BrianC wrote:The vagrant wrote:chars are just features/hommages to random games. .
Sayo is the most obvious one. Pocky was called Sayo-chan in the Japanese versions of the Pocky and Rocky games (Kiki Kai Kai). The Sayo in Castle Shikigami 2 has a similar outfit and throws cards just like Sayo-chan in the Kiki Kai Kai/Pocky and Rocky games. I wonder if the inclusion of that Sayo had to do with Taito publishing the game in Japan.
I don't think referances to other games make it doujin-esque, though.
hmm, on the other hand, a shinto maiden throwing cards is kind of a recurrent anime/game cliche, but you might be right on the name.
ill list some of the refferences to other games: first, slowing down and using the secondary weapon by holding a button, guess where that comes from...(and like 80% of good doujins have that feature, too :p)
the sword thing of the maid that clears the red destructible blobs (yes they are blobs, just make the bullets bigger and you'll see) and the yellow bullets, radiant silvergun obviously, but you cant control it, tho.
the main shot of the guitar dude, quite obvious psikyo style shot IMO, at least the way i see it. his special is also quitee radiantesque.
the barrier attack of the little girl/boy hybrid: just in case someone doesnt know gigawing, ill mention it.
the which: ive seen this kind of setup in some doujins, namely radio zonde has simmilar stuff.
the hat dude and the hero: now those two i havent seen anywhere, doesnt mean it doesnt exist tho :p (spirit from guwange maybe?)