I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

[Arino]

https://youtu.be/fWs3cKPxlAw?si=w_K6CzdW1bT0FXIT

AGA to the rescue! I want all games ever, and I want them now!

[BIL]

Daaamn, those Gradius III explosion SFX and whiteouts on the KO Instant PTSD, buddy got his shit rocked

JABBIN' JIM looking a bit suspect in the win pose aftering beating RED FALCO~N' s ass, though. Shades of Maradona hoovering up a bit too much of the ol' ching chong chinaman charlie before tearing onto the pitch!

[Arino]

Meanwhile at M2: Still teaching DOJ. https://youtu.be/yPtmwKJUdKs?si=Ji06vVbvlN9jHa53

[Jeneki]

I mean if you're going to make a boxing game, go hard and channel your inner Stallone.

[BIL]

Headcanon: with Bill, Lance, and Red Falcon in the roster, that's the third Legendary Contra: heli dude. Buddy done seen some shit! JABBIN JIM is actually a reference to his mighty coke-fuelled hog!

I like the Rapid Hero pick, I'd love to see more NMK. I also wonder if we'll get any other premium priced licensed games again after the one-off Mazinger Z last year. I'd gladly pay double price for Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon (the Banpresto arcade beat-em-up). Damn, now I really want that.

Yeah, I'd love to see them explore this. I'd snap up ACA-quality Macross 2 on sight, for a good deal more than 2x ACA, even! That was a great Mazinger release, too - fixes the counterstop with an optional extra score digit.

Speaking of:

1) There was a 4-game run in October-November 2023 with no Taito game but two "other" games: Daioh (Athena) and Blandia (Allumer).

This must've been the most Hamster pairing ever. Daioh's first-ever home translation, with optional 1UP exploit fix, plus OYAJI METER added by OG dev request... and uh, Blandia.

Oh, and as for Taito: we should expect that some time in the not so distant future, we'll see the games that are not already on AA but were announced for the Taito Milestones 3 compilation. Dead Connection, Thunder Fox, and Rastan Saga III/Warrior Blade.

Greatly looking forward to all three of these! I know for a fact Thunder Fox is killer, and I've always been curious about Dead Connection. Can't remember my few credits with Warrior Blade on PS2, but it was cool as hell at minimum.

In case people ain't heard!



^ In the name of good VGM and good ATTRACTS, I will always post my METAL BLACK x DEAD CONNECTION joint, especially knowing Senba-sama worked on the latter!

[Jucksalbe]

Does anybody here use the 8bitdo NeoGeo pad for ACA games (on Switch)? How does it compare to the M30?

[Steven]

M30 is better. Good luck finding something that is better than the M30 for 2D games that isn't a keyboard, leverless, or a real Saturn controller. The clicky stick on the 8BitDooDoo Neo Geo CD controller has an awkwardly large dead zone that is bigger than that on a real Neo Geo CD controller and feels much worse than a real one as a result. It's probably fine if you've never used a real one, but if you have, you'll probably dislike/hate the 8BitDo.

I still don't have a good Saturn controller for PS4/PS5/360, sadly, with 360 needing it the most. I REALLY don't want to continue playing Saidaioujou with a regular 360 controller, but at this point I have no choice.

[Sumez]

Do the official SNES style controllers for Switch work with ACA games? ( https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en/super-n ... 0010002877 )
They are sold out almost all the time, but I managed to snatch two last time they were available.

They aren't useful for most modern 2D games on Switch due to a lack of buttons, but they should be fine for most arcade games. They won't work if the application isn't configured to support them, however.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Do the official SNES style controllers for Switch work with ACA games?

I don't see why it wouldn't. ACA releases are designed to respond to both analog movement and d-pad movement so regardless of controller as long as the Switch detects it as a valid controller it'd be usable, and just a matter of mapping the buttons to whatever you want. It would only potentially be an issue in a game where it only accepts analog movement and doesn't use the D-Pad, as it's likely the controller's D-Pad is digital only without an analog mode switch to act as if it's a left stick.

The other limiting factor, the lack of buttons, is generally not an issue as most ACA games are max 4 buttons. The only 6 button game I can think of is Daioh?

[Sumez]

That's the thing though. The Switch doesn't detect it as a standard controller. The game needs to implement specific support for it

At least that's what I jeard

[Arino]

Do the official SNES style controllers for Switch work with ACA games? ( https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en/super-n ... 0010002877 )
They are sold out almost all the time, but I managed to snatch two last time they were available.

They aren't useful for most modern 2D games on Switch due to a lack of buttons, but they should be fine for most arcade games. They won't work if the application isn't configured to support them, however.

Btw they have no home button. Sorry to give you the bad news, honestly. There is a button combo that triggers the home button, but it only works for the "app" of the SNES games lol (I don't even have that monthly subscription because I don't need/want it). It's like they REALLY want you to use that controller only for SNES games. This is one of the many many reasons why I kinda hate Nintendo. Only they would do something this dumb.

[Marc]

That's the thing though. The Switch doesn't detect it as a standard controller. The game needs to implement specific support for it

At least that's what I jeard

I'm 99% certain I've used mine with AA titles.

[Arino]

Yes you can play any game with them where it would make sense. IIrc I have tested it with ACA games (incl. NG), Crimzon Clover, Contra Collection, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, SEGA Ages...

[velo]

We're due for some "others". I thought they might be running out of Namco, but by a quick and rough count, there are at least 20 sprite based games to go. Enough to stretch over a year or two, before they have to either stop or move to 3D.

Oh there are enough Taito and Konami games to last them quite a while too.

And on the "other" topic, we aren't necessarily "due" for one if Hamster is sticking to the usual current pattern of 4 games with 1 each from Namco/Taito/Konami/Other (not necessarily in the same order).

Oh, I meant another "other" besides Nichibutsu, since they have been the #4 almost every single time for a long while. But there's still a lot of Nichibutsu yet untouched, so maybe not. Hamster have a long way to go with Taito and Konami but Namco feels almost scraped clean of the big names (Outfoxies, Final Lap, Mr. Driller, ...?). I was really just trying to do the math on how soon we'll get Namco Classic Collection 1+2 or some early Namco 3D games, in the worst case scenario. It depends a little on whether they'll touch any light gun games. They haven't done any so far, have they? Lucky & Wild would be a big deal, if it were playable. Some of the racing and sports games might have licensing issues as well.

I was thinking yesterday, about which are the biggest titles that still feel like they are abscent from Arcade Archives, and it was the first game that came to my mind.
What are the other games people feel are missing?

I'm looking forward to Aqua Jack, Night Striker and Space Invaders '95, but I don't think they're getting there for a while. We have Runark and Warrior Blade is coming, so Taito's other beltscrollers might be within reach.

[hamfighterx]

Do the official SNES style controllers for Switch work with ACA games? ( https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en/super-n ... 0010002877 )
They are sold out almost all the time, but I managed to snatch two last time they were available.

Yes, they work fine for ACA. So do the NES (and presumably Famicom), Genesis/MD, and N64 controllers. I use the 6-button Mega Drive pad pretty often on a variety of games including ACA stuff.

I don't think I've ever run into an issue with any of these official Nintendo controllers being completely unrecognized in any game I've tried them on, just that obviously if you're trying to play a game with more button assignments or use of analogue sticks, you might not have enough buttons.

As Arino mentioned, the lack of a home button on the NES/SNES pads is a little bit of an annoyance, but there's a relatively simply workaround of just having a second controller nearby that has a Home button (Joycon, Pro Controller, whatever) to hit Home if you're done with the game and need to get back to the Switch menu. You don't have to change controller assignments or anything like that, just have to have the one with a Home button also synced to the console. The MD/Gen and N64 controllers actually do have a Home button, so there's no need to jump through any hoops for those ones.

Not typically my cup of tea, arcade boxshingu, but I do like the Time Attack angle. Lately, I'm fonder and fonder of arcade games designed for adept players to tear through in good time, rather than riding a single credit for hours on end.

I have no experience with Final Round, but I have played a ton of Taito's Final Blow (more through its renamed Genesis incarnation, James Buster Douglas Knockout Boxing) and I like that one. Also works well as a time attack game, since it's pretty much just burning through a fairly small number of CPU fighters. Maybe Hamster can do another all-time pairing by putting Final Blow up next week and confusing the hell out of everyone!

Oh, I meant another "other" besides Nichibutsu, since they have been the #4 almost every single time for a long while. But there's still a lot of Nichibutsu yet untouched, so maybe not.

Yeah they have been hitting the Nichibutsu supply pretty hard this year, outside of the rare surprise like Silkworm. Wonder if they'll ever get back to Seibu and give us Raiden II...

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Hamster should, indeed, release Seibu Kahatsu's Raiden II to compliment it's earlier ACA release of Raiden. The real question is, would it be better than the Raiden II version featured on the PSX classic, "The Raiden Project?"

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Sima Tuna]

M30 is better. Good luck finding something that is better than the M30 for 2D games that isn't a keyboard, leverless, or a real Saturn controller. The clicky stick on the 8BitDooDoo Neo Geo CD controller has an awkwardly large dead zone that is bigger than that on a real Neo Geo CD controller and feels much worse than a real one as a result. It's probably fine if you've never used a real one, but if you have, you'll probably dislike/hate the 8BitDo.

I still don't have a good Saturn controller for PS4/PS5/360, sadly, with 360 needing it the most. I REALLY don't want to continue playing Saidaioujou with a regular 360 controller, but at this point I have no choice.

Joycon for 4-direction games is pretty godlike, since the directions are separated like a keyboard or hitbox.

[Steven]

M30 is better. Good luck finding something that is better than the M30 for 2D games that isn't a keyboard, leverless, or a real Saturn controller. The clicky stick on the 8BitDooDoo Neo Geo CD controller has an awkwardly large dead zone that is bigger than that on a real Neo Geo CD controller and feels much worse than a real one as a result. It's probably fine if you've never used a real one, but if you have, you'll probably dislike/hate the 8BitDo.

I still don't have a good Saturn controller for PS4/PS5/360, sadly, with 360 needing it the most. I REALLY don't want to continue playing Saidaioujou with a regular 360 controller, but at this point I have no choice.

Joycon for 4-direction games is pretty godlike, since the directions are separated like a keyboard or hitbox.

I don't know if I actually have any 4-direction games, though... Is Psycho Soldier a 4-direction game? I haven't played it for so long that I forgot!

Well... I do have Shin Megami Tensei for SFC, and that is most definitely a 4-direction game, but I can't exactly connect my Joy-cons to any of my SFCs lol

[Sima Tuna]

M30 is better. Good luck finding something that is better than the M30 for 2D games that isn't a keyboard, leverless, or a real Saturn controller. The clicky stick on the 8BitDooDoo Neo Geo CD controller has an awkwardly large dead zone that is bigger than that on a real Neo Geo CD controller and feels much worse than a real one as a result. It's probably fine if you've never used a real one, but if you have, you'll probably dislike/hate the 8BitDo.

I still don't have a good Saturn controller for PS4/PS5/360, sadly, with 360 needing it the most. I REALLY don't want to continue playing Saidaioujou with a regular 360 controller, but at this point I have no choice.

Joycon for 4-direction games is pretty godlike, since the directions are separated like a keyboard or hitbox.

I don't know if I actually have any 4-direction games, though... Is Psycho Soldier a 4-direction game? I haven't played it for so long that I forgot!

Well... I do have Shin Megami Tensei for SFC, and that is most definitely a 4-direction game, but I can't exactly connect my Joy-cons to any of my SFCs lol

Any 4 direction or 2 direction, basically every arcade game that doesn't use diagonals plays amazing on joycon. Huntdown is a great example. To play Huntdown well, you have to shoot left and right while smoothly transitioning with quick up and down presses to either hide in niches, duck behind boxes or drop down platforms (duck + jump.) All of these inputs while going left and right, and shooting or using throwables. I have tried playing huntdown on an aftermarket pad and it sucks. Too many false diagonals. With joycon (or keyboard,) that never happens.

Other games that work amazingly well on joycon include: Metal Slug (it doesn't have true diagonals for HMG), Contra, Castlevania (any), Elevator Action Returns, Ninja Saviors, most beat em ups, Outrun (surprisingly), most run and guns, Shock Troopers (again, surprisingly), most 2d platformers. The majority of NES and Game Boy stuff works great on joycon. All the classic Mega Men, of course. If it's 2d and you don't have to free-aim diagonal firing or movement then it probably is best on joycon (out of all the switch controller options that are not a dedicated arcade stick.)

Games that don't work on joycon include: most shmups, most top-down, most gallery shooter, most racing games. Anything where you have to press diagonals constantly. Beat em ups are fine on joycon because diagonal use is infrequent.

Edit: One might ask "why the fuck would you want to play on joycons at all?" Aside from how well the pad works for certain games, playing in portable with joycons is the lowest possible latency way to play Switch games without hacking your switch.

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Hamster should, indeed, release Seibu Kahatsu's Raiden II to compliment it's earlier ACA release of Raiden. The real question is, would it be better than the Raiden II version featured on the PSX classic, "The Raiden Project?"

I also agree with that since Hamster released Raiden.
As for your question about an Arcade Archives port of Raiden II, the answer will be yes, since AA releases are based directly on the arcade version, and an Arcade Archives: Raiden II will be arcade perfect rather than using the PC version like The Raiden Project did, so it will restore the intro sequence and we will have the original screen resolution and the original arcade sound, effectively surpassing the Raiden Project port (and the same thing could be said for Raiden DX).

[BIL]

Hamster re-released the Raiden 1 half of Raiden Project back in the day, via their Arcade Hits series. As well as Raiden DX, via Major Wave. No Raiden II, for whatever reason.

So I wouldn't use ACA Raiden as precedent for its sequel appearing. I do think they'll get around to it and DX, in their own time. Call it Hamster Time™ and go play something that's already out, that's what I say.

I've been meaning to give Wiz its due, actually. Great first impression. Empire City kinda perplexed me, but I fully expected it to... very unique take on Gun Shooting.

Hamster should, indeed, release Seibu Kahatsu's Raiden II to compliment it's earlier ACA release of Raiden. The real question is, would it be better than the Raiden II version featured on the PSX classic, "The Raiden Project?"

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

In terms of arcade accuracy, yeah, I think it's safe to say ACA Raiden II would be the definitive home translation, just like ACA Raiden. I love all those PS1/SAT ports, and will never part with them... I find that gen's "arcade imperfect" nature, and their wildly varying range of accuracy, a charming aesthetic in itself. It's just the nature of then vs now.

Whether the nails-hard Raiden II board is preferable to the somewhat milder PS1 port is a more personal matter.

Actually, I always wondered if the PS1 port wasn't just based on an easier ROMset. I guess we'll find out. Many years back, ranking hitter saucy noticed PS1 DX's variable starting Rank, which it now seems was a deliberate feature dating back to the first game. (cf ACA Raiden letting you control this, via the Preference Options)

rather than using the PC version like The Raiden Project did

WTF are you talking about

Spoiler

[samspot]

Do the official SNES style controllers for Switch work with ACA games? ( https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en/super-n ... 0010002877 )
They are sold out almost all the time, but I managed to snatch two last time they were available.

They aren't useful for most modern 2D games on Switch due to a lack of buttons, but they should be fine for most arcade games. They won't work if the application isn't configured to support them, however.

It has all eight gameplay buttons including zL and zR, and + and -. It works everywhere and even works decently for games that expect a left analog stick (like Mario Kart 8 ).

It doesn’t work great on PC though. Seems to depend on the game. Bizhawk didn’t like it or my m30 for that matter.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

rather than using the PC version like The Raiden Project did

WTF are you talking about

Possibly misspoke and meant this port: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4076 ... m_Edition/

[MJR]

/self serving rant

I remember lamenting 10 years ago that I had to pay €170 for Raiden DX PCB board

Now it turned out to be the best deal I ever had

/self serving rant

[Arino]

I love all those PS1/SAT ports, and will never part with them... I find that gen's "arcade imperfect" nature, and their wildly varying range of accuracy, a charming aesthetic in itself. It's just the nature of then vs now.

Very well said. Only someone who truly loves those kind of games could make such a statement. I agree 100%. Also, I love that version of Raiden 1 that is part of The Raiden Project. I don't like any of those other ports. They are simply worse, there is no version among them that's charming in its own way for some reason in my opinion, they just all suck

The US version The Raiden Project on PSX is easier because it has no checkpoints (unlike the JP version) but the problem with the US version is they fucked up the controls of the tate mode. In order to play the tate mode of the US version of Raiden 1, you have to use a hack that fixes the controls by using a boot CD where you have to enter some numbers, open the drive of the PSX and then put in the game. It's a pain in the ass, but I've done it so many times because the game was hard enough for me as it was, I really didn't need those checkpoints on top of everything. I managed to 1CC the game this way on default difficulty but then never really went back to it: viewtopic.php?p=1388502#p1388502

It is correct that this version is a little easier than the arcade version, but at the same time it's not, because whenever people say this, they never consider the fact that there are no slowdowns in the PSX version. And the slowdowns in the arcade version are significant. On PSX all those bullets are at max speed instead. It would be up for discussion whether that makes it harder overall or not.

I always wanted that Hamster version of Raiden for PSX, but never actually bought it. Would be nice to have I guess, just to play it on CRT. Obviously I do have the ACA version though on my PS4 (:

Spoiler

This was awesome to read! I know you have more of these, GIVE ME ALL OF THEM, NOW!!!

[BIL]

Spoiler

This was awesome to read! I know you have more of these, GIVE ME ALL OF THEM, NOW!!!

The man of the hour.

[Arino]

I still don't have a good Saturn controller for PS4/PS5/360, sadly, with 360 needing it the most. I REALLY don't want to continue playing Saidaioujou with a regular 360 controller, but at this point I have no choice.

Controllers with good d pads for the Xbox 360 do seem to be uncommon indeed. Even when the console was current gen. This is what I do: You know that PS2 controller by SEGA that looks like the SS controller, right?



I just take one of those and then use the "xtokki 360" (by Etokki) to hook it up (PSX/PS2 to Xbox 360 converter).



It does not add any input lag at all from what I read and it definitely feels like there is none. However, that thing is ancient and therefore not super easy to find. You can try Ebay or I don't know if they might have it in the shops in Japan. Worst comes to worst, I'd just use an arcade stick.

[Jonpachi]

^ ha, yeah, that's a solid $300 solution these days unfortunately

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Taito has revealed their game of the month: The Ninja Kids on August 22nd.
https://nitter.poast.org/TAITO_Apps/sta ... 45933358#m

[ExitPlanetDust]

Fuck yeah. I’m always down to kill The Satan.