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

[Sumez]

I've seen many Cabal cabinets through the years, and I've never once enountered the trackball revision.

I always figured it was similar to the Street Fighter 1 scenario with the pressure sensitive buttons, which ultimately weren't used much.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I've seen many Cabal cabinets through the years, and I've never once enountered the trackball revision.

I always figured it was similar to the Street Fighter 1 scenario with the pressure sensitive buttons, which ultimately weren't used much.

It was Capcom whom went to Atari Games for their help and expertise in building the original SF1 cab with pressure sensitive buttons (which were, eventually, replaced with the "tried & true" 6-six button layout/upgrade).

In the USA, it was customary to see Cabal cabs decked out with a trackball control panel at arcades everywhere. With TAD Corp. releasing Blood Bros. stateside, the control panel was endowed with a pair of 8-way digital arcade sticks as the proper way to play for score.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Some-Mist]

I somehow missed the entire page on metamorphic force, I was searching for riot today and it popped up in my switch store search and I quadruple taked, then I wasn't sure if I had already bought it a long time ago because I play it from time to time in mame and at a local arcade, and then I saw the release date.

prettay prettay sick

[Jeneki]

I miss the days when video games were made like Riot, where you'd play a normal looking game, and then completely random bonkers enemies would show up, just because. Start the game, the dude knows exactly what's about to go down and lights up his cig (requesting gif of this lol). Shoot some soldier dudes, dive off some 100 meter cliffs, dudes with blowguns hanging from the ceiling, normal action movie stuff, and then ... Darth Yoda is summoning zombies.

Big hat tip to whoever did the background destruction sprite work. Especially the aerial stage where it transitions from flying straight up to straight down without the use of scaling effects, incredible background work. And then you start shooting up a stage from the Simsons beatemup lol.

[Skyknight]

The attract mode does mention that the enemy forces include a group of apparent mystics. That first astral space boss fight definitely nulls the need for "apparent".

[BIL]

Ohshi, was just reminded Riot runs on the same hardware as Final Star Force. Now that'd be a nice followup... this last couple years have been great for fans of Tecmo's arcade canon. Raiga, Silkworm, Riot, Senjyo, Wild Fang; gems all.

It also shares hardware with Ganbare Ginkun, ho ho hoooly balls I feel bad for the two dudes who've been waiting on that one since it got announced like four years ago. (same time as Angel Eyes, since released )

I miss the days when video games were made like Riot, where you'd play a normal looking game, and then completely random bonkers enemies would show up, just because. Start the game, the dude knows exactly what's about to go down and lights up his cig (requesting gif of this lol).

I wish this had a staff roll; total STRONG SHIMA (Ninja Gaiden & Wild Fang director) vibes, with Metal Yuhki going balls to the wall once again. Just like in NG, even the maddest occult shit folds to the sheer epoch-making force of [NINJA] and [COMMANDO]!



CERO: USE OF TOBACCO ;3 Very Wild Fang-esque, the motif of monstrous looming jaws.

Spoiler

^ Out of context, this is Bill Rizer missing his evac chopper and expressing the ultimate disapproval

EDIT: D'aww. <333 Went to see if JP Wikipedia might shed some light, they suspect Strong Team too.

Big hat tip to whoever did the background destruction sprite work. Especially the aerial stage where it transitions from flying straight up to straight down without the use of scaling effects, incredible background work. And then you start shooting up a stage from the Simsons beatemup lol.

Indeed, nobody marshalled stonefaced 80s ultraviolence and cheerful madcap like Tecmo's AC division. You know you're dealing with authentic chaps, when the entire last stage of NG is an extended Battle Tendency reference.

[Jeneki]

Thanks BIL!

Speaking of Ninja Gaiden, the anime OVA explains how I feel about this game.

[BIL]

Just hit me that "We can't let them get away..." can be read as not "Let them escape," but "Get away with this." ITS TIME 4 REVENGE M41A solves all problems! No MAGIC TIGERS = no problems.

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Namco Archives. That's what this is. This is what it had to be right?, Right? By God...

Yeap, this week and November begins with "The Other Big N": Arcade Archives VS. The Quest of Ki.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202411/23336

[Sumez]

Jesus, give it a rest alright

[BIL]

Jesus, give it a rest alright

Surprised to see this one's a sidescroller, apparently. I'd expected a console-original topdown ARPG/dungeon crawler, ala its famous parents Druaga and Ishtar.

No direct means of attack, it seems? Might be interesting. I don't know why I never checked out the FC version... I guess I'm happy enough with my ARPG triple crown, feat. masterful Commando Elf simulator Zelda II, grittily goring Faxanadu, and the TRVE "Oh Shit Motherfucker I'm Lost" GOAT, Dragon Slayer IV. (game by FARUCOM, port by COMPILE )

These VS ports sometimes spark a latent desire - nabbed a nice Star Luster immediately after, it's badass - and other times not - still haven't gotten on with GUMP no Nazo. Other times I got 'em already but like a bit of AC pressure (Valkyrie, Gradius). I always like seein' em, at any rate.

[EmperorIng]

This is great news, I hope it is out before I travel on vacation next week.

Surprised to see this one's a sidescroller, apparently. I'd expected a console-original topdown ARPG/dungeon crawler, ala its famous parents Druaga and Ishtar.

Quest of Ki is a pretty infamous platformer, notoriously difficult game that buck-broke Arino in GCCX and the origin of this famous meme.

The game requires you to make use of its touchy physics and momentum in order to survive a lot of pretty precise platforming challenges, and if you bump your head on the ceiling poor Ki will fall down and freeze, holding her head in pain - and I seem to recall that in some of the game's later levels (beating the game unlocks a whole campaign of super hard challenges populated by Namco cameos), you have to purposefully use even the quirks of the physics of the stunlock to get through some challenges.

A worthy prequel to the Druaga series, perhaps! I am stoked to have it on my switch. If only they would finally translated the Blue Crystal Rod, the last of the series that hasn't seen a localization (fan or otherwise). Despite it being an Adventure Game.

[BIL]

Ohshi Now that sounds rad, especially the unlockable advanced stages! EDIT: Ahahaha, so that's where that Arino pic is from... I always assumed he'd just met a fiery demise, but an exhausted pyrrhic victory is even better. Real shit. ;w;7

...this is the point where I usually go "Wait, do I have that on M2's Namco Museum Archives Vol1+2? Can I try it out right now?" (specifically the PS4 releases, missing a bunch of games from the Switch, like Star Luster 3;) Nope! Ain't there. But what they do have is the FC port of Dragon Buster, another very pretty snapcase title I've ghosted for years. Tried it out there, found it kinda weak tbh. Was hoping it might tighten up the formidably pioneering but rather jank AC ver.

Will have to give Ki a fair hearing for my sidescrolling Namco ARPG fix! (Dragon Slayer IV / Legacy of the Wizard actually is in the M2 collection, incidentally, via Namcot publishing it in Japan)

[EmperorIng]

Ha ha, yeah, I had hoped Dragon Buster would be better than it was. Even with some nice ACA additions, it still has the awful jump controls I cannot wrap my head around. I forgot Namcot published Drasle Family, now that's a fun game. I never picked up the Namcot collection because at the time I was too bummed about the lack of PCE games, which is the console I think Namcot really shined (and the MD of course).

Ki has some of the other Druaga accoutrement of hidden warps, items to collect, etc, so it has a little bit of the rpg mix in it still!

[BrianC]

I think one of the Namco Museum archives has Dragon Buster II for FC? Odd thing is that game plays nothing like the first one but plays very similar to AD&D Cloudy Mountain for the Intellivision.

[BIL]

Per the wonderful ohfivepro, it seems the VS release actually has considerable added content, in the form of twenty arcade-exclusive stages. They sound tough! You can select 'em straight from the title screen, even. He says the manual's nice n' fat, with an onboard map; as expected of not only ACA Druaga+Ishtar, but also VS Valkyrie Bouken.

Super cool... excluding Nintendo's first-party stuff, this is the first VS title I've seen that does that, rather than merely tweaking parameters. Well, VS Castlevania has exclusive bats in its second loop's opening courtyard, that counts. (even if it's quite possibly a parameter tweak!) I wonder if there's stuff I'm unaware of in the other VS ports. Fascinating niche.

I think one of the Namco Museum archives has Dragon Buster II for FC? Odd thing is that game plays nothing like the first one but plays very similar to AD&D Cloudy Mountain for the Intellivision.

Yep! It's in Vol.2 on PS4. It does indeed swerve away from the original. I was surprised to find a topdown game for FC with the "can't see enemies behind your character's back" mechanic, I used to wonder about that as a kid. (before concluding it'd probably get annoying )

[Bloodreign]

Seeing the love for Quest of Ki reminds me I need to pick it up at the end of the month for the FC. It'll go nicely with my 3 versions of Tower of Druaga (arcade on PS1 by Namco Museum and PSP, FC, and GB), and Return of Ishtar on Namco Museum Volume 4 on the PS1.

[Marc]

Getting in to Riot, but still not seeing any reat need for the two fire buttons. Throws me off for just a fraction of a second on occasion, and after ST1, that's all it takes!

[OldSkoolShmuper]

Ohshi, was just reminded Riot runs on the same hardware as Final Star Force. Now that'd be a nice followup... this last couple years have been great for fans of Tecmo's arcade canon. Raiga, Silkworm, Riot, Senjyo, Wild Fang; gems all.

I'd definitely like Final Star Force since it's the only arcade entry that can't be officially bought for home.


And as I've said before, I really, really want Thunder Fox.

[MJR]

There was that Toki remake released a while back, so clearly someone was able to license TAD properties - I'm assuming the rights to Cabal are mostly likely a part of the same package deal.
Personally I'd be more interested in someone doing something with Blood Bros. though. It's basically Cabal but much better.

I've also never seen Heated Barrel anywhere, but that game looks really cool. If it's anywhere near as decent as Toki or Blood Bros. it'll be up my alley.

I have something VERY embarrassing to admit. I've had had the Blood Bros PCB board for a decade now. It was sent by accident from ebay seller when I ordered something else, and he told me that I can keep it after he sent me the correct item (which was Raiden DX).

I still haven't played it, aside from just testing that it works, because I.. forgot

I was even planning to sell it, but you telling that it's better than Cabal makes me think that perhaps I should give it a go.

[Sima Tuna]

Blood Bros is great. You should either sell it to somebody who desperately wants a Blood Bros PCB or play it yourself and enjoy one of the better gallery shooters (cabal likes, heh) in existence.

I hope we get Cabal and Blood Bros (along with PIE ASS) on ACA eventually. Their gallery shooter list is woefully deficient of the classics. I understand we were never going to get Wild Guns SNES under an ARCADE Archives label, but most of the famous arcade cabal-likes (less 'Nam) are not on ACA.

[Sumez]

I was even planning to sell it, but you telling that it's better than Cabal makes me think that perhaps I should give it a go.

Oh definitely. I'd call it a direct sequel to Cabal. Different settings, but similar art style and mechanics, and of course the exact same silly victory dance. Blood Bros. in general gets the lighthearted tone through a lot better. But the more important factor is that stages in Blood Bros. just have way more stuff going on. There is much, much more destructible terrain, which can uncover various secrets and hidden gags, but will also spawn more unique enemies to deal with.
It's a beefed up Cabal in every way, and anyone who already likes Cabal should have a field day with it.

[m.sniffles.esq]

Riot is an insane video game created by obviously depraved minds.

[cave hermit]

Cock and ball torture, from Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia at en.wikipedia.org)

hermie my ol' homie, pls do ur ol mucker Biruford a favour and link in OP pls? Will maintain all purdy :3

Done. Sorry for the rather belated response, I haven't checked the ol' farms in ages. I've been trapped in the Spider Room (tm) until I could successfully complete a game for Famicom Friday (the yogurt machine was engaged many times over for my failures, and my anus has never quite recovered despite my eventual escape)

[BIL]

Riot is an insane video game created by obviously depraved minds.

Araki and Nagai with lots of Cannon Film, an unbeatable combination

The Answer To Life's Mysteries Is Simple And Direct

Even Guzzler has the ordinarily-teetotal Mascot Maze Runner™ getting hammered to deal out true justice! A most characterful oeuvre from the start. Hamster have done well to get the lion's share of their catalogue on ACA; as much as I wish IREM, SNK, and Technos had held on similarly, I'm particularly glad for that. I hope they sort out Baluba-Louk someday, and the more probable Phoenix and Pleaides too.

Done. Sorry for the rather belated response, I haven't checked the ol' farms in ages. I've been trapped in the Spider Room (tm) until I could successfully complete a game for Famicom Friday (the yogurt machine was engaged many times over for my failures, and my anus has never quite recovered despite my eventual escape)

Aha, you gave your butt up to the guards to escape too, eh? Understandable - spiders are horrifying! Much obliged

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Konami's back on the Arcade Archives, but maybe not in the way must of us would expect (unless you like sports games and Ping-Pong).
Konami's Ping Pong is this week's title.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202411/24090

[Marc]

Get in! I've adored this since the Speccy version.

[Jucksalbe]

The FDS version is part of the (Japanese) Switch Online lineup. It's actually pretty fun.

[BIL]

Ha, never knew Penta was in the arcade version. Always figured he'd been added to the MSX/FC revs.

[BrianC]

Ha, never knew Penta was in the arcade version. Always figured he'd been added to the MSX/FC revs.

I think he's missing in the FDS version? That one was published by Nintendo and has DK Jr. in the crowd instead. FDS mascot on the title screen too. It also had a slightly different name, "Smash Ping Pong".