Best version of Shikigami no Shiro II?

[Chacranajxy]

This is another game I've been looking to try out at some point, but I'm not sure which version I should pick up because it came out on literally every system ever, and some of them had additional content or something. It's very confusing. So I was hoping that some of you have an insight on this matter. Is the Dreamcast version the best since it's a Naomi port? Should I be going for that PC version? I have no idea

[chempop]

Depends on what you mean my "best version". For me the US port on PS2 Castle Shikigami 2 is the best because it was about $10. Most will probably tell you the DC is the best because it looks the best with VGA adapter (but its at least 5-times the price..). Not exactly sure about different options and modes, but something tells me there isn't anything that another version is really missing.

[Chacranajxy]

Hmm... yeah, I suppose I should've been more specific:

1) Price doesn't really matter
2) Arcade accuracy is mega-important.
3) Curious about extra modes and stuff like that, but not if it comes at the expense of arcade accuracy.

[professor ganson]

I've never played the arcade version, but I've got the ports and I'd probably rank them in the following order

DC
XBox
GC
PS2
PC (actually, I haven't tried this yet-- that's why I put it at the bottom)

The thing is, even the PS2 version is terrific, provided that you're using something better than composite cables. In that case the picture can lack a crispness that will affect your ability to steer through tight patterns. The benefit of the PS2 version is that the PS2 has the best controller options (setting aside PC).

I can't think of anything in the way of extra options. They all have practice mode and don't they all have that insanity mode or whatever it's called?

[yosai]

The GC also has an Extreme Mode, not sure if that's in the xbox version.

[louisg]

I second the "PS2 one because it's about $10" sentiment I played it for maybe a week

[BER]

I've played the PS2 and PC ports for a long time. The PS2 port has inaccuracies compared to the arcade version, while the PC port has nothing significant from what I've noticed. I've noticed the following inaccuracies with the PS2 port:

• Whenever slowdown occurs, the game speed is slower on the PS2 port than on the arcade version.
• High-scoring tactics against the stage 4-1 boss on the arcade version do not work on the PS2 port. For example, in the arcade version with Kuga 2, the player can let his shikigami attack the boss's nose at the start of the battle, and lots of coins will pop out during the boss's first attack. But in the PS2 port, the coins will never pop out. (I have examples for other characters elsewhere on this forum.) This might be because certain parts of the boss now shield the little fringes that produce the coins.
• For the stage 5-2 boss's second form, the bullet sprite priorities are different between the arcade and PS2 versions. I wrote an explanation elsewhere on this forum.

Obviously, I would not recommend the PS2 port at all if you want an accurate port. I would recommend the PC port instead. I don't know about the other ports, so I would check whether the issues with the PS2 port occur on other ports.

[cj iwakura]

^Excellent thread, sad I missed it before finishing the article.

Another vote here for the PC version. As much as I enjoy 2's hilarious dub, the PC version has everything the PS2 one doesn't and then some.

However, I don't recommend the PC version of III, if you ever look that up. The Wii/360 versions are far better. PC has longer loading times, no Munchausen, no gallery.

[Chacranajxy]

So the people who are recommending the PC version: are you recommending that version over the DC version for the most authentic port?

[Rob]

I've played PS2, GC and DC versions and the best of those is definitely Gamecube. Has a better (slightly arranged?) soundtrack, wait (slowdown) on/off.