How faithful are the Ikaruga and Robotron2084 Xbox360 ports?

[Some-Mist]

Well, that's what I'm saying. I wouldn't really hesitate to recommend somebody a bad port as long as the game was still good. Though obviously I would recommend them a better port if it were widely available.

the only bad thing is, it would suck to finally come across an ikaruga PCB and have it take a crap on you because you developed your run(s) on the XBLA version (just like how the XBLA version crapped on me lol).

I'm not sure what the availability of such a pcb would be in your area though.. I'm just lucky enough to have an arcade 20 minutes away from me in Chicago that has ikaruga and ddpdoj.

[EmperorIng]

Really? Which arcade is that? I'd love to check it out sometime.

[gs68]

Ikaruga is one of those games where I would not want to switch between different versions due to the level of memorization the game demands.

But I hated having enemies sweat instead of bleed

alternatively: bodily substances that shall not be named

[Some-Mist]

Really? Which arcade is that? I'd love to check it out sometime.

Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield
http://www.gallopingghostarcade.com/games_list.htm
the games are not in pristine cabs by any means, but it's still fun to go there and pay $15 and play anything you want (they're all on unlimited play).

[NeoStrayCat]

But I hated having enemies sweat instead of bleed

ugh. I hate random SNK censorship. The Real Bout collection on PS2 was censored as well.

Actually, you can have blood on MS3 on the XBLA version by changing the system language setting to Japanese.

And I'm guessing its censored for the US FF archives 2. I'm guessing the JP ver has the blood, since all of that stuff is based on AES defaults between regions.

[BrianC]

But I hated having enemies sweat instead of bleed

ugh. I hate random SNK censorship. The Real Bout collection on PS2 was censored as well.

Actually, you can have blood on MS3 on the XBLA version by changing the system language setting to Japanese.

And I'm guessing its censored for the US FF archives 2. I'm guessing the JP ver has the blood, since all of that stuff is based on AES defaults between regions.

ahh. I was wondering if that was the case. With the Real Bout collection, the US version stays censored even when switched to Japanese.

[opt2not]

<snip>...and pictures of Robotron don't look the same, though I have no idea if it plays identically.

From what I can tell, Robotron plays identical to the arcade board, except I believe they put in a fix for the corner-shot-reset bug. There is an option for the graphics to be set to classic mode, or the new skin which is what you're probably seeing screenshots of. There are also a funny game mode option for 2 players where one player controls the movement, and the other player controls the shooting. It gets pretty hilarious, but hella hard to actually play that way.

[ptoing]

Just a note on the PAL GC Ikaruga port. It's shite. They were too lazy to make a 60hz mode and cheaply skip every 6th frame to keep the game at the sameish speed. If you play the NTSC version of the DC one right before and then the GC PAL one you will notice.

[VixyNyan]

Can you still even buy Robotron on XBLA? Last I heard it was delisted.

Yea, but on rare occasions, you could find a downloadable redeem code for the game either on Ebay or coming included with the Microsoft Vision Camera. But since the Midway Arcade Origins that BrianC linked to is coming soon, it won't be necessary anymore. That means I could finally play Defender.

There's a game list available from these sources:
The Verge
Destructoid
VG247

Not sure if they are truly the old XBLA games that got delisted before.
Since it mentions online leaderboards and achievements, it might be the case. We'll see. ^^

[Special World]

Those Midway collections are amazing, btw. I have the first two on Gamecube (the third one is sorta shoddy) and they're loaded with absolute classics. This seems like a smattering of the best games from the first two, so I'd definitely give it a shot if you don't have them all already. Not that you need to be told, really, but I'm always surprised with how great the games are.

Except Pit Fighter. Pit Fighter is booties.

[EmperorIng]

Really? Which arcade is that? I'd love to check it out sometime.

Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield
http://www.gallopingghostarcade.com/games_list.htm
the games are not in pristine cabs by any means, but it's still fun to go there and pay $15 and play anything you want (they're all on unlimited play).

Damn, you may live 20 minutes away from there, but without a car, I'm looking at an hour and a half... : /

The place sounds right up my alley though. And they're actually considering getting a Darius cab? F-in' awesome.

[Special World]

Wish I knew of somewhere like that around Pittsburgh. There may very well be a place, but I haven't heard of it. We have the PAPA headquarters nearby, but I sincerely doubt they have any really awesome shooters.

[drunkninja24]

Really? Which arcade is that? I'd love to check it out sometime.

Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield
http://www.gallopingghostarcade.com/games_list.htm
the games are not in pristine cabs by any means, but it's still fun to go there and pay $15 and play anything you want (they're all on unlimited play).

I've been here, it's a great arcade. For some reason when I was there, they had their DOJ pcb set on max difficulty right from the beginning, .

Closest thing in my area is http://www.1984arcade.com/ which is an alright place, but the only shooter they have is 1942.

[Special World]

I decided to leave Ikaruga off my list. These days I respect it more than I enjoy it, and my reservations were definitely coming through in the writing. I couldn't justify leaving it in since I left out so many fantastic Cave games. Here's my article:

http://catstronaut.wordpress.com/2012/1 ... -shooters/

Thanks for helping out, guys. Let me know what you think.

[opt2not]

no mention of robotron...

[Special World]

no mention of robotron...

I love Robotron, but it wouldn't work since this is 360 only. I suppose I could have shouted out for the upcoming Midway Arcade Origins collection, but I felt like Score Rush deserved the nod, especially since Arcade Origins seems responsible for Robotron being taken off XBLA in the first place. Also, listing it would leave Raiden in the lurch as the only game without an "upcoming event" style entry :\

If it makes you feel any better, I think Midway Arcade Origins is bound to be a fantastic collection, and Robotron stands as one of my all-time favorites.

[BrianC]

especially since Arcade Origins seems responsible for Robotron being taken off XBLA in the first place

Arcade Origins had nothing to do with Robotron being removed from XBLA. It was taken off becuase of Midway going under.

[Special World]

especially since Arcade Origins seems responsible for Robotron being taken off XBLA in the first place

Arcade Origins had nothing to do with Robotron being removed from XBLA. It was taken off becuase of Midway going under.

Ah, okay. I just now noticed that Backbone is developing it - I seem to recall them having successfully ported a ton of games, so hopefully they give Origins a good treatment. I added in a small nod to Robotron, because it makes for a more natural lead-in, and I wanted to give it credit anyhow. One of the few games that does an idea so successfully that nobody's ever really topped it. Geometry Wars 2 is equally as good imo, but that it took 20+ years for a contender is really something to be proud of.

[Danny]

Apprently the new DISC release of the Midway Arcade Classics on the 360 is whack. Twin stick shooters are annoluge only which is fine but the coder did not bother porting the controls properly for a 360 pad so the sticks have massive deadzones and/or feel loose which could not be a problem if we where allowed to use the face buttons in stead. In short the new disc release is not worth bothering with...

[Special World]

Apprently the new DISC release of the Midway Arcade Classics on the 360 is whack. Twin stick shooters are annoluge only which is fine but the coder did not bother porting the controls properly for a 360 pad so the sticks have massive deadzones and/or feel loose which could not be a problem if we where allowed to use the face buttons in stead. In short the new disc release is not worth bothering with...

That's pretty shit. I think the Gamecube versions were so good partly because the C-stick has those 8-way notches that suit the games really well.

[BrianC]

I heard Smash TV has the same issues as in some of the previous Midway collections (slowdown and music cutting off), as well. Some of them were designed by Digital Eclipse, which, as far as I know, was absorbed into Backbone. I was hoping some of the control issus with certain games in MAT like Marble Madness and Spy Hunter would be fixed, but it looks like that's not the case. At least I have the Genesis and PC Midway Arcade collections for my Robotron fix (I have and like the Atari 7800 and Atari 800 ports, as well).

It's odd how the collection has Vindicators part II since it's just a stripped down version of the original with fewer levels. I think I'll skip it since I have MAT on GCN and it doesn't offer anything new or improved over previous collections.

[blackoak]

Is there a definitive port for Robotron 2084? Does MAME handle it perfectly? I love that game, but have only played it on cabs at arcades.

[Danny]

Is there a definitive port for Robotron 2084? Does MAME handle it perfectly? I love that game, but have only played it on cabs at arcades.

The old XBLA version was good providing you turned off the new graphics. MAME handles this game fine also IMO.

Also this just in the new DISC release also has sound emulation problems, Smash TV being a game my frined has had problems with. Again don't bother with the new release.

[BrianC]

Also this just in the new DISC release also has sound emulation problems, Smash TV being a game my frined has had problems with. Again don't bother with the new release.

The sound emulation problems aren't limited to the new disc (check a couple posts back). Other backbone/Digital Eclipse collections have them too. Some of Code Mystic's games (former DE staff) have sound issues, as well. MAT1 for Gamecube has mistimed sound. It's nothing new for Backbone and sadly expected. Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection has sound issues with some games as well (most notably Space Harrier).

[Danny]

Also this just in the new DISC release also has sound emulation problems, Smash TV being a game my frined has had problems with. Again don't bother with the new release.

The sound emulation problems aren't limited to the new disc (check a couple posts back). Other backbone/Digital Eclipse collections have them too. Some of Code Mystic's games (former DE staff) have sound issues, as well. MAT1 for Gamecube has mistimed sound. It's nothing new for Backbone and sadly expected. Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection has sound issues with some games as well (most notably Space Harrier).

Yeah I know I was just confriming that the issues where still present. Sorry perhaps I should of written that a bit better! XD