SHGL used to have it, I didn't play it the first time I went, then it was gone, I've never seen another one
take it to Katrina!
Dragon Blaze, a Psikyo shooter released in 2000 for those who don't know. This game supposedly plays like Gunbird 2 with a Dragon Spirit twist. And it has a character named Rob, so it seems for me.
Just curious what people think about it, those lucky enough to have seen it in the wild. I also would like to know where I could acquire the board (also interested in Strikers 1999) and what I'd have to do to go about playing it in the home setting (I'm completely new to PCBs).
Any help offered would be very much appreciated, as always.
Going crazy, wanna join me?
SHGL used to have it, I didn't play it the first time I went, then it was gone, I've never seen another one
Rob, you're right...
Having both seen and played this game, I can offer up some input...
First off, this is very much like Stikers 1999 with a very medieval twist. The biggest likeness borrowed from it the Technical Bonus (When you plow into a boss' weak point-instnatly killing it). Of course you can expect the CrAzY bullet patterns. (then again, all Psikyo shooters have it)
The game mechanics are almost what you come to expect in most shooters. You have a fire, bomb, and a Dragon(!) button. The Dragon button enables your rider to separate from the dragon, allowing for a tandem attack. This can be used infinitely and it has its effects on the characters. The rider has a different attack when dismounted and the charge shot changes too. Pushing the Dragon button launches your dragon ahead you, destroying (or damaging) everything immediately in front of you. Pushing it again recalls it. (sounds like R-Type, no?)
About the charge shot, it's not so much like Gunbird 2 or Strikers 1999 where you have different levels for the charge shot. It stays at a fixed power regardless of your level. Once again, it changes when the rider is dismounted. The bomb button is...well...the bomb button. Need I say more on that?
The characters, while limited, are still well done. The main character, Quaid, is a knight who rides a Fire Dragon (Imagine that!). Sonia is an archer on the Aqua Dragon (and two mini-dragons too) Rob is the Dwarf on the Thunder Dragon, and Ian is a magician who rides the Skull Dragon.
Graphically, this game is amazing. Even if some animation was borrowed (like the explosions-they were also colored blue now), it's still well done. You can expect the usual "It-looks-like-it's-dead-but-it's-second-form-is-gonna-destroy-you" transitions for the bosses. Watch an enemy dragon become a mosquito-thingy. Maybe what I'm saying here is not enough. You really have to see this game to believe it.
The music...I think it's well done. It's what I think you'd expect in a game like this. Seems rather "period". Of course the boss music tends to relflect the manic situation you can be in too. The sound effects might be familiar in some respects, but are still welcome. The voices are cool too.
I hope that helps somewhat. If I left anything out, let me know...
P.S. Rob, get with me offline and I'll go in depth as to how to get to play arcade games at home....
ESPer
Dragon Blaze is a typical Psikyo shmup in every way except for the dragon-rider mechanic that 7F described. I haven't played it that much, and the machine I played it on had a crappy monitor and defective joystick, but it didn't really grab me. An average shooter, probably more exciting to Psikyo fans than others.
The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure it is always right. -Learned Hand
"Jesus christ you are still THE WORST." -FirstBlood
[9.05.2002]
You learn something new every day...
Never even knew about this one.
http://page.freett.com/hatty/donpachi/icons/typec-d.gif
Weave... dodge... shoot.
Sausage-in-training
Sleeve where'd you play it? Any DB machines in the U.S.?
ESPer
At Golf n' Stuff in Tucson, AZ, about twenty minutes from my house.Originally posted by Kosh_H
Sleeve where'd you play it? Any DB machines in the U.S.?
It isn't nearly as prolific as the California arcades, but it has Raiden Fighters Jet and Strikers 1999, so it's good enough for me.
The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure it is always right. -Learned Hand
"Jesus christ you are still THE WORST." -FirstBlood
Zoobesucherin
Psikyo has quite a few boards that never saw home release that I'd love to play someday.
Sausage-in-training
Well then, it's ten times better than any arcade here in North Dakota that I know of. We're lucky if we see a Raiden I or II machine. The Minneapolis airport was darn good for shmups, had all three Strikers machines, although the monitor and one of the sticks on the Strikers I machine needed to be replaced. That reminds me, I really need to dig into my Strikers 1945 III board again and take another shot at those addictive tech bonuses.Originally posted by sleeveboy
At Golf n' Stuff in Tucson, AZ, about twenty minutes from my house.
It isn't nearly as prolific as the California arcades, but it has Raiden Fighters Jet and Strikers 1999, so it's good enough for me.
Would\'ve been nice to see DB, Gunbarich and a Strikers comp on DC.
This is another shooter(like Progear) that my university arcade had for such a short period of time that I only got to try it briefly. It seemed okay. I'm not big on Psikyo shooters but my first impression is that I like Gunbird 2 more than Dragon Blaze.
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