Caladrius - Xbox 360 shmup from MOSS

[BrianC]

Just ordered this through Amazon here in the US. First time I've ordered an import videogame through Amazon. Nice to get it in a couple days rather than a couple weeks.

US seller? I noticed there are now sellers on Amazon US shipping from Japan.

[professor ganson]

It's available for Amazon Prime, so the product must be here in the US. (Things available for Amazon Prime have guaranteed two-day shipping.) I don't really know anything about the seller, but it seemed like they had excellent feedback.

[Guardians Knight]

Mine just arrived. First impressions are its a nice game, bullets sometimes hard to pick up against certain backgrounds tho. I like the weapon mechanics too.

[professor ganson]

Wow, this game came out of nowhere for me. Really impressive so far.

[daigle]

just ordered my LE through prime for $37!!! super stoked, will be playing later next week

[Jeneki]

Nice to see some new owners. I like this game a lot.

[Special World]

Can you shut off the softcore porn backgrounds in this game?

[ACSeraph]

Can you shut off the softcore porn backgrounds in this game?

Yes, in options under Illust, set it to the very last option. It will turn off the no miss backgrounds and the cut-ins.

[Mero]

Caladrius: Aile Ciel is on location test for a week starting today if anyone in Japan fancies checking it out.

https://twitter.com/moss_caladrius

[ACSeraph]

Oh yeah? Where's the test being held?

[adversity1]

https://twitter.com/moss_caladrius/stat ... 5018258432

SEGA 1 Goukan in Akiba, Ikebukuro Gigo and CS Shinjuku Nishiguchi.

No reports up yet on 2ch.

I'm most curious to find out if they did anything about the ridiculous invincible bit section of Stage 6. It better have online leaderboards too...

[ACSeraph]

I'm most curious to find out if they did anything about the ridiculous invincible bit section of Stage 6. It better have online leaderboards too...

Seriously fuck those things.

I'll be at TGS this weekend, so if I have time in the evening I'll try to stop by Akiba and give it a spin. I'll let you guys know how it is.

[klausien]

I must say it is extremely disappointing that this one is region locked when there is zero possibility of it being picked up for overseas release. Sorry to not really add anything to the thread but its been bugging the hell out of me because the game looks and sounds like it is right up my alley. Carry on.

[professor ganson]

Didn't realize this was region locked. That does suck.

[NeoStrayCat]

Yeah, would have been nice though for an overseas release considering the Raiden Games released on NA, but alas, it isn't meant to be. >_>

[ACSeraph]

I actually like this even better than Cave's stuff. It's worth importing a console for imo, and there are tons of other good jp only 360 games, both shmup and non-shmup.

[professor ganson]

I actually like this even better than Cave's stuff. It's worth importing a console for imo, and there are tons of other good jp only 360 games, both shmup and non-shmup.

Yes, I haven't done the math, but I think the J-360 compares favorably with the J-PS2 and J-DC as far as shooter options go.

[Mero]

From Famitsu: http://www.famitsu.com/blog/arcadia/201 ... .html#more

[adversity1]

I'm most curious to find out if they did anything about the ridiculous invincible bit section of Stage 6. It better have online leaderboards too...

Seriously fuck those things.

I'll be at TGS this weekend, so if I have time in the evening I'll try to stop by Akiba and give it a spin. I'll let you guys know how it is.

Good news, the first 2ch report verifies that the bits in Stage 6 are now destructible!
Also arcade mode has two mission stages added after stage 2 and 4.

Let us know what you think after you play it, AC.
I wanted to try and get out and play it this weekend but my leg is busted up, so I'll be practicing at home lol.

[Special World]

What do you guys have your controls set to? I just got this, and it doesn't seem like they're optimized for my joystick.

[Kiken]

What do you guys have your controls set to? I just got this, and it doesn't seem like they're optimized for my joystick.

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... 98#p905498

[Bonus!]

I'm on the fence regarding ordering this game and was wondering what the consensus so far is. I recently witnessed a discussion in the "I did it" thread were people pointed out that the game was broken and unbalanced (stage 6).

To those who bought it: was it worth it? (Speaking of the game itself, not of the great artwork etc.)

[Jonst]

The game is definitely worth getting if you like shmups.the only aspect of it being "broken" only refers to a particular shield (which I don't have access to anyway).so,I havn't experienced any broken aspects.it's a solid game,good aesthetics and a good challenge,I'm enjoying learning it.As ever though with these things,it's personal taste,a thousand people might tell you it's awesome but you could still think it sucks! If you like the look of it,then give it a go...it's the only way you're going to find out if you like it or not.

[ACSeraph]

I'm on the fence regarding ordering this game and was wondering what the consensus so far is. I recently witnessed a discussion in the "I did it" thread were people pointed out that the game was broken and unbalanced (stage 6).

To those who bought it: was it worth it? (Speaking of the game itself, not of the great artwork etc.)

I should clarify since I'm the one behind this.

This game is solid and fucking awesome but it's also quite difficult. Stage 6 in particular is a little... extreme, but it can be learned and consistently cleared. It's not like any number of other classic games aren't even more difficult anyhow.

As for the broken-ness, you kind of need to understand the game mechanics, but basically everyone has a kind of bullet canceling defensive attack they can use. They all have certain limitations, and there are a lot of bullet types late game they cannot cancel. However the DLC character Sohpia has a defensive skill that blocks every single attack in the game making it mindlessly easy to clear. Just don't pick it, and enjoy the game. Also there's no way to score as well when you are using it compared to some of the more difficult options, so it isn't broken from a scoring standpoint.

[Kollision]

hmmmmm

By "broken" I always thought the game should allow some sort of silly way to counterstop (unless we're talking stupid shit like Zed Blade)
Is this the case of Caladrius?

[ACSeraph]

Nah there's no way to do that. Broken isn't really a good description. Rather, when using Sophia3 the survival aspect of the game becomes shallow. As I mentioned before though, Sophia3 is totally useless for high level scoring purposes.

The game is extremely interesting because of the weapon system and the way the multiplier works. It's all about planning out your attacks in a way that builds the multiplier for huge scores, while also making sure you have the resources to take down big threats. It's a simple yet extremely satisfying scoring system. And because your weapons level-up you have a huge incentive to attempt score play, because if you don't score you don't level up, and if you don't level up you die. Add that to the fact that its got a bunch of different characters and 18 different unique magic attacks to choose from each with their own advantages and disadvantages and you have the makings of a classic game. I'm not kidding when I say I think Caladrius is one of the strongest shmups available on 360.

[Kollision]

Tks for the clarification!

if you don't score you don't level up, and if you don't level up you die

It would be interesting to cross-reference the Mars Matrix haters/lovers based on this.

[Kiken]

if you don't score you don't level up, and if you don't level up you die

It would be interesting to cross-reference the Mars Matrix haters/lovers based on this.

Or Radiant Silvergun. Caladrius is a bit different in that you purchase your level ups at the end of the stage. I guess the parallel would be closer to games with a shop where you buy new abilities (Forgotten Worlds, Trouble Witches Neo.. et al).

[spadgy]

I bloody love this game and 1CC'd it for the first time minutes ago. For me, the rhythm, pace, risk/reward balance and tension are very parallel with Raiden IV.

It's bloody tough after stage 5, but if I can 1CC it (it did take me up to three full months of dedication!), it's doable for anybody. That said, I consider it the toughest game I cleared, including Cave PCB stuff (see my 1CC link in my sig if you want to see what that means; I've cleared no super toughies!).

Yes, you can cancel bullets, but in limited ways and under the constant pressure of ammo constraints (main weapon is infinite, but the bullet cancelling sub weapons need to be left unused to restock.

I doubt many will agree, but it's close to getting a place in my top 10 shmups ever (again, I adore the distinct feel of Moss' shmups; many aren't so besotted).

[Special World]

Do you actually have to score well to level up? I've only put a few runs in, but it seems like I get three points to allocate no matter what I do. No idea how the scoring even works yet, honestly.