Mars Matrix Shmup Review (Dreamcast / PC) A Cult Classic, More than Just a Meme!

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ธ.ค. 2024

ความคิดเห็น • 115

  • @hypnoshypnos4755
    @hypnoshypnos4755 3 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    A few notes:
    The Dreamcast version does indeed remove the counterstop, but it also inflates the scores by maybe 2x, so scoring is unfortunately not comparable between them (though the differences are pretty minimal, so I think the experience count is pretty comparable between them).
    If you do ever decide to go for the clear, one word of advice (based on the footage in the video) is that I'm pretty sure reflecting bullets back at enemies usually does a lot more damage than the GHB. The GHB should really be reserved for stuff like the bullet hell segment before the battleship in stage 4 where the screen gets extremely crowded with bullets. The recharge time is also shorter if you don't use the GHB. The best strategy for survival is to do a lot of "tap shielding," and abuse the couple frames of invulnerability you get afterward. Even playing for score there are a lot of times when that technique is invaluable. On a related note, most of the bosses can be killed fairly quickly by reflecting big clumps of bullets at them, which makes it a lot easier.
    I did not personally find it to feel very laggy on the DC (Giga Wing, for example, felt much worse. I think I was less sensitive to lag when I played Gunbird 2, so I can't really compare that). Very unfortunate to hear.
    The aspect ratio that the actual pixel art is in is quite wide (384x224 pixels), but it's intended to be displayed at 4:3. AFAIK this is just a quirk of the CPS2 hardware, but it makes sense given the time. CRT monitors don't need pixels to be square and can usually stretch and squish them quite a lot, particularly horizontally (as I understand it, the vertical resolution is much less flexible, though I don't really know enough about it to know why that is). I assume the designers of the CPS2 used that resolution to get more detail without having to increase the vertical resolution.
    One thing that you really got right is that there really isn't any other game like Mars Matrix. The closest is probably Giga Wing 2, but it's not the same. I like shmups as a genre decently well (easily my favorite video game genre), but Mars Matrix just feels like it's on a whole other level from any other shmup (I assume the infamous Xoxak (aka Rob) would agree. lol). One of these days I should get back to it and either try to beat Rob's score or try to clear the arrange mode.

  • @KikenEnryu
    @KikenEnryu 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    It should be noted that Mars Matrix was the first Takumi shmup to feature no contact with enemies (only collision with bullets can damage the player). It ended up as a recurring theme in all of their following releases (Giga Wing 2, Giga Wing Generations, Night Raid).

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      oh that's some cool info! it's like psikyo in that way then :-)

    • @dr_ubo
      @dr_ubo 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yeah they did it as a small sacrifice to not compromise the Hori Space in vertical format. Had it included contact damage with enemies, it would not had been as frantic and exhilarating as it was. Their vertizontal design was also a compromise on order to fit on yoko arcades they could reuse and perfect for console ports, which is by far the reason most people know this game.

    • @hypnoshypnos4755
      @hypnoshypnos4755 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      This is actually one of my favorite aspects of Mars Matrix, as well as some of the later Psikyo games. I think I eventually got over it, but when I started out playing shmups, I would always get killed by bumping into enemies.

  • @philmason9653
    @philmason9653 4 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    This video was wall to wall PTSD for me. It was the first manic shooter I ever took a run at. I was not ready.

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Oh jeez yeah that would be brutal!

    • @erickhohnstein-vanetten2460
      @erickhohnstein-vanetten2460 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Same here! It was a lot of fun, but I felt pretty overwhelmed by Stage 4. I’d never seen anywhere near that many bullets in a game before.

    • @hypnoshypnos4755
      @hypnoshypnos4755 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      At least you can't die from running into enemies! I actually found it strangely more approachable for that reason. hahaha.

  • @respectfulremastersbymetal8336
    @respectfulremastersbymetal8336 3 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    Man, this game is insane. I secretly installed MAME on a work computer in the back office so we could play it on our breaks. One of the guys got so good he could 1cc it on MAME controlling it with the keyboard. It was nuts.

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Awesome!!! Ha yeah gotta sneak some shmups in

    • @artoub8143
      @artoub8143 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      keyboard is good for a lot of arcade ports

  • @pixelotix
    @pixelotix 4 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    One of my most played Dreamcast games, I just kept going back to it.

  • @RinMariiiii
    @RinMariiiii 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Back in the early 2000s, I was experimenting with shmups and first discovered bullet hell. I played Giga Wing and liked it, so I decided to give Mars Matrix a spin next, and was bamboozled by the combination of high bullet density and speed.

  • @Eruoso
    @Eruoso 4 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Great choice
    I unironically love the cg heavy scifi aesthetic
    Kind of reminds me of movies like Appleseed or vexille 2077

  • @PichyandPals
    @PichyandPals 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Dreamcast SF3: Third Strike isn't just avoided for the input delay. It's based on the patched Version B release. That's a later print of the PCB which fixed a large number of bugs resulting in stuff like Urien losing his gameplan entirely.
    Chun players hate that it normalised the cancel window on low forward kick as well.

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Oh jeez capcom ha. Yeah stuff like that is no bueno. As a ken player, I wouldn't mind a nerf urien though ;-)

  • @reagandow850
    @reagandow850 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thanks for taking the time to make this video. Great stuff as always. I’ve been watching some of your “show to shmup”
    Videos again lately and they have definitely helped my improve my game. Unfortunately I’m in Massachusetts and I don’t know of any local groups of people that like shmups but you, shmup Junkie and a few others have really helped me out not only in finding physical releases but more importantly improving my game. 🙏

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I m really happy to hear that the vids have helped! I feel your pain I m basically the only shmupper in my state, so it does suck not to have a local scene

    • @reagandow850
      @reagandow850 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@TheElectricUnderground - I know your pain! I’ve heard you mention that once or twice so believe me...my heart goes out to you. Thanks again for all the inspiration

  • @ShmupJunkie
    @ShmupJunkie 4 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    This was always one of my favorite shmups on the DC even though I sucked at it back then, as I had little experience with this level of bullet hell in general at the time. I always found it a pretty damn hard game in general but it's just fun to play. You're right on Ikaruga it ran well on everything, even around the same 3 frames on the DC. Gunbird 2 was double at 6-7, pretty much the same as on the Switch ports. I am going to need to really polish up on this game if I'm going to play it for the top 5 hardest on the DC which imo it very likely deserves a spot. It's on the level of the harder Psikyo games.

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yeah I think its up there in terms of difficulty for sure! Oh my ikeda #1 has to go to gunbird 2, that game is brutal on arcade, but adding in 6 frames of lag sounds insane!

    • @soratheorangejuicemascot5809
      @soratheorangejuicemascot5809 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I blame you for sending me here!!!

    • @WeCannotEattheCow
      @WeCannotEattheCow 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      "Don't play mars matrix"

  • @SolCresta3405
    @SolCresta3405 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    What’s with Lynn Minmay in the thumbnail?

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      There s hardly any mars matrix art so I thought she fit the vibe if the game

    • @SolCresta3405
      @SolCresta3405 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@TheElectricUnderground Sure, that works.

    • @freerad4life
      @freerad4life 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@SolCresta3405 needs more lynn minmay

    • @SolCresta3405
      @SolCresta3405 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@freerad4life Indeed.

  • @titi64230
    @titi64230 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Looks so good !!! Congratulation for your esp ra de marathon last week-end

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      thank you! Finally got the 1cc, will upload commentary vid soon :-)

    • @titi64230
      @titi64230 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      In the comment of the live i have talk about the crazy new arcade plus Final boss . Have you tried ? It s really harder , spécialy when you don t expect it

  • @lmttn
    @lmttn 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Yooo, just wanna notify anyone seeing this video now that the MiSTer CPS2 core is now available to the public and as such that is another option for playing this great game.

  • @dr_ubo
    @dr_ubo 4 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    _Go play Mars Matrix_

    • @dadrising6464
      @dadrising6464 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      ok... (turning on my capcom home arcade)

    • @kobito1176
      @kobito1176 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Eh, I prefer Gigawang.

    • @jockel9502
      @jockel9502 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@kobito1176 notice the similarity there, GOOWANG, GIGAWANG? Can't be a coincidence.

    • @kbxthegamemaster06
      @kbxthegamemaster06 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@jockel9502 Guwange Giga Wing

    • @neontetra1000
      @neontetra1000 4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Come back Xoxak

  • @kirbyofthestars2269
    @kirbyofthestars2269 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Mars Matrix was an interesting one. I eBayed up a Dreamcast in highschool when I really got hardcore into STGs, because I knew I could burn a really wide library of them. This one really stuck out as a black sheep, with other vertical scrollers on the DC like Triggerheart Exelica and Karous being what I had come to expect. Great game. Hard as balls, though.
    PS: If you go down that DC rabbit hole sometime, I humbly request Triggerheart. 🙇🏻‍♂️ Watching you 1CC everything under the sun has been inspiring and I'd like you to put my 360 port achievements to shame.

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Mars matrix definitely has it's own style, that's for sure! Yeah I'll have to check out triggerhearts when I start my DC crusade ha. Speaking of 1ccs, finally got the stubborn Esp. Ra. De 1cc last night! Took about 16 hours of grinding this weekend.

    • @kirbyofthestars2269
      @kirbyofthestars2269 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@TheElectricUnderground @The Electric Underground Holy crap, man! Good job! Proud of all that effort. My import of ESP. Ra. De. came not long ago so there will soon be some solidarity in the grind! It has save states, right?

    • @oOignignoktOo1
      @oOignignoktOo1 ปีที่แล้ว

      TriggerHeart Exceleca got an XBLA release as well atleast that was my first way of experiencing the game. I just wish Border Down would get a re-release

  • @TheProgressiveStyle
    @TheProgressiveStyle 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    i loved this one and the unlockables keep it interesting. Great title.

  • @OpticalHaze
    @OpticalHaze 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    what you mean the OSSC don't like VGA signal? I get a good picture here. Not sure if you have to set passthrough mode though...

  • @riggel8804
    @riggel8804 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Retroarch frame advance only tests the amount of lag baked into the rom. For instance, if the Dreamcast rom of Mars Matrix has 5 frames of input lag when tested in retroarch with frame advance than you will be experiencing at least 7 frames when playing on retroarch. However if you play the rom on a Dreamcast with a crt you will experience 5 frames of lag.

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yes that s what I was saying, using frame advance we can compare game to game (like ikaruga vs mars matrix) but it might not be the same as the console. However these could be cross referenced with shmup junkies lag tests as well street fighter 3 lag tests,:-)

    • @riggel8804
      @riggel8804 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      I believe it will be the same on the console as long as the rom/iso you test in retroarch is the same as the one you run on the console.

  • @blahdelablah
    @blahdelablah 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I can imagine MiSTer will be the best option soon (once jotego has released the Mars Matrix CPS2 core, he's working on the CPS2 core, he's already released Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo). Would help with video capture too.

  • @RuV9999
    @RuV9999 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Takumi games is cave style bullet hell but "MORE MESSY"

  • @miltiadiskoutsokeras9189
    @miltiadiskoutsokeras9189 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    The only bad thing probably in this game is the graphics design. It has not aged as well as pixel art. This sprite based renders of 3d models suffers compared to straight 2d pixel art. Still a must. Go play Mars Matrix.

  • @Mingodough
    @Mingodough 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Not related to this video but I thought of something that some companies should do for older poets of shmups. Since shmups that are only 1 player are a bit lonely I thought since most shmups are old games, I don’t think they have any problem running 2 games at once. Say you get idk something like gunbird 2, and it allows you to do a mode where 1 player plays on the left side and another plays on the right side. They’re different games but playing on the same screen, it’d help for competition, not sure how it’d do though

  • @kbxthegamemaster06
    @kbxthegamemaster06 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    You might want to try Final Burn Neo by itself. It runs all CPS and Neo Geo games perfectly.

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yeah in mars matrix case I would encourage Retroarch with the fbn core because run ahead really improves the game feel by drastically reducing the input lag for mars. Other games it isn t as necessary though :-)

  • @AaronPaden
    @AaronPaden 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    FYI, standalone MAME is 5 frames with frame advance. Your realtime testing shows a consistent +1 frame from mame with -lowlatency, so you can expect 6 frames of input lag. If your versions won't work with standalone, that likely also means the most recent rom won't work on the older MAME RA cores that support runahead, so people who keep their roms synced with the latest version will likely need to keep an old rom around if they intend to try to play this with the RA core.
    I wonder if the PCB is laggy...

  • @FidWusft-ey4gn
    @FidWusft-ey4gn 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    3:31 i know this is an old video but no, i don't think the large majority of players are even aware of what amount of input lag the 3s dc port has. The japanese do not use it because using console ports for competitions was simply not a thing when they had thousands of game centers and even more candy cabs with the actual hardware in them. This has changed over the years as arcades have disappeared and cabs became laggy lcd monitors and arcade hardware became modified windows pcs. The actual reason the dc port is ignored is becaused it's based on version b of the arcade board. It removes unblockables from the game, which the playerbase decided makes for an inferior game.

  • @matsunaga3
    @matsunaga3 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I put a lot of time into this game in one of those Shmups forum contests years ago, it’s a really cool and unique game. I think I enjoy Gigawing more though.

  • @Chinopolis
    @Chinopolis 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Nice review, this game looks really interesting but also really intimidating. Giga Wing and Mars Matrix graphics were always so strange to me, something about the way everything is constantly moving and shifting around throws me off.
    Also having recently 1cc'd Gunbird 2 I can't imagine playing the dreamcast version for anything other than the novelty of using Morrigan. Between the input lag and the slightly muddy graphics that port is not good for serious play.

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Agreed!! Hopefully we get rollback on Flycast soon to get that lag down. Also congrats on the 1cc, you re a beast that game is BRUTAL in the 2nd loop.

    • @Chinopolis
      @Chinopolis 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@TheElectricUnderground Ah I meant 1-All not 1cc I made it about 30 seconds in the second loop LOL

  • @Moddeang123
    @Moddeang123 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    That "DREAMCAST" at 1:21 XD

  • @EMMA-GAMES
    @EMMA-GAMES 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I like the prerendered 3D sprites, the ost, the mechanics, the manic qualities, and most importantly: moskweeeeeto. good ass geimu

  • @MartinIrwin
    @MartinIrwin 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great work, as always!

  • @xtlm
    @xtlm 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I remember wanting to play this ever since reading the dumb little blurb review in GameInformer back when it was new. They were AMAZED about the amount of bullets on the screen.
    But I never had a DC, and my friends who had one never found it to buy anywhere.....and now it's very expensive lol
    One day!

  • @SoundsOfSushi
    @SoundsOfSushi ปีที่แล้ว

    I loved this game on the Dreamcast. It gave me many memorable blisters.

  • @titi64230
    @titi64230 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Talking about gunbird2, what is the best way to play it with less lag? Got it on switch and it s very lagy, but this game is so cool. ( and i will receive my xbox 360 modded this week, thnaks for your advice on this ! )

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      definitely play it on shmuparch, pcb level lag th-cam.com/video/4s0DPIIcdWU/w-d-xo.html

    • @titi64230
      @titi64230 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks

  • @ZekealllBeroke
    @ZekealllBeroke ปีที่แล้ว

    14:25 same here always enjoyed those pre rendered visuals when done right ala final fantasy donkey Kong country or even this game

  • @nathanieldavis4342
    @nathanieldavis4342 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Weird you had trouble getting it running in MAME, unless it's issues with QSound getting pulled out to its own ROM dependency instead of being included in every CPS-2 game like it used to be. I've had it running fine for years now.

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yep q sound was indeed the problem ha. Was trying to get it up and going on the latest Groovymame release

  • @FuZZbaLLbee
    @FuZZbaLLbee 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    What about emulating it in redream?

  • @dadrising6464
    @dadrising6464 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    it can be played on a capcom home arcade (choko hack, capcom+snk pack)

  • @Pythoner
    @Pythoner ปีที่แล้ว

    I run this game on my PSP. How about that?

  • @AnonYmous-yb5ew
    @AnonYmous-yb5ew 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    You can also run it on CPS-2 ya know:P I really like this game (play on DC). Soaking the shots up and firing them back is just so damn satisfying. Haven't played it in forever though. Did it also have graze mechanics or no (I was so sure it did but can't find info on it so maybe that was all just in my head)?

    • @hypnoshypnos4755
      @hypnoshypnos4755 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      No graze mechanics in Mars Matrix. Just gold cube chaining. The funny thing is that chaining cubes doesn't actually, in itself, increase your score, it just increases the multiplier that's applied to basically every place where you do get points. This is also true of the Giga Wing games. Hence the astronomical scores.

  • @christianjonker8181
    @christianjonker8181 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I hope you review Giga Wng at some point.

  • @miltiadiskoutsokeras9189
    @miltiadiskoutsokeras9189 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    FBNeo supports CPS-2 so the game is supported. Every CPS-2 emulator can play this. Trivia: Nobody knows what exactly Capcom did to port 384 dots wide games to the 640 of the Dreamcast. It is not an integer scale, yet no Capcom game showcases shimmering.

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  4 ปีที่แล้ว

      That s interesting!! I wonder what they did? Maybe some kind of fancy scaling?

    • @dadrising6464
      @dadrising6464 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@TheElectricUnderground or maybe some subtle filtering

    • @hypnoshypnos4755
      @hypnoshypnos4755 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I'm pretty sure these games came with built-in geometry controls. Mars Matrix certainly did. I remember reading a thing that recommended setting the vertical resolution to 448 rather than 480 to get a better look to it (I don't think there was quite as optimal of a setting for the horizontal). I tend not to notice that kind of thing very much, though.

  • @WayToTheGrave
    @WayToTheGrave 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Adore this game. Dumped hours into it as a child and it got me into danmaku.

  • @VJFranzK
    @VJFranzK ปีที่แล้ว

    The DC port has extra features with achievements and extra stuff to collect! we played it many times to find everything

  • @evilashxero
    @evilashxero ปีที่แล้ว

    I heard about this game on SHUMPS FARM.

  • @Videogamelover58
    @Videogamelover58 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    My favorite dreamcast game!

  • @fuzzbear677
    @fuzzbear677 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Play Street Fighters third strikes on the anniversary for PlayStation 4 perfect no lagging🕹🎮😀👍🏾

  • @TBtheking405216
    @TBtheking405216 ปีที่แล้ว

    I’m disappointed this isn’t on any of the Arcade Stadium collections

  • @lancebukkake
    @lancebukkake 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Queen Charlene would approve :)

  • @Dannyboy-nj4wh
    @Dannyboy-nj4wh 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Other systems woulda lagged badly during late 90's era

  • @bhpinball
    @bhpinball ปีที่แล้ว

    What meme?

  • @yakovhadash
    @yakovhadash 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Sega Drrrreamcast

  • @Christof_Classen
    @Christof_Classen 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    *My only Problem i have with this Game is the "Aspect Ratio" !!*
    *The Space in front of your Ship is to Short !*
    *Normally this Aspect Ratio is for a Horizontal-Shmup and not a Vertical-Shmup !*
    *So, i dont like to play THIS Game ;(*

  • @neontetra1000
    @neontetra1000 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I wish someone would just sell a hdmi ready stock ready raspberry pi. pre loaded and configured with the top 20 Shmup arch ganes similar to buying a console I would love one but hate dealing with pc stuff after being an iOS nerd for 10 years
    There must be a market for it.

  • @khlothostonney5760
    @khlothostonney5760 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    why did you say sega dreamcast with such horrible accent?