Its coming in more ways than one: Ikaruga

(tags game, Ikaruga, shmup, Dreamcast, Xbox 360)

Ikaruga (斑鳩) seems to be gracing the Xbox 360 on Wednesday, April 9. Most of the described Achievements (thanks Kotaku) don't seem so difficult to me, though I pause to think that one of my gaming lifetime goals is worth 25 G. And I don't seem to be doing anything proactive to achieve it.

It also troubles me that I recently bought two Dreamcast copies through the mail. What do I need them for? :-p

What use is DLC if you can't MIC

(tags Bangai-o, Dual Screen, game)

I am glad that more bloggers and posters are picking up on Bangai-o. However I can't join them, because I really don't know how to fix my stage/play downloading problem. Perhaps my room really is noisy and I've become too accustomed to it. I'm about ready to buy another pair of headphones just to give the DLC stuff one more go.

My progress in the game is "almost done". There are only two levels where I can't get a stage clear, and they require a really good joystick (d-pad) hand. Argh. So I have been redoing the other levels. It's funny how I best my previous time by minutes, because I know the trick. Sadly the trick is always the same, keep the bullets blasting. In that way I feel that Bangai-o feels over for me.

Xbox 360 Joystick with nice polygons

(tags game, hardware, Xbox 360, joystick, Windows)

I won an auction recently for the Xbox 360 Hori Dead or Alive 4 edition joystick. I was lucky to get it for less than 1_0000 yen. It's probably because the seller had only 2 seller ratings (of course, 0 bad seller ratings). I got it last Thursday during the Spring Day holiday. If I had lost the auction, I would have gone to Play Asia and just import the no-poly-chick version.

I don't think I've handled the Xbox 360 version of a Hori joystick before, but I do have the Hori Real Action Pro "Special Edition" for the PS2. They feel the same, or more like, I fumble through the motions. I'm just not good with joysticks. The dead zone for this joystick doesn't feel so great, but perhaps its just me.

The first game I thought about to try it out was Omega Five. But that was a mistake because it's an analog joystick affair. I guess I'm too lazy to switch discs. So I brought out the Dead Or Alive 4 and it controls like I expected. I then tried out Shikigami No Shiro 3, and remapped the buttons to the bottom row, and there was no problem. I was able to weave and stick with some dexerity.

Since its a USB, I tried it out on my Windows PC. The Charge and Play kit driver was already installed, so this joystick didn't need any additional software. But I ran into the same "HAT" problem. The buttons worked but the stick didn't move. For some dumb reason, I only realized I could use the Joy2Key remapper. So now the stick works and there's no discernable input lag.

Unfortunately my PC seems to stutter. I couldn't enjoy anything. That will teach me to VMWare and shmup at the same time.

I put the joystick back in the box. Perhaps this April, I will have my Ikaruga.

Last stage != whole game: Bangai-O Spirits

(tags game, Dual Screen, Bangai-o)

Last time I said I was on stage 131, but I finished trying all of the stages today. So, let's say that this game gives about 8 hours of play.

I did beat the last stage, and it was horrendously frustrating. But now I know the trick and I play it again for fun. But there was no fanfare or congratulations screen. Now I have to go back and do the stages I skipped. Unlock unlock unlock something, come on. This is the era of Achievements and Bonus stuff.

This is rather bare-bones, huh?

Calmin' Napalmin': Bangai-o Spirits (video)

(tags video, game, Dual Screen, Bangai-O, replay-data, failure)

I didn't want to go out with a "Game Over", so here I am clearing the same stage with two 100 x 4 Reflect Missile bonuses: "Calmin' Napalmin'"

This time I used EX Weapon Bounce + Napalm. Dumb rockets get the job done. winner. :-p

I also wanted to share not the just the video, but the replay data for "Homing don't play that" and "Calmin' Napalmin'". Bangai-O DS's unique feature for sharing Edit Stage data and Replay Data is a great concept. However the execution is poor. Out of probably over a hundred tries, I was only able to reload my replay data ONCE. And that was when it was RAW. I am not yet able to load stuff when I convert it to MP3. The official page has a couple of new stages recorded in MP3, so it should work, right? I tried both my "phat" DS and "slim" DS. I also tried getting away from my noisy computer, but with no success. FAIL.

Homing don't play that: Bangai-o Spirits (video)

(tags video, game, Dual Screen, Bangai-o)

This is my video of Bangai-o Spirits. I call it: "Homing don't play that"

Sweet sweet slowdown. I love the big numbers.

This is game standard stage 95 called "フレ！フレ！フレ！" (lit. Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!), you know like cheerleader pom-poms. The EX weapon is Mix Homing + Bounce. I am trying to get a really high Reflect Missile score. The missile size (also the multiplier) depends on how dense and deep you are in the missile spray.

Do not try to pass this level with the homing weapon. :-p

One interesting bug shown in this video is that enemy missiles sometimes are blocked. Don't worry, though, it does not affect the regular game. :-p

Keep the walls close: Bangai-o Spirits

(tags game, Dual Screen, Bangai-o)

At first I was disappointed with Bangai-o Spirits (バンガイオー魂). The tutorial pounded me down until I got a feel for the weapons. After the tutorial ended, the credits rolled. That was unexpected. Obviously the game was just starting but perhaps the finale is a long way off? After I finished some stages the levels felt more like the same thing over and over again. I suppose it's like playing Lode Runner. I was expecting blow-my-mind puzzle action, but the difficulty is all over the map.

That was Wednesday. Today I spent probably five hours playing it, so I must not be that bored with it. It's pretty fun with the bouncing homing bullets, but they only home once they bounce off a wall. And that 100 missile actually feels a little underpowered. In other words, unleash it deftly.

I mainly skip the levels that have the timed falling blocks, though. And yes, this game has a rendition of Sokoban, ha haha. Now I'm on stage 131. I am not going fast forward the stage select to see how many there are.

Looking at the official site, there's already stuff to download. I'll give it a try. I need to get a mic or a sound cable to upload my excellent (yer right) play.

stop drinking cafe ole at night

(tags food, drink, failure)

Dood, I have been drinking cafe ole bottle drinks at night. WTF. Maybe the caffiene or the sugar kick keeps me awake. My reflexes are shot at this wee hour though, so no 1cc Contra DS, yer right.

Perhaps tomorrow will be a blog frenzy. I have so much to talk about and pictures to share, but of course its the usual useless "ooh shiny" consumer topics. Well I just keep on writing because this blog is for me.

Beating it weakly: Contra DS

(tags game, Dual Screen, Contra)

Before I move on to Bangai-O Spirits, which I already bought and played for about 30 minutes, I just wanna say I beat the Contra DS on Normal. I said, to myself, beat Contra today then you can go out to buy Bangai-O tomorrow. Unfortunately it was after a couple of continues. Never leave home without Homing. And my alternate gun was Homing, of course. I think the best score I ever got was 260_000 which was on the last stage. If I 1CC'd the game obviously it would be more.

And to tell you the truth, I beat the game on Easy a couple of days ago, which unlocked the Challenge Mode. The latter is 40 stages of incremental pain and punishment. Currently I can only unlock 23 of them. I think I spent about 30 minutes on the last couple, o_O. If I could get them all I bet Hard difficulty would be a piece of cake. Every 4 stages completed gives me a bonus. The last one I got was one of the women characters, big woop. :-/ There's no gameplay difference in control though, except that her busom is animated. Wut. Are we 99 years old now?

Contra DS was fun. Maybe I'll try Hard now, right after Bangai-O. Ha.

Purchase or not? Epic on Steam, Echochrome, Bangai-O Spirits

(tags game, Unreal Tournament, download, PlayStation Portable, Echochrome)

I said I would buy Unreal Tournament on Steam. Well according to Joystiq and Steam's official press release, I may have to follow through. Epic's Unreal series on Steam for about USD 60.00. I think it's pretty convenient. Well I do have all of these games on CD-ROM and DVD-ROM though. And I haven't been playing them in a long while.

But look, the yen is strengthening against the dollar. 99 JPY to 1 USD! Japan is feeling the pinch.

And Echochrome (無限回廊) (PSP) is out today. But I just realized I probably need a new PSP if I want to keep the old ones at their respective firmware versions. Definately I would like to get the lavender color. I'm still not done with Contra though.

But I am not swayed from Bangai-O Spirits. That's coming home with me.

Bile is rising: Contra Dual Spirits

(tags game, Dual Screen, Contra)

Whoa, I made it to level 9 on one credit. Always remember to bring yer Homing. Unfortunately I don't know this latest level so I died at the part where the bile was rising. Um. I sunk about four hours on it today, so that's enough.

There was a funny part where I was being chased by all sorts of Alien-like creatures and I just kept on running. Usually my gaming is poke and prod, instead of gungho. Aiiieeee! I escaped the one-hit death by jumping to the flesh vine.

And still those slimy fish are ugly and stupid and I fart in their general direction. >:-[

Acutally I forgot to mention that the game froze on me when I was in the ocean level. It's the part where the boat comes around and the rocketmen taunt you with their missiles. I jumped from my ski and pressed the grappling hook button, which did the animation, but after that, I couldn't proceed. I waited five minutes but nothing happened. I then exited the game through the menu. I was able to resume the level but my high score stopped there. But that's alright because my high score now is a multiple of that. :-)

I keep checking the bonus content menu for something new but nothing's unlocked. Argh.

More TV watching: DS TV One-Seg

(tags television, Dual Screen)

I watch more TV now. I'm more interested in news. I see I can talk about more stuff in normal conversation, instead of d00d overclockin' and Idolm@ster!?!?. I watch fun and emotional programs.

I was random channel surfing and I saw that Honey and Clover received the mainstream live-action TV series treatment. Great, except the real people differ even more from the anime and manga in looks, of course.

I was complaining to a friend that a recent interview for a shogi player concentrated on what paper fans (扇子, sensu) he carried. But I didn't understand that paper fans carry some sort of dignity for an activity, like shogi or sado. What does that make me carrying my Di Gi Charat fan?

Right now Sunday afternoons show bouts of rugby. I don't understand rugby. I rather be watching soccer. Isn't rugby the sport where the referree in a white coat does the pimp pointing when someone kicks through the posts? I'm just waiting for that.

And yeah, the yen is strengthening, people are killing each other, and look a movie with cute dogs. People throwing zabutons at sumo matches, or people saying nandeyane over and over again. The studio audience consists of old people. The camera is always on the hot actresses in variety talk shows. And there's a special on sportsmen's wifes. Increase the MILF (WILF?) factor.

I'm glad I got this One-Seg for DS instead of PSP though. The DS is much more convenient, even though the screen size is smaller. And I still haven't decided if I want to record anything.

Slimy fish: Contra Dual Spirits

(tags game, Dual Screen, Contra)

Continuing on with my Contra Dual Spirits progress, it seems that Normal really is a normal difficulty. I am able to get to level 7 now on a credit. Hm. Except that I hate that "mode-7 graphics" part and the slimy fish. Stupid unpredictable slimy alien fish.

I better keep working on this. Echochrome will be out this Friday. Euhyah!

Choose your weapon: Contra Dual Spirits

(tags game, Dual Screen, Contra)

:) No I haven't beaten Contra Dual Spirits, but it feels pretty good to get to level 4 on one credit. Then I get owned by "mode-7 graphics". Ha haha.

I'm not a Contra follower, so I probably missed whatever innovative graphics and gameplay was stuffed into the series in the 1990s and 2000s. This DS version feels like a SNES era game. At least there's no dumb 3 bullets per screen limitation. I am though playing with the creeping scrolling edge of death, hitting enemies just barely off the screen. That's a nostalgic gimmick.

I am approaching this game as a shmup, but my "ship" just doesn't move the way I like. Crouching is too slow. Jumping is nerve-wracking, uncontrollable. But hit the dirt, I've got Homing. :-]

Okay, back to the level memorization.

Gritty portable action: Contra DS

(tags Dual Screen, Contra, action, game)

I can't recall what blog I read that makes Contra Dual Spirits (魂斗羅 Dual Spirits) Easy mode out to be the approachable difficulty level for normal DS gamers. Maybe it was DS Fanboy. Paraphrasing: "Passing the first stage on Easy is something to boast about."

Well I passed it on Normal, where is my fricken' "Godlike"? :-)

Seriously though this game is pretty hard, but I'm not yet frustrated with it. I was surprised that I could level up the weapons. The controls require more dexterity than my current squeeze, the menu-fighter. Alas, if I want to get the hidden characters its not going to be a cakewalk, huh.

I used my old DS because it's too heavy to use as a DS TV One-Seg. It feels "phat". The Select and Start buttons are in the "wrong" places, sheesh! And I warmed up with Mario Kart DS. I haven't even unlocked all of the courses on it. I haven't done the same with the GC version, either. I feel guilty.

This makes me feel good about DS gaming again, so I think this month's Bangai-O Spirits is a GO.

MOAR WANTZ: hardware version

(tags game, hardware, GameCube, Xbox 360, Dual Screen, television, science fiction, Contra)

Sorry for the title, but I just gotta get rid of my continuing irrational consumerist bent. At least for tonight.

I am searching for that GameBoy Player for the GC, but for the GC and DVD-playing combo unit Panasonic Q. I could level up my FFTA on the GameCube! But I keep losing the bidding on the auctions. I suppose I won't win unless I bid 1_0500 yen or more. Grr.

And yes, those Xbox 360 arcade sticks by Hori are still untouchable. The domestic Dead or Alive 4 or Virtua Fighter-themed Hori Fighting Stick EX2s seem to averaging 1_3000 yen at the bidding close. One recent auction was for the US version of the stick, and gone with the quickness for 1_0500 yen, whoa. The picture on the auction showed a Play Asia shipping box. Hm, duh, check there. I see it for a no-hassle 8250 yen, with free shipping to (within?) Japan. :-/ But no DoA polygon chick to soothe my fancy, har har.

I was contemplating getting one or two more Nintendo DS TV One-Seg adapters directly. I am using it at my rack daily, not even turning it off. I wonder if the screen will burn in? Since I have a couple of DS and DS Lites laying around, I should emulate the losers in the Max Headroom TV series. Whoa, nostalgia.

Episode 1 "Blipverts": Investigative TV news reporter Edison Carter uncovers the disturbing secret of a new TV technology called "Blipverts,” high-intensity commercials with the ability to overload people's neural network causing them to explode.

Imagine Japanese Blipverts. >:-]

Damn I wanna watch this series again. Reading the Predictions sections on the Wikipedia page makes me think it parallels the author Jules Verne's often accurate technological predictions.

I can't think of any other (specific) hardware that I want, save for the Asus EeePC, so this blog post is finished. Time to get whipped by Contra Dual Spirits (魂斗羅 Dual Spirits). I guess I'm looking forward to the hidden characters, fap fap.

Still want more? Upcoming games

(tags game)

This is just a random consumerist post with even less content than usual. WANT WANT WANT.

So far this month in the New Games category I am (still) wanting Treasure's Bangai-O Spirits (DS), Echochrome (無限回廊) (PSP), Contra 4 (DS). I still haven't gotten Trigger Heart Excelia.

Also last week's announcement (via Famitsu) for two old Cave shmups, Dodonpachi something Black Label and Ketsui for the Xbox 360 is encouraging, but if they are going to be a packaged games at 7000 yen each I might skip it.

And more information came out regarding StarCraft II recently, concerning the "Zerg". I like the graphics, and I love the sci-fi theme but I just can't seem to play the game well. I wonder if I need a souped-up computer for this. It looks pretty killer. But I really don't want to buy a new PC right now. I want to know what SC II needs.

Just as an aside, if I ever get one of those Asus Eee PCs, the new 1024 x 600 screen one, I'll be installing StarCraft I on it.

Time is not on my side. There is also my stacked game backlog (starting with Im@s-L4U!). And I rather level up my FFTA.

Couldn't find a Comic Blade: Aria, Fairial Garden

(tags manga, magazine, Japan, Fairial Garden, failure)

I forgot to get the latest Monthly Comic Blade issue (2008-04), which has the latest episode of Fairial Garden. Woops. I checked today (after its been on the stands for two weeks) but it seems to be sold out at all the shops. Why?

(Monthly Comic Blade 2008-04)

According to a user review at Amazon and of course the front cover, it's the last episode for Aria. I don't follow Aria, but any manga that gets a third season anime TV series must be a cash cow.

I'm going to go to the less trafficked stores during the weekend. I hope there'll be a copy for me.

He's just discovered the Steal ability: Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

(tags game, Gameboy Advance, Final Fantasy)

So... at around 75 hours into Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, I discovered the joy of stealing weapons. But why stop at weapons when you can steal abilities! So now everybody's a Thief, or at least the two main guys, Marche and Montblanc. Of course I can't be stealing all the time. I do back them up with people who can cast Sleep, which makes the Steal success rate 100%. Most excellent.

Now, I'm 95 hours in. Ninety-five hours. Why did I ever say I'd never ever no longer get into a menu-based Final Fantasy?

Books Lashinbang Kobe Sannomiya opens

(tags failure, telephone card, ecsite, doujin, Kobe, anime, manga, character goods, 200803, Shining Wind, Estrian Odyessy, CD)

On Saturday I woke up early but played the FFTA. Then I remembered Books Lashinbang Kobe was opening today. I need to put these things on my calendar. And I need to review my calendar every day. :-/

Anyways I got there 5 minutes before, and the line was somewhat okay, probably about 100 people in front of me. I was able to get in around 10:30 AM. I headed straight for the telephone card (TC) cases which were in the back. It goes without saying that it was packed. I couldn't see over the other people lining up there. I didn't see anything I really wanted, and I started to peruse the rest of the store, bouncing off fellow otaku. Still I didn't want to exit just yet so I headed back to the TC cases again. I then decided to get the two TCs pictured here.

The bottom right TC is that PlayStation 2 game Shining Wind related illustration with beautiful, lovely Kureha in a miko dress. WIN. I've seen it before at Books Lashinbang Osaka and K-Books Osaka and the price is the same over there. Might as well commemorate the shop opening with something special.

The second TC at the middle left is a DS game Etrian Odyssey II (世界樹の迷宮II 諸王の聖杯) which was an exclusive to Akihabara-based game store Messe Sanoh. The game itself was release just two weeks back, and according to the description, it's a "classic RPG" with manual mapping (whoa). Emulate the grid paper on yer DS. I don't care about the game, but I love the illustrations and wallpaper. The illustration theme is receiving a belated Valentine chocolate from the (tsundere?) blond hair gunner (job class) chick. What a cute "Jack Frost" badge. I don't even think she has a name. I scoped this same card at the Telecard Paradise Osaka store for like 4500 yen, so maybe its a deal. Also, the game comes with a soundtrack with that Insert Credit sound artist favorite Yuzo Koshiro (古代 祐三) and others. The cover illustration is again the blond hair gunner. Nice nice maybe I'll get the game nice nice. No.

I also bought some cheep manga: Kyoushiro to Towa no Sora volume 1, and CDs: the Loco Roco single and Angela Aki's "Kiss Me Goodbye" single for Final Fantasy XII. I have the over-sexy Kyoshiro to Towa no Sora CD case holding my Xbox 360 discs, but I never explored the story until now. Also this is the first time I've seen a store selling Quo Card plastic sleeves. Quo cards are a different size than TCs so you can't reuse the TC plastic sleeves for them.

It's too bad I decided to get the stuff late, because I was only able to get the exclusive clear file pictured above. If I was perhaps 10 minutes earlier, I could have got the exclusive TC (with slightly more horndog illustration, rawr). Doh. I really wanted something related to Kobe because heck I live here. The illustrator is 憂姫はぐれ先生（サークル：WIRE FRAME）. I suppose this link is NSFW, but it's not up now.

There seems to be some other specials, centering on telephone cards. Goodie. Take for example this one, a Card Captor Sakura TC set "celebrating" the re-release of the manga a year or two ago. I did check the price. Each card is 3_5000 yen +. A little steep, don'cha think?!?

I went to the store again this Monday evening and there's a healthy crowd of people there looking and buying. I was hoping that the Kobe-only exclusive card was available, because net auctions rip hard. No luck.

Here begins another store relationship. This location does seem to have a lot of interesting things and good selection, for now. I do hope they expand their TC selections. I want more stuff with daishi (台紙, lit. card backing) and more all ages stuff like Di Gi Charat. I am not interesting in the eroge TCs even though they are rawr.

Pikachu reuse

(tags kawaii, character goods, Dual Screen, hardware, Pikachu)

I stopped by the Pokemon Center on a quiet Friday. There seemed to be a lot more Pikachu goods for some reason. Maybe hard times are hitting the Pokemon brand?

Aww, the plastic case illustration is just so perfect. :-)

It's not like I'm going to use yet another Pikachu skin and case and stylus. But I will use the hand towel for bathing. Okay, no jokes about electricity and the bath, please.

Stealin' weapons and time: Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

(tags game, Final Fantasy, Gameboy Advance)

I spent almost the whole day today leveling up my characters in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. It all started a day or two ago when I finally overcame a story-unlocking stumbling block. My main "tank" learned the two sword attack so down went the oppressor. After that I got some other weapon that allowed my Thief to steal the enemy's props. Unfortunately, stealing requires me to de-KO the baddies, and to Disable their attacks with the Aim skill. Which means I play a stage for tens of minutes instead of quick tag 'em and frag 'em. By the time I finished my "just one more stage", it was almost three in the afternoon. Busted. :0

Aww hell it's calling me now, again. No posting for today, but shoot, I had some topics to post.

Next Season next month: Kimi ga nozomu Eien OVA 2 delayed; CDs

(tags anime, DVD region 2, Kimi ga nozomu eien, failure, CD)

I wondered why the second episode in the Kimi ga nozomu eien Next Season OVA series (君が望む永遠～Next Season～) was not at the shops. The first episode left me hanging.

It turns out that it will be delayed a month. Aww please. :-/

The above picture shows the "stamp rally" cards for Kiminozo and Kodomo no Jikan (こどものじかん) DVD sets. I should bring the Kiminozo card when purchasing the second and third OVA DVD. BTW, I don't understand why Bandai now is officially stepping in with a full-set purchase incentive.

Underneath are some cheep bargain bin anime related CDs I picked up today. 500 yen each, can't beat that. The first is 2006 anime Angel Heart opening song "Battlefield of Love" by Asami Izawa (伊沢麻未) I five-starred Izawa's ending song for the 2005 anime Eureka Seven called "Fly Away", so seeing her in the bargain bin was kinda sad. She has that J-R&B soulful sound, smooth.

The second CD is the opening and ending themes of the PS2 game Binchoutan Shiawase Goyomi (びんちょうタン しあわせ暦) featuring Isako Saneyoshi (さねよしいさ子). What would you do if you saw a girl with a charcoal stick on her head? Hahaha. Anyway, Saneyoshi sang the opening and ending songs for the 2005 anime Peto peto san. I five starred her "Kaeri michi" (帰り道, lit. return path). Her voice is really wierd, like Halko Momoi wierd. I think moe or iyashikei when I hear her.

Okay, the caffiene from the cafe latte drink should be wearing off now. Time to level up some guys in FFTA and then level up my piss-shot and sleep skillz, respectively.