Why are the shoddy CAVE ports so expensive?

[BulletMagnet]

Compared to the arcade versions they're somewhat blurry, especially on certain types of displays - if you have a halfway-decent screen/connector to hook them up with it's not THAT bad IMO, but others are less forgiving than I am on this front.

[raziel73]

@Elixir, Mushihime sama (the first one on PS2) is not a single print, there is a reprint with a different cover. In Japan it is around 5000 yens now, Ibara too is now easy to find around 7000-8000.

@Skykid, Iron Commando is not that bad I think, technically it is solid, gameplay is akward but it is fun and brutal.

@Stealthlurker, Iron commando is now over 200 euros. I saw 2 or 3 copies going for 250 euros or more those past few months.

[evil_ash_xero]

Yeah, the one thing I notice the most about Mushi and Ibara, is how blurry they look. Lot of people think Ibara looks worse, but I totally disagree with that. I think Mushi looks like ass. Well, it looks good...but it's filtered all to hell. And that just doesn't work well often, now does it?

[Marc]

I'm not picky about visuals at all usually, but Ibara and Mushi look horrid on anything less that RGB Scart on CRT. On a HD they're a write off. Kind of how they might have looked on N64.

[mesh control]

Ibara looks worse

I think that has more to do with Ibara's design than the filtering.
I ended up selling my PS2 port because it was an eyestrain on my old CRT. O_O

[moh]

great, i have to read through all of you guys complaining about how bad mushi looks as i anxiously wait for it to arrive in my mailbox? =\

[chempop]

Haha, I am one of the few who is fine with the PS2 Mushi, in fact it is one of my favorite games I own. It looks especially clean after a few weeks of playin tons of the iOS port on my iPad. Comparing it to ESPGaluda (which is supposedly near PCB-perfect) I barely notice a difference on my Sony 27" Triny CRT via S-Vid.

Ibara however, I did sell (somewhat regret it), not so much because of the blur-factor but due to the complete lack of slowdown. I found it quite a frustrating experience. Maybe someday when I own a cab or supergun I'll be able to enjoy it properly on PCB.

[mugicha]

I'm off to buy a copy of Final Fight Revenge.

awesome.

[Skykid]

@Skykid, Iron Commando is not that bad I think, technically it is solid, gameplay is akward but it is fun and brutal.

It's unbalanced, overly long, super repetitive and features cheap hit frustration at every turn. There are better ways to blow your money.

[dan76]

great, i have to read through all of you guys complaining about how bad mushi looks as i anxiously wait for it to arrive in my mailbox? =\

Don't worry about it, it's a blast to play, a masterpiece... a blurry masterpiece.

[moh]

great, i have to read through all of you guys complaining about how bad mushi looks as i anxiously wait for it to arrive in my mailbox? =\

Don't worry about it, it's a blast to play, a masterpiece... a blurry masterpiece.

gyaaaahhhhhhh D:

[evil_ash_xero]

great, i have to read through all of you guys complaining about how bad mushi looks as i anxiously wait for it to arrive in my mailbox? =\

Don't worry about it, it's a blast to play, a masterpiece... a blurry masterpiece.

gyaaaahhhhhhh D:

Why doesn't someone throw up some comparison shots for this guy?

[roker]

I don't care about the change in slowdown, so it makes it a good port

makes all the difference.

If you can find a way play the original PCB, do so.

I got so good at the PS2 port that when I actually played the real deal, I got to 4th stage in like 2 separate tries. I didn't feel like such a piece of shit for once. But that game is still ridiculously hard.

[BulletMagnet]

Why doesn't someone throw up some comparison shots for this guy?

I don't recall anyone ever doing them for Mushi, though I think someone did a pair for Ibara when its PS2 port came out...having trouble finding 'em though.

[moh]

comparison shots would be appreciated if anyone can find them

[mugicha]

I've seen love and hate for BLEX, I have been tempted to pick it up to make a more complete Cave xbox collection, but I'm curious what you guys think, If I were only going to pick up one copy, ps2 or 360?

[Elixir]

I've seen love and hate for BLEX, I have been tempted to pick it up to make a more complete Cave xbox collection, but I'm curious what you guys think, If I were only going to pick up one copy, ps2 or 360?

They aren't the same. The PS2 version is a perfect port of White Label, while BLEX is an inferior port of White Label, Black Label, and includes the additional X-mode.

Speaking as someone who owns both, I would vote for the PS2 version.

[mugicha]

Speaking as someone who owns both, I would vote for the PS2 version.

I appreciate the input, I'll look into a ps2 copy, thx!

[Casper<3]

I have to disagree. I find BLEX more enjoyable than DV.

Once you play Black Label (which is an excellent port) you'll have little reason to want to play white label ever again.

It comes down to your own personal preference of white label and black label ...white = ps2, black = 360.

You really won't go wrong with either.

[Elixir]

Once you play Black Label (which is an excellent port) you'll have little reason to want to play white label ever again.

"Once you play Futari BL, you'll have little reason to want to play 1.5 ever again."

What? WL is much harder and more challenging due to the second loop's lack of lives, and less hypers (efficiently, bombs). Ask anyone who has played through White and Black extensively.

...white = ps2, black = 360.

Black Label can currently be emulated better than the 360 port. Even the 360 port's practice mode is inaccurate--every stage is playable, but at minimum power.

Not really surprised since you're a 360 fanboy, but I think your basis is rather blurred here.

[NzzpNzzp]

You can play practice mode with full power. You press start when you're on the stage select instead of a or something and it does it.

[MJR]

Haha, I am one of the few who is fine with the PS2 Mushi, in fact it is one of my favorite games I own. It looks especially clean after a few weeks of playin tons of the iOS port on my iPad. Comparing it to ESPGaluda (which is supposedly near PCB-perfect) I barely notice a difference on my Sony 27" Triny CRT via S-Vid.

Ibara however, I did sell (somewhat regret it), not so much because of the blur-factor but due to the complete lack of slowdown. I found it quite a frustrating experience. Maybe someday when I own a cab or supergun I'll be able to enjoy it properly on PCB.

mushi on PS2 looks reasonable with the 240p hack applied. Not even very hard to do, just rip an image of your original disc, apply the hack, and burn it to new disc. Interlace is gone, but antialias of course still exists. I'd say it's 30% better.

[Elixir]

You can play practice mode with full power. You press start when you're on the stage select instead of a or something and it does it.

Oh. I didn't know that because I didn't know it existed. It isn't explained anywhere, was it there before the patch?

To be honest, I'd still rather play this in MAME. 360 version's bilinear filtering bothers me (it was even worse before the patch). For what it's worth, all the top Japanese players stick to the PS2 port, even today.

[NzzpNzzp]

Beats me! It's still not very good because it doesn't let you edit the rank, anyway.

[AntiFritz]

http://www.cave-stg.com/?p=1808

This was conveniently posted just before.

[Aliquantic]

For what it's worth, all the top Japanese players stick to the PS2 port, even today.

Nico Live seems to have a pretty even split between the two versions, for the several people who routinely 2-ALL or nearly 2-ALL and get full chains, so I'd expect it to be more a matter of convenience and not owning a 360.

The differences between the two are fairly small outside of high level play where things like the tweaked chains and the higher rank variability matter (it clearly is the most boring Black Label Cave has ever done, so comparing it to Futari is odd), though, but you might as well get the port that has both modes if possible... and you get the better Arranged OST too, Arrange stage 5 is a very refreshing change when you grind that stage

[AntiFritz]

For what it's worth, all the top Japanese players stick to the PS2 port, even today.

Nico Live seems to have a pretty even split between the two versions, for the several people who routinely 2-ALL or nearly 2-ALL and get full chains, so I'd expect it to be more a matter of convenience and not owning a 360.

The differences between the two are fairly small outside of high level play where things like the tweaked chains and the higher rank variability matter (it clearly is the most boring Black Label Cave has ever done, so comparing it to Futari is odd), though, but you might as well get the port that has both modes if possible... and you get the better Arranged OST too, Arrange stage 5 is a very refreshing change when you grind that stage

It was the first black label ever done afaik.

[Kollision]

Haha, I am one of the few who is fine with the PS2 Mushi, in fact it is one of my favorite games I own.

x2
You're not alone.
[ and I don't understand bollocks of technical display aspects and such ]

[RGC]

Why doesn't someone throw up some comparison shots for this guy?

[Naut]

(it clearly is the most boring Black Label Cave has ever done, so comparing it to Futari is odd),

That was back when black label meant "improved version" rather than "completely different game mode."