Shmup Ticker: What are you playing RIGHT NOW?

[trap15]

Go play Mars Matrix.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Was there any western release of Psyvariar? Or can that only be played on a modded PS2?

60 Hz must be enabled in options for each game (I also advise to disable deflickering) and the opening FMV is 50 Hz only.

[null1024]

I think I know the answer [that you guys will give], but should I plop down the money for the other Takumi DC shmups? Or is Gigawing 2 sufficient and I don't need Gigawing?

Go play Mars Matrix. It is definitely pretty fun, and one of 2 games I play for score [the other is Dangun], even when I probably shouldn't [the cube chaining is so fun].
Also, I don't like the Gigawing games, but I like 1 better than 2.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Shikigami no Shiro and Gigawing are games I liked better than most Cave games I played, but neither series kept me going on and on (different developers alright, just the similar "decent, but..." feel both gave me). Mars Matrix seemed like my kind of a wicked shmup (despite its ugly designs and weird stereo), but even in shmupmame was too laggy to keep me busy playing it. If I had a DC, I'd give it more time for sure.

[EmperorIng]

Ha ha ha, I think it's a bit amusing that I had watched just about all of the (still uploaded) xoxak videos before every joining here - then again, I lurked at this forum for several months before finally joining. I sometimes feel like those Pro Reviews are necessary watching to participate in discussion!

Was there any western release of Psyvariar? Or can that only be played on a modded PS2?

60 Hz must be enabled in options for each game (I also advise to disable deflickering) and the opening FMV is 50 Hz only.

So would I need something like Swap Magic or something else to physically play PAL PS2 games on my slim PS2?

[mesh control]

What's wrong with just getting the Japanese releases?

The menus are are all in english.

[Obiwanshinobi]

I guess the Japanese -Complete Edition- might be more expensive than PAL version (which is essentially the same). If you want two games on one disc, that is.
Every PS2 should get modded anyways.

So would I need something like Swap Magic or something else to physically play PAL PS2 games on my slim PS2?

You'll need soft or hard mod to play games from any other region than your PS2. Modchip is more convenient than Swap Magic, but it needs to be done properly and I wouldn't go there for just one game (-Complete Edition- is two games, make no mistake).

Last but not least, Psyvariar is meant to be played with a stick. The roll button makes it playable with a joypad, but alters the mechanics a bit. Be warned that without arcade stick you won't get the most out of it.

[EmperorIng]

There's actually a bundle of PAL shmups for the PS2 I'm looking to get (which includes Psyvariar), so just one game wouldn't be a problem.

But would a modchip be the best solution? Or just a swap-magic disc for ease of use?

[trap15]

Easiest and best idea: Free McBoot

[Macho De Luxe]

Free McBoot only works with DVD games though, and Psyvariar is a blue CD.

[BIL]

Ok, Kolibri really is a piece of shit. Back to Chacker for my hummingbird STG fix. :[

[Kollision]

well, the only thing really bad about Kolibri is the lack of a scoring system
...aaaand the 1-hit deaths in those moving bridges

[BIL]

It makes me feel like I'm dying of a degenerative motor-neuron disease, the opposite of how I want a videogame to make me feel.

Too bad Novotrade never got to make that third Ecco for the 32X instead. Those rock, best survival horror gameplay ever.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Copy of Dodonpachi Resurrection just came in the mail, was playing it with a friend, ABSOLUTE MADNESS! <3

Novice mode seems pretty easy though, maybe it's less silly in the second loop...

Out of curiosity, I know if you get the Black Label DLC you can then use that soundtrack while playing the normal game; does the opposite apply? Can you play DFK's standard soundtrack while playing Black Label? I kind of prefer the 'cleaner' sound of the original soundtrack compared to the Black Label soundtrack...

[Obiwanshinobi]

Free McBoot only works with DVD games though, and Psyvariar is a blue CD.

Also, there are very fine fan translations of certain PSX games worth playing that work only as burnt CD-Rs: Policenauts, Tales of Phantasia, Persona 2: Innocent Sin (glitchy on the PS2, but nothing game-breaking)...

[EmperorIng]

basically I was looking at this bundle and thinking "man that's a good deal"
But I think my slim ps2 is a 9001 model, which means that free mcboot wouldn't work on it. ; ;

[Obiwanshinobi]

From what I know, Steel Dragon is 50 Hz only and not optimised at that (which means slower, possibly deformed and unplayable on NTSC TVs), as well as made easier than the Japanese original.
The original is worth getting for Shienryu alone (seems like a perfect port to me).
Some of those PS2 shmups are indeed on CDs and noisy. (Graidus V and Sengoku Ace/Blade come to mind). Burning them patched on a DVD should solve the problem of noise (if it's a problem for you to begin with). You can even make one multi-game DVD with a couple of shmups, but it takes some tinkering with disc images.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

bBut I think my slim ps2 is a 9001 model, which means that free mcboot wouldn't work on it. ; ;

I was lucky enough to have a shop nearby that installs modchips for 100 bucks. No fussing around with swapping CDs or anything, never had any problems with it and can play imports to my heart's content.

[EmperorIng]

Truth be told, my co-worker (who has been a gamer since the early '70s) has told me that he could install modchips all the way back last summer if I was ever interested (I held off on the saturn, seeking to buy actual copies of the game instead). So there's definitely that option (I'd probably give him $50 to do it as well).

I just don't know if buying a bunch of PAL shmups (even though a good portion of them have the option of 60hz playback) is worth it.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Definitely go chip the fuckers.

[EmperorIng]

Well, I'll probably regret this (!), but I went ahead and bought it - I just felt that getting Strikers 1945 1 and 2, Gunbird 1 and 2, and Psyvariar all in the same package, for $50 was too good to pass up. It's a good thing my copy of Shinobi Legions just sold for $40, really making the purchase more palatable. It's time to sell more DS games so I can get the money for the modchip!

Now i just need to order a modchip and get a hold of my co-worker. Luckily, from the few places I've looked, modchips for the ps2 are fairly cheap.

On the plus side, now this means I can get me my Cave PS2 games and Dragon Blaze, ha ha.

===

To bring things around back on topic, I've been playing more of Gigawing 2, getting the hang of the system (and digging it), though I can't get past stage 2 before losing my first credit most the time. At the very least the game is loads of fun to play.

Ether Vapor Remaster - I've gotten to the spider boss on stage 5. The story is still pretty lame, but it's fun to make fun of and shake my head at.
I will say that the Starfox segments aren't particularly well-done in my opinion, as it's too easy to get hurt. Style over substance, it feels like. I like the cinematic laser-things-to-death bonus sections. Mainly because i don't need to worry about dodging.

[Obiwanshinobi]

I took the trouble to find out what medal chaining in Guardian Force is about. Raizing, isn't it? (Not really.) Doesn't break the game (I guess), so it's good enough for me.

[Drum]

Played some Over Horizon for NES. Is pretty fun and they really made the system sing. I like the gate-switching stage.
Also having a proper go at Ray Force. I like this game a lot.

[Aquas]

Focusing on Eschatos (Original Hard), this game is addicting!

[Ed Oscuro]

Fighting Hawk is broken very easily. Sprite ghosts (often when sprites onscreen change direction), sounds that persist when they shouldn't (i.e. shooting the first stage midboss quickly, before it gets to the left side of the screen; sound fixes itself if you get a powerup, or if some other sound plays I guess), and even all the enemies disappearing. Easiest 1CC ever. Quite intriguingly, when the demo plays when the game isn't loading enemies anymore, it goes straight through the entire game, with the CPU player going further and further from the center of the screen (zigzagging across the entire screen by the end) and the demo not ending until the last area has been passed (interestingly, the GAME OVER text always appears in the middle of the same screen, with the end-game notifications carefully stepping around it).

[mesh control]

BIO FUCKING METAL

Play the japanese version, the soundtrack rules.

[EmperorIng]

Still credit-feeding my way through GigaWing 2 (can get to stage 3 on one credit), waiting for my PAL shmups to arrive and my paycheck so I can get cracking on modding my PS2 slim. Talked with my coworker and he said he would be totally down to modding the thing, since to him opening up PS2s is like opening up a jar of peanut butter.
Super excited for that~

Is there something in GigaWing 2 like the first one where you won't fight the real final boss unless you get through the game on one credit? I think it's doable, but those last couple of boss patterns seems impossible to dodge

I also love how fucking cheesy the game's plot is. Especially that sappy sad piano music at the end when Limi gets eaten up by the ark of despair... Or who couldn't love WE MUST USE OUR REFLECT BARRIERS IN COMBO TO CREATE THE POWER OF HOPE... REFLECT BREAK


Also, to my surprise, I made it to the final boss in Under Defeat! Made it to his second phase, and it wiped the floor with me.
This is on 5 credits, of course. The lack of extends in this game still strikes me as particularly brutal, and puzzling. Then again I don't think Gigawing 2 has extends, though I might be wrong.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

First time getting to the final boss in DOJ BL, gameovered when it was just under half health. Can't believe how well ST5 went considering it was my first time going through the whole thing. So close to clearing the first loop! Also been working on clearing DDP with B-S, but I keep getting stupid deaths in St5 (St6 is surprisingly not so bad for me, but I need the resources for the boss). Should probably switch to laser type...

[ciox]

Also been working on clearing DDP with B-S, but I keep getting stupid deaths in St5 (St6 is surprisingly not so bad for me, but I need the resources for the boss). Should probably switch to laser type...

Someone else uses the green helicopter, amazing. I would probably stick to shot type since during bosses you can just laserbomb for damage, it's during the actual stages that it gets nasty for me and that's where shot is more useful.

[EmperorIng]

Gee, now I feel more special in having Type-B be my main in all DonPachi games.

I credit-fed with my friend/roomie through Gigawing 2 (lots of fun!), and then credit-fed (if 6 credits for two people is credit-feeding) to the final stage of Under Defeat. We both lost a credit (I think I lost two...) on stage 3 (that bitch of a stage), and we gave up our ghosts at the graveyard, har har. I think having played enough to obtain 6 credits, I can safely beat the game now. Maybe. That last level gives me a run for my money.

Ha ha these games are always more fun with another person. Under Defeat was easier to go through because my roommate wasn't constantly fucking stealing my powerups when I died.

I can't imagine the fucking slowdown Gigawing 2 must have with four people at once!