Night Striker Gear announced!

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Gosokkyu also points out that the platforms may have been picked based on USB Cyber Stick compat. It'd certainly explain why this is on Steam, unlike M2's other self-published M2STG games. I wonder if that means Switch might be able to work with it, or if Switch is just because of the pointer stuff other people mentioned. https://mastodon.social/@gosokkyu/113954132666672181

Also via GSK: "Switch isn't confirmed to support USB Cyber Stick (yet?) but it will have USB mouse support for the crosshair games" https://mastodon.social/@gosokkyu/113954796952899504

USB mouse support (on Switch 1) is fantastic, and lends even more support to the idea that the Switch 2 joycon mouse mode will probably be supported for this release.

Not too often we see retro releases on consoles support mouse. I was thrilled to be able to plug a mouse into my PS2 to play the Sega Ages 2500 version of SDI back when that one came out.

Athena's Dezaemon Plus stg creator app for the PSX has support for the slick optional 1st-party Sony manufactured PSX mouse controller setup -- sure beats having to use the PSX's original digital-based D-pad controller setup any ol' day. Sony's PSX mouse even came with a cool Playstation logo themed mouse pad as well -- how cool is that?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Ms. Tea]

Operation Night Strikers dated, comes out August 7: https://mastodon.social/@gosokkyu/114155125218401869

Since the Japanese Switch LE comes with a download code for Night Striker Gear, feels like a sign it'll come out on the same day. As with the Toaplan collections, there's DLC for vintage home ports of Operation Wolf and Night Striker which is included with the physical release.

EDIT: Actually, they apparently said Night Striker Gear will be available standalone "later", but didn't specify when. The Steam page still says 2025 though.

[m.sniffles.esq]

Since the Japanese Switch LE comes with a download code for Night Striker Gear, feels like a sign it'll come out on the same day. As with the Toaplan collections, there's DLC for vintage home ports of Operation Wolf and Night Striker which is included with the physical release.

But no Uzi?

Edit: Wait! Paper Uzi!

(I guess that's better than no uzi at all...)

[Daytime Waitress]

Can you strap the joycon into that papercraft contraption?!

[hamfighterx]

Appears that Amazon has an retailer exclusive DLC code for the PCE version of Operation Wolf, with either the regular edition of the Switch game or the Special Edition box set.
EDIT: Oh, looks like GSK is reporting that the PCE Operation Wolf download code is limited window that ends SOON, April 1 23:59 Japan time. So you have... 15+ hours from when I'm writing this.

Special Edition contains the following in addition to the base game (as confirmed in Famitsu interview with Naoki Horii, producer Yuichi Toyama, and arrange BGM producer Katsushisa Ishikawa):

1. "Night Striker GEAR" download code (which is confirmed to allow you to play the game before its official release that does not yet have an announced date)
2. Booklet "Operation Night Strikers BOOK"
3. Music CD "TAITO SOUND BULLETS"
4. Paper craft "MAK-10 Submachine Gun: Full Pulp Jacket ver."
5. Set of 4 reprinted pamphlets

There are also some retailer exclusive sticker sheets while supplies last, for Amazon.co.jp/Ebten, Amazon, and Square Enix e-Store. Mostly the same stickers on each, but two stickers vary by retailer: Night Striker for the Amazon/Ebten version, Operation Wolf and Operation Thunderbolt for Amazon, and Space Gun for Square Enix. See: https://www.famitsu.com/article/images/ ... 044/332955

Amazon links for Switch physical version:
Special Edition pack (with Amazon bonus DLC)
Regular edition (with Amazon bonus DLC)

Also available, a Zuntata arranged sountrack CD Night Striker - Neo Soundtrack Revision sold separately (but Amazon has some bundles); this is confirmed to have different songs than the CD included with the Special Edition of the game. There are also some expensive bundles with a 1/32 scale Night Striker model.

Amazon.jp showing expensive international shipping right now (at least to the US), though people here say sometimes that's an Amazon.jp placeholder that gets adjusted to be more reasonable by the time the game actually ships?

[PsikyoPshumpPshooterP]

OOS

[Jonpachi]

Low-key worried that paper uzi is gonna tagged by customs if I try to import the LE set. Like trying to get a Megatron and they have to open it and shove an orange plug down the barrel.

[hamfighterx]

OOS

Yep, the Amazon exclusive DLC (PCE version Operation Wolf) was only available through April 1 (Japan time). It ended and the pages with that DLC went to unavailable. The normal versions without Amazon exclusive DLC are still up just fine.

Special Edition
Regular Edition (base game only, no Night Striker Gear code)

[gbaplayer]

What the heck is wrong with those high shipping costs???

[Fudoh]

That happens if they get unspecified size/weight listings.

You can get this one instead (same special edition set minus a sticker sheet which is ebten exclusive):
https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/dp/B0F2HQNC82

And if you want the to add the 2-disc soundtrack set, just add it manually and shipping will increase by 600 yen or so... to 4400 total.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Interesting that the hovercar, Inter Gear, (as shown in Night Striker Gear) can transform into a bad-ass mecha suit to duke it out with end-stage bosses -- something different for a change of pace, indeed.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[PerishedFraud ឵឵]

In the original Night Striker, the IG would assume a new form depending on the final stage you are in. On one side, you had the mech, the flight mode and the support unit thingy. On the other, it'd actually blow up and your guy would continue onwards on a bike or jetpack.

These were a cool gimmick, but would also be easy to integrate into gameplay, with you transforming at will (limited? maybe that's the gear system) or having to survive as the pilot before you'd lose.

[BIL]

or having to survive as the pilot before you'd lose.

Wolf Fang PTSD >w<

Wild Fang PTSD too, now I think about it, but at least your bros don't yell NAWWW when your naked ass finally carks it in that one (*'ω' *)

[PerishedFraud ឵឵]

Hey, I don't care if I'm fighting the slaughter machine as a little guy, if the wolf fang theme is playing then I literally can't lose

Similar empowerment experienced with Burning Road, hoping they do it justice in the new ost

[xEbb1993x]

https://youtu.be/Q6MJA-L7KSY?si=w7ww5Hhf71a04gHL

New trailer dropped.

[Marc.bret.87]

This is looking pretty good, but no release date

[xEbb1993x]

How much longer must M2 keep making us wait in the shadows?

[Steven]

Right up until about a week ago I thought that this was going to be included with Operation Night Strikers as part of that. Apparently, it isn't and now I feel weird.

[Daytime Waitress]

Right up until about a week ago I thought that this was going to be included with Operation Night Strikers as part of that. Apparently, it isn't and now I feel weird.

Yeah nah, I had it confused, too - apparently it's part of the limited edition for ONS, but they'll be releasing it separately, too.
Getting awful flashbacks to the three hundred and fifty-seven similarly-named editions of Darius collections commissioned from them - took me forever to work that lot out.

[AGermanArtist]

Code with the €120.17 special edition. I don't love Operation Wolf that much, thanks.
Clear River are doing to Western release, so it's likely a Japanese Switch account will be required to get Night Strikers Gear.
I think I'll get the Steam version of both now I have a decent PC in the living room.

[xEbb1993x]

Code with the €120.17 special edition. I don't love Operation Wolf that much, thanks.
Clear River are doing to Western release, so it's likely a Japanese Switch account will be required to get Night Strikers Gear.
I think I'll get the Steam version of both now I have a decent PC in the living room.

Come on, Operation Wolf is a fun game. I love mowing down enemy soldiers with nothing but a machine gun.

[Steven]

Right up until about a week ago I thought that this was going to be included with Operation Night Strikers as part of that. Apparently, it isn't and now I feel weird.

Yeah nah, I had it confused, too - apparently it's part of the limited edition for ONS, but they'll be releasing it separately, too.

Okay, good, maybe that's what I was thinking of. But does that mean it releases on the 7th or do they just have a code in the box with a disclaimer that says "lol game's not done yet sucks to be you~" and it releases at some nebulous point in the future?

Getting awful flashbacks to the three hundred and fifty-seven similarly-named editions of Darius collections commissioned from them - took me forever to work that lot out.

Taito's masterpiece, AKA The Reason I'm Probably Never Buying Dariusburst™ is truly an impressive sight.

Spoiler

[AGermanArtist]

Code with the €120.17 special edition. I don't love Operation Wolf that much, thanks.
Clear River are doing to Western release, so it's likely a Japanese Switch account will be required to get Night Strikers Gear.
I think I'll get the Steam version of both now I have a decent PC in the living room.

Come on, Operation Wolf is a fun game. I love mowing down enemy soldiers with nothing but a machine gun.

Mow them down with a thobbing phallus

Spoiler

I love Operation Wolf/Thunderbolt. I'm just not paying €120 for some tat and a card gun shell

I'll get the standard edition and Night Striker Gear on Steam and play with a mouse and my new custom shorts with a built in mousepad on the crotch.

[xEbb1993x]

I'll just get Night Striker Gear when it comes out.

[1KMS]

Standard physical edition of Operation Night Strikers is 51.99 USD on Play-Asia. IMO worth it just to play Operation Wolf with the screen flashing removed.

[Jonpachi]

Wait, shit, do you only get the DLC: NIGHT STRIKER GEAR if you by the Special Edition? I just noticed this.

[Steven]

Wait, shit, do you only get the DLC: NIGHT STRIKER GEAR if you by the Special Edition? I just noticed this.

Judging by this needlessly big picture on the game's website

Spoiler

it does seem that way, but it also seems that it's going to be available early this way without having to wait for the regular release date. Limited edition buyers = beta testers...???

[hamfighterx]

Got my Operation Wolf PCE version download code today from Amazon Japan, from ordering the deluxe Switch version Operation Night Strikers with Amazon-exclusive DLC bonus, during the very limited pre-order window for that offer. The main game collection has shipped but is still on the way to me, so just PCE Operation Wolf for me as I wait lol.

For what it's worth, PCE version is its own separate Switch app. Feels like Taito may eventually release this as a paid stand-alone game, like they eventually have with most of their Amazon-limited DLCs from other collections over the past several years: R-Gear (just this week, nearly two and a half years after Ray'z Arcade Chronology), Darius Extra MD version, Sagaia GB, Space Invaders 90, Time Gal Re:birth, etc. Might take a while, as most of those took years to get solo releases, but perhaps will at least show up eventually if anyone else cares.

[Sweatlord_STG]

Limited edition buyers = beta testers...???

ha, i assumed the code would be for once the game is out, whenever that will be..

playing operation night strikers on steam, the games are super awesome with mouse (playing night striker with controller)

[Serge.EXE]

Grabbed it on Switch(2) and gave it a quick test with Night Striker and Operation Wolf. The gyro controls work reasonably well, although with Night Striker I have the same issue as Sega Ages Space Harrier, if you're using JoyCons they want you to hold it vertically like the old flight stick, but it feels super weird without an anchor. That game feels fine on an analog stick though in my opinion.

You can also plug a mouse into the Switch if you want to play that way. No way that I can see to use the mouse controls on Joy Con 2, but I'm not surprised by that.