Another X68000 doujin STG unearthed - "Y2," a Pulstar-like

[Pretas]

Credit goes to SuperDeadite for tracking down an original copy and recording a play video, even though he wasn't able to reach the ending. While the disk image of this game has apparently been on the net for some time, it includes some pretty hardcore copy protection that has yet to be cracked, so the only way to play it at the moment is with a legitimate copy on a real X68k.

Gameplay video

This shmup would be best classified as a Pulstar-like, because although you have a Force pod, it is locked in place on your ship's front. It was made by a doujin group named Torimu, who have a very funny animated logo sequence. There's not much else to say about it, other than that it seems to be an enjoyable R-Type clone with solid mechanics and stage designs, great FM synth tunes, and a surprisingly well-drawn cinematic intro (even if those girls never appear again in the game). The bullet patterns get quite manic for a horizontal of this age in the later stages. The only major criticism I could make is that the graphics are rather bland and repetitive, but that's par for the course in a doujin game. Unlike Project Moon, though, there's no easy way to play it for now.

[SuperDeadite]

It can be played via emulator by using debug tricks (not ideal, but it works). But to play on the real machine, an original floppy is required. You can also switch your ship type to "Gradius" style, where you have 3 options that follow you instead of the force pods "Yami" style. This makes a tough game even harder.

[Ed Oscuro]

That bird.

Ship launch sequence is very similar to Daioh - not a trace job though.

Interesting enemy and land formations in this game, some of the bosses look like they die a bit too easily though.

[Pretas]

It can be played via emulator by using debug tricks (not ideal, but it works).

Do you just mean that it's a hassle to set things up so it boots properly, or does it play in a limited capacity (i.e. graphical glitches, crashes) when using these tricks?

[Skykid]

Uses Sol Feace style option trajectory locking. Such a weird first stage, looks fun though.

[SuperDeadite]

The locking is more akin to Pulstar then Sol-Feace as it uses 2 buttons. One button is fire. To move the gun pods, you hold down the 2nd button and then move around.

For emulator use, it's a pain to do from scratch as it requires you to pause the machine at the right time, then patch the code via debug in real time. But the cool dude that came up with this made a save state, so you can just load that, to get past it.

See here: http://fullmotionvideo.free.fr/phpBB3/v ... ?f=2&t=773

[Ghegs]

Doesn't look too bad, I'd give it a proper go if it wasn't apparently a huge hassle. I'll add the game to my list of R-Type-likes that I've had stored on my desktop for almost a year now.

[Friendly]

The locking is more akin to Pulstar then Sol-Feace as it uses 2 buttons. One button is fire. To move the gun pods, you hold down the 2nd button and then move around.

For emulator use, it's a pain to do from scratch as it requires you to pause the machine at the right time, then patch the code via debug in real time. But the cool dude that came up with this made a save state, so you can just load that, to get past it.

See here: http://fullmotionvideo.free.fr/phpBB3/v ... ?f=2&t=773

The file is gone. Could you upload it elsewhere if you have it?

[SuperDeadite]

I don't have it. I'm sure someone there does though, (I'm just a lurker).