PSiKYO Appreciation from a Cave Fan

[Matskat]

I just have to say, being almost 100% a Cave fan (add in a bit of Raiden III\IV & a *tad* Shikigami) I've never paid much attention to Psikyo shooters.

Many years ago, when I first discovered MAME, I played Gunbird 2 like it was crack cocaine...but back then I credit fed and didn't really give a shit about things like 1cc's and scoring and...skill.

What attracted me to Gunbird and it's ilk were simply the graphics. I was amazed to see the detail and care put into Gunbird, having been so far away from the arcade scene and what-not...it blew my mind that such a HARD game was graced with such lovely design.

After credit-feeding my way through Gunbird 2, I discovered Dodonpachi and fell in love...several years later Shikigami no Shiro 2 fell in my lap and the FIRST thing I thought was "OH! It's like Gunbird!" hehehe....

Anyway, it was Shiki 2 that began my descent into STG's fulltime. I stopped continuing and focused on 1 credit play. I kept track of my scores etc... It was THEN that I revisited the great granddaddy of all STGs IMHO...DODONPACHI.

Well... that was 7 years ago. Now I own cabinets and PCBs. I can *almost* 1cc a couple games, whatever....the point is that I have acquired a tatste for shooters....like one acquires a taste for wine or single-malt scotch. And just like a trained palate can distinguish the nutty wood notes of an Islay scotch, or the cassis and chocolate notes in a proper Pinot Noir - now I can see the nuances that make shooters so fucking awesome.

Well I have snuffled the fine bouquet of Psikyo shooters, and they are GOOD.

It's such a nice break from Cave's style - it almost felt like I was learning the genre again.
I've been playing both Gunbird 2 and Dragon Blaze....

I have to first say "DAMN!" the sprites are GREAT! Such detail and character! But, what really impresses me are the scoring and the pacing. SHORT stages, and even shorter boss battles (especially Dragon Blaze...once I figured out the Technical Bonus) with SUPER fast bullet sprays, with boss patterns bordering on hypnotic.

Now some might say: "Matt! You crazy, mang! CAVE be all hypnotical n' shit dawg! You must be trippin, yo!"
Whereupon I'd reply : "Yes, Cave games do have a certain ...mesmerizing style, in regards to bullet patterns and such. Point taken, good sir."

I guess it's just ...different.

Like, you might enjoy smoking the best weed in the state...homegrown nugs of the dankest variety. Seed free and sticky...smelling like the business end of a skunk ass. But eventually, even what you perceive to be the BEST can wear a bit thin. So your buddy comes along with some nugs from Oregon, or Tennessee...shit you have never seen before. THAT RIGHT THERE is the rub...variety being the spice of life and all.


So I declare, at this place, at this hour : Psikyo games are equal to Cave's games in terms of substance and style and difficulty, they're just different. Which is awesome.

BEHOLD! Witness my moment of enlightenment!

Agree?

Disagree?

Indifferent?

DO you think Psikyo games are BETTER than Cave?



Do you prefer playing World of Warcraft, and just realized that you are in the wrong forum?

Is this chick jailbait?




WHO KNOWS!?

Nevertheless, whatever your opinion, let's hear it....

1-2-3 GO!

(Oh and if anyone can point out some superplays of Gunbird 2 or Dragon Blaze, I'd appreciate it - I think I've got scoring figured out but I can't be sure....what with scores nary reaching 1 million, I'm not used to such low numbers. After coming from the Cave camp (aside from Feveron) I feel like I might be missing big points. Can anyone shed light? If so ...do it in the thread)

In the meantime, check out these dapper , distinguished, and might I add HANDSOME young men:

[captpain]

ugh

[Matskat]

ugh

AHAHAHHAHAHAHA!

Not taking the bait huh?

Well played...not playing at all....like Switzerland!

[Drachenherz]

This makes me wonder: What HAVE you been smoking?


And.... Do you have some to spare?

Edit: and: when do you change your avagar to this strange point-items spitting vase-face from gunbird 2?

[mjclark]

Great OP! I sometimes wonder if there's a conspiracy by CAVE to control the minds of the youth cos, whilst their games are tiptop, there's plenty of other great stuff out there and , as you point out, it's just got a different flavour. Raiden III and IV are good examples.
And Psikyo made Strikers 1945 II- end of story
Who are those three bee men? They look like a Captain beefheart cover!

[Obiwanshinobi]

I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?

SHORT stages, and even shorter boss battles (especially Dragon Blaze...once I figured out the Technical Bonus) with SUPER fast bullet sprays, with boss patterns bordering on hypnotic.

Check out Sonic Wings Special - it's like Psikyo without contaminations, and it's got this trance-inducing quality, if not in every stage. Just play it on Hard in the Arcade screen mode and should you end up using Ka-50 Hokum, don't forget about the single fire button (autofire works like tapping single fire, obviously, but holding single fire does a thing unlike most fighters in the game - pretty sick for the year 1996). Sick game.

[BPzeBanshee]

Sorry, ESPRade wins there.

Having said that the game on the left does look awesome. I really do need to play more Psikyo games.

Who are those three bee men? They look like a Captain beefheart cover!

Obviously they're three blokes who have had their drinks spiked with "Charlie Sheen".

[Casey120]

+1 for them Dragons , I bought that before any Cave PCB and love it .
Not a big fan of the Gunbird series .

[burgerkingdiamond]

man Dragon Blaze is tough.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Yep, I was introduced to Psikyo's Strikers 1945 at an arcade called "Electric Underground" back in 1995. Considering that all the arcade cabs and pinball machines took nickels (and not quarters) as the choice of credits, Strikers 1945 was priced at an insane 10 cents per credit. Credit fed it to the very end...such a cool shmup title indeed. Off into the distance was another new arcade shmup entry by this new kid on the block, Cave, with it's Donpachi PCB conversion kit. That one was priced at 20 cents per credit -- checked it out as well. I had to admit that the owner of this particular arcade had some excellent taste when it came to getting in arcade shmup titles (just like an excellent selection of fine wine but with shmup titles to try your hand at). He'd, later on, get in Seibu Kaihatsu's Viper Phase 1 U.S.A. and price it at 20 cents per credit. Now, we're taking about a bitching new arcade shmup here. It doesn't get any better than this.

Psikyo PCB Factoid: Jaleco USA was the official American arcade distributor of all the Psikyo PCB conversion kits including Strikers 1945 and the original Gunbird as well.

I would eventually come across a Strikers 1945 II cab and a Strikers 1945 III cab later on at different locations in different cities over the years -- would give them a spin to see how they played.

Eventually, the EU arcade would close shop and move to a different location with more traffic under the name of Nickel Play. They'd get in Seibu's Raiden Fighters and the odd-ball Dooyong's R-Shark shmup title as well to round off the diverse selection of shmups to play. In May of 1998, NP arcade closed it's doors forever (due to losing it's business lease), thus making it the last true independent arcade for me to patronize. It's been like that ever since for the city of Modesto, CA. It'd sure be nice if such an indy arcade were to open up for business again as it's sorely missed.

Then I saw a flyer for a grand opening for a new indy arcade called Beto's based out of the small city of Riverbank, CA. Checked it out but no arcade shmups were to be found. Interesting selection of old school games to play including an Atari Inc. released Arabian dedicated cab circa 1982 (which I hadn't played in years since first saw it back in the early 1980s) and a dedicated sitdown cab of Gran Prix Star F1 racing game. All the games in this indy arcade take quarters. Features a really nice snack bar and an air hockey + pool table to play as well.

It was a cool time to play shmups in the arcades back in the mid-1990s.

I enjoy both Cave and Psikyo crafted games...it sure would've been nice if Psikyo made a proper third sequel of Gunbird 3. I can imagine that a few more new characters introduced along with old returning favorites and at the very least, a new game mechanic would be introduced to spice up the gameplay. And not to mention the even crazier arcing side stories/banter between all the characters in addition to the single progressive developing stories if played in single player mode. Expect the witty Psikyo flavored insider jokes, twists 'n' spins and the sly sexual overtones as usual. It ain't a Psikyo game without those particular listed ingredients, indeed, for the beloved Gunbird franchise/series. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[mrsmiley381]

Is this chick jailbait?

Do I look like I care about such a petty thing as "statutory rape"?

I'll vote for Gunbird being fun as hell. Psikyo and CAVE are different. But Zero Gunner 2, now that's an awesome game.

[Muchi Muchi Spork]

Dragon Blaze is pretty but it's a pain in the ass to play. I like the Gunbird and Strikers series a lot, but Psikyo was hit and miss overall. Raiden III blows hard. I do enjoy the Shiki games.

[Deca]

A few months back I started playing Psikyo games again for whatever reason and they finally clicked, really great stuff. Initially I wasn't particularly interested in them because they're so bland on the surface, I really feel like these games are much easier to appreciate once you're more familiar with the genre and have been playing for a while.

I have to disagree though, as I feel Psikyo games are very lacking in style/aesthetic. I mean yeah there's definitely a Psikyo STYLE, but on the surface looking at the presentation/art design/music/etc I feel they fall short in comparison to other companies. In my mind Psikyo games are very down to business, all go and no show. You're here to dodge bullets, not listen to music or appreciate artwork.

But yeah, mad respect for Psikyo. I'm quite fond of Strikers 1999 and Gunbird 2, need to dedicate more time and really focus on them at some point.

[burgerkingdiamond]

One thing I don't like about Psykio games is the random stage order. It makes it difficult to learn.

[Bananamatic]

you can manipulate it through restarting

at least for dragon blaze

[Deca]

One thing I don't like about Psykio games is the random stage order. It makes it difficult to learn.

I dunno I think getting equal exposure to all the stages is kind of nice, you don't always have to slog through what you know to get to what you're working on. Though at the same time, if you want to specifically practice certain stages you should be using savestates.

[dunpeal2064]

Is this chick jailbait?

Do I look like I care about such a petty thing as "statutory rape"?

I'll vote for Gunbird being fun as hell. Psikyo and CAVE are different. But Zero Gunner 2, now that's an awesome game.

Zero Gunner 2 is freakin awesome. Haven't tried Gunbird 2 or Dragon Blaze yet, but out of the other ZG2 would be my favorite. Strikers 1945 II is also pretty damn fun.

Also find it interesting that so many Psikyo games were localized, unlike Cave.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

You gotta thank Jaleco USA for bringing pretty much most of Psikyo's arcade PCB backcatalog stateside. I'm glad to have tried them out in an arcade enviroment as it should ideally be. Even the original Zero Gunner PCB was released in the USA as well (although none of my local arcades hadn't gotten that particular title in).

For dunpeal2064,

You're in for a treat if the Modesto, CA based McHenry Bowl center still has a Dynamo cab with Gunbird 2 installed. It's been quite awhile since I've been back there to see if it's still there or not -- it was there back in 2007-2008.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Obiwanshinobi]

I mean yeah there's definitely a Psikyo STYLE, but on the surface looking at the presentation/art design/music/etc I feel they fall short in comparison to other companies.

Sengoku Ace is one of the most eye-catching shmups out there, even for people who don't care about "computer games", let alone shmups. Eyes and faces are the hook.
Dragon Blaze looks like a bland Mahou Daisakusen clone, but even that game sports a breathtakingly beautiful cloudy stage above the city. This, as well as bomb and charged shot effects (and cool cinematic touches like the desert stage bossfight) make for quite a spectacle. The presentation's at least one foot in the genre's Belle Époque, unlike vast majority of shmups made in this century.
Also, I wouldn't agree that the music in either falls short in comparison to other companies.

[dunpeal2064]

You gotta thank Jaleco USA for bringing pretty much most of Psikyo's arcade PCB backcatalog stateside. I'm glad to have tried them out in an arcade enviroment as it should ideally be. Even the original Zero Gunner PCB was released in the USA as well (although none of my local arcades hadn't gotten that particular title in).

For dunpeal2064,

You're in for a treat if the Modesto, CA based McHenry Bowl center still has a Dynamo cab with Gunbird 2 installed. It's been quite awhile since I've been back there to see if it's still there or not -- it was there back in 2007-2008.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Yeah, suprising that so many of their games were brought to the shores. Even console ports of Psikyo games were much more common. We saw Strikers 1954 (II) and Gunbird (Mobile Light Force) ports on the ps1, a Gunbird 2 port on the dreamcast, and I know a few of them came out in the PAL region too, including Dragon Blaze, if I'm not mistaken.

Now I absolutely MUST go check out McHenry Bowl. I've searched many places for any kind of shmup pcb, but the only one I have found lies in the Strike Zone in Manteca, where they have a dedicated Raiden Fighters cab.

Lets hope Gunbird 2 is still up and running there, as I think they may have recently rennovated the place.

Oh, and this thread needs more Raizing!

[PC Engine Fan X!]

If it wasn't for the editor of GameFan magazine (back in early 2000) to convince Capcom U.S.A. whether or not to bring the Gunbird 2 game for the American region DC platform, it would not have been. There was a really nice article in GameFan about the JPN DC port of GB2 that was presented in tate format for your reading pleasure that finally convinced Capcom to green-light such a release for the DC stateside. Whatever it takes to get the job done right.

I recall putting down a five dollar pre-order deposit to make sure that I'd get a copy of DC GB2 on day one of release at a local Software Etc. (known as Gamestop nowdays) and got one when the call finally came saying that they had it in stock. Only five copies came in that day with four of them reserved & the fifth one up for grabs. Talk about slim pickings regarding order allocations for new shmup titles on a store-to-store basis for day one of release.

Yeah, I like some Raizing/8ing flavored shmups in my shmup diet as well -- can't go wrong with the legendary Armed Police Batrider PCB release any ol' day.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Matskat]

Love what I'm reading here.

Not quoting directly, cuz I'm lazy, I'll take a shot at responses:

Psikyo - speaking out of opinion, does not hold a candle to Cave...BUT as far as graphics go & sprite work, it's top notch stuff.
A fine example, already made for me, is the cloudy stage in Dragon Blaze - great detail (or a total cop-out, masking LACK of detail?)...
The other stages can be bland, like the desert..BUT the onset of the midboss battle is pretty awesome.

Great observation that Dragon Blaze is a cut-rate Dimahoo...IMHO they're both great games (I own a Mahou Daisuksen(sp?) CPS2 board- play it all the time)

I know that around here, CAVE are the be-all end all (with Touhou being the bottom most crap :p ) Raizing being in the middle.

raizing is a whole 'nother story. My respect for Raizing games exploded after Ibara finally "clicked" with me. It seems that Yagawa games are like riding a bike...takes a bit to learn, but if you've ridden one you can ride them all.

Back OT - I wonder if Cave drew any inspiration or competition from Psikyo? It seems their goals were altogether different, with Psikyo branchging out to the west in a much more intentional fashion than Cave. It's really only NOW that Cave seems to realize that they have a following in the west - and even with globalization and the dawn of the Internet, they seem slow to realize the potential that us gaijin possess...

Any finer points regarding Pyikyo? PC Engine Fan always with the wall of useful info THANKS PC FAN! I love your posts!

[PC Engine Fan X!]

It's my pleasure, Matskat. It's always going to be an interesting read with my informative postings.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[dunpeal2064]

I actually have a hard time even comparing Cave, Raizing, and Psikyo. Its like they all took a general idea and applied it completely differently way.

I probably play Cave games more than the others... but then again, there are just more Cave games, and they vary from each other greatly, whereas Psikyo and Yagawa games have their own "feel", while still introducing something new in each entry.

I would say that I didn't regard Yagawa stuff highly enough. Pink Sweets was actually my introduction to Yagawa, and I just didn't click with it. After recently snagging a copy of Garegga though, my outlook is quite different. The game just blew my brain out of my ears.

I think Yagawa and Psikyo have a lot in common. They really do well in creating a challenge that doesn't involve ridiculous scoring, but a more basic, difficult game. I also really like both companies sprite work, music, level length, boss length, etc. I never really feel like a pattern killed me because I hadn't memorized it in these games either. The bullets are moving just fast enough that I can visually process and dodge, while still finding the game insanely difficult.

Cave is great, but if it were all I had, I would greatly miss Psikyo and Raizing.

I would really like to try out Gunbird 2 and Strikers 1999 (Or whatever that 3rd Strikers is called), as well as Dragon Blaze. I think its time I invest in a jp ps2

Also, where is Rob? All this talk of Psikyo would usually attract his attention by now.

[mrsmiley381]

I would say that I didn't regard Yagawa stuff highly enough. Pink Sweets was actually my introduction to Yagawa, and I just didn't click with it. After recently snagging a copy of Garegga though, my outlook is quite different. The game just blew my brain out of my ears.

I find that humorous considering that suicide is an important strategy.

Also, where is Rob? All this talk of Psikyo would usually attract his attention by now.

He's playing Mars Matrix, of course.

[dunpeal2064]

I actually don't suicide in Garegga. I like to just try a game my own way for a few months before learning the ins and outs of it.

But the sprite work and patterns were just awesome, especially for being pre-ddp

Ok, back to psikyo! Didn't mean to derail or anything

[Plasmo]

Important topic.

It seems to me that people new to the genre only like CAVE and/or Touhou, but forget about all the other awesome shooters, not only Psikyo. After all it's down to personal taste of course, but I can't believe how one can say that he loves shmups and then ignores such an important company for the genre as Psikyo. CAVE, Raizing and Psikyo are still the three "big ones" and all had a fantastic output over the years.

Of course Psikyo games have their flaws (like any other game, too), but I absolutely adore most of them. The Strikers series (Strikers 99 in particular), Gunbird 2 and maybe even Zero Gunner 2 are my favourites. Great games, way too underrated. People should play them some more these days, especially when we get to play yet another Deathsmiles or Pachi.
The action-packedness of lightning fast boss patterns, that are undodgeable without memorization, is something CAVE and any other developer can't give me. I don't get why people call this unfair, cheap or whatever - nothing beats the feeling when you have fully memorized a pattern and just wander through the mazes with ease, letting the noobish spectator's jaw drop to the ground. Psikyo games are excellent for showing off.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I would really like to try out Gunbird 2 and Strikers 1999 (Or whatever that 3rd Strikers is called), as well as Dragon Blaze. I think its time I invest in a jp ps2

For Japan, it was Strikers 1999 and for the USA, it was released under the proper title of Strikers 1945 III. What's interesting about the Strikers 1999/Strikers 1945 III PCBs is that it'll save the #1 highest score + high score initials to flash memory & even save it for posterity if the PCB is powered down for the night. Upon re-powering it back up the next day, it still remains. How cool is that?

It's recommended to have access to a JPN region PS2 to play those Psikyo games you mention of, dunpeal2064.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Matskat]

Important topic.

I know, right? Thanks? (Unless my sarcast-o-meter is broken)

It seems to me that people new to the genre only like CAVE and/or Touhou, but forget about all the other awesome shooters, not only Psikyo.

This was really my point. Illustrating that it took some time of me playing "hardcore" Cave games to appreciate other notables in the genre. Raizing being really a big player. Like I said, Ibara was the match, that lit my Raizing fuse...Ibara is also the proverbial BOMBAH!
(See what I did there?)

Something that's becoming more evident to me as well:

Where Cave games seem to focus on big points and mad boss milking (I'm a boss, Greg. Can you milk me?) - it seems that Psikyo's "Technical Bonus" system really drives home the "rapid assault" aesthetic. 1:30 (minutes) stage , punctuated by maybe a 30 second boss battle. Reward for FAST destruction of the boss upon revealing the core. Tap fire, shoot the core. Certainly a much more "back 2 basics" style in comparison to Cave's EPIC boss battles. Both taste good, just different flavors altogether.

Oh, also - PC Engine Fan you crack me up. Modest ever? (I agree though - highly informative and always a good read)

Back to Dragon Blaze....fucking brutal bullet speeds...

OH! Maybe this can veer the thread even deeper OT:

Psikyo 2nd loops!

From what I can gather, they're known to be BROOOOOTAAL!
(I myself may not see one for a few months )
Seems that Loop 1 is just window dressing for the meat and potatoes that is Loop 2?

Anybody corroborate? Now I understand why the level nomenclature is 1-1, 1-2 and so forth...heh!

[PC Engine Fan X!]

From watching some of the Dragon Blaze superplays during the 2nd loop, it's just nuts watching an ace player do his/her magic dance with those super-fast homing bullets. Definitely inhuman mad skills indeed.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~