Nanostray 2 announced

[Herr Schatten]

http://www.nanostray2.com/
Nothing there yet. Might be interesting to watch this space.

[jp]

A new Nanostray...


Hopefully they fix the slight problems the first had and make a damn near perfect shmup.

[Brian]

I'd rather get a Nebulas Ray 2.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

I'd make it a point to not buy Nanostray 2 if they keep the same camera angle as the original. Also, they should think about making it a horizontal shmup because the DS screens are better suited for that.

Edit: oh yeah! Ax touch screen support, please.

[jp]

Uh... I think all of Shin'en's shmups have the camera view...

I imagine they will take out the forced touch screen functionality though. So many people complained about that...

[J-Manic]

If they can fix all of the problems of the first game, then the sequel will surely be awesome.

[DarkWolf7]

The required touch screen usage was taken out of the Japanese version (released later), so I'm quite confident that it will be optional for Nanostray 2.

[Thunder Force]

The required touch screen usage was taken out of the Japanese version

So how do you change weapons in the Japanese version?

[DarkWolf7]

Simply by pressing the X button.

[Shocky]

Simply by pressing the X button.

I loathe designs like that >:(

Cycling through options with one button always sucks, like the speed selection in Border Down.

Better solution would be to just map the four different weapons to the four buttons, and have the triggers launch smart bombs. Now that would be cool and intuitive.

[Leroy]

http://www.cubed3.com/news/5883/1/Shin

C3: Many people complained that the method of changing weapons in Nanostray ruined was far too awkward – so much so that it spoiled the game to some degree. Will this issue be addressed in the sequel?

The touch screen use in Nanostray was not our idea. We were forced to include it and never liked it. N2 is 100% funded by Shin'en and so we have this time full control. N2 doesn't have touch control like Nanostray.

---

C3: Independent developer Nibris is not only working on Sadness for the Nintendo Wii, but a vertical shooter ‘Raid Over the River’ for the Nintendo DS. Have you seen this game and will Nanostray adopt a style, with the action taking place over both screens at the same time?

ML: When starting Nanostray two years ago we first thought about using both screens. However, we decided against it because alot of drawbacks. Some of the most noticeable drawbacks of using two 3D screens are rough 30fps instead of smooth 60fps. Especially for fast games this makes alot of quality loss and usually the gameplay has to be slowed down as well.

Another serious problem with using both screens is that you loose 50% of the video ram. So you have to compensate this loss with low resolution textures or by using 2D backgrounds instead of real 3D worlds.

However, the most important reason for us was the gameplay. It just doesn't felt right on both screens.

[Thunder Force]

Interesting quotes Leroy. I think I'm definitely planning to pick up this sequel for my DS Lite.

[Kaspal]

Interesting quotes Leroy. I think I'm definitely planning to pick up this sequel for my DS Lite.

me too ... i still havent tried Nanostray, but since its the only shmup in the DS, i think its about time for me to get a copy... even if its a second hand one.

[Frederik]

I liked Iridion 2 very much, Nanostray didn`t get much playtime because of the already mentioned flaws... Overall I have the impression that Shinen has a lot of potential that still needs to break out completely. Nanostray 2 could be THE portable shmup if they finally work out a good scoring system (and a good weapons system too). Graphics and music were outstanding on both Iridion 2 and Nanostray - I wish my fellow countrymen good luck on this. And hearing that they have full control now makes me really anticipate it, especially considering the fact that handheld shmupping is nearly nonexistent .

[dave4shmups]

http://www.nanostray2.com/
Nothing there yet. Might be interesting to watch this space.

AWESOME news, IMO! Nanostray is the best handheld shmup I've ever played, so I definately look forward to this!

[Twiddle]

Better solution would be to just map the four different weapons to the four buttons, and have the triggers launch smart bombs. Now that would be cool and intuitive.

terrible gameplay idea

[jp]

Better solution would be to just map the four different weapons to the four buttons, and have the triggers launch smart bombs. Now that would be cool and intuitive.

terrible gameplay idea

Its works for Thunder Force V... *shrugs*

[Twiddle]

Better solution would be to just map the four different weapons to the four buttons, and have the triggers launch smart bombs. Now that would be cool and intuitive.

terrible gameplay idea

Its works for Thunder Force V... *shrugs*

Most of the Nanostray weapons aren't very different from each other in function.

[jp]

Most of the Nanostray weapons were kinda pointless to be honest...

[Frederik]

Most of the Nanostray weapons were kinda pointless to be honest...

It was even worse in Iridion 2, where the main gun was more powerful than any of those other weapons. In Nanostray I used that lightning gun most of the time, because you could easily wipe out swarms of enemies with your circular attack. Maybe the laser now and then, but the other two were gimmicky. They should simply reduce them to two attack modes; making levels that require four different weapons while still maintaining some sort of flow requires more mastership. I mean, there`s a weapon that ONLY attacks from the side, to attack enemies that can`t be attacked otherwise. So in one level, you can be pretty free to choose your weapons, until some stupid cargo ship comes that forces you to use a weapon that`s almost useless otherwise. That`s pretty forced gameplay. They didn`t pull that crap in Iridion 2, where you could simply choose the main shot and could stick with it.

Thinking about that weapon issue, have you ever felt that you need more weapons in Ikaruga? Or the other way round, did you ever think that Radiant Silvergun has too much weapons? It`s not so much the whole touch-screen issue, but the weapons are badly designed and feel forced (as well as the whole scoring business). There is a lot of potential in that Shinen guys, but they are really having problems to balance the gameplay elements. Anyways, I am looking forward to see that game shaping up -- next year.

[Shocky]

Better solution would be to just map the four different weapons to the four buttons, and have the triggers launch smart bombs. Now that would be cool and intuitive.

terrible gameplay idea

Why? What are your arguments against it?

It's the quickest way to switch to the weapon that suits the situation the best. Four weapons map nicely to four buttons, and remembering them isn't a heavy mental task since you'd probably be using one main weapon and the lower screen could show at all times how the weapons are mapped.

Every time I flew past the big ships with rotating panels I got irritated because I had to lose time glancing at the touch screen and switching to the side lasers. It would have been bliss to just instantly torch them with another button and then seamlessly continue firing forwards. (Sure the situation was "forced" as FrederikJurk said, but so what? It isn't exactly the first time when game designers force you to do something).

[Frederik]

Better solution would be to just map the four different weapons to the four buttons, and have the triggers launch smart bombs. Now that would be cool and intuitive.

terrible gameplay idea

Why? What are your arguments against it?

Mapping the 4 weapons to the 4 face buttons is way better than switching them via the shoulder buttons or something. I found circling through three weapons in Axelay annoying; RSG mapped 7 weapons to three buttons and it works fine. Circling through weapons takes a lot more time to get used to and costs valuable time within the game.

[Knuckles-chaotix]

I love nanostray!

I have the JP version!
Its awesome really fun etc etc..
Cant wait for prt 2!

[sega-trader]

Did the first one even sell that well? Seemed like it went straight to budget title. Only reason I bought it was because it is about your only shmup option on the DS.

[Kaspal]

i just bought the game, and so far, im loving it... i dont know, the touch screen weapon change its gimmicky, but i guess its a matter of gettin used to it (even tho, the idea of mappin a weapon to the front buttons, smart bombs and secondary weapon to the shoulders, would be a good point in design)...

the game's gorgeous so far, so, as of now, im gonna keep on playin to form myself a better oppnion of it, but right now, im more than convinced that i want the sequel to come to my NDSL sso that, i can enjoy it.