Arcade shmups with special versions

[Shumper]

I'm trying to do a list of arcade shmups with tweaked / improved mechanics, more enemies / levels, etc.

All Cave black label
1943 Kai
Darius Extra Version
Darius Gaiden Extra Version
Batsugun Special Version
Battle Garegga Type 2
Omega Fighter Special
Sky Kid Deluxe
...

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Well, let's see...Success Corp. did release Psyvariar Medium Unit Taito G-Card running on Taito G-Net arcade platform in the Japanese game centers back in March of 2000 and eventually released an updated version aptly titled "Psyvariar Revision" Taito G-Card in September of 2000 along with replay functionality + arcade online ranking functionality that was good until the end of December of 2000.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Jonpachi]

I'm trying to do a list of arcade shmups with tweaked / improved mechanics, more enemies / levels, etc.

You'll have to be more specific, as many, many arcade games shipped multiple revisions that have revised scoring, mechanics, etc, but weren't necessarily branded with a unique user-facing name. You can look at the current Gradius Origin Collection and see all the versions of each title, each with slightly unique properties, yet Konami didn't make any of that public facing.

Are you trying to chronicle all the revisions of every shmup, or just collect unique subtitles shown on title screens?

[Shumper]

Are you trying to chronicle all the revisions of every shmup, or just collect unique subtitles shown on title screens?

Just enhanced official revisions with an updated title name.

I opened another thread to find the best version when the game is exported (game name and mechanics changed) -> viewtopic.php?t=77092

[it290]

Does Scramble -> Super Cobra count?

[spmbx]

Viper phase 1 NV

[Mortificator]

Ibara Kuro
Strikers 1945 Plus (an arrangement of Strikers 1945 II, not the original)
Life Force (of Salamander)

The Mikado versions of Raiden III / IV didn't get arcade releases, did they?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Viper phase 1 NV

The Seibu Kaihatsu SPI cart of Viper Phase 1 U.S.A. (debuted in the USA back in September of 1995) has the two loops feature that was sold and distributed by Fabtek themselves stateside (whereas with the JPN versions of Viper Phase 1 and Viper Phase 1 "New Version," both remain as 1 loop arcade stgs at best).

Hamster couldn't get the rights to the ACA VP1-USA port as it remains in a legal IP rut as to whom actual owns the rights to the Fabtek arcade game IPs nowadays -- thus making the "perfect Viper Phase 1 trifecta collection" not meant to be in 2025 as a proper home game console release as intended.

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As it stands, Viper Phase 1 U.S.A. remains as an "arcade only" stg exclusive 30 years later. How cool is that?

It is what it is (as Fabtek wanted the 2 loop feature to differentiate VP1-USA from it's VP1-NV counterpart thus making it the "definitive 'ultimate' version" of VP1 to own/play to this very day).
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PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[BrianC]

Super Xevious
Moon Quasar (of Moon Cresta)
Super Moon Cresta

[Jackoz]

Almost every shmup on eXA Arcadia.

[Shumper]

Viper phase 1 NV

Any differences between the japan new version and the export new version?