The standard version is discounted from MSRP, currently ¥6,118 (roughly $53.31 USD).
The Amazon first print version with extra Amazon-exclusive alternate cover is full price, ¥7,480.
Shipping to me in the US is an uncomfortably high ¥2,895, but based on how well the Get Star cover from the Tiger collection turned out, I've pretty much determined I'll be buying these from Amazon despite it being cheaper (total cost of item+shipping) elsewhere; e.g., Play-Asia has the game for $59.99 and shipping for $5.90 economy or $18.90 express.
Namiki was the director and game designer for GG Aleste 3 on the Aleste Colelction (as well as doing the soundtrack), and based on that... he knows what he's doing. Amazing game, and it's not just for the novelty of making a new game to Game Gear specs in 2020 - but the actual level design and technical prowess is nothing short of stunning. Not a stretch at all to say this is better than any other Game Gear STG, and a serious contender for best game on the entire platform. Level 5-2? 6? (the one where you're racing past a huge rocket that then overtakes you later in the stage as it actually launches) is just outstanding for a setpiece level on 8-bit portable hardware. The visual clarity and ability to see the bullets, the feel of the weapons, the pacing of the levels - this is somebody with real design skills, not just a great musician.Steven wrote:That thing Shmup Junkie posted the other day where Namiki Manabu said that Hishouzame is one of the most important and influential shooters of all time has made me very excited to play Hishouzame. Even if he's (a brilliant) composer and not actually a programmer or game designer as far as I know, he's still someone who actually makes shooting games, so I'm inclined to believe him.
I mean, it's a little eye rolling when people like Cave and only Cave, and use that to do weird things like complain about prices for M2's definitive releases of straight up classic games... but don't let that keep you away from Cave's amazing catalog. Tatsujin is basically the origin of the Donpachi series, so if you're a big Toaplan head, well, Cave is a descendent of that legacy. I can't imagine anyone into Garegga and Tatsujin wouldn't feel right at home with most of Cave's games.Steven wrote:Sometimes I feel weird since everyone always talks about how awesome Cave and Mushihimesama are, but I've had Mushihimesama sitting on my Steam wishlist unbought since 2015. I played DDP for like 30 minutes once on MiSTer when I credit fed it for fun and it seems like a nice game and is one of the only 2 bullet hell games I've played (Crimzon Clover is the only other one), but that's about it for my Cave/bullet hell experience. I'll play more of their games eventually. They have a few Cave games over at Mikado, but after walking around the entire place to see everything in the arcade, the first thing that got one of my coins was Tatsujin, even though I went there to play Garegga and Daytona USA.
FWIW, the first time I went to Mikado the first thing I played was... DonDonPachi II: Bee Storm (the non-Cave Dodonpachi sequel), because I'd never seen that one in the wild
I really appreciate this expert ability to distill the whole debate into one sentence (full of so much truth)BIL wrote:Basically, the reason people don't like Hishouzame is because they are fat and dumb.