I've been busy...

[Spyke]

Well, I've only been on here about 9 months, and been getting into shmups again for a few weeks before that, but I just had a look at how many shmups I've acquired (and machines to play them on) and it's quite scary!



I've also got a copy of Gekioh on its way to me, and a pre-order for Raiden Fighter Aces (for my newly acquired XBox 360)! How did this happen to me? I only wanted to play a few shmups every now and then... and I seem to be getting addicted!

Seriously, it seems very easy to build up a catalogue of really good quality titles for not an awful lot of outlay. But that doesn't mean I want to add up what I've spent so far...

Ant

[Krimzon Kitzune]

Is that a copy of Gradius Gaiden? You are a sir, indeed.

[Skykid]

Although shmups chat is struggling under the weight of high quality threads, I do believe this one in OT may suit you better:

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=21030

[exquisite_torture]

MAX APATHY

[Spyke]

Yes indeedy, Gradius Gaiden. That's one of my favourites.

It's all a pretty much old-skool collection overall isn't it. Nothing too ground-breaking or extreme, but plenty of fun there nonetheless.

Ant

[Ed Oscuro]

I would say that is more middle skool or even high skool. Many of those are almost latest-gen from the standpoint of shmups' recent decline in popularity

Still, many fine representatives of one of the finest genres, good work!

[xbl0x180]

Yeah, I wouldn't call a collection with PS1, PS2, Saturn, and Dreamcast games as "ol' skool." These are pretty much middle-of-the-road stuff. You need some NES, PC-Engine/TG-16, SNES, and Genesis games in there

[Ed Oscuro]

There are Atari 2600 shootin' games, and there is Space Invaders too. THAT is old school imo. Sky Shark is newfangled with those fancy cinematic scene graphics and accurate plane representations.

[xbl0x180]

That's way back. I was just thinkin' he could flex a collection of common classic/crust consisting of Gradius, Parodius, Darius, 1942, Time Pilot, Gyruss, R-Type, and such

[xbl0x180]

Hell, throw Paperboy in there!

[Spyke]

Lol- I thought the paperboy debate was over!! Will be keeping an eye open for Darius Gaiden though.

Have to say I don't much like the r-type games. I've got an xbox 360 (PAL I'm afraid) on its way along with Deathsmiles so that'll bring me bang up to date!

Used to own a megadrive years ago and had a load of classfic shooters for it back then.

[BPzeBanshee]

You got a better collection than me, that's for sure. I need more non-Cave stuff in my collection but have nothing besides the Wii and 360.

Do the Strikers 1945 ports play well? I heard they were a bit wonky but if it's something insignificant I'll keep an eye out for it.

[xbl0x180]

Lol- I thought the paperboy debate was over!! Will be keeping an eye open for Darius Gaiden though.

Have to say I don't much like the r-type games. I've got an xbox 360 (PAL I'm afraid) on its way along with Deathsmiles so that'll bring me bang up to date!

Used to own a megadrive years ago and had a load of classfic shooters for it back then.

Paperboy is a shoot-'em-up forum bred meme now

It's too bad about R-Type. I love those games. I remember when it came out for the TurboGraFX-16 and the Super R-Type that came out for the SNES were the hottest thing for me. I played those games to death, so I guess that aesthetic and gameplay stuck with me. The PSOne had a decent line-up of R-Types and R-Type Delta (which I've still yet to obtain). I never did play R-Type 3...

For your PAL 360, there are DeathSmiles, Akai Katana Shin, and Dodonpachi 1.5, as well as region-free junk such as Mushihime-same Futari, ESPgaluda II, and, my favourite, Eschatos. Every gamer needs Eschatos in their lyfe

[Spyke]

Wow - Eschatos looks cool! I'll look into that (can't resist the soundtrack...)

[Spyke]

Do the Strikers 1945 ports play well? I heard they were a bit wonky but if it's something insignificant I'll keep an eye out for it.

Th PS2 twin-pack is "ok" but the boss load pauses are apparent and the lack of a high score save is very annoying. The music is not as rounded as in the Sat and PS1 ports either - sort of trimmed down. I definately choose the individual Sat and PS1 ports I have over the PS2 twin-pack now.

Hmm... can't find a hiscore save feature on the PS1 port of 1945 II either...

Ant

[HydrogLox]

Hmm... can't find a hiscore save feature on the PS1 port of 1945 II either...

On the NTSC-J version there is a "Save/Load" item on the primary menu that you can use to save/load options and ranking.
There is a "Ranking" item on the secondary menu that lets you review the high scores.

Do the Strikers 1945 ports play well? I heard they were a bit wonky but if it's something insignificant I'll keep an eye out for it.

According to the Racketboy write ups "Strikers 1945" is best on the Saturn while "Strikers 1945 II" is better on the PS1.
Mind you this primarly applies to the NTSC-J versions as the PS1 "Strikers 1945 II" was sold as "Strikers 1945" in the PAL and NTSC-U/C regions with
the Arcade (i.e. tate) mode removed (only accessible via GameShark or the like) making in my opinion the non-NTSC-J versions of "Strikers 1945 II" pointless.

The Sega Saturn’s Explosive Shmups Library
The Phenomenal Playstation (PS1) Shmups Library
The Playstation 2 (PS2) Shmups Library

[HydrogLox]

Will be keeping an eye open for Darius Gaiden though.

Try to get the Sega Saturn version. It's cheaper and better looking than the rarer NTSC-J PS1 counterpart.

It is also included in the NTSC-J PS2 "Taito Memories Joukan" and PAL/NTSC-U PS2 "Taito Legends 2"

The Sega Saturn’s Explosive Shmups Library
The Phenomenal Playstation (PS1) Shmups Library
The Playstation 2 (PS2) Shmups Library

I don't see a Saturn Layer Section in your collection

[Spyke]

Hmm... can't find a hiscore save feature on the PS1 port of 1945 II either...

On the NTSC-J version there is a "Save/Load" item on the primary menu that you can use to save/load options and ranking.
There is a "Ranking" item on the secondary menu that lets you review the high scores.

Do the Strikers 1945 ports play well? I heard they were a bit wonky but if it's something insignificant I'll keep an eye out for it.

According to the Racketboy write ups "Strikers 1945" is best on the Saturn while "Strikers 1945 II" is better on the PS1.
Mind you this primarly applies to the NTSC-J versions as the PS1 "Strikers 1945 II" was sold as "Strikers 1945" in the PAL and NTSC-U/C regions with
the Arcade (i.e. tate) mode removed (only accessible via GameShark or the like) making in my opinion the non-NTSC-J versions of "Strikers 1945 II" pointless.

Yep, that's why I bought them that way: I for Saturn and II for PS1.
The PS1 "II" is definately a PAL release and is definately "II". It also definately has TATE mode included. I thought the confusion with "II" being renamed "I" only applied to non-PAL areas?
The fact that my copy is a PAL release obviously is why the save/load feature is missing. Hmm... another Jp release to look out for...

I have the Taito Legends 2 compilation, so have the Darius Gaiden, but to be honest I find a lot of the versions on that compilation seem a bit lacking compared with origi9nal release versions. The Saturn version is definately superior and not expensive to buy either. I DID have a Layer Section - but have just sold it as I didn't really get on with that game.

However, I did find Dodonpachi Resurrection pre-owned in Game store today for £4.95. Couldn't resist it!

Ant

[HydrogLox]

The PS1 "II" is definitely a PAL release and is definitely "II". It also definitely has TATE mode included. I thought the confusion with "II" being renamed "I" only applied to non-PAL areas?
The fact that my copy is a PAL release obviously is why the save/load feature is missing. Hmm... another Jp release to look out for...

For the PAL release I was going by what I picked up from the Racketboy article. The NTSC-U version was disappointing and for a few bucks more I was able to get the Superlite 1500 NTSC-J bargain version with all the features intact.

However, I did find Dodonpachi Resurrection pre-owned in Game store today for £4.95. Couldn't resist it!

Great find - just be aware that around here the PS1 ports of Donpachi and DoDonpachi (rarer and pricier as they are) are considered the definitive console versions - exactly opposite to the typical Saturn vs. PS1 port.

Donpachi - Saturn or Playstation version?

[dunpeal2064]

The PS1 port of Dodonpachi is NOT definitive, or better than the Sat port. Both ports are innacurate, but the psx port is broken. You can't even full chain most of the stages due to bees not counting toward your combo, and the combo meter dropping too quickly.

Donpachi is definitely best on the ps1 though, the sound and loading times are much better than the Sat port.

[Deca]

There is no playable port of DDP, it's a shame. The Instant Brain one is probably the best but...it's buried under instant brain.

Mame or PCB are the only ways to go on that one.

Your collection is sorely lacking in BATTLE GAREGGA Nice stuff though, nothing to sneeze at! I really need to sort out a setup for my PVM, I haven't played anything on my Saturn since I moved to the new place

[dunpeal2064]

Yeah, neither port is accurate, but the Sat port is close. If it was the version you were used to, you could score pretty well, which is just impossible in the ps1 port. Just comparing ports, Sat has the best. Plus, it has a cool arrange mode with a 1 loop TLB, and a neat Stage 0 with a remixed Donpachi theme.

Honestly, having played it on the Sat and in mame, the speed the game runs at is the only noticable difference.

Of course, MAME or pcb would be superior in about any case, aside maybe some of the 360 ports.

However, the Sat port is absolutely playable imo.

Battle Garega is definitely a must have.

[Spyke]

I'd love to get Garegga - but it's a bit pricey at the moment for me. Batsugun and Border Down are on my dream list too...

Ant

[Op Intensify]

There is no playable port of DDP, it's a shame. The Instant Brain one is probably the best but...it's buried under instant brain.

It's also missing important features like CUSTOMIZABLE CONTROLS.

But hey, at least you can wave your arms in the air with Kinect!

[HydrogLox]

are considered the definitive console versions

The PS1 port of Dodonpachi is NOT definitive

Apples and Oranges - it is a rare event that a console port surpasses the PCB - however when restricted to a console version my impression has been when lurking in the various threads that in the majority of cases people choose the PS1 version of DoDonpachi over the Saturn version - that does not stop some people from preferring the Saturn version - being "definitive" doesn't mean that there aren't detractors to that choice. Even so - maybe the term "definitive console version" was too strong.

I'd love to get Garegga - but it's a bit pricey at the moment for me. Batsugun and Border Down are on my dream list too...

Batsugun is the most attainable of that group. A used Battle Garegga will typically run slightly cheaper than a new regular edition Border Down at over at Solaris Japan - they even have new limited editions (somewhat dearer though).

[Deca]

I just can't see the PSX version being preferred by anyone that has the slightest bit of knowledge about the game. It's like playing a port of Guilty Gear that doesn't have air dashes.

However, if you have no intention of ever learning any sort of scoring in DDP (or want to figure out PSX specific scoring I guess?) them the PSX version does run closer to actual speed and...I guess has prettier explosions or something? I can't remember which one that was supposed to be.

[dunpeal2064]

I just can't see the PSX version being preferred by anyone that has the slightest bit of knowledge about the game. It's like playing a port of Guilty Gear that doesn't have air dashes.

Yes, anyone who says the psx port of Dodonpachi is better has not attempted to sdcore in the game whatsoever. The opinions you read about were just being repeated, as someone at some point claimed the ps1` port was better because it isn't being output in 240p or some shit like that.

The Sat version is in every way superior to the psx port, and I would never recommend someone buy the psx port. Its a broken gamme, you can't even do what the game intends you to do.

I meant to offense, but when the suggestion is being made to someone, I just have to correct it. If you do not want to play DDP on MAME or PCB, the Saturn port is THE DEFINITIVE version to get.

Like Deca said, its like playing a Super Mario port where you can't break the blocks. Sure, technically its still a game, but it does not get across what the developers intended. The Saturn port, with its inaccuracies, still presents the spirit of the gamer, in a fully playable manner.

So yes, it is apples and oranges, but both of them are attempting to be an apple... and one is obviously not succeeding.

[HydrogLox]

If you do not want to play DDP on MAME or PCB, the Saturn port is THE DEFINITIVE version to get.

OK - I'll stand corrected.

As an aside - how difficult is it for a non-japanese (language-wise) gamer to unlock the Instant Brain version?

[dunpeal2064]

You have to complete the entire game. I do believe someone created a walkthrough for those just looking to unlock DDP, but its supposed to still take some effort.

And, from what I recall, it was not the perfect port that everyone thought it was going to be. I personally have never played it though.