Giga Wing Generations website open now!

[MovingTarget]

how likely is it that this will be releaSED IN the UK?

[Rob]

how likely is it that this will be releaSED IN the UK?

33%

[TVG]

id say more like 50%

[MovingTarget]

cheers, i'm definetly at least 50% excited now anyway

[Fighter17]

I said never, but you will never know.

[teetu]

once I got past the initial shock (I didn't read any impressions), it's really not all that bad. If the graphics were nicer and were lock at 60fps, I think that would change a lot of minds

[Rob]

If the graphics were nicer and were lock at 60fps, I think that would change a lot of minds

Add a few characters, a story to go with them, some walls, dragon bosses and it'd be the best game ever over here.

[Randorama]

Add a few characters, a story to go with them, some walls, dragon bosses and it'd be the best game ever over here.

Rob, please save my soul and tell me: how does it compare to the other two chapters?

[Rob]

I should probably stop posting in the topic since I haven't played it yet, but I'll surely give my (hopefully positive) impressions when I get it on around April 10th. I coupled the order with Dragon Blaze, which ships out tomorrow (edit: er, today, just got the shipping notice) so I have to wait a week and a half beyond that point. Until then I just keep playing Giga Wing 1.

[Nemo]

Add a few characters, a story to go with them, some walls, dragon bosses and it'd be the best game ever over here.

You and your walls.

[sffan]

I coupled the order with Dragon Blaze, which ships out tomorrow

That's what I did. I feel out of the loop (so to speak) about GWG since I've had to wait for the DB release before both are shipped. My saturn controller should be here any day now so at least I'll have fun trying that out on other shmups.

[icepick]

I really shouldn't be participating in this discussion either, but, I have to say that the more that I randomly decide to watch that 20-second movie that velocity7 posted, the more that I really wouldn't mind playing the game, 30fps and pillarboxed and all. I like how that second "P" powerup sort of rolls to the beat as the screen pans to the left, at about 11 seconds. Reminds me of old-school gaming, in a way.

(I'm hoping to receive GW for DC in the mail tomorrow, and I hope to play the stuffing out of it! )

[Kron]

That vid of the demonstration movie really isn't a good indication of how awkwardly the game runs.

[icepick]

Ah, I'll take your word for that. The ships do seem to be moving about rather awkwardly, after taking another look at the movie just now.

You know, it'd be really weird if the game got a release outside Japan and the localizers decided to include vertical screen modes.

I shall now depart from this topic.

[Wanderer]

For those still interested in opinions of Giga Wing Generation, here is mine:

- First impression playing with composite video: game looked like a weird 16-bit/32-bit hybrid polygon shooter with massive jaggies, graininess, and just plain ugliness. Big step down from Giga Wing 2.
- Switching to Component video, graphics looked a lot better, but still disappointing.
- At times the video resolution and game textures remind me of Mars Matrix.
- No new gameplay mechanics except a new point blank scoring system which rewards you large points for killing enemies up close.
- Level 1-3 bullet patterns not as dense as the previous Giga Wings. This allows you to actually play like a traditional shooter and dodge, which I like. Manic Takumi bullet patterns return level 4-6. MASSIVE BULLET SWARMS in levels 5-6.
- Bullet reflecting is still fun
- Very fluid control, almost Cave-like. Some bullet patterns are Cave-like as well.
- Decent level Design. Highlights so far: End of volcano level turning into snow terrain & Level 3 speeding train.
- Decent level length.
- Some of the sound effects, or lack of, make the game feel unfinished. The sound effect when you use your bomb or when you die is really low in the mix.
- At first it was hard on the eyes, but after you got accustomed to what you were looking at, the 30 FSP issue didn’t really bother me. The game is still very fast-paced and intense.

Overall Impression: If you can get over the lack of tate and the disappointing graphics, you will find the game is very playable, and dare I say, addicting. Despite the port being neutered, the game is still every much Giga Wing, with strategic bullet reflecting and dodging always being a winning combo to me.

I would rank Giga Wing Generation:

EQUAL TO: Psyvariar and Shikigami
ABOVE: Chaos Field, Psyvariar 2, XII Stag
BELOW: The great manics like Dodonpachi, Gunbird 2, Giga Wing 2, Battle Garegga.

[Fighter17]

For those still interested in opinions of Giga Wing Generation, here is mine:

- First impression playing with composite video: game looked like a weird 16-bit/32-bit hybrid polygon shooter with massive jaggies, graininess, and just plain ugliness. Big step down from Giga Wing 2.
- Switching to Component video, graphics looked a lot better, but still disappointing.
- At times the video resolution and game textures remind me of Mars Matrix.
- No new gameplay mechanics except a new point blank scoring system which rewards you large points for killing enemies up close.
- Level 1-3 bullet patterns not as dense as the previous Giga Wings. This allows you to actually play like a traditional shooter and dodge, which I like. Manic Takumi bullet patterns return level 4-6. MASSIVE BULLET SWARMS in levels 5-6.
- Bullet reflecting is still fun
- Very fluid control, almost Cave-like. Some bullet patterns are Cave-like as well.
- Decent level Design. Highlights so far: End of volcano level turning into snow terrain & Level 3 speeding train.
- Decent level length.
- Some of the sound effects, or lack of, make the game feel unfinished. The sound effect when you use your bomb or when you die is really low in the mix.
- At first it was hard on the eyes, but after you got accustomed to what you were looking at, the 30 FSP issue didn’t really bother me. The game is still very fast-paced and intense.

Overall Impression: If you can get over the lack of tate and the disappointing graphics, you will find the game is very playable, and dare I say, addicting. Despite the port being neutered, the game is still every much Giga Wing, with strategic bullet reflecting and dodging always being a winning combo to me.

I would rank Giga Wing Generation:

EQUAL TO: Psyvariar and Shikigami
ABOVE: Chaos Field, Psyvariar 2, XII Stag
BELOW: The great manics like Dodonpachi, Gunbird 2, Giga Wing 2, Battle Garegga.

I agree with him, once you get used to the game, the 30 FPS is no big deal at all.

[dave4shmups]

"whoa, wait a second. is this what the fuss is all about?

if it looks like this most of the time then lack of tate is really the only problem, and i can deal with that."

Yeah, seriously, the video looks fine to me! It doesn't look THAT slow for a shmup. Honestly, people make it sound like this game runs at the speed of Xenon 2 on the Master System.

OT, I heard nothing but bad things about the frame rate and graphics in PS2 Sonic Heroes. But then I played for myself at a game store, and I loved it!

But still, I would like to see more replay videos from this version of Gigawing Generations; I am surprised there haven't been more made-videos of whole stages of the game would certainly help people make up their minds easier.

But why if Taito wanted to have some new arcade hardware would they base it on Windows XP of all things? Couldn't they have just designed their own hardware themselves?

Finally, if CD games put more wear and tear on the PS2, then why would Sony have made the PS2 backwards compatible with the PS1-a system with a library of CD games?

[system11]

Actually mine arrived today, and I'm not sure it really is 30fps at all, it looks jerkier than many games I have which really -are- 30fps. I'd possibly put money on it being 20.

Anyway, such a shame. The gameplay is there, it sounds good and plays well, but it really is ruined by the graphics I'm afraid. 30fps I can live with, no tate I don't really care about, but add them together and also:

1) flickering bullets when too many are on screen
2) score bonuses when picked up obscuring your craft
3) your own bullets obscuring your craft

then, it becomes less impressive..

Could have been a contender, I'd not recommend this to anyone the way it is though, until it's cheap and 2nd hand/budget.

[MadSteelDarkness]

Well, I just received mine, and played a credit of it. I can't add anything new to what everyone else has said so far.

*Sigh* No tate...really terrible framerate (I agree with bloodflowers. Definitely under 30fps)....

All I can say is, this seems like quite a decent game hampered by one of the worst ports in shmupping history. Yes, worse than Shiki/MLF2. At least MLF2 had a decent framerate and the good sense to be a budget title. And XS games are a just a couple of ignorant U.S. goobers. This is Taito, for fucks sake. TAITO!!!

I really am angry enough to consider never buying another game published by Taito again. I know for sure this is the last time I preorder something of their's before I hear some feedback on it. A port this shoddy is a slap in the face of shmuppers worldwide.

[Kiken]

I really am angry enough to consider never buying another game published by Taito again. I know for sure this is the last time I preorder something of their's before I hear some feedback on it. A port this shoddy is a slap in the face of shmuppers worldwide.

The thing is, Psikyo Collection 3 came out just fine and included all of the options that we're accustomed to seeing in homeports of shmups.

I really think that GWG was a result of unfortunate timing in being the first Type-X to PS2 port. Maybe Taito did innitially try to port the Tate game, but found that they were running into all sorts of problems. So, instead of pushing the game back indefinitely, they released "the best they could do at the time".

As of right now, what other confirmed Type-X shmups are being released?
Shikigami No Shiro 3
Homura

Am I missing any?

I guess we can pray that Taito realized all the mistakes with this first port and will seek to rectify these issues on future ports.

[MadSteelDarkness]

I really am angry enough to consider never buying another game published by Taito again. I know for sure this is the last time I preorder something of their's before I hear some feedback on it. A port this shoddy is a slap in the face of shmuppers worldwide.

The thing is, Psikyo Collection 3 came out just fine and included all of the options that we're accustomed to seeing in homeports of shmups.

I really think that GWG was a result of unfortunate timing in being the first Type-X to PS2 port. Maybe Taito did innitially try to port the Tate game, but found that they were running into all sorts of problems. So, instead of pushing the game back indefinitely, they released "the best they could do at the time".

As of right now, what other confirmed Type-X shmups are being released?
Shikigami No Shiro 3
Homura

Am I missing any?

I guess we can pray that Taito realized all the mistakes with this first port and will seek to rectify these issues on future ports.

Yeah, I suppose you're right, Kiken. And I did forget that it's Taito that published the Psikyo Collection series, which aside from no true low res, have been pretty decent ports, albeit a bit bare-bones. I suppose I was a bit carried away with the moment. Although I had been hearing for a week or more how bad GWG's port was, it wasn't until I actually played it that I found out how disappointing it is.

[JigsawMan]

Is GWG really that bad? I have been playing it for most of the evening. First shmup I have picked up in over a month - ahhh that sounds so bad, normally I wouldn't go a day without shmupping. I actually quite like it. I can happily ghet through to the end of lvl 4 with most lives left - then promptly lose them all. Lack of tate is rather gutting but the framerate doesn't seem too bad. The 2nd ship is easier to see your posisiton on screen than the others though. Although I could be imaging that.

[MadSteelDarkness]

I've spent a little more time with it throughout the day. Unfortunately, I still think it IS that bad, or rather the port's quality, that is.

I dunno...the game just feels...emulated, for want of a better word (I think someone else on this thread may have said this already). It somehow reminds me of the first time I played Brave Blade in emulation. The gameplay is there. The music's pretty good. I can even get over the lack of Tate, although that still really chaps my keister. But the framerate is just really bad, IMO. It's not even that it slows down. Slowdown I could handle. But the damn thing seems to be dropping frames right and left.

Maybe after spending some more time with it (and I will spend more time with it. The game itself is still pretty decent), I'll be able to get past the (mostly) cosmetic flaws.

BTW, I should say that I'm usually not that picky when it comes to shmups. I actually don't mind a lot of shmups most people bag on (XII Stag, Chaos Field, etc.). I guess I just expected a lot more from Taito...

Ah well, I guess I'll be happy when Dragon Blaze arrives some time this week.

[Nemo]

I wonder if Taito used DVD-rom instead of CD could they have done a better port? I have to believe so and if nothing else it would have cut down the loading times. Bad Taito for being cheap asses.

[dave4shmups]

That has to have something to do with it, IMO, considering how much more storage space DVD-Roms have then CD-Roms.

[Rob]

Damn good thing they saved $.15 a disc.

[Nemo]

Memo to Japanese Shmup port-making guys: When you're trying to port from the most powerful arcade board to date don't use an archaic game medium like CDs. Take a cue from Arika and you can be winners too!

[neoalphazero]

This is a damn fun game but as said earlier it seems emulated. Don't know if it's my TV or what but the sound quality is horrible, while the music is good it's muffled aong with the sound effects. And I'd like to see the game in true TATE mode.

As for the game itself, some of the textures are inconsistent (the train level looks PSone quality) but otherwise it moves fast and seems to have some nice bullet patterns. *-neo

[system11]

Putting it on DVD would have made precisely zero difference to the in-game frame rate.

[JigsawMan]

Putting it on DVD would have made precisely zero difference to the in-game frame rate.

But maybe my PS2 would not vibrate like it was about to cause a tsunami if it was a DVD (I have Original Model Jap PS2, it is like a wise grandfather of PS2s but without a beard).

edit: I am not insinuating that Wise Grandfathers without, or with, beards can cause any kind of natural disaster.