Steel Empire / Koutetsu Teikoku coming to the Switch

[parodius]

Announced by Konami for 2023 on their TGS 2022 "partner titles" section, game publisher is Mebius
https://www.konami.com/games/event/tgs/ ... ng=ja#1.10

Probably based on the PC port that was published a few years ago?

[xxx1993]

They're just porting it NOW? They could have done it sooner... I already played and beat it on PC not too long ago...

[jehu]

Is it essentially the same as the 3DS version released forever ago?

If so, fun game. But really nothing to get too excited about. One of those games you might blind clear on Normal, and has a dearth of interesting mechanics to keep you coming back. I welcome any shmup to the platform, but I'll probably pass on this one.

[Steven]

I really wanted to get a Mega Drive copy. Then I found one in a store and it was about the same price as Gleylancer or Slap Fight MD, but I don't think Steel Empire as interesting as either of those games.

[Sengoku Strider]

Yeah, I've been hearing good things about this game for a couple of years, but even in Japan a Mega Drive copy is like $200+. The Rusty visuals don't quite appeal to me enough to take the leap. But I'm sure this will be worth a spin.

Help me out here though...why is it being published by Konami? Konami don't even publish Konami games any more.

[Steven]

Yeah, it's in the 35000~40000 yen range. Not great, especially when the most interesting thing about the game is the (admittedly glorious) box art. If you're paying that much for a Mega Drive shooter, Slap Fight MD is the one to get instead.

Alright, I missed by a little bit; Surugaya has it for 32,400. Close enough, I guess. God damn that box art is beautiful. Japanese Mega Drive still has the best box art out of any system ever.

https://www.suruga-ya.jp/product/detail/164000202

[hamfighterx]

Is it essentially the same as the 3DS version released forever ago?

If so, fun game. But really nothing to get too excited about. One of those games you might blind clear on Normal, and has a dearth of interesting mechanics to keep you coming back. I welcome any shmup to the platform, but I'll probably pass on this one.

Exactly my thoughts. Maybe I'll end up getting it anyway, and I'm glad any shmup is on modern platforms, but I got my fill on 3DS.

The REAL news in inexplicable Konami ports of old games is Osman getting a new console release. Not a shmup, but very exciting!

[parodius]

Surugaya has it for 32,400.

Their Nagoya outlet had suprisingly "cheap" MD games back in June, I managed to get it there for 28,000 minus tax.

The REAL news in inexplicable Konami ports of old games is Osman getting a new console release. Not a shmup, but very exciting!

Wow, indeed. That's even more interesting, and unexpected.

[Steven]

Surugaya has it for 32,400.

Their Nagoya outlet had suprisingly "cheap" MD games back in June, I managed to get it there for 28,000 minus tax.

Yeah, I managed to get a "cheap" Slap Fight MD from their online store in January for 38000 yen. Surugaya is definitely one of the better stores around in terms of prices. Trader is still probably the best overall and Mandarake the worst, though even Mandarake is still better than crazy ebay sellers who get away with ripping off people who don't know that those ebay losers are selling those games for double to triple the price you can get them for in stores here.

Oh yeah, I also got a still halfway sealed copy of that huge super limited edition of 360 Saidaijoujou from them for like 25000 yen or something like that this year, as well. Surugaya's a nice store.

[Austin]

It's a fun game and the PC port was solid. I hear some of you though, I wouldn't say the replay value is as high as other STGs. Or at least, I don't go back to it but once every other year or so. I should probably try the higher difficulties and see if that changes.

Going by the screenshots via the link the OP posted, it's definitely a conversion of the PC version.

[Steven]

Yeah, I played it a while ago and it is a nice game, but it's not as compelling to replay as some of the other Mega Drive shooters. I think I almost 1CCed it the first or second time I played it, too, but it has been quite a while and I don't really remember. Maybe I'll try it again on a higher difficulty or something, especially now that my skills have increased greatly since I last played it.

[Jonpachi]

It's a great little lazy Sunday shmup, but certainly not something you're going to come back to year after year. I'd also like to call out the excellent GBA port, which also has some bangin' cover art.

[TransatlanticFoe]

Maybe if they add a one hit kill mode, lifebar + lives + bombs makes this far too easy to be worth revisiting all that often. Also I hadn't noticed the remake wasn't just a straight port of the Mega Drive version and opening train boss looks pathetic as a result! Plus it's really quite colourful for some reason.

[Necronom]

Considering how pleasant and good looking the stereoscopic effect on the 3DS is I can't imagine playing any other version.
The 3DS port can be considered a remake imo and is the definite version.
A sequel would be awesome.

[Hero of Legend]

It's not BY Konami, they're merely hosting it alongside like 30 other games by "partners", just folks using their booth to showcase their games. Sega does this as well IIRC.

This is by Mebius who did the 3DS and PC versions, but the most curious thing is that the IP is still under Starfish's name.

Because they've been going around in different names; Joyful Table, and Joyful Star, with Starfish itself not being used since... 2016? They've done stuff like the Chameleon remake and Heavenly Guardian/Princess Sayuki remaster on Switch, PS4, and Steam. But then went dark again after 2020. And the Starfish site seemingly shutdown over the last year or so.

I'm kind of concerned and would love to know what's going on here. At least UFO localized the Chameleon remake on Switch (but not the other ports to my knowledge), so it was great seeing "Starfish" and UFO back together again since, what, 2011's Elminage Original on PSP?