Taito makes a NEW cute platformer!

Dylan1CC · Post by **Dylan1CC** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 6:47 pm

Thanks to Chaofnee from TNL forum for finding this from Insert Credit:

Originally Posted by Insert Credit
But secondly, the classic 2D side-scroller, widely ignored by the arcade audience and media at present. Taito wants to bring the jumping, platforms, cute characters and multi-purpose umbrellas back in full hi-res sprite glory with 'Spica Adventure', a game for the Windows-based Type X system, ported from Japanese mobile phones.

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 7:21 pm

i wanna try it. that looks cool!

99pence · Post by **99pence** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 8:16 pm

I was begining to think no one else noticed/cared.

"A new Taito 2D platformer" is something I thought wasn't going to happen again. Whether it's good or not is another thing altogether.

Look how Super Mario World influenced that background it.

More 2D platformers please, one of the greatest genres EVER.

LoneSage · Post by **LoneSage** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 8:55 pm

Sa-weet, check that baby out! Looks like the graphical style of Paper Mario, but it's a 2D platformer..port kthnxplz Taito

Post by **Ghegs** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:24 pm

Heh, maybe this signals a renaissance of 2D mainstream games.

No, probably not. Still, nice to see someone has the balls the do something like this in this day and age.

joshschw · Post by **joshschw** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:31 pm

cheap ps2 port, please

Post by **nZero** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:49 pm

New Zealand Story sequel, please

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 11:42 pm

From that screenshot this game looks like it actually might be a sequel to New Zealand Story-the main character looks like some kind of bird.

And amen to 99Pence's comment; we need some more 2D platformers!

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 11:46 pm

I will buy a port, even if it's crap. We need more platformers!

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 2:50 am

dave4shmups wrote:From that screenshot this game looks like it actually might be a sequel to New Zealand Story-the main character looks like some kind of bird.

And amen to 99Pence's comment; we need some more 2D platformers!

Nope, it's a girl with an umbrella. I hope this game turns out good. Hopefully, it will play something like Don Doko Don 2.

Skyline · Post by **Skyline** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:10 am

Hi-res 2D platformer that's NOT on GBA = instant win.

Taito's awesome. :D

chtimi-CLA · Post by **chtimi-CLA** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 4:15 pm

i didn't think we would ever get another non run-n-gun 2D arcade action

between this and the shmups ports, taito is becoming quite respectable again,
unlike ddr-konami and prize-capcom

Super Laydock · Post by **Super Laydock** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 8:45 pm

BrianC wrote:
dave4shmups wrote:From that screenshot this game looks like it actually might be a sequel to New Zealand Story-the main character looks like some kind of bird.

And amen to 99Pence's comment; we need some more 2D platformers!
Nope, it's a girl with an umbrella. I hope this game turns out good. Hopefully, it will play something like Don Doko Don 2.

umbrella? hmm, I think it's a sword or something, but then again litle girls with sword!?

Anyway nice to see someone embracing such a classic genre again on this platform.
I second the New Zealand story 2 plea, but would like a sequal in the Bubble Bobble/Rainbow Islands series even more. Damn those games were fun.

gameoverDude · Post by **gameoverDude** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 12:45 am

This is looking great. Taito is making a positive statement with this one, and I'm hoping that it gets serious support so maybe we can get Parasol Stars 2 or something- I think we're long overdue for a Bubble Bobble 4.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 1:33 am

There is a Bubble Bobble game planned for the PSP, that may be meant to be some sort of sequel.

Man, I love 2D platformers. From some research over at Gamefaqs, I found out that Saturn Rayman and Gex both got JP releases, so I don't have to miss out on those two with my JP Saturn!

99pence · Post by **99pence** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 7:22 am

Its definitely an umbrella.

Here's screenshots of the mobile phone version which looks like it's a couple of years old.

http://www.taito.co.jp/mobile/news_mc/2003/mc_10_6.html

supaT · Post by **supaT** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 9:31 am

... the Windows-based Type X system, ported from Japanese mobile phones.

Ported from mobile phones to the arcade?! I hope they wont port the 'ringtone guys' in the future.

Randorama · Post by **Randorama** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 12:38 pm

I'm officially a Taito fanboy .Always been actually, but never had the balls to declare it

Tar-Palantir · Post by **Tar-Palantir** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 12:52 pm

^^Me too

. I was thinking of changing my avatar to Taito's blue triangle with 'RESPECT below it when the new forums went up. I might still do it.

Super Laydock · Post by **Super Laydock** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 3:08 pm

99pence wrote:Its definitely an umbrella.

ok!

you: right!

I: wrong!

In any case: looking cool!

Andi · Post by **Andi** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 4:13 pm

Randorama wrote:I'm officially a Taito fanboy .Always been actually, but never had the balls to declare it

I been one since the NES days.

LoneSage · Post by **LoneSage** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 3:30 am

Huh, Spica Adventure...

Too early to tell if the game takes place in a Hispanic area or if the main character herself is Hispanic, but I wonder if Taito was having fun..

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 3:33 am

Spica is actually the name of a star: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spica

Neon · Post by **Neon** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 3:42 am

prize-capcom

New rule: No shit-talking about capcom allowed.

They've been putting out 2d games all last year and looks like all this year too. sf:ac and fighting jam for xbox, new megaman X comp. for ps2 (yay, no need to get another snes), and with the classics collection we might get another shmup.

Of course they're still pumping out the resident evil BS, but they've gotta make money at some point.

On topic: looks kewl, off of a cell phone it might have decent controls also.

Tar-Palantir · Post by **Tar-Palantir** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 3:00 pm

I did it.

Randorama · Post by **Randorama** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 3:17 pm

Tar-Palantir wrote:I did it.

Oh dear, i have Avatar's envy now

Beside that, i hope it goes well, it seems like Tatio wants to port every successful Type X game to ps2, so...

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 3:20 pm

I hope this and Raiden III get a US release.

JAPJAC · Post by **JAPJAC** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 1:35 am

I've started impressions of this great new PCB here:

http://gxboards.lithium.com/messages/me ... t&id=zyxrf

"Pt.1/2:

Spica Adventure.

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL10/8750 ... 672208.jpg

PCB.

2005.

2D Platformer by Taito.

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL10/8750 ... 672221.jpg

It's games like this that make TFP Fanitsu tick. We have been following the release for a while now with much excitement and now I have finally been lucky enough to play it. Prior to release the nice people at Try PCB Shop Akihabara (who had been pushing it with a nice P.O.S. cardboard display) informed me that this game had a release date of 22/06/05 so I had been checking Taito's Game Centure’s regularly since then. However, surprisingly at the time of writing this PCB didn't make it’s Akihabara debut on Taito’s own soil, instead in Try’s very own trusty ‘Amusement Tower’ (the best arcade in the World. The End), Akihabara. Tokyo, Japan.

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL10/8750 ... 672231.jpg

Upon inserting one’s Y100 you are treated to a tuition of controls; ‘A’ is Attack and ‘B’ is Jump. From these 2 buttons Spica Girl has a vast array of moves at her disposal thanks to her parasol in hand.

Moves List:

Holding ‘A’ whilst on firm ground stationary allows Spica Girl to defend herself with the protection of her parasol against enemy shots. Depending upon which direction danger is hailing from one can then move the joystick left and right to move your parasol protecting her from any side and upward direction. This action also rebounds enemy shot to where it came from as a handy attack technique.

Holding ‘A’ whist falling mid-air allows Spica Girl to use her parasol to gently fall to the ground Mary Poppins (gor blimey) and Parasol Stars style.

Pressing ‘A’ and ‘B’ simultaneously launches Spica Girl’s parasol into enemies (and back again automatically) only in horizontal directions.

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL10/8750 ... 672582.jpg

A bit like TNN’s Umihara Kawase series and Capcom’s Top Secret (in a way), Spica Girl can use her parasol weapon on scenery to navigate herself about. Simply wedge your parasol into a wall by pressing attack then use the joystick to get some leverage for a successful vault skyward.

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL10/8750 ... 672647.jpg

(Not shown) When jumping; Down & Attack causes Spica Girl to break through breakable blocks (or attack enemies from above) like a Super Mario World Mario Spin (minus the spin in Spica Girl's case).

So many moves to master, and again as in Umihara Kawase you can be presented with a short extra cinema tuition between stages explaining these techniques to aid your progress.

Pt.2 coming soon."

Cthulhu · Post by **Cthulhu** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 2:17 am

Hurrah, new platformer~

It's been said a million times, but... port please.

C'mon Taito, show some love to people who play from their couches and desks~

steveovig · Post by **steveovig** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 2:27 am

Welp, I'm very impressed by it and want it badly but it probably won't be ported home nor will it be brought stateside. Another JAP game I'll never play.