Blazing Star is out on the Nintendo Switch

[ratsflif]

http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/ac ... tar-switch

Now I need to start reading the guides to figure out this scoring system...

[Jeneki]

It's a cool game and definitely deserves more attention.

The last time I played Blazing Star, someone asked me "Why does your game keep saying 'donuts'?"

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Makes me wonder if and when a 1st or 3rd-party arcade joystick controller will be released for the Nintendo Switch console? It'd be nice if Hori were to release one themselves.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[tomwhite2004]

Hori have a stick on the way...

https://www.eventhubs.com/news/2017/mar ... do-switch/

[Kollision]

"Why does your game keep saying 'donuts'?"

[bauer]

Anyone dared to make a lag measurement yet?

[BrianC]

Anyone dared to make a lag measurement yet?

The PS4 Arcade Archives had minimal lag, so it's probably the same case with the switch. Not 100% certain, though.

[Gemant]

Because I don't have Ps4 or Switch, there are chance to watch a full ranking on line for these systems about neo geo games?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

That's ace that Hori will be releasing a dedicated arcade stick for the Switch console...it's about damn time that it got one anyways. I wouldn't be surprised if the asking MSRP is priced at $149.99 USD (or thereabouts) for this particular Hori Switch arcade stick setup.

I recall with fondness when my local Nickel Play arcade hangout had first gotten an MVS Blazing Star kit installed in a "Big Red" 4-Slot Neo-Geo MVS cab back in February of 1998 (the Nickel Play owner had gotten it directly from SNK of America arcade subsidy the moment it was made available for sale to American arcade distributors and arcade owners -- so yes, February 1998 was the exact month that it first went on sale/made it's grand debut stateside, folks). MVS Blazing Star also made it's grand debut at the Japanese game centers during that same month as well -- hard-core arcade shmuppers already know this little shmup factoid by heart.

MVS Blazing Star was priced at a mere four nickels per credit and I was blown away by the stellar gameplay/graphics -- rendered 2D sprite madness and an arcade MVS shmup as well. I like how the CPU taunts the player if he or she plays poorly -- just a bit of extra incentive to do better next time on a serious MVS BS 1CC or 1LC session. Unfortunately, Nickel Play would end up losing their business lease and they shut down for good back in May of 1998 -- hasn't been an indy arcade business since then (which is a shame) for the Modesto, CA area. Heck, there isn't even a barcade establishment either over there, folks.

It's awesome to see Blazing Star ported to the Switch -- more shmups for it, all the better.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[ryu]

Portable Blazing Star.

Damn nice.

[Ex_Mosquito]

Portable Blazing Star.

Damn nice.

To be fair you could play portable Blazing Star over 10 years ago on a hacked PSP perfectly.

[reckon luck]

Do the iOS/Android ports not count?


I can see myself getting a Switch eventually; maybe when the inevitable rev 2 hardware drops and it has a proven game library.

[xxx1993]

Why not just remake the game? This game should have a backstory for each of the characters, as well as their own endings, and they should have voice acting also.

[Sumez]

Why not just remake the game? This game should have a backstory for each of the characters, as well as their own endings, and they should have voice acting also.

Wow. You never disappoint.

[maximo310]

Why not just remake the game? This game should have a backstory for each of the characters, as well as their own endings, and they should have voice acting also.

Wow, you are like the perfect guy to join our the Raiden MK-VI team with that design philosophy.

You can even help us brainstorm even more unnecessary things to add in order to make it into the perfect cinematic experience!

[xxx1993]

While the game is very much playable, at the same time I feel like it's a bit incomplete because of the ending. All you get upon defeating the final boss is a bunch of Engrish text followed by the credits. No mentioning of what happens to the character you used.

[Sumez]

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... 63#p738563

[eebrozgi]

xxx1993: While I think your intention is noble and that woldn't hurt the game, I get the feeling you vastly underestimate the gap between the effort needed for a port and for a remake.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Finally downloaded this Switch port of Blazing Star today and have to say that it's quite stellar! Considering that the Switch has 32GB worth of internal memory for games, demos, apps, and whatnot, the Switch BS port is a mere 95mb d/l unto itself (you can see exactly how space it takes up listed under "Software Management"). There are several options to have a "wider" screen aspect ratio (a tad bit wider screen presentation than the original Neo-Geo MVS/AES screen presentation) & even several scanline options to choose from (just be sure to increase the overall screen brightness to compensate for a slightly dimmer screen should a scanline option be selected/chosen).

The L & R shoulder buttons on the Joy Cons act as the "Credit/Coin-up" button and "Start" button respectively (otherwise, you'd just see a MVS BS demo cycle run it's course through and through).

Yes, this Switch port of BS would, indeed, benefit from the upcoming Hori Switch arcade stick controller.

High scores can be uploaded to the current high score leaderboards -- how cool is that?

Plus the fact this Switch port of BS is priced at a mere $7.99 USD is mere chump change in this day of age.

It'd be nice if auto-fire functionality was implemented from the get-go (to save wear 'n' tear on the Joy Cons' buttons during a heated & frantic session of BS -- or pony up another $69.99 for a pair of replacement Joy Cons if it needed be). Will have to see if the Switch Pro Controller is supported or not.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[destroythec0re]

Tried out the wide display mode. It's nice, and should be turned on by default..it isn't actually messing with the resolution but adds some more visuals to the left and right of the screen that were cropped out from the original. In other words making it a slightly wider horizontal shooter with the same res.

[D]

No auto fire, wow.
But judging from the comments it's perfectly playable with the jogcons analog sticks. I kinda expected otherwise.

[ryu]

No auto fire, wow.
But judging from the comments it's perfectly playable with the jogcons analog sticks. I kinda expected otherwise.

Come on, it isn't Blazing Star if you don't get carpal tunnel from playing it.

... I shouldn't be joking about this withmy fucked wrist. Can only play one or two credits a day because of it.

To be fair you could play portable Blazing Star over 10 years ago on a hacked PSP perfectly.

I expected someone to mention an emulator.

Never bothered with hacking my PSP.

[xxx1993]

xxx1993: While I think your intention is noble and that woldn't hurt the game, I get the feeling you vastly underestimate the gap between the effort needed for a port and for a remake.

What should be done, then?

[ratsflif]

No auto fire, wow.
But judging from the comments it's perfectly playable with the jogcons analog sticks. I kinda expected otherwise.

You can turn auto fire on under the button settings in the menu

[Jeneki]

Personally I wouldn't use autofire in this game, as charge shot is pretty important for scoring and autofire may accidentally kill milkable enemies too quickly.

Well unless you're using that ship without a charge shot. That one gets hilariously powerful with a maxed out autofire rate.

[eebrozgi]

What should be done, then?

Uh... Hm. For example, understand that a Blazing Star remake has the slimmest chance of happening and be satisfied with the port, and keep looking for those other things in new games/media.

Or maybe go on a quest to make a fan remake yourself. And prepare to get a DMCA takedown notice once all the hard work is done. Or better yet, rebrand it as a completely original property with an original story.

[xxx1993]

I can't do fanmade games. And I heard there was going to be cutscenes for the Neo Geo CD version, but it never happened.

[CRP]

Will have to see if the Switch Pro Controller is supported or not.

Works fine.

[Sumez]

charge shot is pretty important for scoring

...yeah, once you've already maxed pretty much every other scoring source in the game Medals at high rank is by far the most valuable resource in the game, and everything else is just modest icing on the cake.

[steveovig]

As someone who is just looking for a good shooter that I can just blow stuff up and dodge stuff, is this one up my alley? I really don't care about the scoring much and want something basic I guess. Would one of the other NG shmups be better for me? This looked fun and it wasn't on the PS2 SNK comp, which I own already.