Darius Burst Another Chronicle (Arcade)

[kozo]

I like what I see, and I love the PSP title.

[BonusJZ]

1 hour show about Darius Burst Another Chronicle

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/8749465

[Phellan Wolf]

1 hour show about Darius Burst Another Chronicle

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/8749465

Damn it was about time. I am just curious to see the changes from the PsP version other thant the 4 players mode.

[mesh control]

I thought Darius games were supposed to be colorful.

[mesh control]

Looks like there's also a Iphone/Ipod touch game in the works too.

[Elixir]

I think Space Invaders Infinity Gene was announced some time ago.

[Seismic]

I checked this out this weekend. Not much to say that isn't already known.. there's an arcade mode and a Chronicle mode (that was locked in this build). There are 12 zones in 3 stages in this build (and they all have the same 'mechanized space' theme as the original). The ships are Legend, Next, Origin (like the PSP game) as well as Formula, but I can't tell the difference between them. Same multiplier system as the original. The only new bosses are the two in the released screenshots (the green boss and the upgrade to Lightning Flamberge, which is also in the game). Two players can cross and combine their Burst (double-tap) laser. The game throws a lot more enemies at you than the PSP game, but it's the same attack patterns, if you get what I mean. The enemies and bosses attack from both sides of the screen, since you can fire in both directions. The cabinet has nice thumping bass.. not quite LA Machineguns, but pretty strong. It's mostly the same assets from the PSP game, but touched-up and upscaled. Looks nice, but last-gen quality.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

For Seismic,

Did you get some captured video footage of this newfangled Darius Burst; AC? Sounds like a console port would be in the works. Good to know about your overall impressions on it. I seriously doubt if any corporated owned or indy USA-based arcade center will stock this particular cab due to it's larger than usual footprint in terms of real estate space.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[bcass]

Seismic - New music or recycled from the PSP release?

[caincan]

thanks to "Hikaru" a french guy living in japan & importing jap cabs ^^, he found this much interesting video

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/8749465

[Seismic]

Sorry, no video/pics

The music is the same as the PSP game, attached to new/different zones. Some of the zones from the PSP game (like Zone A) are in the arcade game as well. That's not to say there's no improvements from the original-- one of the latter zones is a complex corridor with rising/falling platforms (what does it remind me of.. remember Stage 4 of Last Resort?), and multiple rotating gun turrets. Not insanely difficult, but a definite step up from the mostly open environments from the PSP game.

[bcass]

I wonder if they used some of the unused tracks from the OST CD too...

[Klatrymadon]

(what does it remind me of.. remember Stage 4 of Last Resort?)

SOLD!

[Seismic]

Game Watch has a lot of pics from the test (just in case you thought I made everything up ) http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/ne ... 86297.html

And direct-feed shots

[Klatrymadon]

What do the bars under the ships represent, chap?

[Seismic]

The Burst Meter. It's displayed below each player's ships. Hopefully that's not final, as it might obscure enemy fire.

[Klatrymadon]

Cheers. Aye, it could certainly get in the way. It might be helpful to have it pop in when the Burst shot is in use, though.

[Dragoforce]

Getting the 16x should be a little bit easier since the screen is larger and you can kill more enemies at the same time with the burst laser.

Stupid question perhaps, but will the arcade version feature burst mode or arcade mode from the PSP game?

[dai jou bu]

More screen real estate is nice. Too bad the Bosses are still the same puny size as the PSP version, so this game's not going to be on my radar.

At least Taito's trying.

[ZOM]

Getting the 16x should be a little bit easier since the screen is larger and you can kill more enemies at the same time with the burst laser.

Stupid question perhaps, but will the arcade version feature burst mode or arcade mode from the PSP game?

I wouldn't be surprised if they came up with an entirely different mode, at least that would warrant a few more playthroughs from people who already played the PSP version to death.

[Icarus]

WARNING!
A HUGE
FOUR-PLAYER COUNTERSTOP
IS APPROACHING FAST! BE ON YOUR GUARD!

[SFKhoa]

Uh what the hell's with one of the ships shooting backwards at the last screenshot?
Also, judging from the screenshot, Next and Origin's gone?

[Seismic]

All the ships in the PSP game are here (as well as a new ship, Formula). Origin naturally doesn't have a Burst option. Yes, you can fire in front of and behind you now, and bosses and enemies attack and shoot from the left and right side of the screen. Also, the bosses are slightly bigger (Iron Fossil takes up an entire half of one screen), but if you remember from the PSP game, most of the bosses weren't completely shown onscreen anyway.

There have been fixes and improvements from the PSP game, but I guess you shouldn't expect anything incredibly drastic, since this is essentially the arcade version of the PSP game (hence the title 'Another Chronicle' being an acronym for 'AC' or Arcade)

Edit: Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzLsmL5G ... r_embedded#!

[Nate]

I like the red lights in the cab at the warning screen.

[devilmanozzy]

http://en.akihabaranews.com/58790/gamin ... -chronicle

Not sure if this link has been posted, but there are a lot of images of the cab. one shows a guide to the 4 ships, another of the levels as seen on cab. Some good close ups of the cab.

[originalz]

All right, this game is out.

I never played the PSP version of the game, so this is all new to me, and a lot of stuff is probably already known already.

Original mode just has you going through three states, with the usual branching. It's bloody easy and anyone who's played Darius games before will have no problem, I credited a run on my first attempt.

Chronicle mode is interesting, you explore a series of star systems, each one broken down into smaller areas in a grid formation. Each area has a set course of zones to play through (around 4-6 or so), the zones seem to have preset loadouts for your ship and certain restrictions in place in order to succeed. The areas are also rated by difficulty. Only the first few zones of a new area are known, the rest are just question marks. Clearing the area will unlock the adjacent areas (if you've ever played SMT Digital Devil Saga 2, it's similar to the skill unlock system in that). As the game doesn't have any way to save your personal progression, unlocking new areas will allow any player on the machine to continue the journey. Each area also saves the name of the first person to beat the area, along with the current high score. I guess it's kind of an interesting way to encourage community play, and I do wonder what the harder zones will be like.

Chronicle mode is really what makes the game interesting, Original mode is almost a waste of time considering how short and easy it is.

You also have the option to pay 4 credits at the start and have unlimited lives.

[Exarion]

To anyone not living in Japan, I have great news: This game is headed to the US and EU due to "many direct requests" for it to be localized. Now is a very good time to be a shmupper.

[bcass]

"Many direct requests" (until they saw the price tag). Can't see many of these making there way out of Japan. It's got "money-loser" written all over it.

[caincan]

meanwhile at Mikado tokyo

[louisg]

I'd so love to see this. If anyone ever sees this around the bay area, please let me know