PS2 Racketboy Shmup Article is UP!

[BulletMagnet]

Thanks so much for the help, everyone: if you want a look at the finished product, here it is!

[apple arcade]

6) THEE LE came with a little Exelica Balloon. Fairly sure it was a pre-order bonus.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

No info to add myself but i must say that im chuffed your doing another guide since you previous ones rock so much both on Racketboy and DToid. BTW ive noticed youve started to blog again on DToid. (im saving you latest post for tommorro) I hope you write many more

[Fudoh]

1) Japanese G5 first print had the extra booklet *AND* an extra DVD. Can't remember the title, but likely the same as the US Breakdown DVD. I have the DVD and can check details if you want.

2) just Strikers and Sengoku Ace/Blade had the superplay DVDs, Dragon Blaze didn't.

2+3) the superplay DVDs and Taito Memories booklets were first print only, but at least for the Strikers and Sengoku Ace games only for the japanese allocations. Pre-orders from Asian distributors (Play-Asia etc) did not include the superplay DVDs. I think the same's true for the Taito Memories games.

In your article you might want to mention that Korea compiled Strikes 1945 1&2 and Gunbird 1&2 into one single release, making it a cheap alternative to the japanese releases.

[Ghegs]

8 ) I've gotten wind of doujin shmup Fren-Ze supposedly being included on some sort of PS2 demo disc, but I can't find much of anything concrete...could someone please enlighten me?

Fren-zE (that's the capitalization in the game's title screen) was originally released in the UK's Official Playstation 2 Magazine #54's demo disc as a hidden game. The magazine was published in December of 2004. You had to press a simple combination of buttons at the right menu screen in order to access the game. If I recall, there weren't even any hints in the magazine itself that the game existed in the disc, but there were some talk about it in the magazine's official forums and elsewhere (like our forums).

In the next magazine's (Official Playstation 2 Magazine #55, January 2005) demo disc the game was released more properly in the disc's bonus menu and you could access it directly. The game itself was unchanged from the previous one, I believe. I have had both of these discs and still have the #55 demo disc, #54's I gave away to Herr Schatten.

It's a fairly simple, vertically scrolling shmup. Each enemy, upon destruction, releases a blue orb. Grab that orb for one point. Bosses and minibosses release a yellow orb, which increases your firepower instead. That's it, there are no other sources of points. The game even expects you to destroy every enemy and get every orb to get the maximum score for each of the three stages, it keeps tally after each stage showing how many points you got and how many it's possible to get. Maxing out your score in a stage would open that stage's boss in the Boss Attack mode (which I guess unlocks after you beat all the stages, I've never done it).

The game was later released for PC and is still available here. This is, however, an improved version from the PS2 original - the PC one has a fourth stage, improved graphics and audio and a new gameplay mechanic in the form of a shield that can reflect enemy bullets but also costs you points as you activate it. For comparison's sake, this is a video of the PS2 original and this is from the PC version.

The creator of the game chalky is/was a member here.

[Herr Schatten]

I've heard mixed opinions of how the PS2 port of Trizeal compares to the Dreamcast and 360 editions...can anyone offer any sort of definitive rundown of this?

I haven't played either port in a while. Here's what I recall: The PS2 port is a little easier, because it has a very fast new type of autofire. You can also map the infamous 'da-da-da' shot (rapidly cycling through the weapons while shooting) to a single button, which can be very useful. Sometimes, there's slowdown in unexpected places, which can throw you off if you are used to the pacing of the DC version. Overall, the PS2 version has less slowdown, though, which makes the asteroid field in stage 4 quite a bit more challenging. Otherwise, there aren't a lot of differences. PS2 has a fun proto-version of Shmups Skill Test as an extra, instead of the rather lame omake stage in the DC version.

[Kiken]

1) If my info is correct, first-print Japanese copies of Gradius V got the "History of Vic Viper" booklet, while US pre-orders got the "Breakdown" DVD - are there any other such bonus items I'm forgetting?

The regular edition first print included the History of Vic Viper booklet as well as the Options DVD which contains interviews, art files and a single stage replay of level 5 (and it should be stated that this was an incomplete version of the stage).

The limited edition included the History of Vic Viper booklet, the Options DVD and the Gradius V Official DVD The Perfect which featured a complete loop 1 no miss run by Clover-TAC as well as boss rush demonstrations.

FInally, it should be noted that there are 2 versions of the US Gradius V Breakdown DVD... the pre-order bonus version (which simply came in a cardboard sleeve) and the Director's Cut version (which was awarded to the top 10 players in each option format who entered the US scoring competition). The Director's Cut version came in a clear DVD case and included more replays from the game as well as adding more video to the Gradius legacy section.

If you need more info, let me know... I have all 4 DVDs.

[Fudoh]

The limited edition included the History of Vic Viper booklet, the Options DVD and the Gradius V Official DVD The Perfect which featured a complete loop 1 no miss run by Clover-TAC as well as boss rush demonstrations.

but this wasn't a real limited edition. It was just a bundle of these two items (1st Print G5 + Superplay DVD) offered by Konamistyle Japan. There was no additional packaging to house both items and the Perfect DVD was available by it's own at the same time.

[Shocky]

7) What's a rough translation of "Oretachi Geasen Zoku (Sono)"?

"Our geesen (Game Center) tribe", or "Us, the game center tribe". Don't know what "Sono" means here, sorry.

So it's actually "Geesen", not "Geasen".

[Ghegs]

Taito Memories booklets were first print only, but at least for the Strikers and Sengoku Ace games only for the japanese allocations. Pre-orders from Asian distributors (Play-Asia etc) did not include the superplay DVDs. I think the same's true for the Taito Memories games.

This isn't quite true, I ordered all my Taito Memories (all four) from Play-Asia and I did get the booklets for both of Vol. 2. Did they even exist for Vol. 1?

1) If my info is correct, first-print Japanese copies of Gradius V got the "History of Vic Viper" booklet

Might be worth a mention: I ordered from Play-Asia the Korean version of Gradius V and got the History of Vic Viper and the Options DVD with it. So it wasn't just Japanese copies that came with those.

[Fudoh]

The Asian allocation of Strikers and Sengoku Ace didn't have the Superplay DVDs, that's for sure.

All four Taito Memories had the booklets. I've got all four.
I could imagine that there have been "asian allocations" for the first two Taito Memories (without booklets), but with declining sales, the allocations of Taito Memories 3 and 4 have just been taken from the japanese pool.

[BulletMagnet]

Excellent stuff as always guys!

6) THEE LE came with a little Exelica Balloon. Fairly sure it was a pre-order bonus.

Can anyone confirm the pre-order exclusivity of said balloon?

BTW ive noticed youve started to blog again on DToid.

Well, I never really stopped, I just put my "regular" features on hold since I don't have the time to keep them up at this point. I'll still stop in to post something from time to time, though - hope you enjoy that latest article.

In your article you might want to mention that Korea compiled Strikes 1945 1&2 and Gunbird 1&2 into one single release, making it a cheap alternative to the japanese releases.

Yeah, I did happen to glimpse that in my research, so it'll be in there.

just Strikers and Sengoku Ace/Blade had the superplay DVDs, Dragon Blaze didn't.

Thanks for the confirmation - again, though, were the DVDs pre-order bonuses or included with all first-print copies? Will have to make a note about Asian copies not having them...

So it's actually "Geesen", not "Geasen".

Is that a better way to Romanize it? Can any other Japanese speakers attest to that?

All four Taito Memories had the booklets. I've got all four.

Cool, thanks - do you know if those were pre-order bonuses or included with all first-print copies?

I haven't played either port in a while. Here's what I recall:

Thanks for the info: can anyone offer similar comparisons to the version found on Shooting Love 200X?

If I have the Gradius V situation straight, all first-print Japanese (and Asian?) Gradius Vs got the "History" booklet and the "Options" DVD, but ordering from Konamistyle tacked on the "Perfect" DVD as well. Does that sound right?

I think that covers most everything discussed so far: thanks again everyone, keep the knowledge coming!

[Fudoh]

The superplay DVDs on Strikers and Sengoku Ave were first print extras, since all launch-day stock in Japan had these. And I'm pretty sure that the same goes for the Taito booklets. In general I would say that most "attached or inside" goodies are first-print exclusive while items that come extra (like a bonus OST in an extra case) are most often pre-order goodies.

but ordering from Konamistyle tacked on the "Perfect" DVD as well.

not automatically, it was just a bundle on offer and you had to pay for it (11,000ish I think).

[professor ganson]

It is perhaps worth noting that the Tera Cresta edition in the Oretachi series did NOT have a tate option, unlike e.g. Contra.

[NzzpNzzp]

Is that a better way to Romanize it? Can any other Japanese speakers attest to that?

You're probably better off sticking to Geasen if it's what everyone else uses. Like how everyone says Cho Aniki instead of Chou, even if Chou is more accurate.

Not that I actually know Japanese or anything.

[Shocky]

Is that a better way to Romanize it? Can any other Japanese speakers attest to that?

You're probably better off sticking to Geasen if it's what everyone else uses. Like how everyone says Cho Aniki instead of Chou, even if Chou is more accurate.

Chō/Cho/Chou Aniki is a different case, that can be Romanized in multiple ways... but Geasen is definitely wrong, the "translator" probably wondered what the hell is a "Geesen" and decided that "Geasen" sounds cooler or something. Anyway, it comes from "geemu sentaa" --> "gee sen" --> "geesen", and that's how it's written in Japanese too, definitely no "a" there. And not everybody uses "Geasen", I bet play-asia is to blame for this wrong version spreading..

[professor ganson]

Is that a better way to Romanize it? Can any other Japanese speakers attest to that?

You're probably better off sticking to Geasen if it's what everyone else uses. Like how everyone says Cho Aniki instead of Chou, even if Chou is more accurate.

Not that I actually know Japanese or anything.

I was thinking the same thing. Certain conventions and idiosyncrasies crop up in transliteration; probably best to stick to what is readily google-able.

[BulletMagnet]

The superplay DVDs on Strikers and Sengoku Ave were first print extras, since all launch-day stock in Japan had these.

Okay, sounds good.

not automatically, it was just a bundle on offer and you had to pay for it (11,000ish I think).

Ah, so that second DVD cost extra - will note.

It is perhaps worth noting that the Tera Cresta edition in the Oretachi series did NOT have a tate option, unlike e.g. Contra.

Really? I thought all of 'em had a tate option...is anyone aware of any other anomalies in the Oretachi series?

I was thinking the same thing. Certain conventions and idiosyncrasies crop up in transliteration; probably best to stick to what is readily google-able.

My first instinct is to use the "correct" spelling but include a note that many sources use "geasen" instead. I am trying to make this thing at least relatively fact-based, heh.

Thanks again for the help so far - hopefully someone out there can fill in the blanks which haven't been addressed yet.

[professor ganson]

Yeah, I'm confident about that lack of tate in Tera Cresta. It was a serious disappointment. The menus were not in English, as I recall, so there's always a small chance that the community here overlooked something, but I wasn't the only one complaining about the surprising lack of tate.

As for the "geasen" thing, I wish I could remember whether that transliteration was on the cover of the game itself. Unfortunately, I don't have any games in the series right now. No doubt there are scans somewhere.

EDIT: Just looked at some tiny scans and it all looked to be in Japanese.

[BulletMagnet]

Edited the first post with some new questions - keep the enlightenment coming!

[Fudoh]

What disc format was Ocean Commander: DVD or CD?

funny you ask. It's actually the ONLY game I know which came on a SILVER CD. The reason behind this in unclear, maybe Sony Europe had stopped pressing blue colored CDs ? Maybe the print run was too small that Sony would only offer silver colored CDs ?

[BulletMagnet]

Coincidentally enough, I recently picked up a budget platformer called "Cid the Dummy" (a port of a PSP game, I think) which also came on a silver CD - anyways, thanks for the confirmation.

[BulletMagnet]

Stumbled upon another couple of collections that need to be added, and updated the remaining questions a bit too - seems like I'll never finish this thing...

[xris]

If you are including some run and guns as borderliners, I would like to mention Alien Hominid. This was a solid title with a couple shmup like levels. I put allot of time into this one.

[Ghegs]

6) I plan upon including a brief "Borderliners" segment: off the cuff (apart from the stuff included in the collections and compilations, which I'll namedrop separately), I can think to mention the two Contras

Three Contras, if you find the original arcade Contra's release in Oretachi Geasen Zoku worthy of inclusion.

[BulletMagnet]

If you are including some run and guns as borderliners, I would like to mention Alien Hominid.

Good, that one will be added.

Three Contras, if you find the original arcade Contra's release in Oretachi Geasen Zoku worthy of inclusion.

Yeah, I'm going to name-drop borderliners included in series/compilations within those specific entries - I'm looking mainly for a handful of "stand-alone" titles to mention separately.

[DaneSaga]

6) I plan upon including a brief "Borderliners" segment: off the cuff (apart from the stuff included in the collections and compilations, which I'll namedrop separately), I can think to mention the two Contras, the Metal Slugs, Red Star and Heavenly Guardian, though I know I'm missing a whole bunch more...any other sorta-shmuppish PS2 games you can recall, put 'em here.

What about the SEGA Ages 2500 Series Vol. 25: Gunstar Heroes Treasure Box.
Which includes Gunstar Heroes, Dynamite Headdy and Alien Soldier on a single CD.
Gunstar Heroes in particular has a dedicated Hori shmup stage.

[xris]

How about the most controversial of all the border liners, Rez? I think it even says in the glossary or main chat guidelines that it ain't no shmup.. But, it is always there on the tip of the tongues of the masses. If anything, I can't think of any other on rails shooters for the PS2, I'm sure there are a couple more out there.

[BulletMagnet]

The Gunstar Box will be mentioned in the "Sega Ages" section of the article - Rez will be in the post-script.

Anyone have any further knowledge to impart on the other questions? I'm especially concerned about the game list, since I keep discovering stuff I've overlooked...

[Fudoh]

"Sega Ages" section of the article

Fantasy Zone II DX should not be burried in a small section about Sega Ages in general. It's much more than an usual Ages release. As the only new System16 release in the past decade, it's more or less a milestone in retro development and IMO one of the best PS2-exclusive shoot'em up all around. Just my 2 cents, but I would assume quite some people concur.