PCEFX's impressions of USA region Taito FX-1B Raystorm PCB

[PC Engine Fan X!]

After recieving a package addressed to me yesterday, proceeded to fire it up on the ol' Egret II cab. It is a USA region Taito FX-1B powered Raystorm PCB. I noticed that there is a blue colored switch on the Sony ZN-1 based motherboard which is to select between either "mono" or stereo sound output via the optional stereo 4-pinout using a stereo harness adapter. The Egret II does have a special stereo harness to utilize that cool setup.

Pressed the test switch and went to the Operator's Menu screen. Adjusted the screen settings to the optimum settings for best picture clarity and fine tuned horizontal and vertical for proper monitor screen size since it's presented in yoko.

After sampling some of the BGM tunes, it would seem that the Taito FX-1B mobo does output in crystal clear 44.1kHz CD quality sound -- sounds great in stereo mode being piped through the Egret II's speakers. It almost brings a tear to my eyes listening to the original arcade BGMs by Zuntata -- very epic indeed. Having played the Working Designs/Spaz version of RS, it's PCB counterpart is an entirely different beast. With zero loading times compared to the double-speed endowed PSX CD-Rom drive and instant booting up upon being powered up for the day, the PCB version is the definitive version to play/own. ^_~

The Operator's settings are saved via flash memory even if the PCB is powered down for the night without the need for a backup battery whatsoever. High scores, however, are erased if the PCB is turned off. The framerate is pegged in at a sliky smooth arcade spec 60 frames-per-second.

I can see that Taito went back to the drawing board and added some extra twists and spins for the PSX version of the same name not found on the PCB itself for extra added value/replayability.

Playing RS PCB with a Sanwa joystick/push button combo setup (properly broken in) adds to the overall tight responsive input required for some serious shmup sessions.

I recall that the Taito Corporation subsidairy based in the USA closed down before the intial rollout of the Taito G-Net mobo, did properly release a RS Jamma PCB kit (with full-sized marquee) for distribution to U.S. arcades back in 1996. It wasn't until Working Designs snagged the official rights to print & distribute RS for the North American PSX marketbase. WD also did a $10,000 PSX Raystorm contest to promote their new Spaz game label. I managed to place in the final top ten PSX RS contest high score list with a RS mouse pad as a consolation prize. Better than nothing for my hard work. ^_~

And now my Raystorm collection is complete with the WD/Spaz PSX RS version, the cool CGI based WD/Taito PSX RS odd-balled size poster, WD produced RS mouse pad and finally, the USA region PCB version.

If Taito were to do a prequel or sequel to it's Raystorm PCB spinoff, by going the high-res 640 x 480 spec route would be cool.

Are there any high-res scans of the Raystorm arcade instruction strip, owner's manual and/or marquee to d/l? Thanks in advance for any links to do so...

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[BIL]

Have you played the PS2 version of Raystorm found on Taito Memories 2 (US) / Taito Memories 1 Gekan (JP), PCEFX? I've owned the PS1 port for years and recently upgraded to the PS2 version - was wondering how it compares to the arcade version. I've yet to try either PS2 or arcade Raystorm, although I can see from videos they're both a ways ahead of the (very playable but noticeably downgraded) PS1 version.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Yes, I do have this PS2 version of Raystorm found on Taito Memories 2 (US) that you mention about, Bill. I forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder. ^_~

The PS2 port of RS is definitely faster and benefits from the quicker CD-Rom drive specs but still has slight loading times to contend with. The PCB version has no loading times whatsoever (aside from the intial 10 seconds upon booting it up from a "cold" start) + instanteous startup upon crediting a game -- damn lightning quick indeed.

Plan on spending anywhere in the range of $80 to $100+ for a barebones Raystorm PCB is norm these days. When I bought the Working Designs port of Raystorm back in November of 1997, shelled out the MSRP of $39.99 + tax as usual. It was considered a pricey top tiered PSX game get during the first few months of being available on USA retailers shelves. If you waited long enough, you could have gotten it at the cheap-ass bargin price of $19.99 brand new back in 1998-1999. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I finally found the Taito Raystorm arcade flyer here (basically a combo of both Japanese and English text -- I can see where Working Designs got some of their pics for creating their own Spaz label PSX RS instruction manual setup):

http://www.arcadeflyers.com/?page=thumb ... odb&id=875

A better high resolution scan would be better though. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[lawnspic]

@PC, i had that board and sold it like an idiot. The PCB is superior to the TM version. I will say that the PS1 version is a close second. Great game and PCB, enjoy!

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Oh yes, I will indeed enjoy my treasured Raystorm PCB. Sure, I've seen the PCB version up for sale from time to time here on the Trading section of shmups.org but never bought one until just very recently. ^_~

Thanks for the kinds words, lawnspic...good luck in your search for another one.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[BIL]

The PCB is superior to the TM version. I will say that the PS1 version is a close second.

What does the PS1 version have over the TM one? I've kept the former in my collection anyway, but I wondered if there was any point.

Edit: regarding the arcade mode's performance, that is; not extras like the PS1 Arrange mode and remixed music.

[BIL]

Since I might be picking up a few PCBs in the near future, I may as well ask again: is the PS2 version of Raystorm's gameplay seriously deficient in some way? Loading times, interlacing and apparent lack of slowdown don't bother me. Reduced speed (G-Darius PS1) or lowered difficulty (Rayforce SS) do. From comparing WIZ's arcade superplay, the PS2 version seemed dead-on.

[Obiwanshinobi]

I haven't tried the TM version yet, but bear in mind that no game on Taito Legends has tate mode. Tate games are letterboxed and 3D ones don't even seem to be rendered in the resolution your telly's displaying. Rather they are upscaled, just like 2D ones. RayStorm looked even uglier than G-Darius (which at least takes the whole screen). It's not even the interlacing (that'd be okay if done properly; see Gradius V), it's just the god-awful marriage of scaling, interlacing and deflickering. Visually it's a poster child of emulation/porting done badly on the system more than sufficient for the job. Perhaps the TM version at least has tate mode, like RayForce (by the way, someone on these forums claimed RayForce on TM to "look like p240"; well, it does not, it's interlaced too). The gameplay should be okay, though.
Maybe I'll be able to compare TM version with TL one.

[Kiken]

I haven't tried the TM version yet, but bear in mind that no game on Taito Legends has tate mode. Tate games are letterboxed and 3D ones don't even seem to be rendered in the resolution your telly's displaying. Rather they are upscaled, just like 2D ones. RayStorm looked even uglier than G-Darius (which at least takes the whole screen). It's not even the interlacing (that'd be okay if done properly; see Gradius V), it's just the god-awful marriage of scaling, interlacing and deflickering. Visually it's a poster child of emulation/porting done badly on the system more than sufficient for the job. Perhaps the TM version at least has tate mode, like RayForce (by the way, someone on these forums claimed RayForce on TM to "look like p240"; well, it does not, it's interlaced too). The gameplay should be okay, though.
Maybe I'll be able to compare TM version with TL one.

Why would RayStorm need tate? it's a yoko screen oriented game.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Why would RayStorm need tate? it's a yoko screen oriented game.

Is it? Well, I remember it looking far from hot, like every other 3D game on Taito Legends, so maybe it was exactly as bad as G-Darius.

[BIL]

Raystorm looks fine to me on Taito Memories Gekan, as does G-Darius. Definitely not into either for their graphics, anyway. I'm more concerned about gameplay differences / slowdown, which I've not found in either. Just wondering if anyone more familiar with the Raystorm PCB knew otherwise.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Why would RayStorm need tate? it's a yoko screen oriented game.

Is it? Well, I remember it looking far from hot, like every other 3D game on Taito Legends, so maybe it was exactly as bad as G-Darius.

Even the original G-Darius arcade iteration was released as a Taito FX-1B based PCB in both plain vanilla & 2.01 upgraded variants. Both PCBs of Raystorm & G-Darius have no slowdown whatsoever and instant loading times (once past the intial boot-up screen) + no waiting for a CD-Rom or DVD-Rom drive to get up to speed to load the actual game up either (like with the PSX & PS2 ports of both arcade shmup titles of the same name) since it's all Rom based to begin with.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~