Review: ESPGaluda II (video added)

[GaijinPunch]

I've recently written a review of ESPGaluda II -- Cave's follow up to their 2003 hit (which is available on the PS2 in Japan). The sequel is thusfar arcade only, but hopefully a home port will come out. In the meantime, for those interested, check out the review (http://japan.classicgaming.gamespy.com/bn_inf.php?type=article&id=1389&p=1). No screenshots yet, as the ones I made suck. I will try to post a nice sampler video. If you go to this site (http://www.hameko.net/uploader/upload.php?page=all), and download the file called hame_4172.lzh, you'll see a pretty high quality video of stage 2.

Can't see those links so well:
Review (http://www.gamengai.com/bn_inf.php?type=article&id=1389&p=1)


UDPATE 05.23.2006
I figured out how to output from RGB and Composite/S-Video on my supergun, so took a video. If you check the video section (http://www.gamengai.com/video.php) at gamengai.com, you'll see a stage 1 video where I got 42.3 million points. Pretty impressive, I must say.

[Leroy]

I loved Espgaluda and still play it from time to time. I hope it comes to the PS2 after Ibara hits later this month. Thanks for the review.. couldn't download the video though, after 3 attempts it finally started just to stop at 600k.

[Captain Wrong]

*golf clap*

Well done. I may pick this up eventually. I'd rather have the PCB though, I imagine it's still pricey.

[ClubNinja]

I'd rather have the PCB though, I imagine it's still pricey.

Given that it's a Cave game, you can bet the PCB will *always* be pricey :/

[Leroy]

The review stated $2400. Ouch.

[GaijinPunch]

$2400 was the retail price (264,000 yen or so). It's down now, but not that much. excellentcom I believe still has it for $1800. You know, it just depends, but I think it'll be pricey for quite some time. Mushihime-sama still runs well over $1000 for a full kit, and it's got a port. Ibara on the other hand, can be had for $500.

As stated in the review though, if you like the first one, you will probably like this. All in all, I think when it's all said and done, I will like the first one better once the "newness" of 2 has worn off, but it's still an excellent game.

I actually uploaded a 400 million 1CC run (not mine, unfortuantely --- I'm having trouble breaking 300 mil) to Super Play (http://www.super-play.co.uk/index.php?content=2&gameid=85). You can download it from there. Head the warnings on the site though that ask users to not just milk the fuck out of the place. :) They ran out of bandwidth last month.

[Captain Wrong]

I'd rather have the PCB though, I imagine it's still pricey.

Given that it's a Cave game, you can bet the PCB will *always* be pricey :/

Yeah, by "still", I mean relatively. Like closer to original price than the $300 I'd expect to spend. :)

Let me state again how much it irks me when console collectors complain about $60 games. I wish I could get away with paying that little for the games I want.

[ClubNinja]

Let me state again how much it irks me when console collectors complain about $60 games. I wish I could get away with paying that little for the games I want.

I still seem to distinguish between the two. It just pained me to spend $60 on a brand new Dead or Alive 4, yet I was thrilled to pick up a used arcade board for $85 on the same day.

[GaijinPunch]

Just be glad you're not after complete PCB kits from the 90's, or even the early 00's. The boxes of said kits are like stardust. In the case of Cave ones, the boxes alone can easily clear over $100. Ridiculous, I know.

[ClubNinja]

Oh, I know. And that's mostly why I avoid them :)

[Captain Wrong]

Just be glad you're not after complete PCB kits from the 90's, or even the early 00's. The boxes of said kits are like stardust. In the case of Cave ones, the boxes alone can easily clear over $100. Ridiculous, I know.

I'm also glad that my othe fave shmup company (Raizing/8ing) isn't nearly as "collectable" as Cave. :D

[GaijinPunch]

I figured out how to output from RGB and Composite/S-Video on my supergun, so took a video. If you check the video section (http://www.gamengai.com/video.php) at gamengai.com, you'll see a stage 1 video where I got 42.3 million points. Pretty impressive, I must say.

If anyone is interested, Cave has just put out a Superplay DVD. 3 DVDs (1 per character) plus a booklet. Ageha and Tateha runs are both above 850 million, while Asagi's I believe is 790 millionish.