M2/Compile Heart's Zaleste announced for 2025

[Tokyo-J]

M2 and Compile Heart are collaborating on Zaleste for the PS4/PS5 and Switch

https://www.gematsu.com/2025/01/compile ... ed-zaleste

[BIL]

M2

Spoiler

Compile Heart

Spoiler

What a strange day for the front page of shump dot com, between this and Steam Heart's. :O

[xEbb1993x]

Putting this on my list.

[Tokyo-J]

I still think it is strange that M2 is going around announcing shmups when Ubusuna and Aleste are not even released yet. Also what the hell happened to that Armed Police Batrider was teased? I thought the release of PS5 and the incoming Switch 2 would make the Gadgets possible with more powerful hardware.

[Bassa-Bassa]

It's not an announcement from M2, but from Compile Heart, and it actually was announced a while ago. Today's news is that the latter wants it within the Zanac franchise because why not, according to Famitsu mag.

[soupbones]

What ever happen to DUDES flying spaceships?

[BIL]

It's all been downhill ever since Rick Waizen knocked up his bird after Aleste 1, so neither were cool enough to be on the cover of Aleste 2. You know how rockstars are dissuaded from settling down by management? 3;

[sumdumgoy]

x

[pablumatic]

What ever happen to DUDES flying spaceships?

I've never liked this shift in shooters and its implications.

To me its pandering from developers to get more eyes on their games and gives a possible implication to some that only lonely men play these things.

I prefer the old days when you never saw any characters. Where it was just you, the player, taking on the role of the pilot.

[sumdumgoy]

x

[CerealPT]

ultimately fanservice sells, there is a reason deathsmiles is financially the most sucessful cave gane.
not the biggest fan of it but its what it is.

[Tokyo-J]

Also what the hell happened to that Armed Police Batrider was teased?

Okay, now you're teasing me!

Back from a 2018 interview.

https://www.siliconera.com/m2-discusses ... -and-more/

[sumdumgoy]

x

[Tokyo-J]

Back from a 2018 interview.

https://www.siliconera.com/m2-discusses ... -and-more/

Talk about the seven-year itch.

The fact the port work is done just pisses me off as we had no M2 Shot Triggers releases in a bit.

[sumdumgoy]

x

[DenimDemon]

The fact the port work is done just pisses me off as we had no M2 Shot Triggers releases in a bit.

That is a piss-off! What's the bloody delay?

EDIT:


Wow, 19XX was voted in the most-wanted list as a port from M2! My love for that game feels so validated right now, haha!

The game is incredible. Always fire it up (rasperry tough :/ ) when I want to show the cab running to impress home visits lol

[Steven]

There was already a thread for this game that I'm too lazy to find in which I probably said something to the effect that I hope M2 is handling the majority of this game because Compile Heart isn't exactly known for making games that are actually good, or games that are actually well-balanced. Basically, exactly what BIL said above. I forgot if I said hopefully they will get Namiki back to direct again. If I didn't, I'm saying it now.

I also can't wait for people who have never played Tatsujin Ou to play it for the first time, get bored on stage 1 and fall asleep, wake up just in time to marvel at the game's unbelievably beautiful graphics, and then get their faces smashed in by the stage 1 boss and then never play the game again. What a hilarious game.

While I'm here, what's the deal with Zanac? I know it exists, but that's about it.

[Bassa-Bassa]

Pretty sure that, other than character design and concept art, M2 is handling it. And balancing it accordingly to Compile Heart's demands.

[SuperDeadite]

There was already a thread for this game that I'm too lazy to find in which I probably said something to the effect that I hope M2 is handling the majority of this game because Compile Heart isn't exactly known for making games that are actually good, or games that are actually well-balanced. Basically, exactly what BIL said above. I forgot if I said hopefully they will get Namiki back to direct again. If I didn't, I'm saying it now.

I also can't wait for people who have never played Tatsujin Ou to play it for the first time, get bored on stage 1 and fall asleep, wake up just in time to marvel at the game's unbelievably beautiful graphics, and then get their faces smashed in by the stage 1 boss and then never play the game again. What a hilarious game.

While I'm here, what's the deal with Zanac? I know it exists, but that's about it.

Zanac is fucking amazing. Original for MSX1 is my favorite, but it might be a bit hard to jump into now. It was then remade for the Fami, and then Fami version was remade again for MSX2 as Zanac EX. Finally there was Zanac X Zanac on PS1. Honestly you can't go wrong with any of them, but I prefer both MSX versions over the Fami. And while not a Zanac game, the original Aleste uses the Zanac AI system as well.

[Steven]

Pretty sure that, other than character design and concept art, M2 is handling it. And balancing it accordingly to Compile Heart's demands.

I hope Compile Heart lets M2 balance it to M2's standards instead, as CH's standards are practically non-existent.

There was already a thread for this game that I'm too lazy to find in which I probably said something to the effect that I hope M2 is handling the majority of this game because Compile Heart isn't exactly known for making games that are actually good, or games that are actually well-balanced. Basically, exactly what BIL said above. I forgot if I said hopefully they will get Namiki back to direct again. If I didn't, I'm saying it now.

I also can't wait for people who have never played Tatsujin Ou to play it for the first time, get bored on stage 1 and fall asleep, wake up just in time to marvel at the game's unbelievably beautiful graphics, and then get their faces smashed in by the stage 1 boss and then never play the game again. What a hilarious game.

While I'm here, what's the deal with Zanac? I know it exists, but that's about it.

Zanac is fucking amazing. Original for MSX1 is my favorite, but it might be a bit hard to jump into now. It was then remade for the Fami, and then Fami version was remade again for MSX2 as Zanac EX. Finally there was Zanac X Zanac on PS1. Honestly you can't go wrong with any of them, but I prefer both MSX versions over the Fami. And while not a Zanac game, the original Aleste uses the Zanac AI system as well.

Might have to check it out, then. I wish I had a controller for my MSX2+, though, as my down key doesn't seem to respond very well. An RGB cable would also help a lot, but I'm more interested in actually being able to control games properly.

[SuperDeadite]

Pretty sure that, other than character design and concept art, M2 is handling it. And balancing it accordingly to Compile Heart's demands.

I hope Compile Heart lets M2 balance it to M2's standards instead, as CH's standards are practically non-existent.

There was already a thread for this game that I'm too lazy to find in which I probably said something to the effect that I hope M2 is handling the majority of this game because Compile Heart isn't exactly known for making games that are actually good, or games that are actually well-balanced. Basically, exactly what BIL said above. I forgot if I said hopefully they will get Namiki back to direct again. If I didn't, I'm saying it now.

I also can't wait for people who have never played Tatsujin Ou to play it for the first time, get bored on stage 1 and fall asleep, wake up just in time to marvel at the game's unbelievably beautiful graphics, and then get their faces smashed in by the stage 1 boss and then never play the game again. What a hilarious game.

While I'm here, what's the deal with Zanac? I know it exists, but that's about it.

Zanac is fucking amazing. Original for MSX1 is my favorite, but it might be a bit hard to jump into now. It was then remade for the Fami, and then Fami version was remade again for MSX2 as Zanac EX. Finally there was Zanac X Zanac on PS1. Honestly you can't go wrong with any of them, but I prefer both MSX versions over the Fami. And while not a Zanac game, the original Aleste uses the Zanac AI system as well.

Might have to check it out, then. I wish I had a controller for my MSX2+, though, as my down key doesn't seem to respond very well. An RGB cable would also help a lot, but I'm more interested in actually being able to control games properly.

No MSX controller? There's quite a few options these days. A JoyMega or JoySNES costs very little.

[pablumatic]

While I'm here, what's the deal with Zanac? I know it exists, but that's about it.

My favorite shooter on the NES/Famicom. My preferred version as well since the scrolling is very smooth.

I've got Zanac x Zanac on PS1, but I'm not as big a fan of it compared to the original. For me it lacks a bit of the intensity of the original and the music certainly doesn't stick with me like the the first game either.

[Steven]

No MSX controller? There's quite a few options these days. A JoyMega or JoySNES costs very little.

Indeed. It sure beats paying 7000~9000 yen for an MSX controller. I can't believe how ridiculously expensive original MSX controllers are.

While I'm here, what's the deal with Zanac? I know it exists, but that's about it.

My favorite shooter on the NES/Famicom. My preferred version as well since the scrolling is very smooth.

I've got Zanac x Zanac on PS1, but I'm not as big a fan of it compared to the original. For me it lacks a bit of the intensity of the original and the music certainly doesn't stick with me like the the first game either.

Interesting. I'm probably going to play it on MSX first, if I ever get around to obtaining a functioning input device for the thing. I think I saw Zanax x Zanac in a store like once some years ago, but I don't remember how much it was.

[BulletMagnet]

I think I saw Zanax x Zanac in a store like once some years ago, but I don't remember how much it was.

I'm pretty sure seeing that price tag is one of those repressed traumatic experiences that comes out during a therapy session.

[Steven]

I think I saw Zanax x Zanac in a store like once some years ago, but I don't remember how much it was.

I'm pretty sure seeing that price tag is one of those repressed traumatic experiences that comes out during a therapy session.

lol yeah. Not as much as the MSX controllers, though.

I just checked out of curiosity and Surugaya has it for 19,500 yen, so basically $200 USD, if you consider only purchasing power and ignore the exchange rate. Not completely terrible, but I'm not willing to pay that much for optical discs of that age.

[Lemnear]

Zaleste is strangely an incredibly catchy name, as is Aleste...weird that no one has used it before .
So it's not a ShotTrigger? Lots of interesting releases though including this one and Sonic Wings Reunion.

[M.Knight]

While I'm here, what's the deal with Zanac? I know it exists, but that's about it.

The OG Zanac is basically yet another pointless Compile game that's too long and too easy to cheese (even if the game tries to adapt its spawns based on your weapons and stuff), but the Zanac Neo sequel (on the PS1 mega expensive pack) is one of the rare Compile shmups I actually enjoy even though it is also still way too long (runs are an hour long for fuck's sake). The Compile formula with chaotic enemy spawns is still there but you have an actual scoring system that wants you to destroy every enemy before it leaves and also pull off chain reactions with explosive special weapons. In the music team were the future Milestone composers as well and the style is pretty close, that is to say it's awesome.

Definitely worth a shot IMO but absolutely don't pay for those second hand physical copies. IIRC there was some sort of PSN release for the uhhhh Vita and PS3 or something? Not sure (I don't have those consoles)

[PC Engine Fan X!]

While I'm here, what's the deal with Zanac? I know it exists, but that's about it.

The OG Zanac is basically yet another pointless Compile game that's too long and too easy to cheese (even if the game tries to adapt its spawns based on your weapons and stuff), but the Zanac Neo sequel (on the PS1 mega expensive pack) is one of the rare Compile shmups I actually enjoy even though it is also still way too long (runs are an hour long for fuck's sake). The Compile formula with chaotic enemy spawns is still there but you have an actual scoring system that wants you to destroy every enemy before it leaves and also pull off chain reactions with explosive special weapons. In the music team were the future Milestone composers as well and the style is pretty close, that is to say it's awesome.

Definitely worth a shot IMO but absolutely don't pay for those second hand physical copies. IIRC there was some sort of PSN release for the uhhhh Vita and PS3 or something? Not sure (I don't have those consoles)

Yes, Zanac Neo is quite playable on both PSP, PS Vita and PS3 indeed.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[eksratu]

M2 showed off a bit of Zaleste gameplay in today's Fes stream---it looks a lot like SenXin Aleste!

Marked for a 2025 release, and it does bear the ShotTriggers label/branding.

[Tokyo-J]

M2 showed off a bit of Zaleste gameplay in today's Fes stream---it looks a lot like SenXin Aleste!

Marked for a 2025 release, and it does bear the ShotTriggers label/branding.

It does look a bit like it. Was the best-looking game shown so far. I am excited to get it.