LoneCynic wrote:Modding Xbox 360's is very risky, no matter what people may tell you. Having two consoles, one for each region, just makes things safer and easier to play games from both regions legitimately and problem free. I just got Death Smiles finally, and the game is one of the finest horizontal shooters I've ever played. I highly recommend it to anyone who gets a Japanese Xbox 360.
100% agree. Folks, this is NOT an impossible Cave Shooter. It's very accesible, and it's taken Cave a few levels up on my list.
Then I'll get Mushihime and get my ass handed to me again. Owell.
Can't wait to get my copy - i've only got Mamoru-kun at the moment, and while it's a pretty enjoyable shooter with fun mechanics, it's DeathSmiles and the prospective Cave releases that made me by a JP 360.
Bootaaay: If you play on Xbox Live, add me to your friend list, you too Shallowgamer if you play online. Deathsmiles has an online co-op component that is a blast. Dr. Fugue and I tried it out last night and there was minimal to no lag believe it or not. I'd love to have a couple more people to enjoy the game with on my friend list. My gamertag is the same as my name here: LoneCynic.
So far, I have all of the available import shooters for my Japanese Xbox 360. It is an absolute joy to have this side library of great titles to play in addition to my collection of domestic titles and Xbox Live Arcade titles.
I keep checking every week to see when play-asia will begin taking pre-orders for Mushihime-Futari. I want to make sure I get my order in as soon as I can. I missed out on Mushihime-sama on the Playstation 2, so I don't want to miss this entry in that series.
Also, you guys may want to do what I did and grab a Japanese Microsoft point card so you can get the Mega Black Label downloadable content for Deathsmiles. it is 1200 points, but it adds a whole new gameplay mode with an extra level and extra character to the game.
I hope to talk with you two on Live sometime. You are definately two of my best information contacts on these forums, and it would be great to chat directly one of these days.
LoneCynic wrote:Bootaaay: If you play on Xbox Live, add me to your friend list, you too Shallowgamer if you play online. Deathsmiles has an online co-op component that is a blast. Dr. Fugue and I tried it out last night and there was minimal to no lag believe it or not. I'd love to have a couple more people to enjoy the game with on my friend list. My gamertag is the same as my name here: LoneCynic.
Yeah, i've still got gold active on my account, so i'm definetly up for some DeathSmiles co-op action - i'll be sure to add you next time I turn on the 360 (although I have no mic at the moment).
LoneCynic wrote:So far, I have all of the available import shooters for my Japanese Xbox 360. It is an absolute joy to have this side library of great titles to play in addition to my collection of domestic titles and Xbox Live Arcade titles.
How are you liking Mamoru-kun? I was initially disapointed with it as the graphics aren't exactly spectacular, and the control method felt clunky (don't have an arcade stick for the 360 unfourtunatly), so I had to switch to twin stick mode to make any progress - i'm starting to get the hang of things now, but the number of stages is making it difficult to remember specific patterns and escapes. Also, i've ordered Raiden IV, but whats Raiden Fighter Aces like? Would you reccomend it?
LoneCynic wrote:I keep checking every week to see when play-asia will begin taking pre-orders for Mushihime-Futari. I want to make sure I get my order in as soon as I can. I missed out on Mushihime-sama on the Playstation 2, so I don't want to miss this entry in that series.
Yeah, i'm eagerly awaiting Futari's pre-order too - I got the original on PS2, but had to pay a pretty extortionate price, it was worth it though. Despite the quality of the port, I still had a ton of fun and Mushi's one of my most played shooters, can't wait to finally get my hands on the sequel.
Shallowgamer - Yeah, the Doc is still out there, although admittedly I see him on Xbox Live a lot more these days than I do here. He's a pretty busy guy from what he tells me though.
Bootaaay - Raiden Fighters Aces is a good one to get, it has all three Raiden Fighters games :Raiden Fighters 1, Raiden Fighters 2: Operation Hell Dive, and Raiden Fighters Jet (III) all on a single disc. There are some Raiden themed elements to them, but they are definately a different breed of shooter as opposed to the main Raiden series. I would recommend it sure, they are solid games. There has been a USA release of the game now, which may be less expensive to pick up for you. I am not sure if it is region locked or not though. I'll have to test it on my Japan console and let you know. Both the Japanese and American releases have english menus and english achievement descriptions (A rarity indeed) so either release would be about the same experience.
I like Mamomoru-Kun pretty well, it is definately best played in twin stick mode though as you pointed out. While not my favorite shooter, it is a decent addition to my collection, and I still play it from time to time.
My favorites that are 360 exclusive are probably Raiden IV and Deathsmiles so far. Raiden IV's graphics are very good, and the game is an overall better experience than Raiden III, which in hindsight I no longer like as much as I used to. 4 is like a hybrid of 2 and 3. It has the faster, no delay bombing, upgraded vulcan cannon ships from 3, but has the return of the Purple Plasma laser as a weapon from 2 instead of the green whiper laser that was in 3. The slower, time delayed bombing original ship from 2 is available as a downloadable content extra option though if you want it to be even more traditional instead of the newer model ship. Many of the stage themes are remixed versions of music from Raiden 1, 2 and 3 as well. It is probably my favorite Raiden game of the series (although I just recently finally aquired Raiden DX import for the PS1, so I'll have to spend some time with that before passing final judgement.)
Deathsmiles is Cave developed, which I know is probably your favorite shooter company. I can say it is one of the finest Horizontal shooters I've ever played. The Initial thought of playing as goth themed girls in a dreamworld, coupled with the fact that I generally don't enjoy horizontals nearly as much as verticals didn't set the highest hopes running for me with this title. I was dead wrong, this game is very well crafted and highly addictive. Without a doubt a must have import. I've played through it multiple times now and can get through on the initial difficulty on 3-4 credits, but I still keep playing it nearly every time I feel like playing Xbox. It's just that good. Most Horizontal make you take a death if you touch the walls, thankfully Deathsmiles treats walls as just walls, and unless you get trapped behind one, you can touch them and manuver around them without fear of taking damage. The crazy bullet patterns you'd expect from Cave are here too. Don't pass up a chance to have this one in your collection. If you get it, we have to play co-op sometime, you'd love it.
Been playing Dodonpachi Black Label Extra some more lately too, trying to get enough combos and score to attain the last three Achievements I lack on that one. I am blown away by how I am able to manuver around all those bullets now. When I first got the game on PS2, I wondered how ANYONE could ever contend with so many bullets at once. Over time, and lots of practice, I've gotten good enough at that game to finish it on 3-4 credits as well. While a 1cc still may be a long ways off for me, I am pleased with my skill progression that I can last as long as I can and not go over 4 credits now. It is still a favorite of mine, but since the game is also available on PS2, and I think you have it for that, I'd only recommend the Xbox one if you want to play the Black Label 360 mode with the new character or like getting Achievements for getting better at shooters.
Well, I hate to double post, but it has been nearly a month, and I wanted to update this with the latest info that I read. Raystorm HD is coming to Xbox Live Arcade sometime down the line. Saw a few screenshots online, and it looks great. Always loved the game on PS1 way back when, but the graphics were too dated when I tried to replay it about a year ago. Weird how 2D style games never seem to get too stagnant for me, and age gracefully, but those early polygon 3D games are almost unbearable for me to look at now. Well, the HD overhaul + Achievements and leaderboards ought to do the trick to make Raystorm an enjoyable game for me again. I'm actually somewhat excited about this.
LoneCynic wrote:Weird how 2D style games never seem to get too stagnant for me, and age gracefully, but those early polygon 3D games are almost unbearable for me to look at now.
I think it's due to the fact that the early 3D stuff was basically the Atari of the 3D era. So everything was extremely primitive. And it didn't help that most of the early 3D stuff had delusions of realism. I'm looking at you, FF7. Now the original Star Fox, that's one that's aged fairly well, as the game understands that it can't do all that much and makes the simplicity work for it.
Blizzard Entertainment Software Developer - All comments and views are my own and not representative of the company.
LoneCynic wrote:Weird how 2D style games never seem to get too stagnant for me, and age gracefully, but those early polygon 3D games are almost unbearable for me to look at now.
I think it's due to the fact that the early 3D stuff was basically the Atari of the 3D era. So everything was extremely primitive. And it didn't help that most of the early 3D stuff had delusions of realism. I'm looking at you, FF7. Now the original Star Fox, that's one that's aged fairly well, as the game understands that it can't do all that much and makes the simplicity work for it.
Exactly, still there were masterpieces such as StarFox 64 that really knew how to work within the limitations.
My Consoles: Genesis - Nomad - SegaCD - GameGear - Sega Saturn - Dreamcast - NES - SNES - N64 - Gamecube - Wii - Playstation - PSone & LCD - PS2 - PS3 - Xbox - 3DS
Niode wrote:Send him a dodgy cheque. Make it out to Scammy McScammerson.
Cave just held a conference at the Midnight Live 360 event in Japan - a couple points of interest;
. Firstly, Mushihime-sama Futari will launch on the 26th of November. . And secondly, Espgaluda II will have an Arange/Black Label mode programmed by Shinobu Yagawa of Batrider/Garegga/Ibara fame.
Really can't wait to play Mushi, and great to see Yagawa working on somthing again. Fancy adding Espgaluda II to the checklist Cynic? Also, there are a few Japanese XNA shooters avaiable now; Crecendo Symphony, Ultimate Sacrifice & X-Over - none are particularly good, but hey, it's a start :p
Also, there are a few Japanese XNA shooters avaiable now; Crecendo Symphony, Ultimate Sacrifice & X-Over - none are particularly good, but hey, it's a start :p