Bullet Soul - (STG/5pb/Xbox360)

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http://blog.5pb.jp/bulletsoul/

[honorless]

Maybe Google Translate is wildly off base here, but I'm pretty sure that says the DLC should be out "at the end of next week". Since the entry was posted last Friday, it should be released within the next few days. (Funny coincidence that stryc9 should ask now.)

[BulletMagnet]

Someone who can actually read Japanese needs to clarify, methinks, as Google phrases it as "we will publish the contents of the downloaded content" - this could mean that they'll actually release it then, but it might also indicate that they'll just detail what's in it.

[DrTrouserPlank]

Kinda the same here. I like the proximity scoring and think it provides a good challenge when played that way (I still have yet to get a 1CC on this game, I don't think it's quite as simple to do as the real high-level players make it, but like mentioned, I've been playing the whole time based on proximity), but I really feel like they missed something with the cancelled bullets. There really should be some reason to "pick up" the cancelled bullets IMO.

I am informed that picking up the canceled bullets increases your multiplier, which (if is the case) surely adds a little to the scoring depth that people say this game lacks?

In the absence of anything better popping up region free, I'm actually considering getting this game.

[burgerkingdiamond]

Kinda the same here. I like the proximity scoring and think it provides a good challenge when played that way (I still have yet to get a 1CC on this game, I don't think it's quite as simple to do as the real high-level players make it, but like mentioned, I've been playing the whole time based on proximity), but I really feel like they missed something with the cancelled bullets. There really should be some reason to "pick up" the cancelled bullets IMO.

I am informed that picking up the canceled bullets increases your multiplier, which (if is the case) surely adds a little to the scoring depth that people say this game lacks?

In the absence of anything better popping up region free, I'm actually considering getting this game.

No, picking up cancelled bullets does nothing. That's one of the main complaints. Basically you will end up cancelling 90% of the bullets that enemies shoot, leaving you without much to actually dodge. If you play for survival the 1CC is actually pretty damn easy. I did it on the very first credit I played (seriously, wtf? I'm not that good). Focusing as much as possible on proximity will make it more enjoyable.

I don't want to discourage you though. The graphics are beautiful and IMO I think it's a great first game for 5pB.

[DrTrouserPlank]

hmm. yes it seems that the bullet ghosts don't do anything which is a shame.

Maybe I'll wait for Cave's next region-locked release to come out before throwing a fit and spending my money on something else.

[honorless]

BM, it turns out we were both on to something. They released seven sets of gamerpics yesterday.

They also announced other stuff. To summarize:

- A 2-minute caravan mode with an online competition (release date is this summer)
- A "Version B" mode with a new ship and difficulty changes. (release date is this fall) Not sure, but it seems like this might be an easy/novice mode.

Tentative price is 400 MSP each. Both will add 10 achievements/250 GS.

When the caravan business comes out there'll also be a game update that fixes some bugs, like the character selection screen still being in portrait mode when you put the game in tate.

[burgerkingdiamond]

BM, it turns out we were both on to something. They released seven sets of gamerpics yesterday.

They also announced other stuff. To summarize:

- A 2-minute caravan mode with an online competition (release date is this summer)
- A "Version B" mode with a new ship and difficulty changes. (release date is this fall) Not sure, but it seems like this might be an easy/novice mode.

Tentative price is 400 MSP each. Both will add 10 achievements/250 GS.

When the caravan business comes out there'll also be a game update that fixes some bugs, like the character selection screen still being in portrait mode when you put the game in tate.

nice, cuz the game really needed a novice mode.

[Special World]

I like the idea of a caravan mode but added depth to the system is what I really want :\

- Make it so that canceling bullets will increase your multiplier, so players have incentive to let the screen fill up
- Make canceled bullets collectible and worth a small amount of points which is affected by the multiplier

Easy way to turn it into an A+++ title, imo. Probably easier to do than creating a new caravan stage, too. Oh 5PB, why must you release a game with so much squandered potential? Ah well, still a fun game when you're in the mood for it.

[Kiken]

- Make it so that canceling bullets will increase your multiplier, so players have incentive to let the screen fill up

Why would they do this? The whole point is to not let the screen get filled up with bullets because you're supposed to be playing aggressively quick-killing everything at close proximity. If anything, the ghosted bullets should subtract from your score.

[Special World]

- Make it so that canceling bullets will increase your multiplier, so players have incentive to let the screen fill up

Why would they do this? The whole point is to not let the screen get filled up with bullets because you're supposed to be playing aggressively quick-killing everything at close proximity. If anything, the ghosted bullets should subtract from your score.

IMO it would add to the risk/reward. You would still want to kill things in close proximity, but you'd have to deal with bullets, too. You could still play the old way (up close and aggressive), you could play far back (rely on canceled bullets to get your multiplier up instead), or do things the right/hard way and flood the screen with bullets before proximity killing.

I guess it might be annoying to have to wait on enemies, though. They'd have to tweak patterns and how quickly enemies shoot, I suppose.

I suppose it would also be enough to simply give the bullets a multiplied score when collected, if they got the values right. Then it would be a matter of jacking up your multiplier through proximity kills before letting enemies flood the screen and collecting all those precious points. I think there's a lot of ways they could go about making the game better, really.

[Jeneki]

- A "Version B" mode with a new ship and difficulty changes. (release date is this fall) Not sure, but it seems like this might be an easy/novice mode.

Doesn't the game already have selectable difficulty? I thought I remember seeing an easy mode in there somewhere. Hmm, I'll have to check tonight.

[emphatic]

Doesn't the game already have selectable difficulty? I thought I remember seeing an easy mode in there somewhere. Hmm, I'll have to check tonight.

Amazingly it doesn't.

[Jeneki]

Back home and I took a look. Well shoot, I mistakenly remembered the auto bomb setting as "easy mode".

[DragonInstall]

Guess I won't be getting this game. I thought a special DLC might tempt me, but adding basically a novice mode on an easy game as a DLC is just dumb.

[Special World]

Guess I won't be getting this game. I thought a special DLC might tempt me, but adding basically a novice mode on an easy game as a DLC is just dumb.

The person who posted about the extra mode did not in any way confirm that it would be a novice mode. That was speculation.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

http://www.siliconera.com/2011/07/03/a- ... this-fall/

Dunno if this has any news you guys dont know about.

[stryc9]

Caravan mode sounds good.

This version B thing HAD BETTER NOT BE A NOVICE MODE, though. Rather it should be an advanced mode like in Eschatos which adds some sort of scoring depth above and beyond the basic proximity killing that is already in place.....

That will make these shooter fans real happy

[Vetus]

The ultimate mediocre shump. Ok, I didn't have high expectations from this game to begin with by judging from the trailer but I wanted to give it a try anyway from curiosity. I hoped it would be at least something decent but no. By playing the game till the end it was obvious that 5pb doesn't have any experience on this kind of games (but then again what could you expect from a company which makes low-budget otaku-oriental games like Gal Gun which I personally love). On top of that they didn't even made any research to learn how to make a shmup that will sell well. It's like they were thinking "Oh! Shmups sell like crazy on Xbox360 so let's make one as well! It doesn't matter if it's a crappy one, shmup maniacs will buy it anyway." without putting any effort to make at least something decent. It would be better if they took the license of a popular (or not) doujin shmup for PC and port it to Xbox360.

I won't get on details about why Bullet Soul is such a mediocre game but one of the elements that makes it annoying is the fact that when an enemy is destroyed the bullets it shot dissapear but they leave white "shadows" in their place and that makes it confusing and tiring for the eye. See for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX1XPfLPIPI

[bcass]

I don't think they have any excuse for churning out something mediorce. Especially given how they made the excellent Ketsui arrange mode.

[Elixir]

The ultimate mediocre shump. Ok, I didn't have high expectations from this game to begin with by judging from the trailer but I wanted to give it a try anyway from curiosity. I hoped it would be at least something decent but no. By playing the game till the end it was obvious that 5pb doesn't have any experience on this kind of games (but then again what could you expect from a company which makes low-budget otaku-oriental games like Gal Gun which I personally love). On top of that they didn't even made any research to learn how to make a shmup that will sell well. It's like they were thinking "Oh! Shmups sell like crazy on Xbox360 so let's make one as well! It doesn't matter if it's a crappy one, shmup maniacs will buy it anyway." without putting any effort to make at least something decent. It would be better if they took the license of a popular (or not) doujin shmup for PC and port it to Xbox360.

I won't get on details about why Bullet Soul is such a mediocre game but one of the elements that makes it annoying is the fact that when an enemy is destroyed the bullets it shot dissapear but they leave white "shadows" in their place and that makes it confusing and tiring for the eye. See for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX1XPfLPIPI

5pb. didn't make Galgun, Alchemist did.

[stryc9]

I don't think they have any excuse for churning out something mediorce. Especially given how they made the excellent Ketsui arrange mode.

Actually I think Bullet Soul is programmed by Tachyon(?) and just published by 5pb.
The Ketsui port was handled in house by 5pb Game Division #2, as of course was DOJBLEX.

5pb, a company normally known for their Japan-centric visual adventures, should be commended for dipping their toes in the waters of arcade style gaming with this, along with their recently published 2d fighting game Phantom Breaker.

Purely subjective of course, but I enjoyed Bullet Soul. The scoring is limited and there is no adjustable difficulty, but the level design is still up there with top shooters IMO.

Looking forward to a sequel at some point.

[bcass]

The Ketsui port was handled in house by 5pb Game Division #2, as of course was DOJBLEX.

Irrelevant. They knew they had someone in-house who knew how to make a good shmup. They should have got those individuals concerned involved with the product.

[stryc9]

The Ketsui port was handled in house by 5pb Game Division #2, as of course was DOJBLEX.

Irrelevant. They knew they had someone in-house who knew how to make a good shmup. They should have got those individuals concerned involved with the product.

I was simply stating a fact. And this has no bearing on anything since I think Bullet Soul is a good product anyway. It's not the best shooter ever, but it is far from mediocre. If I was to recommend a bunch of import STGs for 360 to someone, sure, I'd put a lot of the other ones in front of this, but just look at some of those games. They some of the best eva IMO.

Have you played the full game or just the demo bcass? Everyone's got different taste and thats great, wouldn't have it any other way. But the later levels are pretty good.

I enjoy them anyway.

[bcass]

I've only played the demo and enjoyed it, except one thing - the stupidly long boss battle. From what I've read from people who own the game, all the boss battles are like this. I can accept the simplified gameplay mechanics. No problems with that at all, but the protracted boss battle stood out as being a really poor design decision and killed any desire to buy the game, at least at retail. I might buy it cheap if/when it appears on the Japanese GoD.

[stryc9]

Yes the boss battles are stupid long, but not THAT much longer than some of the level 3/4 boss encounters in CAVE games really. They aint as easy as I first thought either, with some quite nasty last patterns to deal with. By the time you've almost depleted their lifebar your like HURRY UP AND DIE YOU BASTARD

EDIT: Actually I take that back. Just been playing it. Level 2 boss takes far too long.

[xbl0x180]

The ultimate mediocre shump. Ok, I didn't have high expectations from this game to begin with by judging from the trailer but I wanted to give it a try anyway from curiosity. I hoped it would be at least something decent but no. By playing the game till the end it was obvious that 5pb doesn't have any experience on this kind of games (but then again what could you expect from a company which makes low-budget otaku-oriental games like Gal Gun which I personally love). On top of that they didn't even made any research to learn how to make a shmup that will sell well. It's like they were thinking "Oh! Shmups sell like crazy on Xbox360 so let's make one as well! It doesn't matter if it's a crappy one, shmup maniacs will buy it anyway." without putting any effort to make at least something decent. It would be better if they took the license of a popular (or not) doujin shmup for PC and port it to Xbox360.

I won't get on details about why Bullet Soul is such a mediocre game but one of the elements that makes it annoying is the fact that when an enemy is destroyed the bullets it shot dissapear but they leave white "shadows" in their place and that makes it confusing and tiring for the eye. See for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX1XPfLPIPI

5pb. didn't make Galgun, Alchemist did.

Gal*Gun is pervertedly highlarious

Bullet Soul rocks and I'd recommend it to anyone with a 360, esp. since it's region-freedom

[Avatar Ignis]

Just played around with the demo-

The stage 2 boss doesn't seem to take that long if you play the zeus looking dude and point blank alot. Does the gameplay cater to the yellow plane/zeus dude?

[BulletMagnet]

Does the gameplay cater to the yellow plane/zeus dude?

To some extent, since he's best at killing stuff quickly up close, but his slow speed can make it tricky to get where you need to go if you haven't memorized a rote path.

[stryc9]

Does the gameplay cater to the yellow plane/zeus dude?

To some extent, since he's best at killing stuff quickly up close, but his slow speed can make it tricky to get where you need to go if you haven't memorized a rote path.

I must admit he's the guy I don't use as I found him a bit slow to get from one side of the top of the screen to the other to neutralize threats, like you say. It will be interesting to see where the DLC ship will sit in terms of speed and balance compared to the originals.

At the moment I use the red and blue craft almost equally.