Thanks for watching!! What are your thoughts on Starblade & Cyber Sled? In the Arcades, they stood as some of Namco's best games. However, on the PS1, they became the complete opposite - relegated into the abyss of forgotten releases. Does either series deserve a second chance to continue in today's gaming or not? 💬 This video will be part of an upcoming series, exploring more of Namco's Arcade games making the transition to PlayStation. Stay tuned for Part 3 in 2024! Update: 6 Feb '24 - The beginning music in the video's epilogue (29:43) was blocked, so it has been modified and may sound scuffed as a result.
Really really really enjoyed you sharing the details of the 'Namco Universe'. I grew up in arcades (in the states) as a massive AM2 / Yu Suzuki fan, as SEGA dominated in the locations i visited. Occasionally an Air Combat, CyberSled, or Ridge Racer would pop in, but next to G*LOC, Virtua On, or Daytona USA, they wouldn't stay long. I had no idea NAMCO was so gigantically popular in Japan and had so many visionary games especially around multiplayer / theater type experiences. Thanks for your research, approach to inform, and style to introducing us to this very cool history. I'm going to go get my PSX and give these games another shot!
Appreciate the kind words and thanks for sharing - really enjoy hearing these Arcade stories! I grew up playing the original PlayStation, including the Namco games but was too young to experience that golden era in the early '90s. It wasn't until the 2000s, I could finally go but by that time, the Arcades were already on the decline.
I miss the 1990s. It was a more optimistic time when people were hopeful about the future. So game designers made fun experimental arcade games like these in the video. Today, most arcades are full fo ticket and carnival games. I've been waiting for a sequel to Galaxian3 and Virtua-On for a long time. Ridge Racer had been dead for 20 years.
I can't believe they canned Star Blade Operation Blue Planet. That looked amazing! Alright, I get it. Arcades were in decline, but they couldn't release it on the PS2 or the Dreamcast instead? I was especially disappointed in that one being canceled. Unfortunately, on-rails shooters were on their way out as a mainstream video game genre by the early 2000s. Arcade racing games, fighting games, and aerial combat titles had more of a future than this genre did. A lot of gamers wanted games that were longer, featured more depth in story-telling, and offered more freedom beyond just flying in a straight line. Star Fox was the last major game series in this genre, and it was carrying the whole genre for years. But, after Zero bombed, I'm sure one's been torpedoed out of existence, too. I think many consumers just see on-rails shooters as being a relic of a bygone era when arcades dominated the gaming industry.
Galaxian3 arcade has a sad story. Namco made the decision for the arcade machine (Galaxian3 Theater 6 player) to use laser discs to display video on screen. Apparently these machines were prone to breaking down because of the custom laser disc player the machine used, and it's moving parts. The biggest flaw for Laser disc arcade machines in general is that the LD player constantly breaks down. The moving parts break down fast in an arcade environment (Even American laser disc arcade machines suffered this same issue). Arcade operators were annoyed by Galaxian3 laser disc player having issues. Also you can't just use any laser disc player. The Galaxian3 machine will only work with Namco's specific custom laser disc machine they provided. So you can't just swap it out with a different brand player when the old one breaks In addition, the CRT projectors needed constant maintenance and were power hungry. The projector bulbs needed to be replaced often which added to maintenance costs. Some arcades businesses ripped out the Namco provided projectors with newer digital projectors which was much less maintenance. Namco provided warranty support, but after your warranty expired (usually after 1 year), arcade operators had to pay to money to get their laser disc fixed by Namco. Usually shipping it To Japan to get the player serviced and refurbished. After several years, Namco stopped offering repairs. So arcade businesses were screwed and left with no option to repair their LD players officially. You either had to find some 3rd party repair technician who claimed they could fix it, or hunt for a replacement player on eBay or Japan auction websites. These players were rare so good luck. At one point these Galaxian3 machines were in almost every Dave and Busters across North America. So around 200+ G3 machines were made. But now only 2 still exist in working order in the entire world. The rest were scrapped, shut down, or thrown out. And who knows how long the current ones will last because no spare parts are available. Mostly due to the arcade machines breaking down with no way to repair the old custom laser disc players that Namco used. Good luck finding in 2024 trying to find a technician who can repair a 1993 Japanese custom Namco laser disc player. Most of them lived in Japan. They all either died or retired. It's really Namco's fault Galaxian3 didn't last as long as it could have been in arcades. There are many people online who want to play this machine. Like you said we are in a "Retro arcade Renaissance". These old big arcade machines are in demand again by players hungry to experience the past.
I am a big fan of multiverses but more importantly, of grabbing a massive collection of media IP and glueing them all together in one shared universe. I knew Dig dug was related to Mr Driller but other than that a the Galaxian sequels I never knew ALL THOSE GAMES were in a shared universe!!!!! WOW my mind is blown!!! THANX
The very best way to play Star Blade today is the Wii Virtual Console version. Of course you can't buy it anymore (it was a Japan only exclusive anyway), but there's ways and places. So, if you manage to run it on a Wii with the wiimote, the control will be perfect
3do port of starblade was smooth enough. I had a lot of fun playing it as a kid. Mastered it to the point of almost all objects killed and very little damage taken.
@@DazStanford Our FZ-10 version of console was bundled with Starblade. So it was the first game/experience I had on that console. Haven't played it on other platforms but found good comparison on TH-cam. Well, 3do version has less graphics features (no textures on enemies), but quality of FMV background is higher, maybe a bit higher FPS and smooth cursor. Cursor is a bit slow, but when you play game many times you develop optimal pattern to follow and move cursor to the right place ahead of time.
If anyone looked at the North American "long box" cover art for both Cybersled and (some rare editions of) Starblade Alpha, I don't think those "faces" did any favors to sell them (*especially* the one for Cyber Sled-it legit looks like meme material), and to think Ridge Racer almost used that box art style before it ended up being the manual cover. Now imagine if Tekken and Air Combat followed that cover art design language...
Wow actually didn't know they did that artwork for more Namco games. Only seen the Ridge Racer, Cyber Sled and Starblade artwork. I literally just went out and looked for the Tekken one, holy cow haha!
Well, that explains why CyberSled and Starblade mysteriously vanished after the PS1. Maybe if CyberSled and Starblade could've sold maybe 8-10x more units than they actually had, we could've seen CyberSled and Starblade titles on the PS3, PS4, or possibly even PS5 by now. Also, I'd love to know the name of the song that plays at 27:38 - 29:42
there was another game like this in the arcade. it was set up in like a mock small theater. it was 4 or 5 seats each one was a gunner. i cant remember the name but it was not starblade it was a few years later and THAT was probably the best of the series.
Thanks for watching!! What are your thoughts on Starblade & Cyber Sled? In the Arcades, they stood as some of Namco's best games. However, on the PS1, they became the complete opposite - relegated into the abyss of forgotten releases. Does either series deserve a second chance to continue in today's gaming or not? 💬
This video will be part of an upcoming series, exploring more of Namco's Arcade games making the transition to PlayStation. Stay tuned for Part 3 in 2024!
Update:
6 Feb '24 - The beginning music in the video's epilogue (29:43) was blocked, so it has been modified and may sound scuffed as a result.
Really really really enjoyed you sharing the details of the 'Namco Universe'.
I grew up in arcades (in the states) as a massive AM2 / Yu Suzuki fan, as SEGA dominated in the locations i visited. Occasionally an Air Combat, CyberSled, or Ridge Racer would pop in, but next to G*LOC, Virtua On, or Daytona USA, they wouldn't stay long.
I had no idea NAMCO was so gigantically popular in Japan and had so many visionary games especially around multiplayer / theater type experiences.
Thanks for your research, approach to inform, and style to introducing us to this very cool history. I'm going to go get my PSX and give these games another shot!
Appreciate the kind words and thanks for sharing - really enjoy hearing these Arcade stories! I grew up playing the original PlayStation, including the Namco games but was too young to experience that golden era in the early '90s. It wasn't until the 2000s, I could finally go but by that time, the Arcades were already on the decline.
I miss the 1990s. It was a more optimistic time when people were hopeful about the future. So game designers made fun experimental arcade games like these in the video.
Today, most arcades are full fo ticket and carnival games. I've been waiting for a sequel to Galaxian3 and Virtua-On for a long time. Ridge Racer had been dead for 20 years.
I can't believe they canned Star Blade Operation Blue Planet. That looked amazing! Alright, I get it. Arcades were in decline, but they couldn't release it on the PS2 or the Dreamcast instead? I was especially disappointed in that one being canceled.
Unfortunately, on-rails shooters were on their way out as a mainstream video game genre by the early 2000s. Arcade racing games, fighting games, and aerial combat titles had more of a future than this genre did.
A lot of gamers wanted games that were longer, featured more depth in story-telling, and offered more freedom beyond just flying in a straight line. Star Fox was the last major game series in this genre, and it was carrying the whole genre for years. But, after Zero bombed, I'm sure one's been torpedoed out of existence, too. I think many consumers just see on-rails shooters as being a relic of a bygone era when arcades dominated the gaming industry.
It Finally Arrived
Good Video As Always
Galaxian3 arcade has a sad story. Namco made the decision for the arcade machine (Galaxian3 Theater 6 player) to use laser discs to display video on screen.
Apparently these machines were prone to breaking down because of the custom laser disc player the machine used, and it's moving parts. The biggest flaw for Laser disc arcade machines in general is that the LD player constantly breaks down. The moving parts break down fast in an arcade environment (Even American laser disc arcade machines suffered this same issue). Arcade operators were annoyed by Galaxian3 laser disc player having issues.
Also you can't just use any laser disc player. The Galaxian3 machine will only work with Namco's specific custom laser disc machine they provided. So you can't just swap it out with a different brand player when the old one breaks
In addition, the CRT projectors needed constant maintenance and were power hungry. The projector bulbs needed to be replaced often which added to maintenance costs. Some arcades businesses ripped out the Namco provided projectors with newer digital projectors which was much less maintenance.
Namco provided warranty support, but after your warranty expired (usually after 1 year), arcade operators had to pay to money to get their laser disc fixed by Namco. Usually shipping it To Japan to get the player serviced and refurbished.
After several years, Namco stopped offering repairs. So arcade businesses were screwed and left with no option to repair their LD players officially. You either had to find some 3rd party repair technician who claimed they could fix it, or hunt for a replacement player on eBay or Japan auction websites. These players were rare so good luck.
At one point these Galaxian3 machines were in almost every Dave and Busters across North America. So around 200+ G3 machines were made. But now only 2 still exist in working order in the entire world. The rest were scrapped, shut down, or thrown out. And who knows how long the current ones will last because no spare parts are available.
Mostly due to the arcade machines breaking down with no way to repair the old custom laser disc players that Namco used. Good luck finding in 2024 trying to find a technician who can repair a 1993 Japanese custom Namco laser disc player. Most of them lived in Japan. They all either died or retired.
It's really Namco's fault Galaxian3 didn't last as long as it could have been in arcades. There are many people online who want to play this machine. Like you said we are in a "Retro arcade Renaissance". These old big arcade machines are in demand again by players hungry to experience the past.
I am a big fan of multiverses but more importantly, of grabbing a massive collection of media IP and glueing them all together in one shared universe. I knew Dig dug was related to Mr Driller but other than that a the Galaxian sequels I never knew ALL THOSE GAMES were in a shared universe!!!!! WOW my mind is blown!!! THANX
Glad to hear you enjoyed the video! Thanks so much! 💪🙏
The very best way to play Star Blade today is the Wii Virtual Console version. Of course you can't buy it anymore (it was a Japan only exclusive anyway), but there's ways and places. So, if you manage to run it on a Wii with the wiimote, the control will be perfect
Excellent video my man you’ve just earned a subscriber
Hmm...TH-cam did not notify me that you uploaded this video.
Interesting, I'll look into it, thanks!
3do port of starblade was smooth enough. I had a lot of fun playing it as a kid. Mastered it to the point of almost all objects killed and very little damage taken.
Nice man! I heard the 3DO version was good, more superior to the one on PS1.
@@DazStanford Our FZ-10 version of console was bundled with Starblade. So it was the first game/experience I had on that console.
Haven't played it on other platforms but found good comparison on TH-cam. Well, 3do version has less graphics features (no textures on enemies), but quality of FMV background is higher, maybe a bit higher FPS and smooth cursor.
Cursor is a bit slow, but when you play game many times you develop optimal pattern to follow and move cursor to the right place ahead of time.
If anyone looked at the North American "long box" cover art for both Cybersled and (some rare editions of) Starblade Alpha, I don't think those "faces" did any favors to sell them (*especially* the one for Cyber Sled-it legit looks like meme material), and to think Ridge Racer almost used that box art style before it ended up being the manual cover.
Now imagine if Tekken and Air Combat followed that cover art design language...
Wow actually didn't know they did that artwork for more Namco games. Only seen the Ridge Racer, Cyber Sled and Starblade artwork. I literally just went out and looked for the Tekken one, holy cow haha!
Thank you for making me know Rez dor PS2. :)
Well, that explains why CyberSled and Starblade mysteriously vanished after the PS1. Maybe if CyberSled and Starblade could've sold maybe 8-10x more units than they actually had, we could've seen CyberSled and Starblade titles on the PS3, PS4, or possibly even PS5 by now.
Also, I'd love to know the name of the song that plays at 27:38 - 29:42
Song is from the YT Audio Library, Planetary Paths by Joel Cummins/Andy Farag
there was another game like this in the arcade. it was set up in like a mock small theater. it was 4 or 5 seats each one was a gunner. i cant remember the name but it was not starblade it was a few years later and THAT was probably the best of the series.
Was it Galaxian 3: Project Dragoon?
@@DazStanford yup that was it.