Just to say...

[Spyke]

Hi!

First post here, having spent a few days reading through the boards. There's SO MUCH STUFF here! It's amazing! Many years ago I had a MD, DC and PS1 so cut my teeth on Hellfire, Thunderforce games, Gaiaries, Gynoug, Darius, Gigawing, Raiden etc. That's not to say I'm actually any good at them... LOL

Just acquired a PS2, PSP and another GC so am looking forward to reacquainting myself with bullet-dodging.

Anyone else here in Scotland?

Ant

[BPzeBanshee]

I'm not from Scotland, but you clearly have awesome taste in games. Raiden FTW.

Welcome to the forums!

[rancor]

Hellfire for MD was the first game that really grabbed me and sucked me into the genre.. And I don't even like hori's anymore! (well, Progear is nice. )
Anyhow, welcome to the forums!

[Spyke]

Thanks guys! I'm trying to find something Raiden-ish for the PS2 just now but have Shienryu on the PSP and its renamed version Steel Dragon EX for the PS2 on its way to me. Shikigami No Shiro II for GC is also on its way to me - all the way from Japan!

Ant

[Spyke]

Oh Rancor - I can still remember the music for Hellfire.... all the way through! LOL

[rancor]

Thanks guys! I'm trying to find something Raiden-ish for the PS2..

You've tried Rainde III, right? Not the best of the series, but it's one of the better games on PS2..

[Spyke]

Not yet, Rancor. I'm tryin to find a Raiden Project package. Can't afford the Raiden III packs I've seen for PS2 - and they're on NTSC and I've got an unchipped PAL machine. If I can find someone who'll mod it that will open up a few more options...

Ant

[dan76]

You could try and get a swap magic disc. No need to mod your PS2, but it involves a bit of disc swapping if you want to play an import or back up.

[Casper<3]

does swap magic fix the ntsc to pal issue?

[Obiwanshinobi]

Can't afford the Raiden III packs I've seen for PS2 - and they're on NTSC and I've got an unchipped PAL machine. If I can find someone who'll mod it that will open up a few more options...

Just play the arcade-perfect PC version. By the way, there IS a PAL edition of the PS2 port.

[Spyke]

Nah, I'd rather stick to a console version tbh. But thanks - I didn't realise it came on PAL too!

Ant

[dan76]

does swap magic fix the ntsc to pal issue?

You can choose. It gives you the option before loading if you want ntsc or pal. Running an ntsc game in pal reduces the speed by about 20% and squashes the screen, again by 20% - just like the days of pal Snes games. I don't know why you would want to do this other than if you had a really old tv that can't handle an ntsc signal.

You also have to make sure you find the right swap magic disc for your region. Pal users obviously have to buy the pal disc etc.

[xbl0x180]

You could try and get a swap magic disc. No need to mod your PS2, but it involves a bit of disc swapping if you want to play an import or back up.

I've been curious about this Magic Swap thing. Do I just put in the disc and then take it out, and place the other disc, or does it involve any other steps. I'm not good with machines, so I'd end up breaking it if I had to do any other steps...

[mjclark]

does swap magic fix the ntsc to pal issue?

Do they still make that Memor32 cos that was just a matter of plugging in a memory module to become "region free" etc for sure and one of the best PS2 purchases I ever made
It's even less complicated than SwapMagic eh?

[dan76]

I've been curious about this Magic Swap thing. Do I just put in the disc and then take it out, and place the other disc, or does it involve any other steps. I'm not good with machines, so I'd end up breaking it if I had to do any other steps...

It depends on what sort of PS2 you have. I've got one of the old ones and it involved me taking off the front of the disc tray - which was very easy.

Basically what you do is insert the swap magic disc and wait for it to load up. You are given a menu where you can select region (NTSC / PAL) and language - you don't select anything yet.

You have to manually eject the disc with a little piece of curved plastic that came with swap magic - that's why you have to remove the front of the tray. You do this by inserting the plastic thingy under the disc tray and sliding a gear or something to the right.

The tray opens and you put your import or back up in, push the tray shut and with the plastic thing slide that gear back to the left.

The menu will still be up on screen so hit X and it will load the game.

Sounds a bit of a fiddle but it takes seconds once you get used to it. You get two discs, one dvd and one cd. I've had mine for years and they still work a charm.

If you own a later model PS2 you can get a flip top version which looks simpler than my piece of plastic.

EDIT: never heard of Memor32 - sounds good.

[xbl0x180]

I have one of the last PS2 slim consoles manufactured in North America. Does this Memor32 thing work with those?

http://www.realhotstuff.com/memor32-pr-273.html

[Blackbird]

Does Memor32 enable region compatibility for PS2 just like the Saturn memory cards can? It would be extremely convenient if that were the case.

[Spyke]

Yeah, I'd love to know if the memor32 would do what I need - sounds like the simplest answer...

Ant

[Jockel]

You could also just install a softmod to a regular memory card.

[dunpeal2064]

If you have a PAL ps2, then you are in luck. They got a pretty healthy serving of shmup ports.

I'm not too familiar with what got good ports and what didn't, but I would check into whats available, and look into getting Dragon Blaze and Homura.

Oh, and welcome to the forums.

[Obiwanshinobi]

You could also just install a softmod to a regular memory card.

I think you need a modded PS2 to install it and discs still have to be recognised as PAL ones (dicking around with disc images to change the region). Not the most comfy solution.

[chempop]

Hellfire, Thunderforce games, Gaiaries, Gynoug, Darius, Gigawing, Raiden etc.

Oh hell yeah, that's an outstanding selection!
The music in many of those 16-bit titles is so good.

PS2 recommendation time!

Gradius V and R-Type Final are absolute must haves if you enjoy that horizontal old-school style. They both have incredible audio-visual style.

Pal region PS2 has decent selection, You might want to consider some of the Psikyo games:

Dragon Blaze
Strikers 1945 (pt1 & 2)
Gunbird (1 & 2)
Senoku Ace (Sengoku Blade might have been released too, Ace is vert and Blade is hori)

Then there are some oddities:

Homura
Gigawing Generations
Psyvariar (actually, I'm not sure this exists in Pal)

And the Cave bullet hell (kinda pricey, but people eat these games up and often never look back).

ESPGaluda (Japanese only)
Mushihimesama (Japanese only)
Dodonpachi Dai-Ou-Jou (Japanese only)
Ibara (Japanese only)

I'm sure I'm missing a few, but that should give you an idea of what to search for.

[Bananamatic]

Psyvariar (actually, I'm not sure this exists in Pal)

it does and it's damn good

[Weak Boson]

You can get the PAL version of Psyvariar new on amazon for about a fiver. Essential, surely.

[Spyke]

Hey, thanks for the recommendations - really helpful! Psyvariar looks pretty cool - does it support TATE?

I've got R-Type Final... and.... er... it hasn't really grown on me yet... (am I wierd? Don't answer that)

Enjoyed Gunbird on Dreamcast. Dodonpachi Dai-Ou-Jou and Ibara look great. I think it might be easier for me to try and find a Jap PS2 or pre-modded one to play imports etc, rather than try to get a "fix" for my current console. All the stuff I read about the memor32, Magic Swap etc seem to have downsides that might make it not work for me...

I do have a slight obsession about Raiden - i was my most played PS1 game when I had that old console. Perhaps I need to curb my obsession a bit, as yes - there are lots of good PAL shmups out there (though I didn't realise how many until I posted this thread)!

I've got the Gradius collection, Parodius, Shienryu and Sonic Wings on the PSP too, just to keep me going on the move! LOL Gradius 5 is on my PS2 list too though.

Ant

[Ghegs]

Psyvariar looks pretty cool - does it support TATE?

Yep, PAL Psyvariar has support for both tate and 60hz. Great package.

I've got R-Type Final... and.... er... it hasn't really grown on me yet... (am I wierd? Don't answer that)

I'll answer anyway: You are not. Get R-Type Delta instead. Sadly, the PAL one doesn't do 60hz so US/JP version is preferred.

And welcome aboard!

[dunpeal2064]

Don't forget, your ps2 can play ps1 games.

So, you should also have access to Raiden Project (Fantastic ports of the first 2 raiden games, both support TATE) and Raiden DX

I wasn't too into R-type Final either, its kinda hit or miss, and seems to mostly be miss. There are those who vouch for it though.

Also, if you end up getting a japanese ps2, you would also gain access to the first 2 Cave games, Donpachi and Dodonpachi.

Donpachi is fantastic, and in every way better than the Saturn port.

Dodonpachi for the psx looks and sounds a bit nicer than the saturn port, but is even further from being true to the pcb than the saturn port.

[Spyke]

Just ordered Psyvariar brand new off play.com for £3. Can't be bad...

Ant

[RNGmaster]

Psyvariar is a badass game.

Save some room for Psikyo too - Dragon Blaze is great enough that I'm still playing it after months of frustration, but I'd recommend an emu for that - the PS2 port isn't great.

[dunpeal2064]

Psyvariar is a badass game.

Save some room for Psikyo too - Dragon Blaze is great enough that I'm still playing it after months of frustration, but I'd recommend an emu for that - the PS2 port isn't great.

Whats wrong with it?

EDIT: I'm only asking because some ports like MMP/PS get slammed a bit, but I would still recommend them.