M2 ShotTriggers DDP Daioujou Rinne Tensei

[pablumatic]

Toaplan aside, what next for Shot Triggers? I think everyone wanted DOJ and now you have it, what next?

For a Cave game I guess Ibara. Its PS2 port is fairly poor and doesn't include the "Kuro" version of the game.

For non-Cave how about Aleste Collection part 2 with the MSX / Mega Drive / Mega CD / SFC stuff. Maybe just a Compile shooter compilation with Zanac, Sylphia, and other games you dont see anywhere these days.

[hamfighterx]

Pad suggestions for Switch players:
I like using the Mega Drive 6-button pad (released in connection with MD games being added to Nintendo Switch Online). Works fine for everything I've thrown at it. D-pad isn't quite as good as something like an original Saturn pad, but it's not bad.

8bitdo M30 is solid too, I picked one up specifically for 6-button Capcom fighters on a docked Analogue Pocket. I was a little cautious, because I'm a little hit or miss on 8bitdo stuff and have had some not-so-great experiences, but the M30 ended up being very good! Works on Switch, I haven't played with it on PS4/PS5 since that requires an adapter.

I don't really like the Retrobit Saturn reproductions and their d-pads (and I really think their new one with analog sticks looks gross), but those also apparently work on Switch over Bluetooth out of the box.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I've been playing Black Label more recently and I prefer it to White. Again, I'm confused as to why the main focus of this release is White Label. So a handful of super humans play it for score instead of Black Label so now it's what we get as the main focus? Maybe I'm just so awful that I'm the only one thinking this? I just don't understand. Also you kinda assume that the super humans capable of playing White Label for score are playing on original hardware so again why would it be the focus of the port?

Yes and no.

You're going to respond to the 'pro' scene. You just have to. This the crowd that fascinates everyone. This is what underwrites the value of a given game - even if the scene is so small they're not your actual target market. It's probably also a scene you want to respond to as a (second hand) dev personally... No love letter, but a serious nod as a mark of respect.

Personally I really like this re-discovery of white label. Sure, it's a shame not more time went on black label too. But to me black label is still pretty much super human.... So maybe if they had not bothered with some of the arranges we could have had more emphasis on bl too? (I would personally be up for this no matter how both wl and bl destroy me)... On the flip side you're then not adding anything extra and/or a more friendly way of playing...

I also wouldn't assume all super humans have or want the arcade hardware. Even pgm hack versions. I'm sure a lot do, but a nice port on a contemporary bit of hardware is probably just that bit more accessible and an important kind of recognition these aren't dead games... And I suspect that many just don't want the angst of dealing or relying on old hardware even if they do enjoy playing on it.

Playing on a modded WL DDP-DOJ pcb with both WL & BL variants selectable + high score & high score imitials saving via on-board "back-up" Varta battery = awesome! Much better than a stock unmodded "plain vanilla" DDP-DOJ pcb any ol' day quite easily. Most hardcore arcade pcb hobbyists/purists already have theirs upgraded many moons ago. And with none of the dreaded issue/drama of dealing with a rare true BL DDP-DOJ pcb should the Varta battery go kaput/die -- rendering it useless/unplayable.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[davyK]

My copy (Switch) arrived from amiami is less than a week from Japan to Northern Ireland. No customs charges.

It came with an artbook too - wasn't expecting that. Setting it aside to boot up over the holiday.

Not artwork....is a rather nice manual / player guide. Splendid extra.

[Lemnear]

Mmh so this or Ketsui? (priority order)

[brokenhalo]

Mmh so this or Ketsui? (priority order)

Flip a coin. They're both deep, fantastic games.

[KAI]

Would it be possible to share the gallery pics if you have them ?

Sure, there you go

[Despatche]

Arrange S is wild. Kinda wish it had some light chaining closer to Donpachi, but whatever. I wonder if anyone will get inspired by this mode and make something interesting...

Again, I'm confused as to why the main focus of this release is White Label.

Maybe this doesn't matter as much anymore, but the original DOJ is the version that actually had a decent number of boards made, and it's also the only version that had any sort of port for the longest time. There were never very many boards of Black Label at all, and the primary way that most have ever played it is through MAME. The original is just the game people know best.

For a Cave game I guess Ibara. Its PS2 port is fairly poor and doesn't include the "Kuro" version of the game.

"poor" isn't really the right word, more like "weird". It's pretty playable for a PS2 port of a CV1000 game. It doesn't have Ibara Kuro because that game is a remake of Arrange Mode to begin with.

[eksratu]

Does anyone know what exactly the "Ending Skip Setting" does in options? It's right between "Skip Startup Notice" and "Quick Restart," but at least in Arrange L, the ending, credits, and Game Over screen still all come up.

[pulsemod]

Does anyone know what exactly the "Ending Skip Setting" does in options? It's right between "Skip Startup Notice" and "Quick Restart," but at least in Arrange L, the ending, credits, and Game Over screen still all come up.

iirc it says that turning it on allows you to skip the ending and credits by pressing start, though I don't remember which versions it applies to

[Tokyo-J]

Toaplan aside, what next for Shot Triggers? I think everyone wanted DOJ and now you have it, what next?

Espgaluda and Ibara both need ports to modern consoles.

I personally would love to see Guwange , Futari . or Sai Dai Ou Jou.

[Steven]

All I want is more Toaplan, but if I can't have that, R-Type + R-Type II is what I want and I doubt that will happen.

[rtw]

Would it be possible to share the gallery pics if you have them ?

Sure, there you go

Thank you very much!

[Enemy]

My copy finally arrived! It plays like a dream while in-game, but the menus are wonky. Some navigation inputs just sorta disappear or get processed an entire second after I press them. It's like the game is repeatedly struggling to load something every several seconds.

Arrange S and Arrange L have been taking most of my attention. They're fun.

I noticed this as well (switch version) are they aware of this?

[Lemnear]

no mention of their 2024 lineup?
First time i read a complaint about an M2 game

[MartinFort]

My copy finally arrived! It plays like a dream while in-game, but the menus are wonky. Some navigation inputs just sorta disappear or get processed an entire second after I press them. It's like the game is repeatedly struggling to load something every several seconds.

Arrange S and Arrange L have been taking most of my attention. They're fun.

I noticed this as well (switch version) are they aware of this?

I've noticed the same issue on the switch version.

[TransatlanticFoe]

I don't have trouble with the menus on my Switch. Have left it at the base version 1.0.0 so maybe it's been introduced in a patch?

[SavagePencil]

I don't have trouble with the menus on my Switch. Have left it at the base version 1.0.0 so maybe it's been introduced in a patch?

Docked vs handheld perhaps?

[serge85]

I don't have problems with the menus in the switch version (playing docked)

[BloodHawk]

I have the same problems with the direct menu as well (physical version, patched, and both portable and docked).

It behaves as though it has to load something new for a split second after every change in selection. Definitely a noticeable difference between M2's other releases.

I just messed with it some more and it seems to go away after randomly moving around the selections for 10 to 20 seconds, as though once it has loaded whatever it needs to for each selection it's then good for that instance.

[Enemy]

Very strange that people are having different experiences with this ... mine was docked (not tried handheld) and there is definitely a problem that is like lag on the menu or even like it misses inputs.

Edit .. mine is also download and not physical, not sure this makes a difference

[ZaKa-tokyobassist]

Is there absolutely no way to turn on hitboxes for Black Label? I can live with it not getting as much spotlight as White Label but I would like some feature parity or Custom Mode equivalent for this.

I know and get that this is by far the best release of the game but it's kinda lacking in weird ways. The meager soundtrack offerings for how many different versions there are really bothers me.

Great game but I gotta air out my gripes with the overall feature set. I just want to play Black Label with those sweet arrange OSTs and the hitbox visible. I don't think that's a huge ask.

[Starfighter]

Is there absolutely no way to turn on hitboxes for Black Label?

A week ago beer gas canister said:

Visible player hitbox has been patched into Black Label and DDP3

so I'm guessing there is!

[hamfighterx]

Toaplan aside, what next for Shot Triggers? I think everyone wanted DOJ and now you have it, what next?

Espgaluda and Ibara both need ports to modern consoles.
I personally would love to see Guwange , Futari . or Sai Dai Ou Jou.

What I'd like the most (and none of which sound unrealistic to me):

1. Ibara + Ibara Kuro. Kuro is significantly different from Ibara, and if we consider that its own game, the only Cave arcade STG never before ported to any console.

2. Armed Police Batrider. M2 talked about it in the past, all timer and also never before ported to console. I'd love more Raizing titles too (Battle Bakraid, Soukyugurentai, Kingdom Grandprix... all would be very welcome), but Batrider seems like the most likely option.

3. Dodonpachi II: Bee Storm. We heard M2 mention this, I'd sort of love it. Not necessarily the best game (but tbh I don't hate it), but I'd love to have a quality port even if just for historical importance. Preferably, pair it with Donpachi and Dodonpachi.

4. Aleste Collection II. They did the collection of the SMS and GG games, M2 is working on Aleste Branch and seems like they may do a console release of Senjin, so how about another collection with the rest of the older games? Musha Aleste, Super Aleste (Space Megaforce), and Denin/Robo Aleste are a given, and would be awesome to see the MSX Aleste Gaiden and Aleste 2 make an appearance too.

And although I didn't list Aleste Branch, it seems likely that may get a console release under the ShotTriggers brand. Might be a realistic prediction for next non-Toaplan M2 published release. I really like Senjin Aleste too, hopefully that doesn't get lost in the shuffle - would be fantastic to see that show up WITH Branch.

[davyK]

Some questions.

1. Is there an autobomb toggle for Super Easy and Luna tour? It's far too easy because of it. Switching it off would make it a useful step toward one of the arcade modes. I cleared super easy first go with lives to spare and no sense of achievement.

2. When you select Black label mode - you then choose OLD version and NEW version. New version gives you BL with a black title screen. Old version still has the white screen...is this a variant on white label? Or is it just white label? (I've noticed this while playing BL on MAME too).

3. 2 round and 1 round game selection - what's the difference? Is the 1 round game just loop 1 with the TLB or is it loop 2?

Thanks in advance!!

[Ms. Tea]

1. Is there an autobomb toggle for Super Easy and Luna tour? It's far too easy because of it. Switching it off would make it a useful step toward one of the arcade modes. I cleared super easy first go with lives to spare and no sense of achievement.

I checked the options and no, doesn't look like you can turn it off. I think that suits super easy mode fine, but it'd be nice if you could play hardcore mode in Luna Tour with auto bomb off IMO.

2. When you select Black label mode - you then choose OLD version and NEW version. New version gives you BL with a black title screen. Old version still has the white screen...is this a variant on white label? Or is it just white label? (I've noticed this while playing BL on MAME too).

As far as I know it's the exact same as white label. Like you mention, it's in the arcade version too - I think the intent was to give arcade operators a way to install the new board and have two different versions of the game to pick between on bootup.

3. 2 round and 1 round game selection - what's the difference? Is the 1 round game just loop 1 with the TLB or is it loop 2?

It's loop 1 with the TLB, yeah. No loop 2 patterns.

[EngineerSTG]

So then there is essentially two ways to play white label in this port, choosing Arcade mode or choosing old version in Black Label mode?

[davyK]

Nice that was built into the arcade PCB.

[davyK]

So then there is essentially two ways to play white label in this port, choosing Arcade mode or choosing old version in Black Label mode?

That's how I see it.

[beer gas canister]

Is there absolutely no way to turn on hitboxes for Black Label? I can live with it not getting as much spotlight as White Label but I would like some feature parity or Custom Mode equivalent for this.

I know and get that this is by far the best release of the game but it's kinda lacking in weird ways. The meager soundtrack offerings for how many different versions there are really bothers me.

Great game but I gotta air out my gripes with the overall feature set. I just want to play Black Label with those sweet arrange OSTs and the hitbox visible. I don't think that's a huge ask.

Patch the game (I had to do this manually from the Switch menus for some reason), toggle on hitbox in options, play. I had it toggled on for WL and didn't have to change anything for it to appear in BL