Would you help me get started with Japanese shmups?

durias · Post by **durias** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 2:26 am

I hear Cave brand games are good and that the Japanese developers really have the corner on the manic shmup market. I've been to a few sites (e.g. www.play-asia.com) but I'm still not sure where to start. I've only played console games so this is my first foray into PC gaming.

What do you think?

Thanks in advance!

DJ Incompetent · Post by **DJ Incompetent** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 2:43 am

PC gaming? Watch this video then track down the name-drops at the end

Everything else. Read into this thinger.
http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=11882

Ayanami · Post by **Ayanami** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:07 am

You can try many Cave games via MAME. And there are many Cave games that can not be played on MAME and you need either the PCB or PS2 port.

durias · Post by **durias** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:46 am

GREAT info! Thanks! I checked everything out and it looks like MAME is freeware that I can use to play shmups. Once I get it on my computer, is it just a matter of buying the game? How do I know I'm buying a compatible game?

Pixel_Outlaw · Post by **Pixel_Outlaw** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 5:38 am

Well the sale of ROMs would be illegal so you download ROMs or the games for MAME. Your country may have laws against playing ROMs so you should look be aware of that. MAME is designed to play just like the older arcade machines and the ROMs are just electronic versions of the circuit board games inside the arcade machines.

I'm not saying don't use MAME just make sure you are carefull with what you are doing.

You might try some of the Touhou games also. Great danmaku stuff.

Bloodreign · Post by **Bloodreign** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 5:38 am

DJ Incompetent wrote:PC gaming? Watch this video then track down the name-drops at the end

Everything else. Read into this thinger.
http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=11882

Thanks a lot, now that I have more room on this new PC, I can start to look into these PC doujins.

*grumbles with a smile on his face.*

futurebiblehero · Post by **futurebiblehero** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 5:54 am

Although it seems that you're looking for PC games, Castle Shikigami 2 (Shikigami no Shiro 2) on PS2 is a fairly solid start. The translation job is one of the worst you'll ever see, but it generally sells for around $10 and'll get you ready for some of the more intense Cave games.

Mobile Light Force 2 (Shikigami no Shiro 1) isn't a terrible start either. Like it's sequel, it's a solid title under one laughably bad localization.

Ayanami · Post by **Ayanami** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 6:03 am

If you enjoy Cave games, I would try Guwange if I were you for MAME.

Dodonpachi on Saturn/PSX and Mushihimesama on PS2 are must owns if you ask me. Lot of people also like the Akira ports of ESP Galuda and Dodonpahci Daioujou as well.

Hope that helps with the Cave quest. But honestly, if you are looking to get into shooters, I would recomend some others as well like Raizing and Psykio shooters.

roker · Post by **roker** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:18 am

for Mame (just to get you started):

Battle Garegga (or Saturn also)
Armed Police Batrider
ESPRa.De. -Cave
DoDonpachi (not my cup of tea, but you guys LOVE it) (PSX or Saturn also) -Cave
Viper Phase 1
Pro Gear No Asashi -Cave
Dangun Feveron -Cave
Guwange -Cave

For the Dreamcast:

Under Defeat
Ikaruga (Gamecube also)
Zero Gunner 2
Mars Matrix
Giga Wing 1 and 2
Border Down
Bangai-O (ok, not a TRUE shmup, but worth a spin, trust me)

PS2:

Ibara -Cave
ESPGaluda -Cave
DoDonpachi DaoJou (spelled it wrong, I'm sure) -Cave

Follow this guide and you'll be fine[/u]

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:38 am

roker wrote: DoDonpachi DaoJou (spelled it wrong, I'm sure)

大往生　(Dai Ou Jou). It means "peaceful death".

PROMETHEUS · Post by **PROMETHEUS** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:06 am

roker wrote:DoDonpachi (not my cup of tea, but you guys LOVE it) (PSX or Saturn also) -Cave

OH YES WE DO :D !!!!

mushihime sama on PS2 as well, should be great ^_^!
haven't been able to play it yet myself though :( !
(you need a japanese PS2 for most PS2 shmups since they were released only in japan, with NTSC-J region limitation)

CMoon · Post by **CMoon** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:56 am

Not to be an arse, but isn't this why we put up the FAQ?

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 12:04 pm

CMoon wrote:Not to be an arse, but isn't this why we put up the FAQ?

You speak the truth.

Lawfer · Post by **Lawfer** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 12:40 pm

CMoon wrote:Not to be an arse, but isn't this why we put up the FAQ?

The FAQ hasn't got all the OMG the FAQ is so totally complete! There are about thoushands of shooters out there on PC that aren't listed in the FAQ.

Pirate1019 · Post by **Pirate1019** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 1:47 pm

PROMETHEUS wrote:
roker wrote:DoDonpachi (not my cup of tea, but you guys LOVE it) (PSX or Saturn also) -Cave
OH YES WE DO !!!!

mushihime sama on PS2 as well, should be great ^_^!
haven't been able to play it yet myself though !
(you need a japanese PS2 for most PS2 shmups since they were released only in japan, with NTSC-J region limitation)

I have and I have to say it's better then everybody seemed to make it out to be. People said it was a bad port, but I don't see much wrong with it. It didn't get all the bells and whistles DOJ did, but it still functions fine.

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 2:15 pm

Pirate1019 wrote:People said it was a bad port, but I don't see much wrong with it.

Some people have complained about some of the slowdown not being acade perfect. That doesn't bother me much - the blur-filter (which like in Ibara can't be toggled) is what really irks me.

roker · Post by **roker** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 6:38 pm

I'd just everyone here to know that I'd be more than happy to play "bad" ports such as Ibara and Sama of the following games:

Ketsui
ESPGaluda II
Futari
Pink Sweets

C'mon now, it's not like we're talking of the days of PCB vs. Genesis/SNES port.

stuntman · Post by **stuntman** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 12:04 am

Ceph wrote:...the blur-filter (which like in Ibara can't be toggled) is what really irks me.

I'm with you there. I've given up with Ibara (PS2)...I like dodging bullets but it's no fun when you can't see 'em clearly

Pirate1019 · Post by **Pirate1019** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 2:22 am

Ceph wrote:
Pirate1019 wrote:People said it was a bad port, but I don't see much wrong with it.
Some people have complained about some of the slowdown not being acade perfect. That doesn't bother me much - the blur-filter (which like in Ibara can't be toggled) is what really irks me.

Maybe I'm just not detail oriented enough, but I either don't notice this or the blur isn't enough to affect my gameplay. Maybe I just suck

.

@durias: There was another thread here a little while ago, here. it talked about beginning importing and ways to make your PS2 play foreign region games as well as shmups for the PS2. Best of all you don't have to wade through 5+ pages of garbage to get to the good stuff!

Pixel_Outlaw · Post by **Pixel_Outlaw** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 3:20 am

I just enjoy the unraped pixel art of the older games. I can play blurred games but it just lets me know I'm playing a port.

Lawfer · Post by **Lawfer** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:40 am

Pixel_Outlaw wrote:I just enjoy the unraped pixel art of the older games. I can play blurred games but it just lets me know I'm playing a port.

The blur also is more or less noticable depending on your TV.