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Way too much Akai Katana Shin footage
After the break, you'll find four videos of Akai Katana Shin, the (unfortunately region-locked) Xbox 360 version of Cave's latest arcade shmup, including one clip of the console-exclusive "Zetsu" ("Absolute") mode, one "expert mode" clip, one "beginner mode," and finally a new trailer. This may prove to be too much sensory input for your brain. Just a warning. After watching this, it's kind of a bummer to think that it's stuck in Japan, but the good news is that it's possible to justify the purchase of a Japanese Xbox 360 and this game by comparing the cost to that of an arcade board. Right? Sure. Or you could wait for someone to localize it.
Cave shmup Akai Katana coming to 360 in region-locked Japan release
Akai Katana ("Red Katana," or, we suppose, "Red Sword," depending on how much translation you need) is a horizontal scrolling shooter released in arcades last year by shmup master Cave. During an event last week, the developer announced that the game is coming to the Xbox 360 in an upgraded version called Akai Katana Shin. Shin adds redone graphics, an unspecified new gameplay system, a new stage, and a 16x9 mode that redesigns enemy and bullet patterns to fit better on a widescreen display. The original version will also be available on the disc, which is due in Japan on May 26 in both standard and limited editions. Unlike some other Cave Xbox games, the company announced that Akai Katana Shin will be region-locked when it arrives in Japan. "Hopefully one of our publisher friends will be interested as it looks grand." Aksys Games published Cave's Deathsmiles last year, so Cave does have at least one "publisher friend."
