PSP has sooooooooo many SHMUPS! I dunno if I should get anymore. I already have enough SHMUPs on the handheld to last a lifetime, and Bermuda Triangle left a bad taste in my mouth.
SNK Minis coming soon
(303 posts) (16 voices)-
JeremyR
MemberI probably should have given Vanguard a 9, but since it's been one of my favorite games for almost 30 years now , I was afraid of overrating it. And to a certain extent, I don't like rating the SNK stuff as high as new, original titles, even if they are really good.
Posted 10 months ago # -
JeremyR
MemberI'm not honestly sure I would recommend buying any besides Vanguard. Alpha Mission and Prehistoric Isle in 1930 are excellent, but tough.
The ones I enjoyed the most besides Vanguard are Search & Rescue and Ikari Warriors, but some people don't like the aiming scheme. Also like Marvin's Maze a lot, but that's probably just me.
Posted 10 months ago # -
You can't go wrong with Psycho Soldier. You can with Athena though, that game is hard as week old dog crap! The music in Psycho Soldier is great, the gameplay is a little repetitive though.
But you may not want to take my word for it, I generally have no interest in the SNK games. I got Vanguard because it's a notable game in the genre, didn't care much for it. I got Athena because I had cash left over from buying Psycho Soldier, and figured I may as well get the game it was a sequel to. I really hate that $5 funding minimum that PSN has.
Posted 10 months ago # -
I already have enough SHMUPs on the handheld to last a lifetime
I bet you'd never say that about pinball. :D
Whether I snag this new pair of scrolling shooters largely depends on how good they are. Not an auto-buy this time. I'll have to search for gameplay footage. Note that I skipped out on Sonic Wings Special because I didn't like the footage I saw of it.
Posted 10 months ago # -
manslayer911
MemberAh, what I wouldn't do to have me another copy of SNK VS Capcom: Match Of The Millennium on a portable console today. Seriously! Today's handhelds r in dire need of that kind of old school brawling goodness. Let's not even get me started on all the other fighters I missed out on while I still had me an NGPC.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Atariboy
MemberNeo Geo games are made available by a different company on PSN. Doesn't have anything to do with PSP Minis and G1M2. Don't see there ever being enough NGPC demand and enough titles to reach a critical mass necessary in order to code an emulator for it but I think it'd be neat if they did. I'd rather get 1980's arcade games though...
For G1M2 Mini's, I'd argue the best releases besides Vanguard aren't even SNK games. Burnin' Rubber/Bump 'n' Jump and Lock 'n' Chase are classics that I love. These three are easily be most played Mini's at the very least. I could pretty easily do without all the others even though I'm glad I don't have to.
Didn't G1M2 say that they were working on something to do with another arcade backcatalog of some other company? Looking forward to getting some details on that. And when they're done with SNK, I really hope they release a retail compilation of this stuff on a console.
Dual analog controls would be a dream for a lot of these games with independent aiming (Ala what they did with Heavy Barrel, which used the same joystick, on their Data East Wii compilation). And to make it even better, map the primary fire button to the aiming stick so all you have to do is aim to fire your primary weapons (Repeatedly hitting a shoulder button to fire in Heavy Barrel while using both analog sticks at the same time wasn't ideal on the Wii collection and quickly killed your right hand).
Then the only button you'd ever need to press would be a shoulder button for your secondary weapons (Usually grenades in these games).
Still puzzled why they're not using the PSP's 4 face buttons for aiming. You'd get 8 directions of fire, independent aiming, and you could map your primary fire to the same buttons so aiming also fires your weapons with the shoulder buttons just handling firing your secondary weapon. Has worked fine in games in the past (Robotron 2084 and Smash TV on the Super Nintendo come to mind).
Posted 10 months ago # -
Neo Geo games are made available by a different company on PSN.
Well, publishing for both NeoGeo Station and the SNK Minis is handled by SNK Playmore, so it's still the same set of (deaf) ears to which to appeal. I don't think anyone was going to try to approach G1M2 about anything, seeing as how quiet they've been of late and how little say they seem to have when it comes to SNKP's release scheduling.
Didn't G1M2 say that they were working on something to do with another arcade backcatalog of some other company?
I wonder if they were talking about the just-released Alpha Denshi stuff. Technically, since it's now owned by SNK, that shouldn't qualify as another company, though.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Atariboy
MemberI don't see them standing a chance of being bundled digitally when they can ask $2.99 a pop for them.
But a retail compilation for $30 or so doesn't seem like it would be out of the realm of possibilities. Both the PS3 and the 360 are at that point in their lifespans where we've typically been starting to get lots of nice classic compilations in past console generations. And G1M2 and SNK certainly both have lots of experience where such releases are concerned.
Hopefully there's been some thought to taking advantage of these beyond as PSP Minis. I know I could sure use a nice classic compilation about now. Seems like it has been ages since things like Raiden Fighters Aces and Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection came out.
"I wonder if they were talking about the just-released Alpha Denshi stuff. Technically, since it's now owned by SNK, that shouldn't qualify as another company, though."
I hope not
I think Alpha Mission was also Alpha Denshi, so if they are, that's a bit misleading on their part since I think that game came out in the 1st round of these things a couple of years ago.
Posted 10 months ago # -
JeremyR
MemberAnd as to controls, I think in part because the games are emulated and there are only so many buttons on the PSP.
You need a button to insert coins, another to select players, another to pause and access emulator options. On Vanguard, which uses 4 buttons to shoot, all the other buttons are still used for that other stuff. Yet other games have buttons for things like dodging or throwing a grenade, or getting into a tank. Since those were mostly co-op, you'd gain one button back by not needing a 2 player button, but still, you'd be a button short.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Sniper D. Luffy
Member"SNK PLAYMORE is proud to announce the worldwide release of “BLAZING STAR”, the legendary NEOGEO 2D action shooting masterpiece, on iPhone & Android devices from today, July 26th, 2012. Shoot down enemies with your powerful options and various weapons!"
too bad the Neo Geo games don't sell that well on PSN, or we have another awesome shooter to mess with...i like this one...fitting of its name
Posted 10 months ago # -
Atariboy
MemberBlazing Star looks fun. Hope it at least comes out on the Virtual Console (North American has gotten three VC Neo Geo releases this month, so it certainly stands a chance). Looks slated for a Japanese Virtual Console release.
Its prequal, Pulstar, also looks like it deserves a release (And came out on Japan's VC a few weeks back).
"Unfortunately, I think the days of retail retro collections are over."
I disagree
It looked to be the case during the early days of the PS3 and XBLA. But original releases have largely driven out the classic game rereleases from both services for the most part.
And since being given up for dead back in 2005/2006, consoles have seen multiple excellent compilations. Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, Raiden Fighters Aces, Namco Museum Vintage Arcade, and Data East Arcade Classics (Granted it's a Wii release but it rates a mention).
I don't think the classic compilation is dead just yet (although I also don't believe it will ever return to the way it was before, sadly).
Posted 10 months ago # -
Alfred
MemberHello G1M2,
Can i ask a question?. Can you please update Bermuda Triangle with portrait mode?. It's pretty difficult to play on my PSP 1003, I know i should get a PS3. Do Sony let you update your mini games for free like Microsoft let's devs on XBLIG?. Would you and SNK consider bringing SNK games to XBLIG. Xbox Live Indie Games can have online leaderboards and online multiplayer and you don't need to buy a dev kit or pay any money to get games age rated and unlike PS mini XBLIG are available in Japan. Maximum file size is 500mb for XBLIG. But you must keep it 150mb or under if you want to sell at 80 MSP. All XBLIG have game demo/trial and you can change the price of a game every 7 days. Microsoft gets 30%. (I think)
XNA membership is $99 a year. Fortress craft has almost sold one million copies.
There is a large STG and Arcade community on Xbox 360. Maybe you and SNK could try to get all these amazing Arcade games on Gameroom (It's not dead, It's taking a rest). G1M2 you and SNK should contact Microsoft.
Thank you for the great games.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Atariboy
MemberEmulation isn't an easy thing. I wonder if the 360's Indie games section would have the necessary power for a developer to enable porting their emulator to it (I don't think an Indie game has full access to the 360's capabilities)? Especially if they don't utilize a development kit (Although I'm sure G1M2 probably has several).
Personally, I'd rather see them if they want to bring this stuff to the 360 and it isn't via a retail compilation, I'd like to see them create SNK Arcade Classics Volume 0 and put it up on Games on Demand or XBLA. Bundle everything together and going this route you'd also have online access with the necessary license.
Going the Indie games route, these games are dead the second Xbox Live support ends someday since a constant connection to Xbox Live is mandatory for some reason for this game category.
Posted 9 months ago # -
I'm with JeremyR on the retail retro collections thing. For SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 0 to have gotten canceled in North America, it must have been that SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 didn't sell well enough for SNK Playmore. I note that that title is one I often see in bargain bins and closeout stores. Certain, more popular IP may still get retail compilations, like yet another Sonic-branded bundle of content or Namco Museum, but the less mainstream stuff, I think that won't get the investment of physical manufacturing and distribution anymore.
bringing SNK games to XBLIG
I kind of think that ports of classic-era arcade games wouldn't be allowed on XBLIG, for the simple reason that they aren't indie games.
unlike PS mini XBLIG are available in Japan
Actually, even though Japan has no Minis program, nothing prevents Minis from being sold on the Japanese PS Store as non-Minis. FuturLab's been working on getting Coconut Dodge there for a while.
Posted 9 months ago # -
Atariboy
Member"Bundle everything together and going this route you'd also have online access with the necessary license."
Just for the record, I meant to say offline access.
"For SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 0 to have gotten canceled in North America, it must have been that SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 didn't sell well enough for SNK Playmore."
I imagine SNK Arcade Classics Volume 1 couldn't of been too much of a failure. It was ported within a few months to the Wii with a significant amount of polishing work done to it during the time between the PS2 release and the launch of the Wii build (Which means the PS2 port must've been successful enough to at least warrant continued work on the Wii build). And then well over a year later, the ESRB rated SNK Arcade Classics Volume 0. Not a step they'd take I would think if the first one was a failure (From what I hear, an ESRB rating for a retail release doesn't come cheap).
I suspect the declining health of the North American PSP and PS2 market was what kept it away after a long gestation period (The time between news first hitting about it including the ESRB rating and finally coming out in Japan was very long and was in the neighborhood of 18 months... and a lot can and did happen to the PSP and PS2 marketplace during that time).
I think an early 2011 release did it in. How many niche releases were hitting the store shelves for the PSP and PS2 here at that time? And I'm not talking something like a JRPG with a strong fanbase that is a guaranteed buyer for everything from that franchise and sometimes every release from a specific publisher in some extreme instances like with Working Designs fans...
I'm talking the types of games where the diehard fans can be counted in the dozens to a few hundred with the majority of sales falling upon more casual purchasers like someone seeing a game they liked on the artwork as they notice it in a store and buying it as a result.
"Certain, more popular IP may still get retail compilations, like yet another Sonic-branded bundle of content or Namco Museum, but the less mainstream stuff, I think that won't get the investment of physical manufacturing and distribution anymore."
That aspect was always there though. That's why we don't have things like Exidy compilations and such. It's almost always with few exceptions been the heavy hitters getting rereleases. Rereleases of classics that were never very popular or fell out of the limelight long ago has always been very much the exception rather than the rule while things like Pac-Man and Defender got rereleased constantly. And what little there is usually is padding to fill out rosters on releases headlined by games like Defender and Pac-Man...
Still, I have no doubt that digital distribution has altered the landscape so I don't disagree. But just the same, I think retail compilations still have a place and I think the outlook is brighter than back around 2005 when it looked like the future was $5 downloads of a single game with only the most popular of classics seeing rereleases. That's because they've seemed to have rebounded slightly since the early days of this generation (I cite things like the dominance original releases have on XBLA/PSN now that has driven out the 80's classics and retail compilations like Raiden Fighters Aces and Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection as proof of that; about the only classic rereleases being done during the first couple years of the PS3/360 was on XBLA and PSN). And with the rumors of things like requiring a persistent internet connection, it all could be a moot point anyways where the PS4 and Xbox 720 are concerned.
A game on a disc without the freedom to do things like play offline isn't any more desirable than a download is to me. Heck, it's less desirable since if I have to put up with such severe limitations, I might as well have the convenience benefit of not changing discs.
Hoping I'm right and that we can expect the occasional classic compilation release for at least a few more years.
Posted 9 months ago # -
I've decided that my next PS Store purchase will include Monster World IV and the Mini Where is my Heart?, but I've delayed making the buy until I finish the UMD I'm working on, the Japanese "kinetic novel" Planetarian (the going is kind of slow because I come across lots of vocabulary I don't know and have to look up). I did some research before coming to my decision; Monster World IV just looks like it might be the most fun one. Of course, if you're getting it on XBLA, you don't have to choose and can just get all 3 games for a better overall price. If I were in your position, I'd get the pack just because I've never played any of them before and am curious about the series . . . but then, that's partly because I'm not one of the AtariAgers who have classic consoles and game collections on hand and have been playing them for decades. :)
Going back to the classic compilations topic, you make some good points, but what keeps me on the "I think they may not be coming back" side of the fence is things like Sega and SNK Playmore recently migrating to the singleton, download-only releases model with Genesis and Neo Geo games, away from the anthology releases they previously did. Maybe it will just be a firm-by-firm affair, with some companies choosing download-only individual releases, while other firms choose to do more retail collections.
Posted 9 months ago # -
Atariboy
MemberI'm pretty well set on buying it, but was hoping some would have some thoughts on it. :)
Sega was releasing standalone Genesis releases on the Virtual Console, XBLA, and PSN well before Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection. So I'm not sure we can intepret things like these Monster World releases as an indication that they're finished with retail console compilations.
And SNK's digital releases seemed to have died out as quickly as they started on PSN and XBLA. So hopefully that's also a good sign that the digital model isn't quite what it's made out to be where classic rereleases are concerned and that they'd be open to the idea of a retail compilation again someday.
The sad part of it all is it probably doesn't even matter. Like I already said, it seems likely that the Xbox 720 and PS4 will have stringent limitations placed on physical media to combat used game sales. So unless a potential retail compilation comes to the Wii U which hopefully will have more of the freedom we've traditionally expected over retail releases, it may as well be a download as far as I'm concerned...
Posted 9 months ago # -
Sega was releasing standalone Genesis releases on the Virtual Console, XBLA, and PSN well before Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection.
Are you sure about that? I could have sworn no Genesis games were in the PS Store before the collection. Virtual Console, yes, Sega was there from the beginning--and they've never released a retail compilation on the Wii.
If you end up buying Monster World before me, let me know what you think of it.
Posted 9 months ago # -
Atariboy
MemberI can't swear about PSN (I think the first batch or two actually arrived on PSN significantly later than they did on XBLA). But I'm 100% sure that XBLA was recieving standalone Genesis releases before Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection arrived.
A quick check of the date stamps for some of my achievements shows me as having earned achievements for Ecco the Dolphin, arcade Golden Axe (Technically not a Genesis game), Sonic 1, Sonic 2, and Streets of Rage 2 way back in 2007.
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, according to Wikipedia, was released in February 2009.
Edit - Also according to Wikipedia, PSN didn't start recieving Genesis classics until mid 2011.
Posted 9 months ago #
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