Cho Ren Sha 68K Review! A FREE TO DOWNLOAD Pioneering Japanese Indie Shmup from the 90's!

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 4 лют 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 139

  • @Eboshidori
    @Eboshidori 3 роки тому +63

    There's a hidden stage select option. If you go to Config menu and hold UP button for a few seconds, you unlock several debug options, along with stage and loop (ACCHO) select. There are several harder loops you can access easily this way (I think normally you'd have to select Continue after defeating TLB to keep the game looping) and even a secret "Show time!!" stage if you choose stage F from the debug menu. Enjoy!

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 роки тому +9

      oh this is really great info! Thanks for sharing!!

    • @100hundert
      @100hundert 3 роки тому +3

      Wow, thank you!!! I really wanted to play this game again, but no level select always kills my long term motivation with a title. That's so cool!

    • @drewyang3262
      @drewyang3262 3 роки тому

      Samus 2
      ua-cam.com/video/EgYOim3wvK4/v-deo.html

    • @jamesiewalters2360
      @jamesiewalters2360 3 роки тому +2

      fancy seeing you here!! also, it doesn't look like he knows that he can grab all 3 at once, huh?

    • @mechzilla569
      @mechzilla569 3 роки тому +1

      Did not expect you to be here

  • @100hundert
    @100hundert 3 роки тому +18

    ... Now I really want you to do a "history of bullet patterns" video 😂 It's such an interesting topic, because, yeah, some of these patterns in Cho Ren Sha look so surprisingly modern!

  • @MintythecatIsABeast
    @MintythecatIsABeast 3 роки тому +3

    Lovely overview of cho ren sha. I'm glad that you chose to give this Shmup a bit more limelight. It's an interesting Shmup. Info on the Music: the designer said that we wanted a more 'chip sound' as opposed to laying on some red book Dance/Rock/etc.

    • @oxcellent
      @oxcellent 3 роки тому +1

      Thats simply because the x68000 had a Yamaha YM2151 FM Soundchip and thats why there is chipsound. The x68k games came on 5 1/4" Floppies, no room for Redbook Audio.

  • @princeofmars6296
    @princeofmars6296 3 роки тому +5

    my favorite shmup of all time seriously

  • @amerigocosta7452
    @amerigocosta7452 3 роки тому +13

    The music is by Loser Kashiwagi and it's very memorable, like his moniker. To be honest I have no problem with the background graphics being as minimal as they are. Aside of making sense because you're basically fighting going around a ring shaped space station, they allow the attack patterns and the bullets to pop even more. It's part of the charm of the game. And of course making a crapload of bitmap graphics for the scrolling backgrounds would have taken months and was probably beyond the scope of what was basically a one man game due for the next Comiket.

  • @chriskek7321
    @chriskek7321 3 роки тому +19

    One small detail: the original sharp version runs at 55 fps, but the windows version runs at 60 fps making the game almost 9% faster and harder !!

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 роки тому +3

      good to know! I wonder if there is some kind of patch you can use to get the PC version to run at the original framerate?

    • @chriskek7321
      @chriskek7321 3 роки тому +1

      @@TheElectricUnderground I don't believe there is, but you can run the sharp version on retroarch with the settings of your shmuparch build for gsync to run it properly. Not sure if it supports runahead though - better turn it off

    • @RinMariiiii
      @RinMariiiii Рік тому

      I'm just used to the Windows version framerate, it's a bit harder of course but not impossible. Just means I have a leg up if I play it on a real X68k.

  • @AkshayWadekar
    @AkshayWadekar 3 роки тому +2

    You did it! I'm so excited!

  • @ThatGamingGuyfromthe70s
    @ThatGamingGuyfromthe70s 3 роки тому +6

    I really like this game, its tough as hell but gameplay is addictive which keeps me coming back. A few other pc titles im into are Battle Traverse, Kaikan, Mecha Ritz and the Siter Skain trilogy. Digging into the doujin scene on pc unearths some great shooters.

    • @ThatGamingGuyfromthe70s
      @ThatGamingGuyfromthe70s 3 роки тому

      @r33motethanks for the recommendations, I will check out varstray. Soldier Force is a good one, the soldier and StarForce series have been a favourite for a long time.

  • @AKTANEARCADE
    @AKTANEARCADE 3 роки тому +2

    You didnt mention it, but you showed the footage... one of the most mindblowing things to me, as a person new to the genre, was how you could make those 2 enemy midbosses that circle, actually hit each other - whoa friendly fire in a shmup?! This game just kept blowing my mind. Also how that explosion at the beginning is related to the end of loop 1... I always thought that the background indicated you flying around a giant circular space station haha, and that the end of loop 1 was actually like a "groundhogs day" scenario :) so much fun to speculate

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 роки тому

      Oh that's really interesting!

    • @PiesliceProductions
      @PiesliceProductions 3 роки тому +2

      It is also important scoring trick. If you can make the st1 bosses to kill each other you can rack up more than 800k from the first stage

    • @AkshayWadekar
      @AkshayWadekar 3 роки тому

      @@PiesliceProductions there ya go - even better. The game is so simple and elegant, yet seems to have a lot of depth... Such a cool game.

  • @zazi77
    @zazi77 3 роки тому +4

    Great video! I love the sharp doujins. Two of my favorite doujins are exceed and death ephemera

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 роки тому +1

      oh snap that reminds me I need to cover more exceed here soon, I have all the games :-)

    • @zazi77
      @zazi77 3 роки тому

      @@TheElectricUnderground i’m looking for guided ms with no luck

  • @gooders7447
    @gooders7447 3 роки тому +1

    Another example of the only video I can find that isn't a run being by you Mark! I should really become a patron at this point lol, between you and SJ I can always find something on what I'm playing, good man

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 роки тому +1

      That would be really appreciated!!! :-) about to release a massive pink sweets vid that took about a week to make ha

    • @gooders7447
      @gooders7447 3 роки тому +1

      @@TheElectricUnderground done and done mate, look forward to voting on the vid topics! I want a 1cc guide for OG donpachi!!!

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 роки тому +1

      @@gooders7447 oh that would be fun! I could get plas to help (he holds the wr for c type)

  • @Chinopolis
    @Chinopolis 3 роки тому +1

    Great review and great game! I really appreciate you taking the time in the beginning talking about how to set it up and what you need to record/stream it. I had to really did to get a version that actually worked, and then got lucky stumbling across that windower program. Having it front and center is super helpful.

  • @Midekai
    @Midekai 3 роки тому +1

    I remember stumbling across this game over a decade ago and being blown away by it. It's also one of the first games that educated me on the sharp x68k too. Great video

  • @JetWolfEX
    @JetWolfEX 3 роки тому +4

    I haven't datamined the game or anything but I know some things I haven't heard others talk about.
    in-game press f then g to fast forward (great for skippping the intro explosion or boss entrances) then press j for normal speed. 1 will fully pause the game
    More well known stuff:
    -there are bonus enemy formations for defeating some groups faster, some bosses have hidden bonus enemies too if you wait around too long, especially stage 2 just don't attack it and completely unique enemies will appear worth a lot of points.
    -in options press down once then hold up, lots to explore here.

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 роки тому +1

      oh that's really cool to know, these will def come in handy for practice!

  • @JuanRoosterbeard
    @JuanRoosterbeard 3 роки тому +1

    gran video! im exited of the idea about the origin of bullet patterns.-

  • @taishou94
    @taishou94 3 роки тому +1

    Never knew about this! Thanks!!

  • @iraplikeyoubreathe
    @iraplikeyoubreathe 3 роки тому +1

    When i played cho ren sha i couldnt get that triple powerup either. Glad you mentioned that.

  • @travissmith8017
    @travissmith8017 3 роки тому +1

    Great video man, love hearing about great obscure shooters lost in time.

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 роки тому

      yeah it's a huge shame these games don't get the love and attention they deserve, hopefully my channel can help a little ha

  • @SpaceDave3000
    @SpaceDave3000 3 роки тому +5

    I always figured the guy who made it just didn't care enough about backgrounds, he just wanted that fast moving compile style thing going on to give a sense of movement. Trying to get all the powerups all the time is the hardest thing to do, but it's totally possible.

  • @viniciusvbf
    @viniciusvbf 3 роки тому +3

    I had no idea this was developed for a specific hardware, thought it was just some random pc doujin.
    I really hope whoever did this got some money from the original release, because it truly is one of the best shmups ever made. I would totally pay for a new version with some sort of arrange mode or something like that.

  • @chrumczyk5494
    @chrumczyk5494 3 роки тому +1

    I've been playing this one when I got into shmups. It was a blast, but I thought it's long gone and forgotten. Now it's back thanks to Mark :) Can't wait till they open hardware stores so I can make myself a new Arcade stick box :D

  • @japanesegameexchange
    @japanesegameexchange 3 роки тому +2

    Hey Mark, the x68000 ran a Yamaha YM2151 FM synth chip. This is the same chip that was used on Toaplan Version 2 hardware which ran Batsugun, Mahou, Shippu Mahou, Garegga, Batrider, and a few others. If you listen closely to the Garegga OST, there’s some instrumentation similarities with Cho Ren Sha due to sharing the YM2151.

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 роки тому +1

      Oh that's really cool! Makes sense because there are parts of the ost that definitely remind me of garegga's and batrider's music!

  • @varyagace
    @varyagace Рік тому

    I just downloaded this game now, so I haven't played it yet, but I just realized, watching the background footage, that Graze Counter GM took A LOT from this game as inspiration! Lots of enemy and shot patterns were very similar if not identical to this game. Also the triangular pickup system is exactly the same too. Really cool to see this influence.

  • @ZezRetro
    @ZezRetro 3 роки тому +1

    Cool! I just tried it in VMWare in an Windows XP image and it worked great! keyboard worked right away, havnt tried a USB stick yet though, thank you!

    • @kurisuchiinathecrocodile333
      @kurisuchiinathecrocodile333 7 місяців тому

      but it was updated for win10 compatibility around 2017, no need to use 2001 build...

  • @mothman607
    @mothman607 3 роки тому +5

    This can also be played on MiSter- it requires the newer beta X68k core, but works beautifully.

    • @youtibbles2546
      @youtibbles2546 3 роки тому

      was coming here to mention just this !
      :)

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 роки тому +2

      that's really awesome! I'm gonna have to give it a try on the mister sometime!

    • @dixeeflatline
      @dixeeflatline 3 роки тому +1

      I've been playing this a bunch on MiSTer and it's fantastic. There is a new version of the core that has the Jotego YM2151 clone so the sound is absolutely fantastic now. Also, discovered that it has a vertical mode (XSP_VERTICAL).

  • @censoredterminalautism4073
    @censoredterminalautism4073 3 роки тому +4

    I heard about this game really early on, when I first got into Touhou. Pretty well known considering that the X68000 is kinda obscure in the west. More than the PC-98, I would say. Pretty impressive, though. It was arcade level hardware. And it was released over a year before the Mega Drive came out in Japan too. Look at a game like Street Fighter II, that came out for absolutely everything, and it's easy to see how impressive it was. That Castlevania Chronicles game for the PS1 is actually another X68K port. Might have even found out about it because of that. Or because of GameFAQs (quite a few games have X68K versions).

  • @PiesliceProductions
    @PiesliceProductions 3 роки тому +3

    I think the game was sold physically in some Japanese doujin meetings when it came out

  • @Mansfels
    @Mansfels 3 місяці тому

    The game was updated to 1.10 and among other improvements it now has backgrounds. And it plays good through retroarch with save states

  • @MrJBRPG
    @MrJBRPG 3 роки тому +1

    Since you have the empty space at the left and right side, you can use the top half area to put over the (Like & Subscribe) tactics during the patrons section as well as utilizing the Patreon link as well.
    You can also have a bottom or top side bar mentioning that "Like & Subscribe" at the beginning of the video and slide away as soon as the new subject enters in.

    • @hulksmash8159
      @hulksmash8159 3 роки тому

      Really tired of channels doing that and asking for money all the time. I use Adblock and just skip past when youtubers are asking for likes and money etc. in the video.

  • @evanseifert8858
    @evanseifert8858 Рік тому

    This game is absolutely awesome. I listen to the music at least once every few weeks.

  • @hooksnfangs6006
    @hooksnfangs6006 3 роки тому +2

    Gotta get more time in this game, but it really is impressive for a 1995 release. The bullet patterns are fast n fun!
    What's interesting is that the default entries in the score ranking screen makes shoutouts to other SHMUPS like Tatsujin, Batsugun, and Dogyuun.

    • @dixeeflatline
      @dixeeflatline 3 роки тому

      Agreed, it's like a shopping list for some of the greatest shmups.

  • @GITAHxgCoo
    @GITAHxgCoo 3 роки тому +2

    cho ren sha rules

  • @LowKeyTired-q7d
    @LowKeyTired-q7d 3 роки тому +1

    Awesome feels dude ...

  • @lunchb0x_x119
    @lunchb0x_x119 3 роки тому +1

    My dude big fan of your channel, in the future would love to see a Ibara review by Taito if it's possible. Keep up the great work! 💯❤

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 роки тому

      Here you go! ua-cam.com/video/1EArEV1zVog/v-deo.html

    • @lunchb0x_x119
      @lunchb0x_x119 3 роки тому

      Ty been trying to digest all your content definently miss it, keep up the great work!

  • @peace4myheart
    @peace4myheart 3 роки тому +1

    The game looks really cool but also really tough. Gotta try it out later. Thanks for putting the game on notice or else I would never have known about it.

    • @superandroidtron
      @superandroidtron 3 роки тому +1

      The first loop isn't actually too bad especially on the X68K original. Your hitbox is tiny and the patterns are very readable. Give it a shot!

  • @spidermacho123
    @spidermacho123 Рік тому +1

    did you know that this game got updated recently, and now it has different backgrounds and an actual ending? you need an X6000 emulator to play it though.

    • @robertk9512
      @robertk9512 Рік тому +1

      Retro arch has support for x68000. I’m going to give it a try

    • @robertk9512
      @robertk9512 Рік тому +1

      “2023: 1.10 released. Unique backgrounds for every stage, some enemies redrawn, borrowed sound effects replaced, better performance via build with newer GCC, countless other small changes.”

  • @SteveFusionX
    @SteveFusionX 2 роки тому +1

    what a great looking game, especially for 1995

  • @BamdTheBamd
    @BamdTheBamd 3 роки тому +3

    glitcho is my favourite ddp character

  • @JetWolfEX
    @JetWolfEX 3 роки тому +1

    This is being hidden for some reason but my original comment was something like
    This was my first 2-all, one of my favorites I'll never get bored of it.
    Wonderful game.
    I like the references to other gamesand Zeroranger referenced this game, I
    thought that was neat.

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 роки тому +1

      congrats on the 2-all! yes I think it's really cool when other games live zeroranger show these titles love!

  • @100hundert
    @100hundert 3 роки тому +1

    Holy shit. This is one of the first shmups I ever played back in the early 2000s (along with other freeware titles like Warning Forever and rRootage), but I had no idea it's from 1995.
    That this came out before DDP and Garegga really is fascinating. It has aged so well, with the fast shots, the large rotating sprites, and the simply enjoyable, dynamic feel. Donpachi looks surprisingly dry and boring in comparison.
    The bullets really remind me a lot of Batrider, the thin needle type look almost identical, and the enemy design is very similar. The debris flying everywhere and the destructible missiles remind me a lot of Raizing too. The way the enemies rotate and fly on the screen and as the multi colored bullets also look a lot like Dangun Feveron (which as I understand was also kind of a homage to the Toaplan style).
    (The shots your ship fires - green and yellow - reminds me very specifically of Strawman from Batrider!)
    And that "kinda classic, kinda bullet hell" sweet spot is something that really resonates with me too. Batrider and Crimzon Clover both hit that point so well for me.
    Back when I first played this game I had almost no context for it, but thinking about how many titles it must have influenced is mind blowing. I'm just now realizing how little I have actually seen of this game and how much I underestimated how far ahead of its time it really was!

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 роки тому

      Yes exactly!! I actually thought the game came out in 2010 or so before researching it's history :-)

    • @kurisuchiinathecrocodile333
      @kurisuchiinathecrocodile333 7 місяців тому

      its from 1998. 1995 was what we call today "early access" version, lol

    • @kurisuchiinathecrocodile333
      @kurisuchiinathecrocodile333 7 місяців тому

      so yeah, it did NOT "came before Garegga", also if you check developer interviews translation over shmuplations, they specifically say that Garegga was one of inspirations, even if the earliest prototype of game was done before it, seemingly developer was playing it and adjusting the game during development

  • @BigJuffer
    @BigJuffer 3 роки тому +2

    My favourite shoot em up "at home". Frame rate differs by 5 fps between the x68k and windows versions (not that I can tell!). The MiSTer core doesn't replicate all the instruments in the soundtrack properly just yet so hope they can fix that!

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 роки тому +1

      Oh I didn't know the mister can emulate the game! That will be cool to check out when they get the ost working :-)

  • @silverstar8561
    @silverstar8561 3 роки тому +2

    Always wanted to try it out, but i still have too much shmups to play. About practice mode - i might try to run it in dosbox or VM when ill get here

  • @AndruHC
    @AndruHC 2 роки тому +2

    Hey, can I ask you something? I would like to know what settings should I use to be able to stream this game on OBS? I have the program to play in windowed mode but when I check OBS to adjust the game screen nothing is seen
    Could you help me with this please?
    Edit: After several tests I managed to find a way to record and live stream this game correctly.
    I will tell you how to do it: First open the game, go to Config and press the Win key and you will be on the desktop. Open OBS, configure the basics but the important thing is that you add ''Screen Capture'' in sources. Open the game again in the taskbar, press the key configured to start recording or live streaming and you would be all set.
    One thing to say is that the first time I did this I checked the test recording and saw that the game was in the upper left corner with a small resolution. The second test that I did the game was recorded in full screen, I don't know if this can happen to you too but I leave the data.
    I hope this helps you! c:

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  2 роки тому +1

      I wish I could my friend but I had to figure out this really awkward work around where I played the game on a second computer and output that computer's display to a capture card ... it was a pain in the ass.

    • @AndruHC
      @AndruHC 2 роки тому

      @@TheElectricUnderground Oh, wow. Ok then, I'll keep doing tests until I get the game captured correctly, thanks for answering and excellent video! c:

    • @LukePlayz-gf2is
      @LukePlayz-gf2is Рік тому

      You can use DXWND to play it in windowed mode or use a virtual machine.

  • @jacob-spring
    @jacob-spring 3 роки тому +1

    I remember finding this back in 2006 when I got back into shooters and found "the farm". Have you tried Warning Forever, which is also a free pc shooter? I found it along with Cho Ren Sha back in the day.

  • @JasonZnack
    @JasonZnack 3 роки тому +2

    You've got a mister, set up the x68k core and play it on the original hardware.

  • @paulhermansen6196
    @paulhermansen6196 5 місяців тому

    Using Antimicro to turn the fire button on my xbox gamepad into a turbo button unfortunately doesn't work (olde Windows 7 PC, 64 bit).
    Any alternatives?

  • @samuelcoleman1643
    @samuelcoleman1643 3 роки тому +1

    Damn I can't get it to run without audio stuttering. Anyone else have this problem and able to solve it?

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 роки тому

      Hmmmm I haven't ran into this. Try running it through the program that I linked in the vid description, maybe that will help.

  • @morrowlterraslove
    @morrowlterraslove Місяць тому

    Update there’s now a windows port launched for 1.10

  • @jamesiewalters2360
    @jamesiewalters2360 3 роки тому +1

    if i were to summerise this game, i'd say it's the revolver of shmups; looks, audio, gameplay all hold up to this day, though the lack of background versatility is kinda dull....

  • @MP-S-TG
    @MP-S-TG Рік тому

    What a great pace and flow this game has. Too bad I experience some input lag for some unknown reason :(

  • @squidowobble9793
    @squidowobble9793 3 роки тому +1

    I'd really love to play it but I can't seem to get the sound working. The audio freezes and skips like a scratched dvd (windows 10 btw)

    • @TyTy.G
      @TyTy.G 3 роки тому +3

      Are you using the latest version? The zip file is called "CH170523". It's the latest version released in 2017 and features improved compatibility for Windows 10

    • @squidowobble9793
      @squidowobble9793 3 роки тому

      @@TyTy.G Oh, thank you! I searched for that version and found it, and now it's working :D

    • @TyTy.G
      @TyTy.G 3 роки тому

      @@squidowobble9793 Awesome! Glad I could help

    • @edogila
      @edogila 3 роки тому

      @@squidowobble9793 Hey, I run into the same problem and I could not find the other version that you both are talking about, where do you find it? Thanks.

    • @TyTy.G
      @TyTy.G 3 роки тому

      @@edogila I tried sending you a link to an archive of the official page as a response here, but I think links are disabled for this comment section

  • @segatouringcar3738
    @segatouringcar3738 3 роки тому +1

    Really fantastic game. Maybe was the first "doujin" or "amateur" PC game that when playing it i said: WOOOOOOOW!

  • @miltiadiskoutsokeras9189
    @miltiadiskoutsokeras9189 3 роки тому +1

    The repetitive backgrounds and 68k emulation quite of restricts the target audience. The 55Hz vertical refresh also puts it into R-Type territory in terms of display hardware requirements. It definitely is a really good game though.

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 роки тому

      yeah a very specific game for a very specific audience ha. I love it for it though!

  • @lumine6336
    @lumine6336 3 роки тому +2

    I’m pretty sure there’s a hidden menu with stage select. Really like this game, though I’m not that good at it.

  • @david2618
    @david2618 3 роки тому +1

    Hi, I've noticed many of your viewers are making games, including me, sorry for bothering you but is there a good place to let people know of our games?

  • @LukePlayz-gf2is
    @LukePlayz-gf2is Рік тому

    Good game but how do I autofire (on pc keyboard) my finger hurts!

    • @kurisuchiinathecrocodile333
      @kurisuchiinathecrocodile333 7 місяців тому

      there is no autofire in this game, but also you dont need to mash very fast, do you? try pressing button more slowly, its not a game like Blazing Star where you have press like a maniac

  • @jonniefast
    @jonniefast 2 роки тому +1

    its tough lol
    but ive been playing with a famicom keyboard 😈

  • @EMMA-GAMES
    @EMMA-GAMES 2 роки тому +1

    this game is the fuckin shit

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  2 роки тому +1

      Yeah it s awesome

    • @EMMA-GAMES
      @EMMA-GAMES 2 роки тому

      @@TheElectricUnderground so awesome... zenodyne and crimzon clover and zeroranger clearly all drew from this.. and gwangedash uses the sfx LOL

  • @michaelhoule2134
    @michaelhoule2134 3 роки тому +1

    Aghhh I missed it le sigh

    • @TheElectricUnderground
      @TheElectricUnderground  3 роки тому

      oh dang! yeah it premiered a bit later than usual because the rendering took FOREVER!!!

  • @ZatohRondohoon3227
    @ZatohRondohoon3227 3 роки тому +1

    Comparing ZeroRanger, CRSx68k Is WAY MORE DIFFICULT. At Least, ZeroRanger's Rage-quit For Me, Came At TLB AT Fake Game.

  • @Epicasfuk
    @Epicasfuk 3 роки тому +4

    The dev's played Recca for NES in every hour of his free time.