Psyvariar 3 Announced [BananaBytes Software]

[Darkseed_5150]

Not a fan of the ship designs reminiscent of part 1.

Imo, Psyvariar 2's mechs and the way they control are a big part of its appeal.

Absolutely! While I'm thrilled that there at least is a next installment I'm kinda disappointed that it's not a real continuation. The dance-like movement of the mechsuits accompanied by the fitting soundtrack is a thing of beauty that should have been developed further.

Amen!

[kid aphex]

Not a fan of the ship designs reminiscent of part 1.

Imo, Psyvariar 2's mechs and the way they control are a big part of its appeal.

Absolutely! While I'm thrilled that there at least is a next installment I'm kinda disappointed that it's not a real continuation. The dance-like movement of the mechsuits accompanied by the fitting soundtrack is a thing of beauty that should have been developed further.

Amen!

Amen amen amen.
Psyvariar 2 was a decent pivot in a very interesting direction for what started as (in my opinion) kind of a boring series.
3 looks like it's being developed by people who skipped 2 and mistakenly thought Delta was the sequel.

[EmperorIng]

It's very interesting to see the number of people in this topic (and the poll perhaps) speak so highly of Psyvariar 2 (a game admittedly I love, as well as Revision).
If you scour through the old posts on the ol' forum here it feels like reception towards it was cooler closer to the time of its release. Admittedly, maybe not having that roll button on the dreamcast port hurt the og
Either the old naysayers aged out or people came 'round to the sequel, which I personally find captivating despite its flaws.

You are all definitely right that aesthetically I find Psyvariar 2 to be a gorgeous game - they really make the most out of some fairly simple enemy designs by having the good looking mechs as players, some really cool-looking bosses (the spider boss crawling up the tunnel being a standout imo) and some really lovely backgrounds (the sun-soaked Eta being one of my favorites in the genre), all set to that amazing soundtrack.

[Jonpachi]

It's very interesting to see the number of people in this topic (and the poll perhaps) speak so highly of Psyvariar 2 (a game admittedly I love, as well as Revision).
If you scour through the old posts on the ol' forum here it feels like reception towards it was cooler closer to the time of its release. Admittedly, maybe not having that roll button on the dreamcast port hurt the og
Either the old naysayers aged out or people came 'round to the sequel, which I personally find captivating despite its flaws.

You are all definitely right that aesthetically I find Psyvariar 2 to be a gorgeous game - they really make the most out of some fairly simple enemy designs by having the good looking mechs as players, some really cool-looking bosses (the spider boss crawling up the tunnel being a standout imo) and some really lovely backgrounds (the sun-soaked Eta being one of my favorites in the genre), all set to that amazing soundtrack.

I hadn't thought about it for a long time, but as soon as you said "lack of a roll button on the DC port" my thumb began to pulse with the sense memory of rocking that sharp DC d-pad back and forth like mad. I didn't have an arcade stick for the DC at that time, so it was all stock parts pain for that game. I would love a rerelease.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

It's very interesting to see the number of people in this topic (and the poll perhaps) speak so highly of Psyvariar 2 (a game admittedly I love, as well as Revision).
If you scour through the old posts on the ol' forum here it feels like reception towards it was cooler closer to the time of its release. Admittedly, maybe not having that roll button on the dreamcast port hurt the og
Either the old naysayers aged out or people came 'round to the sequel, which I personally find captivating despite its flaws.

You are all definitely right that aesthetically I find Psyvariar 2 to be a gorgeous game - they really make the most out of some fairly simple enemy designs by having the good looking mechs as players, some really cool-looking bosses (the spider boss crawling up the tunnel being a standout imo) and some really lovely backgrounds (the sun-soaked Eta being one of my favorites in the genre), all set to that amazing soundtrack.

I hadn't thought about it for a long time, but as soon as you said "lack of a roll button on the DC port" my thumb began to pulse with the sense memory of rocking that sharp DC d-pad back and forth like mad. I didn't have an arcade stick for the DC at that time, so it was all stock parts pain for that game. I would love a rerelease.

For Jonpachi,

Here's a DC Arcade Stick brand new: https://www.ebay.com/itm/336202339767?_ ... R5ypwK63Zg

Here's an Ascii DC Arcade Stick (has built-in rumble vibrational functionality + handy VMU slot): https://www.ebay.com/itm/389054254524?_ ... BMnKnArrdm

And here's an immaculate Agetech DC Arcade Stick: https://www.ebay.com/itm/133733497066?_ ... QRBSRY8CG0

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Weak Boson]

It's very exciting to see a new Psyvariar game announced. I hope it turns out good, either as a continuation of the series or as a new experience.

On Psyvariar 2 vs earlier games: I haven't played 2 as extensively, but I think the level and boss design isn't up to the same standard as Revision. Still a fun game, but I couldn't escape the impression that it needed more time in the lab to get it just right. Revision is immaculately constructed, likely because it had Medium Unit to build off of. Delta likewise.

This raises the question: what is Psyvariar 3 building off of? Do the devs have the experience with the series to produce genuine quality, or are they hoping to intuit the fundamentals of this highly unusual game on the fly? It's unclear for now, but hey, even if I don't like Psyvariar 3, I can always get my hopes up for Psyvariar 3 Revision Delta Epsilon.

If I had to guess, though, I'd say it's likely that this game is aiming to be something mechanically distinct from the old games. The existence of many selectable characters and the available descriptions of their abilities suggests this to me. Fusing the neutrino guage system with new ideas lets the dev make a game that is connected to the old ones, but with a focus on something they have ownership of. It could be fun, or it could be a mess.

The specter of Sonic Wings Reunion looms large over this project but, since I understand that the devs have some shmup chops, I think it will be, if not good, then at least OK or interesting, as long as they get a chance to polish and refine things enough.

[M.Knight]

I still lack the advanced experience with Psy 1 to tell how much better Revision/Delta are compared to 2, but I love the latter regardless. Skonec banger. The music and atmosphere are outstanding, having these two distinctive player characters gives you more stuff to do, and even if stage design is sometimes lacking, the highs are quite high especially with the TLB which is a lot of fun to fight and score on. Psy2 also might be more accessible at first, at least it feels easier to get better at it so maybe that's why I was able to get rather far into it while X-B game over is still the best I could do when scoring Psy Delta. Incredibly cool mech designs as well indeed, and it's a shame they regressed on that front for 3. Psy 1 ship designs are very much forgettable at best so no idea why they wanted to go back to that.

Maybe this forum was a bit lukewarm on Psy 2 back then, but when looking around I remember coming across the Bordersdown thread and some leaderboard threads which seemed quite positive in comparison, so maybe there's more fans of it than we could assume?

And yeah good point about all the various characters and abilities in 3. I wonder if they are going for the Cotton Rock and Roll of Psyvariar (which is even funnier when you remember Ria is the Psyvariar of Cotton Rock and Roll ), and I can imagine the variety of playstyles being a real treat...if the devs/designers play their cards right. Sophstar was fine (though I wouldn't put it on the same level as Psyvariar games) so I expect Psy 3 to not be a Sonic Wings Reunion disaster at least, but despite the numerous ships I didn't feel the same compulsion to clear and score with everyone like with Cotton RnR or Chaos Field.

[EmperorIng]

https://www.gematsu.com/2025/11/psyvari ... 6-in-japan

So it looks like this is coming out 5 months from now. Good luck boys!

[xEbb1993x]

https://www.gematsu.com/2026/01/psyvari ... -to-may-21

Now releasing May 21st. Is anybody here still looking forward to this?

[Tokyo-J]

https://www.gematsu.com/2026/01/psyvari ... -to-may-21

Now releasing May 21st. Is anybody here still looking forward to this?

I am as an owner of the G-Net and Naomi versions. Cannot wait to play.

[xEbb1993x]

Same here, even though I tend to have mixed feelings with Psyvariar compared to a lot of other shmups I've played.

[EmperorIng]

I am glad they have a few more weeks to work on it if nothing else. How much can be done in that time though?

I wish they would show off some high-level gameplay of how the game is "supposed" to be played. Showing nothing but stage 1, where the ships aren't even rolling or buzzing, just sets off too many red flags. Are you telling me they couldn't get a hold of some top-notch Psyvariar player to offer play-testing? I bet you they would jump at the opportunity!

[xEbb1993x]

I’m just dreading there being a TLB that can only be fought if you reach a certain level like in the last two games.

[Faith]

Still on schedule for May 21 launch @_@!~

https://store.steampowered.com/app/4019130/Psyvariar_3/

[Weak Boson]

I'm planning on getting this on launch. I'm too committed to Psyvariar to sit this one out.

It sitll looks rough but I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised. Maybe they'll release some more substantial footage on or around the release date idk.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Suppose if it was Success and Skonec whom did a proper third Psyvariar sequel -- how would that version have turned out gameplay-wise and game mechanic-wise?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[hamfighterx]

Anyone hear about any actual differences between the Switch 1 and Switch 2 versions? Differences in frame rate target or resolution, etc.? They're doing physical releases of both, was gonna order one then realized... huh, guess I'm not sure which one.

This all makes me want to fire up Homura, been forever since I played that game.

[EmperorIng]

Three weeks to go... here's to hoping. Good luck gents; I am sure the game is basically done by now. Still hard to get over some of the player ship designs and that Unreal Engine-esque water, but at least I see bullets onscreen now.

Suppose if it was Success and Skonec whom did a proper third Psyvariar sequel -- how would that version have turned out gameplay-wise and game mechanic-wise?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

I like to think that if they had had another crack at it, they would have followed up with the (unrealized promise) of Psyvariar 2, which was that the two playstyles would have been more fleshed out and the stages would have been designed for both. Shooting Type is basically "easy mode" for a lot of things (except scoring, lol!). I don't know where I read it before but there is some rumor on this forum or elsewhere on the internet that hinted that the original idea was to have different stage layouts to accommodate Buzz Type and Shooting Type. I do not know if that is true but it is a tantalizing glimpse at what could have been.

By Homura they had also figured out how to animate 3D bosses, so maybe the bosses wouldn't just float there ominously, as well

[ciox]

Three weeks to go... here's to hoping. Good luck gents; I am sure the game is basically done by now. Still hard to get over some of the player ship designs and that Unreal Engine-esque water, but at least I see bullets onscreen now.

Suppose if it was Success and Skonec whom did a proper third Psyvariar sequel -- how would that version have turned out gameplay-wise and game mechanic-wise?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

I like to think that if they had had another crack at it, they would have followed up with the (unrealized promise) of Psyvariar 2, which was that the two playstyles would have been more fleshed out and the stages would have been designed for both. Shooting Type is basically "easy mode" for a lot of things (except scoring, lol!). I don't know where I read it before but there is some rumor on this forum or elsewhere on the internet that hinted that the original idea was to have different stage layouts to accommodate Buzz Type and Shooting Type. I do not know if that is true but it is a tantalizing glimpse at what could have been.

By Homura they had also figured out how to animate 3D bosses, so maybe the bosses wouldn't just float there ominously, as well

Pretty sure that rumor comes from me, so I might as well show where I got my information. Hopefully the translation didn't screw up here because that's all I went on.



Original text:
또한, 기체는 SHOOTING과 BUZZ 타입의 2종류로 각각의 특징과
적의 출연위치 변화 등 서로 다른 공략이 필요한 게임으로 기본적
으로 슈팅타입은 초보자층을 위한, 버즈타입은 매니아층을 타겟으
로 제작되어 졌습니다.

My wishlist for a remaster of Psyvariar 2 is long, but suffice it to say I would like to see improved stages, Kei buffs of some kind, additions and corrections like graphics for the Gluon boss fight, and even a story mode and widescreen mode.
The big one is fixing some of the boring stages, which even ORE808 commented on via twitter.
As far as I can tell MR2151 used to be in charge of level design for Psyvariar 1, and when he left the team it had quite an impact.



As for story there's some narrative hooks that seemed to have been set up and then left completely unexplored, like how during the final battle you have Kei and "Rival" fighting, and they are both humans that are hiding super intelligences inside of them. Things like this would have been cool to see touched on in a story mode. (Kei is actually an android that contains/is Lambda, while "Rival" is a vessel for Gluon)

[AntiramDSR]

hard pass because of Red Art Games since they never keep up with patches... on xbox at least, where Sophstar still is at 1.07 (while 1.11 on Steam) same with Shinorubi (which is it's smallest problem, but yeah)

EDIT: preordered nevertheless (because Sophstar-Love)

[EmperorIng]

Pretty sure that rumor comes from me, so I might as well show where I got my information. Hopefully the translation didn't screw up here because that's all I went on.

Thanks for the info man! I think the text itself is ambiguous, but I can always dream of what could have been...

I am surprised Ore808 hates stage 4 and 5... those are some of the meatier stages, lol. It's stage 2 and 3 that are practically demos with nothing going on in them. Maybe all he can see is the shit they had to cut out. Stage 5 is a little rough for sure because there's just a few repeating enemy waves over and over again in between the midbosses. At least (like the rest of the game) it culminates in a truly excellent boss fight.

The bit about Kei being an android is news to me. I tried to google-translate the manual through photos but the text was too garbled to get anything other than a general sense.

Also, only a few days till the new game drops. Gunna be eagerly awaiting first impressions

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Pretty sure that rumor comes from me, so I might as well show where I got my information. Hopefully the translation didn't screw up here because that's all I went on.

Thanks for the info man! I think the text itself is ambiguous, but I can always dream of what could have been...

I am surprised Ore808 hates stage 4 and 5... those are some of the meatier stages, lol. It's stage 2 and 3 that are practically demos with nothing going on in them. Maybe all he can see is the shit they had to cut out. Stage 5 is a little rough for sure because there's just a few repeating enemy waves over and over again in between the midbosses. At least (like the rest of the game) it culminates in a truly excellent boss fight.

The bit about Kei being an android is news to me. I tried to google-translate the manual through photos but the text was too garbled to get anything other than a general sense.

Also, only a few days till the new game drops. Gunna be eagerly awaiting first impressions

So if Success and Skonec had gone back and remade Psyvariar 2, it would have been (I suppose) titled "Psyvariar 2: Revision" release as originally intended. I wonder why they didn't go back and fix it to be the ultimate version then?

Yes, the 5/20/2026 release date of Psyvariar 3 is definitely just around the corner indeed.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[xEbb1993x]

Since this game is almost out, I wanna know if it’s hit or miss.

[Jonpachi]

We get so few legit NEW shmups that I'm in no matter what. Should have my pre-order here this week.

[kid aphex]

So... did I miss it, or is there no real gameplay footage of this game?
Seems like the trailers are making an intentional effort to conceal clear footage...

Psy2 is one of my favorite STGs of all time, but everything about this one looks ugly as sin.
Can anyone point me to some extended gameplay footage?

[AntiramDSR]

So... did I miss it, or is there no real gameplay footage of this game?
Seems like the trailers are making an intentional effort to conceal clear footage.. do
Psy2 is one of my favorite STGs of all time, but everything about this one looks ugly as sin.
Can anyone point me to some extended gameplay footage?

this is a weird release, don't know what to think

that's the most i've seen so far:

https://youtube.com/shorts/ILuP32HhWCc? ... eA-x7-_QmJ

[PC Engine Fan X!]

So... did I miss it, or is there no real gameplay footage of this game?
Seems like the trailers are making an intentional effort to conceal clear footage.. do
Psy2 is one of my favorite STGs of all time, but everything about this one looks ugly as sin.
Can anyone point me to some extended gameplay footage?

this is a weird release, don't know what to think

that's the most i've seen so far:

https://youtube.com/shorts/ILuP32HhWCc? ... eA-x7-_QmJ

Interesting to learn that person of the above Youtube video of Psyvariar 3 was given a Steam Key to try out the full version before the actual release date. Is this person a professional game reviewer or a beta tester? Hmmm.....raises more questions than answers indeed -- perhaps is under a NDA to not reveal anymore footage of Psyvaviar 3 prior to the release date -- which is a serious point/issue to take into consideration given the legal ramifications at hand.

Sounds like a tentative 1:00pm PST release of Psyvariar 3 on Steam tomorrow 5/20/2026 -- we'll see if that's to be or not. The MSRP of it still hasn't been revealed nor disclosed -- could be a full retail pricepoint like that of Success' Sonic Strikers Reunion on Steam or possibly cheaper than that (hopefully).

The grand mystique of Psyvariar 3 shall finally be revealed to the world -- will it "hold a candle" to it's lofty predecessors of Psyvariar Medium Unit, Psyvariar Revision, Psyvariar 2 and Psyvariar Delta in terms of gameplay & game mechanics? The anticipation for it is quite high, especially for Psyvariar fans like myself.

The Taito G-Net based G-Card of Success Corp's Psyvariar Revision is a definite highlight in that it does save the player's single stage play-through for posterity directly to the G-Card itself + allows the arcade gamer to play it as well (something that's not possible with the earlier G-Card release of Psyvaviar Medium Unit).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[AntiramDSR]

So... did I miss it, or is there no real gameplay footage of this game?
Seems like the trailers are making an intentional effort to conceal clear footage.. do
Psy2 is one of my favorite STGs of all time, but everything about this one looks ugly as sin.
Can anyone point me to some extended gameplay footage?

this is a weird release, don't know what to think

that's the most i've seen so far:

https://youtube.com/shorts/ILuP32HhWCc? ... eA-x7-_QmJ

The MSRP of it still hasn't been revealed nor disclosed -- could be a full retail pricepoint like that of Success' Sonic Strikers Reunion on Steam or possibly cheaper than that (hopefully).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

€19,99 on xbox after release, grabbed the preorder discount at €15,99

[PC Engine Fan X!]

this is a weird release, don't know what to think

that's the most i've seen so far:

https://youtube.com/shorts/ILuP32HhWCc? ... eA-x7-_QmJ

The MSRP of it still hasn't been revealed nor disclosed -- could be a full retail pricepoint like that of Success' Sonic Strikers Reunion on Steam or possibly cheaper than that (hopefully).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

€19,99 on xbox after release, grabbed the preorder discount at €15,99

Thanks for the heads up of Psyvariar 3 appearing on the Microsoft Series S and Series X consoles.

Yes, on the USA region Microsoft Store portal is a proper listing for Psyvariar 3 with an MSRP of $19.99 usd but if pre-ordered ahead of time, it can be had for a mere $15.99 usd instead. And the Series S/X digital d/l for Psyvariar 3 is a whopping 4.04gb file size -- not too shabby. The scheduled release date is at 9:00pm PST on 5/20/2026 indeed. So be it. I have a proper Series S/X arcade stick on hand to try out this newfangled Psyvariar 3 -- it's all "good in da hood."

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[AntiramDSR]

i'm hyped tbh... it looks strangely charming in josting ray's video. reminds me of twinkle soft's rally raid a bit.

also the product page from succes looks promising

https://psyvariar.success-corp.co.jp/3rd/

only found it because of this guy:

https://youtu.be/3MBumUcaDB4?is=GgVM9QE4ygQLnqHR

and... after the R-Type Dimension 3 - disaster. it almost can't get more worse than that