what have I missed recently and not so recently?

[malc]

Hello...

Jeez I am so out the loop. Hello evbody!

I really don't have a clue what shmups I've missed getting the last - er - 3 years or so. Mostly console gaming these days, some pc freeware stuff as well, but just dont have space for pcbs any more.

It quite scares me actually to think that there's new shmups out that I haven't played yet and they're probably old news by now, even forgotten and discarded, and I might never know what they are.

So then - what's new? What's been out that might have flown under the radar that just shouldn't be missed? Last thing I got was Thunderforce VI which has only been played properly yesterday - but before that I think it was Rtype Final. Has there been another one since then? I feel like a bit of a newbie really - haha!!!

Anyway, sorry I kind of deserted this place for ages, but three house moves, a divorce and starting over does that. I was also giving thought to making something decent with the shmups.com site - moving it from a hand built jobby to one of those fancy content managed efforts, finally giving people a login and a place to contribute reviews themselves there but I don't really know where to start. What's good in cms software? Better getting something custom made? dunno.

Well, nuff of that, I just really want to know whats new and shiny that I can get me mitts on. Any xbox 360 shmups that work on a uk machine? Lost but happy in shmupland...

malc

[Sonic R]

Hello malc!

Sorry to hear of the hardships… hope everything is working out for you now.

Regarding new console shooters, the Japanese Xbox 360 is building quite the roster.

Available now:

Shikigami no Shiro III
Raiden Fighters Aces (has all 3 Raiden Fighters games plus superplay DVD)
Otomedius (a spinoff from Parodius - also has a package with a special arcade stick with touch screen)

Coming soon:

DoDonPachi Dai Ou Jou Black Label EXTRA
Shooting Love 200X
Ketsui
Death Smiles

unfortunately, they are region locked and require a Japan/Asia 360 console to play.

Also last fall, Thunder Force VI was realized on the Japanese PlayStation 2

Take care malc

[sven666]

for consoles?.. you havent missed much.. nearly all new shmups action these days is doujin PC stuff and Arcade PCBs.

occationally a port sneaks onto consoles tho and if you want to go that way a japanese xbox360 or PS2 is pretty much the only choice you have.

[malc]

phew hi peeps above..!

Sonic: wow, some nice stuff there on 360 - I was hoping otomedius was coming out here in these western parts, that's one I did notice. That touchscreen thingy sounds very interesting doesnt it? Cant figure out what it'd be used for though apart from the obvious.

Maybe it's time to get a japanese 360 - all of those listed really would float my particular seagoing transport vehicle and I can't imagine they would cost too much. Must go look now.

Ooh I haven't been this excited since... er... the time I found 3 ladybirds shagging in a row. That was funny, I bet the one in the middle was really enjoying it.

cheers! - malc

Oooh I just noticed Raiden 4 as well - oh jings I have to get one now

[cj iwakura]

The Wii has great potential to be a shmup console, since it already has Shikigami 3 and Radio Allergy/Karous/Chaos Field going for it.

Doesn't seem like Nintendo care that much about what gets published on it, unlike Microsoft(who blocked Shiki 3's 360 version from a US release) and SCEA(notoriously picky about what they allow on their consoles).

[Thunder Force]

Hi Malc, I can't recall atm whether you enjoy playing robotron-esque shmups or not, but if you do then Super Stardust HD (and its expansion packs) on the PS3 from old school devs Housemarque is a must-play.

There was also Jeff Minter's long awaited Space Giraffe on PC and 360 if you want to try the next evolution of the Tempest style shooter.

Among traditional shmups, nice to see you picked up TFVI already - make sure you unlock the alternate ships in that game, as one of the ships is arguably more fun than the starter ship.

There was also a new Galaga released recently on the 360 called Galaga Legions which disappointed most old school Galaga fans but is still different enough in its approach to be worth a look, it might click with you.

Cheers...

[Ceph]

what have I missed recently and not so recently?

George Bush jr. is no longer president of the US of A.

[antares]

I'd say if you're still missing out on most of the great DC and PS2 shmups there's no need to upgrade to a jp 360 right now.

Must haves imo:

DC:
Border Down
Under Defeat
Ikaruga
Shikigami No Shiro 2

PS2:
Gradius V
ESPGaluda
Mushihime Sama
DDP DOJ
Homura

[Guardians Knight]

welcome back dude, jp 360 is def the way to go.

its like deep fried pizza and mars bar all in one meal!!

[brokenhalo]

if you do pick up a 360, there's a handful of downloadable shmups on there worth picking up. the best of which, i'd have to say, is Geometry Wars 2.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Hey there Malkee,

Long time no hear from you, dude. ^_~

Nah, you haven't been out of the shmup loop too much. If you feel like playing the latest Cave arcade PCB offering in the famous and long running series of Donpachi lineage, Dodonpachi Dai-Fukkatsu came out in May of 2008. It's now hovering around $1,300-$1,350 USD price point these days. Still pretty pricey but most arcade PCB hobbyists that own it like it ever since Cave released a 1.5 version fix upgrade for it. Bummer to hear that you've got no more room for those mighty expensive PCB nowdays. Oh well...that's life.

Sorry to hear about your ups & downs in life...yep, that stuff can happen to the best of us. Must slowly pick up the pieces and go on from there. Always keep a positive spirit/mood on things in your life and things will get better on from there. A little free advice doesn't hurt, right?

Yes, it would nice to see other fellow shmuppers contribute some of their own new shmup reviews for the Shmups.org site this time around. Still plently of shmup titles for PCB and consoles to be reviewed alrighty. ^_~

Arika did release the Nintendo DS shmup title of "Ketsui Death Label" along with an included Ketsui Superplay DVD as well back in October of 2008. It's a stunner of a portable arcadey shmup (along with some cool FMV videos of arcade Ketsui in action to spice things up). Makes me wonder if other Cave shmup titles are in the works for the ol' venerable DS handheld these days. You never know these days...

Take care ol' friend and don't be a stranger around here, ya hear?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Elixir]

Please upgrade the forums, or at least shove some new themes in. This ugly ass "galaxy" theme is ancient. There's also a bunch of errors with the current phpBB; people don't end up receiving PMs, selecting the subSilver theme does nothing, and the email notification fails to work.

Most sites use vBulletin or SMF now.

[BulletMagnet]

I don't believe that malc owns the forums.

Anyways, malc, yeah, the 360 seems to be "the shmup console" of this generation, with the Wii taking the GC's place as the "also a few things worth playing" system. Raiden Fighters Aces looks to be coming to the US (though nothing's been officially announced yet), and the first Cave port on the 360 (DOJ Black Label) is out next month (same day as the new Triangle Service compilation), while Death Smiles is set for April - no concrete date for Ketsui yet.

Hope to be seeing more of you.

[Nate]

BulletMagnet wrote:

Hope to be seeing more of you.

Yeah, what he said!

Very nice to see you drop in again. I don't even know how long it's been.

One interesting thread is the "DUX for Dreamcast" one (usually on the first page)...talk about a "spit-wad" fight!

I'm still doing music - about 3 OST's in the works. Doing random stuff here and there in the meantime.

[spadgy]

Hey Malc!

quote="malc"] I bet the one in the middle was really enjoying it.
[/quote]

Fans of profanity would call that one 'Lucky Pierre'. Don't know where it comes from, but thats the technical term regardless of animal, and more normally for humans.


I think my fellow regurlars have covered the main points. All I can say is if there's any way I can help when you do the site re-jig, count me in! I got in contact with you a couple of years back about contributing writing, and am still happy to do so.

[malc]

Hi Thunderforce: Just had a loooong sesh on superstardust - obviously not the same type of game as the amiga version, being yet another twin sticker, I like how you can get in the zone quickly and just phase out... repetitive but thats the way I like my zoning.

Galaga Legions I actually downloaded ages ago, played it once and got busy. Must try it again, wasnt expecting much but looks a fun take and a bit different - cant blame people for trying something unusual as long as it works fairly well. I like the old fashioned skins best!

Hi other peeps as well!

PCEFan - hi!!! Got me a Ketsui on order - boss rushes are fun but I dont really see why we couldnt have had normal levels as well. Spose it might be like a portable trainer for the real game - but how many of us have access to that? Nice to have some decent japanses shooting action on the DS, aint complaining!

Nate: Hmm not sure about that DUX thing though. I'm afraid to say Euroshmups have never been my bag. They always seem to have inertial ships, underpowered weapons, and enemies that just trundle on and arent that aggressive much. However I like ducks, so we'll see.

Spadge - wow I never knew there was a name for that - I've not been in the particular position either, fortunately or unfortunately depending on who's behind you. Trust the french to name it though.

byebye! Malc

[spadgy]

My friend works in a hospital with a Doctor named Pierre. Thanks to my mate, all the other staff call him Lucky Pierre, and he loves it, but the poor guy doesn't know the real meaning.

Unlucky Pierre.

Anyay - way too off topic to continue. Sorry!

[Strider77]

boss rushes are fun but I dont really see why we couldnt have had normal levels as well.

yeah... I got it for a good price. but I miss having something resembling a level in there also.