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

[hamfighterx]

Next week we know what to expect, a Namco title.

What am I, chopped liver?

Seriously though, since Konami returned to Arcade Archives in August 2023 after a long hiatus, they have never been skipped in the usual 4-pack rotation, with the sole exception of the "Oops, all Namco!" month in April '24. They're likely up next.

I'll throw my - totally guessing - prediction into the ring: M.I.A./Missing in Action. I think it's the only game remaining from its hardware (Twin 16), and we've seen others like The Final Round and Cue Brick this year. (Oh... weird one though, that's just the Japanese version, the American and international releases are on the TMNT hardware. We shall see!)

[Sumez]

M.I.A. rocks, but you need to get to the second loop for it to put up its dukes.

[Skyknight]

MIA is the upgraded version of Green Beret/Rush 'n' Attack, yes?

[Sumez]

More accurately it's a sequel

[hamfighterx]

I've just learned about the differences between original Japanese release of MIA (Twin 16 hardware), and the international/NA versions that are not only on different hardware (TMNT-based), but also have some gameplay differences. In the Japanese version, every other stage scrolls in the opposite direction? Some versions have randomized first 4 stages? This might explain why that's the one Twin 16 game we have yet to see, since there would either be more work than usual for Hamster to include both Japan and International versions, or they'd just include a single version.

Still hope it shows up before long, that's a release that would be right in the wheelhouse of AA alongside stuff like Surprise Attack, Rolling Thunder, Crime City, etc.

[Sumez]

In the one I have, the starting level is picked at random, but outside of the final stage which is always in the end, they always go in the same internal order.
The direction the stage scrolls depends on where in the sequence it appears (always alternating direction between stages), so outside of the final stage of course, each of them can occur essentially mirrored.
I'm fairly sure it's not a Japanese PCB.

EDIT: Actually I think the last two stages are always in the end (and thus also scrolling the same direction), not just the final one. It's been over a year since I was digging into the game. So only the first three are randomized.

There's also one additional "stage" after the last where you escort the MIA prisoners. If you don't survive and get at least one prisoner to the chopper, you'll game over there, no matter how many lives you had left, no more looping the game.

[hamfighterx]

Moon Shuttle still isn't up on the US Nintendo eShop. It released at the normal time in the Japan eShop, and it's available on US PSN.

This one feels like it could have just been a submission mix-up that could get corrected this week, since it's available on Playstation in the same region. Still not yet though, maybe it will show up in the larger eShop updates this week. If it's not here by the end of week, I wouldn't count on ever seeing it.

[Sturmvogel Prime]

I'm not really a big fan. Because... I don't know, I-I guess I like fantasy games more, because it's something that you couldn't do in real life, whereas a sports game, you could... go outside and play sports.

Videosystem's Super Volley '91/Power Spikes is this week's release. Closing the Power Spikes saga that started on ACA Neogeo back in 2018.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202410/20496

[Darkseed_5150]

Waiting for the Version 2 upgrade pricing before buying any more ACA titles for now.

[Lemnear]

moved post (evolved from Post to Thread)

[D]

SW anouncement deserves it's own thread

[Lemnear]

SW anouncement deserves it's own thread

but it was inside the Hamster streaming so I put it here first >_>
Maybe at the reveal on November 8th we can open the thread? Or open it right away
Ok ok I'll move it

[hamfighterx]

Moon Shuttle still isn't up on the US Nintendo eShop. It released at the normal time in the Japan eShop, and it's available on US PSN.

This one feels like it could have just been a submission mix-up that could get corrected this week, since it's available on Playstation in the same region. Still not yet though, maybe it will show up in the larger eShop updates this week. If it's not here by the end of week, I wouldn't count on ever seeing it.

Confirming that Moon Shuttle DID arrive yesterday on the US eShop, 1 week late, alongside this week's release of Power Spikes. Not the first time that has happened: Empire City 1931 and Itazura Tenshi also mysteriously failed to appear on time, but showed up the following week. Seems like the obvious explanation was some sort of submission process mix-up/delay.

Videosystem's Super Volley '91/Power Spikes is this week's release.

Also interesting to see the deviation from the typical 4-pack of releases from Namco/Taito/Konami/other that we've normally seen for the past year plus. This most recent set was Taito (Crime City), Namco (Blast Off), Nichibutsu (Moon Shuttle), and Video System (Power Spikes).

Maybe Konami is next week and we just got a bonus game from a wildcard (has happened before). If not, let the speculation begin on whether Konami is falling out of the usual monthly rotation.

[Sima Tuna]

Is there anything to recommend Power Spikes 1 over Power Spikes II?

[hamfighterx]

Is there anything to recommend Power Spikes 1 over Power Spikes II?

Probably not?

In addition to the normal volleyball of the original, Power Spikes II also has a "Hyper League" mode with robots and power-ups. So the sequel gives you a pretty similar base game, AND the addition of a mode that almost feels like the the volleyball equivalent of 2020 Super Baseball on Neo Geo (but doesn't get quite as out there with rule changes like 2020 Baseball does).

Some time last year I got strangely into playing a bunch of different volleyball games and discovered a guy on Youtube who has a whole series on trying to play every volleyball game. Here's his video that covered the Video Systems stuff: https://youtu.be/X17m5_d2YkI?si=PS4Xmnmswwob_egb

[BIL]

All I know about the series is, the MD port's sleeve art ROCKS UR FUKKEN FAEC FO FREE!

Spoiler

IF HE DIES HE DIES

(literally for free, I got it as a gift with a bunch of other stuff BITD, gave it pride of place with Rambo III also this bad boy feat. AHNULD, Dirty Harry n' ROBOT COP )

Spoiler

Oh, also, Power Spikes II was the sequel to the Aero Fighters 3 fiasco. Enjoy some lore, it's good for you.

[BrianC]

Is there anything to recommend Power Spikes 1 over Power Spikes II?

Probably not?

In addition to the normal volleyball of the original, Power Spikes II also has a "Hyper League" mode with robots and power-ups. So the sequel gives you a pretty similar base game, AND the addition of a mode that almost feels like the the volleyball equivalent of 2020 Super Baseball on Neo Geo (but doesn't get quite as out there with rule changes like 2020 Baseball does).

Some time last year I got strangely into playing a bunch of different volleyball games and discovered a guy on Youtube who has a whole series on trying to play every volleyball game. Here's his video that covered the Video Systems stuff: https://youtu.be/X17m5_d2YkI?si=PS4Xmnmswwob_egb

Confusing thing is that Power Spikes II was named Super Volley '94 in Japan and Power Spikes is the second game in the Super Volley (Ball) series. There was also a game called Hyper V'Ball, which was called Super Volley II in Japan. Had some similarities to Power Spikes II (possibly the first game in the series with hyper mode, if the JP date is accurate), but plays slooooooow. Came out in '92 in Japan, but didn't reach US until 1994. The original Super Volley Ball is also on arcade archives.

[Lemnear]

from here

It depends on the game. Some use the arcade refresh rates. Some don't. Some have the option to select either original refresh rate or 59.94whateverHz, but some (most?) don't.

Which ACA/AAs have special options?

[Steven]

from here

It depends on the game. Some use the arcade refresh rates. Some don't. Some have the option to select either original refresh rate or 59.94whateverHz, but some (most?) don't.

Which ACA/AAs have special options?

Thunder Dragon 2 (super awesome game BTW). Other than that, I don't know.

[Jeneki]

Gradius 3 has a hitbox viewer and stage select. Games with special options might have all the details listed in the Arcade Archives STG Directory topic, if someone is so inclined to read through the whole thing.

[BIL]

The 60hz/native refresh option is decidedly scattershot. Most Namco titles have it, particularly 80s boards that natively run above 60hz. Quite a few recent Konami releases, too. Otherwise, not something to bank on. ACA XEXEX, Thunder Dragon 2, and Gunnail all have it. The much newer Daioh doesn't, despite its major additions of a Rank meter and counter-stop fix.

Gotch's releases (Gradius I & II, Salamander, Thunder Cross, A-JAX, Flak Attack, Ark Area, Darius, Terra Cresta, MagMax... probably some I'm forgetting) seem to run at 60hz. Or some other Gotch wizardry? Perfectly smooth, in any case. And there's plenty of games that are natively near enough to 60hz, you get a micro-stutter every ten/fifteen seconds, instead of the more noticeable ~1hz hitch. (Metal Black comes to mind, having stared at it a lot recently)

I wish it was a global option. My one complaint re: ACA/ShotTriggers. I found it interesting that Mihara counselled Hamster toward 60hz for TGM2. (the board runs a tick over) I'm guessing he too considers even the tiniest stutter fundamentally disruptive, if less so than input lag, frame tearing, or frameskipping.

All the same, I forget about it at the controls. It's metronomically consistent, and typically small enough that I get myself killed looking for it. (#dickstock) So I don't.

If you can't overlook it, you might be interested in GroovyMAME. Or taking steps to bridge whatever gap is between you and authentic boards + displays. Necessity is the mother of desperation. I think it's better to treat these releases as the console translations they are, with the historic convenience and baggage that entails.

I'd love to see both companies embrace VRR, in the ongoing glacial shift to current-gen platforms.

Gradius 3 has a hitbox viewer and stage select. Games with special options might have all the details listed in the Arcade Archives STG Directory topic, if someone is so inclined to read through the whole thing.

Yeah, I generally noted options/fixes in the last sentence of relevant entries. I was considering adding a note for STGs with the 60hz option, too. Just a " # " or something. Will go through my PS4 HDD this weekend, since it's come up.

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Taito's Violence Fight is this week's title, completing the saga that concluded with Solitary Fighter.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202410/21169

[Marc]

Fuck no.

[Sima Tuna]

Violence Fight is really very bad. I played it on the taito legends 2 collection, I believe.

[SavagePencil]

Violence Fight is funny as hell, but not $8 of funny

[jehu]

Skip Violence Fight and go for the MSX Undeadline release for EGG Console on Switch.

Just in time for Halloween!

[Yoshi]

Skip Violence Fight and go for the MSX Undeadline release for EGG Console on Switch.

Just in time for Halloween!

I had no idea this collection existed on Switch. I had thought about getting into it on PC but never pulled the trigger. Thank you!

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Konami's Metamorphic Force (AKA Konami's Altered Beast) is this week's release.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202410/21990

[BIL]

Now that's more motherfucking like it.

[Marc]

Nice. This an existing hardware emulation-wise?