Who bought Last Hope for DC?

[SaturnFan]

Is it fun? Do you mind taking a pic of the cd/case? I'm still not sure if I want the game because it's burned on a cd-r rather than a GD rom.

[smork]

Might want to check the other big thread on thei in Modern Gaming:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95412&highlight=last+hope

I've ordered it, but haven't gotten it yet. I don't think it's burned, I believe it's a pressed game. Besides, if it's fun, who cares! :)

[jajaja]

I really dont think a retail game is burned on a CD-r. If its CD instead of GD-ROM its pressed, not burned :)

[ave]

Its a pressed CD, not a GD. But at least, no burned stuff :)

[SaturnFan]

Thank god. I was under the impression is was a burned cd-r because it wasn't through Sega but from an unknown dev. in Europe. I'm ordering

[fishsandwich]

I just got LAST HOPE last week in the mail. The packaging is very nice... very close to looking like a legitimate GD-rom release. It came shrinkwrapped with a spinecard and nice-looking/feeling manual. The case says it was manufactured in Germany but the designers went a long way to make it look like a legitimate Japanese release and it will fit right in with any collection. Nearly all the text inside and out is Japanese.

The tiny holographic wording on the inner ring of the disk actually says "Last Hope" along with various numbers. You boot the nicely pressed CD (not a GD-rom or burned CD with a cheap label glued on top) up and you get the familiar "Licensed by Sega" and then a disclaimer that says "Correction: This is not licensed or endorsed by Sega" or something close to that.

Then you go straight to the title screen. The game is region-free any will play on any Dreamcast, no chip or bootdisk required. I was a bit disappointed by the lack of an intro or storyline but perhaps I just haven't hit the right buttons or let it sit long enough.

Upon playing I IMMEDIATLY had an R-Type flashback. The first level is very, very similar to R-Type. I haven't played Pulstar much so I can't compare it. I made it past the first level and then had to stop to go out. I plan on playing it more today.

This game was originally programmed for the Neo-Geo hardware (the NG cart came first and cost something like $600.) The games's 16-bit roots certainly show in the graphics... no hint of a polygon in sight (I have been ruined by Zero Gunner 2 and Border Down) but it's certainly colorful enough and the levels are well-designed. The game moves at a quick pace and controls nicely (just like R-Type, charge beam and all.) The music is less than exciting but I have only played through the first level so it might be fantastic later on. Last Hope does not push the Dreamcast hardware at all (this game could have been ported to run on a Sega Genesis) but it's still a fine game.

I'm glad this shmup came out and I hope the Dreamcast homebrews keep coming. It appears the main programming was done primarily by a husband/wife or brother/sister team with some help by a few other folks. Several Japanese people are credited, most likely for the Japanese text (but I don't know that for sure.)

Video are available on youtube if you feel like watching. This game is going to be very easy to copy due to its CD format and we'll probably see it available for download on the web somewhere in a day or two but I suggest to all interested gamers that you actually PURCHASE the game. The packaging is quite good and if this project is profitable we may see more new releases for the Dreamcast long after the official GD-rom format is abandoned.

Youtube video of Neo-Geo game...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8xiiFdJeag

[Fighter17]

I'm planning to buy the Neo-Geo CD version when it comes out later this year.

[ubersaurus]

I got the LE, which has yet to ship out.

I'm getting impatient!

[Kamisama]

Yes I ordered the LE aswell. Too bad it's not out yes. I played a beta tho :)