MAY 2011 SHMUP PICKUPS

It's been a small haul this month. My bank account has still to recover from March, but still managed to squeeze in a few bargains.

Game: Xevious
System: Atari 7800
Developer: Atari
Released: 1987

I actually picked this up in April but somehow missed it in last months post. My first ever Atari 7800 game. I never had any plans of collecting for anything pre NES, but I loved the cover art for this and it was boxed and complete and a bargain at £3 delivered.

I don't actually own the system, but I remember wanting a 7800 as a child. I always liked the look of the console for some reason. My parents wouldn't buy me one as they had already bought me an Atari 520ST (*cue hisses from the Amiga heads), and a NES. Fair enough I suppose. I will pick one up one day, it's one of the few consoles that i've wanted that I don't now own.


Game: Mega Swiv
System: Sega Mega Drive
Developer: Sales Curve Interactive/Time Warner Interactive
Released: 1994 EUR

A Europe exclusive for Sega's Mega Drive, and not a bad shmup at that. 

On a recent interest I took in finding a complete list of Game Boy shmups, I stumbled across a few DS ones, and went on a further search. The next two purchases are ones I picked up super cheap.

Game: Glory Days 2
System: Nintendo DS
Developer: ODENIS Studios/Secret Stash Games
Released: 2007

 

Not really a big fan of the DS. I own 2, an original JAP 'phat' model as they call it, and the slim, brighter screened, DS lite. I always find it gives me hand cramps and isn't that great to play for long periods of time, let alone the thought of using it to play my favourite genre. All things aside, I really wanted to pick up Ketsui Death Label one day so I kept hold of the system just incase. Glory Days 2 reminds me of games like Choplifter. I have't really given it more than a quick try but found it hard to control and shoot accurately, as your forward motion forces the front of the helicopter to point angled towards the ground. The DS stylus can be used for controls or you can use the standard D-pad thankfully.

Game: Nanostray

System: Nintendo DS

Developer: Shin'en/Majesco Games

Released: 2005

First impressions are really good for Nanostray. Not had a chance to play it more than the first level, but looks very promising indeed. Will definitely be looking to pick up the sequel soon too.

GUNHEAD'S SHMUP OF THE MONTH

Game: Eschatos
System: Xbox 360
Developer: Qute
Released: 2011

It finally arrived, just over a month after release date and a little bit of worry from myself. This is by far my most played shmup in the month of May, and so I give it my Gunhead shmup of the month award. I'm sure it's very proud of itself :P

Ist print includes OST CD

Included on the disc are the Wonderswan/WonderWitch exclusive fan made games, Judgement Silversword and Cardinal Sins. Both two fun little shooters. I did a mini review of Cardinal Sins on a previous post here.

I also inherited a Master System II back in March, for absolutely nothing but the cost of postage. Doesn't work too well. Some picture issues at times, but I think it may just need a good clean inside. Sadly these units only output an RF signal. Perhaps a future mod project for myself?

1CC - Cardinal Sins (Judgement Silversword - Recycle Edition)

The recent Japanese Xbox 360 release of Eschatos by developer Qute, saw additional bonus included on the disc in the way of, Judgement Silversword and Cardinal Sins. The former being the winner of the, WWGP 2001 WonderWitch programming contest. WonderWitch was a development tool for homebrew WonderSwan games.

Judgement Silversword is a fan-created vertically scrolling shooter, that was an homage to Treasure's Radiant Silvergun. A full boxed retail version was released in 2004 and fetches quite a price on Ebay these days, if it appears at all.

An update of Judgement Silversword was released called Cardinal Sins - Recycle Edition in 2005, and was to my knowledge only available via download using the WonderWitch tool. It was based on the Caravan style of Japanese shoot 'em up games of having a set time to pass a set number of enemies for score.

Cardinal Sins - The game features three difficulty modes, Trial, Normal and Marathon. The ship has two weapon shot types. A standard forward shot, which I believe seems to be more powerful in a head on situation, and a spread shot that creates a cone-shaped pattern. This comes in useful when you have a barrage of enemies on both sides of the screen. There is also a shield which becomes vital (if you remember you have it) in tight situations. This replaces the more traditional 'bomb' usually found in the genre. You pass from stage to stage with increased waves of enemies and harder bullet patterns, and given an overall hit percentage at the end of each stage, amounting to higher scores.

It is a rarity that I play a shmup long enough to reach a standard where a 1CC is in sight and often with shmups, the difficulty spikes on the later levels making it only possible for true die hards or with extreme persistence, to finally be able to finish a game on one solemn credit. I've managed a few in my time but only usually with shooters which seem to be alot easier or when playing on lower difficulty settings. The true masters aim to do it in one life.

On first try I managed to clear Cardinal Sins on Normal mode on one credit. Of course, it isn't that long a game, but it is reasonably challenging, with some tougher bullet patterns later on. Slowdown can be used to your advantage in some of the more bullet hellish moments where close quarter dodging without this slowdown could become quite impossible (*note to self - "you have a shield! use it!").

There is opportunity for picking up many extends on one particluar level, where they seem to spit out lives after every few enemies. This should be taken to full advantage and wasn't until my second playthrough that I realised what was going on. The only hinderence of this is that you can shoot the life icon making it explode and disappear. These icons can be difficult to collect whilst dodging the barrage of projectiles, often leading to losing a life rather than gaining. Once the life leaves the bottom of the screen, it is gone for good.

After finishing the game, I decided to play through again to improve score. On my three subsequent attempts I failed to get anywhere near the end, and lost all my lives rapidly in the later stages. At one point I had accumulated eight lives and yet still failed to finish.

Below is my 1CC score. I most certainly will be attempting to better my score or challenge the other modes.

"A very achievable high score to beat. On a later attempt I had hit 10 million after a few stages".

APRIL SHMUP PICKUPS

Game: Arrow Flash
System: Sega Mega Drive
Developer: Renovation
Region: NTSC J
Released: 1990



A replacement boxed, complete and Japanese copy for a rather worn PAL cartridge only. Arrow Flash is a Mega Drive exclusive.

Game: Battle Squadron
System: Sega Mega Drive
Developer: Innerprise Software. Inc
Region: PAL
Released:1990



Another replacement for a cart only version. I'd never come across a solid box version before and always thought it came in a cardboard box. I have recently discovered too that this was only released in the US, SA & EUR. It never saw a Japanese release.

Game: Blade Eagle 3D
System: Sega Master System
Developer: Sega
Released: 1988

Game: Atomic Robo-Kid
System: Sega Mega Drive
Developer: Micronics/Treco
Region: NTSC J
Released: 1990



A bargain picked up. I won this for a mere few pound on Ebay. I already owned a bad condition Jap cart only but now have it boxed.

Game: Line Of Fire
System: Sega Master System
Developer: Sega
Released: 1991



A game I didn't know about til recently and goes for a fair amount of money on Ebay. One of the later SMS releases.

Game: Zaxxon 3D
System: Sega Master System
Developer: Sega
Released: 1987

Game: Space Harrier 3D
System: Sega Master System
Developer: Sega
Released: 1988

Game: Forgotten Worlds
System: Sega Mega Drive
Developer: Sega
Region: PAL
Released: 1989



A boxed complete replacement copy for a loose cartridge. I picked this up for £4.

Game: Bullet Soul
System: Microsoft Xbox 360
Developer: 5pb
Region: NTSC J
Released: 2011

1st print included soundtrack

Game: Otomedius X Excellant
System: Microsoft Xbox 360
Developer: Konami
Region: NTSC J
Released: 2011

DLC art card