Thanks for that info. I was just trying to figure this out in MAME and wikipedia explains nothing about what the physical controls are like. Left/right is analog but the vertical controls are digital. It seems sorta manageable by splitting them up: left hand buttons for vertical, right hand mouse (or whatever) for horizontal, or something like that. Analog sticks aren't great for this kind of game though. Apparently there's a joystick version, if all else fails, but it must be a downgrade.
M2 Toaplan collection
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
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hamfighterx
- Posts: 789
- Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 5:45 pm
- Location: Bonus Round
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
I suppose on a console controller, you could do shoulder trigger buttons to "spin" the spinner, and then... assign the up/down to one of the sticks or something?
Oh, I now remember I did try Ghox on the Evercade (and in fact, only on the Evercade Alpha - which is a bartop with stick and Street Fighter II button layout). In that one, they just use the stick with normal 8-way movement. I don't think there's a way to change the movement controls. It felt fine, sounds like maybe that was based on the controller-only arcade version.
That being said, in M2's New Year's update they did say the ShotTriggers team is currently working on two titles, one from the team who did DOJ. The assumption would be that the DOJ team's project is probably not a Toaplan game, and hopefully the other one is indeed Toaplan Arcade Garage Vol.4.
Oh, I now remember I did try Ghox on the Evercade (and in fact, only on the Evercade Alpha - which is a bartop with stick and Street Fighter II button layout). In that one, they just use the stick with normal 8-way movement. I don't think there's a way to change the movement controls. It felt fine, sounds like maybe that was based on the controller-only arcade version.
I'm sure it will be posted here as soon as there's any announcement, but predicting M2 is pretty much an impossibility. If anyone could tell what they are doing, I'd say those considerable talents could probably be better put to use making a fortune on the stock market or something.
That being said, in M2's New Year's update they did say the ShotTriggers team is currently working on two titles, one from the team who did DOJ. The assumption would be that the DOJ team's project is probably not a Toaplan game, and hopefully the other one is indeed Toaplan Arcade Garage Vol.4.
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DenimDemon
- Posts: 359
- Joined: Sun May 02, 2021 6:15 pm
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
Finally got myself the Hellfire/Zero Wing combo.
Personally Hellfire is my favourite MD stg, bought at the time of release and still have it with me (and on the Pi2Jamma on my Naomi) so wasn't properly on a rush to get it.
Glad I've actually did tough. Its a fantastic Classic package specially since Demon World ( A and B) is included. Very happy that M2 got the balls and pissed everyone with this release. Up there with Tiger Helli combo as my favourite Toaplans Garage so far.
At the same time it cements how much I prefere Mega Drives Hellfire to any other port, arcade OG included.
A bit of bummer that we can't have the neon looking Gadgets on the console ports, as well the training missions. Both STGs look amazing, beatifull colors and super tight input as expected. And THAT sound.
Ok M2 you can now move on to Outzone/FixedEight, thanks!
Personally Hellfire is my favourite MD stg, bought at the time of release and still have it with me (and on the Pi2Jamma on my Naomi) so wasn't properly on a rush to get it.
Glad I've actually did tough. Its a fantastic Classic package specially since Demon World ( A and B) is included. Very happy that M2 got the balls and pissed everyone with this release. Up there with Tiger Helli combo as my favourite Toaplans Garage so far.
At the same time it cements how much I prefere Mega Drives Hellfire to any other port, arcade OG included.
A bit of bummer that we can't have the neon looking Gadgets on the console ports, as well the training missions. Both STGs look amazing, beatifull colors and super tight input as expected. And THAT sound.
Ok M2 you can now move on to Outzone/FixedEight, thanks!
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XtraSmiley
- Posts: 693
- Joined: Fri Apr 20, 2018 9:22 am
- Location: Washigton DC
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
Dear god, it's so beautiful. If only Sega would have them do the same now for After Burner, Space Harrier, etc.XtraSmiley wrote: ↑Thu Mar 20, 2025 9:48 pm New trailer, but it's not Toaplan games...
https://youtu.be/OWe02heDnyE?si=qpJ9YuA8z1g2gXhF
Formerly known as 8 1/2. I return on my second credit!
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
That's never going to happen because it's a good idea and modern Sega hates few things more than good ideas.
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
That trailer just looks like the early PS2 Sega Ages games, the ones that were outright 3D remakes of older games. Nearly all of those were and still are hated for that exact aesthetic. Not sure why that would suddenly change.
Rage Pro, Rage Fury, Rage MAXX!
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XtraSmiley
- Posts: 693
- Joined: Fri Apr 20, 2018 9:22 am
- Location: Washigton DC
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
I know right?!Jonpachi wrote: ↑Thu Mar 20, 2025 10:15 pmDear god, it's so beautiful. If only Sega would have them do the same now for After Burner, Space Harrier, etc.XtraSmiley wrote: ↑Thu Mar 20, 2025 9:48 pm New trailer, but it's not Toaplan games...
https://youtu.be/OWe02heDnyE?si=qpJ9YuA8z1g2gXhF
I had zero interest in this game before, but now...
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
Not sure what you’re talking about, as the backlash to those PS2 titles was based on the fact that many were wildly unfaithful to the original gameplay, and often featured crude 3D models that replaced the original artwork (see: Golden Axe). This is keeping the core gameplay intact/similar and instead offering much higher resolution versions of the same style of artwork. Very different approach in my eyes.
Formerly known as 8 1/2. I return on my second credit!
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
I still find the new look much uglier than the original look of the game, though. Way too much of a glow on everything.
It's not as bad as those 3D remakes though, I can understand people being more accepting of it.
It's not as bad as those 3D remakes though, I can understand people being more accepting of it.
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
Maybe part of the problem is 2D elements over the top of 3D backgrounds? You gradually see a 3/4 view of buildings as they progress past your field of view. So your eye then expects the player vehicle to also have the same behavior. Since it's flat it appears to be a paper cut out pasted on that doesn't have the illusion of having a top bottom and sides that sit in the same space as the background
Never really been a fan of this approach since it became common during the DC/Naomi era. Although somehow it works in games like Disgaea or CvS2 where there is a complete disconnect between the resolution and art style. The gameplay and background layer essentially become distinct elements.
Maybe they could have done something like Outrun and animated subtle shifts in perspective while keeping the vehicle 2D? Might eliminate some of that static paper doll look without being a ton of work.
Never really been a fan of this approach since it became common during the DC/Naomi era. Although somehow it works in games like Disgaea or CvS2 where there is a complete disconnect between the resolution and art style. The gameplay and background layer essentially become distinct elements.
Maybe they could have done something like Outrun and animated subtle shifts in perspective while keeping the vehicle 2D? Might eliminate some of that static paper doll look without being a ton of work.
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
Out of a fondness for ol' Nick and Tom, I bought the new Snow Bros 2 Special. I haven't touched the remake itself, yet - I bought it because it includes the arcade port of Snow Bros 2 (unlike Special 1). Thought I'd put this here along with the other Toaplan talk.
What you get is Snow Bros 2. The port works fine - didn't run into any glitches.
But CRT Games is not M2. To call the port 'bare bones' still seems like an exaggeration - these bones are sheer white, they've been left out in the sun and bleached for weeks. Want to rebind your controls? Fuck you. Our default controls are fine. Autofire? Press the button you lazy prick. Do you want to tweak screen settings? Fuck you. You can turn on our shit-ass scanlines - worst in the business, thank you very much. Rewind? Save states? Stage select? What do we live in, developer fantasy land? Your ticket-to-entry was only $30. For that you can pause, and kiss our toes for that. Pause - then continue, or quit. Those are your options.
What you get is Snow Bros 2. The port works fine - didn't run into any glitches.
But CRT Games is not M2. To call the port 'bare bones' still seems like an exaggeration - these bones are sheer white, they've been left out in the sun and bleached for weeks. Want to rebind your controls? Fuck you. Our default controls are fine. Autofire? Press the button you lazy prick. Do you want to tweak screen settings? Fuck you. You can turn on our shit-ass scanlines - worst in the business, thank you very much. Rewind? Save states? Stage select? What do we live in, developer fantasy land? Your ticket-to-entry was only $30. For that you can pause, and kiss our toes for that. Pause - then continue, or quit. Those are your options.
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
Special 1 has it on the PC version. It also got patched in on Switch pretty recently, but you have to pay for it. I guess they also patched in the ability to go down through platforms on Special 1 so it plays like Snow Bros 2 now. I don't think any of this was ever announced as far as I can remember. They stealth-patched it in and the only reason that I know about it is because I tried patching the Switch version after the PC version came out just to see if they added the new stuff from the PC version and sure enough there was a new patch for it.
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
Oh, wow, okay. News to me. Glad SB 1 Arcade is there, but I'm assuming it's just as bare-bones. I was really hoping it would be coming from M2. I wonder if they got the permission when it became clear that Toaplan Arcade Garage was slowing down and wouldn't be appearing anytime soon.
Edit: It is just as barebones. $7 charge. Fair play I guess.
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
Looks like Special 1 finally has autofire now too. I know that they added it for Special 2, but I didn't know about 1.
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
A question for the fans of Kyuukyoku Tiger/Twin Cobra: how good are the various console ports of this one? For the last couple of years, I’ve played and enjoyed the hell out of the Hishouzame/Same collection and might grab the Kyuukyoku Tiger Heli collection at some point. An unexpected highlight of the Hishou-Same collection is how much I’ve dug the Megadrive/Genesis ports of Same/Fire Shark. Sometimes I think I actually like it more than the arcade version- it’s way more approachable from a difficulty standpoint, and it’s square aspect ratio works well for this game and is kinda cool and different feeling for it. Anyway, just wondered what seasoned fans of Kyuu Tiger thought of its console ports. The arcade version clearly looks definitive, but how about those others?
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
MD Kyuukyoku Tiger is extremely difficult; I'd say it's about twice the difficulty of the arcade version on their respective normal difficulty settings, but I haven't played the MD version too much, mostly because it's frustrating to get point-blanked by tanks as early as stage 1. I can't think of many home versions of arcade games where the home version is actually harder than the original arcade game, but here it is. PC Engine is okay, but it uses the lower 50,000/150,000 every extend settings, unlike the arcade version defaults, and the MD version is more accurate to the arcade version than the PC Engine version, which changes the locations of stars and some enemies.
FC/NES is okay by Micronics standards, but I don't think there is really any reason to specifically choose it over the other console versions or the arcade Kyuukyoku Tiger. However, a glance at The Cutting Room Floor provides this glorious victory text upon completing it, so it might be worth playing it just for this
Somebody would probably disagree with this, but I think that of the console versions, only the MD version is actually worth playing if you have access to the arcade version, and even then the MD version is experts-only on its default setting, so you should either turn the difficulty down or play the arcade version instead because it's way easier. MD also generally tends to have the best music of the home versions, with the unfortunate exception of Good Figure, which is essentially completely ruined on MD. None of the home versions are bad, however.
100% completely unrelated edit several hours later: just got an email from BEEP announcing that they are going to be carrying a new physical Switch version of Snow Bros Special 1 that presumably has the updates from the stealth patch on the cart.
FC/NES is okay by Micronics standards, but I don't think there is really any reason to specifically choose it over the other console versions or the arcade Kyuukyoku Tiger. However, a glance at The Cutting Room Floor provides this glorious victory text upon completing it, so it might be worth playing it just for this
Somebody would probably disagree with this, but I think that of the console versions, only the MD version is actually worth playing if you have access to the arcade version, and even then the MD version is experts-only on its default setting, so you should either turn the difficulty down or play the arcade version instead because it's way easier. MD also generally tends to have the best music of the home versions, with the unfortunate exception of Good Figure, which is essentially completely ruined on MD. None of the home versions are bad, however.
100% completely unrelated edit several hours later: just got an email from BEEP announcing that they are going to be carrying a new physical Switch version of Snow Bros Special 1 that presumably has the updates from the stealth patch on the cart.
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
Steven, thanks for the breakdown. Yeah, I looked at some video of the MD version…damn. You weren’t kidding! Even the first stage looked pretty insane; enough so that I didn’t need to watch any further to know that it likely just gets crazier from there. I think that when I get around to trying this one, I’ll stick to the arcade version to start with. Also, that end game text from the Nes version is endearingly earnest and cheesy in a good way! 
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TransatlanticFoe
- Posts: 1867
- Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2011 11:06 pm
- Location: UK
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
Get the Ultimate Tiger Heli collection.
MD version is brutal but awesome - the explosions hit hard, the music is awesome and the crash-zoom aspect ratio is intense as fuck. PC Engine has nice music, NES port is impressive for what it is.
It's a great package, worth every penny!
MD version is brutal but awesome - the explosions hit hard, the music is awesome and the crash-zoom aspect ratio is intense as fuck. PC Engine has nice music, NES port is impressive for what it is.
It's a great package, worth every penny!
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beer gas canister
- Posts: 117
- Joined: Mon Aug 15, 2022 9:42 pm
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
K-Tiger arcade is this chef's kiss of challenge. It's easier than Fire Shark arcade, harder than MD Fire Shark, but the balance and construction is excellent to begin with. Fire Shark arcade is some real scorched earth shit, so the MD version's a relief. K-Tiger is kind of fine how it is so I don't miss the console ports.
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
Made an unscheduled stop at Taito Hey today. Normally there isn't anything in there that I can actually play properly, but suddenly they have KYUUKYOKU TIGER! TIME TO ROCK THE SHOOTING!!!!!
Haven't played for a while and haven't played with autofire for longer than a while, so it felt kind of like cheating. Got a tasty 3.3 million, so I'm pretty satisfied.
Please play this game. It's too perfect at everything to not be played.
The home versions are all good, but it sucks that you can only kind of practice for the arcade version with them. I've heard the PC Engine version has some terrible checkpoints later in the game, which is unfortunate. I do want to attempt the MD version on its default difficulty some day, but I am not entirely sure what you're supposed to do for the last boss with that aspect ratio.
This doesn't really have anything to do with anything in particular, but the MD version of Kyuukyoku Tiger is one of the relatively uncommon MD games that use the system's low resolution 256 mode. Kind of surprised that they didn't use the 320 mode and make the right side a status bar and retain the original arcade's 240 on the left side.
Haven't played for a while and haven't played with autofire for longer than a while, so it felt kind of like cheating. Got a tasty 3.3 million, so I'm pretty satisfied.
Please play this game. It's too perfect at everything to not be played.
The home versions are all good, but it sucks that you can only kind of practice for the arcade version with them. I've heard the PC Engine version has some terrible checkpoints later in the game, which is unfortunate. I do want to attempt the MD version on its default difficulty some day, but I am not entirely sure what you're supposed to do for the last boss with that aspect ratio.
This doesn't really have anything to do with anything in particular, but the MD version of Kyuukyoku Tiger is one of the relatively uncommon MD games that use the system's low resolution 256 mode. Kind of surprised that they didn't use the 320 mode and make the right side a status bar and retain the original arcade's 240 on the left side.
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
Thanks for your thoughts, guys, on K-Tiger. It has always looked to me like a game that plays well, with a nice rhythm and flow. Gonna definitely get to it at some point, sooner rather than later.
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
K-Tiger is indeed a masterpiece. It’s one of those rare games that feel viciously brutal yet fair. The one-more-go aspect is definitely there. And checkpoints are almost half of its appeal, surviving one feels weirdly satisfying.
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
Such a great game.
Shows u don't always need a bullet hell. Hard but fair.
I got it on PS4 both Jpn and USA version
Shows u don't always need a bullet hell. Hard but fair.
I got it on PS4 both Jpn and USA version
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
2nd that the collection is a M2 masterpiece on both Jpn and USA stores for PS4TransatlanticFoe wrote: ↑Sat Apr 12, 2025 10:12 pm Get the Ultimate Tiger Heli collection.
MD version is brutal but awesome - the explosions hit hard, the music is awesome and the crash-zoom aspect ratio is intense as fuck. PC Engine has nice music, NES port is impressive for what it is.
It's a great package, worth every penny!
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
PS4 version's the best version of the game, too, mostly because M2 fixed the stage 10 boss so you can't do the cheap counterstop on it like you can on the PCB. Never tested the stage 5 boss, but for some reason I think that doesn't time out on PCB either. Not sure why I think that, but I got that idea from somewhere. If there isn't a timer on that boss on PCB, you could counterstop the game there too by milking the green launchers, but you'll still have to actively play the game to not die, unlike at the stage 10 boss where you can AFK for a few days with a weight on your autofire button until you get the counterstop.
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
Looks like Volume 2 is back: https://www.nedgame.nl/game/toaplan-sho ... 148138641/
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
Should probably be this thread: viewtopic.php?p=1577308waiwainl wrote: ↑Mon Apr 28, 2025 9:10 am Looks like Volume 2 is back: https://www.nedgame.nl/game/toaplan-sho ... 148138641/
Still, probably gonna put this right in the winkelmand
EDIT: Oh, only sells to Holland and Belgium
Re: M2 Toaplan collection
I wonder if we will ever get a new arcade garage volume soon.
My PCB Collection (2): Cyvern, R-Type Leo
