Espgaluda in Mame

[david peterson]

man, i recalled galuda to be a lot harder on the ps2.. had to double-check the service settings, but it's on normal.

Its probably just youve progressed as a player + espgaluda is a piece of piss up till stage 5 if we are talking survival runs of course.

[austere]

The last changes to the new ICS2115 drivers for a while have been posted here:

http://www.raidenii.net/2010/12/final-update-for-2010/

In summary, it should be really close now, the only way the simulation will progress at this stage is through tests on the ICS2115 chip itself. Like I said before, I've ordered a little ISA card with one on it so it's available if necessary.

MAME 141 will be released shortly with this patch integrated. OK it's party time for me, have a happy new year! =P

[Elaphe]

ESPGaluda and Dodonpachi aren't working here. Maybe the roms I have are incorrect. I think I'll wait for 0.141 and then re-download the roms. Ketsui does work however. Shame it's 59hz. I'll fix that when I compile 0.141. I've created a new mode for my ArcadeVGA (460x240) and now it fits perfectly on screen. Alos, it's good news that the performance is perfect, even in my old P4. Here some screenshots of this masterpiece in low resolution:

http://www.alvarezeninternet.com/temp/ket1.jpg

http://www.alvarezeninternet.com/temp/ket2.jpg

http://www.alvarezeninternet.com/temp/ket3.jpg

(Huge-ass images changed to links instead -Ghegs)

[kernow]

Any chance you could increase the size of the pics a bit, I'm having difficulty viewing them.

[jonny5]

Any chance you could increase the size of the pics a bit, I'm having difficulty viewing them from space.

[Pulsewidth]

ESPGaluda and Dodonpachi aren't working here. Maybe the roms I have are incorrect. I think I'll wait for 0.141 and then re-download the roms. Ketsui does work however. Shame it's 59hz. I'll fix that when I compile 0.141. I've created a new mode for my ArcadeVGA (460x240) and now it fits perfectly on screen. Alos, it's good news that the performance is perfect, even in my old P4.

If you're using a CRT + ArcadeVGA, why can't you use the original refresh rate? ArcadeVGA will output 59Hz and I'm not aware of any low-res CRT that fails to sync to 59Hz.

[Greggers]

ESPGaluda and Dodonpachi aren't working here. Maybe the roms I have are incorrect. I think I'll wait for 0.141 and then re-download the roms. Ketsui does work however. Shame it's 59hz. I'll fix that when I compile 0.141. I've created a new mode for my ArcadeVGA (460x240) and now it fits perfectly on screen. Alos, it's good news that the performance is perfect, even in my old P4.

If you're using a CRT + ArcadeVGA, why can't you use the original refresh rate? ArcadeVGA will output 59Hz and I'm not aware of any low-res CRT that fails to sync to 59Hz.

Are you certain that this is true? Ultimarc themselves say "All 240-line modes have an exact 60Hz vertical refresh rate for best performance in scrolling games" (http://www.ultimarc.com/avgainf.html).

[Pulsewidth]

If you're using a CRT + ArcadeVGA, why can't you use the original refresh rate? ArcadeVGA will output 59Hz and I'm not aware of any low-res CRT that fails to sync to 59Hz.

Are you certain that this is true? Ultimarc themselves say "All 240-line modes have an exact 60Hz vertical refresh rate for best performance in scrolling games" (http://www.ultimarc.com/avgainf.html).

Any application which directly writes to the VGA registers will over-ride the VGA card internal modes.

AFAIK an ArcadeVGA is just a normal graphics cards with some bios hacks to allow low-res bootup and removing the dot-clock limits. I've no idea how to set custom modelines in Windows but I'm sure it's possible.

[captpain]

If you're using a CRT + ArcadeVGA, why can't you use the original refresh rate? ArcadeVGA will output 59Hz and I'm not aware of any low-res CRT that fails to sync to 59Hz.

Are you certain that this is true? Ultimarc themselves say "All 240-line modes have an exact 60Hz vertical refresh rate for best performance in scrolling games" (http://www.ultimarc.com/avgainf.html).

Any application which directly writes to the VGA registers will over-ride the VGA card internal modes.

AFAIK an ArcadeVGA is just a normal graphics cards with some bios hacks to allow low-res bootup and removing the dot-clock limits. I've no idea how to set custom modelines in Windows but I'm sure it's possible.

http://entechtaiwan.com/util/ps.shtm will this work? I've heard good things.

[Pulsewidth]

http://entechtaiwan.com/util/ps.shtm will this work? I've heard good things.

I remember using an older version many years ago. It lets you set custom video modes in Windows, so I believe it will work for playing games on MAME at native resolution/refresh.

[Jockel]

There's also soft15khz, you can try googling it.

[esreveR]

I was wondering how the hell this game "wasn't working".

[Frederik]

Oh my lord, this game is so purdy.

You know, at first I really, really didn´t like it. The music reminded me of a mix between bad 90s eurodance and shopping channel muzak; the first stage looked pretty ugly to me, I hated the kitschy looking characters (a white-haired fairy dude that can change his sex... yeah, sure, I can relate to that), and the scoring system seemed like a very fiddly affair to me.

However, now that I played it a bit more I really enjoy it a lot. The graphics are gorgeous (my favourite part is the giant battleship in stage 3, and in general there is a ton of detail in the backgrounds - it really pays off to make a creditfeeding run to just check out all of the scenery), the music is actually pretty fitting and while very cheesy they are actually quite catchy (I really enjoy the stage 3 theme when it hits the quieter part), I even like the boss music a lot. I think Namikis darker sounds from Ketsui and DOJ wouldn´t have worked quite as well here.

And man, the scoring is a ton of fun as well. It certainly takes place on quite a different level than in Ketsui - it feels much more deliberate - but once I got used to the rhythm of it and stopped trying to be perfect every time it really has a nice flow to it. Filling the screen with x100 and huge gold ingots is very satisfying, and it really is better when I´m not watching a ton of highscore runs beforehand - figuring good scoring opportunities out myself feels great, even if that means I´m not always playing the most ideal scoring route.

The sound design is also very nice - the shots have this juicy, bass-heavy rattling to it (similar to Ketsui), the extend jingle is satisfying and the explosions sound awesome as well.

And while this game certainly isn´t as heavy on the dodging, later bosses really have some great patterns (the train bosses "entrapment" pattern comes to mind, followed by these nasty chasings rings), and I like a lot of the new bullet designs, especially these fat wavy ones (like in the very last pattern of the final boss). Even the hitbox is way easier to see than in Esprade - here it is pretty much the white area of Agehas back, which makes it stand out enough to not be a problem (I usually hate flying people instead of ships in shmups, but here they are fine).

I´m really looking forward to play Espgaluda II now, where everything seems to have been turned up to 11, but in the meantime Espgaluda I is a terrific game, even though or maybe because it is pretty much the opposite of Ketsui - in style, music, type of scoring and difficulty.

I mean, I love my Batrider to death, but now that I played about 2/3 of all CAVE games out there, I can easily see why they are pretty much considered the grandmasters of shooting games - not everybody enjoys them, but man, the innovation, style and especially the polish is striking.

[emphatic]

figuring good scoring opportunities out myself feels great, even if that means I´m not always playing the most ideal scoring route.

Yeah, this is why I love it. A friend of mine and I were having a bit of competition in ESPGALUDA and we scored in quite different ways and were still quite close in the end of each stage. The super plays available don't differ that much with the when and where to use Kakusei, but a tip is trying to be patient and don't jump in and out of it, as it'll only eat up your gem stock.

[BPzeBanshee]

Took me a while but thanks to running Ketsui Death Label on the Wii via an emulator (horribly slow speeds but no graphical errors) I figured that the Ketsui helicopter's hitbox is actually on the white strip (I was using the wide-shot one). Very small hitbox indeed.

I didnt even have to figure that out with ESPGaluda since it tells you in the How To Play part after you select your person. I'm very happy about that. It doesnt even seem strict with scoring/survival either, now if only Shmupmame v3.0 came out I might actually have a chance at running this on my legacy machine.

Overall, I like ESPGaluda. If ESPRade got an XBLA release and had an Arrange Mode like ESPGaluda (preferably without the transvestite fairy forms but I dont mind that so much cause they look cool in either sex) I would buy the game as soon as it came out like I did with Guwange.

[Frederik]

I didnt even have to figure that out with ESPGaluda since it tells you in the How To Play part after you select your person.

Yeah, that´s nice of them - however, it also to keep the hitbox in mind during play. The biggest problem I had in Progear was that while I knew where the hitbox is located, I had problems keeping an eye on it. That´s the general problem with the asymmetric ship design in horizontal shooters. On Ageha in Espgaluda that´s much less of a problem thanks to the contrast of the white clothing and the green wings.

And yeah, the hitbox on the Tiger Schwert is definitely where you described, just under the rotor (as you can see in my profile pic). On the Panzer Jäger its even easier to see - it seems to be that it´s right on that little black box that kinda looks like it has a "L" on it. For some reason I had much bigger problems with "seeing" my hitbox in DDPDOJ.

In any case, I´m happy that visible hitboxes at all times are standard in CAVE titles now.

[sirmax]

Ketsui Death Label on the Wii via an emulator

How did you managed it? I'm trying to get SDLMame 0.5 (based on MAME 134u4) to run on my Wii, but it never finishes initialising and will freeze at some point.

[Jockel]

Ketsui Death Label on the Wii via an emulator

How did you managed it? I'm trying to get SDLMame 0.5 (based on MAME 134u4) to run on my Wii, but it never finishes initialising and will freeze at some point.

Death Label.
I think he is referring to the DS Version and some buggy, shitty DS Emulator.

[BPzeBanshee]

Ketsui Death Label on the Wii via an emulator

How did you managed it? I'm trying to get SDLMame 0.5 (based on MAME 134u4) to run on my Wii, but it never finishes initialising and will freeze at some point.

Death Label.
I think he is referring to the DS Version and some buggy, shitty DS Emulator.

Indeed I am, DeSmuME Wii is the only DS emulator for the Wii and in its current state the only thing it runs well is Yoshi's Island.

SDLMame Wii only works with some games and very older ones at that. Make sure you're not using the Linux form of it. Still, the only games I could get to work on it was Galaga and Gemini Wing.

[PurpBullets]

[Drachenherz]

sorry, I just couldn't resist.
Next time you'll get this SOB of a boss!

[PurpBullets]

I'd buy a game with nelson muntz as the tlb.

[Drachenherz]

I'd buy a game with nelson muntz as the tlb.

Oh my gawd... Imagine the raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaage his well placed "HAHA" induces after he wiped the floor with you!!!



And yes, the Endboss of Espgaluda is such aaaaaaa biaaaaaaaaaaaaattttchh!!! Consider me jealous of your ability to stay calm enough to take a snapshot of the loss...

[PurpBullets]

HA HA
I have not been calm at all, I have been about to riki-oh my own world.

[gavin19]

Unfortunately those coming late to the game and playing Espgaluda (and the rest) on Mame are missing out on the best bit, Arrange Mode. The scoring is already fun as it is but in Arrange it's visually much more rewarding and challenging. Shame that mode wasn't added to the PCB like Black Label DOJ

[sirmax]

Indeed I am, DeSmuME Wii is the only DS emulator for the Wii and in its current state the only thing it runs well is Yoshi's Island.

SDLMame Wii only works with some games and very older ones at that. Make sure you're not using the Linux form of it. Still, the only games I could get to work on it was Galaga and Gemini Wing.

Okay, that actually makes a lot more sense. Never the less, thanks for the advice.

[Frederik]

Unfortunately those coming late to the game and playing Espgaluda (and the rest) on Mame are missing out on the best bit, Arrange Mode. The scoring is already fun as it is but in Arrange it's visually much more rewarding and challenging. Shame that mode wasn't added to the PCB like Black Label DOJ

Agreed. It´s pretty much its own Ultra-mode! One thing I don´t really like about the original game is that you have to be so frugal with your green gems - I tend to always run low with them. Arrange is a lot more excessive!

[david peterson]

Agreed arrange is so good it deserved a pcb release of its own.

[Frederik]

Actually, I wish every CAVE game had three modes like the Mushihimesama titles.

[captpain]

I feel your pain. I am not exaggerating when I say I have seen that exact thing 10 times, no problem. Still haven't cleared it!