Any point in getting a NTSC-J 360 at this time?

[Astraea FGA Mk. I]

I decided to get a Japanese Xbox 360 to play Ketsui, Mushihimesama HD and Dodonpachi Saidaioujou. I already have a PAL region console with every Cave release playable on it.
The announcement that SDOJ was to have a simultaneous world release has really discouraged me.
In addition to the games mentioned I would get Deathsmiles IIX and DDP DFK BL (for ketsuipachi). I'm also interested in a few non-cave titles.

Should I get a NTSC-J 360? My entertainment budget would permit it but I'm not one to spend money frivolously.

[gray117]

UK based?

Probably not, unless you really enjoy 'dabbling' and like changing shmups, or have many an hour spare to spend in those specific ones...

Personally, if I didn't have a ps2 I would still want for ketsui and mushi, if you had ps2 mushi that would just be ketsui; and the pcb could probably be picked up for the same-ish price as importing... so it's probably not the greatest value proposition, unless you're desperate for raidan aces too?

"I'm also interested in a few non-cave titles"
^ I kind of largely ignored this since I think you'll find many great(er?) substitutes on other consoles or pc if you just want more shmups - but then that is assuming you've got a pc and/or other consoles...?

[Fudoh]

there is no Ketsui port on the PS2.

A japanese 360 is still a great buy. RFA is still one the best shooting collections ever released.

[Astraea FGA Mk. I]

I was going to buy a cabinet and a single PCB. Either Ketsui, Mushi 1.5 or SDOJ. Expensive as hell.
I figured a Japanese 360 and the ports would be a better option, even for just a small number of games.
My setup is in many ways better than a cabinet, other than lacking the genuine arcade experience that is hard to put a dollar value on.

I actually already bought a new NTSC-J slim 4GB model and sealed copies of Mushihimesama HD LE and Ketsui LE.
Got an excellent deal on the console, likely £100 less than if I imported from Japan. It all remains unopened with the intent of giving it to myself as a Christmas present.
As they are all sealed I could sell them.

[Fudoh]

Still, don't forget to get RFA

[Astraea FGA Mk. I]

Still, don't forget to get RFA

I certainly won't forget

*edit* That game is expensive. £50 to £60 + VAT for a used copy

[gray117]

there is no Ketsui port on the PS2.

Yeah I meant if you had ps2 mushi, it only left ketsui as a real incentive to get J360 from my perspective.

... but for your j360 deal sounds like you're done and gotten, no need to ask the question unless you were paying over 200

*edit* That game is expensive. £50 to £60 + VAT for a used copy

As an alternative and you're lucky with your isp, or can figure out a vpn/proxy, you can probably get a games on demand of rfa from the jpn marketplace for about half that... Also if you don't have a ps2 I forgot the ddp doj black label despite inaccuracies and crap menus is still a great game [...not sure on price probably similar to rfa now its out of print...]

[MSZ]

The 360 port of Mushihimesama is far better than the PS2 one, so even if you have the PS2 version, I can't see any reasons not to buy a J360, and even the J console isn't that expensive right now(compare to what I paid for it many years ago)

[speedlolita]

PS2 port is awful..

Dat 480i. Shame Arika couldn't have handled it.

[fagin]

PS2 port is awful..

Dat 480i. Shame Arika couldn't have handled it.

It's far from awful if you patch it for 240p.




The JDM 360 is awesome and if you're into your SHMUPS it is (imo) a must buy. They're so good I had to buy two of them (for when my first one goes RROD lol). Money is no good to you when you're dead.

I would concur with what Fudoh says..... RFA is tremendous and is worth every single penny.

[Overkill]

Wasn't RFA going to have a PAL release? i remember seeing it somewhere

[Fudoh]

that was a neverending story with every company to license the game going bankrupt after the announcement. Shorter: no, there isn't and no there won't be a PAL release.

[Overkill]

argh