PS2 ports recommendations?

Domino · Post by **Domino** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 8:32 pm

After surviving Mushi's and Ibara's 480i BS I think I can handle 240p games being upscale to 480i.

How good are these ports:

Psikyo Vol 2 (Sengoku Ace and Sengoku Blade)
Psikyo Vol 3 (Sol Divide and Dragon Blaze)
Gunbird 1 & 2

For the Psikyo Vol 2 and 3 I hope the sound is not fucked up like in Vol 1 (Strikers). That problem ruined the port for me.

Oh yeah, I'm not anal about high score saving.

TLB · Post by **TLB** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 8:50 pm

For Gunbird 2, the DC version is probably your better bet...

Domino · Post by **Domino** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 9:02 pm

m3tall1ca wrote:For Gunbird 2, the DC version is probably your better bet...

I hate the fact that there's no VGA support. I would have to run it via S-Video (which I don't want to do).

Zweihander · Post by **Zweihander** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 10:14 pm

If we're talking the PAL version of Gunbird 1 & 2, it's garbage. You can't even make a save file for it.

Sol Divide's a rubbish game, just giving you a heads up. Strikers 1945 II: Dragon Edition is fun though.

Sengoku Ace and Blade are pretty generic, but if you actually like Psikyo games, you may as well pick it up if you can get it for under $30.

I'd recommend Psyvariar Complete Edition, Dodonpachi Dai-Ou-Jou, and ESPgaluda if you're just looking for PS2 stuff. Mushihime-sama is an alright game, but the port is horrid. Ibara was a great game, but it's only really playable if you're willing to TATE your TV every time you play. (Ugly YOKO mode is ugly)

ForceDevice · Post by **ForceDevice** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 10:15 pm

Both volume 2 and 3 are fairly good ports. And the sound isn't fucked up (at least not in volume 3, it's been quite a while since last time I played 2 so I'm not sure)

Post by **Ghegs** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 10:21 pm

Zweihander wrote:If we're talking the PAL version of Gunbird 1 & 2, it's garbage.

Quite the opposite. PAL GB1&2 has both tate and 60hz options, so it's quite a good package especially considering the price. You want to keep track of your scores, do it old-school with pen and paper or post them to the high-score threads.

Domino · Post by **Domino** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 10:38 pm

Let me tell you this guys, I played all the PS2 shmups except for these three collection packs. I know about the games in the collection and I play the hell out of them many times before. The question is how good are the ports quality-wise (besides running in 480i)?

Once again I don't care about saving. I care more about the sound (the sound quality in the Strikers pack was terrible) and TATE support. Also I'll be buying the JP version only.

Hope this helps.

indstr · Post by **indstr** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 11:00 pm

Zweihander wrote: Strikers 1945 II: Dragon Edition is fun though.

What the hell is that???

Domino · Post by **Domino** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 11:01 pm

indstr wrote:
Zweihander wrote: Strikers 1945 II: Dragon Edition is fun though.
What the hell is that???

I think he means Dragon Blaze.

Zweihander · Post by **Zweihander** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 12:12 am

Ghegs wrote:
Zweihander wrote:If we're talking the PAL version of Gunbird 1 & 2, it's garbage.
Quite the opposite. PAL GB1&2 has both tate and 60hz options, so it's quite a good package especially considering the price. You want to keep track of your scores, do it old-school with pen and paper or post them to the high-score threads.

Not really. I couldn't excuse Shienryu on PS1 when it didn't keep track of my scores, and Chaos Field didn't get special treatment, either. Losing your scores when you shut the console off is a thing of the 16-bit past; back then, they had an excuse. There is none after the coming of the 32-bit era and the concept of "memory cards".

Jockel · Post by **Jockel** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 1:18 am

So a game that doesn't save your score is basically a demo!
Like anything you don't like!

nimitz · Post by **nimitz** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 1:18 am

Domino wrote:
m3tall1ca wrote:For Gunbird 2, the DC version is probably your better bet...
I hate the fact that there's no VGA support. I would have to run it via S-Video (which I don't want to do).

what would VGA bring to a low rez game already being upscaled. Gunbird 2 on DC is fun because the gameplay is intact and you can play as morrigan. But quality wise the arcade version is SO much better

Domino · Post by **Domino** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 2:25 am

Gentlemen please don't bring any drama to this topic, I consider it rude.

what would VGA bring to a low rez game already being upscaled. Gunbird 2 on DC is fun because the gameplay is intact and you can play as morrigan. But quality wise the arcade version is SO much better

Well for starters I run everything by RGB/VGA (for RGB stuff via XRGB2). I hate running any game by S-Video, it's pretty annoying.

Wait, Gunbird 2 on the DC is upscaled?

nimitz · Post by **nimitz** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 2:34 am

Wait, Gunbird 2 on the DC is upscaled?

not sure what exactly they have done to the picture but its definitely not native resolution. Looks like scaling and maybe some stretching. It sure looks grainy(at least its not blurred out I guess).

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 2:35 am

Domino wrote:
Gunbird 2 on the DC is upscaled?

The USA version doesn't allow RGB output, but the JP version does. There is also a patch you can download for the USA version, to make it output RGB. Since you can use RGB, I'd highly recommend the DC version. The PS2 version is interlaced (blurry/flickery/ugly), while the DC version is true 240p low res.

Domino · Post by **Domino** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 2:40 am

EOJ wrote:
Domino wrote:
Gunbird 2 on the DC is upscaled?
The USA version doesn't allow RGB output, but the JP version does. There is also a patch you can download for the USA version, to make it output RGB. Since you can use RGB, I'd highly recommend the DC version. The PS2 version is interlaced (blurry/flickery/ugly), while the DC version is true 240p low res.

But I don't have a RGB cable for my DC, only VGA.

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 2:42 am

Then hunt down a DC RGB cable.

Shouldn't be too expensive (unless you need a custom cable made).

Domino · Post by **Domino** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 2:53 am

EOJ wrote:Then hunt down a DC RGB cable. Shouldn't be too expensive (unless you need a custom cable made).

LOL. But I'm lazy (actually I need just a EU SCART cable and I'm all set). But I hate switching cables (I'm lazy again).

I'll think about it, playing the first Giga Wing on my DC is temping.

Oh yeah EOJ, did you play Psikyo Vol 2 and 3?

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 3:19 am

Domino wrote: Oh yeah EOJ, did you play Psikyo Vol 2 and 3?

Yeah, I owned both before. Sold them off because I couldn't stand the blurred, flickery graphics. That, and the games suck IMO.

Domino · Post by **Domino** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 3:24 am

EOJ wrote:
Domino wrote: Oh yeah EOJ, did you play Psikyo Vol 2 and 3?
Yeah, I owned both before. Sold them off because I couldn't stand the blurred, flickery graphics. That, and the games suck IMO.

Ouch, sounds like Mushi/Ibara PS2 ports when it comes to graphic quality.

Meh, I'll think about it. Might go with the DC RGB route for Gunbird 2. Oh yeah EOJ, JP version of Giga Wing supports RGB right?

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 4:48 am

Domino wrote: LOL. But I'm lazy .

They you'll have to suffer the consequences. And for the record, none of the 240p only DC games (the few there are) support the VGA Box.

JP version of Giga Wing supports RGB right?

All NTSC-J DC games support RGB. There's just a couple of obscure NTSC-U ones that don't.

Zweihander · Post by **Zweihander** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 5:18 am

Jockel wrote:So a game that doesn't save your score is basically a demo!
Like anything you don't like!

No, it's not a demo; it's the complete game, stage- and boss- wise. However, the load-times before the bosses are annoying (and VERY noticeable if you played the DC version beforehand) and the lack of Morrigan is a supreme let-down. (she was my Main in the DC version) So no, it's not a demo; just a shitty port. It's about as bad as the PS2 version of Mushihime-sama.

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 5:27 am

All NTSC-J DC games support RGB. There's just a couple of obscure NTSC-U ones that don't.

I couldn't get vampire or SSF2T to boot up in RGB mode... just via VGA. Well i know that SSF2T booted up but was screwed up... it was one of the corners really blown up big.

Guardians Knight · Post by **Guardians Knight** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 7:48 pm

ive got psikyo vols 2 and 3 and the gameplay is fine, tate mode is there, im not really sure about all this stuff about resolution im a layman when it comes to that, but i can tell you that as far as i can tell the ports in terms of gameplay are arcade perfect.

henry dark · Post by **henry dark** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 4:38 am

Sengoku Blaeadee is wicked. You run along the ground and COINS POP OUT

Domino · Post by **Domino** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 5:36 am

henry dark wrote:Sengoku Blaeadee is wicked. You run along the ground and COINS POP OUT

LOL.

I will most likely skip Vol 2 since I own Blade on the Saturn.