12 Months, 14 Shmups, £1200 – Game #2

To understand what I’m attempting to achieve with this project do please see the previous blog entry here:

http://gmintyfresh.blogspot.com/2010/07/12-months-14-shmups-1200.html

2nd game bought today, Last Resort on the AES. Took a bit of scouring to find this shmup at a reasonable price and with some confidence it was an original, not a pirate or an converted MVS cart. There was also a few tatty examples and even one from a seller that bore no responsibility for any damage or loss even though he wouldn't sent the game out recorded. The game cost £118 including P&P.

Expect a new video 1-2 weeks.

Current status

Blast Wind - Sega Saturn
Harmful Park - Playstation 1
Radiant Silvergun - Sega Saturn
Ibara - Playstation 2
Mushihimesama Futari Ltd Edition - Xbox 360
GlayLancer - Megadrive
Gigawing 2 - Dreamcast
Zero Gunner 2 - Dreamcast
Twinkle Star Sprites - Dreamcast
Last Resort - NEO GEO AES - Bought
Cotton 2 - With Tea Cup - Saturn
Soldier Blade - PC Engine
DeathSmiles 2 Limited Edition - Xbox 360 (Bought)
Hyper Duel Sega - Saturn

The hunt begins and there might even be some spare money in the war chest for a bonus buy!

(iPod) Dodonpahi Resurrection - First Thoughts

I downloaded Dodonpachi Resurrection for the IPOD today, I know it's not the 360 game but i'll give an indication of how well the game transfers home. For a start it's only £2.99 for the first four days of release. The game still employs the autofire system from Espgaluda 2 which works quite well, be careful though I suspect you'll either like it or loathe it - you can try the Lite version first. When the game loaded up I was amazed by the graphics, it really is a good looking game with completely over the top graphics and screens full of bullet hell! The game seems to work better on the ipod than the ESP2 because the game is a little bit simpler with less botton presses needed and suiting touch screen control. A special mention should be given to the soundtrack, it's really over the top and sounds brilliant suiting the pace of the game perfectly.

You can tell the game is slightly stripped down port of the arcade version as there isn't quite as much happening onscreen, but this coversion bodes very well for the Cave 360 port.

360 Shmup Preorders

Over the last few weeks there has been a bumper list of 360 shmups announced, most are actually already available for preorder!

Pink Sweets/Muchi Muchi Pork - Not Available But Listed

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-br-49-en-70-3xkm.html

Dodonpchi Resurrection + Limited Edition - Available for Preorder. Preordered!
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-br-49-en-70-3xkw.html

Radirgy Noa Massive - Available for Preorder. PrPreordered

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-br-49-en-70-3x41.html

Senko No Ronde Duo Limited Edition 17/08/10

Turned up today and it did come all the way from Japan really quickly, it's got an amazing art nouveau cover. Can't wait to give it a go.

MORE 360 Shooters!!

Huge announcements from the Cave at the 360 shooting festival this weekend!!

As suspected with the announcement of Dodonpachi Dai Fukkatsu on the iPad a 360 port of the most recent arcade version (v1.5) has been confirmed for 25/11/2010! I've been waiting for this port for ages because the most recent Dodonpachi game looks insane and cranks the bullet hell and an overpowered player ship up to new levels
There will be a limited edition version with an arrange CD and preorder download card

A quite obscure and strange Cave shooter called Dangun Feveron (check it on MAME) is getting a port for release in 2011 probably on XBLA.

And another biggie Muchi Muchi Pork and Pink Sweets Ibara are getting a double pack release in Spring 2011 - the best shmup compilation ever?

Youtube 300 Sub Competition

NOW IN HD!!

Recent Pickups 1

Stuff that I've picked up over the last few days:

My mate Tim picked up this lovely little copy of Speedball 2 from a local charity shop, it really is mint and he is a throughtly good chap!

The "other" Gamecube Star Wars game, no idea how this plays but another game for the complete GC collection. This game cost me £2.50 including postage and packing.

Been after this sucka for ages, dispite the average reviews I've been throughly enjoying KOF 12 for the last few weeks, picked this up for a tenner. It has to be said it's got some of the most amazing 2D graphics I've ever seen, like controlling a cartoon.

Radirgy Noa Massive - Update 12/08/10

Sorry non-Japanese 360 owners I can confirm that Radirgy Noa Massive is not going to be region free from the latest preorder update on NCSX:

http://www.shopncsx.com/rajiruginoamassive.aspx

There's some really interesting info on the conversion and sales figures for the Wii version!!

"NCS Product Synopsis
Update: August 10, 2010
«©NCSX» Sales for the Wii conversion of Radirgy NOAH were tepid. Maybe the elite shmup corps overseas didn't feel like playing a shooter with an input device called a "Nunchuk" or a "Remote." In a couple of months, Radirgy NOAH is getting ported over to the Japanese Xbox 360 which should prove to be more favorable for Milestone's sales. In the confines of NCS' offices, we consider the X360 to be the spiritual successor of the Dreamcast... at least in terms of coin-op to console shooter conversions.

Radirgy NOAH is a vertical shooter where a squat ship displays its versatility by shooting at flitting enemies, shielding itself from danger, and slashing at incoming attackers. By firing away and slashing during the course of the stages in Radirgy, the ship levels up both offensive functions for improved performance. "NOAH" features a simultaneous 2-player option and is viewed in the Yoko (horizontal) aspect which allows enough room for both gamers to maneuver and takes sides. The final boss "Ruki Mishima" from the first Radirgy is an optional player character in NOAH. Bosses in the game include a bald-headed homo sapien in yellow pants who performs a spin attack that launches fireballs and an aerial platform that disappears in a puff of clouds when destroyed.

Milestone is adding the word "Massive" to the Xbox 360 conversion of Radirgy NOAH but that impressive descriptor appears to only encompass new game modes in addition to the default arcade mode, an illustrations gallery which features unlockable artwork, and an online ranking mode. Preorders for the Japanese Xbox 360 import Radirgy NOAH Massive are welcome to ship on October 14, 2010 at JPY6800 or US$75.90 from NCS.

Questions and Answers
Q: What is this Radirgy Noir that I see on some sites?
A: The word "Noir" is a mis-transliteration of NOA or NOAH.

Q: Do ya'll prefer Radirgy or Radirgy NOAH?
A: Asteroids. Scratch that. Asteroids Deluxe.

Q: Is Radirgy NOAH Region-Free?
A: Nope. The earlier shooters that were RF appear to be outliers.

Q: How many copies of Radirgy NOAH did NCS sell on the Wii?
A: Exactly 173. We shipped the rest back to Tokyo at 35% trade.

Preorders for the Xbox 360 import Rajirugi Noah Massive are welcome to ship on October 14, 2010. Alternate spellings include Rajirugi Noa, Radirgy Noa, Radilgy Noa, Radio Allergy, and variations thereof.

Japanese Product Name: ﾗｼﾞﾙｷﾞﾉｱ Massive

Region Lock-out
Please note Japanese Xbox 360 games will not boot on USA or European Xbox 360 consoles due to the inherent region-lockout on Japanese X360 game discs."

Senko No Ronde Duo Limited Edition

Just scored a copy of Senko No Ronde Duo Limited Edition for £56.00 a good £20 cheaper than anywhere else I've seen it! As you probably all know I'm mildly obsessed with my 360 shmup collection and this was one I missed oout on at release due to a three month period when a new shooter was released every month. This was released the same month as Ketsui so obviously that game got bought!! I've checked out some youtube vids of this and it looks like it plays very much like the original game (which is no bad thing) but with more bullets!!! Grrr!! Cant wait to give it a whirl

Stuff I've Bought Recently XXXV

Radirgy Noa Massive - Available for Preorder!

I love it when another rumoured 360 shooter becomes official!

Radirgy Noa Massive available for Preorder on Play-Asia:

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-br-49-en-70-3x41.html

Preordered my copy, there's also an updated overview of the game:

"The arcade fan-favorite Radirgy, is ported to the Xbox360. The graphics in this new horizontal shooter are even more beautiful on your HD screen, and the electronic world in the game will be even more realistic.

This new port has new game modes and an online function. You can upload your scores and compete with the people in the country.

Besides gameplay, there are many more additions in the gallery mode, be sure to win these new illustrations and see what they are."

Radirgy Massive Update 04/08/10

The 360 version may be titled Radirgy Noir Massive, there's quite a bit of confusion about what the game is called. Anyway the game is now listed on Amazon Japan http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/B003Y5I4D8/ and some screen shots have emerged:

12 Months, 14 Shmups, £1200 – Game #1

To understand what I’m attempting to achieve with this project do please see the previous blog entry here:

http://gmintyfresh.blogspot.com/2010/07/12-months-14-shmups-1200.html

Well I’ve managed to secure my first game from the list, DeathSmiles 2 X Limited Edition.

After a bit of negotiating with the seller on Ebay I picked it up for the bargain price of £64, a full £7 cheaper than I expected to pay.

Expect a new video during the coming week.

I also finalised the list of games I’m going to go after over the coming months:

Blast Wind - Sega Saturn
Harmful Park - Playstation 1
Radiant Silvergun - Sega Saturn
Ibara - Playstation 2
Mushihimesama Futari Ltd Edition - Xbox 360
GlayLancer - Megadrive
Gigawing 2 - Dreamcast
Zero Gunner 2 - Dreamcast
Twinkle Star Sprites - Dreamcast
Last Resort - NEO GEO AES
Cotton 2 - With Tea Cup - Saturn
Soldier Blade - PC Engine
DeathSmiles 2 Limited Edition - Xbox 360 (Bought)
Hyper Duel Sega - Saturn

The hunt begins and there might even be some spare money in the war chest for a bonus buy!

Radirgy Massive

Radirgy Massive has been confirmed for a physical 360 release on 28/10/10:

http://books.rakuten.co.jp/rb/%E3%83%A9%E3%82%B8%E3%83%AB%E3%83%8E%E3%82%AE%E3%82%A2-MASSIVE-Xbox360-4988648738355/item/6635403/