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

[BIL]

I'm not looking at a game right now so I am probably remembering the wording wrong, but one of them is worded something like reproduce original game's speed, I think, and I guess that means with the slowdown, but I also start questioning does it instead mean the speed it should have run at without hardware limitation?

That's in many ACA releases at this point, and refers strictly to refresh rate. If set to "on," the game will run at the PCB's accurate refresh rate, and you'll get the usual metronomic frame stutter. If left "off," the game will be synced to 60hz, smooth but typically a bit faster than the PCB. Won't affect slowdown either way, other than ofc everything being faster in general if set to 60hz.

(the majority of Namco releases have this option, with the games actually running slightly over 60hz, if accurate speed is enabled. same goes for Super Cobra)

I wish it was a global option. I've never found a game I wasn't happier just playing at 60hz.

[samspot]

What are the best Rolling Thunder-likes on ACA?

[BIL]

Other than RT1+RT2 themselves, Konami's Surprise Attack is excellent. Solid game with some wild anti-grav stages and outstanding presentation. Arguably nearer Shinobi on many counts, the notable absence of close combat aside, but like Sega's game, the design debt is unmistakable.

Elevator Action is always worth a mention for paleo-Spy Action, too. And while they're much nearer Contra overall, Sunset Riders and Mystic Warriors both make intermittent, integral use of the tier-switch mechanic. Top Hunter (ACA-NG) might be worth a look on that count, too.

[samspot]

Thanks! Google was useless for this. I was actually just playing Sunset Riders and got an itch to dig deeper.

[cfx]

.

[velo]

Thanks! Google was useless for this. I was actually just playing Sunset Riders and got an itch to dig deeper.

Bit of a stretch but Cyber-Lip might qualify as a bit of a RT-like

• Up+jump high jump to upper ledges, down+jump to swing down
• Aiming restrictions (have to stand in place to shoot up)
• Ammo
• Enter doors for ammo refill

[samspot]

I bought Surprise Attack and it’s good fun. A lot easier to get some early progress compared to RT. I will try out the other recommendations sometime!

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Looks like we've got Namco swarming at us again...

Arcade Archives VS Star Luster is this week's entry.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202406/7876

[Marc]

Another quiet week.

[BIL]

Hm. Actually kinda interested in this one. Never looked into the FC version, but unlike GAMP No Nazo, I thought it sounded cool. Will give it a punt for the Vs. System angle. Actually, for all I know the FC ver is on one of M2's Namco Museum Archives... should take a look while I wait for the PSN store to update. EDIT: Ah balls, was NSW-only.

Thank you! That makes perfect sense and I don't know why I didn't think of it, as I am aware of the nature of arcade games running at odd refresh rates. I believe I have it off on everything, since I had come to the wrong conclusion that meant "no slowdown" haha. I should try turning it on just to see if I notice the stutter. I seem to mostly be insensitive to such things, as I can't even tell the difference between 30Hz and 60Hz framerates.

It's become a pre-flight routine for me, moving the ship from one screen edge to the other and back, just to confirm everything's running at a nice steady clip. It's really the sort of thing that vanishes once the game is underway, imo, especially in stuff as intense as STGs.

I bought Surprise Attack and it’s good fun. A lot easier to get some early progress compared to RT. I will try out the other recommendations sometime!

Glad you're enjoying it! Mystic Warriors is undeniably the biggest recent Konami news, but I was so happy to see SA finally given some love too. Exactly the sort of forgotten gem ACA excels at.

[Daytime Waitress]

Some of the sfx from the brief gameplay vid I saw of Star Luster (He Who Lusts After the Stars) brought back the PTSD I've carried since a very young Waitress experienced Tomcat: The F-14 Flight Simulator for the 2600 (hot damn if that game didn't have the best cover of all time, though).

But this commercial does make a pretty compelling argument in the game's favour.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Hm. Actually kinda interested in this one. Never looked into the FC version, but unlike GAMP No Nazo, I thought it sounded cool. Will give it a punt for the Vs. System angle. Actually, for all I know the FC ver is on one of M2's Namco Museum Archives... should take a look while I wait for the PSN store to update. EDIT: Ah balls, was NSW-only.

Thank you! That makes perfect sense and I don't know why I didn't think of it, as I am aware of the nature of arcade games running at odd refresh rates. I believe I have it off on everything, since I had come to the wrong conclusion that meant "no slowdown" haha. I should try turning it on just to see if I notice the stutter. I seem to mostly be insensitive to such things, as I can't even tell the difference between 30Hz and 60Hz framerates.

It's become a pre-flight routine for me, moving the ship from one screen edge to the other and back, just to confirm everything's running at a nice steady clip. It's really the sort of thing that vanishes once the game is underway, imo, especially in stuff as intense as STGs.

I bought Surprise Attack and it’s good fun. A lot easier to get some early progress compared to RT. I will try out the other recommendations sometime!

Glad you're enjoying it! Mystic Warriors is undeniably the biggest recent Konami news, but I was so happy to see SA finally given some love too. Exactly the sort of forgotten gem ACA excels at.

This Vs. Star Luster with the map and 1st person dogfights with enemies sounds like Namcot's take on Atari's Star Raiders for the VCS/2600 console with it's cool bundled Video Touch Pad controller to activate more functions (bring up the "Star Map", turn on/off the targeting HUD display, activate/deactivate shields, etc).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[hamfighterx]

Actually, for all I know the FC ver is on one of M2's Namco Museum Archives... should take a look while I wait for the PSN store to update. EDIT: Ah balls, was NSW-only.

The FC Star Luster is on the Japanese Switch Namcot Collection, but does not show up in the international eShop release (that was broken into Namco Museum Archives Vol.1 and Vol.2)

I don't think Star Luster has ever been officially released outside of Asia, but does have a handful of other Japanese re-releases:
- PS1 Namco Anthology 1 (compilation of Namco console titles, with original version and a remake)
- Gamecube - unlockable in the Japan version of Star Fox: Assault
- Wii Virtual Console (Japan only)
- 3DS Virtual Console (Japan only)

I'm always interested in Hamster releasing more under the radar (no pun intended for this game ) games from major developers, and this seems like a perfect example of a game with a bit of a cult following and lots of respect now among people who care about such things, but a bit of a misunderstood original release that may have been a bit too complicated for a lot of people to understand. I'm curious to see if Hamster puts any supplementary guides/tips in the game, sorta like the level maps they included for Druaga.

Personally, I'm also interested because I actually spent some time earlier this year playing the Euro release of the PS1 sequel, Star Ixiom, which is still pretty fresh in my memory. I've barely ever played the original Star Luster though, but would like to give it some more attention.

[velo]

I'd be interested to know the specific differences between the VS version and the FC one. In general that info seems a bit hard to find out on the webz, even for the better-known Vs games.

[hamfighterx]

Oh! Also of great importance: Star Luster is part of Namco's bizarre USGF universe, along with Baraduke (needs Kissy crossover!), the Dig Dug games, and many more. https://namco.fandom.com/wiki/United_Galaxy_Space_Force

[cfx]

.

[BrianC]

I like Star Luster. As PC Engine Fan X said, it's Namco's take on the Star Raiders formula. Plays a bit closer to the Atari 800 one, but still streamlined to work with a controller. The Bosconian bases make an appearance here. Not sure of differences with the Vs. version.

[Jeneki]

Given the stylized logo, I always thought the game was called Star Juster which to be fair probably sounds more likely than Star Luster.

Or the standard R=L translation. Star Ruster! Fly your broken down rust bucket across the universe, from one space station junkyard to the next!

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Looks like we have another Japan-only because VS Star Luster is not available in the mexican PS Store (The same thing happened with Rompers)
Can anyone else confirm the unavailabilty in US or Canada?

[Skyknight]

It's appeared on my United States-store Switch, so this is an issue with either Sony or Mexico.

[Sima Tuna]

It's appeared on my United States-store Switch, so this is an issue with either Sony or Mexico.

It's on the US eshop on my switch as well.

[Fingolfin]

BEAMLORD are you able to record and share your Legion runs?

https://youtu.be/XXUN-r_HKFE?si=59-wP97ATHoKj3tQ

Sorry man, took longer than expected, but I was determined to get at least 2 loops cleared. Made it to 3rd loop, area 11. Just as well, because I was about ready to throw in the towel.

I'm ready to put it to bed, though. As a shmup, it lacks some fundamentals in my book. Dodging can be difficult at times as, depending on how you're collecting power ups, you're either slow as fuck, fast as fuck, or fucking fast as all fuck. In fairness, it doesn't appear designed around manoeuvrability, given the time-bomb mechanic, but judicious use of that perhaps works better in theory than in practice. The delay of activation upon picking up laser power ups also irks.

Overall, I'd have to file Legion under Non-essential, although oddly compelling, when you get going. One for the more curious of ACA acolytes.

Thank you BEAMLORD!
Will check out your run this weekend.

Couldn’t agree more about Legion as an STG: “oddly compelling” but plenty of quirks and irks and also a good deal of might’ve worked on the drawing board/seemed good in design planning but doesn’t work/translate so well in practice/in game actually playing/IRL.

I really enjoy Armed F — it’s one of my favorite Nichibutsu STGs — and having now played Legion a lot recently (really have had fun/really can enjoy it for a couple hours of consecutive runs), I appreciate all the more how much more smooth and polished Armed F is vs Legion — very few irks in that/Armed F is a very fair STG (so is Terra Cresta) IMO.

Legion isn’t not fair; it is fair as well but Legion’s design meets in game mechanics and in game play do make it frustrating at times (and in an RNG oriented way often) and at times make it feel a bit less fair as a result but there’s still little to no cheap shots/obnoxious sniping.

[Arino]

Namco Museum Archives Vol.1 and Vol.2

Recently I bought these on PS4 and I got very angry It is not possible to change the controls.
You have to play using circle and X. But I want to use square and X for some games.

I'm not looking at a game right now so I am probably remembering the wording wrong, but one of them is worded something like reproduce original game's speed, I think, and I guess that means with the slowdown, but I also start questioning does it instead mean the speed it should have run at without hardware limitation?

That's in many ACA releases at this point, and refers strictly to refresh rate. If set to "on," the game will run at the PCB's accurate refresh rate, and you'll get the usual metronomic frame stutter. If left "off," the game will be synced to 60hz, smooth but typically a bit faster than the PCB. Won't affect slowdown either way, other than ofc everything being faster in general if set to 60hz.

(the majority of Namco releases have this option, with the games actually running slightly over 60hz, if accurate speed is enabled. same goes for Super Cobra)

I wish it was a global option. I've never found a game I wasn't happier just playing at 60hz.

I didn't know!!! Will change the settings of like 60 games ASAP lol. I want the games to run at the PCB's accurate refresh rate, with the usual metronomic frame stutter

I am on a trip right now but I can't wait to buy and play VS. STAR LUSTER once I get back in a few weeks (deliberately didn't bring my Switch or anything).
Can someone please explain to me what exactly this is? I thought all VS. games use the Famicom version of that respective game? So is this just the arcade version of the FC version?
Edit: Wait. There is no "arcade version" in the way I was thinking, right? There is just a Famicom version and an arcade (VS.) version based on the Famicom version, right?

Is the sequel for PSX any good?
https://youtu.be/NCTuhZjN9u8?si=StKmKtix-I-vMkW-

[Fingolfin]

As PC Engine Fan X said, [Vs. Star Luster is] Namco's take on the Star Raiders formula. Plays a bit closer to the Atari 800 one, but still streamlined to work with a controller. The Bosconian bases make an appearance here.

Thought the exact same when checking videos of Star Luster: (in the area/quadrant field when not in combat mode) the B for bases (to restore energy) looks like it is taken directly from the text playfield of Apple Trek/Apple ][ Trek (in quadrant screen) but the way the mini energy restoring craft comes out of the base and flies to your ship and refuels you is essentially exactly the same animation as in Vs. Star Raiders.

Regarding Bosconian bases in Vs. Star Luster mentioned by BrianC above, I really like and appreciate the use of the shape and design of the Bosconian enemy bases being used in Vs. Star Luster as your refueling/re-energizing bases!

Wondering if Atari and Namco discussed this similarity with Atari 8bit Star Raiders (1979) prior to release of Vs. Star Luster arcade (1985): at that time Namco and Atari seemed to have a very good working relationship — late 70’s/early 80’s — with Namco allowing Atari to license A LOT of their titles (worth noting that this was a two way street, as Namco licensed some Atari arcade games though I believe mostly Atari arcade games released prior to ‘82 or thereabouts).

I’m wondering if there was an official or unofficial understanding that this Star Raiders refueling from a base that you have to a) observe on a tactical screen and b) then continue to fly in the direction of the base until you find it and refuel/re-energize aspect within Vs. Star Luster was copasetic/kosher.

***Addition: Found that Namco America majority acquired Atari Games in 1985 (Atari Games = Atari’s arcade division, separate from the home computer & consoles division retained/owned by the Tramiels as Atari Corporation). I didn’t recall the Namco majority acquisition of Atari’s arcade division in ‘85 at all for whatever reason(s), though to be fair the number of times Atari or parts of Atari have been sold does make it challenging to keep track of it all.

With the Namco majority acquisition of Atari Games in 1985, I’m certain Atari and Namco were aware of and approved the use of a little bit of Star Raiders design and presentation in Vs. Star Luster. Though not sure about the Apple Trek/ Apple ][ Trek similarity.

Looks like we have another Japan-only because VS Star Luster is not available in the mexican PS Store (The same thing happened with Rompers)
Can anyone else confirm the unavailabilty in US or Canada?

Just checked US PSN Store and Vs. Star Luster is not up (yet); last Arcade Archives is Rug Rats. Checking online vs directly in PSN store indicates only announced (though the ACA Arcade Archives online website release date was yesterday/6/13/24 for NA Sony PSN).

Perhaps the old Star Raiders and or Apple Trek/Apple ][ Trek design elements in Vs. Star Luster is/are what’s preventing Vs. Star Luster’s US release on NA PSN?

Weird though it’s up on N e-Shop US and it’s listed as released in Arcade Archives NA release indicated as yesterday 6/13/24 released.

Perhaps, this time this ACA hold up or exclusion seems a bit more elusive or enigmatic as to how/why there might be legal trademark/copyright issues.

Will be curious to see if a) Vs. Star Luster is released in all of NA through PSN Stores or b) any scraps of info as to why not.

Lots of edits and additions here for more info and accounting for my brain fart pointed out (quite politely) by samspot below!

[samspot]

Rugrats the game is from 1981 and the tv show is from 1991. I don’t think you can defend your copyright against something from 10yrs earlier.

[Fingolfin]

Rugrats the game is from 1981 and the tv show is from 1991. I don’t think you can defend your copyright against something from 10yrs earlier.

You’re totally right samspot: 1981 copyright/trademark would supersede 1991.

Will amend my post above to reflect that! Thanks!

More than a bit of a brain fart there on my part!

[samspot]

I had to look it up and had never really looked at screenshots! But I suspected it was earlier just because it made it onto ACA.

[Arino]

Actually I think I will just play this game on the Famicom and spend the money on a different game from ACA instead. I appreciate the ACA release and there might be quite some differences but since I am new to this game anyway, I am sure the FC version will be just as much fun, plus I can play it on CRT! Just wanted to share these thoughts.

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Rastan returns to Arcade Archives.

Rastan Saga II / Nastar Warrior is this week's entry.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202406/8485

[BIL]

Gonna have to give this a refresh in MAME.

At any rate, the stage is set for Warrior Blade.