Task Force Kampas is coming to consoles: trailer

Task Force Kampas launched early last year on Windows.

Mars: Chaos Menace Trailer (PS4/Switch)

Chaos and destruction are threatening the planet…

Mars: Chaos Menace is a frenetic bullet hell shoot'em up. Discover unique environments and defeat deadly opponents that will make you suffer and surpass yourself. Face devastating boss battles and aim for the high score!

Story: We are in the Terraforming age after saving our homeworld, Earth, which was collapsed by radioactive contamination and the depletion of resources. Now, humans are successfully colonizing nearby planets, using technology to adapt these inhospitable and hostile places. For the first time in our existence we feel in harmony with everything. But our activity and progress has attracted huge and warp monsters that only wish to devastate and sterilize planets by destroying the whole way of life.

We had forgotten, chaos is the natural state of the universe...

Features:
• Frenetic "Bullet Hell" action
• A careful aesthetics and design that will make you fall in love.
• Great variety of unique environments that you will discover in your missions.
• Spectacular opponents that will make you suffer and surpass yourself.
• Crowd of different enemies with exclusive behavior.
• Action and challenge assured for lovers of the genre.

Null Drifter Trailer

Can this retrogfx trend die soon? Now we're back to ZX80 level graphics.

The Bullet Heaven review of Project Starship

Red Death Trailer

Dodge and destroy! Blast through waves of arcane enemies and take down monstrous bosses as you defend the earth against an unknown calamity. As a prologue to Project Starship, vertical bullet hell shoot’em up Red Death sets a collision course against a full-scale invasion bent on eradicating humanity, presented in nostalgic 4-tone style! Features: • Survive waves of intense bullet hell action! • Enjoy an intriguing Story Mode across a number of scripted levels. • Test your limits with endless randomized challenges in Arcade Mode. • Compete for the highest score in old-school arcade style. • Upgrade weapons with numerous power pickups. • Charge and unleash vicious Overload attacks to turn the tide of battle!

A look at the physical version of FullBlast for PS4

Don't forget that there is a sequel in development.

If you don't crave a physical release it's also available for Xbox One, Switch and on PS Vita.

Darius Cozmic Collection 2 is coming

Winter 2020 will see the release of Collection number 2, I can't make out any titles announced for it but since the first one is awesome I'm sure Taito wont let me down. I'm just going to assume this will come to Switch and PlayStation 4 just like its predecessor.

Ginga Force and Natsuki Chronicles coming to PS4 and Steam in 2020

Rising Star Games has announced that Ginga Force (available for Xbox 360 in 2013) and its sequel Natsuki Chronicles (first available on Xbox One in 2019) are coming to both Steam and PlayStation 4.

Sisters Royale review from Bullet Heaven

Sisters Royale has been available for some time for both Nintendo's shmup-machine and Sony's good old PlayStation 4 and a new review is always fun.

Bullet Heaven reviews Hardcore Mecha

The Strictly Limited Sisters Royale up for pre-order on sunday

As SLG themselves put it:

As announced earlier this month, we are excited to once again bring you a new Shoot 'em Up for your gaming system! Sisters Royale has recieved a warm welcome, especially from the dedicated shmup scene, and it's an absolute honor to immortalize this modern AlfaSystem classic on a physical game disc/cart!    
 

With its recognizable Tension Bonus System gameplay, heralding the legendary Shikigami series in more than one way, Sisters Royale features the thrill of hunting for the perfect highscore run! For the shmup master in training, the easy mode will be a perfect stepping stone to reach higher Shoot 'em Up grounds.

The use of character specific Bombs and Power Shots will make you seek out new strategies for a frantic round. This makes Sisters Royale a perfect game to pick up for short bursts of play, as well as longer sessions in the dedicated TATE mode. (TATE being available both clockwise and counterclockwise!)

Sisters Royale: Five Sisters Under Fire Edition
 

Our Strictly Limited edition will feature a stunning cover artwork and individual numbering! The Five Sisters Under Fire Edition is limited to 2500 Nintendo Switch copies and 1500 PS4 copies worldwide and both versions will be available for the price of 29.99€.

Sisters Royale: I'm being Harassed by Five Sisters and it Sucks Collector's Edition

As you might already know by now, we we've gone to great lengths to ensure that the Collector's Edition box is of the highest quality in the lim.print game market. All assets included have been passionately localized from Japanese to English and are now presented to you in the Strictly Limited Sisters Royale - I'm being Harassed by Five Sisters and it Sucks Collector's Edition, which includes the following...
 

• Hardcover CE Box /w Magnetic Latch
• Individually Numbered Game 
• Hardcover Artbook /w Lovely Culture
• Official CD Soundtrack 
•  6 Character Cards Royale
• A Fierce and Cutesy Poster
• Two Stickersheets /w Lots of Line Stamps
   

The Collector's Edition is limited to only 1500 copies (Switch) and 999 copies (PS4) worldwide and will be available for the very affordable price of 49,99€ (Switch/PS4) .
 

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SISTERS ROYALE will be available in two batches:
Round 1: Sunday, 23. February 2020 at 12 AM CEST.
Round 2: Sunday, 23. February 2020 at 6 PM CEST.

Click on the link above to check your local time. Please keep in mind that Sunday 12 AM CEST could mean Saturday in your time zone (for example EDT).

Sorcer Striker / Mahou Daisakusen review

Here's Electric Undeground with a review of Mahou Daisakusen (Sorcer Striker), available on PSN Japan.

Project Starship gets a trailer

Rival Megagun physical release up for pre-order on Feb. 7th

First Press Games has listed Rival Megagun for both PlayStation 4 and Switch in regular and Collector's Editions as well as a separate soundtrack CD release.

For once the Collector's Edition looks like it lives up to its name. Absolutely packed:
Features:

• premium box with item tray
• gold-colored coin (numbered)

Base Game:

• cover sheet with interior art
• game on Blu-ray
  
• 64 page English manual

Artbook:

• DIN C4 sized
• high-quality hardback cover
• 72+ content-rich color pages

Tournament Boardgame:

• boardgame box
• replicas of the 40 in-game trading cards, with playable effects
• tournament grid board
• character meeples
• instruction sheet

CD Soundtrack:

• Original & Mega sound version on CD
• premium jewel case
• 12 page booklet
• reversible inlay & spine card (OBI)

2 clear files with print extras:

• DIN A2 double sided poster
• 2 A4 magazine page prints
• alternate cover sheet and manual for swap-out

The Switch Collector's Edition will be available in 1500 copies and the regular edition 3000 copies.
The same number for the PlayStation 4 is an even scarcer 500 copies and 2000 copies respectively.
The soundtrack CD is 350 copies (not counting the ones included in the Collectors Editions).

Bullet Heavens review of Metal Slug 3 for PS4

Such an iconic series! Don't forget about Bitmap Books book on the subject, out now.

Sisters Royale goes physical, pre-order Feb. 23rd

Strictly Limited Games just announced that they will release physical editions of Sisters Royal(e) for both PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch and that pre-orders will begin February 23rd.

Or as they put it:
Released for the Japanese market back in 2018, the story driven Sisters Royal has since been localized for an English language western release and will be available through the eShop and PSN starting today!

As a spiritual successor to the legendary Castle of Shikigami series, Sisters Royal features everything you'd come to expect from a game by stellar japanese dev AlfaSystem. It's vertical side-scrolling gameplay features the following...  

• Tension Bonus System
• Super Secret Fairies
• Several Lovely Characters
• Bombs and Power Shots

The contents of the Collector's Edition will be announced at a later date, closer to when the pre-order goes live, but please expect the same high quality SLG Collector's Editions as you've grown accustomed to. :) 

January 26th is when Xeno Crisis goes physical on Switch and PS4

Strictly Limited Games just announced that January 26th is the date pre-orders for Xeno Crisis for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 opens up.

A port of the successfully crowdfunded Sega Mega Drive / Genesis title!

Xeno Crisis is an arena shooter that can be played solo or in local co-op mode. Take control of battle-hardened marines embarking on a deadly mission to confront an alien menace and get home alive! Run and gun your way through thousands of adversaries as you explore the devastated research outpost, searching for surviv
ors, and ultimately facing the origin of the outpost’s demise.

Outpost 88 is divided into seven distinct areas, each being randomly generated with each play, meaning that your strategy must evolve on the fly if you’re to succeed in your mission. Collect dog-tags from vanquished enemies to upgrade your equipment between areas and look out for special weapons which will give you a momentary advantage.

Features:
    A faithful port of the hit 16 bit game with added extras
    Incredible pixel art from the legendary pixel artist, Henk Nieborg
    Intense FM chiptune soundtrack by Savaged Regime, originally created for the YM2612!
    Two difficulty levels and three modes of play
    Seven varied areas to traverse
    Many different enemies to tackle
    An arsenal of 10 weapons to master
    Upgrade system allows you to change your tactics each playthrough
    Play solo or couch co-op with a friend!

There are regular and Collector's Editions as per usual.

The Collector's Edition contains:
    Xeno Crisis Game
    Hardcover CE Box with magnetic lock
    Original Soundtrack CD
    Hardcover Artbook
    Stickersheet
    1x Double-sided A2 Poster
    Military Patch


By the numbers, the PlayStation 4 Collectors Edition will be available in 700 copies, the regular in 1300 copies while Switch Collector's will be available in 1500 copies and the regular in 2500 copies.

Since this is a real gem of a game I fully expect these to go fast no matter what platform you aim for.

Other tidbits: M2 makes a PSA, Sisters Royale goes west etc.

M2 wish to make it clear that their new release of CAVEs ESP.Ra.De should have the moniker "Psy" as opposed to "Psi".

Sisters Royale, the Shikigami-esque game available for both Switch and PS4 in Japan is heading west on both platforms as Sisters Royale: Five Sisters Under Fire! with a January 30th release date.

Retro Cores Battle of the Ports tackles 1942:


Run'n'Gun Valfaris is getting its Japanese debut on both PlayStation 4 and Switch on January 23rd.


Bare Knuckle Development details where the inspiration for their awkwardly-named new shmup Super Mega Space Blaster Special Turbo came from.

Bells and Whistles have arrived

Hamsters Arcade Archives has a new title up its sleeve on both the PSN Store and on the Nintendo eShop; Bells and Whistles, aka Detana!! Twinbee from former giants Konami. If you like your shmups old-school and cute this will be a title very much up your alley.

NG DEV Teams end of year news: new shmup coming!

Except for a gaggle of updates about releases shipping (Krautbuaster AES 1st Print starts shipping early 2020 (Collector's Editions first) as does MVS 2nd Printing) NG DEV also revealed they are working on a new shmup:
New NEOGEO game:

The next new vertizontal NEOGEO shmup made by our CGI graphics team (Razion/Fast Striker) will be announced for MVS between April and June.

They close out the letter saying that Gunlord X is available worldwide for PlayStation 4 on the Playstation Store/PSN.