Aka & Blue Type-R (Exa Arcade 2018)

[Lemnear]

Is the Android version worth?

The iOS port of Aka to Blue for iOS/iPad is cool but doesn't have MFi gamepad/arcade stick support but only touch screen support from the get-go (otherwise, you'd be able to use the Mayflash FS900 arcade stick {which does have built-in iOS support/compatibility} with it if it had MFi support). https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aka-to-blue/id1255167241

The Android port of Aka to Blue requires a beefed up Android tablet/smart phone setup to run it properly indeed. Trying to run it on an under-powered Android tablet setup will give one the message that it won't boot up/run period (which was true when it was released for Android back in September of 2017). A 2024 manufactured Samsung tablet should be adequate enough to run Android Aka to Blue. https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... e&hl=en_US Unfortunately, the Android Aka to Blue port doesn't support Android based gamepads nor arcade sticks either.

Could a Steam Deck run the Android port of Aka to Blue as well?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

I'll probably play it directly from my cell phone, i hope a 2022 phone will be enough to run it.

Or just run it in an emulator.

Is it emulable?
Wait! you're THAT Jaimers!!!

[Necronom]

Is the Android version worth?

I own the Android version and played it a lot (finished all stages with both ships). When it comes to hardware requirements it's very modest by todays standards. I play it mainly on a Google Pixel 4, a midrange phone I bought in late 2019 - the game runs rock solid 60 fps with quality slider on max.
The mobile versions are definitely built and optimized for touch controls. Imo controlling it with a stick will make it more difficult. I can imagine a lot of optimization work went into the arcade release to make it "stick-friendly".
Does anyone know if the Exa version is forever locked to that platform or is there some hope to see it on another platform somewhere down the line?

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

Does anyone know if the Exa version is forever locked to that platform or is there some hope to see it on another platform somewhere down the line?

That specific Exa version can't ever be released outside of the Exa platform, as far as I understand it, but they could make some changes and still release it on consoles, I guess? Let's hope they include some type of arranged soundtrack as well because that horrible OST sucks ass.

[RobotParking]

Is the Android version worth?

The mobile versions are definitely built and optimized for touch controls. Imo controlling it with a stick will make it more difficult. I can imagine a lot of optimization work went into the arcade release to make it "stick-friendly".
Does anyone know if the Exa version is forever locked to that platform or is there some hope to see it on another platform somewhere down the line?

I managed to get hands on with it in Toronto (MeepleMart has an Exa machine with Aka & Blue and True Death on it) a month or so ago. Played a bunch on phone and feel like it's a comparable difficulty between the two versions. Controls were pretty responsive and I didn't have any real difficulty dodging. It was a little awkward because I was standing and the controls were around waist height, so I was hunched over it while playing. Probably need a stool there.

Where it got weird was targeting the bombs. On phone, if I recall correctly, you'd swipe to send the bomb where you want it to go. On console, the bomb launch is different for the two ships. For Aka, it just goes straight out the front, for Blue, it looks like there's a shifting reticle on the front of the ship to show bomb angle (at least, that's what it appeared to be - going on memory at this point). I never entirely got the hang of perfectly swiping for the bombs on mobile, but the trade off was probably more precise dodging. On the machine, that seemed to be flipped: dodging was a *little* trickier (but not as much as I expected) but bombs were way easier to manage.

My phone is getting pretty old, so I didn't really get a chance to do much replaying the mobile version before or after playing the machine for a clearer comparison. That said, I had a good enough time that I'm definitely going to get back there when I have a spare Saturday.

[Necronom]

On phone, if I recall correctly, you'd swipe to send the bomb where you want it to go. On console, the bomb launch is different for the two ships.

You don't have to swipe. On phone, you bomb by "Multi Tap" (touching the screen with a second finger, most likely the thumb or index finger or your other hand) or "Double Tap" (quickly double tap with the same thumb that already steers the ship). You can even activate both methods simultaneously.
"Double Tap" allows you (theoretically) to play with only one hand...
While Aka fires the bomb always in a straight line, Blue fires the bomb in the opposite direction of your current movement (indicated by the arrow).
The touch controls are spot on and very responsive. They are not a compromise - the game was clearly build around them. The advantage over a stick controlled game is that you can move your ship slow (aka micro dodging) or super fast depending on your swipe. I would be very interested in a comparison of the Mobile vs Arcade version because I think that bullet patterns have probably been adjusted to suit stick play (no fast movement, more precise micro dodging).
To me, the two drawbacks of the mobile version are:
1. The bigger the screen, the longer your swipes to move the ship. Imho playing on a big phone is therefore easier than playing on a huge tablet.
2. Sweat will make your fingers sticky which has a negative influence on the precision of your movement.

When it comes to Android, even after over 6 years since release this is still the best danmaku on the platform. Tanoshimasu are good chaps and keep updating it so it won't get delisted like so many other games

[RobotParking]

On phone, if I recall correctly, you'd swipe to send the bomb where you want it to go. On console, the bomb launch is different for the two ships.

You don't have to swipe. On phone, you bomb by "Multi Tap" (touching the screen with a second finger, most likely the thumb or index finger or your other hand) or "Double Tap" (quickly double tap with the same thumb that already steers the ship). You can even activate both methods simultaneously.
"Double Tap" allows you (theoretically) to play with only one hand...
While Aka fires the bomb always in a straight line, Blue fires the bomb in the opposite direction of your current movement (indicated by the arrow).
The touch controls are spot on and very responsive. They are not a compromise - the game was clearly build around them. The advantage over a stick controlled game is that you can move your ship slow (aka micro dodging) or super fast depending on your swipe. I would be very interested in a comparison of the Mobile vs Arcade version because I think that bullet patterns have probably been adjusted to suit stick play (no fast movement, more precise micro dodging).
To me, the two drawbacks of the mobile version are:
1. The bigger the screen, the longer your swipes to move the ship. Imho playing on a big phone is therefore easier than playing on a huge tablet.
2. Sweat will make your fingers sticky which has a negative influence on the precision of your movement.

When it comes to Android, even after over 6 years since release this is still the best danmaku on the platform. Tanoshimasu are good chaps and keep updating it so it won't get delisted like so many other games

Ahhh perfect, thanks for the reminder. I definitely think bullet speed was adjusted on the arcade version. I agree with your point about the tablet vs. phone. I had way more success on phone vs. tablet, even though I wanted to use my tablet to get a better view of the game.

[Lemnear]

Is the Android version worth?

I own the Android version and played it a lot (finished all stages with both ships). When it comes to hardware requirements it's very modest by todays standards. I play it mainly on a Google Pixel 4, a midrange phone I bought in late 2019 - the game runs rock solid 60 fps with quality slider on max.
The mobile versions are definitely built and optimized for touch controls. Imo controlling it with a stick will make it more difficult. I can imagine a lot of optimization work went into the arcade release to make it "stick-friendly".
Does anyone know if the Exa version is forever locked to that platform or is there some hope to see it on another platform somewhere down the line?

so it should be fine, fine! I was very interested in it.
No no no, i would play it with the touchscreen, i don't have a phone stick/controller.

[tel1100]

I posted a video of the time when I cleared 1 coin with no mistakes and true boss appearance with red and blue TYPE-R.
The true boss is not consistent in avoiding the second attack.
Continue to enjoy.

・AKA & BLUE TYPE-R no miss true boss 1cc clear Fire bird
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtpiGrrp7Hw
・AKA & BLUE TYPE-R no miss true boss 1cc clear Blue owl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yvRDzI6E-s