Mars Matrix versions

[w-ring]

Are there any differences between the Japanese and US versions of Mars Matrix? Are there any problems navagating the options menu on the Japanese version?

Will the US version play at full screen and full speed on a UK dreamcast running through a boot disc?

[Kiken]

Are there any differences between the Japanese and US versions of Mars Matrix?

Not really.

Are there any problems navagating the options menu on the Japanese version?

If you can read English, you'll be fine.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The USA and JPN versions of Mars Matrix on the arcade CPS2 platform both display in English for the entire game duration -- it's on the arcade operator's menu screen where things are different: English language if using USA CPS2 motherboard and Japanese language if using JPN CPS2 motherboard...

Of course, on the CPS2 version of MM, you'll realize that you're playing with an 8-way digital joystick and single fire button setup for three seperate functions...

Sure, the DC ver. of MM does have support for the "single button" setup like that featured in the arcade CPS2 ver. of the same name for posterity...

Playing the arcade CPS2 ver. of MM is a very different beast than if you were to play it on the DC platform -- try it out sometime and be prepared to get blown away by how much better it is on it's native arcade platform release as it was meant to be played..... ^_~

Plan on spending about $50.00 to $60.00 USD on a USA CPS2 MM board is the norm these days while paying upwards of $75.00 to $100.00 USD for a Japanese MM CPS2 board is the usual going rate these days...

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Aleanil]

Playing the arcade CPS2 ver. of MM is a very different beast than if you were to play it on the DC platform -- try it out sometime and be prepared to get blown away by how much better it is on it's native arcade platform release as it was meant to be played..... ^_~

Plan on spending about $50.00 to $60.00 USD on a USA CPS2 MM board is the norm these days while paying upwards of $75.00 to $100.00 USD for a Japanese MM CPS2 board is the usual going rate these days...

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

So very true. I bought a Mars Matrix A+B board combo (US) on ebay for $60 shipped a few months ago, and it blows the Dreamcast version away. It's definitely worth the investment to play such a great game in the intended fashion.

[TWITCHDOCTOR]

The difference I noticed is that in the US version, the default difficulty dip switch is set to 2 out of 8, whereas in the Japanese version, its set at 4.
I also believe the GigaWings are set like this as well, although, I haven't noticed much of a difference in overall difficulty. In other words, I play pretty much the same, and die in similar areas.

[dpful]

I always like to play games in a proper cab,
but the DC mars matrix has those remix versions that are really phenomenal I think. The game's pretty hard-core, and I was stoked to try the other versions for a break.

[w-ring]

I was more interested in the differences between the different Dreamcast versions to be honest. I was offered the Jap version for 4000yen, but I thought I would check about any possible language difficulties before I buy it. Most of these shmups never get a western release, but since Mars Matrix did, I was wondering if things like submenu's and unlockables are in English in the Japanese version.