Cave x Steam teaser!

[Oniros]

First game is Mushihimesama: http://www.caveshmups.com/mushihimesama/

They're also hinting at a second game.

Fantastic first choice. Not only a good game but also one that even some hardcore fans won't have due to the region-lock. You hit a home run here Degica!

[NeoStrayCat]

^Well, except some people need to be reminded that the Mobile port did bring this over first in its translated English name (and overseas no less), so yeah. But hey, now catering to the PC crowd with more stuff, lol. X3

[STG4WD]

Yay! I'll happily eat my words that 'it's obviously going to be Futari' lol.

This is a great result, and I hope it bodes well for other Japan-only releases to be getting priority.

Also nice touch on the 1.5 DLC (which also bodes well!)


Big up to Degica Games and to the one they call the Blackbird for making this happen and spreading the Shmup love worldwide!!!

[mastermx]

Wow so the game is planned to be released with dlc . Shouldn't 1.5 be available from the get go.

Not sure how I feel about mushi 1 being the first one to be released.

[emphatic]

Wow so the game is planned to be released with dlc . Shouldn't 1.5 be available from the get go.

Not sure how I feel about mushi 1 being the first one to be released.

I'd like to see a bundle at a lower price but come on, this is finally CAVE showing some sort of business sense. Why give a very exclusive game away for free?

[mastermx]

I'm excited that cave is bringing their shmups to steam. I just hate dlc, and the business practices that go with it.

[Oniros]

I'm excited that cave is bringing their shmups to steam. I just hate dlc, and the business practices that go with it.

Even more than making good shmups, Cave are the ultimate masters of milking their fanbase. I'm pretty sure we have to thank Degica here for the $20 base price mate.

[Squire Grooktook]

Yeah, a 10 dollar dlc for what's essentially a re-arrange of the whole dang game is quite a bit better then importing for 80 bucks.

[Cee]

I think it's a terrible choice for the first game seeing how literally 1% of players on steam are going to know anything about the ridiculous tapping and even less who'll care, that said i like the idea of 1.5 so that's something.

[STG4WD]

I think it's a terrible choice for the first game seeing how literally 1% of players on steam are going to know anything about the ridiculous tapping and even less who'll care, that said i like the idea of 1.5 so that's something.

Anyone who's new to shmups is better off sticking with Original anyways. An Original 1CC will take them a good long while.

Also, if you DO play Maniac, the whole tapping thing is completely optional. It doesn't make a difference to your firepower or ability to deal with patterns like e.g. Hypering in DFK. It's just an arbitrary scoring mechanic.

[STG4WD]

By the way, all about the early breakfast interview this Sunday morning (6am GMT) with Ikeda-san! Assuming he will have an English translator...?

Anyone else up for joining me and live-chatting the event on the forum?

[Mantrox]

I missed the interview, does anyone have a summary?
Any juicy bits?

Edit: Nevermind, in the rush of reading the email i assumed it was today :X

[Cagar]

Yessssssssssssss!!!!

I think it's a terrible choice for the first game seeing how literally 1% of players on steam are going to know anything about the ridiculous tapping and even less who'll care, that said i like the idea of 1.5 so that's something.

The game totally requires you to instantly understand rapid-fire shenanigans and other high-end scoring techniques. What a poor choice!

Btw, deathsmiles has been mentioned recently because new ds characters were added to Mahou Otome recently

[Cee]

Yessssssssssssss!!!!

I think it's a terrible choice for the first game seeing how literally 1% of players on steam are going to know anything about the ridiculous tapping and even less who'll care, that said i like the idea of 1.5 so that's something.

The game totally requires you to instantly understand rapid-fire shenanigans and other high-end scoring techniques. What a poor choice!

Because playing for survival forever offers such fun and longevity.

Futari is superior in pretty much every way, so i still believe it's a poor choice.

[mastermx]

I just hope they can match what Ikaruga did for online score boards and the ability to download replays in game.

I also think futari might have been a better option for a first release. What would have been really awesome is if they bundled mushihime same and futari into one release. But why would they do that, the game already has dlc planned for it. I guess I just got used to pc releases being (Base+dlc) ultimate edition.

That's what I would have done, called it "mushi ultimate", and bragged about all the exclusives it has that the 360 don't.

[bytestorm]

How cool wouldn't it be with physical releases? In a cave box with all goodies and flyers and such..

Steam is good also ofc, I am just dreaming a bit .





Cave boxes.... mmmmmm.....

[Squire Grooktook]

Yessssssssssssss!!!!

I think it's a terrible choice for the first game seeing how literally 1% of players on steam are going to know anything about the ridiculous tapping and even less who'll care, that said i like the idea of 1.5 so that's something.

The game totally requires you to instantly understand rapid-fire shenanigans and other high-end scoring techniques. What a poor choice!

Because playing for survival forever offers such fun and longevity.

It does actually. Ghouls and Ghosts is amazing fun even on 1cc #28698.

That being said, Cagar's point was that you don't need to learn the high end scoring techniques right off the bat. Does Mushi Maniac have no low level scoring techniques that you can learn when you're just starting out? Most games do.

[iconoclast]

Is 1.5 any good? I really don't like any of the modes in this game.

If you like Futari BL Original, then you might like Mushi 1.5 Original. I doubt Maniac and Ultra will change your mind.

I feel the same way. Original was fun for a couple days, though.

[Domino]

Great first game for Steam. I got more people to play shmups with this title than the infamous Deathsmiles.

[Xyga]

GOOD ! Love it. I understand the scoring mechanics are not for everyone, but Mushi's got a very strong identity, unlike some of the later Cave titles, so I see this as a good start (that stage 3 will always remain one of my favourite moments in any game ever).

Hadn't bought HD because I own the pcb so I've missed 1.5, time to fix that - and yeah people we have to pay for this, that's how it works, and that's the point.
Don't want to ? No problem there are tons of crappy indie shooters on discount waiting for you lol.

[mastermx]

I will buy all cave releases on steam, because I want more shmups on steam. But we can't ignore that the scoring system will deter many people. I have always played the game for survival never for score. That whole tapping the A and C button thing and reading up on all that stuff will deter anyone that wanted to get into the meat of the game (scoring).

This game is also very easily emulated on mame and has been for years. Compare that with SDOJ which has not been emulated last time I checked. So there will need to be incentive to buy this over emulation. It will need to have a solid online component. I am talking replays and scoreboards that filter away cheaters.

But overall I am still very happy that we will have this to play on steam. Just don't expect non-shmup fanatics to buy the 1.5 DLC.

[Xyga]

The MAME emulation is still flawed, lacks the hd-redrawn elements, and of course no 1.5

Fot SDOJ I'd bet will come in time, after a few other games have been released/ported.

[DestroyTheCore]

Great job, Degica!

Thank God I won't have to import the limited edition of Mushihimesama that costs over $100.

[Squire Grooktook]

To be honest I'm a bit disappointed personally.

Main reason is because, when it comes to both Mushi games, I only really like Original Mode. I like the lightning fast bullets and not too dense patterns. For that reason, I vastly prefer Futari because its Original mode is much superior IMO.

Not just because of the scoring system (or lack thereof in Mushi), but because Futari's Original mode has vastly better level design, enemy placement, patterns, pacing, etc.

Futari Original has a lot of great stuff going for it's original mode, with a well paced first two stages, a tense wake up call stage 3, an ultra fast paced but breezy stage 4 with some of the most utterly manic zako rushes I've seen in a shmup, and a balls to the walls final stage. Patterns have a nice balance of micro and macro, not everything just comes down to tap dodging, etc. Mushi Original just strikes me as too many bland aimed shots and generic spread attacks.

I might be a bit biased in this because I haven't played Mushi Original quite as much, while I have cleared Futari 1.5 Original, but form what I played of Mushi Original, it seemed really uninspired in comparison.

Will probably go for a quickie clear just to see if I'm wrong though. Plus maybe the Matsuri version will change my mind.

[Strikers1945guy]

great first game if the Matsuri 1.5 is included I'll buy it for sure Day 1.

[Blackbird]

Hey everyone, glad you're excited for the announcement of Mushihimesama! To those of you that guessed this, you are super sleuths .



Some more information about the announcement:

This game is based on the X360 version, "Mushihimesama HD". It includes 360 Mode, Novice, and Arrange Modes. No freemium shenanigans here.

Replay sharing has been added for this version.

1.5 Mode will be available as optional DLC. This was the best way we could figure to do this, since it was previously a very exclusive mode for 1st edition versions of the game.
Is 1.5 the same as Matsuri mode and Black Label? Trying to track down all the different modes, haha.

I think Mushi will be a great way to kick it all off!
Make sure to include 1,5 with review samples and try to make a push for it with the marketing. From my experience it's one of the most appealing games to newly introduced players.
Try to showcase it and it's difference in previews/trailers as much as possible, not just as a separate footnote.
This is one of the things Rising Star fucked up with the localization of Daifukkatsu where BL didn't get much exposure at all.

If someone knows a lot about the differences between the modes, a brief overview would be really helpful actually. I can make a stronger pitch for different modes if I know more detailed info about the differences between them.

To everyone disappointed that it's not Futari, I think CAVE wanted to start with this one first. Rest assured, I'm a big fan of Mushi Futari, so it won't go ignored! Futari's not planned currently, but if things go well, it's a natural future step on Steam.

There will likely be a live preview event later this week.

[pokemon123]

To be honest I'm a bit disappointed personally.

Main reason is because, when it comes to both Mushi games, I only really like Original Mode. I like the lightning fast bullets and not too dense patterns. For that reason, I vastly prefer Futari because its Original mode is much superior IMO.

Not just because of the scoring system (or lack thereof in Mushi), but because Futari's Original mode has vastly better level design, enemy placement, patterns, pacing, etc.

Futari Original has a lot of great stuff going for it's original mode, with a well paced first two stages, a tense wake up call stage 3, an ultra fast paced but breezy stage 4 with some of the most utterly manic zako rushes I've seen in a shmup, and a balls to the walls final stage. Patterns have a nice balance of micro and macro, not everything just comes down to tap dodging, etc. Mushi Original just strikes me as too many bland aimed shots and generic spread attacks.

I might be a bit biased in this because I haven't played Mushi Original quite as much, while I have cleared Futari 1.5 Original, but form what I played of Mushi Original, it seemed really uninspired in comparison.

Will probably go for a quickie clear just to see if I'm wrong though. Plus maybe the Matsuri version will change my mind.

same here squire. i've heard 1.5 max modes have WAY faster bullets so matsuri is definitely the highlight for me. I only ever liked original as well in mushihimesama.

[CStarFlare]

1.5 Mode will be available as optional DLC. This was the best way we could figure to do this, since it was previously a very exclusive mode for 1st edition versions of the game.
Is 1.5 the same as Matsuri mode and Black Label? Trying to track down all the different modes, haha.

Mushihimesama didn't have a Black Label; 1.5 is the Matsuri release which was sold at special Cave events (and online?) similar to Akai Katana Limited.

IIRC there was some sort of Matsuri arrange similar to the Daifukkatsu 1.51 mode included as that game's X360 first print DLC, but I think it's distinct from the version that was actually sold as the limited release.

(If Cave still has that random Matsuri version laying around it would be an interesting thing to have archived as Steam DLC, though I could see the argument that it's a confusing piece of DLC next to the other "Real" matsuri DLC. I remember people referring to it as a "Blue Version" like Guwange's but don't know if that's actually a name it's known by.)

[Elixir]

If someone knows a lot about the differences between the modes, a brief overview would be really helpful actually. I can make a stronger pitch for different modes if I know more detailed info about the differences between them.

Mushi's my thing so I'll try, but it's not as difficult as what people seem to think.

Original - Survival-based. Score comes from chip damage, dissecting bosses and survival. Large post-game life remaining bonus. Psikyo-like bullet speed, all shot types are viable with S-power with the slight edge in damage.
Maniac - More bullets, dense patterns. Multiplier which increases incrementally depending on autofire/tapping versus your position on the screen against some enemies (ie. mid-lower of the screen tapping against Nanabushes, bottom of the screen slow tapping against the Stage 2 midboss). Most people use W-Power as it's the best for raising multiplier.
Ultra - Same bullet speed as above but with very fundamentally different patterns. Multiplier still exists but isn't emphasized on as much due to the sheer difficulty (kind of like Futari Ultra), but S-power destroys bosses quicker with a trade-off of stages being harder due to the linear shot it has. Also, the only mode with the TLB.

1.5 Original - point-blanking based, like Futari BL Original but much more forgiving.
1.5 Maniac - dense bullet patterns with multiplier and point-blanking.
1.5 Ultra - dense bullet patterns with multiplier and point-blanking.
1.5 modes w/ MAX - respective of the above w/ full power to begin with, but starts only with a single bomb.

Arrange - Starts at 300k multiplier w/ full power, intense focus on point-blanking (for multiplier gain) like Futari BL Original has, includes autobomb.

As far as I know, Mushihimesama's Matsuri 1.5 PCB was Cave Shop exclusive making it pretty rare, but it's exactly the same as the first print bonus included with the 360 release.

Did I miss anything?

[Mantrox]

Please correct me if im wrong, as i am not very educated when it comes to the 360 releases but if the game is based on the X360 version, won't it have inaccurate slowdown?

Or did they adress that problem and thus the phrase "based on xbox360 version"?