Multi-Platform Shmups Better on Dreamcast or Playstation 2?

Touge-Spirit · Post by **Touge-Spirit** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 7:20 pm

I am in the market to buy Gunbird 2, Trizeal, Chaos Field, Radiligy, and Psyvariar 2. I have looked at many shmup reviews online but few compare how the games run on each system. I assume that these games run the best on the Dreamcast since the system is Naomi based just like most of these particular games are. I hope I am incorrect though because I much rather have the PS2 versions simply because I like to have as few systems hooked up at one time as possible. If anyone with personal experience can shed some light on this matter it would be much appreciated.

-Mike

Kiken · Post by **Kiken** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 7:32 pm

Touge-Spirit wrote:I am in the market to buy Gunbird 2, Trizeal, Chaos Field, Radiligy, and Psyvariar 2. I have looked at many shmup reviews online but few compare how the games run on each system. I assume that these games run the best on the Dreamcast since the system is Naomi based just like most of these particular games are. I hope I am incorrect though because I much rather have the PS2 versions simply because I like to have as few systems hooked up at one time as possible. If anyone with personal experience can shed some light on this matter it would be much appreciated.

-Mike

The DC releases of NAOMI shmups are the most arcade accurate.. for obvious reasons. This is not to say, however, that the PS2 ports are bad. However, playing tate shmups through VGA on a CRT monitor puts up a strong arguement for the DC versions.

Gunbird 2 on DC is almost arcade perfect, plus it includes Morrigan as a bonus playable character (she appears only in the DC rev). The PS2 version has had numerous alterations done (different object placement, shifted enemy placement, etc, etc) and while still a good game, is not quite the same as the PCB or DC release.

Post by **Ghegs** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 7:33 pm

With Gunbird 2 and Trizeal DC has a slight advantage, but not by much. PS2 GB2 has a brief (a second or so) loading time before each boss' speech, and is lacking the DC-exclusive Morrigan character. PS2 Trizeal has choppy slowdown (compared to the smooth slowdown in DC) and the graphics have more of an edge to them, but the port has an extra minigame. Personally I'm quite content with the PS2 ports.

PS2 Psyvariar 2 has extra missions, an included superplay DVD and has no gameplay issues. I seem to recall DC Chaos Field doesn't save scores. The PS2 port, however, does. PS2 has a clear advantage in these.

It's been reported PS2 Radilgy slows down waaay more than the DC one, so DC has the advantage here.

So aside from that one, PS2 ports should keep you happy. The small issues with Gunbird 2 and Trizeal are far from enough to ruin the games.

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 7:34 pm

I actually prefer the Gunbird 1 & 2 pack for PS2 just slightly for Gunbird 2 (though the differences are pretty slight, as compared with the DC version of GB 2) and Psyvariar 2 on the PS2 comes packed with replays, iirc. Otherwise I'm pretty sure that the DC versions are preferable. Not so sure about Chaos Field, the only gap in my DC shmup collection.

Post by **nZero** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 8:00 pm

Ghegs wrote:PS2 Psyvariar 2 has extra missions, an included superplay DVD and has no gameplay issues. I seem to recall DC Chaos Field doesn't save scores. The PS2 port, however, does. PS2 has a clear advantage in these.

PS2 version of Psyvariar 2 also gets features like the roll button and boss lifebars. I hear a few of the effects got uglier too, but the only concrete example I've seen cited are the rings the last boss fires.

Was the PS2 version of Chaos Field the one with the popcorn enemy formations added, or was that only the Gamecube version?

Pirate1019 · Post by **Pirate1019** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 11:44 pm

That was the Gamecube version...I should know. Although I never play the "Original" mode. I stick to Arcade mode.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 11:54 pm

IIRC the PS2 version added the minor enemies in too, and aside from the other stuff mentioned I think both it and the GC port have less slowdown than the DC port does.

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 12:09 am

so are the differences as far as extra enemies much different? that was one of my issues with the DC version... been debating the GC version

Pirate1019 · Post by **Pirate1019** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 1:10 am

It is a good port as far as I can tell. I've never played the DC or PS2 versions, but there is almost no slowdown, and even if the "Original Mode" isn't that great for you, I don't think there is anything detremental about the games other than maybe they could have been spruced up a bit graphically. This is all for Chaos Field. In case you forgot.

Pirate1019 · Post by **Pirate1019** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 1:11 am

Sorry for the double post but...
The extra enemies are almost laughable. They are just a cheap add-on to give them a reason to say "New game mode." On the box.

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 9:11 am

professor ganson wrote:Not so sure about Chaos Field, the only gap in my DC shmup collection.

You'd be wise to keep that gap empty. I doubt you'd like Chaos Field.

RoninBuddha · Post by **RoninBuddha** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 3:06 pm

any thoughts on SnS2?

gavin19 · Post by **gavin19** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 5:35 pm

For SnS2 I have to say the Xbox version probably just gets my vote over the DC version, but they are almost identical. The DC version plays somewhat better than the PS2 version tho which seemed to be 'choppy' in parts and not as accomplished as far as gfx. However, I think only the PS2 version has the added bonus menu once you manage to 1cc it. I 1cc'd the Xbox version and got nothing for my trouble yet the PS2 version rewards you with a bonus menu allowing tweaking of bullet size/speed etc etc

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 6:53 pm

what does SnS stand for?

Super Laydock · Post by **Super Laydock** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 7:00 pm

Strider77 wrote:what does SnS stand for?

Shikigami no Shiro

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 7:33 pm

I thought of that but for some reason I had the US name stuck in my head

kingmobster · Post by **kingmobster** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:16 pm

The PS2 port of Psyvariar 2 has loading times during which you can pop off to the store, go home again, put on your red shoes and dance the blues, take a shower, fix a meal, eat said meal, go to sleep, go to work, go home, sit down in front of the game, play a level, and while you wait for a new level to load repeat the above.

But it has a roll button.

I sold the DC version and bought it for the PS2. I regret that now.

NTSC-UK has a review which compares all versions of Psyvariar 2 by the way.

Post by **Icarus** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:24 pm

Strider77 wrote:I thought of that but for some reason I had the US name stuck in my head

Mobile Light Force? ^_-

sffan · Post by **sffan** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:46 pm

I have Trizeal, Psyvariar 2, and Radilgy on the PS2.

Trizeal and Psyvariar 2 are both really nice ports, pretty graphics with soothing gameplay. No problems with these, they won't dissappoint. The DVD with Psyvariar 2 is a nice bonus too.

Radilgy for the PS2, however, is crap. The game seems to play in slow-motion in some sections, but the worst effect is the "tearing" of the scrolling backgrounds. Also no high score saves. It only saves your last score and deletes your previous score, even if your new score is lower. The game itself isn't very fun either, and is kinda ugly IMO.

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 4:37 am

Mobile Light Force? ^_-

Castle of Shikigami actually, a friend picked it up on PS2 and it had that name on it..

neorichieb1971 · Post by **neorichieb1971** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 5:01 am

Although the PS2 pad isn't the best, the DC pad is crap.

If you have standard controllers only, go for the PS2 versions.

Atomic · Post by **Atomic** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 8:46 am

twe wrote:
professor ganson wrote:Not so sure about Chaos Field, the only gap in my DC shmup collection.
You'd be wise to keep that gap empty. I doubt you'd like Chaos Field.

i quite enjoy chaos field. its a bit different with the sword weapon but once you get the hang of it its interesting.

when i got it for GC i was a bit disappointed when i got it home and realized that i forgot to check on the package to see if it was 480p.. then pleasantly surprised to find out that it actually DOES run in progressive mode even though its not documented.

JJG · Post by **JJG** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 11:38 pm

I don't see why so many people put down chaos field, I guess you either like bullet hell shmups or you don't. As far as graphics we all have games on Saturn that we play and love, sure since chaos field is on GC it should have better graphics but that doesn't really deter from the gameplay.

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 8:47 am

I don't think Chaos Field is awful either...

Some folks bitch about the grafix, but I don't see how considering some of the other shooters that are popular.... especially castle of shikigami or whatever it's called. That game looks like garbage and I didn't see anything captivating about it.... Gigawing one also looks like crap yet folks go crazy over it. Trizeal comes to mind also...

Now don't get me wrong, CF doesn't have amazing visuals but I thought it was fun to play and has parts that don't look that bad.

Kron · Post by **Kron** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 12:49 pm

neorichieb1971 wrote:Although the PS2 pad isn't the best, the DC pad is crap.

If you have standard controllers only, go for the PS2 versions.

Thats just so wrong on so many levels. If there was a fundamental problem with the controller then how come thousands of people manage to play games with no problems whatsoever?

If anything need singling out its the PS2's D-Pad and to suggest in such a manner that the DC pad ruins the games or stops them functioning is ludicrous.

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 3:17 pm

that the DC pad ruins the games or stops them functioning is ludicrous.

I'd have to agree with that... there is nothing wrong with it especially compared to the PS2 pad...

neorichieb1971 · Post by **neorichieb1971** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 12:26 am

WOW, the DC D-pad in my opinion in the worst feeling d-pad of all time.

I'd rather play on the 3DO pad than that thing. Once I got the Agetec I played much better.

I thought others shared my opinion that the d-pad on the DC was crap, oh well.. learn something new each day.

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 5:55 am

Nope... most I know had that opinion of the ps2 pad... most of that was generated from playing fighters though.

neorichieb1971 · Post by **neorichieb1971** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 6:35 am

PS pads are crap for fighters agreed

But so is the DC pad. SF alpha 3 anyone? Has freaking sharp edges on that D-pad too.

For shooters, its not much better on the DC (DPAD), both PS2 and DC pads do a reasonable job on analogue (if its supported).

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 6:48 am

I have no problems playing a fighter or shooter with that pad, my only complaint would be the lack of 6 buttons on 2D fighter...

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Multi-Platform Shmups Better on Dreamcast or Playstation 2?

Multi-Platform Shmups Better on Dreamcast or Playstation 2?

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