ESPgaluda II or Akai Katana?

[finisherr]

Is one better than the other? What would you recommend? Just curious.

[Skykid]

Espgaluda II is better, but that's not to take anything away from AK, it's great. If it comes down to skill level, Akai Katana Shin is probably more enjoyable for the intermediate player.

[iconoclast]

I like Akai Katana more at the moment (3 great modes vs. 1 or 2), but both games are excellent. Two of Cave's finest.

[trap15]

There's no such thing as "better" when it comes to taste. I personally prefer Akai Katana over ESPGaruda II. So... yeah.

[finisherr]

There's no such thing as "better" when it comes to taste. I personally prefer Akai Katana over ESPGaruda II. So... yeah.

Some games are objectively better than others, but in this case I am also interested in preference, as well as the reasoning behind it.

[PinkSweets]

I agree - there's no such thing as better. It's about personal preference.

I prefer Akai Katana. Espgaluda 2 is a great game, but I could never really get into the series...

[finisherr]

I agree - there's no such thing as better. It's about personal preference.

I prefer Akai Katana. Espgaluda 2 is a great game, but I could never really get into the series...

Not to turn this into this kind of debate but what you just said sorta proves my point. Although you acknowledge that Espgaluda II is a great game, you don't like it. Preference of games and the ability to see true value aren't inextricable.

Anyway guys, seems like there is a lean towards Akai so far. Is it just the variety of modes? What makes it sweet?

[Vyxx]

EspGaluda II by a vast margin.

[Bee Cool]

From what I've played of Akai Katana at a friend's house, I have to say that I find Espgaluda II leagues ahead. I really prefer Galuda II's bullet patterns, visuals, and scoring system. Not to mention that vertical shooters sit better with me overall.

[DragonInstall]

Depends on what you want with your shmup.

Espgaluda II is the better game overall imo. It's harder, the music is better, the boss fights are more interesting, the scoring is more complex, and the console version has tons of modes to tinker with. Esp II BL is personally my favorite of all the modes.

Akai has better graphics, the environments vary and look really good, Shin scoring is really fun, the game is easy so it's not difficult to get into.


Basically Esp II offers more depth and difficulty while Akai offer easy fun with CAVE's best graphics to date. For me Esp II lasted a lot longer in replayability than Akai though, because the challenge is still there even after 1cc, the game is faster, and I enjoy the music.

[Skykid]

Preference of anything and the ability to see true value aren't inextricable.

AMEN (and a small fix) TO THAT!

So sick of "it's based on opinion/preference/my gentle feelings/my timid emotions/my fanboyism/my sexual urges/" when it comes to debates on quality.

I wish someone could teach that to all the dumb fucks who keep paying Hollywood to make 'great' films.

[finisherr]

Preference of anything and the ability to see true value aren't inextricable.

AMEN (and a small fix) TO THAT!

So sick of "it's based on opinion/preference/my gentle feelings/my timid emotions/my fanboyism/my sexual urges/" when it comes to debates on quality.

I wish someone could teach that to all the dumb fucks who keep paying Hollywood to make 'great' films.

Yep. Applies to anything that can be created (e.g. movies, music, software, architecture, pizza, etc). I, myself, love great things, but of course, I have my various guilty pleasures as well.

Side note. I'd love to play Progear HD. Here's to pipe dreams!

[Casper<3]

Galuda 2 all day.

I just love the atmosphere and immersive world of Galuda 2. It's steam punk with mecha enemies and other worldly character design.

Akai Katana is fun, has awesome artwork, and quick gameplay. It's enjoyable and worth buying but it doesn't draw me in like Galuda 2. Not to mention Galuda's gameplay when playing for score is nuts and takes a lot of planning that most other shmups don't offer.

[evil_ash_xero]

Well, I think Galuda II blows AK out of the water. But as they say, it's down to personal tastes.

II is way harder though, so if that scares you off, you might wanna stick to AK.

[DrTrouserPlank]

Galuda 2 is more dense but slower moving patterns like Futari ultra. Akai katana is generally less dense patterns which are slightly quicker.

Difficulty is much of a muchness really. Galuda is more sustained difficulty and is probably marginally harder. Akai katana is moderate until stage 5 but has two of the most stupid bosses you'll ever fight giving it an inconsistent difficulty curve.

[lemonhead]

ESPgaluda is *vertical*, so it is better for me.

[TonK]

Both have the most complex scoring systems of any Cave game.

I prefer the overall look and feel of Akai Katana.

Also find it way more fun to play.

[Illyrian]

Galuda 2 is more dense but slower moving patterns like Futari ultra. Akai katana is generally less dense patterns which are slightly quicker.

Difficulty is much of a muchness really. Galuda is more sustained difficulty and is probably marginally harder. Akai katana is moderate until stage 5 but has two of the most stupid bosses you'll ever fight giving it an inconsistent difficulty curve.

For once, Plankytrousers actually makes sense.

AK's bosses far outpace the levels that come before them, making it a more frustrating experiwnce. Galuda II unfortunately has a scoring system that is almost a complete mess, finicky and ambiguous. It does, however have much better boss fights and lovely bullet patterns so as much as I can't believe it, I actually have to recommend Galuda II. While it will overwhelm you with bullets, it won't make you want to punch your Xbox.

[Jeneki]

My main shmup TV is usually rotated, and only one of those if vertical. Not much of a real reason to prefer one to the other, but there you go.

[Tokyo-J]

Both games are great. Buy both!

[Paper Boy]

Both games are great. Buy both!

Yeahh iff the money comes over night i would buy both ,hee,hee.
For me Galuda 2 is one off Caves best STG ever made .Hope Galuda 3 comes in the Future.

[Age of Kings]

I don't understand AK, whereas Galuda II is quite possibly my favorite video game in terms of aesthetics. The gameplay is also fun even though I won't touch scoring for it.

[hoopy]

Both are excellent, but if I had to choose I would go for Akai Katana.

I find ESPgaluda 2 more of a consistent challenge overall, but the allure of Akai Katana's HD widescreen graphics are hard to resist.

Why choose, get both

[Moniker]

Side note. I'd love to play Progear HD. Here's to pipe dreams!

In many ways, Akai Katana sort of *is* Progear HD. So there you go.

[mdsfx]

...Galuda 2 is one off Caves best STG ever made .Hope Galuda 3 comes in the Future.

Took the words right out of my mouth. Galuda 2 is arguably my favorite cave game of all time.

[Austin]

I'll take Akai over Galuda 2.

If the first Galuda is thrown into the mix though, I will take that over Akai.

[chempop]

They are both in my top 5 favorite Cave games, ESPGaluda2 happens to be #1.
I feel strongly that the scoring mechanics are equally complicated. What is so amazing about both games is that the resources you collect from enemies can also be used defensively as an aid, or to create risk-reward situations for highscore - both are brilliant in that way.