2018 - end of year news and thanks

This news blog has been up for two and a half years and it just topped 20.000 visits. Thanks to all visitors!

As a compliment to the blog I started a twitter account to spread the news and i've made some wonderful friends there already. Be sure to tune in for even more shmup news there.

It's been a very good shmup year with more news than ever, the future looks bright for my beloved genre.

In a rare sighting, big gaming news site Eurogamer has published a lengthy, knowledgeable review of the recent Ketsui Deathtiny release for PS4. Well worth a read.

Team Grybanser Fox's line of shmups (Zenohell) are on sale on Steam until January 3rd.

The last remaining 150 copies of Super Rare Games physical release of Steredenn: Binary Stars (SRG #9) will go on sale on January 3rd. So last chance to get it if you want it or face being gouged by eBay scalpers...

Cycle 28 is 50% off on Steam right now.

The developers of Rival Megagun discusses the games development.

Fire Lancer is new shmup out now in demo form for, wait for it, the WonderSwan(!). Also available on PC.

Riddled Corpses EX is getting a physical release on PS4 and PSVita, 3000 copies each.

And with that I wish you a Happy New Year (I miss the blink tag sometimes ;) ) and all the best for 2019. Keep supporting the genre you love by buying releases!

Ketsui, Fast Striker and Rival Megagun, oh my!

M2 released Ketsui Deathtiny for PlayStation 4 yesterday in Japan. It's available on japanese PSN and as a physical release from the usual suspects (in my case Play-Asia).

Bullet Heaven has a review of Fast Striker (PS4/PS Vita version).


The player vs Player shmup Rival Megagun is out now on Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One,and Nintendo Switch (EU/JP, US/Canada gets it on Dec 6th).

New Ketsui: Deathtiny trailer

Some pre-orders you don't want to miss; available from Play-Asia

That physical Psikyo Collection Vol.1 for Switch we talked about waaaay back in the middle of July is now available for pre-order from everyones favourite retailer (Play-Asia!).

And hot on the heals of the announcement itself, Ketsui for PS4 is also available for pre-order.




Sweet music to my ears!

Ketsui on PS4 arrives November 29th

November 29th is the big date when Ketsui Deathtiny arrives on PlayStation 4. It will be a PSN release with 2 DLCs available at release: IKD 2007 Special (2007 CAVE Matsuri version) and VIRT (which is... a soundtrack remix? Google translate doesn't spell it out), DLCs priced at 800 yen a piece. The PSN version itself is 3700 yen.

EDIT: DLC number 2, the "VIRT thing", is definitely a remixed soundtrack.

There will also be a physical release(!) with the DLC included priced at 6800 yen.

I know which one I'm getting... ;)

PlayStation 4 version of Ketsui appearing

At a japanese gamer event on december 16th a playable version of the upcoming PS4 version of CAVE bullet-hell shooter Ketsui will be shown according to an announcement on the games teaser site.

The games M2 has ported thus far have been great so let's hope Ketsui makes the transition in good form too.

Sorcer Striker coming to PS4

In what can only be described as a huge news day for shmups, M2 has announced that the third installment of their Shot Trigger series will be arcade shooter Sorcer Striker.

Seeing as Battle Garegga Rev.2016 and Dangun Feveron are the previous titles in the series I think we can expect an excellent port. And it's a game I haven't played either, make sure you have a japanese PSN account to buy these titles!

We already know that Ketsui is in the works in the series as well.

Evolving from Disco, Ketsui style!

With Dangun Feveron now released on japanese PSN for PS4 M2 just announced that Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi, CAVEs famed bullet hell shooter will be released in the same series. Though no platform was announced it seems logical to assume that this will be a japanese PSN download only game for PS4 just like Battle Garegga REV.2016 and Dangun Feveron.


To me this is one of CAVEs most brutal games. Punishingly difficult but lovely art design and a great soundtrack.

Degica announces Raizing/Eighting DLC for DBCS

New DARIUSBURST Chronicle Saviours DLC from three amazing Eighting games! New ships! New stages! New music!

Mahoudaisakusen/Sorcer Striker (C)1993 EIGHTING 
Soukyuugurentai/Terra Diver © 1996 EIGHTING 
BATTLE GAREGGA (C) 1996 EIGHTING

Dariusburst CS is the gift that keeps on giving. With three DLCs already it's the greatest mashup of our times.

Earlier DLCs:
Taito: Night Striker, Metal Black and RayForce
SEGA: Fantasy Zone, Space Harrier and Galaxy Force II
CAVE: Deathsmiles, Ketsui and Dodonpachi Resurrection

CAVE DLC for DBCS available on Steam right now!

The three CAVE DLCs for Dariusburst: Chronicle Saviours launched today, dec. 15th, on Steam.

CAVE DLC for DariusBurst:CS - The Press Release

New DARIUSBURST Chronicle Saviours DLC is Coming With The CAVE DLC Bundle! The ridiculously huge amounts of awesome content for DARIUSBURST Chronicle Saviours has not let up! The third DLC bundle is coming December 14th 2016 and will contain three packs each providing a new ship, new stages, and new music taken from the games of the legendary shmup developers, CAVE Interactive Co., Ltd. The music featured comes from the prolific composers, WASi303, Keishi Yonao, and Yousuke Yasui. Each pack will be available separately for $4.99 USD or together in a bundle for $11.97 USD. Below are details on each individual pack.   Check out the trailer!

Here's what you can look forward to!...

Windia from Deathsmiles From the magical land of Gilverado, comes Windia!   Features: Windia is playable in DLC mode as a ship. Windia brings her bidirectional shooting and lock-on magic. Collect skulls & crowns to increase your gauge, then unleash its power. Hoo, Windia’s owl familiar, joins the fight. Unique stages and music (with remixes by WASi303)

Delta Sword from DoDonPachi Resurrection Resurrecting from a Blissful Death, the Delta Sword rises like a phoenix!   Features: Delta Sword is playable in DLC mode as a ship. Switch between shots and beam. Fill your gauge to enter Hyper Mode to increase your combo and get items. Unique stages and music (with remixes by Keishi Yonao)

Tiger Schwert from ketsui Welcome to the special round, Tiger Schwert!   Features: Tiger Schwert is playable in DLC mode as a ship. Switch between normal shots and lock-on shots. Collect score-increasing chips by getting dangerously close to your targets. Lock-on options will shoot what you shoot. Unique stages and music (with remixes by Yousuke Yasui)

Oh, one more thing... Purchasing an above DLC gives you access to 3 special stages designed specially for that ship. (Only scores using that ship will be registered in the special stages.) You will also get access to the CAVE pack: 10 newly arranged stages including 3 boss fights, as well as CS PACK 3: 10 stages from CS mode. Buying any DLC also lets you use all theDARIUSBURST ships from the base game in the DLC Mode stages. ...this is one time it's ok to get lost in a CAVE. c'(^_~)

New CAVE DLC for Dariusburst:Chronicle Saviours getting closer

Confirmed availability December 15th on Twitter.