Arcade shmups: original version better than the export (regional differences)

[Shumper]

I'm trying to do a list of arcade shmups that are considered better in their original release (usually japan version).It could also be the case that the export version is better because it fixes problems. Wich one is better?:

Gradius (japan) vs Nemesis (export)
Gradius II (japan) vs Vulcan Venture (export)
Salamander (japan) vs Lifeforce (export)
V-Five (japan) vs Grind Stormer (export)
...

Many games are missing but there is some info in https://shmups.wiki/ and https://tcrf.net

These are my favourite games. I play the parent ROM (usually world). Which ones would you choose to play the original version instead?

HORI

Akai Katana (2010/ 8/13 MASTER VER.)
Alien Sector
Andro Dunos (NGM-049 ~ NGH-049)
Black Heart
Blazing Star
Carrier Air Wing (World 901012)
Choplifter (8751 315-5151)
Choutetsu Brikin'ger - Iron Clad (prototype)
Cosmic Cop (World)
Cotton (set 4, World) (FD1094 317-0181a)
Darius (World, rev 2)
Darius Extra Version (Japan)
Darius Gaiden - Silver Hawk (Ver 2.5O 1994/09/19)
Darius Gaiden - Silver Hawk Extra Version (Ver 2.7J 1995/03/06) (Official Hack)
Darius II (triple screen) (Japan)
Deathsmiles (2007/10/09 MASTER VER)
Deathsmiles MegaBlack Label (2008/10/06 MEGABLACK LABEL VER)
Defender (Red label)
Dragon Breed (World, M81 hardware)
Eco Fighters (World 931203)
Fantastic Journey (ver EAA)
Fantasy Zone (Rev A, unprotected)
Forgotten Worlds (World, newer)
Gradius III (World, program code R)
Hacha Mecha Fighter (19th Sep. 1991, protected, set 1)
Hellfire (2P set)
Hyper Duel (Japan set 1)
Last Resort
Metal Black (World)
Mystic Riders (World)
Nemesis (ROM version)
Ordyne (World)
P-47 - The Phantom Fighter (World)
P-47 Aces (ver 1.1)
Parodius DA! (World, set 1)
Prehistoric Isle 2
Prehistoric Isle in 1930 (World)
Progear (USA 010117)
Pulstar
R-Type (World)
R-Type II (World)
R-Type Leo (World)
Raiga - Strato Fighter (US)
Saint Dragon (set 1)
Salamander 2 (ver JAA)
Scramble
Side Arms - Hyper Dyne (World, 861129)
Sky Kid (new version)
Sky Kid Deluxe (set 1)
Sol Divide - The Sword Of Darkness
Tengai (World)
Thunder Cross (set 1)
Thunder Cross II (World)
U.N. Squadron (USA)
US AAF Mustang (25th May. 1990)
Vulcan Venture (New)
X Multiply (World, M81 hardware)
Xexex (ver EAA)
Zed Blade / Operation Ragnarok
Zero Wing (2P set)

VERT

1941: Counter Attack (World 900227)
1942 (Revision B)
1943 Kai: Midway Kaisen (Japan)
1943: The Battle of Midway (Euro)
1944: The Loop Master (Euro 000620)
19XX: The War Against Destiny (Euro 960104)
Aero Fighters (World / USA + Canada / Korea / Hong Kong / Taiwan) (newer hardware)
Aero Fighters 2 / Sonic Wings 2
Aero Fighters 3 / Sonic Wings 3
Air Assault (World)
Air Duel (World, M82 hardware)
Air Gallet (Europe)
Ajax
Alcon (US)
Alpha Mission II / ASO II - Last Guardian (NGM-007 ~ NGH-007)
Arcadia (NMK)
Armed F (Japan)
Armed Police Batrider (Europe) (Fri Feb 13 1998)
Batsugun
Batsugun - Special Version
Battle Bakraid - Unlimited Version (USA) (Tue Jun 8 1999)
Battle Garegga (Europe / USA / Japan / Asia) (Sat Feb 3 1996)
Battle Garegga - Type 2 (Europe / USA / Japan / Asia) (Sat Mar 2 1996)
Bells & Whistles (World, version L)
Cybattler
Cyvern - The Dragon Weapons (US)
Daioh
Desert War / Wangan Sensou (ver 1.0)
Dimahoo (Euro 000121)
DoDonPachi (International, Master Ver. 97/02/05)
DoDonPachi Dai-Fukkatsu Black Label (2010/1/18 BLACK LABEL)
DoDonPachi Dai-Fukkatsu Ver 1.5 (2008/06/23 MASTER VER 1.5)
DoDonPachi II - Bee Storm (World, ver. 102)
DoDonPachi III (World, 2002.05.15 Master Ver)
DoDonPachi Dai-Ou-Jou Black Label (Japan, 2002.10.07.Black Ver, newer)
Dogyuun
DonPachi (US)
Dragon Blaze
Dragon Saber (World, DO2)
Dragon Spirit (new version (DS3))
ESP Ra.De. (International, Ver. 98/04/22)
Espgaluda (2003/10/15 Master Ver)
Espgaluda II (2005/11/14 MASTER VER, newer CV1000-B PCB)
Fever SOS (International, Ver. 98/09/25)
Fighter & Attacker (US)
Fire Shark
Flying Shark (World)
Gekirindan (Ver 2.3O 1995/09/21)
Gemini Wing (World)
Ghost Pilots (NGM-020 ~ NGH-020)
Giga Wing (USA 990222)
Grid Seeker: Project Storm Hammer (Ver 1.3O)
Grind Stormer
Gun & Frontier (World)
Gunbird (World)
Gunbird 2 (set 1)
Gunlock (Ver 2.3O 1994/01/20)
GunNail (28th May. 1992)
Halley's Comet (US)
Ibara (2005/03/22 MASTER VER..)
Ibara Kuro Black Label (2006/02/06. MASTER VER.)
Image Fight (World)
Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi (2003/01/01. Master Ver.)
Kingdom Grandprix
Legion - Spinner-87 (World ver 2.03)
Lethal Thunder (World)
Lightning Fighters (World)
Macross Plus
Mars Matrix: Hyper Solid Shooting (USA 000412)
Muchi Muchi Pork! (2007/ 4/17 MASTER VER.)
Mushihime-Sama (2004/10/12.MASTER VER.)
Mushihime-Sama Futari Black Label - Another Ver (2009/11/27 INTERNATIONAL BL)
Mushihime-Sama Futari Ver 1.5 (2006/12/8.MASTER VER. 1.54.)
Nebulas Ray (World, NR2)
Nostradamus
Omega Fighter
Omega Fighter Special
Phelios
Pink Sweets: Ibara Sorekara (2006/04/06 MASTER VER....)
Plus Alpha
Raiden (set 1)
Raiden DX (UK)
Raiden Fighters (Germany)
Raiden Fighters (Taiwan, single board)
Raiden Fighters 2 - Operation Hell Dive (Germany)
Raiden Fighters 2 - Operation Hell Dive (US, single board)
Raiden Fighters Jet (Germany)
Raiden Fighters Jet (US, single board)
Raiden II (US, set 1)
Ryu Jin (Japan, ET910000B PCB)
Samurai Aces (World)
Scramble Spirits (World, Floppy Based)
Sengeki Striker (Asia)
Skull Fang (Europe 1.13)
Sorcer Striker
Storm Blade (US)
Strikers 1945 (World)
Strikers 1945 II
Strikers 1945 III (World) / Strikers 1999 (Japan)
Super Spacefortress Macross / Chou-Jikuu Yousai Macross
Task Force Harrier
Terra Cresta (YM3526 set 1)
The Game Paradise - Master of Shooting! / Game Tengoku - The Game Paradise (ver 1.0)
Thunder Dragon (8th Jan. 1992, unprotected)
Thunder Dragon 2 (9th Nov. 1993)
Tiger-Heli (US)
Truxton / Tatsujin
Truxton II / Tatsujin Oh
Twin Bee Yahhoo! (ver JAA)
Twin Cobra (World)
Twin Cobra II (Ver 2.1O 1995/11/30)
Twin Hawk (World)
TwinBee (ROM version)
Twinkle Star Sprites
Ufo Robo Dangar (4/07/1987)
Vapor Trail - Hyper Offence Formation (World revision 1)
Varth: Operation Thunderstorm (World 920714)
Vasara
Vasara 2 (set 1)
Vimana (World, set 1)
Viper Phase 1 (New Version, World)
Xevious (Namco)

MISC

Asteroids (rev 4)
Asteroids Deluxe (rev 3)
Blasteroids (rev 4)
Bosconian - Star Destroyer (new version)
Mad Planets
Time Pilot

Cosmo Gang the Video (US)
Galaga '88
Galaga (Namco rev. B)
Galaxian (Namco set 1)
Gaplus (GP2 rev. B)
Juno First
King & Balloon (US)
Space Bomber (ver. B)
Space Invaders '95: The Attack Of Lunar Loonies (Ver 2.5O 1995/06/14)
Space Invaders / Space Invaders M
Super Space Invaders '91 (World, Rev 1)

Battle Chopper (World)
Metal Hawk (Rev C)
Salamander (version D)
Section Z (set 1)
Stargate
Strike Force (rev 1 02/25/91)
Terra Force
Thunder Blade (upright) (FD1094 317-0056)

Red Baron (Revised Hardware)
Star Wars (set 1)
Strike Fighter (World)

After Burner II
Galaxy Force 2
Space Harrier (Rev A, 8751 315-5163A)

Viewpoint
Zaxxon (set 1, rev D)

Boogie Wings (Euro v1.5, 92.12.07)
Silk Worm (World)

Ninja Emaki (US)

[Steven]

Every Japanese Toaplan game that has significant differences from the overseas version is either better or way better than the overseas version except Tatsujin Ou and maybe 2P Zero Wing.

Also true for Xexex.

[pegboy]

The main one i will always argue for is Fever sos > dangun feveron since the tlb bug is fixed.

Some others to consider are twin cobra and fire shark. There's also donpachi usa and the Asian (taiwan?) Version of gradius iii that are both rebalanced.

Dodonpachi iii is also an interesting iteration of doj that I think is worth playing.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The main one i will always argue for is Fever sos > dangun feveron since the tlb bug is fixed.

Some others to consider are twin cobra and fire shark. There's also donpachi usa and the Asian (taiwan?) Version of gradius iii that are both rebalanced.

Dodonpachi iii is also an interesting iteration of doj that I think is worth playing.

Yes, the DonPachi jamma conversion kits distributed and sold through Atlus USA arcade subsidiary back in 1995 to the American arcades even came with a full-sized marquee (which was a perfect fit with the upright Dynamo cabs that were quite prevalent in the arcades stateside back in the mid-1990s).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[BrianC]

Gradius and Nemesis is interesting because there are multiple versions. The original Bubble System version had a long wait for bootup and some other issues (extra slowdown?) that weren't in later versions. The JP ROM version and EU Nemesis fixed some of the issues. I heard the EU Nemesis version runs on faster hardware but is similar to the JP ROM version. The US version is the one where the rank goes up much faster but has power ups on the next life after a death. EU Nemesis possibly best version?

[Mortificator]

Oh, he's another list collector. We get those once in a while.

[Jonpachi]

Oh, he's another list collector. We get those once in a while.

Was thinking the same. 3 posts, and 2 of them are asking for lists. Also he's a shumper. Does he hump shmups?

[To Far Away Times]

Every Japanese Toaplan game that has significant differences from the overseas version is either better or way better than the overseas version except Tatsujin Ou and maybe 2P Zero Wing.

Also true for Xexex.

What they did to Xexex was criminal. The original version is so good.

[pablumatic]

Thunder Cross US is a very downgraded game over the original JP version. Only one weapon, IIRC, fixed options, no speed-ups. You do get bombs in the US version. Also the level order is changed.

I actually did like the US version when I was a kid and played it at my local drug store, but I had no frame of reference to the JP version back then to compare it.

I also much prefer Capcom's Area 88's original title since it is a licensed game based off the manga and anime Area 88 instead of its westernized U.N. Squadron name.

[Steven]

Every Japanese Toaplan game that has significant differences from the overseas version is either better or way better than the overseas version except Tatsujin Ou and maybe 2P Zero Wing.

Also true for Xexex.

What they did to Xexex was criminal. The original version is so good.

Xexex is one of the most extreme examples I can think of where the original game is one of the best games in the genre but the other versions were completely ruined. It deserved much better. At least it's super easy to play the Japanese version now. Thanks Hamster~♥

[Shumper]

Some Toaplan games like Truxton / Truxton II, include the original Tatsujin / Tatsujin II version in the same ROM / board. You need to DIP switch the region. How prevalent is that?

So far I've noticed:
1. Export versions of Toaplan games disable the checkpoint system, but the games are mostly the same.
2. Capcom, Irem, Nichibutsu, NMK, Video System, UPL don't seem to change exports (name, minor things)
3. Konami is a mess. It changes titles and destroys good games. IE:
- Xexex japanese version has many weapons, not just one.
- Thunder Cross japanese version has many weapons, not just one.

Is Thunder Cross II really the same game in all versions?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The American Sammy produced USA region "Daioh" jamma pcb has both the original JPN region 2-button endowed "Daioh" rom version in addition to the upgraded 6-button endowed USA region "Daioh" rom version -- a 2-pin header on a certain jumper let's you play either rom version on a single jamma pcb. How cool is that?

Buttons 1, 2 & 3 are accessed through the 56-pin jamma harness whereas buttons 4, 5 & 6 are accessed through a dedicated kick-harness wired loom interface (buttons 1 & 2 are accessed through the 56-pin harness as with the JPN region "Daioh" rom indeed).

As it is, American Sammy's Daioh pcb is the only 6-button endowed arcade stg ever released.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[davyK]

The Toaplan games have a checkpoint system that the export versions don't have. This makes even credit feeding more satisfying as there is an element of achievement getting to the end of the loop that way.