Relative Newb's First Impressions of Batsugan

[The Expanding Man]

Seems fair to consider this the first Cave shmup - the colours, graphics and play styles seem pretty much all there to me.

My first decent shmup for a cabinet - and I have to say that the Jamma/Cab combo totally beats the TV/Console combo.

This game seems very challenging - a combination of a large hit box and fast moving bullets. I can see the paths, but don't yet have the reflexes and accuracy to navigate them. Looks like practice is my only solution.

As to where I am at currently, I can reach Stage 3 on 1cc on the XBox360 Mushi Futari.

Loving the breakdancing soundtrack during the Continue? countdown. Foe a man who came of age in the 80's this is brilliant!!

Finally, for it's time, it seems like stunning technical achievement.

[Dragoforce]

It's not a CAVE game. I don't understand why people keep saying that, it got nothing in common with CAVE except for the suicide bullets on the second and later loops. It's a lot more fair to call it the first Gazelle game because it reminds more about Air Gallet than of any CAVE game. Or you can just call it a Toaplan game because that's what it is. I'm tired of people trying to "CAVEf:y" everything. No offence to the OP, just some rage from a Toaplan fanboy.

Batsugun is by far the easiest Toaplan game (by that I mean 1CCn normal) You get lot of bombs, tiny hitbox, silly amounts of firepower and minimal amounts of snipers. Jupiter can be a bitch until you learn how the handle it though.

[The Expanding Man]

Didn't the original programmers go on to form Cave?

That's the similarity I was trying to refer to.

[clp]

I didnt think the hitbox in batsugun was tiny??? i know it is in batsugun special.

[NTSC-J]

It's not a CAVE game. I don't understand why people keep saying that, it got nothing in common with CAVE except for the suicide bullets on the second and later loops. It's a lot more fair to call it the first Gazelle game because it reminds more about Air Gallet than of any CAVE game. Or you can just call it a Toaplan game because that's what it is. I'm tired of people trying to "CAVEf:y" everything. No offence to the OP, just some rage from a Toaplan fanboy.

People keep saying it's a Cave game because some of the same programmers, most notably Mr. Cave-himself, Tsuneki Ikeda, worked on it, as well as Junya Inoue, who does the art for lots of Cave games. I've got a Toaplan history book that notes that it was the springboard for Toaplan essentially moving on to Cave. So chill out.

[chempop]

Glad you are liking it! I didn't get my SS copy until this past fall and it has quickly become one of my most cherished games. From my understanding, Toaplan split and many employees scattered to form companies such as Raizing/8ing, Cave, Takumi, and probably a few others.

I do feel that Batsugun Special is a slight improvement (and much easier - more forgiving - game). I can't quite get through the first loop of the original, but in special I can get halfway through the second loop. The main differences are a smaller hitbox and how bombs clear the screen.

Which ship do you prefer? I almost always use the girl because I love the homing shot. Anyway, real gem of a game.

[Ed Oscuro]

It's not a CAVE game. I don't understand why people keep saying that, it got nothing in common with CAVE except for the suicide bullets on the second and later loops. It's a lot more fair to call it the first Gazelle game because it reminds more about Air Gallet than of any CAVE game. Or you can just call it a Toaplan game because that's what it is. I'm tired of people trying to "CAVEf:y" everything. No offence to the OP, just some rage from a Toaplan fanboy.

People keep saying it's a Cave game because some of the same programmers, most notably Mr. Cave-himself, Tsuneki Ikeda, worked on it, as well as Junya Inoue, who does the art for lots of Cave games. I've got a Toaplan history book that notes that it was the springboard for Toaplan essentially moving on to Cave. So chill out.

no u

There needs to be some public efforts to Toaplan-ify Cave

Batsy is certainly its own creature though.

[Dragoforce]

It's not a CAVE game. I don't understand why people keep saying that, it got nothing in common with CAVE except for the suicide bullets on the second and later loops. It's a lot more fair to call it the first Gazelle game because it reminds more about Air Gallet than of any CAVE game. Or you can just call it a Toaplan game because that's what it is. I'm tired of people trying to "CAVEf:y" everything. No offence to the OP, just some rage from a Toaplan fanboy.

People keep saying it's a Cave game because some of the same programmers, most notably Mr. Cave-himself, Tsuneki Ikeda, worked on it, as well as Junya Inoue, who does the art for lots of Cave games. I've got a Toaplan history book that notes that it was the springboard for Toaplan essentially moving on to Cave. So chill out.

I know who worked on it, but I just don't see the CAVE influences people keep talking about. There is no scoring system apart from on case of boss milking (very Raizing) and some horrible street fighter like stick twitching never seen before or after (thank god for that) Collecting stars for points and losing them if you die before the end of the stage is a classic Toaplan thing. There are no manic parts except for the suicide bullets on the special version loops. The enemy pattern and bullets looks the same as in all the other newer Toaplan shmups like Dogyuun and Truxton 2. The design is a bit Dodonpachi, but thats about it.

[Rob]

V-Five feels most like Donpachi/a Cave game. The proto-laser+spread shooting mechanic, 'floatier' bullets. Batsugun is more Feveron-like in its intensity (speed), which is obviously still a Cave game but also the Toaplan throwback.

[The Expanding Man]

Which ship do you prefer? I almost always use the girl because I love the homing shot. Anyway, real gem of a game.

It was the Iceman, but I had a good run last night with the girl.

[emphatic]

I had a good run last night with the girl.

[BulletMagnet]

I had a good run last night with the girl.

His username makes it even better.

[ncp]

I had a good run last night with the girl.

His username makes it even better.

hahahaha

[njiska]

I had a good run last night with the girl.

His username makes it even better.

Hands down the winner of Forum Post of the Month

[TrevHead (TVR)]

I had a good run last night with the girl.

His username makes it even better.

how good a run was it? did you 1cc her and get a highscore or blew (up) on stage one? Plus did you creditfeed?

[The Expanding Man]

how good a run was it? did you 1cc her and get a highscore or blew (up) on stage one? Plus did you creditfeed?

All I know is that I was frantically rubbing and pushing this pink button thing and she powered up three times.

[ShmupSamurai]

All I know is that I was frantically rubbing and pushing this pink button thing and she powered up three times

....no comment...

[Kollision]

Not really related, but I tried Tatsujin Oh a few days ago and I found the art style (graphics/music) very, very similar to Batsugun's.

It was so good I didn't want to stop playing, even though it was like 2 in the morning...