Shin Akai Katana Confirmed for North America

[Giest118]

So I gave Novice mode a try on a whim. To my surprise, the Novice mode in this game is actually good; that is, it doesn't completely neuter the shit out of every bullet pattern, and instead focuses on making the mechanics a bit more obvious. If you're having trouble with the regular mode but normally think Novice modes suck, I'd suggest giving it a try.

[Neith]

Any news on how well this has sold? In both North America and EU.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

So I gave Novice mode a try on a whim. To my surprise, the Novice mode in this game is actually good; that is, it doesn't completely neuter the shit out of every bullet pattern

Wasn't that Espgaluda 2's Novice mode's biggest problem? I remember hearing it was basically a joke (not to the extent of Futari Novice Original, but still).

[Giest118]

Wasn't that Espgaluda 2's Novice mode's biggest problem? I remember hearing it was basically a joke (not to the extent of Futari Novice Original, but still).

That's why it was surprising. Cave's novice modes usually go the way of taking the original bullet patterns, and then removing every other bullet. In this game, the patterns in Novice are pretty much intact with minor changes, such as bullet speed or gaps between waves being slightly larger. It makes it easier without being insulting to experienced shmup players.

[Deca]

For what it's worth I accidentally turned on novice mode the first time I played Slash mode and didn't realize until after I got back to the menu. I did think it was kind of alarmingly easy but it didn't feel as blatantly wrong as I would expect a Novice mode to.

[Austin]

Any news on how well this has sold? In both North America and EU.

I wonder about this as well. On Origin mode, as of last night only 200-something people have uploaded scores. Not sure if that's any indication, or how many are solely focusing on other modes. Also not certain if the leaderboards between regions are linked or not (I assume they are not).

[2dvertical]

Has anybody seen this is stores? gamestop , fry's , ect.. also this is region free correct?

[dunpeal2064]

I've looked around a few local Gamestops for it, and I haven't seen it yet. However, I haven't asked for them to check for one or anything, as I don't think it would play on my system.

[NeoStrayCat]

Any news on how well this has sold? In both North America and EU.

I wonder about this as well. On Origin mode, as of last night only 200-something people have uploaded scores. Not sure if that's any indication, or how many are solely focusing on other modes. Also not certain if the leaderboards between regions are linked or not (I assume they are not).

I can't find anything about how many copies got sold, and yeah I know VGC isn't really a reliable source, since they got nothing on it yet.

Also, no, its treated as a separate game, so the NA/PAL and JP Leaderboards are different...

[brentsg]

Has anybody seen this is stores? gamestop , fry's , ect.. also this is region free correct?

It's definitely not region free. I know that it doesn't work on Asian consoles.

[xbl0x180]

I've been trying to push this game to other gamers here, but no-go. They usually get freaked the hell out when they see it's a bullet-hell game

[O. Van Bruce]

I've been trying to push this game to other gamers here, but no-go. They usually get freaked the hell out when they see it's a bullet-hell game

cowards

[Shelcoof]

I've been hearing that EB games and Gamestop only received a few copies. My local EB had it in stock, though they only had one copy. I asked if it was sealed and the lady told me it wasn't. Not too happy I ended up buying it anyways. The funny thing was when I said I'd buy it the lady was kind enough to peal off the sticker for me. As I was paying she said I looked like the type who likes to keep their games nice and clean. I laughed and said she was right.

It was weird because I knew I was upset but I didn't take it out on her, I know she's just doing her job as an employee but I liked the fact that she took the extra step and made sure my copy was nice and clean. The nice and clean part really didn't matter to me, I just wanted to be the one to open up that factory seal myself lol.

[xbl0x180]

... The nice and clean part really didn't matter to me, I just wanted to be the one to open up that factory seal myself lol.

There is something oddly fetishistic about this... like undressing a woman

[StarCreator]

I definitely care about being the one to unseal the case if I'm importing, because import cases (CDs, BDs, and DVDs too, not just games) have that pullstring at the bottom. I always use it to just detach the bottom, and save the rest of the plastic wrap so I can slip the case back into it when I'm done.

Doesn't work nearly as well on US releases since they generally lack the pullstring.

[Marc]

Shit yeah! It clicked this morning, at least I think it did. Ran a few more credits with the goals of 1) Trying to understand how to score on a basic level, 2) Clearing at least three levels, and 3) beating that default hi-score. Reached ST4 boss with 64 mil - I know the score isn't earth shattering but I came away happy.

This is how I'm playing, please feel free to tell me if I'm totally wrong:

Collect green power items
Run them through bullets to increase size
Cash in before they vanish
Enter spirit mode and reflect as many bullets as poss
Try and laser the fuck out of things to cancel and add to gold, letting off laser to reflect more bullets every now and then

What I like most is the flexibility. It seems very much make your own path, as opposed to learning the optimal path as in DDP etc, the 'possibilities' comment now makes perfect sense to me. It feels that as long as the screen is heaving with bullets, there's always a way to score and that one death isn't the instafuck it is in a lot of Cave games. The amount of tools you have at your disposal is also really refreshing, at no point have I died and wondered how the fuck I'm supposed to deal with the situation next time. It's also really exciting to know that getting overconfident and letting yourself slip can lead to a total mess, even on earlier levels. Really, really impressed.

Got my eyes fixed on Klatymadron as he's the only friend on my leaderboard.

[TheSoundofRed]

Collect green power items
Run them through bullets to increase size
Cash in before they vanish
Enter spirit mode and reflect as many bullets as poss
Try and laser the fuck out of things to cancel and add to gold, letting off laser to reflect more bullets every now and then

Seems like you're referring to Origin/Climax (Arcade/Zetsu). You shouldn't be lasering enemies to obtain gold all the way through Phantom Mode. About halfway through you should allow the gold you've collected to turn large, and destroy enemies with shot to create more suicide bullets. This way you'll have more bullets to use to charge your Energy items after you exit Phantom mode, and you can cancel those same bullets on a nearby enemy once you reenter Phantom.

The main scoring mechanic is manipulating the bullets to go where you know enemies will be, so you can continue to enter, exit, then reenter Phantom mode ad nauseum throughout the stage.

[NeoStrayCat]

Alright guys, thanks to the help of Korszca, and my simple edits, here's the True Ending, now in English (with carefully placed vocals added), I know you guys might have already seen the regular endings, but not the True one yet. Also, please read the description to understand it a bit better, and how you can also watch it on your 360. The regular endings will be coming soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wUPNZXLA0s

[Fudoh]

The info is probably somwhere in this thread, but I can't find it right now: Does the US Akai Katana run on J-NTSC systems ?

[Giest118]

The info is probably somwhere in this thread, but I can't find it right now: Does the US Akai Katana run on J-NTSC systems ?

nnnnOPE

[Cagar]

-

[Drachenherz]

The info is probably somwhere in this thread, but I can't find it right now: Does the US Akai Katana run on J-NTSC systems ?

nnnnOPE

So it's not region free? Hm.

It's partially region free, it works on PAL systems in Europe.

[antime]

I just heard that the PAL-Version has been postponed back to June 8th...

My PAL copy was dispatched by Amazon on May 10th, picked it up from the post office on the 21th.

[Drachenherz]

I just heard that the PAL-Version has been postponed back to June 8th...

My PAL copy was dispatched by Amazon on May 10th, picked it up from the post office on the 21th.

Hmm, strange, Switzerland is getting the long end this time... It's been postponed to the 7th of June...

[Tokyo-J]

Does Slash / Shin have a 4:3 mode that fills up the screen?

I thought I had seen that they had patched it.

[nZero]

Does Slash / Shin have a 4:3 mode that fills up the screen?

I thought I had seen that they had patched it.

No. Shin is designed for widescreen displays. The 4:3 fix was for Arcade mode.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

So. Much. Fun.

Is there a hidden 1up somewhere in the game like in most of Cave's games, or are the only two extends the score-based ones? I'm looking and I'm not seeing any videos where anyone finds one, so I'm guessing there isn't one...?

[Bee Cool]

From the Cave of Shooting:

Destroy all eight arms to the sides of the head before you destroy the head. The 1UP should appear if done correctly.

http://www.world-of-arcades.net/Cave/Mu ... ecrets.htm

[trap15]

Uhh, wrong thread Bee? Pretty sure we're talking about Akai Katana here, not mushi

[BareKnuckleRoo]

From the Cave of Shooting:

Destroy all eight arms to the sides of the head before you destroy the head. The 1UP should appear if done correctly.

http://www.world-of-arcades.net/Cave/Mu ... ecrets.htm

...so I only get the 1up if I put Akai Katana in my PS2? lol