Fans of kiki kai kai?

[gex]

I have a hori arcade stick for pce I will try this out tonight and also see if it's two player or not - was that ever confirmed?

lucky lucky.. no it hans't been confirmed. let us know O:)

[Gredler]

I have failed you, and got too busy packing for a road trip that starts either tonight or tomorrow, so it will be Monday night at the earliest that I get this test run reported to you - and methinks you will get confirmation from a more reliable source before then

As a note, I do not own the game, but will be trying it on my everdrive. That port-comparison video noted that this game is expensive, so I haven't even looked into it in an effort to not delve into a first world poverty depression.

[SavagePencil]

The arcade version (or at least the version included with Taito Legends 2 on Xbox) is 2 player alternating.  I have a loose HuCard of it, lemme see if I can dig it out and see how that works.

[gex]

I have failed you

20 lashes from the thorn whip for u

nah just kidding, no pc engine for a week 

[SavagePencil]

The arcade version (or at least the version included with Taito Legends 2 on Xbox) is 2 player alternating.  I have a loose HuCard of it, lemme see if I can dig it out and see how that works.

I can now confirm that the PC Engine version is:

1.  Single player only
2.  A really, really good port of the arcade

[A Black Falcon]

Even the arcade version of Kiki Kaikai is only two player alternating, so going from that to one player only (which, yes, it is, I also checked) is not too big of a difference.

And yeah, the PCE version is a fantastic port.  I might even like the audio better on the PCE than the PS2 emulated arcade game in Taito Legends 2...

I bought the PS2 version of Heavenly Guardian because I didn't want to experience the frustrations of the inferior (IMO) Wii controls. With that said its been about 9 months and I still haven't played it At least both versions are cheap to come by still!

I have a PS2, so who knows? It might be the first PS2 game I've purchased in over 8 years...

I know I said this earlier in the thread, but get the Wii version if you can at all!  The PS2 version does not let you freely aim in one direction while you move in another direction, only move and lock your firing direction as you move around, so it's kind of awful controls-wise compared to the Wii, where you can move with the stick while you aim with the pointer.  You'd think that the PS2 would have twin-stick controls, but it doesn't; the right stick is only for aiming your snow attack.

Also the PS2 version doesn't have level 7 in it, which is one of my favorite stages, and has no added content to make up for that.

[esteban]

I have a PS2, so who knows? It might be the first PS2 game I've purchased in over 8 years...

I know I said this earlier in the thread, but get the Wii version if you can at all!  The PS2 version does not let you freely aim in one direction while you move in another direction, only move and lock your firing direction as you move around, so it's kind of awful controls-wise compared to the Wii, where you can move with the stick while you aim with the pointer.  You'd think that the PS2 would have twin-stick controls, but it doesn't; the right stick is only for aiming your snow attack.

Also the PS2 version doesn't have level 7 in it, which is one of my favorite stages, and has no added content to make up for that.

I followed your advice and bought the Wii version.

[EmperorIng]

It's worth noting that the PCE port does not go into a second loop, as opposed to its arcade inspiration.

The levels are slightly different as well, offering branching paths vs. long stretches in the original.

In general, the PCE port is a very fine game, much like its forebear. What is most appealing about it is the twitchy nature of the game: the constant stream of enemies forces you to be on your guard from all sides as you trudge your way through the stages. Once enemies start firing bullets on stage 3-onwards, things become incredibly tricky navigating Sayo's sprite through the stages. I think my only real complaint is the random nature of the power-up drops and how frustratingly dodgy the boss-hitboxes feel (it never seems like your hitting them in just the right spot to actually damage them).

[otterboxer]

Two player simultaneously would have been choice. I take it rocky didn't arrive until the snes version?

[EmperorIng]

Rocky, or rather Manuke, is the final boss of the original arcade game.

[gex]

Rocky, or rather Manuke, is the final boss of the original arcade game.

Wow i would have never have guessed that.. Curious what the dialogue to that is like

[EmperorIng]

Ha ha, there's no dialog in the original. Essentially, goblins have kidnapped the lucky goddesses, and Sayo is a bad enough shrine maiden to rescue them.

Manuke is the leader of the goblins and shapeshifts into Sayo during the fight. After beating him you need to find three hidden scrolls in an endlessly-scrolling area with tons of enemies spawning in order to free the goddesses - this is a really tough gauntlet.

After the game, for a reason I don't know, the two become friends (probably because Natsume said to themselves "we want 2P and this makes sense") and team up to fight evil western gaijin ghost Black Mantle who is using his hard-gay thugs to muscle in on traditional Japanese ghost/goblin turf.

[esteban]

My nickname in middle school was "Black Mantle"...long story. 

[gex]

This sounds like a decently long game then. My curiosity is at its peak now, i must play this.

Black mantel eh

[SavagePencil]

I saw in the Taito Legends ver that you can press both buttons to fire off some sort of crystal orb.  How and when do you acquire that?