Soukyugurentai: Some few questions

Nei First · Post by **Nei First** » Tue May 17, 2005 12:15 am

I've seen some good reviews of this game, how did YOU find it?

What's a reasonable good price to pay for this game?

Also, do you think I should wait awhile just in case this game might get a PS2 release?

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Tue May 17, 2005 12:19 am

i love the little bastard.

the strict ranking pisses me off but it sure is fun. i think i got my Otokuyo (w/ Garegga demo) for around $40, not more though. not saying this is the price to watch out for mind, just what i got it for.

as far as the PS2 release goes, i would say not, but i am not omniscient.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Tue May 17, 2005 1:05 am

I wouldn't hold my breath for a PS2 release...personally I'd prefer that if any Raizing stuff got a present-day console port it'd be one of their many that was never ported before (Bakraid, Dimahoo, etc.), but I digress. I actually got my copy of Otokyuo (the Saturn re-release which includes a Garegga demo) for about 30 plus shipping, but I think the price might've gone up just a bit since then. 30-40 seems reasonable to me.

Nei First · Post by **Nei First** » Tue May 17, 2005 1:44 am

Around 40 huh?

Damn, where I'm seeing it it's nearly double that amount, and it's not even the Otokyuo release.

I've seen the PSX version for much cheaper too, anyone have that version?

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Tue May 17, 2005 1:45 am

I don't have it, but apparently the main differences between it and the Saturn versions are 1) an additional selectable ship, and 2) a lot more slowdown.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Tue May 17, 2005 1:47 am

Stick around... it's not that expensive. It was at one time, but it's runs about 2000 yen on YJ, and 3000 in Akihabara, so $40 is still rather high on US soil w/ the amount of direct sellers there are.

Nei First · Post by **Nei First** » Tue May 17, 2005 6:55 am

They say it's the second best shmup on the saturn, is it?

Neon · Post by **Neon** » Tue May 17, 2005 7:03 am

Terrible game. If you want it you might try this since I still haven't selected a w1nn4r (probably tomorrow).

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Tue May 17, 2005 7:07 am

Nei First wrote:They say it's the second best shmup on the saturn, is it?

I don't think people feel that way anymore. That simply used to be the sentiment about 6 years ago.

With each year, I find Soukyugurentai less and less appealing for some reason. Chances are though that you'll enjoy it if you like the Ray games.

tehkao · Post by **tehkao** » Wed May 18, 2005 5:20 am

Yeah definitely 2nd or 3rd best, IMHO. With 1st best being Batsugun...

UnscathedFlyingObject · Wed May 18, 2005 5:26 am

I payed 30 shipped for it, so even though it isn't the best evah, it's worth the cojones. I wouldn't pay more than forty shipped for it.

Cthulhu · Post by **Cthulhu** » Wed May 18, 2005 6:30 am

I have the original Saturn version and the PS1 Otokyuo release. Yeah, there is a lot more slowdown, but if you don't mind that, the PS1 version can be had very, very cheaply.

jp · Post by jp » Wed May 18, 2005 6:33 am

Soukyugurentai is excellent and IMO the 2nd best shmup on the Saturn.

I would recommend, especially given how cheap it is compared to some other Saturn shmups...

ST Dragon · Post by **ST Dragon** » Wed May 18, 2005 12:56 pm

Which Soukyugurentai version is better? The PS-1 or Saturn version?
Apart that the PS-1 has a cool intro, which version has better ingame graphics, less slowdowns, music & gameplay?

Are the stages, enemies & bosses the same in both versions?

Thanks in advance.

llabnip · Post by **llabnip** » Wed May 18, 2005 1:10 pm

Nei First wrote:I've seen some good reviews of this game, how did YOU find it?

Amazing game! One of the best for the Saturn and far better than Rayforce (aka Layer Section... aka Galactic Attack) IMO. The third best shooter on the Saturn behind Radiant Silvergun and Batsugun... DonPachi (i.e. Batsugun II) _should_ have been #3 if the port were done with more care.

In any event, Souky is a great game for the Saturn - and not that expensive compared to the company it keeps. The PSX version is a bit less good... visuals not as sharp and slowdown present. Stick to the Saturn rev if you can. The PSX version is still fun and worthwhile if you can't get the Saturn rev.

Nei First · Post by **Nei First** » Wed May 18, 2005 1:49 pm

Oh man, the thing is I have chance to get either souky or DOJ for the same price, I can only get one game for now. Just for some guidance which game would you guys go for, and why?

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Wed May 18, 2005 2:42 pm

Ganelon wrote:I don't think people feel that way anymore. That simply used to be the sentiment about 6 years ago.

With each year, I find Soukyugurentai less and less appealing for some reason. Chances are though that you'll enjoy it if you like the Ray games.

Interesting, care to elaborate? Since the ss shmups are ever the same ones, which ones do you think are getting more love today, and why the reason in your opinion?

I love Souky. Definitely best lock-on game of the modern era.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Wed May 18, 2005 3:40 pm

Nei First wrote:Oh man, the thing is I have chance to get either souky or DOJ for the same price, I can only get one game for now. Just for some guidance which game would you guys go for, and why?

DOJ tends to be more expensive than Souky, so you'd probably be getting the better deal money-wise if you went for that...I like the game, but be warned, the bugger is quite tough, definitely tougher than Souky (even with its evil rank system) imo. In the end I guess it just depends on whether or not you prefer Cave stuff or Raizing stuff.

Recap · Post by **Recap** » Wed May 18, 2005 3:50 pm

Cthulhu wrote:I have the original Saturn version and the PS1 Otokyuo release. Yeah, there is a lot more slowdown, but if you don't mind that, the PS1 version can be had very, very cheaply.

There's not an "Otokuyo" version of Soukyuu Gurentai for the PS. "Otokuyo" just means "budget edition". Graphic-wise is much better the SS version, and it's not just a matter of the slowdowns.

it's worth the cojones

Wha?

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Wed May 18, 2005 4:00 pm

Recap wrote:There's not an "Otokuyo" version of Soukyuu Gurentai for the PS. "Otokuyo" just means "budget edition".

Yeah, the PS version of Souky has a different subtitle, I forget exactly what it is but it's really long and clumsy and begins with "O" IIRC.

Recap · Post by **Recap** » Wed May 18, 2005 4:05 pm

BulletMagnet wrote: Yeah, the PS version of Souky has a different subtitle, I forget exactly what it is but it's really long and clumsy and begins with "O" IIRC.

"Oubu Shutsugeki"

Nei First · Post by **Nei First** » Wed May 18, 2005 4:10 pm

BulletMagnet wrote:
Nei First wrote:Oh man, the thing is I have chance to get either souky or DOJ for the same price, I can only get one game for now. Just for some guidance which game would you guys go for, and why?
DOJ tends to be more expensive than Souky, so you'd probably be getting the better deal money-wise if you went for that...I like the game, but be warned, the bugger is quite tough, definitely tougher than Souky (even with its evil rank system) imo. In the end I guess it just depends on whether or not you prefer Cave stuff or Raizing stuff.

I love challenges that seem impossible, but "is possible". Can't get enough of it. As long as it's "fair" though, being fair as in you died cos "you made a mistake".

Are DOJ and Souky fair?

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Wed May 18, 2005 4:19 pm

DOJ is definitely fair, the bullets are nice and visible, control is precise, and the hitbox is small, not to mention that you have smart bombs to fall back on as a last resort. Still plenty difficult though.

Souky is okay in the fairness department, though if you don't exploit the rank system things will get a lot harder later on...the orange bullets are usually pretty visible, but can get mixed in with falling powerup items sometimes. The hitbox is also a bit bigger than DOJ's, though you still get bombs, but they cover a smaller area than DOJ's. Not "unfair," but I'd say it's more frustrating than DOJ, though it's overall not as challenging.

Nei First · Post by **Nei First** » Wed May 18, 2005 4:30 pm

BulletMagnet wrote:DOJ is definitely fair, the bullets are nice and visible, control is precise, and the hitbox is small, not to mention that you have smart bombs to fall back on as a last resort. Still plenty difficult though.

Souky is okay in the fairness department, though if you don't exploit the rank system things will get a lot harder later on...the orange bullets are usually pretty visible, but can get mixed in with falling powerup items sometimes. The hitbox is also a bit bigger than DOJ's, though you still get bombs, but they cover a smaller area than DOJ's. Not "unfair," but I'd say it's more frustrating than DOJ, though it's overall not as challenging.

Okay, I was wondering why you said souky has an "evil ranking system". I overlooked that part a bit, but from what your saying (Think I've also heard someone else mention this before), the ranking system greatly affects the difficulty, and how the game plays.

I would imagine then, souky is not one of those games you can just play how "you" want to play it.

Recap · Post by **Recap** » Wed May 18, 2005 4:39 pm

Nei First wrote: Are DOJ and Souky fair?

SG is even in the easy side if you play it in the zoomed-out 2P mode and the default SS settings.

Post by **undamned** » Wed May 18, 2005 4:57 pm

I can't speak for slowdown on the SS ver, but granted it can't be a far cry from the ST-V ver, which I play here and there, I really enjoy the game. As fairness goes, I'm pretty sure it is. I don't ever recall yelling at the game for cheating or being slippery

Gameplay is solid and varied weapons is reminiscent of Silvergun. Graphics are quite impressive with vivid colors.
-ud

Nei First · Post by **Nei First** » Wed May 18, 2005 5:07 pm

undamned wrote:I can't speak for slowdown on the SS ver, but granted it can't be a far cry from the ST-V ver, which I play here and there, I really enjoy the game. As fairness goes, I'm pretty sure it is. I don't ever recall yelling at the game for cheating or being slippery Gameplay is solid and varied weapons is reminiscent of Silvergun. Graphics are quite impressive with vivid colors.
-ud

Varied weapons? Excluding the bomb, I thought you only have two main weapons.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Wed May 18, 2005 6:07 pm

Turrican wrote:
Ganelon wrote:I don't think people feel that way anymore. That simply used to be the sentiment about 6 years ago.

With each year, I find Soukyugurentai less and less appealing for some reason. Chances are though that you'll enjoy it if you like the Ray games.
Interesting, care to elaborate? Since the ss shmups are ever the same ones, which ones do you think are getting more love today, and why the reason in your opinion?

Actually, those 2 comments were meant to be separate. The first was just from my observation that the practice of mentioning RSG=1, Soukyu=2 isn't used anymore in recent times and there's actually "I don't like Soukyu" topics. I suppose everybody may still feel the same way even though they don't express it anymore.

As for why I'm getting tired, well, I'm afraid it's nothing scientific or anything. The homing just feels constrained to me now for some unknown reason. I guess it's because back then, I was accepting of any type of shooter but now, I've developed personal tastes and demand a system that I can relate to. Unfortunately, I can no longer relate to homing systems since they seem more of a hassle to me. Relative to other SS games, I think my appreciation for Batsugun, Darius Gaiden, and Gekirindan (yes, Gekirindan; I guess it's a personal desire for simple yet atmospheric games) has exceeded it. But I still remember when I thought of it as the best SS shooter and hence still respect the fun time I had with it. I still find it an great game, just not among my top 10 favorites anymore.

Vexorg · Post by **Vexorg** » Wed May 18, 2005 6:56 pm

I managed to pick up the regular (non otoukyo) version complete with spine card (it was sold as a non spine card copy, but the SC was inside the manual and the seller just overlooked it) for $30 about a year and a half ago. I haven't actually played a whole lot of it, but it's the type of game that can throw a lot of bulletspam at you if you're not careful.

AntiPasta · Post by **AntiPasta** » Thu May 19, 2005 11:12 am

I picked up a complete copy of the first revision on Saturn in Akihabara (at Trader's) for 1720 yen last summer, which is like $17

The label said the disc is in "B condition" but apparently they uphold quite a standard of quality as it was flawless

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Soukyugurentai: Some few questions

Soukyugurentai: Some few questions

Re: Soukyugurentai: Some few questions