Castle Shikigami 2

Well, it finally came out for the PS2 at $10 on Saturday, and I managed to get my copy today. The good news is it looks like a game from the Shikigami series rather than "Mobile Light Force 3". The bad news is it's got the usual quality XS Games translation.

Ignoring the crap voice acting and almost completely nonsensical dialogue, the game itself is a fairly solid horizontal shooter. Bullet hell once it ramps up, special power attacks that are nicely varied from one character to the next, using the power attacks puts you in as much trouble as it gets you out of, etc. It's ok, a good use of $10 if you've got the time, but that's about it.

Now for the good stuff- quotes from the game box and manual.

From the back cover: "The time: 2006, the distant future." Is a year and a half really that distant?

Manual, describing a Main Menu option: "Boss Attack: This is a mode for enjoying to battle with only bosses.:

Aaargh!!: "The demon god's and their mystical castle..." and then two sentences later "Can the hero's of recent legend..." Stupid apostrophed plural, Hulk smash!

Describing the charge shot: "Hold down (square) to charge up the Mobile Light Force 3 attack." There's a bunch of other Mobile Light Force 3 references throughout as well, athough I've seen none of them in the game itself.

There's other stuff in the manual too ("If the player get winnings..." is particularly good) but that should be enough for now. I'm really just amazed that we get this kind of engrish on a current-day project more than anything else, I guess.

James

I stole this game from the internet.

*GASP!*

:eep: :eep: :eep: :eep: :eep: :eep: :eep: :eep: :eep: :eep: :eep: :eep: :eep:

There goes my faith in humanity.

James

I paid far too much for the Japanese version long in the distant past. Good game though. Especially liked the unlockable options.

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Originally Posted by James

Ignoring the crap voice acting and almost completely nonsensical dialogue, the game itself is a fairly solid horizontal shooter.

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Err, I thought The Castle of Shikigami 2 was a vertical shooter? Or is this different from the Dreamcast game I have (Shikigami no Shiro 2)? Or am I just massively confused?

-Dippy

According to the feedback at Xs's forums, tate mode is intact. What a pleasant suprise.

JM

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Originally Posted by JM

According to the feedback at Xs's forums, tate mode is intact. What a pleasant suprise.

JM

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Wow, so a TATE mode is confirmed? I have the GC ver., but for $10 I may as well get the PS2 ver. also. Are there any other enhancements over the Gamecube version?

Oh yeah, and engrish RULES.....("lip my stockings....")

$10 is a good deal.

I wonder why XS passed on the GC/Xbox versions?

Damn it! More money out of my pocket. Good thing I canceled my DS pre-order.

I did not know this was comming out so soon. This'll be about the only game I can afford before x-mas.

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Originally Posted by jarrod

I wonder why XS passed on the GC/Xbox versions?

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Not enough funds and resources. I don't think I've ever seen a tiny company do a multi-platform release (and considering this one's probably run by guys who don't have green cards).

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Originally Posted by Josh

I stole this game from the internet.

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:lol: Yes, yes, Adebisi. We know. It's really funny if you read it with his african accent.

Since tate mode made it in, there's no way I'd spend $60 on the DC version even if it is a slightly better port.

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Originally Posted by Sqoon

Not enough funds and resources. I don't think I've ever seen a tiny company do a multi-platform release (and considering this one's probably run by guys who don't have green cards).

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They do support all 3 platforms though, so they have manufacturer relationships already in place... actually a multiplatform release would help recoup localization costs by spreading it out over 3 SKUs. They could even go for the PC release too and reduce risk further.

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Err, I thought The Castle of Shikigami 2 was a vertical shooter? Or is this different from the Dreamcast game I have (Shikigami no Shiro 2)? Or am I just massively confused?

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Note to self- posting at 5AM = bad idea. Yes, it's vertical, and my brain popped a circuit while typing.

James

Why doesn't Gamestop have this in stock?

I had no idea this was coming out.
Where the fuck did this come from?

When did this happen?! I bought the DC version for $60. It is a great game, but if I knew it would eventually be released stateside and for only $10 I would have waited.

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Originally Posted by JM

According to the feedback at Xs's forums, tate mode is intact. What a pleasant suprise.

JM

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Nice news.

I have the DC and GC import versions, but at $10 I'm surely keeping CS2 in mind when I get the Christmas shopping underway. One of my friends just got a PS2.

"This is a mode for enjoying to battle with only bosses." :lol: Wait until the Engrish.com staff sees the manual. It's "All Your Base" 2004, for great justice.

its a cool game..i walked in to hell..ahem EB and saw it for like 10 bucks..i had to pick it up.but the dialog is the worst i have ever heard.its like someone hit Barry from RE1 in the head multiple time with a really big hammer...and than gave him a qualude.
but other than that its cool...10 bucks well spent.

JBNagis

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Originally Posted by Roufuss

Why doesn't Gamestop have this in stock?

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EB had lots in stock...and my Capcom Fighting Evo, great night for me. Next week is Hominid. The holidays just keep getting better!

ssb

Just checked out my copy and I can confirm that yes, tate mode is there. You even get a note saying you should flip your tv for that mode when you select it, along with a warning to be careful when you do. The game also supports either clockwise or counterclockwise rotation for tate.

James

*shakes an angry fist for buying this on release for the DC*
I missed the Engrish!

Nice! I'm gonna tate my Commodore tonight and see how it looks.

ssb

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Originally Posted by Roufuss

Why doesn't Gamestop have this in stock?

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Because this is one of those budget titles that GS just doesn't carry. You get that a lot with budget stuff, for one reason or another, some titles are only sold in either EB or GS, with target, best buy & wal-mart getting the rest.

JM

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Originally Posted by JM

Because this is one of those budget titles that GS just doesn't carry. You get that a lot with budget stuff, for one reason or another, some titles are only sold in either EB or GS, with target, best buy & wal-mart getting the rest.

JM

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That sucks... I don't really like my EB that much, but at only ten bucks, I might as well trade in a bunch of shitty ps one games they'll never sell.

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I might as well trade in a bunch of shitty ps one games they'll never sell.

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I know where you are there man, just check out my ebay auctions right now.

CS2 is way worth it for $10. I think it's worth up to $20 for the bad voice-overs and engrish alone!

Nobody seems to have this in stock. EB and GS don't even list it on their sites, and neither does the publisher.. Does anyone know where I can buy this?

I heard over at shmups that Walmart.com has it for $9.99 with $1.00 shipping or something crazy like that. Would be worth a look.

JM

Thanks for the info. Purchase made.
:cool:

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Originally Posted by Josh

I stole this game from the internet.

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Word.

saw this today at eb. Is it really worth the 10 bucks?

I'm not getting owned again like I was with Stake.

If you like MLF2, you'll probably like it. I think. I've yet to pick it up.

Here's a thread on the Shmups forum: http://dynamic5.gamespy.com/%7Eshmup...ic.php?t=10047

Sounds favorable so far.

There was also another thread on this very forum:
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/board/s...hikigami+shiro