M2/Compile Heart's Zaleste announced for 2025

[kid aphex]

Here's a link to the livestream just a bit before they focus on Zaleste
https://www.youtube.com/live/aG_Zcdqn6b ... t7&t=29490

[kid aphex]

I think that while it looks a bit derivative (can that even be a valid complaint in this tiny genre...?) it's very well done.
Definitely one of the better looking STG I've seen in a while.
Also looks super fun to play.
I'd buy this in a heartbeat.

[Tokyo-J]

Gameplay from starting point

https://www.youtube.com/live/aG_Zcdqn6b ... u0&t=31061

[Faith]

Gameplay from starting point

https://www.youtube.com/live/aG_Zcdqn6b ... u0&t=31061

Gee. That looks nice! I always like myself an STG with a super well designed hud around the ship.

I always go crazy when the game expects me to look halfway across the screen to see my hyper gauge or bomba stock or anything else giga important and then I blow up or crash into an enemy.

Also things like scoring feedback I value very much.

Any info on PC release?

Also lol at the pickup drops (8:39:50):

VIBRATOR
BREAKSHOT
BREAKSHOT

@_@!~

[Lemnear]

https://www.youtube.com/live/aG_Zcdqn6b ... u0&t=31061

Also lol at the pickup drops (8:39:50):

VIBRATOR
BREAKSHOT
BREAKSHOT

@_@!~

what the fuck...bhauhauhau

It's still cute, but I don't really like the giant artwork in Japanese 2D fighting style...I mean isn't that like rule number 1: don't obstruct the playing field?

[Shatterhand]

Damn, it looks really, REALLY beautiful.

I just don't get why they are calling it Zaleste. They said they were combining Aleste and Zanac... which is kinda nonsense since Aleste and Zanac are very similar (I've read Aleste is basically a sequel to Zanac when Compile couldn't use the name Zanac)...... and I see one or another enemy popcorn enemy that are taken from those games, but they don't feel like Aleste/Zanac at all.

But it looks awesome.

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

You can get a JoyMega for very cheap (or just build it yourself) and use Mega-Drive controllers, and not only a shitload of games nowadays have patches to use 6 buttons with the JoyMega, there is also SofaRun which patches the games in realtime, so you can use extra buttons as keys on the keyboard, or turn on/off autofire on certain buttons.

[Sengoku Strider]

I'll be that guy...sprites look like a bunch of mobile game jpegs that don't mesh with the background or each other.

[xEbb1993x]

It's just Senxin Aleste all over again, isn't it? Oh well, I still look forward to playing this!

[Faith]

It's still cute, but I don't really like the giant artwork in Japanese 2D fighting style...I mean isn't that like rule number 1: don't obstruct the playing field?

I have to admit, I love these kinds of effects and character transitions in my STG!~

If implement well, it can really add a lot to the game I feel. Gunvein has it too, but the game that implements it the best is RefRain - prism memories - (and by a long shot). Because in RefRain, you get different animations depending on the kinds of attack you use (both in terms of character art and how/where it fades across the screen).

Also these effects only happen only during invincibility periods anyway (for Gunvein when bomba, and for RefRain when using certain specials), so it never killed me.

So I do think it adds value (for me in terms of the action, arcade feel, etc) for zero cost. Because you are invincible during the animation and if you died after it has long faded, then that really isn't the fault of the game lol and more likely a skill issue. Anyway, I would argue Crimzon Clover has even more visual stimuli than this, and CC shows how you can go overboard with casino/arcade effects without sacrificing core gameplay (though I'm sure some people will disagree with me anyway and say the stars and effects are all unnecessary lol).

[KAI]

This game is basically "we have aleste senjin at home".
I know M2 is doing this game under comission but, come on, that footage killed almost all the hype i had.

At least Branch is still a thing.

[eksratu]

It's still cute, but I don't really like the giant artwork in Japanese 2D fighting style...I mean isn't that like rule number 1: don't obstruct the playing field?

I have to admit, I love these kinds of effects and character transitions in my STG!~

If implement well, it can really add a lot to the game I feel. Gunvein has it too, but the game that implements it the best is RefRain - prism memories - (and by a long shot). Because in RefRain, you get different animations depending on the kinds of attack you use (both in terms of character art and how/where it fades across the screen).

Also these effects only happen only during invincibility periods anyway (for Gunvein when bomba, and for RefRain when using certain specials), so it never killed me.

So I do think it adds value (for me in terms of the action, arcade feel, etc) for zero cost. Because you are invincible during the animation and if you died after it has long faded, then that really isn't the fault of the game lol and more likely a skill issue. Anyway, I would argue Crimzon Clover has even more visual stimuli than this, and CC shows how you can go overboard with casino/arcade effects without sacrificing core gameplay (though I'm sure some people will disagree with me anyway and say the stars and effects are all unnecessary lol).

Well put--I also thought of Gunvein when I saw those big character graphics, and for me at least, that's a positive association! Didn't think of the i-frame aspect, but yeah I agree with you there, too.

Surprised at the negativity here! I thought the gameplay looked pretty great, though I couldn't quite figure out the system mechanics/meters/hyper yet. Maybe those will be annoying or uninteresting.

[mukimuki_rs]

Though I have no idea what the budget is, Compile Heart's involvement is down to producer Hiroshi Aoki, the person behind DariusBurst and Space Invaders Extreme while at Taito. While you won't see many shoot'em ups on his resume after that, it's not for want of trying (had a near miss on what could have been a fantastic project a few years back).
I have my hopes for this one.

[EmperorIng]

Aside from the weapons, what about this is game (from Koizumi, right?) is Zanac or Aleste?

This and Senxin are pretty strange in terms of branding imo, but I guess it looks like it would be fun. This has a better chance of being released than fucking Aleste Branch, ha.

[Shatterhand]

Aside from the weapons, what about this is game (from Koizumi, right?) is Zanac or Aleste?

This and Senxin are pretty strange in terms of branding imo, but I guess it looks like it would be fun. This has a better chance of being released than fucking Aleste Branch, ha.

Hasn't been like that with every new Aleste game made by M2 excepy maybe GG Aleste 3?

[eksratu]

Aside from the weapons, what about this is game (from Koizumi, right?) is Zanac or Aleste?

This and Senxin are pretty strange in terms of branding imo, but I guess it looks like it would be fun. This has a better chance of being released than fucking Aleste Branch, ha.

I think it's the P-chips, the enemy types, the powerup system, and probably some lip service story connection

[hamfighterx]

This game is basically "we have aleste senjin at home".

But see here's the thing... we DON'T have Senjin "at home" (at least not in any official home port).

As for the Zaleste gameplay, on first glance it reminds me a bit of Aka to Blue. Maybe I'm being overly influenced by the circular HUD around the ship, but has a similar (arguably generic) aesthetic, similar bullet density/patterns/colors, anime girls, etc. - they both share that sort of futuristic, clean, but sort of empty look. Feels like it's trying to borrow a bit of Cave's Daifukkatsu/Saidaioujou visual identity. I'm totally fine with that, but can see how it won't appeal to some.