Choosing between Shienryu and Soukyugurentai (SAT) ?

[MrChiggins]

So Shienryu is good? It was always one of those games I just assumed was bad after watching some footage.

Yeah so I played Shienryu for couple of hours today and it's really fun. I must have formed my presumptuous opinion a couple years back when I never played any games like Raiden or Truxton.
That style isn't really my cup of tea but it's fun every once in a while.

[MrChiggins]

If you love the panoramic drama of raiden

Panoramic drama is a great description dude. Gonna have to start using that one.

Maybe I'll form a band with that name.

PLEASE WELCOME

PANORAMIC DRAMA

[EmperorIng]

I don't know how many there are out there, but I actually really like vertizontals - finally, I can play a vertical-scrolling shmup without the damn letterbox and without turning my 100lbs tv on its side.

Of course, my CRT is 36", so really, even in letterbox mode Tate shooters look pretty big and detailed - probably (I suspect) as big as they would appear on a dedicated arcade screen. If not bigger!

Shienryu is one of those games that is on my "to buy - eventually" list. Both games hover around $50, but I can say that Soukyogurentai is loads of fun and definitely got some pizzazz to it - the later levels are deliciously brutal! I actually had to go soft and give myself 7 credits, because I couldn't beat it with (what I think is the default) five.

[Obiwanshinobi]

I don't know how many there are out there, but I actually really like vertizontals - finally, I can play a vertical-scrolling shmup without the damn letterbox and without turning my 100lbs tv on its side.

I play Saturn games on a 14'' CRT (not a bad thing as RGB makes detailed pixel art insanely crisp) that's hassle-free to be turned on its back, and yet I usually end up just playing Guardian Force. That being said, it only comes up as a vertizontal at first (then there's scrolling in other directions too).

Nah, it's not just you - the game goes outta control if you're picking up powerups after max power (possibly other items as well, not sure; I think it's been discussed here before).

Interesting. Another Compile trait? Gotta try it out sometime, as the lethargic early stages always seemed weird to me.
Anybody knows whether the PS2 port is as faithful as the graphics suggest?

[gct]

Nah, it's not just you - the game goes outta control if you're picking up powerups after max power (possibly other items as well, not sure; I think it's been discussed here before).

Interesting. Another Compile trait? Gotta try it out sometime, as the lethargic early stages always seemed weird to me.
Anybody knows whether the PS2 port is as faithful as the graphics suggest?

It has been a few years since I played Shienryu, but yea I think if you get every item, it's already absolutely bonkers by halfway through stage 2. Or maybe it was 3. At any rate it's definitely the more fun way to play the game.

I had both the ST-V and PS2 versions, I never noticed anything particularly off in the PS2 port. I ought to buy that version again.

[professor ganson]

Shienryu on Sat is arcade perfect but I actually prefer the PS2 port with its extra game and component output.

I'm kind of surprised to see most people here thinking that it's a toss up. I like both games, but Souky is a classic. The better game by a good measure, I would have thought.

[Obiwanshinobi]

What's with that weird sound Shienryu makes? I'm not sure if it's the lightning weapon or grazing. I thought it could be something wrong with the PS2 disc so I checked out the Saturn version and the weird sound is still there. Has anyone alse got that impression?

In other news, it looked even more Compile than I remembered. As if Compile made a game for the Raiden hardware or something.

[Jeneki]

the later levels are deliciously brutal! I actually had to go soft and give myself 7 credits, because I couldn't beat it with (what I think is the default) five.

Alternatively, the difficulty settings in Souky are quite effective. On the lowest setting even I cen get to the end. Perhaps slowly crank it up as you play more?

[Dylan1CC]

I own and enjoy both. Shienryu is fun but it's a bit too easy and basic in my opinion. Soukyugurentai is much more exciting and engaging in all areas: gameplay, graphics and music. Gripes with the rank system aside, it's a beautifully done game and has also one of my favorite lock-on systems in a shmup.

[exquisite_torture]

I like Shienryu a lot, Pink Sweets reminds me of it.

[R79]

I personally thought Souky was one of the most overhyped shooters I've bought from Japanese eBay sellers, and sold it back again after a few years. The game essentially was just locking on everything. Wasn't so keen on the sound, and frankly the blocky, early 3d Saturn graphics juxtaposed with sprites didn't impress me much either. This used to be an expensive game on the system, but gradually fell in price from like 2005-2010 (not sure what it makes now). High price Saturn shooters, give me Garegga or Batsugun any night.

Never got round to picking up Shienryu (this is on the Space War PAL PS2 game right? Now goes for crazy money, relatively), but if it's a straight Raiden II knock-off, I'll probably get some enjoyment from it.