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

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The Konami of America arcade subsidy had the good graces to sell/distribute a Devastators jamma pcb conversion kit complete with full-sized marquee stateside back in 1988 -- so yes, it was common to see a Dynamo upright cab with Devastators up & running in the late 1980s and into the early 1990s in the American arcades of lore.

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On the very last stage, once you lose your last life, you can't continue afterwards -- Konami made sure of that as it's present/well-known issue on the USA region Devastators jamma pcb indeed.
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As a tate-based 3rd-person from behind viewpoint type of shooter, it's a stellar game in it's own right. I bought the USA region Devastators jamma pcb myself many moons ago and play it on occasion for "ol' times sake."

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[AGermanArtist]

Great news. Always had a soft spot for Devastators.

[BIL]

Awww yeah, dug the look of this one forever.

For the GLORY! For the MONEY!

FEED THE BEAST INSIDE UR MUHFUCKIN BODY (■｀w´■) (◎w◎;)

MOST EXPENSIVE & RUTHLESS 2 MAN TEAM (｀w´メ)

tbh late 80s AC Konami PWNs me often! I jump in and run face-first into their daft aim lag. But I can never be mad at em! Only DECO compares for Cannon Films-calibre GOD AESTHETIC. More DECO pls Hamada-chan! Also, speaking of DANGEROUS 2 MAN TEAMZ to make Golan & Globus proud: MAHFUCKIN SEARCH AND RESCUE PLS

Haha, the Ikari resemblance goes further than the character art... JP title 餓流禍 / GARUKA / "HUNGRY DISASTER" That's on par with a 怒号層圏 / DOGO SOKEN / ROARING ATMOSPHERE !

[BulletMagnet]

That poster is indeed peak BIL.

[Atariboy]

I believe that this one leaves Amidar as my last Xbox 360 Game Room exclusive for the arcade side of that service (I did buy Enduro and River Raid for the 2600, which are yet to see a proper release since then on a mainline game console unless you consider the current Xbox streaming service acceptable for such games). Hopefully Hamster takes care of that last exclusive shortly.

There's a handful of others yet to make the jump but which I never got around to buying before Game Room quietly got delisted. Iron Horse, Konami GT, Hyper Crash, and Missing in Action all spring to mind as ones that I regretted missing (and there's probably others that didn't interest me as much). But these days I'm glad that I didn't grab more games on Game Room since I think Hamster will eventually get to all of these.

But other than Amidar, Hamster's work (along with Atari 50's inclusion of Food Fight) means that all of my arcade purchases have been superseded.

[SavagePencil]

dude you can walk AROUND the bullets this is awesome

[BIL]

That poster is indeed peak BIL.

Especially on closer inspection!

KRAKOW

Dick Stock CONFIRMED (■｀w´■)

I particularly enjoy that, beyond hefty remuneration and tales of glory, they must sate a ravenous GAMUSHARA with... BLOODY BATTLE.mp3! DOIN IT 4 THEY LOVE OF THA GAME

"You need ever bigger tensions... ever bigger thrills... you care nothing for power, or money, or even sex. The only thing that satisfies your cravings is... WAR!"

Tried to cry out in the heat of the moment

Possessed by a fury that burns from inside

mfw HELLISH BATTLEFIELD aka ACA SEARCH & RESCUE

Actually, it's just like my BADASS IKARI IV FAN SCRIP

Find a job you love, you'll never work a day in your life When I am done with IRL Bullshit I will do a shumps FULL TIME

EDIT: Holy Balls (｀w´メ) Reigning Caravan king KUROBUTA-sama makes this look badass. BLACK HOG STRIKES AGAIN. Enthused that he mentions trying a boss milk strat initially, before deciding on speedily demolishing each stage. Looks like my kinda Carajam; wild yet calculated sprint-paced carnage! See also FRONT LINE 2. Ah jeez, I love it when the diehard military gunners get a jolt of Caravan intensity. ACA got a whole lotta ROVIN on that score these days! >w< (see also SENJYO - scifi trappings aside, it's pure gunmetal n' olive drab, nice and earthy)

The concept of two dudes hauling ass directly into the enemy across the open battlefield, while ubiquitous to this legendary subgenre, is given such vivid expression here. HUNGRY DISASTERS incarnate! Eat your ass alive! Looking forward to trying this out next week when there's time, I'd be on it right now otherwise. I can't tear myself away from this post tbh. #dickstock

Also, while I'd expected something like Contra Base Stage: The Game, it really brings to mind Jaleco's Exerion. Ground-based, but the way the stages roll in and the use of perspective, and the element of scoot/shoot economy all leap out. Come to think of it, Konami's own Juno First might be even more apropos, with the ability to reposition yourself further into or out of the field. IIRC Exerion is XY movement only... been a while. Calls for an ACA database update next week, in any case.

[BrianC]

Nice to see Devastators make ACA! I have been interested in this one for a while. I don't remember if I played it in arcades, but I have played GI Joe, which has a similar perspective. Doubt that one will make ACA, especially since it's based on the DIC series.

[AGermanArtist]

I had no idea the Japanese version had additional weaponry!
Is there any reason why I'd chose the Western version over it?

Had a run at Caravan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxfnmsaMPzU

[D]

I had no idea the Japanese version had additional weaponry!
Is there any reason why I'd chose the Western version over it?

Had a run at Caravan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxfnmsaMPzU

I'm pretty sure the explosions should have priority over the boss sprite
https://youtu.be/lxfnmsaMPzU?si=IxW4jWOjfmc7X8zl&t=134
This looks lame AF. And I cannot image this is a bug by Konami.
Second boss has the same thing. Explosions behind the actual boss sprite.

I think (it was not G.I Joe I played) I played it once when I was younger and I got my a.. handed to me.

[BIL]

God damn, the i-frames (?) on the guided missile launch be HAWT

I'm pretty sure the explosions should have priority over the boss sprite
https://youtu.be/lxfnmsaMPzU?si=IxW4jWOjfmc7X8zl&t=134
This looks lame AF. And I cannot image this is a bug by Konami.
Second boss has the same thing. Explosions behind the actual boss sprite.

That's how it be, apparently! If it's a bug they'll fix it, knowing Ham-chans.

(well, mostly knowing them >w> ACA-NG ASO II's savestate is weird, though fixable, as noted near the foot of that post. I'd love to see ACA-NG get a freshening up, with the previous week's surprise return via Gapporin aka POP N' BOUNCE)

EDIT: man, it's nice going a few years back ITT and seeing a bunch of my and others' wants since fulfilled. Some of 'em really out there too! ACA Macross II boyee! Like an advent calendar, except the chocolates are home ports of badass arcade games only we care about.

[pablumatic]

Loved Devastators in the arcade.

Guess I'll grab this release. Last time I tried my other digital copy of Devastators on the Xbox Game Room it stopped functioning. Along with all the other Game Room purchases I made after Microsoft broke it with Xbox 360 software updates.

[SavagePencil]

I had no idea the Japanese version had additional weaponry!
Is there any reason why I'd chose the Western version over it?

Had a run at Caravan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxfnmsaMPzU

It looks like the Western version ends after one loop; JP after three.

Watching the 375 kill caravan that BiL linked, I was surprised that a) they didn’t get the napalm grenades and b) didn’t milk the boss grunts

[Starfighter]

I was thinking of purchasing Omega Fighter and from what I saw on their site it's available both on Switch and PS4. But when searching for it on the PS Store I couldn't find it. I found all their other titles I'm interested in, but not that one. I could see it on the US PS Store in my browser, but I couldn't find it in the EU PS Store when I was on my console. At first I thought "perhaps it's one of those games that doesn't work at all on PS5, so it isn't listed when visiting the store from a PS5", but why would they make just that one game strictly PS4 only and all others show up like normal?

[Jucksalbe]

For some reason Omega Fighter is not available on PS4 in Europe . It's available on Switch, so I wonder what the issue could be. Maybe they forgot to release it and no one ever noticed?

[Sumez]

That's probably the actually real reason

[BIL]

A shame, as Omega Fighter is one of the best STGs on ACA or otherwise - a legit MIRAI NO GEMU, with its Buzz scoring, Galuda timebombs, and shredding autofire. Plus, it's got a pristine SPACEWAR aesthetic. Diehard, gutsy, fiery! Yet button-cute. And it's amazing value too, ala Salamander + Life Force! Besides the OG and Special revs, even the seemingly random Developer Board has a lot to offer, with its Bakraidesque suicide BOMBA techs.

Worth making a JP account for, imho - show those elitist pricks that shumpsmen of superior taste will not be trammelled!

In related UPL news, I winced and muttered "What the shit" out loud on the train - TEH SHAME VwV - at seeing Micronics' godawful FC version of Ninja-Kun II on Console Archives. This is some Lynchian doppelganger horror shit tbh! I got into ACA (via Sumez's endorsement of Bubble Bobble ) precisely to play the AC ver and avoid that damn thing! I'm still tempted to pick it up sometimes, FC boxart is so toothsome >w>

Watching the 375 kill caravan that BiL linked, I was surprised that a) they didn’t get the napalm grenades and b) didn’t milk the boss grunts

Per Kuro's notes, he was whacking the rank and file originally, but decided mowing through the fuckers and shooting down aircraft was more lucrative.

I set the rifle to single-shot and rapid-fire, and used an easy-to-press button for grenades. At first, I considered using the infinite spawning of weaker enemies during boss battles to rack up points, but as I progressed, I found that taking down many fighter jets (which give high individual points) led to even higher scores, so I developed a quick boss battle strategy and practiced it repeatedly. All that was left was to get through it, but that was surprisingly difficult. The fighter jets in the second field were particularly troublesome, blocking bullets and obstructing my view so I couldn't see enemy bullets.

Presumably, Fanatic Supreme Leader™ is watching on his grainy 80s CCTV from HQ and hollering "Y'all Garukas know I can hire more mercs! WAMAGONDOBOUTMAHPLAAANES?!"

HOTTER THAN HELL.mp3 or GARUKA ~ ACHIEVING PERFECTION.flac (■｀w´■) (◎w◎;)

[Starfighter]

Worth making a JP account for imho

I have both a JP and US account as well for cases like these, might go that route! But if the Switch version only adds the traditional 1 extra frame of input latency then I might also just buy it there since I have a Switch as well. Just as long as the game is responsive (4 frames or below) to begin with I can live with the one added frame.

[AGermanArtist]

Did Rygar and Wonderboy ever make it over to UK/EU PSN?

That's probably the actually real reason

Would well believe it.

[Atariboy]

Guess I'll grab this release. Last time I tried my other digital copy of Devastators on the Xbox Game Room it stopped functioning. Along with all the other Game Room purchases I made after Microsoft broke it with Xbox 360 software updates.

Game Room still worked for me about a year ago when I last had it fired up.

If it's a fresh install or not been fired up in a long time there's a very long wait (like two minutes long) as it tries and fails to connect to the long shuttered Game Room server. This often fools people into thinking that it's inaccessible or broken.

But after that failure, it will let you into Game Room where you can play your games. And then it seems to keep a memory of that in the system cache (maybe Krome Studios wasn't quite as inept as they sometimes seemed to be) and subsequent loads happen much more normally.

[Jucksalbe]

Did Rygar and Wonderboy ever make it over to UK/EU PSN?

Rygar is another weird case of being available on Switch, but not on PS4 in Europe. Wonder Boy never made it outside Japan. But at least there's the Wonder Boy Collection as an alternative.

[Firehawke]

Do the PS5-specific ACA2 releases support the use of a PS4 stick, or did they not bother adding the backwards compatibility library?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Do the PS5-specific ACA2 releases support the use of a PS4 stick, or did they not bother adding the backwards compatibility library?

There's the Hori PS5 arcade stick listed here with dedicated PS5 support from the get-go that was released back in 2021: https://www.amazon.com/HORI-PlayStation ... r=8-1&th=1

And here's a another PS5 arcade stick that's $25.00 cheaper and has all Sanwa Denshi arcade parts factory-installed from the get-go: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C4FZYPZD/re ... hcmVk&th=1

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Firehawke]

Yeah, no. If they're not going to support a RAP4 Kai, I'll just find an adapter like I already use to get it working on a 360.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I finally got the the PC-based Mame/RetroArch/Final Burn Neo compatible "Tornado Spinner" controller working 100% with the Switch ACA1 port of "Pop'n Bounce" -- just have to adjust both the mouse sensitivity rate & mouse movement rate parameters of the "usb mouse" controller (and it's golden through and through).

Apparently, I was using the wrong usb cable cord with the docked Switch OLED setup -- it was a usb cord used solely for power and not data transmission (go figure). In using a proper arcade spinner/rotary knob controller, it sure does make "all the difference" in using the right arcade controller indeed.

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Hamster has to be commended/praised in including "proper arcade spinner" support from the get-go with the Switch ACA1 port of Pop'n Bounce. It'll definitely set you back a pretty penny in acquiring a Tornado Spinner setup though -- that's a given these days. Too bad in that Hamster didn't include arcade spinner support for Player 2 as well -- it's only through Player 1 that has both usb mouse & usb arcade spinner support from the "get-go."

Here's one for sale: https://www.ebay.com/itm/115599394419?_ ... R5iJ252iZw The Tornado Spinner has dual ball-bearing support + a weighted flywheel setup for a super silky-smooth operation.

Here's another arcade spinner in used condition but much cheaper: https://www.ebay.com/itm/177977309164?_ ... 9MYQFT1JXQ This particular "T-Sticks GRS" branded arcade spinner is super silky-smooth with it's dual ball-bearing setup -- it's akin to what you'd find on a classic retro arcade cab with ball-bearing based arcade spinners of old -- i.e. the Atari Tempest cabs in full-sized upright, mini cabaret & cocktail-table variants circa 1981 comes to mind (the original Tempest arcade spinners are super smooth in that they use a pair of ball bearings for that unmistakable smooth spinning action along with the heavy-duty optical encoder wheel layout + perfectly weighted flywheel combination being used).

The Taito Paddle controller add-on for the Nintendo DS & DS Lite gaming platforms perfectly replicates a full-sized arcade spinner right down to it's weighted flywheel setup -- it's definitely an engineering marvel with the miniature and dimunative arcade spinner as it is.

Under the paddle settings, you can adjust both the mouse sensitivity and mouse speed separately of each other -- it seems if mouse sensitivity & movement are both set at #10, that'd be the "ideal" setting for a dedicated usb-based arcade spinner setup. And if you score high enough on the top 100 high score rankings, you can rotate the arcade spinner clockwise to advance to the next higher letter (and vice-versa, counter-clockwise with selecting the lower letters in reverse down the line) -- hitting button "Y" on the Joy-con enters the highlighted chosen initial as usual.
----------

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[AGermanArtist]

I really am glad Arcade Archives is a thing because I was just looking through some folders on my PS5 and realised there would be no way on Earth I would have a compilation of 12 legit Nichibutsu games. That just wouldn't have happened otherwise.

[SavagePencil]

I finally got the the PC-based Mame/RetroArch/Final Burn Neo compatible "Tornado Spinner" controller working 100% with the Switch ACA1 port of "Pop'n Bounce" -- just have to adjust both the mouse sensitivity rate & mouse movement rate parameters of the "usb mouse" controller (and it's golden through and through).

Apparently, I was using the wrong usb cable cord with the docked Switch OLED setup -- it was a usb cord used solely for power and not data transmission (go figure). In using a proper arcade spinner/rotary knob controller, it sure does make "all the difference" in using the right arcade controller indeed.

----------
Hamster has to be commended/praised in including "proper arcade spinner" support from the get-go with the Switch ACA1 port of Pop'n Bounce. It'll definitely set you back a pretty penny in acquiring a Tornado Spinner setup though -- that's a given these days. Too bad in that Hamster didn't include arcade spinner support for Player 2 as well -- it's only through Player 1 that has both usb mouse & usb arcade spinner support from the "get-go."

Here's one for sale: https://www.ebay.com/itm/115599394419?_ ... R5iJ252iZw The Tornado Spinner has dual ball-bearing support + a weighted flywheel setup for a super silky-smooth operation.

Here's another arcade spinner in used condition but much cheaper: https://www.ebay.com/itm/177977309164?_ ... 9MYQFT1JXQ This particular "T-Sticks GRS" branded arcade spinner is super silky-smooth with it's dual ball-bearing setup -- it's akin to what you'd find on a classic retro arcade cab with ball-bearing based arcade spinners of old -- i.e. the Atari Tempest cabs in full-sized upright, mini cabaret & cocktail-table variants circa 1981 comes to mind (the original Tempest arcade spinners are super smooth in that they use a pair of ball bearings for that unmistakable smooth spinning action along with the heavy-duty optical encoder wheel layout + perfectly weighted flywheel combination being used).

The Taito Paddle controller add-on for the Nintendo DS & DS Lite gaming platforms perfectly replicates a full-sized arcade spinner right down to it's weighted flywheel setup -- it's definitely an engineering marvel with the miniature and dimunative arcade spinner as it is.

Under the paddle settings, you can adjust both the mouse sensitivity and mouse speed separately of each other -- it seems if mouse sensitivity & movement are both set at #10, that'd be the "ideal" setting for a dedicated usb-based arcade spinner setup. And if you score high enough on the top 100 high score rankings, you can rotate the arcade spinner clockwise to advance to the next higher letter (and vice-versa, counter-clockwise with selecting the lower letters in reverse down the line) -- hitting button "Y" on the Joy-con enters the highlighted chosen initial as usual.
----------

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Out of curiosity, what is the diameter of the spinner top there? I find the tiny spinner on the Egret II Mini to be way too small. I want something I can get more than just my fingertips around.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I finally got the the PC-based Mame/RetroArch/Final Burn Neo compatible "Tornado Spinner" controller working 100% with the Switch ACA1 port of "Pop'n Bounce" -- just have to adjust both the mouse sensitivity rate & mouse movement rate parameters of the "usb mouse" controller (and it's golden through and through).

Apparently, I was using the wrong usb cable cord with the docked Switch OLED setup -- it was a usb cord used solely for power and not data transmission (go figure). In using a proper arcade spinner/rotary knob controller, it sure does make "all the difference" in using the right arcade controller indeed.

----------
Hamster has to be commended/praised in including "proper arcade spinner" support from the get-go with the Switch ACA1 port of Pop'n Bounce. It'll definitely set you back a pretty penny in acquiring a Tornado Spinner setup though -- that's a given these days. Too bad in that Hamster didn't include arcade spinner support for Player 2 as well -- it's only through Player 1 that has both usb mouse & usb arcade spinner support from the "get-go."

Here's one for sale: https://www.ebay.com/itm/115599394419?_ ... R5iJ252iZw The Tornado Spinner has dual ball-bearing support + a weighted flywheel setup for a super silky-smooth operation.

Here's another arcade spinner in used condition but much cheaper: https://www.ebay.com/itm/177977309164?_ ... 9MYQFT1JXQ This particular "T-Sticks GRS" branded arcade spinner is super silky-smooth with it's dual ball-bearing setup -- it's akin to what you'd find on a classic retro arcade cab with ball-bearing based arcade spinners of old -- i.e. the Atari Tempest cabs in full-sized upright, mini cabaret & cocktail-table variants circa 1981 comes to mind (the original Tempest arcade spinners are super smooth in that they use a pair of ball bearings for that unmistakable smooth spinning action along with the heavy-duty optical encoder wheel layout + perfectly weighted flywheel combination being used).

The Taito Paddle controller add-on for the Nintendo DS & DS Lite gaming platforms perfectly replicates a full-sized arcade spinner right down to it's weighted flywheel setup -- it's definitely an engineering marvel with the miniature and dimunative arcade spinner as it is.

Under the paddle settings, you can adjust both the mouse sensitivity and mouse speed separately of each other -- it seems if mouse sensitivity & movement are both set at #10, that'd be the "ideal" setting for a dedicated usb-based arcade spinner setup. And if you score high enough on the top 100 high score rankings, you can rotate the arcade spinner clockwise to advance to the next higher letter (and vice-versa, counter-clockwise with selecting the lower letters in reverse down the line) -- hitting button "Y" on the Joy-con enters the highlighted chosen initial as usual.
----------

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Out of curiosity, what is the diameter of the spinner top there? I find the tiny spinner on the Egret II Mini to be way too small. I want something I can get more than just my fingertips around.

With the spinner top on my Tornado Spinner setup, the diameter is measured at 1" 11/16th of an inch -- thus making it more than ample enough for spinning it to your heart's content if you have medium to large sized hands to begin with.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[R79]

I really am glad Arcade Archives is a thing because I was just looking through some folders on my PS5 and realised there would be no way on Earth I would have a compilation of 12 legit Nichibutsu games. That just wouldn't have happened otherwise.

Does this thing have Terra Cresta II do you know? A HuCard I won't be owning and playing anytime soon

[SavagePencil]

I finally got the the PC-based Mame/RetroArch/Final Burn Neo compatible "Tornado Spinner" controller working 100% with the Switch ACA1 port of "Pop'n Bounce" -- just have to adjust both the mouse sensitivity rate & mouse movement rate parameters of the "usb mouse" controller (and it's golden through and through).

Apparently, I was using the wrong usb cable cord with the docked Switch OLED setup -- it was a usb cord used solely for power and not data transmission (go figure). In using a proper arcade spinner/rotary knob controller, it sure does make "all the difference" in using the right arcade controller indeed.

----------
Hamster has to be commended/praised in including "proper arcade spinner" support from the get-go with the Switch ACA1 port of Pop'n Bounce. It'll definitely set you back a pretty penny in acquiring a Tornado Spinner setup though -- that's a given these days. Too bad in that Hamster didn't include arcade spinner support for Player 2 as well -- it's only through Player 1 that has both usb mouse & usb arcade spinner support from the "get-go."

Here's one for sale: https://www.ebay.com/itm/115599394419?_ ... R5iJ252iZw The Tornado Spinner has dual ball-bearing support + a weighted flywheel setup for a super silky-smooth operation.

Here's another arcade spinner in used condition but much cheaper: https://www.ebay.com/itm/177977309164?_ ... 9MYQFT1JXQ This particular "T-Sticks GRS" branded arcade spinner is super silky-smooth with it's dual ball-bearing setup -- it's akin to what you'd find on a classic retro arcade cab with ball-bearing based arcade spinners of old -- i.e. the Atari Tempest cabs in full-sized upright, mini cabaret & cocktail-table variants circa 1981 comes to mind (the original Tempest arcade spinners are super smooth in that they use a pair of ball bearings for that unmistakable smooth spinning action along with the heavy-duty optical encoder wheel layout + perfectly weighted flywheel combination being used).

The Taito Paddle controller add-on for the Nintendo DS & DS Lite gaming platforms perfectly replicates a full-sized arcade spinner right down to it's weighted flywheel setup -- it's definitely an engineering marvel with the miniature and dimunative arcade spinner as it is.

Under the paddle settings, you can adjust both the mouse sensitivity and mouse speed separately of each other -- it seems if mouse sensitivity & movement are both set at #10, that'd be the "ideal" setting for a dedicated usb-based arcade spinner setup. And if you score high enough on the top 100 high score rankings, you can rotate the arcade spinner clockwise to advance to the next higher letter (and vice-versa, counter-clockwise with selecting the lower letters in reverse down the line) -- hitting button "Y" on the Joy-con enters the highlighted chosen initial as usual.
----------

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Out of curiosity, what is the diameter of the spinner top there? I find the tiny spinner on the Egret II Mini to be way too small. I want something I can get more than just my fingertips around.

With the spinner top on my Tornado Spinner setup, the diameter is measured at 1" 11/16th of an inch -- thus making it more than ample enough for spinning it to your heart's content if you have medium to large sized hands to begin with.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Hideous! I put a honking 2.75” industrial monstrosity on my custom spinner for Forgotten Worlds on the MiSTer, dwarfing the arcade original’s 2.2”. It feels so much better to grasp a spinner than fingertip control