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

[BIL]

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".

Makes sense. I'd only played the MSX port, specifically via Saturn Antiques. Pleasantly surprised to fire up the ACA version and see he'd made the jump from PC!

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Need a Boxing game to knock out your arcade routine?
Taito's Final Blow is this week's title.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202411/24841

You will probably remember this on the Genesis as James "Buster" Douglas Knockout Boxing.

[Jeneki]

Really nice detail and animation for a 1989 game. Also the most authentic boxing I've seen in the last week.

[MJR]

I remember drooling at photos of Final Blow in C+VG magazine back in 1989, but I never saw the game anywhere since then. I guess I owe it to myself to have a go.

[OldSkoolShmuper]

Need a Boxing game to knock out your arcade routine?
Taito's Final Blow is this week's title.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202411/24841

You will probably remember this on the Genesis as James "Buster" Douglas Knockout Boxing.

Oh heck yeah! Loved this game and I only played the arcade version after buying the Genesis version (as James Buster Douglas Knock Out Boxing).

This is an instant purchase on ACA.

[valziman]

FYI, there is an ACA sale on Switch (in the US, anyway). https://www.dekudeals.com/games?filter[ ... dden]=true

- ACA NEOGEO METAL SLUG 2 : $3.99 (-50% - Matches previous low)
- ACA NEOGEO AERO FIGHTERS 2 : $3.99 (-50% - Matches previous low)
- Arcade Archives TETRIS THE GRAND MASTER : $5.59 (-30% - Lowest price ever)
- ACA NEOGEO LEAGUE BOWLING : $3.99 (-50% - Lowest price ever)
- Arcade Archives GUNNAIL : $5.59 (-30% - Lowest price ever)
- ACA NEOGEO WORLD HEROES : $3.99 (-50% - Matches previous low)
- ACA NEOGEO STAKES WINNER : $3.99 (-50% - Matches previous low)
- Arcade Archives VANDYKE : $5.59 (-30% - Lowest price ever)
- Arcade Archives USAAF MUSTANG : $5.59 (-30% - Lowest price ever)
- Arcade Archives ROLLER JAMMER : $5.59 (-30% - Lowest price ever)[/list]

Some thoughts on some of the games:
- Metal Slug 2 (the slowdown ruins it. skip.)
- Aero Fighters 2 is kind of an early Psikyo
- Gunnail is delectable. Get it. Very good moment-to-moment gameplay, and the scoring system is intense. You get a multiplier based on lives lost, so suicide is encouraged once you can handle survival.
- Tetris the Grand Master is worth playing even if you already have TGM2. See below for why.
- Sumez told me the rest aren't great, but Bil mentioned liking Vandyke. He never went into detail or raved or anything though, I believe.

Regarding TGM, I'm going to quote Esquatre from the Shmups discord:

a grading system that actually makes sense

slower timings and much more attainable gm

the big mode in it is more playable too as long as you can get used to it (cause of locking in odd rows)

as far as more subtle gameplay differences go, the lack of sonic drop makes the early levels more interesting as you're rushing to stack up and overhangs are punished, the randomizer is a bit harsher, it's a more pure test of your tetris skills than 2 is thanks to how down to earth it is

imo atleast for a new player, the gm grade being a realistic goal to achieve in tgm1 is a pretty big deal

like knowing that you could actually beat this game, and it won't throw bullshit at you like weird obtuse requirements or the invisible roll

the grading is so bad in 2, generally what you do in the first 500 levels barely matters on your actual grade, it's so bad at tracking your progress as a beginner

[BIL]

Gunnail for sure. Even chucks in Alarm Clock Toggle FO FREE.

MS2, yeah, just play MSX if you're new to the pair. MS2 has some cool alternative arrangements, but the slowdown is godawful, and MSX is just as masterfully-staged.

Bil mentioned liking Vandyke. He never went into detail or raved or anything though, I believe.

Very likeable B-lister. Snappy mechanics, breakneck speed, goofy charming overkill. On the simpler/easier side by AC standard, but that never bothers me when the pace is good. It's on the borderline of shooter and slasher, so I posted more about it in OT, back in 2021. Crossposting from original:

SUPER BUFF PRO REVIEW (｀w´メ)

Just gave it a short 20minute MAME. This is definitely what I'd expect of a beefcaek barbarian slasher from UPL! LETHAL EXCESS Dare you face the Necromancer's Hard Gay Horde?



Has a goofy Wardner-esque charm, a love letter to Wizardry from the game centre. More importantly, it plays well, evading the depressing waft and drudge of Ikari III (AC). Player character handles sharply, with simple, effective attack frames, and is kept well away from the incoming upscreen. While the 3:4 res isn't ideal for exploration, the few instances of horizontal panning seemed tolerable - Guevara (AC)'s cardinal screen-riding sin avoided.

Enemies attack and die en masse, the tone more slasher than beater. The flail weapon has a bit of that Ninja Spirit kusarigama goodness - attack, then tilt the stick to lash it about. Not as generous as NS's full 360' lash per quarter-turn, but still plenty of sweep. Seems bombs are the ticket to quick boss kills, good memories of Ninja-kun II.

Quickly learned to one-life the first three stages (no-hits seemed reasonably trickier), 1CCd to stage 4, the lava wonderland seen in Famitsu's preview shots. I do hope that fairy in the second stage points out the boobytrapped chests, or that's gonna be an annoying bit of hard memo. Still, small complaint in the big picture. Will happily pick this up.

---

Oho! Out now in JP, liking those earlier releases. At least they feel earlier. I seem to recall it being way past bedtime when they'd pop up, in the past. Anyhoo, following on from the main forum's ACA Thread:

Looks like a fun 2 player game. Watched the stream earlier today.

Code: Select all

 https://youtu.be/i0dtiSPUG1o 

Yeah, was just thinking that the weapon balance would lend itself well to co-op. The flail's coverage is tempting, but its lack of oomph can bite you VS bosses with their HP. I like that they usually have a few alternative pickups to the side, there. I'm mostly stage/flail and boss/bomb. The boomerang seems like it might be a good middle ground. Apparently the sword cancels certain shots, but I don't seem to have encountered any.

Jumping over enemy fire a welcome option. Interested to see the jump is analogue - you get a lot more distance holding the button. You can also chuck bombs a lot further this way, useful VS bosses.

The delay on picking up weapons/food is going to enrage some. Gotta clear out the vicinity before nabbing the loot.

Playing a bit further in, I think stage 4 might be a make/break point for many. Shifts from flatland slashing with a bit of projectile-jumping, to full-on Legend of Valkyrie topdown action/platforming. I dig this sort of stuff, at least in moderate doses, and it seems very fairly designed - but yeah, lots of classic red flags - moving platforms, chiefly. Feels kinda badass rushing it down at speed, but then I'm an FC Gremlins 2 fan.

POSE OR DIE

Spoiler

Hm, right back to hardcore topdown killing after. Feels good man.

EDIT: Oh rad. How 2 Deal w/ Boobytrapped Chests:

Spoiler

Just hop over and hit 'em from the back. Any lurking fiend will miss you, ready for dispatching. Phew, glad that's sorted out. Really cool game, breakneck yet varied. Made it up to st5's boss on a credit, adorable mean buggers. st5+6 seem like 100% hardcore dungeon slashing, I'm hoping st4 was just the big platformer setpiece. It's fun, but not the game (or most topdown slashers') strongest suit.

st4 boss design is faaackin KVLT Aesthetic is pleasantly reminiscent of beloved MD topdown killas UNDEADLINE and Twinkle Tale. 1990 was a comfy year for 2D arcade tech.

EDIT2: Nice, the Flail's input is analogue too. Hold the button for a longer swing, that's a cinch to rotate 360' or even 720'. As always with UPL, there's a lot of consideration under the foot/floor pace and screen overload.

Liking the Boomerang a lot. Piercing, reasonably strong, fast, and the way it alternates between left/right arcs gives it excellent coverage.

I like Mustang a lot, though ala Vandyke, it's a deliberately simple affair. No terrain or powerups, just rushing air/ground waves for your beefy spreadshot and instant BOMBA to shred. If not for intermittently poor bullet visibility, I'd recommend it wholeheartedly for fans of aggressively stripped-down, BOMBA-happy horis. Worth a try in MAME if that's your jam.

The final stage is an infamous meme that actually makes some sense! Built around the BOMBA's generous i-frames.

Also, anyone who digs Mustang and likes their STGs tough might consider ~HACHA MECHA FIGHTER~ Looks cute but is balls-hardcore. Adds Gradius Options, keeps the instant bomba.

[BrianC]

I found out that Vandyke is named after that circular weapons belt, though the main character bears a resemblance to Barry Van Dyke.

[Skyknight]

Of all the things to be annoyed about for Metamorphic Force, it’s that we still only have official names to my knowledge for three bosses. Caprios (1), Ganoo (4-2, although I can believe the 4-1 cyclopes being Ga and Noo, or Gan and Noo), and Death Shadow (6-2). Konami never thought to reference them even in a Yugi-Ou expansion? Hmph. I do have a few backup names for now…

2: Phenex (a Goetic demon who appears as a phoenix)

3: Wovi or something with those letters (read the MOAI letters in its sigil upside-down), or Orion (it’s clearly based on how they did Nimrod for the X-Men brawler, so look for Greek mythology’s resident Egomaniac Hunter to match Genesis’s)

5: Mormo (a cruel kakodaimon temptress from Greek myth)

6-1: Whatever the singular of Spartoi is (Japanese games like to call skeleton warriors that; the Spartoi were actually the soldiers born of dragon teeth sown by Kadmos)

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Looking for Willows? Success' Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams is this week's Arcade Archives title.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202411/25601

[BIL]

WTF?! Success is working with Hamster now?



I'm happy about that.

And happy about this port! I've been making do with the decidedly arcade imperfect PS1 version for a while now. It's all kinds of weird, moreso than the PCE-CD one, given its graphical fidelity to the AC ver. Still fun to have around, but this one's very needed! A nice companion to the recent port of the superlative X68k version, too.

EDIT: Now I think back to our old friend segasonicfan, doesn't Cotton run on Sega's System 16 hardware? Assuming there wasn't a variant board. I always liked his posts on series memorabilia.

Spoiler

Hmm. Even this most peripheral glimpse of competent Sega ports is encouraging. Throw Hamster and/or M2 some more work pls. :3

[Jeneki]

Anyone familiar enough with Cotton to compare the arcade version to the X68000 version? (the one included with Cotton Reboot)

[BIL]

Anyone familiar enough with Cotton to compare the arcade version to the X68000 version? (the one included with Cotton Reboot)

I always swore by SuperDeadite on that one. edit: great versionpost!

[Sima Tuna]

I can play Cotton legally without giving ININ money?

[BIL]

That's right! Another Hamster no Kiseki (;｀ω´;)

And tbh, any quality System 16 port is a source of good cheer! :3

Especially SURPRISE SYSTEM 16 >83

I wonder if Bay Route might be a possibility, Sunsoft getting along well with Hamster. What I'd really love to see is Aurail. The only Real Sniper Tank simulator more in need of home translation is NMK's Valtric! A game I've accepted will show up randomly or never at all, given how many of their Jaleco-published games have made it to ACA, over the years.

[Marc]

This is the same game from the Astro City Mini i presume?
In fact, is this not already a stand alone Switch release?

[BIL]

Oho. I notice the usual ACA copyright watermark reads Success and Hamster... I wonder if that's significant. Typically, Hamster's name only appears in stuff they've rights to, namely Video System / NMK / UPL / Athena / Nichibutsu / Allumer.



EDIT: Although, I see it's also the case for Seibu's games. So maybe it doesn't mean too much. Or maybe it does? That world-first Zero Team emulation made a few wonder how they'd pulled it off.

Now I think back, Hamster's worked with Seibu all the way since the PS1 days, with the Raiden and Raiden DX reprints. Same applies to ACA's DECO watermark, those games licensed via G-Mode. Hamster again has ties with DECO going back to the PS1 and Wolf Fang. I'd like to think that means ACA Wolf Fang is a lock. >_>

I can't recall them publishing anything of Success's, back then... could easily be wrong, though.

EDIT2: Ah, jeeze. I try to avoid nostalgia, but the early 00s takes me back. I'd forgotten they'd published for Warashi and even Falcom back then, too. I own several, even.

Stay away from STV until you know what you're doing pls? :3

Makes their recent Warashi dealings a lot less surprising. Blimey, the 00s are now history text. Been a while I suppose.

An auspicious ACA day in any case.

[Kino]

Anyone familiar enough with Cotton to compare the arcade version to the X68000 version? (the one included with Cotton Reboot)

Since the differences between arcade & X68000 already got covered, I should point out there were further tweaks made to the Reboot version of X68k. Most are negligible, but the damage rebalancing is pretty annoying; bosses take way longer to kill (on higher difficulties, I don't think you can even beat the Serpent boss other than by timing it out...)

[BIL]

Anyone familiar enough with Cotton to compare the arcade version to the X68000 version? (the one included with Cotton Reboot)

Since the differences between arcade & X68000 already got covered, I should point out there were further tweaks made to the Reboot version of X68k. Most are negligible, but the damage rebalancing is pretty annoying; bosses take way longer to kill (on higher difficulties, I don't think you can even beat the Serpent boss other than by timing it out...)

Good info! Oof, that does sound annoying.

[Bassa-Bassa]

And what's exactly what makes the PS1 version just crap?

[OldSkoolShmuper]

Ah great to see Cotton's System 16 arcade version -

We'll get the stage 1 boss screen-bounce effect that wasn't in the X68000 version.

https://youtu.be/2vvRg9mjFKQ?si=8FHIXygdbCe46Mz7&t=393

[BIL]

And what's exactly what makes the PS1 version just crap?

I've always been very fond of it, and like most ports of that gen, I find its "arcade imperfect" nature charming. (especially now there's a definitive translation!)

But I recall it being inaccurate in an oddly specific way. Like they got the basic layouts down, then deliberately decimated enemy HP. I recall your basic shot tearing through everything, and the Charge Shot and Bombs flat-out oneshotting large enemies and bosses. On arcade, I remember actually having to use the special attacks strategically, since the default shot couldn't just shred the screen. You level up faster too, IIRC, making gem juggling less of a priority. I seem to recall even the PCE-CD interpretation playing more like the AC ver.

Cranking PS1 up to Hard, rather than restoring enemy HP, instead gives everything revenge bullets. Homing ones, IIRC? Lots of 'em, at any rate. I always wondered if this was something repurposed from the PCB.

SuperDeadite, Kino, and segasonicfan will know better here. Been a long time since I played, and even longer since I compared with the arcade version, so I might be wrong on it being even mostly accurate. Could be a Gun Frontier case, where it looks close, but is anything but, under the hood. (all respect to Fujino!)

PS1 is way easier, in any case.

Comfy old days vibes, revisiting those PS1/SS-era ports when a new ACA/ShotTriggers rolls up.

[BrianC]

Since the differences between arcade & X68000 already got covered, I should point out there were further tweaks made to the Reboot version of X68k. Most are negligible, but the damage rebalancing is pretty annoying; bosses take way longer to kill (on higher difficulties, I don't think you can even beat the Serpent boss other than by timing it out...)

Were there higher difficulties in the original X68000 version? One of the difficulties in Reboot's X68000 port even has a joke name like "you do?".

[Kino]

Were there higher difficulties in the original X68000 version? One of the difficulties in Reboot's X68000 port even has a joke name like "you do?".

Correct, and despite the name, "You Do!" is 100% no joke.

On the original Sharp port, difficulties went like this

Easy = same as normal, but I think enemies either had less health or you leveled up quicker? got replaced with "Beep Edition" on the Reboot port
Normal = normal
Hard = enemies now fire bullets
Hardest = enemies now fire bullets + release revenge bullets when killed
You Do! = enemies now fire homing bullets + release homing revenge bullets when killed (it is 1ccable as I proved a while ago, but you won't stand a chance without becoming King of Barrier Spam™)

And what's exactly what makes the PS1 version just crap?

On top of what BIL said, the remixed sound kinda sucks. FX in particular are really shrill compared to other versions.

Barrier's also too overpowered, it can withstand an infinite amount of bullets & lasts much longer (as if lowered HP on everything didn't trivialize the game enough?)

[BIL]

You Do! = enemies now fire homing bullets + release homing revenge bullets when killed (it is 1ccable as I proved a while ago, but you won't stand a chance without becoming King of Barrier Spam™)

Superbly done! That mode has stacked countless bodies

Ah, the MENASHINGU difficulty tiers of early 199X! You Do, Phalanx's Funny (funny how? funny like a clown?! ), the PCE Soldiers' Sugeeze / HIDEEZE, and ofc, Hellfire's cryonic thermal blast: YEAH RIGHT!

An inescapable question! Are you an ORDINARY DOG 3; or a... GOD OF GAME ???

[Bassa-Bassa]

On top of what BIL said, the remixed sound kinda sucks. FX in particular are really shrill compared to other versions.

Barrier's also too overpowered, it can withstand an infinite amount of bullets & lasts much longer (as if lowered HP on everything didn't trivialize the game enough?)

Thank you both. Seems the Original part in the title had a double meaning. Being analog stick-compatible should say quite a bit, actually.

[BIL]

This is the same game from the Astro City Mini i presume?
In fact, is this not already a stand alone Switch release?

Glancing at JP comments, seems the ACA release benefits from MAXIMUM TUNE autofire science. The PCB is known to slow down a bit at 30hz fire, with extraneous inputs increasing the CPU load. So, besides ACA offering faster auto than the Astro City, it runs smoother during, too. Lately, I've found 15hz a good compromise between annoying mashing and melted bosses, but regardless, the craftsmanship is always lovely to see.

By sluggishness, TYR is referring to PCB-authentic slowdown during tuned autofire

I love the veteran playtester commentaries on these releases. I'd nab a mook of 'em in a heartbeat. I wonder if the ones Hamster have published already contain similar.

---

Curious to see if NMK's SDF Macross gets the Christmas spot this year. Seems likely, as an STG with a famous IP; Hamster long giving shooters pride of place. OTOH, last year's premium license, Banpresto's Mazinger, popped up just after Easter. So who knows? Personally, I hope it goes to either NebulasRay or Parodius Da! (maybe Ping Pong will prove a deft hint? ) I would say Gokujou, too, but Hamster seem to prefer series order. (Ga* series a notable exception Gaplus plus preceding Galaxian and Galaga, with Cosmo Gang then beating Galaga '88)

Or, if a non-STG, Violent Storm would be the perfect followup to Xmas 2023's Mystic Warriors, and last month's Metamorphic Force. Also a historic completion of the HUNGER CITY TRILOGY with Crime Fighters and Vendetta! Wouldn't surprise me if they space 'em out a little, though. I bet we'll see Violent Storm and Gaiapolis next year, at latest.

There's also three killer Taito releases confirmed via Milestones 3, namely Thunder Fox, Warrior Blade, and the home debut of badass carnival STG Dead Connection. Again, I expect they'll give TM3 its breathing room, but those'll be great whenever they arrive.

This was another powerful quarter for hardcore STG/ACT! Temptation to book a desert island and crank out 1LCs and STs for a year intensifying. I got some catching up to do, the pace these guys maintain is intense. Grobda, Assault, and Tank Force in the bag, along with Tank Battalion and VS Battle City from this year, makes me wanna see them finish off the Namco Topdown Tanker chronology with Assault Plus.

[velo]

- Sumez told me the rest aren't great, but Bil mentioned liking Vandyke. He never went into detail or raved or anything though, I believe.

I thought you guys would be all over Vandyke and its 80s barbarian heavy metal vibes. I think it's totally solid. A cut above "not great" at the very least. Verti hack & slash platformer is a neglected genre (Valkyrie's on AA too, but that might be it?) and, for what it's worth, it features a Saigo no Nindō type of chain weapon you can whip around. The default difficulty is more console than arcade even through the end, which suits me fine, but some of you whizzes might feel a little insulted.

[Sima Tuna]

That sounds great tbh. I'm pretty bad at arcade-difficult games, so I won't complain about an easier time. Love me some sword and sorcery, big muscle barbarian action.

[BIL]

MDW Vandyke THE STORY IS TRUE

Verti hack & slash platformer is a neglected genre (Valkyrie's on AA too, but that might be it?)

Indeed, the only other topdown slashers that come to mind either aren't platformers, like Dogosoken, or have big honkin' guns, like Shin Jinrui: THA NEW TYPE aka Dino Riki, and FC Gremlins 2: GENESIS OF A NEW SPECIES.

Although I suppose G2's very first stage kinda counts. How do you kill motherfuckers with a tomato? The answer is: very awkwardly. Soldier on! Eventually it brings firepower to rival Twinkle Tale and SFC KiKi! (neither of those are platformers, either!)