Cybattler

[Discoalucard]

Mr. Strider supplies a look at Jaleco's mecha-based overhead shooter:

hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/cybattler/cybattler.htm

This is another one I haven't tried myself, but it sounds like I should grab the ROM and give it a go tonight!

[Haz]

Fun fun fun. Especially with a friend and a couple of beers.

The first level's music is rockin'.

[Deleted]

AWESOME.

That's all I've got, really. ;D

[Strider]

I should really take at least one picture which shows the charged shots, probably to replace that top-middle shot of the second level. I'll do that this afternoon and send you a new screenshot.

- HC

[Strider]

Okay, nix that. It turns out that I didn't really notice this before ,but there's a short delay between your powered burst and when you begin firing normally... This means I can't get the shot I wanted showing the 'charged' gun in action.

Interesting point of note I just noticed: at the end of the first stage, seven green mechs show up onscreen after you destroy the boss, then retreat. If you destroy them all, you get a point bonus; if you destroy them all with your sword, you get twice as much bonus.

Also, as a secondary sidenote: I'm not particularly well-versed in mech anime, so if there are any blatant Gundam references in this game that I'm totally missing, please let me know.

- HC

[Vendaval Este]

I love what I see!

[Shellshock]

Awesome, Strider. The word "shooter" on each single sentence of the first paragraph makes my brain hurt though. But I'm sure you'll edit it before it goes up online officially.

[Strider]

I also noticed since I wrote up the article that I say "several top-10 shooters nobody's ever played" lists pop up when you google the game's title, and yet if you actually google the game's title, none do. That'll have to get fixed.

- HC

[Strider]

Okay, I know the article has actually gone up with edits so maybe it's a little too late for this, but here's an updated version of the first paragraph:

Given Japan's penchant for giant robots, it's no surprise that there are a great many mecha-based Japanese shooters. More often than not, however, these are simply reskinned versions using similar gameplay; while you'll find yourself piloting a mecha instead of a plane, the mechanics are functionally the same save the possible addition of a 'turn' button, as in Capcom's Side Arms and Banpresto's licensed Mazinger Z shmup. The little-known Cybattler, a solid shooter in its own right, takes a different approach - mixing a shooter's auto-scrolling background and a smooth, elegant method for attacking in any direction.

The updates to the last paragraph in the article-as-posted are all good.

- HC

[NINJA IN U.S.A.]

I never even heard of this one...

Must check it out