Recent posts

#1
Umihara Kawase / Re: High Score Runs
Last post by Princess Rescuer - January 07, 2023, 01:10:04 AM
A couple new discoveries that help out a bit. First is in Field 37- the first Field other than 57 that it's worth going back and forth collecting fish in. This takes me back. Instead of the top part of the level, collect fish on the green floor next to the rising platforms. The spawn rate is the same and the area is smaller.

Another is Field 41. You may have to sacrifice a couple thousand points for this, but it's worth it, as this strategy will ensure you will finish runs more consistently. Get to the end of the Field, stand next to the door, and catch the respawning fish that way. Return to the door after catching fish to ensure they don't spawn in the spike pits.

New TAS strategy: on 17, stand next to the spikes while facing right. Shoot down-left to catch fish from the left while shooting right when fish spawn on the platform slightly above. Use the R button to look to the right so you can see the egg-shooting ones more easily. Could be a real run strat, but it's too risky.

TAS route is 17, 37, 38, 41, 46, and 48. Regular route is 14, 17, 37, 41, 46, and 48.
#2
Other Umihara Kawase Discussion / Steam Streaming video of Sakai...
Last post by Alc - January 02, 2023, 11:57:22 PM

This was for a time attack tournament.

Youtube's autotranslate is so close now that I can almost sit down and watch something like this, but it's still not quite there. Anyway, a video worth preserving I thought.

(I may have uploaded it here before, I found it in my YT channel apparently unseen - apologies if it's a repost.)
#3
Umihara Kawase Shun / Shun done blindfold by waai wi...
Last post by Alc - January 02, 2023, 11:13:13 PM
This was at a Japanese speedrunning event. Pretty cool to see! Much kudos and respect to all the Japanese players, they solidly support these games even after all this time. They are an inspiration.

See it here:

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1690512775

Twitch have a nasty habit of ditching VODs ASAP, so I've ripped a copy and it'll be available on my YT channel by the time you read this:

#4
Umihara Kawase / PS4/PS5 port pls
Last post by Princess Rescuer - November 12, 2022, 12:02:10 AM
I just got a PS5 and I've been enjoying arcade ports on it. I would like it if the same thing happened for the Umihara Kawase trilogy. Just port the Vita version (with the stage select and turning music off) for the PS4/PS5 similar to an Arcade Archives. Same brightness, same screen settings, same everything. There is a current-gen port of the game on Switch, but that's not good enough. It's a port of the Super Famicom version, not the Vita version. It also allows you to rewind and savestate, making WRs illegitimate unless recorded. A current PlayStation port of the Vita version would be effortless. And possibly Xbox also?
#5
Off-Topic / Re: New from Studio Saizensen
Last post by Alc - October 14, 2022, 01:59:01 AM
Cool, thanks for taking the time to post this. I ought to subscribe to them on Twitter or something, I never seem to hear of their stuff outside of this forum.

I have to say that nothing here strikes me as a change of pace - it seems like the same MO as the last few games; namely, top-notch 2D art, but with 3D art that seems like programmer art, like prototype placeholders. Which would be fine, except the games themselves are almost entirely spent in 3D!

Also, it looks better in motion (in that Twitter vid) than it does in the still images they've provided... why the hell would you put out screenshots showing the worst moments of your game? It's really baffling.

Anyway, I'll buy both of them, when they let me.
#6
Umihara Kawase / Re: High Score Runs
Last post by Princess Rescuer - October 12, 2022, 02:13:37 AM
It looks like I finally have a competitor- Emoon! I look forward to seeing someone beat my score finally! He uses a route that ends at Field 37, which is suboptimal. I told him to visit this page.
#7
Off-Topic / New from Studio Saizensen
Last post by CyanideBlizzard - October 11, 2022, 05:43:59 AM
I hope you've all been taking great care.  There's been a bit of news on the Saizensen front over the past few months, and I wanted to share some of that with you.

MilkChan

An arcade game utilizing the ALL . Net P-ras MULTI system from Sega, MilkChan is a single player platformer that's all about reaching point A to B with a formula that might be a bit familiar to those of us here.


MilkChan hit back in July, and it sounds like there's been several competitions according to the website.  There's also no immediate plans for a PC or console release, or any that I could find during my brief search.  Though, I'd imagine there's going to be something in the works down the road given Saizensen's history.  MilkChan looks really charming, and super fun.  Plus, with an emphasis on quickest completion time?  It'll be no Umihara Kawase replacement, but certainly should conjure up just as much fun.

and then there's Buccanyar.

Saizensen has really been venturing into experimental territories as a company.  With Myastere, a metroidvania styled game, to Buccanyar which is described to be a "naval tower offense game".




Gematsu
wrote up a very lengthy piece on it that I won't waste your time recycling, but it certainly appears to be their big release for 2023 (as the game is currently slated for a Spring 2023 release).  I've always been mixed on Saizensen's quality with 3D modeling, but Buccanyar seems to be going all in to, hopefully, change that.  I don't think Buccanyar is going to wow anyone with its visuals, but it certainly seems to be the most ambitious title they've done to date.  Especially considering that the game is touting
 
  •   An exploration adventure and sea battle game set in an oceanic world.
  •   Three protagonists (heroines) and their crew of evolved cats set out on an adventure aboard their own ships.
  •   Explore unknown areas of the sea and engage in battle to open new routes while customizing and upgrading your ship.
  •   Combine a wealth of parts to build a unique ship all your own.
  •   A mysterious "god," monsters, unique pirates, and more appear in this epic story about the mysteries of the world.

and you can entirely see why I say this looks to be the most ambitious project they've worked on.

You can see some video of it in action here.

This kind of stuff is my jam, so I'm hopeful that Buccanyar will be just as much fun as it sounds.  It looks to have an arcade-y feel to it, and a bit floaty with how the ships manuever, but it's hard to speak on the quality of the final product.  I'm optimistic for good things, and to be better translated than their previous endeavor.
#8
Umihara Kawase / Re: High Score Runs
Last post by Princess Rescuer - August 30, 2022, 07:19:42 PM
Got 411016 on Vita. Breaks the previous WR of 402115 from 2018.
#9
Umihara Kawase / Easiest way to Beat the Game
Last post by Princess Rescuer - August 03, 2022, 08:05:29 PM
We've been through a lot in this game- discovering that the High Score can be at least 500,000, all 60 Exits can be cleared within a couple of hours of each other, and that every Exit can be reached without using the Jump button- and even a few can be completed without the Hook. Let's take it easy on ourselves.

The game is out on Switch VC in Japan, and there's a possibility that it could reach other regions soon. This will be the most available it's ever been since the PC version- and it's much more likely to find an audience on the Nintendo platform. Lots of new players will have a chance at no extra cost if they already have a subscription (and if they already have one, starting a Japanese account is free and requires no extra subscription). This will be their first time, and they will be surprised at the game's steep challenge curve. Personally, I think waiting out the half-hour time limit is slow and it would be quicker to practice and get better. But if you're new and bad and that's not an option, what is the easiest path you can take to victory?

The rules are simple- find the easiest path you can take to the exit in an End Field. Using the time limit is allowed. Rewinds and Savestates de-legitimize a run.

You would think, Shortest Path, right? Shortest Path is a good choice, but it's a bit steep. We can do better than that. Shortest Path is mis-named, because there are indeed even shorter ones. Entering the 11-12 or 12-36 Exits will take you straight to Field 55. Getting to Field 36 and taking the 45 Exit after half an hour will take you straight to 57. I would not recommend either of these- in Field 11, taking the Field 18 Exit takes you to Field 28. The Field 8 Exit does the same after the Tadpole (not that hard, you'll get used to it). Both are better options and easier Exits to get to.

We're still not done. The beginning part of the Longest Path, that is 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 8 > 28, is still better. Not only are these Fields easier (the left path on 2 is intended for more experienced players), but you have 3 opportunities for extra lives before the Warp. The 55 Warp gives you 1, the 11-8 Exit gives you 2, and the 11-18 gives you 2 also, but only if you still have enough time for Field 18 (which you should, as you would have to lose a life to warp that early). The Longest Path beginning offers you 3 before 8-14 ( you can't Warp until you at least clear Field 8 ) and you can be pickier about which Fields you wait beside the door in and which ones you complete faster. Even for a beginner, the time limits are quite generous, especially in the earlier Fields. In fact, this is the route I used to beat the game for the first time. We all have to start somewhere.

If you have a better option for new players, post it here!
#10
Site Discussion / Re: Plans for info section rel...
Last post by KawaseFan - August 03, 2022, 09:32:22 AM
Sorry for the slight delay!

I've just relaunched the info section as UmiharaWiki (credit to Drifter for suggesting that name).

At least for now, it will remain hosted under KawaseFan.net, and the forum will remain named the KawaseFan.net Forum (though these may change in the future).