Tuesday, March 1, 2011

NesicaXlive game list of what is announced currently at the Amusement show in Japan


This is a List of the NesicaXlive games confirmed for the system. The games already released are noted on parentheses.

Nesica X Live games List

Exclusive games
Aquapazza
Strania
Blazblue CS2 (released)
Exception

Type X games
Battle Fantasia
King Of Fighters 98 (released)
King Of Fighters 2002 (released)
Power Instinct 5
Raiden IV
Senko No Ronde DUO(released)
Spica Adventure (released)
Trouble Witches AC

Neo Geo
Art Of Fighting
Brikinger / Iron Clad
Fatal Fury
King Of Fighters 94
Metal Slug
Samurai Shodown
World Heroes

Taito Classics
Elevator Action
Puzzle Bobble
Rainbow islands Extra
Rastan
Space Invaders

Neo Geo games coming to Taito Type X NesicaXlive Arcade System. Brikinger / Iron Clad finally released to Arcades!


SNK Playmore announced at the amusement show that several Neo Geo Classic games and a few of their Type X2 games will be released on the NesicaXlive Arcade System in Japan. Neo Geo titles confirmed include Iron Clad / Brikinger which was originally supposed to be released in 1996. Also Metal Slug , Samurai Shodown, World Heroes , Art of Fighting and more are scheduled. Also updated versions of Type X2 releases of King of Fighters 98 Final Match and King Of Fighters 2002 Unlimited are due for release. This could signal a second coming of the Neo Geo if this system proves to be successful. There was no world of a USA release.

Scantily Clad 2D Fighter Shin Koihime Dream Musou Arcade Edition coming out later this year!


Developer RCI will be releasing Shin Koihime Musou Dream Arcade Edition later this year in Japanese Arcades. The game features a all female cast. The game is displayed in 16:9 widescreen and have high resolution sprite animation.

Video

Aquapazza a new 2d fighter from Examu and Aquaplus! Coming to arcades later this year on NesicaXLive


Aquapazza is coming to arcades later this year for the Taito Type X2 NesicaXlive arcade system. Aquapazza is new 2d fighter from Examu and Aquaplus! You should remember Examu for their work on the Arcana Heart series.

Video

Sega is bringing FK Digital's 2d Fighter Chaos Code to Arcades this summer!


Sega showed off a new build of Chaos Code at the amusement show last month. The game will be released on Ringedge hardware in Japan this summer. The game was first put on location test in 2009. It features a 4 button fighting system and has easy combo input to allow players to better enjoy its fighting system.

Video from AOU

5pb's original Shmup Bullet Soul Tama Tamashii is coming home April 7th 2011 for Xbox 360


5pb will be releasing Bullet Soul Tama Tamashii a original Xbox 360 shmup April 7th 2011 in Japan. It may be released as a region-free title.The game features vertical scrolling gameplay on a 2d plane. Character designs are from Akio Watanabe. Music composition is from Kenji Ito, with arrangement work from Kouta Takahashi.





Video

G.rev Shmup Seisou Kouki Strania is being released March 30th 2011 on Xbox Live Arcade


G.Rev announced that Seisou Kouki No Strania will be released on Xbox Live Arcade March 30th 2011 worldwide. The price will be 800MSP. They also announced that it will also be released on the Taito Type X as a NesicaXlive title. The game will feature online co op as well as leaderboards.

Video

Qute releasing Xbox 360 shmup Eschatos March 24th 2011


Game developer Qute will be releasing their first next generation shmup Eschatos on the Xbox 360 March 24th in Japan. The game features vertical shmup gameplay in high definition. The game also includes as a bonus ports of the Wonderswan games Judgement Silversword and Cardinal Sins. The game producer also mentioned that Eschatos will be region free release as well.

Video

Otomedius Excellent is being released March 24th 2011 in Japan for Xbox 360


Konami will be releasing Otomedius Excellent March 24th 2011 in Japan for the Xbox 360. The game is a sequel to Otomedius G which was released on Xbox 360 in 2008. The game features horizontial gameplay reminiscent of Gradius and includes many selectable characters including guest appearance from Castlevania / Dracula X series. Some features include online play featuring 3 players at once. There is also a offline mode which you and a few friends can play together as well.

Gameplay Video below from TGS

Friday, February 18, 2011

Cave has a adventure game coming out called Instant Brain


Cave will be releasing a Adventure game for presumably for Xbox 360 (Kinect Maybe) later this year titled Instant Brain.The game is centered around a camera which you use to progress through the story. The game is set in the near future. You can view the official site here.

Video below


here

Akai Katana Shin! coming to Xbox 360 May 26th 2011


Cave announced that Akai Katana Shin! coming to Xbox 360 May 26th 2011. The game will have 16:9 widescreen support as well as new gameplay systems and extra stages. There will be a LE and Standard edition releases.Visuals are updated for high resolution with redrawn sprites. The first print will include DLC for add on for newly recorded voices.

Video below

Cave has announced Nin Nin -Jump for Xbox 360 Live Arcade / XBLA due out in 2011


Cave has announced Nin Nin Jump for Xbox 360 Live Arcade / XBLA due out in 2011. It is a Ninja Scroller with Vertical and Horizontial stages. There will be 50 stages in adventure mode. Score attack will have some specific stages. The game will also have online score boards.

Video Below

Deathsmiles coming to Iphone / Ipad / Ipod touch Spring 2011


Cave announced that Deathsmiles will be coming to Iphone / Ipad / Ipod touch Spring 2011. The game will be released Internationally. It will feature Arcade mode as well as Iphone mode.

Video Below

Saturday, December 18, 2010

The Japhei Xmas / Christmas 2010 Video Game Buying Guide


By now you are reading this and Christmas is one week away. You are saying to yourself it is a little late to be buying something for that someone special who happens to love Japanese Arcade games. Well fear not because it is never to late!

I am going to be covering some of the games that are released this year and the consoles which they are sold.

NOTE this does contain some games that were published in the USA and are not Arcade related but are worth picking up.

Dreamcast
Fast Striker

Idevice
Capcom Arcade
Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu
Espgaluda 2
Mushihimesama Bug Panic


PS3
Blazblue Continuum Shift
NBA Jam
Need For Speed Hot Pursuit
Super Street Fighter IV
Time Crisis Razing Storm

PSN
Afterburner Climax
Sodner X2
Xmen

PSP
Blazblue
Metal Slug XX
Tekken 6

Wii
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Golden Eye 007
NBA Jam
Mario Sports MIX (Due in USA Next Year)

Xbox 360
Blazblue Continuum Shift
Deathsmiles
Deathsmiles 2X
Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu
Espgaluda 2 Black Label
Ketsui
Mushihimesama Futari 1.5 (BEST)
NBA Jam
Need For Speed Hot Pursuit
Super Street Fighter IV

XBLA
Afterburner Climax
Earthworm Jim HD
Guwange
King Of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match
King Of Fighters Sky Stage
Metal Slug XX
Neo Geo Battle Colisieum
Xmen

Any of these games make a great gift and are a excellent purchase in my opinion. Do yourself a favor and play any of the awesome titles above.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Sturmwind a new Shmup announced for Dreamcast due 2011 by Redspotgames


Redspot games has announced a new horizontial shmup for Dreamcast called Sturmwind. The game features 16 levels as well as unlockable trophies and a hybrid 2/3d game engine. Sturmwind is planned for release sometime in 2011. More info can be found on Redspotgames website.

Along with Fast Striker we now have 2 Dreamcast releases to look forward to. Some gameplay video can be seen below.

Video

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Mile-Stone Shooting Collection 2 with 5 games 1 disc for Wii December 30th 2010


Mile-Stone Shooting Collection 2 was announced for Wii. It features 5 ports from the Sega Naomi Arcade system on 1 disc. Chaos Field, Illvelo, Karous ,Radirgy , and Radirgy Noah. The planned release is December 30th 2010 for 4,800 Yen. This will probally get a USA release sometime next year as I would find it hard for a publisher to pass up. If you like Mile-Stone shmups this is the definitive collection of their catalogue.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu 1.5 Xbox 360 review Hyper Edition!


Cave keeps churning out AAA quality shmups and we keep buying them , nearly two and a half years have passed since the original Arcade release and finally Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu has come home to consoles for the Japanese Xbox 360. If you are a shmup fan and have been against the fence about picking up a Import 360 there is no better time then now. This may be Cave's best release so far for the System and that is saying something as half their back catalogue is playable for 360.

The graphics are the same high quality 2d sprites Cave is known for and the soundtrack is classic Mananbu Namiki with a thumping Trance beat. The game features Novice mode (for beginners) , Xbox 360 mode (Arcade Mode) , and a few Arrange modes A + B that mix up the gameplay a great deal and extend the replay value of the package. The Xbox 360 mode is a the basic Arcade mode with enhanced graphics and the same gameplay as the 1.5 Arcade version which features a 4 button setup with a dedicated button for Hyper. The chaining in the game is easier to maintain then prior games in the series and makes for more enjoyable experience.

My favorite mode so far has to be the 1.51 version that is included only in the 1rst run Regular edition and the Limited Edition. It features a more conventional 3 button setup reminiscent to Dodonpachi Dai Ou Jou and a less demanding Extend system that any decent Cave player should be able clear 1CC. The hyper is tied to the same button as the bomb in this mode similar to DOJ and the difficulty seems tweaked to a point that it is almost as if it is a ARRANGE mode in itself. If you have a chance make sure to pick up the 1.51 version as this is a important part of the game and really fun to play.

The game options are very deep with a easy to access menu. The video options have support for both 16:9 and 4:3 televisions and monitors with a wide arrange of zoom options as well make fitting to your viewing window easy and painless. This is a welcome addition as the last 2 Cave ports (Deathsmiles 2X + Guwange) omitted a option for 4:3. Not only has Cave crafted a worthy addition to the Dodonpachi franchise they are adding to it by releasing Dodonpachi Black Label February 3rd 2011 as DLC and a retail release.

With so many games modes and deep scoring systems added with the welcoming change to the chaining system this game is easy to pick up and play and is rewarding for both intermediate and hardcore gamers. I highly recommend it's purchase immediately. You would be crazy not to. I score this game a 10/10

Friday, November 26, 2010

Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu Black Label Announced for Xbox 360 as Retail Disc and DLC due out February 3rd 2011


Cave announced that Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu Black Label is coming out for Xbox 360 as a Retail release and DLC February 3rd 2011. The game features an entirely new Arranged soundtrack.The DLC version is priced at 1200MSP and will include a novice and original mode. The disc based release includes novice ,original and a special Arrange mode featuring ships from Ketsui. The retail release will be 5040 yen. I have included a promotional video below.

Muchi Muchi Pork / Pink Sweets release date revealed! February 24th 2011


Cave announced that Muchi Muchi Pork / Pink Sweets will release in Japan on February 24th. The game includes original arcade versions of each as well as online leaderboards and arrange modes exclusive to the console port. It was also announced that these games would feature no Xbox 360 upgrade in visuals unlike previous Cave produced ports. The game will support DLC which will be announced at a later date. Both games were produced by Shinobu Yagawa of Raizing fame. I have included a promotional video below.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Guwange XBLA Review / Xbox 360


Guwange is a game I have played for years now and when Cave Ltd. announced they would be releasing a Xbox Live port I was ecstatic. I could not wait to compare my scores with friends and play online co op. They also promised extra modes such as Arrange and a Blue Label which add to the game play depth. Unfortunately with some great additions come some major issues. First off the game displays in a forced 16:9 mode which is windowed even worse when you play on a 4:3 television or on a Arcade monitor. This takes away from the experience as the aspect ratio is unnatural and zooming only causes you to lose game play space.You can TATE the game playing it in a true arcade style vertically but the game is still displayed within borders.

Outside of the ruined aspect ratio of the game the controls are pretty responsive and the options are somewhat deep. In this game you control one of three characters who you use to defeat enemies in a scrolling top down shooter style. This game is very different in style because you control human characters who walk instead of the traditional flying shmup. Those character also have a "Shikigami" controllable option which appears when you hold down the shot button. This "Shikigami" is used to slow down the bullets from the oncoming horde of enemies which you can then cancel out by destroying the enemy with the "Shikigami" after having buzzed them. The games scoring system relies on a chain system that you must maintain from start to finish making scoring in the game very difficult for some players. I consider Guwange one of the finer Original Shmups ever producded with it's unique feudal Japan theme. The soundtrack is also very fitting featuring a unique Japanese sound. The lack of local leaderboards for individual players is puzzling. This is another issue that is a oversight.I would score the game higher if the games video options were more flushed out and gave you the ability to fill the void on screen and local individual leaderboards were added.

Hopefully they can address the issues with a patch in the future. Overall the game is a wonderful experience that is not completely ruined by its short comings. Go and buy this game it is well worth your 800 MSP, I will revisit this review if the game is ever patched , As is the game is a 7/10.

*I said I would rescore the game when they patched it. Well the score is now a 8/10 at least we get 4:3 option but the menu sizing is still out of wack and no individual leaderboard is a terrible omission.