2D shmups are back with a vengeance these days, while 3D shmup releases are at an all time low. For my money, the last truly great game in the genre was Panzer Dragoon Orta on the original Xbox. That's only if you don't count Sin and Punishment, which technically came out almost ten years ago, but wasn't available in the US until recently, thanks to the virtual console's allowance for a low-risk, cost effective means of game distribution.
Now S&P has a sequel, and from what I've played of it at E3, I have no doubt that it will be awesome. Don't believe me? Well, luckily for you, some upstanding citizen of the internet has uploaded a full run-through of the game on Youtube. You may not be prepared to watch every bit of it, as the totally run-time is almost four hours long. Oh, and I guess you could call watching the entire game played from beginning to end a spoiler, so if you're trying to stay pure before the S&P 2's release in the states next year, you may want to steer clear (at least, of the later levels).
Really though, with a game this fast paced and mind-numbingly destructive, there's not much of a chance that you'll even remember these videos in a few months from now. There's too many set-pieces, boss fights, and generalized insanity here for anyone to keep track of, let alone store in one's mind. Shooting saber-tooth tigers in the face, fist-fighting shirtless dudes Street Fighter style, tearing up giant chickens, and bathing in molten lava are just the start of it.
Jonathan Holmes is the most lovable Associate Editor on Destructoid. Catch him on videos, original editorials, and on back episodes of the Destructoid Show and MTV's Road Rules. Jonathan is a retro gamer's gamer.
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Mega Man 2, Resident Evil, Katamari Damacy, Bit.Trip, Metal Slug 3
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@ Dr Kai- Probably never. According to Necros (who is never wrong) Konami ceased support of the Virtual Console a while back. Maybe they'll change there mind now that the ReBirth games are selling so well, but I doubt it.
I know I'm gonna love this game just like the original.
The graphics look bland and ugly especially with the human character models (ah just like how it was with the first game) but from what I hear the gameplay, level design, boss fights and Wii controls will blow your mind so prepare yourselves. This is the one new on-rails shooter that deserves much loving.
EA, Capcom, take not because Treasure's the on-rails shooter king.
@ ParaParaKing- Because you can't stand the wait, like I can't. Thankfully, I can safely say that I forgot 99% of what I watched, so I wont feel too spoiled when the game comes out next year.
@ EnoSachran- My Japanese is crap, but I'm pretty sure the game doesn't just "end", at least in terms of story.
Could be wrong though. The first game's story was about as weird as you can get, so who knows with the sequel.
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Contest:
5:00 AM on 11.14.2009
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When does the original Contra come out for the Virtual Console?
Also, that avatar is amazing.
The graphics look bland and ugly especially with the human character models (ah just like how it was with the first game) but from what I hear the gameplay, level design, boss fights and Wii controls will blow your mind so prepare yourselves. This is the one new on-rails shooter that deserves much loving.
EA, Capcom, take not because Treasure's the on-rails shooter king.
I mean, I know it is all about the journey, not the destination, but it's just the bad guy going boom. Kinda anticlimactic, no?
@ EnoSachran- My Japanese is crap, but I'm pretty sure the game doesn't just "end", at least in terms of story.
Could be wrong though. The first game's story was about as weird as you can get, so who knows with the sequel.