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

[BurlyHeart]

Played a bit of Thunder Fox and Riot the other night.

Both games are absolutely gorgeous. Thunder Fox is the stuff of younger me's dreams. What a ride! It felt like a bigger, bolder sequel to Green Beret at times but it is entirely its own thing. Highly recommended.

Riot was amazing too but took quite a bit more time to adjust, and I still haven' fully if I'm honest. Can't really compare as they're totally different games that share a 80-90's action aesthetic, but it's definitely seems the more difficult of the two and will take some time to learn. Thunder Fox has an immediacy and a more familiar feel to it.

[BIL]

Riot's a real handful at first, between the deceptively devious enemy layouts, and the unusual front/back fire. Initially, I was thinking "Great concept, but it'd have played so much simpler with one shot button, just change the dude's sprite according to what he's aiming at..."

I gradually realised the effect is intentional. Once stages are routed, and you're mowing through enemies as fast as the game can hurl them at you, it really does create the sense of a 360' battlefield; swinging your barrel about the fray, diving for cover wherever it's found.

While the game can (and should) be memorised front to back, the pacing and execution are so tight, it never feels like a sure thing; especially in the last three stages, where the enemy waves give precious little room for hesitation. As was Tecmo's wont, it's a relatively easier 1CC that's also a foot-to-the-floorboards blast every time.

Important to note, the game shares the "wave partitioning" mechanic prominent in 80s beltscrollers. (like STRONG TEAM's previous games Ninja Gaiden and Wild Fang ) There's a couple spots that can be dramatically easier or harder, depending on both how quickly you scroll the screen, and also the order you kill enemies in. This is a prime example.

Stage 5 Spoilers

I leave the foreground mortars alone, because killing them will cause the background gunners to spring up early; very awkward, combined with the swordsmen.

Had a bastard of a time until figuring that out! In that sense it's a surprisingly nonlinear game. Also important: the Evasion Roll is not the i-framed dodge of NAM-1975 et al. It's far better thought of as a dash; use it to haul ass away from things, not through them as you would in NAM.

Loved it overall; my one stern complaint is the uneven SFX/BGM balance. Metal Yuhki joked on Twitter that Tecmo wanted to sell more OSTs, haha. Shame too, he's in his usual killer form... I particularly like the pummelling st2 boss theme, incredible presence! It's also a deceptively knowing game, aesthetically. 80s Commando vs other titans of world mythology. It's my headcanon that your dude is Jesus's Stand BORN IN THE USA. (2P: LIVIN' IN AMERICA ) Ability: Trap enemies inside a Cannon Film. Infinite ammo for me, Stormtrooper aim for you! (they're actually deadly-accurate just willing to let you get behind cover first )

[OldSkoolShmuper]

Riot is a completely unknown game to me. Reminds me of Cabal and NAM-1975.

As for Thunder Fox, I don't think I ever saw the arcade in the wild and if I did it was maybe just once.
I only knew the Genesis game which I bought in '91/92. It wasn't until like maybe the early 2000s+ that I got to play the arcade in MAME.

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Hamster dropped some news about the availability of Viper Phase 1 on PS5. Anyone who hadn't pick the game for PS4 will have to wait to February 5th 'cause the game purchases were suspended until the PS5 release date.

PS4「アーケードアーカイブス バイパーフェイズ1」をPS5でご購入ができない件についてのご報告です。2月5日（水）からPS5のPlayStation Storeでも購入いただけるように準備しております。そのためPS4の「アーケードアーカイブス バイパーフェイズ1」につきましては本日から、販売を一時停止させていただきました。2月5日からの販売再開まで今しばらくお待ちください。ご迷惑をお掛けして申し訳ございません。

This is a report regarding the inability to purchase PS4 "Arcade Archives: Viper Phase 1" on PS5. We are preparing to make it available for purchase on the PlayStation Store for PS5 starting Wednesday, February 5th. Therefore, we have temporarily suspended sales of "Arcade Archives Viper Phase 1" for PS4 from today. Please wait for a while until sales resume from February 5th. We apologize for the inconvenience.

[BIL]

Valiant Ham-chans. ;w;7 Now to see if Weds is the strongest STG onslaught ever seen - VP1 and NebulasRay? VP1 and Raiden II? - or VP1 and Hot Hot Yakyuu '89: My Balls Are Burning In My Hand.

[Sima Tuna]

Hot Hot Yakyuu '89: My Balls Are Burning In My Hand.

Sounds like a pretty sweet soccer (football) game.

[OldSkoolShmuper]

Valiant Ham-chans. ;w;7 Now to see if Weds is the strongest STG onslaught ever seen - VP1 and NebulasRay? VP1 and Raiden II? - or VP1 and Hot Hot Yakyuu '89: My Balls Are Burning In My Hand.

NebulasRay or Nostradamus or Sand Scorpion or Raiden II, one of those, I am thinking.

[BIL]

Aww shit! Totally forgot they have FACE in the lineup via NeoGeo, with Money Idol Exchanger and ZuPaPa. I'd be down for Nostradamus, always been curious with several favourite peeps into it. Sand Scorpion took some STGT/TRP-STGT flak, but that never dissuades me much.

Now that VP1 has blown the doors off the unemulated hardware frontier, I'm no longer counting out P-47 Aces or Wangan Sensou. The only pause is, VP1 was all but 2024's traditional Christmas STG, so I'd expect big news like that nearer to December. Then again, TD2 and Gunnail both appeared around this time in 2022.

In hindsight, it's a good job they didn't cock up Macross instead. NMK was hobnobbing with Dragon Quest and Persona and Elden Ring for quite a while there on PSN.

[Daytime Waitress]

Precisely.
The DYRL? blu-ray release was last week, so my money says they're still on the dimensional fortress-shaped train: Macross II this week.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Precisely.
The DYRL? blu-ray release was last week, so my money says they're still on the dimensional fortress-shaped train: Macross II this week.

Yes, whenever Hamster gets around to doing Banpresto's arcade stg titles of "Macross II: Lovers Again" and "Macross Plus" as proper ACA ports -- that'd make the Banpresto produced Macross arcade stg trilogy an unforgettable trifecta indeed.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Looks like someone is back...

Hamster can't stop with their Namco obssession.
Marchen Maze is this week's title.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202502/32650

Also, Viper Phase 1 is up for PS5
PS4「アーケードアーカイブス バイパーフェイズ1」の販売を再開しました。PS5のPlayStation Storeからもご購入いただけるようになりました。ご迷惑をお掛けして申し訳ございませんでした。ぜひお楽しみください。

"We have resumed sales of PS4 "Arcade Archives Viper Phase 1". You can now purchase it from the PlayStation Store on PS5. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please enjoy."

[BIL]

Glad that's all sorted out re: VP1! And with the st5 asteroid belt graphics fixed, too.

Hm, was always idly curious about Marchen Maze, particularly its PCE port. Lots of my favourite people dig that version, but I could never put down the Splatterhouse and Galaga '89 long enough. Will have to give it a look at least.

Seems Dragon Unit may have found new purpose as a Caravan title - five minute game, five minute mode. Maybe that was UNDEAD_TAMA and co's idea all along, haha. Sadly I think the ACA one censored the infamous ending pic of our stalwart future DAIOHHH and JJ Squawkers men flipping off the camera. 3;

CLOBTA-sama does some crazy shit with that mode, Thunder Fox no exception.

[Shmups4ever]

And ... here comes MARCHEN MAZE !

https://youtu.be/kZtau6yrNcc?si=2tGJFSFoCVY4qx3l

[Daytime Waitress]

CLOBTA-sama does some crazy shit with that mode, Thunder Fox no exception.

Meticulous, measured bloodletting that still captures the chaos of the battlefield and yet moreover makes it look effortless - up there with some of your Saigo runs, my good man :strawboater emoji:

Day One, I had a brief stab at the caravan and, even with my scrubbiness, I was still legit scratching my head at some of the scores posted.
It's a godsdamned privilege to be able to see it played out.

Whilst it might break their heretofore "budget" aesthetic, part of me kinda wants to see ACA2 - with all its online capabilities - capture runs ala M2's stuff.
Even if it's just in a limited capacity: crack the Top 50? Your run is going into the worldwide learnin' bank!

[Sumez]

Fuck yeah, Marchen Maze! I've been wanting to try out this game for ages, but didn't come across a PCB. Only got the PCE HuCard, which lacks the cute isometric view.

Yeah I know, mame exists, yadda yadda. I don't care

[Jeneki]

Is this game related to Purikura Daisakusen? Or perhaps an inspiration?

[Bassa-Bassa]

I don't think it's even an inspiration. This one's more a jump'n'gun than a run'n'gun'n'smash. It inspired Pyon Pyon Daisansaku, though.

[Darkseed_5150]

Any update on Arcade Archives 2.0 ?

Such a bummer playing on PC at 4K/VRR/HDR and then booting one of these up.

[BIL]

AW NAWW WORRA BUMMER :{

Any update on Arcade Archives 2.0 ?

Such a bummer playing on PC at 4K/VRR/HDR and then booting one of these up.

Hm, not AFAIK. Done when it's done, if their track record is anything to go by. Wouldn't expect much deviation from "low latency, weekly releases, no MAME bullshit," tbh. It's ACA2, not Oretachi Ge-Sen Zoku 2.

EDIT: Actually, was it suggested to apply to anything but ACA NeoGeo?

VRR would be nice, and by nice, I mean any and all other concerns can do a running fuck into a woodchipper. The only want I have of Hamster and M2's work. I hope Switch 2 isn't a pair of ham sandwiches in a bathtub full of tomato juice. PS5 has support down to something like ~40hz. Then again, it's not like they'll be in any hurry to leave PS4 either. Ah well. Mostly an issue on Image Fight's title screen.

(Or just allow a global 60hz toggle, like Hamster often but not always do. Even Nihon Ichiban's #1 GE-SEN Souljah, Ichiro "Cappin Whitey Nightly" "Revere The Emperor, Turn Gaijin Into Tempura" "If You Import My Game, I Set Your House Aflame" Mihara, knew to tap out on that one! And counselled Hamster likewise for TGM2. Thanks Mihara-san! Even if you'd nuke me off PSN! :3)

[Jucksalbe]

Märchen Maze is pretty fun. Though I always struggle a bit with properly landing jumps in an isometric perspective. Thankfully you can rotate controls by 45°, so you can play the game on a d-pad without hurting your hand.

[bravojohny]

I'll give this game a try. Seems so amusing. Never played before

[Bloodreign]

This game is a good one, it's isometric presentation might make it a bit tough to land jumps correctly, but once you get in the groove, it becomes easier to control. I love the Alice in Wonderland inspiration, and to think the game got ported only twice, the PC Engine, and the Sharp X68000. I personally still think the game had some influence on Purikura Daisakusen.

Thankfully touching an enemy doesn't kill you, but it knocks you back, and if there's no ground beneath you when it pushes you max distance, then you lose a life, and trust me, there's a ton of stuff that can easily push you off the edge of any walkway.

[NightBeast]

I bought Märchen Maze for its Alice in Wonderland vibe. What a fun game! The isometric view threw me off less than modern games like Super Mario 3D World, which I found surprising. Some of those bosses are pains in the ass though. And when you die, you get sent back just far enough for it to be annoying. I wish the game just put you right at the boss again.

[Grad1us]

Any idea whether Parodius will get an Arcade Archives port? I’ve read online it may be difficult due to licensing reasons but can’t find any specifics. Alternatively, a collection ported by M2 would be great!

[velo]

Looks like someone is back...

Hamster can't stop with their Namco obssession.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Namco_games

Their reserves are running thin. Maybe Quester soon?

[Jucksalbe]

Any idea whether Parodius will get an Arcade Archives port? I’ve read online it may be difficult due to licensing reasons but can’t find any specifics. Alternatively, a collection ported by M2 would be great!

I think it's mostly the music that would cause issues? They could replace it, of course, and I think other re-issues did. Not sure if there are any other problems. I think it's likely this is something they'd love to release, it'd be big enough for a Christmas release. But I don't think they ever mentioned it.

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Konami's Nyan Nyan Panic/Kitten Kaboodle is this week's game. Makes me wish we had a Namco release instead.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202502/33341

[BIL]

Makes me wish we had a Namco release instead.

Owned

One of several recent Konami picks I'd never heard of, following Jungler, Cue Brick, and City Bomber. Those are very good! I was well appraised of Jackal and tbh the bad camera did my head in. So I'll keep an open mind here. Looks like IREM's Meikyuu Jima / Kickle Cubicle, at a glance. Palette's definitely a bit off-putting for this early in the morning though, oof.

[Jeneki]

Apparently February is cutesy month. I might not be stoned enough for Pastel Cat Pengo.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Does Hamster "draw names out of a hat" with such unheard of and obscure vintage arcade game titles? It seems likely that they do -- did "Kitten Kalboodle" even get a proper American arcade cab release back in 1988?

You might recall Capcom's 3 Wonders with it's cutesy arcade puzzler of "Push - Don't Pull" running on CPS1 arcade hardware back in 1991.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~