I might have simply missed them, but I don't believe I've yet seen anyone here mention the handful of upcoming X360 scrolling shooters on display at the TGS recently - in case anyone else but me is interested (slim odds, I know) I figured I'd try to call a bit of attention to them here, as well as link to a video or two. Thanks to hirounder from the
shmups forum for posting some of the videos originally.
First up is
DoDonPachi Dai-Ou-Jou Black Label. The "regular" edition of this game got a nice port via Arika several years ago on the PS2, but the tweaked "Black Label" release (like all such Cave rehashes) has been an arcade exclusive until now. Aside from the expected revamped mechanics, they've apparently also seen fit to add in a new "co-pilot", and possibly some other extras. The original DoDonPachi remains arguably my favorite shooter of all time, so I'm certainly hoping this one turns out well Apparently whoever was playing this doesn't know how to use the laser, but oh well. Releases Christmas Day, if memory serves.
Next is possibly the most eagerly-awaited upcoming shooter release by fans, another former arcade exclusive known as
Ketsui. And yes, IGN lists it as another DOJ video, but res assured, they ARE two different games. :P Arika was planning to port this one to the PS2 as well, but it never came to pass - now we oft-spurned shmuppers get a second chance. Having played the arcade version it's not one of my personal favorite Cave efforts (anything that centers around point-blanking enemies tends to frustrate me after being point-blanked myself for the millionth time), but still worth a pickup. No idea if any extras are planned, or when the release date will be, aside from "next year."
Finally comes a less-impressive video of
Otomedius, a "spiritual successor" to Parodius - the arcade version had a few touch screen features, and pre-orders for the 360 port could opt for a (stupidly expensive) joystick that included a touchpad, but apparently it's playable without it. I've never been a big fan of the "memorization = win" style that a lot of Konami shooters have made their bread and butter, and the T+A content seems designed to distract you from the otherwise unimpressive visuals, but I always try to hope for the best...
Offhand I don't know if Milestone's Illvelo, which is coming to the Wii, was shown or not, as that's about the only other such game (aside from Death Smiles on the 360, which was just announced recently) that I'm keeping my eye on (Shooting Love 2008/Exzeal from Triangle Service, not so much, though they may surprise me after Trizeal and XII Stag)...maybe one of you guys heard something. In any event, here's looking forward to Raiden Fighters Aces getting itself some company soon!
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I happen to like Konami shooters, thank you very much. I'm still dumbfounded at how they were able to fit a Cave shooter to DS. Maybe they can get around to porting those other games that never got a chance (Dangun Feveron).
Hear hear - I'd love to see ESP Ra.de, Guwange, and as many of those older Cave productions as possible ported - Atlus probably still has the rights to most of them, though I doubt anything will ever come from that. Same goes (though not with the same amount of enthusiasm, on my end at least) for the semi-lost Raizing arcade exclusives (Batrider, Bakraid) and heck, maybe even some of the unported Psikyo titles while we're at it (of course, I'd personally take Gunbarich over most of their shooters, but that's just me). My current hope and prayer is that Pulstar and/or Blazing Star will make it onto SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 2...I guess Progear, 19XX and Dimahoo on Capcom Classics Vol. 3 is too much to ask, heh heh.
Also, though you might already have heard this, if memory serves the DS Ketsui is more along the lines of a boss rush, instead of a port of the full game...I might be off though.
That new DoDonPachi looks great. Xbox 360 Live Arcade is my favorite part of the 360
Ketsui DS I've been watching for a while. Fat chance of it being released outside japan, so I may have to import it.
I'd love to see more Cave shooters on PSP too, as its so ripe for them. Pro Gear would be so cool.
@ Dan - Live is indeed great, but all the titles I've mentioned in this post are going to be disc-based releases, DDP included.
@Cowboy - At least Ketsui should be region free...be glad it's being released now and not on the DSi.
The PSP has gotten a lot of nice shooter compilations - a Cave collection would make a lot of my fellow shmuppers' heads explode, heh heh. As for Progear specifically, you CAN technically play it on the PSP, though discussing it further would probably open me up to criminal charges, heh heh.
They should put ESP.Ra.De, ESPGaluda and ESPGaluda 2 all in a single compilation. That would really make my year.
That would be pretty cool, though personally if they ever did a Cave compilation I'd still prefer Ra.de/Guwange/Feveron - Galuda 2, I think, would be better-served as a stand-alone release, especially since the first Galuda got one on the PS2 (and a good one too...I'm hoping that DOJ BL and Ketsui are handled equally capably by the new company).