Japan Xbox 360 Shooter Checklist

[LoneCynic]

So, there are a handful of us now who have purchased import Xbox 360 consoles. Most of us joined the bandwagon almost exclusively to gain access to the growing shooter library that is region locked to this console. This is a topic to create and maintain a list of the shooters available for the Xbox 360 in Japan. Essentially to be a checklist of sorts for those of us currently collecting, and potentially an enticement to those still sitting on the fence, or perhaps just looking to see what is on the other side.

I will edit this first post as new information becomes available, and welcome input on complete/official titles/spelling of games listed here. Everyone is welcome to post a list of which titles they have thus far, and discuss this trend that is fast becoming not-so-exclusive among the members here, and that's a good thing!

Xbox 360 Shooters (Region in Parenthesis)

-Raiden Fighters Aces (Japan/USA)
-Raiden IV (Japan/USA)
-Shikigami no Shiro III (Japan)
-Otomedius G (Japan)
-DoDonPachi Dai-Ou-Jou: Black Label Extra (Japan)
-Shooting Love (Japan)
-Death Smiles (Japan)
-Mamomoro-Kun (Japan)
-Mushihimi-Futari (Japan) (Coming soon)
-Ketsui (Japan) (Coming soon)
-ESPGaluda II (Japan) (Coming soon)

Xbox Live Arcade Shooters (See notes in post below)

-Raystorm HD (Announced for XBLA)
-Aegis Wing (USA Only)
-Scramble
-Xevious
-Galaga
-Galaga Legions
-Ikaruga
-Triggerheart Excelica
-R-Type Dimensions
-Gyruss
-1942: Joint Strike
-Geometry Wars
-Geometry Wars 2
-Omega Five
-Power Up Forever
-Time Pilot
-Various others, dependant somewhat on your personal scope of what defines a SHMUP from a rail shooter, etc.

[toredauei]

Good idea! I've pretty much decided to get a jap 360 once I have the funds. Also, I dont know which ones are available but what about the downloadable shmups?

[LoneCynic]

Japan's Xbox Live Arcade selection is essentially the same as ours. Even if you download the files from the Japanese Marketplace, it is the exact same game as what we have available. For example, I have MegaMan 9 on my American 360, and played it on my Japanese 360, and it just changed the text to Japanese and the title screen said "RockMan 9", which is the Japanese name for MegaMan. The game files are the same, just adjust to whatever region the console is from that it is being played on.

*Now, like every rule, there is an exception. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Dracula X: Noctorne of Moonlight are actually two seperate versions of basically the same game. The Japanese version of the Playstation original had some additional familiars (for a total of seven, compared to the domestic version's five, however the two "additional" familars are basically pallet swaps of two of the others, so you aren't missing much) some items are in different locations, and the dialog is all Japanese voices. The American Live Arcade release was stripped of the early FMV sequences to cut down on the size of the file. However, the Japanese Live Arcade release has these FMV sequences intact. Since they are two seperate files, they count as two seperate games on your roster, and you can get all the achievements twice to increase your gamerscore. If you want to see an example of this, you can check out my gamer profile. To my knowledge, this is the ONLY game that will work in this manner.

Also noteworthy is the fact that a lot of Live Arcade titles are exclusive to the American Marketplace, being that Microsoft is an American company. Games like Aegis Wing (A free download) is only available on the American Marketplace. Other titles, such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade are only available in one or two regions due to licensing issues. Bottom line is this, there are more Live Arcade titles available on the American Marketplace than on any other region's marketplace. I check semi-regularly, and the only Japan exclusive game is their version of Castlevania. Unless you are a Castlevania die-hard like me, it isn't different enough from the American Arcade version to even bother with.

All other games, such as shooters, to line back up on the topic target, are the same on both Marketplaces. I will add a listing of them to the first post in the topic.

[Sik 07]

this is a great idea itll come in handy when i get my jap 360 a few arcade ones you missed are Omega Five, power up forever and time pilot if you class them dont see why you wouldnt

[Japhei]

You need to Add Senko No Ronde Japan and Wartech: Senko No Ronde USA

It is a shmup / fighter hybrid. Very cool Sega Naomi port. I also have this running on my PC using the Naomi EMU.

Also it would be helpful to add these release dates on future shmups. Also Under Defeat is due a XBLA port sometime in the near future.

Death Smiles (4/23/09)
Ketsui (5/28/09)

[LoneCynic]

Wartech? I've not heard of that game. I'l have to check it out. Didn't know there was any shooters released domestically for 360 yet.

[anosou]

Wartech? I've not heard of that game. I'l have to check it out. Didn't know there was any shooters released domestically for 360 yet.

Not REALLY a shmup but perhaps the best thing that has happened to the American/European 360 in a LONG time. WarTech: Senko no Ronde is avaliable both in Europe and USA, published by Ubisoft as a full-price game but sold SO bad it was reduced to less than 50% it's original price in a few months. Get it, play online when the japanese are awake and love every second of it! Check some youtube vids and get the strategy guide at http://rounders.omnivangelist.net/ to really get the most out of the game.

It's definitely not a single-player game though so make sure you have XBL Gold or a couple of friends around. I'm up for fights most of the time when I'm online, my gamertag is anosou

[Japhei]

Wartech? I've not heard of that game. I'l have to check it out. Didn't know there was any shooters released domestically for 360 yet.

Not REALLY a shmup but perhaps the best thing that has happened to the American/European 360 in a LONG time. WarTech: Senko no Ronde is avaliable both in Europe and USA, published by Ubisoft as a full-price game but sold SO bad it was reduced to less than 50% it's original price in a few months. Get it, play online when the japanese are awake and love every second of it! Check some youtube vids and get the strategy guide at http://rounders.omnivangelist.net/ to really get the most out of the game.

It's definitely not a single-player game though so make sure you have XBL Gold or a couple of friends around. I'm up for fights most of the time when I'm online, my gamertag is anosou

G.rev said it themselves it was a shooter / fighter.

You do shoot up stuff you know. Yes this is a game to be played at night. Good thing the domestic release is region free.

[LoneCynic]

Well, I missed out on so many great shooters on my other consoles, that I am not going to let that happen with the 360. I went ahead and placed two orders with Play-Asia. One for Shooting Love, and one to pre-order Ketsui and Death Smiles. That DS Ketsui game sold out almost instantly upon release, and I missed my chance to get it, so I didn't want to miss out on the 360 one.

Now, I have a couple of questions. The first is about this Shooting Love game I ordered. Is it the same game as Shooting Love: Trizeal on the PS2, or an updated version of said game, or a new sequel altogether? I never got the PS2 one, so I'd like to know what it is exactly. If it is just the same game, or an update, then I'll just pass on buying the PS2 one, but if it is a sequel, then I'll probably get the PS2 one as well so I can have both.

Anyway, that should bring me up to a complete collection of Import 360 shooters thus far, correct? I already have the rest that are on the list in the first post. What about you guys? Anyone else have Raiden IV and Dodonpachi Dai-Ou-Jou: Black Label Extra? Those are probably my two favorites on the 360 thus far. I'd love to see Live Arcade get the earlier Raiden and Donpachi games, that would be awesome. Especially if they put Raiden DX on there, as that is the one Raiden game I am still searching for to complete my collection of that series.

I am glad to see the 360 being so strongly supported with great shooters. Makes me feel that my decision to purchase an import console when there were only 3 available was a great decision.

[shallowgamer]

Shooting love for the 360 contains Trizeal and its sequel, Exzeal. Also included is a shmup skills demo.

So whether or not to buy Trizeal for the Dreamcast or PS2 is your call, but with shooting love 200x on the 360, you're covered.