the D-Pad."

Exactly my worry. As I just wrote earlier today in the Capcom Collection thread, I was worried about this. Varth and 1941 are simply unplayable for me for exactly these reasons. I doubt that I will pick up this Gradius pack-- a shame, since this was one of the main reasons I wanted a PSP. Here's hoping the Ghouls 'n Ghosts game works out.

I think the main issue with the PSP D-Pad is the extreme difficulty of hitting diagonals. The cardinal 4 directions are fine. As long as the GnG game is like the previous games in the series and doesn't use diagonal movement at any point, it should be just fine.

[Ghegs]

I think the main issue with the PSP D-Pad is the extreme difficulty of hitting diagonals. The cardinal 4 directions are fine. As long as the GnG game is like the previous games in the series and doesn't use diagonal movement at any point, it should be just fine.

I'll just take this opportunity to mention the PSP d-pad mod again. I've done it myself, it's not that hard, and it really makes a HUGE difference.

[D]

http://pspfanboy.com/2005/12/07/capcom- ... pad-cover/
maybe here?
http://cgi.ebay.com/PSP-GAME-Capcom-Cla ... dZViewItem
not sure if that'll fit your needs

[oxtsu]

I've never used it (don't have a PSP...figures), but here's a Capcom D-pad cover REPLICA for $2.50
http://www.superufo.com/product_html/SO ... utton.html

I have used this shop one time in the past and they delivered the goods as promised and in a timely fashion.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I've never used it (don't have a PSP...figures), but here's a Capcom D-pad cover REPLICA for $2.50
http://www.superufo.com/product_html/SO ... utton.html

I have used this shop one time in the past and they delivered the goods as promised and in a timely fashion.

For oxtsu,

You should get a PSP...cool stuff indeed. Having a PSP with firmware 1.50 is cool when it comes to running PSP homebrew and PSP emulation. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[coolix]

For oxtsu,

You should get a PSP...cool stuff indeed. Having a PSP with firmware 1.50 is cool when it comes to running PSP homebrew and PSP emulation. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

I had one since day one but i sold it a couple of days ago. I used the thing mostly for reading manga. I did finish a few games but i don't feel at ease when i hold this brick. Poor controls, relatively short battery span, i won't recommend it to anyone.

[iatneH]

I opened up my Ceramic White, but I can't get the little insert to stick, my glue gun stuff cools down too quickly.

Plus the two times I actually managed to get it to stick, it's way too stiff... the thing moves left at just a touch... not to mention, Left is Left, Up is Up. OK that's fine. But Down is Down-Left, and Right is Up Right.... I lost my ordinals Down and Right. So I just took the thing out and gave up. And my warrantee is void. Not like my warrantee was useful anyway, being an imported system in Canada and all...

[Carmen]

Is all this stuff about the PSP pad really true? I mean, I don't doubt you guys, but I find it hard to believe that they can still screw up a control pad in this day and age, y'know?

[iatneH]

can still screw up a control pad in this day and age

Nintendo did it with their GameCube and DS too. But for some reason I found the original GBA and GBA SP pads to be OK.