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

[Sima Tuna]

What are the games that will NEVER arrive as ACA? (I mean not 3D)

I think it's very unlikely that fully 3d games, and especially 3d Sega arcade games (think Daytona) will ever arrive on Hamster. If they do, I suspect it won't be until Switch 2 drops and they're either exclusive to Switch 2 or Switch 2/PS5/Series X. If we exclude 3d entirely, Sega in general still has yet to make its way to ACA.

The 2d games are limited by licenses, as another poster said.

[Jeneki]

Sega in general still has yet to make its way to ACA.

I suspect some companies would rather release arcade titles in their own way. For example Sega Ages on Switch, or Capcom Arcade Stadium.

[Sima Tuna]

Sega in general still has yet to make its way to ACA.

I suspect some companies would rather release arcade titles in their own way. For example Sega Ages on Switch, or Capcom Arcade Stadium.

I agree, but the problem with Sega is they don't actually do that.

It takes them Ages (heh) to release even one arcade title. They're sitting on dozens of classic games that people are desperate for, yet they continue to force their fans to buy the newest Yakuza for a *chance* to maybe play a couple of arcade games at their virtual sega arcade in-game.

At least Capcom have multiple arcade collection packages. The number of unlicensed arcade games capcom have not released yet is pretty small. But Sega are just sitting on so much stuff. All of the Golden Axe arcade games. All the racing games. All the 3d arcade games in general. Pseudo-3d stuff like Thunder Blade and Super Hang-On hasn't been reissued since the 3ds era. Even when it comes to console games from their classic systems, they've released only a handful of these on modern systems and they did so in a collection with 10+ frames of input delay (Sega Classics.)

To be fair to them, they did release Outrun, Phantasy Star I, Virtua Racer, Gain Ground, Thunder Force and a few others. But they have so many more and their release schedule for these games has been extremely miserly. I seriously despair of ever seeing Revenge of Death Adder, Virtua Fighter 3, Outrunners or Daytona again. As I said before, some of the games they've released under the Sega Classics bundle are in such a poor state as to be nearly unplayable anyway, and so require a reissue under a better-performing label (such as Sega Ages) already.

[SavagePencil]

I believe the emphasis on the most recent set of Sega AGES titles stopped with the death of Rieko Kodama

[hamfighterx]

https://www.famitsu.com/article/202408/15114

anything on these will also come out via ACA later, right?

Not necessarily. In fact, although the majority of the Egret II Mini's original lineup is on AA (though there are quite a few games from that list that are yet to see AA release), we've only seen a handful of games that showed up on the Mini's expansion cards. But I guess it at least shows that the rights holders to these games (if not owned by Taito) are willing to license them out for modern rereleases. And we have seen SOME games show up on Egret Mini first and then make their way to Arcade Archives - Ninja Kids is a good example.

I'm a little disappointed in the vol.3 game list (below) though. Galactic Storm with the Cyber Stick should be fun, Aqua Jack too. But this list isn't calling to me the way the last couple did.

Mr. Do! (which Taito did publish in Japan)
Rumba Lumber
Metal Soldier Isaac II
Wiz (the only game from this set that is already on Arcade Archives)
Extermination
Dr. Toppel Tankentai
Top Landing
Aqua Jack
Galactic Storm
Akkanvader/Space Invaders '95: The Attack of Lunar Loonies


Oh, and of course they waited until a month after I bought a 3D printed base for my mini to announce an official one XD

I believe the emphasis on the most recent set of Sega AGES titles stopped with the death of Rieko Kodama

They had already wrapped up the Switch Sega Ages line in August 2020 (with Herzog Zwei), almost two years before Rieko Kodama's unfortunate passing in May 2022 (which wasn't widely reported until October, to respect her family's privacy). So IDK if there's really much connection there...

[Lord British]

Sega in general still has yet to make its way to ACA.

Urrghh. Up'n Down is one of my favorite arcade games, and it's been ported before so...dang it.

[Ms. Tea]

I'm probably the weirdo here but Top Landing's exciting to me. I really, really like Midnight Landing - I'm no good at it, but I love it. I've never played Top Landing (and I don't have an Egret II Mini), but this is genuinely something that grabs my attention.

[hamfighterx]

I can't wait to check out Top Landing with the Cyber Stick, which I happen to have already, but I'd have a whole lot less interest playing with another control setup. Feels like they made that selection specifically with Cyber Stick in mind (which helps explain the second straight year selling an expansion card + USB Cyber Stick bundle).

[BIL]

Kinda hyped at the prospect of ACA Galactic Storm just for that OST, tbh. PROT MIND and ELECTRIC BRAIN EMPEROR long since seared into memory

OURYAAA!!! Christ it's good.

...which leads us to, of course, Night Striker. Cybernetically synergistic OST. Hamster/M2 pls.

[velo]

Is this game a lot of fun? I have never played it!!!!

Ninja Kids rules. I think I'd rank it a top-5 ACA beatemup at the moment. It seems like an approachable 1cc and has some fun references to other Taito games like Bubble Bobble. It reminds me of Taito's own Arabian Magic or maybe PuLiRuLa, if those mean anything to you. Very projectile-heavy, with one character using shurikens as a default attack.

never seen "Kusarigama" written as "Kusari & Kama" (chain and sickle, I believe?) Makes sense!

That matches the text on the attract screen, I think. Nice attention to totally pointless detail in that case.

I'm a little disappointed in the vol.3 game list (below) though. Galactic Storm with the Cyber Stick should be fun, Aqua Jack too. But this list isn't calling to me the way the last couple did.

Aqua Jack and Lunar Loonies were on my Most Wanted Taito list. Mr. Do! probably would've been, if I knew Taito had anything to do with it. Not familiar with most of the games but it doesn't look like any beatemups made the cut. I was hoping for one or two.

What are the games that will NEVER arrive as ACA? (I mean not 3D)

These seem pretty unlikely:

1) vast majority of licensed games
2) laserdisc games
3) lightgun games, whack-a-mole games, anything else that's essentially unplayable with a modern console controller
4) anything made by any number of developers that Hamster is probably never getting the rights for: Sega, Capcom, Midway, etc. Sadly a long list.

I thought we'd absolutely never ever get online multiplayer, but that's coming with ACA2 Neo Geo. Maybe there will be some other big surprises in the next year or two. I suspect we will get our first 3D game in that kind of time frame, but I wouldn't exactly hold my breath either.

[BIL]

Ninja Kids rules. I think I'd rank it a top-5 ACA beatemup at the moment. It seems like an approachable 1cc and has some fun references to other Taito games like Bubble Bobble. It reminds me of Taito's own Arabian Magic or maybe PuLiRuLa, if those mean anything to you. Very projectile-heavy, with one character using shurikens as a default attack.

Totally forgot about the references! The ones I spotted last night:

Spoiler

Sayo-chan, from KiKi KaiKai

Spoiler

The Desperados, from Gun Frontier

Spoiler

Zen-chan vs a more crudely-drawn Bub, from Bubble Bobble. (spraypainted by a Taito Enemy Sympathiser, maybe )

^ I love the authentic Satanic Panic couture of the rocker zako, with "ROCK" on the backs of their tees, and especially their Union Jack spandex! I guess they were going for a NWOBHM aesthetic, Maiden by way of Leppard.

Looking forward to the inevitable ACA PuLiRuLa, never really gave it the time it deserved on Saturn... and furthermore, I always heard it had some inaccuracies, so a definitive cut is more than welcome.

never seen "Kusarigama" written as "Kusari & Kama" (chain and sickle, I believe?) Makes sense!

That matches the text on the attract screen, I think. Nice attention to totally pointless detail in that case.

Aha! Explains why googling it with quotes gets a Giant Bomb profile with that exact phrasing. I wonder if the more usual "Kusarigama" is a quirk of Japanese language, ala the "z" in Hishouzame / Hishou Same.

Interested to see the EN version apparently lost the puppet concept? Guess it wasn't cool enough for 90s TUDES... but that also makes me wonder how all the dismemberment stayed in. (or maybe it didn't? I bailed after nabbing the intro text >_>)

[hamfighterx]

Ninja Kids rules. I think I'd rank it a top-5 ACA beatemup at the moment. It seems like an approachable 1cc and has some fun references to other Taito games like Bubble Bobble. It reminds me of Taito's own Arabian Magic or maybe PuLiRuLa, if those mean anything to you. Very projectile-heavy, with one character using shurikens as a default attack.

Feels so good to play too: pacing is tight, controls feel simply perfect, you never have a moment to get bored.

Such a striking comparison to some of the stuff we get these days in modern "retro nostalgia" beat-em-ups that so often feel unnecessarily looooong and padded. Looking directly at you, Wayforward. See also: The Takedown, Scott Pilgrim, etc. (but not Final Vendetta, that game rocks)

[Randorama]

Aha! Explains why googling it with quotes gets a Giant Bomb profile with that exact phrasing. I wonder if the more usual "Kusarigama" is a quirk of Japanese language, ala the "z" in Hishouzame / Hishou Same.

That would be a form of Sandhi, which occurs in most languages including Japanese (and also, it should be "Don+Hachi=DonPachi").

[BIL]

Aha! Explains why googling it with quotes gets a Giant Bomb profile with that exact phrasing. I wonder if the more usual "Kusarigama" is a quirk of Japanese language, ala the "z" in Hishouzame / Hishou Same.

That would be a form of Sandhi, which occurs in most languages including Japanese (and also, it should be "Don+Hachi=DonPachi").

Invaluable as always, Rando-sensei

[Lemnear]

In search of Kaneko

Spoiler

Why Class 28?

Spoiler

What if I search by codes?

The brand is the right one, also the Article Classification, the company it belongs to and even the nationality of the company it belongs to.

Spoiler

Now let's also check the other one still active in Japan

Spoiler

Same registration as the other one with Class 28 (same date and code).


They are the only two that are not Expired.
There is even the name of the agent.
There is also the Japanese one, but it is only for Class 24 (Home video game toys, records, pre-recorded tapes, pre-recorded magnetic discs, and other books)

Spoiler

but it is under the same registration as the other (both date and code).


It probably doesn't mean anything though

[BIL]

Don't worry about it so much, bud. Best solution is to git gud at some of the million games already out, you won't have time to worry about whatever's coming up next. Posting about it on here (or better yet HS/ST), even moreso!

And you can always give PCBs a shot, should you find yourself well and truly possessed by a fury that burns from inside. Careful with that though.

[Lemnear]

Don't worry about it so much, bud. Best solution is to git gud at some of the million games already out, you won't have time to worry about whatever's coming up next. Posting about it on here (or better yet HS/ST), even moreso!

And you can always give PCBs a shot, should you find yourself well and truly possessed by a fury that burns from inside. Careful with that though.

Don't worry, i'm still here (actually on RayCrisis also).

mine was pure curiosity, to see if someone actually legally held something, and so it seems.
Now i just have to send the contacts to Hamster (i'm joking...or not? mmm)

[Randorama]

Galactic Storm? This must be played on a huge-ass TV with Dolby Surround (TM), and a volume that should allow the neighbours to clearly recognise each note. Don't worry: the fuzz will show up and arrest them because they shouldn't have complained for the excellent social service you provided them. Then they will probably say: "Ma'am, Sir, please keep bangin' on: the community loves you and your fine musical palate". I think that somebody is madly in love with OGR, aside being head over heels about Taito.

This one is definitely harder than Night Striker, though I guess that there is still time to discuss the title.

[BrianC]

Mr. Do! (which Taito did publish in Japan)

Hamster themselves published versions of this previously (not for AA), so it has a chance of showing up.

[velo]

(spraypainted by a Taito Enemy Sympathiser, maybe )

Solid theory. The same wiseguy defaced the sidewalk right outside the bar in the first level.

Feels so good to play too: pacing is tight, controls feel simply perfect, you never have a moment to get bored.

Such a striking comparison to some of the stuff we get these days in modern "retro nostalgia" beat-em-ups that so often feel unnecessarily looooong and padded. Looking directly at you, Wayforward. See also: The Takedown, Scott Pilgrim, etc. (but not Final Vendetta, that game rocks)

Definitely agree. It's something you seldom see outside of genuine arcade games from the old days. Two levels of a modern game might run as long as a full Ninja Kids playthrough, but most of them aren't half the game it is, by my math.

[BIL]

(spraypainted by a Taito Enemy Sympathiser, maybe )

Solid theory. The same wiseguy defaced the sidewalk right outside the bar in the first level.

Nice. Protagonist to some, recurring enemy to others!

Spoiler

I'd wondered if the second might be his bird Mrs. Chack'n, but seems the vandal used a stencil - would explain his uncanny accuracy!

A couple more I spotted tonight - again notably less favourable to the protagonist side!

Spoiler

Silver Hawk from Darius, and the Syvalion. You can tell it's not Mother Hawk, it's not sprite-accurate enough!

Seems to be some kind of tagging war between a shameless stenciller, and his scrappy yet undeniably authentic rival!

[PC Engine Fan X!]

BIL,

The second pic of stencil-type graffiti is Darius fighter-craft & stage boss related, right? Quite cool with the subtle nods to past Taito arcade titles (assuming if you know where to "spot 'em/look for 'em").

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[BIL]

I'd assumed it was King Fossil, at first. But the flame breath, gold paint, and segmented body (dig that handsome mane and them T-Rex limbs ) make me think of Syvalion's eponymous mecha-dragon steed. Especially with another Fukio Mitsuji title referenced in that same area.



Yeah, you can really feel the designers' camaraderie and passion! It's just an exceptionally well-done game overall.

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Need to transform your Arcade Archives collection?
August's last entry is Konami's obscure shmup Finalizer: Super Transformation.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202408/15849

[Randorama]

Re: The Ninja kids: Stage 3 has a graffiti of a Silver Hawk and Sylvalion, indeed.

[BIL]

Need to transform your Arcade Archives collection?
August's last entry is Konami's obscure shmup Finalizer: Super Transformation.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202408/15849

Nice. A few JP players I follow have requested this one for years, was always curious with it seeming rather obscure in the West.

edit: oh rad, got that Contra gunmetal going on.

[CIT]

Nice! Reminds me of UFO Robo Dangar.

[Sima Tuna]

All of the King of Fighters games are currently half-off on Switch. Now, I know your first instinct might be to say, "BUY BUY BUY!" But I only want to caution one thing:

If you don't have another person to play these with, they may not be a good purchase. I still will probably buy '98 for myself, and maybe '02. But I must say that it is largely a sentimental purchase for me. Single-player in arcade fighting games is a joke. Typically, if you want single play, a more consolized fighting game release is better. Arcade single-player SF3 is a pile of dicks. Home console single-player Ultra SFIV can be quite fun. The difference between arcade fighting games and home console fighting games can be pretty large, when it comes to single player content. Games like Soul Calibur 2 gamecube and Virtua Fighter 4 Evo on ps2 show the difference in philosophies compared to arcade quite clearly.

So I just want to suggest that perhaps these arcade neo-geo games might not be for everyone, because there's very little fun content available in most single-player modes for arcade fighting games. The CPU always cheats in fighting games and alternating between pushover AI and bastard cheater AI isn't for everyone. It wouldn't be until around Tekken 5/Virtua Fighter 4 Evo's time that fighting game AIs would start incorporating ghost data to try to better emulate real players.

[BIL]

Hell yeah, Finalizer: SUPER TRANSFORMATION is exactly what I wanted. Like any good mecha-themed STG, it's far more than a simple "Gundam-shaped avatar" affair. Instead, you've got independent fire buttons for [LEFT ARM] and [RIGHT ARM]... I was struggling to 100% the waves at first, until I realised you can magdump with the beam rifle in one hand, throwing MACH FISTS with the other.

Genuine sense of might when you SUPER FORMATION from your plucky jetfighter into a doughty assault mode, then the ultimate big honkin' GOSHOGUNesque, who can heft the baddest armaments without breaking a sweat. In a winningly authentic glimpse of hot-blooded late 70s protagonist style, the CRASH pickup turns your mech into a burning avatar of JASTICE, body-ramming clean through the meanest waves and ruggedest rivals - I wonder if Compile were influenced at all, or perhaps even the inverse?

There's also a shield, which is good for a few hits, and has the very cool ability to stay up while you fire from behind it, for aggressive advance through heavy flak... I wonder if it might become more vital further in. From my brief session, I was happiest eschewing it for more firepower. It's a nice bit of tactical consideration, in a customarily no-nonsense earlier 80s STG.

Just needed some fierier tunes, but we're already comfortably at redline mecha performance as is. Instantly likeable game, especially if you dig mechs. I almost wonder if Browny's boomerang shot from Contra Hard Corps was inspired by the Mach Fist at all... anyone familiar with HC will know what I mean.



^ Let there be no doubt I'm a TRVE H4RDCOR3 soul - came home all fired up for TWO anime waifu sidescrollers in Kage and Dominus, had all my time stolen by the hardass oldschool mecha. ( )

[Jeneki]

Based on the background, is one loop in Finalizer considered one loop of the Earth?