I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

[BIL]

Good spot on Gyruss and Super Cobra's shared PS1 refugee status, hamfighter!

I have to admit, if it was the other way around, I'd be pining for ACA Super Cobra just as much as I am ACA Gyruss. I really dig that one for some reason, rad name helps. Also, heli > rocket when it comes to canyon missions. >w> I'm sure Gyruss will be along within the year. (said with no irony nor malice whatsoever, Hamada-chan ;3)

They need a big cross-demo game for Christmas, so I doubt a shmup. I would put money on Rave Racer or Tekken.

Gradius III Dec 24th 2020

See also:
Super Spacefortress Macross - Dec 26th 2024
Xexex - Dec 23rd 2021

They kinda do have a history of viewing notable shmups as "special" enough to warrant the holiday release slot, it has happened in 3 of the last 5 years.

Don't forget Metal Hawk for Christmas week 2022! Blew my goddamn socks off, that. Beast of a time attack (also heli) STG that's no joke to emulate even today. Bookended the next week by Galaga, even.

Also F/A getting the 10th Anniversary slot, Japan-exclusive too LOLOLOL (come to think of it, so was Macross 1 and that one was hobnobbing with Elden Ring and Dragon Quest and Persona at the top of the PSN charts )

Speaking of asploded socks, Akuu Garrett, yeaaa boyeee that'd be my dream pick. tbh though when I check in lately I'm just waiting for mahfuckin Search And Rescue. Fired up my PS4 for the first time in way too long last night, saw SNK40th and baleeted it. I figure SAR, Genshitou 1930s, Vanguard, and (assuming its ADK authorship doesn't cause problems) Time Soldiers will be along in, oh, a year or so.

[it290]

Rave Racer is at the very top of the list for me.

R-Type I, II and Leo are high up on the list.

Undercover Cops would be cool too.

Sega stuff would be amazing. As already mentioned, they have tons of games never released at home, or not ported to arcade perfection.

Shadow Dancer, Super Monaco GP, After Burner II, Galaxy Force II, the list is massive.

Anyway, hope we get something awesome this week and next week, like Rave Racer and Raiden II.

Galaxy Force II and After Burner II both got great releases on the 3DS — not to say they wouldn't be welcome in ACA, but those M2 ports are damned good (and in 3D!)

[hamfighterx]

The PS2 Sega Ages 2500 version of Galaxy Force II is also excellent, like many of the later 2500 series releases (once they stopped doing low budget 3D remakes and instead moved to M2 doing accurate arcade versions packed with features). Nice summary here: https://bordersdown.net/forum/gaming/fi ... orce-2-ps2

But yeah the 3D effects in the 3DS one are great.

Point does remain though, there are SO many Sega arcade games that never got a port or that don’t match the arcade version.

[Marc]

Dupe

[Marc]

Rave Racer is at the very top of the list for me.

R-Type I, II and Leo are high up on the list.

Undercover Cops would be cool too.

Sega stuff would be amazing. As already mentioned, they have tons of games never released at home, or not ported to arcade perfection.

Shadow Dancer, Super Monaco GP, After Burner II, Galaxy Force II, the list is massive.

Anyway, hope we get something awesome this week and next week, like Rave Racer and Raiden II.

Irem seem to be dead and buried sadly. Dimensions 2 looks cool however.
I just want OutRunners.......

[Some-Mist]

I’m sure it’s been this way for awhile, but is there any reason to buy the arcade archives 2 version instead of the regular switch 1 version? The regular switch 1 version is compatible with switch 2 and it’s $2 cheaper. Looking at roc’n rope specifically.

Found it. It was right in the description:

“Arcade Archives 2” adds a new “TIME ATTACK MODE” to the lineup of “ORIGINAL MODE,” “HI SCORE MODE,” and “CARAVAN MODE” included in the Arcade Archives series. In “TIME ATTACK MODE,” players compete to clear the game as quickly as possible, regardless of the score achieved. VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) support has also been added, allowing gameplay to be reproduced even closer to the original arcade experience.

[Sturmvogel Prime]

The Christmas Bird cometh...

Looks like Namco can't stay out for a while.
The Outfoxies is this week's release.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202512/61014

[Marc]

It it actually any good?

[Sumez]

Oh wow! This is one of the big ones I know people have been waiting for

It it actually any good?

I have the PCB and... it's fun I guess? It's less of an involving arcade game, and more of a wild fun party game. It's all about the setpieces and crazy situations that can happen on each stage.

I do think people should check it out, but I also think it struggles with the fact that while it was unique back then, there are so many "versus platformers"(??) nowadays that it stands out less. You could play Duck Game, Towerfall, or, well, Smash Bros, if you just want to get drunk and have a fun brawl with a friend.

This is one of the few situations where I think Hamster could make something really interesting, if they actually forego "accurate emulation" and instead allow the game's graphics to scale at a higher resolution than the arcade does. Since the entire stage gets scaled up and down based on how far the players are from eachother, that *really* impacts visibility when it's zoomed out, with the game's native 240p graphics.

[BIL]

God damn! That's one cookin' BGM groove! Left trailer running while doing other stuff, had to tab back in to give props. Not since HIYA's LIVIN ON TEH DECK (pls sub to that dude, he's rad!) have I heard a sidescrolling traincar firefight jam so hawt.

ala Numans & Mach Breakers, I've never really looked into this one, but the style is amazing. Like an Elevator Action Returns take on 70s Bond. Kill your enemy by any means~ *FRUIT BASKET*

[Lord British]

Outfoxies!!!!!!!!!!!!

[famitsu1]

Yes!!

[spmbx]

It it actually any good?

I consider it more than a techdemo than something i actually enjoy playing. I had the pcb when it was not stupid money back in the day, but don't take my word for it and give it a go on your platform of choice

[Skyknight]

Apparently next week will be game #500 for Hamster? Given all the cheering I’ve seen for The Outfoxies, I can’t even guess what Hamster might have in mind for an anniversary/Christmas conjunction. I’m not sure Raiden II will be high-profile enough, nor Gaiapolis…

[SavagePencil]

So excited that this game is becoming available. In the hands of two capable players, it really is a game of cat-and-mouse while the environment pushes them out of a stalemate.

Fun story:

I had 9 months to make The Force Unleashed II for the Wii, and one of the requirements was to have a multiplayer mode. I hired a team of two contractors to build the whole thing, thinking it would get cut as we were under intense pressure to build that PLUS the single player experience from scratch. My only guidance to them was "play The Outfoxies, then go make that" and damned if they didn't do a great job with what they had. We had some intense Outfoxies sessions for them to get the nuance and they were adding bits all the way up to the end. To this day I think, if we had had a couple more months, we could have made some much more dynamic environments to truly capture what made this game so innovative.

[OldSkoolShmuper]

Apparently next week will be game #500 for Hamster? Given all the cheering I’ve seen for The Outfoxies, I can’t even guess what Hamster might have in mind for an anniversary/Christmas conjunction. I’m not sure Raiden II will be high-profile enough, nor Gaiapolis…

Please for the love of GOD be Rave Racer.

[hamfighterx]

Namco this week makes me feel like it's less likely we get them again on the 25th, but hey, maybe it is Rave Racer or Tekken. I guess it wouldn't be that shocking.

But IDK, I find it very conspicuous that we haven't seen Taito in November or December... Space Invaders would not be out of place as a milestone release, I'll make that my guess! First F3 release would also be significant.

[AGermanArtist]

Namco this week makes me feel like it's less likely we get them again on the 25th, but hey, maybe it is Rave Racer or Tekken. I guess it wouldn't be that shocking.

But IDK, I find it very conspicuous that we haven't seen Taito in November or December... Space Invaders would not be out of place as a milestone release, I'll make that my guess! First F3 release would also be significant.

Good call
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202512/60463

[AGermanArtist]

I think I'll stick with Space Invaders Forever on PS5 and Space Invaders Get Even on Dolphin over Xmas for my Space Invaders requirements.

[NYN]

Oh! Outfoxies is out there! I thought for a mean while about "twin-fighters" in games, how they move and play unique. Not just as as a tag-team. Fighters, action, all kinds, bosses (SoR twin sis spring to mind). With Danny&Demi, it's even subversive to play as tyke assassins...What a surprise, I didn't know that game existed, lest be with those killer brats! Nerd shirt, please!

[BIL]

Was thinking much the same re: Space Invaders, hamfighter.

Namco this week makes me feel like it's less likely we get them again on the 25th, but hey, maybe it is Rave Racer or Tekken. I guess it wouldn't be that shocking.

But IDK, I find it very conspicuous that we haven't seen Taito in November or December... Space Invaders would not be out of place as a milestone release, I'll make that my guess! First F3 release would also be significant.

Good call
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202512/60463

Daww! Let ham-chan's shooting love never be in doubt!

Not gonna lie, I was hoping for R-Type. But tbh, after Saigo no Nindou devoured two consecutive evenings this lazy week, I'm reminded that it's my GEMU ICHIBAN, a sublime balance of formless chaos and icy technique, and I can't be mad at IREM being AWOL since 2019. Especially not with later AKIO-sama masterwork Kaitei Daisensou being the M72 quartet's coda.

Saigo reminds me of my old contracts prof's admonition to my nice young pink arse, after he PWNed me all Socratically. Right in front of my beautiful classmate - the memory of whom is bringing a quality TOMOHIRO NISHIKADO-TEIOU tangent to mind! Ahem. Yes: Memorisation is one thing. Applying your principles to unpredictable fact patterns is another. You might have rehearsed up a frame-perfect Ryuichi Drop, but if you can't think on your feet, you're gonna shit your pants and die out there, kozo. Never give up! Learn, Build, Choose! In you, the world has a fighting chance.

I thought SNK and Technos were gone for good, so here's hoping IREM one day rejoins the fold. Ah man. And more DECO pls. Again I can't complain too hard... the fifth member of this favourite cabal of mine, Tecmo, had glorious coverage over the last three years. RAIGA, Silkworm, Senjyo, WAIRUDO FANGU, more I'm forgetting. But god damn, how I'd love to see those four attain similar consistency.

(all five being AC heavy-hitters whose most signal coinops received either no home ports, or radically reimagined ones... not to knock the latter camp, FC Guevara and FC Double Dragon II are masterpieces on par with any arcade board... but real is real, y'know? let's not mention FC Ikari, IT DO NOT EXIST :O edit: who the fuck am I kidding. it existed, it is real. v-v that boxart is rad. tempted 2 get sometimes tbh )

Leaving the current ACA roll-call trailer running in the BGM as I type - hey, Homosexual Dino scrubs up nicely! looks like a handsome professor! - I'm reminded of just how many no-hoper ports and generally crazy shit has happened over this series' decade-and-a-bit. Well done ham-chans. <3 Strongest arcade port anthology series in all history. Also GET MAHFUCKIN SEARCH AND RESCUE UP THERE ALREADY MOTHERFUCKERS thankyou pls <3

[Bassa-Bassa]

This is one of the few situations where I think Hamster could make something really interesting, if they actually forego "accurate emulation" and instead allow the game's graphics to scale at a higher resolution than the arcade does. Since the entire stage gets scaled up and down based on how far the players are from eachother, that *really* impacts visibility when it's zoomed out, with the game's native 240p graphics.

You mean even more zoomed out than it already is? Or just using the full screen 16:9 ratio at the native resolution (for a no-zoom approach)? Does the game really need any of that?

[OldSkoolShmuper]

(all five being AC heavy-hitters whose most signal coinops received either no home ports, or radically reimagined ones... not to knock the latter camp, FC Guevara and FC Double Dragon II are masterpieces on par with any arcade board... but real is real, y'know? let's not mention FC Ikari, IT DO NOT EXIST :O edit: who the fuck am I kidding. it existed, it is real. v-v that boxart is rad. tempted 2 get sometimes tbh )

Since you mentioned Guevara, I've only known this as Guerilla War, and even though I've never played the FC or NES versions, only the arcade machine (and ACA on PS4)... I do have a memory of reading the review for NES in the first issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly that I had (their 2nd issue as EGM) and so decided to look up that memory on archive.org!

Behold...



from the same issue:


And since it was right there on the next two pages... NES Gyruss!

[BIL]

Since you mentioned Guevara, I've only known this as Guerilla War, and even though I've never played the FC or NES versions, only the arcade machine (and ACA on PS4)... I do have a memory of reading the review for NES in the first issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly that I had (their 2nd issue as EGM) and so decided to look up that memory on archive.org!

Behold...

Great stuff as always. ^__^ The first EGMs I encountered in my far-flung neck of the Americas were about a year in, when they'd solidified their brand. It's always fascinating seeing their nascent issues. As easy as it is to go "Pff!" at the FC port being "a little" easier than the brutal PCB, you can tell they're conversant with the hardcore run/gun genre SNK was spearheading at the time. (along with DECO, who stole Ikari's code outright for Heavy Barrel, per Obada-san!) FC Guevara is genuinely pretty intense, too - an all prisoners nomiss is easily a Superplay DVD-worthy endeavour. Wickedly easy to toss your cookies under fire, and wipe out a scad of poor tied-up SOBs! (in this sense, it almost prefigures the big guns = big destruction = big penalties model of stuff like Raiden DX & Fighters, where just because you can shred the screen in a split-second, doesn't mean you should; the AC ver operates in a similar but more punishingly minimalist mode)

(Donn Nauert's daughter is she referenced in my dastardly anecdote, in previous post. Kinda cute honestly tbh! I'd sort her out with a night at the opera and a quick followup hedgetrimmer session, with safety goggles ofc! But no more posting that shit online, my dear! )

Ahh. Milky-pale dark brunettes! That is your good Dr. Biruford's type, chaps! (■｀w´■) Just the sort to make me get... FUCKIN BANNED FOR UNSANCTIONED DICK STOCK

MFW Nauerty-chan wants to study after class (つ✧ω✧)つ

)

They're dead-on about the jump in quality from NES Ikari 2: Victory Road, aka Dogosoken. FC Guevara was developed in-house by SNK, after the god-awful Micronics ports of Ikari and VR. As with Micronics' FC 1942 vs Capcom's in-house 1943: The Battle of Valhalla, the difference in quality is utterly astronomical. Going from Micronics' trash to the real stuff must be the diehard FC action version of erotic asphyxiation; your brain will be doing backflips at the return to steady 60fps. (Professor Sumez explains Teh Science Behind Teh Suck )

(some of these men were ardent Micronics appreciators v-v Be careful! At least don't get caught! OwO)

I sometimes wonder if SNK and Capcom were scrambling to repair the reputational damage done to their flagship brands in the lucrative Famicom market, haha. I'm always compelled to caveat Micronics' generally shitty work slightly; FC Ikari does have some interesting ideas. The close quarters knife is something I wish more games of its style had, and indeed, it's exactly what Sarus masterpiece Shock Troopers added nearly a decade later. Stealable helis is a cool idea too. And FC Dogo, while I think its ARPG elements are poor, at least added some neat powerups.

Micronics did poor work overall on FC to be sure, and it's a shame they got so many high-profile projects before the coinop titans put their feet down, but they're at least interesting. Mostly! (The TRVE+HONEST Micronics Appreciate Thread ;3)

[NYN]

00f! What is it with The Outfoxies price tag of double?! Not to sound off stingy, I assumed thats reserved for the license matters. Ah, wellz, jamming to the Soundcloud Game Sound Express 1994 for now, including between slides synth voice who demands to k-k-kill! Discovery.

[BIL]

I gotta say that soundtrack is cool as fuuuuck As is the game. Kill your enemy by any means ~ I offer you one million ten fousand swiss fwanks (cashback, bitches!) Ending BGM trackname "Enjoy Life" So rad.

Pictured: Killing Ur Enemy By Any Means for FOUSANDS

[hamfighterx]

Namco this week makes me feel like it's less likely we get them again on the 25th, but hey, maybe it is Rave Racer or Tekken. I guess it wouldn't be that shocking.

But IDK, I find it very conspicuous that we haven't seen Taito in November or December... Space Invaders would not be out of place as a milestone release, I'll make that my guess! First F3 release would also be significant.

Good call
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202512/60463

Heh, I should have emailed Hamster with my pick! Then again, I wasn't thinking this quite as much until knowing the other puzzle piece we got this week with a Namco game as AA #499...

I'm curious to see what kinds of features/options they pack into this one - like, are they gonna include all variants (B/W, Cellophane, Color, etc.)? Hope so, and they do tend to go the extra mile on some of these notable releases (Salamander containing the JP/NA versions of Salamander/Life Force comes to mind as a stellar AA release).

EDIT: Oh, and I just noticed that they ALSO announced that Space Invaders Part II is the January 1 Arcade Archives release.

[Jonpachi]

Always hilarious to see those early EGM reviews. Barely high school newspaper quality. Crazy that was acceptable as "journalism" at that time.

[OldSkoolShmuper]

Always hilarious to see those early EGM reviews. Barely high school newspaper quality. Crazy that was acceptable as "journalism" at that time.

1989, man.

[Jonpachi]

Always hilarious to see those early EGM reviews. Barely high school newspaper quality. Crazy that was acceptable as "journalism" at that time.

1989, man.

No, there’s no excuse for that. Even as a kid I would roll my eyes at the bad copy. At least they were trying I guess? But film reviews had existed for decades; there were templates.