Best PSX/PS2 NTSC-U Shmup Arcade Port

[HydrogLox]

Raiden Project I'll have to look into.

I would throw my vote towards Raiden DX rather than Project.
PS1 NTSC-J. Raiden DX (futurematt5)

Not best but I think under favourites:
PS1 NTSC-J; NTSC-U/C. Thunder Force V: Perfect System Review (PlayStation) - Bullet Heaven Episode 16 (Serraxor)
Classic Game Room HD - THUNDER FORCE V
Considered to be the "poor man's Thunderforce V" because the Saturn release is pricier with superior graphics.


Definitely not best as it is somewhat austere but it is a "pleasant surprise" and usually dirt cheap even new:
PS1 NTSC-U/C. Shooter: Starfighter Sanvein Review (PlayStation) - Bullet Heaven HD, Episode 34 (Serraxor)

[KAI]

TFV and Sanvein are not Arcade games.

[HydrogLox]

TFV and Sanvein are not Arcade games.

Strictly speaking you are correct, but:

It's funny you say that, the reason I'm looking for a good game is to use my arcade stick

Most PS1 games - especially STGs - should be playable with an arcade stick as the DualShock (1997) was only introduced 3 years after the PS1 launch (1994).

[sideshow]

Even though these games werent released in the US, I find them to be quite the awesome. Psyvariar Complete Edition and Psyvariar 2 Ultimate Final. I find the music and buzz gameplay to be quite addicting and Psyvarior 2 has some nice boss explosions.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

TFV and Sanvein are not Arcade games.

Originally, Success Corp. was going to release Sanvien as a Taito G-Card cartridge to be played on the Taito G-Net arcade motherboard platform but decided to release Psyvariar Medium Unit instead to the Japanese game centers in March of 2000. Both games of Psy-MU and Sanvien were in production/development at the same time with majority of the BGM tunes on both games done by WASi303 himself. It certainly would've been cool if Sanvien was released properly as a G-Net title. Quite an impressive continue countdown timer with the slick graphical touches that no other game has indeed.

So all that work into creating Sanvien was not lost/gone up in smoke, as it was decided that it'd be best to release it on the PSX platform (considering that the original coding was for the G-Net hardware which is souped-up PSX 1.5 version hardware anyways). Still better than not having it released at all and for it to remain as a prototype "vaporware" game at best.

The original JPN PSX release of Sanvien still has the joystick control shown during the demo scene to show that it was, indeed, going to be an bona-fide G-Net arcade release. The USA PSX release of Starfighter Sanvien from Agetech (under it's budget "A1 Games" label division), omitted the joystick portion during the game demo scenes though.

Sanvien sure had some cool touches, especially with the staff ending credits with some in-game graphics shown as it scrolls on by.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[KAI]

I always had the feeling that Sanvein was an Arcade game. Is nice to hear the true story, thanks PC Engine Fan X!.

[Op Intensify]

That's interesting to hear about Sanvein. Have there been any other "orphaned" arcade games like that besides Shienryu Explosion?

I think Strania had a canceled physical arcade kit, but it saw release on NESiCA.

[Mero]

I recently read a review of one of the ports of In The Hunt and the author commented that the undersea volcano section seemed empty without the rocks spewing (pain in the butt to deal with really), so there is something missing from one of the ports of this game. Dunno about other stage tweaks.

The boulders are present in the PS1 version in arcade mode. There's another mode in the port called Playstation mode, I haven't tried it but it's probably been made easier than arcade mode.

[Kobayashi]

The Raiden Project.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Night Raid (on the actual PSX for it's apparently extra laggy on PS2, as is Zanac Neo).

[Kiken]

Night Raid (on the actual PSX for it's apparently extra laggy on PS2, as is Zanac Neo).

The PS1 port of Night Raid is randomly input laggy. In some consoles (PS1, PSOne, PS2 or PS2 Slim) it runs fine, in others, there's input lag. We've yet to figure out what causes the lag.

The port is also missing the 2-player simultaneous option from the arcade version.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Plus the little countdown numbers when small fry is shot down on the Taito G-Net version of Night Raid isn't present on the PSX version either.

The opening NR intro is a FMV clip on the PSX port whereas on the G-Net version, it's presented in real time with polygonal graphics for a more vibrant eye-catchy presentation.

Both the PSX & the G-Net versions of NR have real time polygonal graphic background endings with the staff credits (which is a plus in my book).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[antron]

what about Donpachi? I understood that the PSX was the port to get for this.

[dunpeal2064]

what about Donpachi? I understood that the PSX was the port to get for this.

Good call! The psx port is definitely the game to have. I wouldn't say the same is true with DDP though. Isn't the Salamander Deluxe pack supposed to be better on the psx as well? I've only ever played the Sat port personally.

Oh, Strikers 1945 II is supposed to be better on the psx, even though the first Strikers game was better on the Saturn.

[Op Intensify]

I think the PS1 version of DDP has some nonsense with the ship selection screen being gone, so you have to make your pick on the options menu.

Does the Saturn version of Donpachi have any major differences other than the pixelly explosions and poor voice sample quality?

[dunpeal2064]

I think the PS1 version of DDP has some nonsense with the ship selection screen being gone, so you have to make your pick on the options menu.

Does the Saturn version of Donpachi have any major differences other than the pixelly explosions?

The loading times are pretty bad, and the sound bits are just nasty.

I think the main issue with the psx port of DDP is that uncovering a bee does not add a hit to your counter. Neither port is perfect, but the Saturn port could be played with chaining in mind, and would still feel like a complete game. Some parts in the psx port are not possible to hold your chain up in, iirc.

Plus, the Saturn port gives you that cool option to play that Stage 0, with a nice remix of the Donpachi first stage music.

[Kiken]

I think the PS1 version of DDP has some nonsense with the ship selection screen being gone, so you have to make your pick on the options menu.

Does the Saturn version of Donpachi have any major differences other than the pixelly explosions and poor voice sample quality?

Saturn DDP has the pixelated explosions, not Saturn DP.

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

The loading times are pretty bad, and the sound bits are just nasty.

I think the main issue with the psx port of DDP is that uncovering a bee does not add a hit to your counter. Neither port is perfect, but the Saturn port could be played with chaining in mind, and would still feel like a complete game. Some parts in the psx port are not possible to hold your chain up in, iirc.

Plus, the Saturn port gives you that cool option to play that Stage 0, with a nice remix of the Donpachi first stage music.

You forgot to mention the best part of DDP's Saturn mode: no nonsense requirements to meet Hibachi! single loop only!
But yeah, that remix alone is enough to sell the Saturn version~

[Klatrymadon]

I've never been able to get The Raiden Project working on the Playstation. Tried it on several machines, too - all in good working order. It always freezes up when I select a game at the title screen. I know there's nothing wrong with the disc, though, because if I pop it into my PC and start it in ePSXe, it runs quite well.

[Mortificator]

I'm partial to Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus on PS1 and Gradius III and IV on PS2.