New G.Rev shooter (Strania XBLA)

[Elixir]

That looks insane. I'm definitely interested in seeing more of this game.

[z0mbie90]

That looked awsome. Can't wait to see more. And hope it's get released outside Japan.

[doctorx0079]

Reminds me of the best parts of Raystorm. This is a good thing.

[Observer]

That looks so fucking awesome mechantastic manly mecha glorious shit like I didn't see in ages. Oh boy, I missed that type of game. It's like I'm seeing a Psyvariar 2 meets CyBattler meets Alltynex2nd.

The graphics look like a bit PS2-ish/a step up of the DC era but who cares about that when we are finally getting mechs beating the shit out of each other.

The music didn't hype me as much though... Would've preferred a more Psyvariaresque music full of those gigantic "pum-pum" basses, catchy jazzy/bright piano and that stuff.

Whatever, I'm hyped and I'm very, very glad to see this wasn't cancelled.

[chempop]

Been waiting for this... My whole life!

[clp]

fuuuu that looks awesome .

[nZero]

That looks absolutely incredible! Lasers, giant robots, lots of weapons, buncha shit blowing up, X16 popping up everywhere. I was hoping we'd see more of Strania after the initial news, now I can't wait for it to hit the XBL Marketplace so I can play it

[hirounder]

Article in English with some screens here http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/1 ... rania_xla/

G.rev made formal announcement today of Seisou Kouki Strania, a "robot action shooting game" being prepared for a 2011 Xbox Live Arcade release.

Described by G.rev as its first original console game, Strania has been made with the concept of reminding players of the late 80s to early 90s golden age of arcades.

In this vertical scrolling shooter, you take control of a mech capable of equipping multiple weapons, including a sword. You can stock three weapons simultaneously, with one weapon in each of your two hands. The weapons are capable of destroying specific enemies and item carries, so rotating the three weapons into the two available slots via the weapon change button is a major part of the gameplay.

The game makes use of the "O/D System" (short for "Overdose"). As you destroy enemies, you build up an O/D gauge. Once this is maxed out, you can enter a temporary phase of invincibility and score multipliers.

G.rev is giving Strania online support. In addition to high score rankings, the game will feature online co-op play via Xbox Live Arcade.

[Phellan Wolf]

The gameplay sounds to me like Radiant Silvergun. 3 stocked weapons and a sword. More over the video reminded me a lot to RS. Anyway I can't wait but sadly it won't be on DvD, at least for now.

[Cuilan]

Me too, but I think it is the only way for G-Rev to survive right now. After the Senko DUO disaster, and their financial troubles may have pushed them to launch it on XBLA. It is a shame I really want a physical release. However I really hope that some day in the near future some company decides to make a shooting game compilation from XBLA and release it on DVD.
At least we've got luck to see Strania finally.

To be specific, Senko DUO's home port was the "disaster" (one that G.rev only has themselves to blame for). Strania's year-long delay and Mamoru-kun's low sales certainly didn't help.

[hirounder]

Sounds like more Yak... I hope they release an OST CD.

No Yack this time, composer is certain Keishi Yonao
http://yonao.com/
http://vgmdb.net/artist/131

[Phellan Wolf]

Me too, but I think it is the only way for G-Rev to survive right now. After the Senko DUO disaster, and their financial troubles may have pushed them to launch it on XBLA. It is a shame I really want a physical release. However I really hope that some day in the near future some company decides to make a shooting game compilation from XBLA and release it on DVD.
At least we've got luck to see Strania finally.

To be specific, Senko DUO's home port was the "disaster" (one that G.rev only has themselves to blame for). Strania's year-long delay and Mamoru-kun's low sales certainly didn't help.

That was the version I was referring to since the arcade version is quite popular. Anyways, G-Rev is in financial troubles right now so they can't take the risk to launch another disc based game and result a failure in sales.
The XBLA is a fair approach and I really hope it sells quite well overseas.

[manaka]

To be specific, Senko DUO's home port was the "disaster" (one that G.rev only has themselves to blame for). Strania's year-long delay and Mamoru-kun's low sales certainly didn't help.

And G.rev only have themselves to blame for that. The other companies seem to know how to handle the console shmup market, especially Cave. Whether it be that their games are not interesting enough to buy, or they go unnoticed, the reason they are in the console space to begin with is because they want more than what they get from their arcade sales, so they need to learn to adapt or go back to arcades.

Anyways, G-Rev is in financial troubles right now so they can't take the risk to launch another disc based game and result a failure in sales. The XBLA is a fair approach and I really hope it sells quite well overseas.

XBLA makes more sense because then they get worldwide sales. That's why Cave is experimenting with XBLA too, it's just another venue for making money.

But it's not because they are failing in the retail release space. They just want to explore other options. DUO sold more copies than the original, so I don't think that is a problem for them unless they were expecting Cave numbers, in which case they need to look back at their products and figure out exactly what they are doing wrong and Cave is doing right before trying again.

[BulletMagnet]

Excellent news. G.Rev's games are perfect for $15 downloads.

But then how will you sell it to me secondhand a week later?

In any event, I dig the graphical style, but somehow it looked a bit clunky to me...maybe it's my imagination.

[Cuilan]

But it's not because they are failing in the retail release space. They just want to explore other options. DUO sold more copies than the original, so I don't think that is a problem for them unless they were expecting Cave numbers, in which case they need to look back at their products and figure out exactly what they are doing wrong and Cave is doing right before trying again.

The Senko DUO port sold relatively well, but the problem was that the game was delayed, was really buggy on release, and G.rev took a huge gamble with including such a complex story mode. There's really no excuse for how buggy the DUO port was, especially considering the delay, but it got fixed eventually. Though it must have cost them some potential sales. And then there was the story mode, which was nice, but also a very expensive endeavor. All that voice-work, artwork, writing of the story, and putting it all together into the game must not have been cheap. My guess is that G.rev was hoping that a complex story mode would attract a broader audience (much like the gameplay changes between Rev.X and DUO), but it didn't turn out that way, and 95% of Senko's current fanbase doesn't care THAT much about the story. They even built expansion support into the story mode and advertised it as a feature, which shows that they were expecting the story mode to be rather popular. G.rev made mistakes and took huge/unnecessary risks.

Excellent news. G.Rev's games are perfect for $15 downloads.

Aside from Senko, I agree.

[Phellan Wolf]

May strania open the door for future remakes of Underdefeat or Border Down???? I hope so, and they can even launch a compilation disc later on.

[xris]

I have to say that this does look pretty good. They do a fantastic job on the quick changes of perspective, moving from 3D-2.5-2D looks rather nice, and it should sit well with new comers and veterans alike. The location test vid was a neat watch, but it did have allot of downtime with nothing to shoot at.. I can't say that I like that big ass sprite, or the big ass cross that sits over your hit box. That really needs to go! The game seems to be reaching for that epic feel that Radiant Silvergun has, I would say that there are many similarities right now, but have to play it to really be sure. With that though, and RS releasing near the same time, it may have some influence on what casual players are going to expect from shmups, they are going to think that all of them should be this broad sweeping adventure. Not too much of a bad thing, but I don't want all new shmups to be like that.

[Square King]

I am not ashamed to admit love at first sight. Haven't had that since, well, Crimzon Clover.

[adversity1]

Saw on 2ch there was a Famitsu interview with Maruyama out this week where he mentions a couple things:

1. 800 MSP, but may be 1200MSP if they add some extra features to it via an update
2. Graphics done by Iuchi (Ikaruga)
3. Mech designs by a guy who worked on Gungriffon

[Super Laydock]

Looks sweet!

But I will only get Xbox360 if stuff I want is released on disc too.
They should give you this option. Charge xtra 4 it, I'll pay.

Stupid thing is that one of my top 5 ever games ( Critter Crunch) is dl only and that really makeds me scared of losing it 1 day.

[Elixir]

Looks sweet!

But I will only get Xbox360 if stuff I want is released on disc too.
They should give you this option. Charge xtra 4 it, I'll pay.

Stupid thing is that one of my top 5 ever games ( Critter Crunch) is dl only and that really makeds me scared of losing it 1 day.

Shove that shit on a couple of pen drives. Done.

[HamidoOs]

My biggest concern is what controller they're designing the game for.

I mean, is this game supposed to be played with an arcade stick, or is it designed for 360's analog sticks?

[moozooh]

My biggest concern is that I can't discern between enemy bullets and random sparks/debris. Saw that in the loke test vid and, judging by the trailer, it's going to stand. Battle Garegga, round 2? :\

[HamidoOs]

Oh I just watched a vid of the location test (2009); a guy is playing it on a viewlix cab. No analog controllers there, thank god.

[MachineAres 1CC]

I imagine they're going to translate the title for a US release. Americans will see that title and just skim by it. Not like the XBLA shmups really get any promotion anyway.

[Phellan Wolf]

I imagine they're going to translate the title for a US release. Americans will see that title and just skim by it. Not like the XBLA shmups really get any promotion anyway.

They must do it if they want the game to be worldwide friendly and as for the most part of american X360 gamers I'm quite sure that at least a lot of them will try the demo out and perhaps a few will buy it since for the hardcore it is a must buy.

[hirounder]

Little bit of character/mecha designs

[Estebang]

My biggest concern is what controller they're designing the game for.

I mean, is this game supposed to be played with an arcade stick, or is it designed for 360's analog sticks?

It's an orphaned Naomi title originally planned for arcade release, so most definitely a proper stick.

[kemical]

is this that one game we saw video of a year or so ago from a location test, where the mech/ship was using a sword to destroy obstacles in a more maze-like stage for a bit?

[Cuilan]

Aw, I was hoping the character designs would have been more Senko-ish/Mamoru-kun-ish...Oh well...

is this that one game we saw video of a year or so ago from a location test, where the mech/ship was using a sword to destroy obstacles in a more maze-like stage for a bit?

Yeah, that's the one.