Truxton II, Grind Stormer, Dogyuun, and Twin Hawk coming to PC
Bitwave Games' fourth round of Toaplan shoot 'em up releases.
Bitwave Games will release Toaplan classic shoot ’em up games Truxton II, Grind Stormer, Dogyuun, and Twin Hawk for PC via Steam and GOG soon, the developer announced. More details will be announced at Shooters Fes 2024 on April 6.
Here is an overview of the four games, via their Steam pages:
Truxton II (Steam)
About
Be a king rather than expert.
The sequel to Toaplan’s legendary vertically scrolling shoot ’em up masterpiece Truxton brings even more intense hardcore space action. Truxton II is one of the hardest Toaplan games with higher difficulty than its predecessor. The thrilling insane action is unforgiving and appealing to the most hardened shmup veterans. Casual players who dare to play Truxton II can at least take solace in the added easy mode, and the modern features of rewind and quick save that gives a fighting chance to advance through the quick bullet rain and tough bosses.
“The visuals are freaking amazing, not just for their time, but even by today’s standards. It’s one of the coolest looking games ever made.” – Shmup Junkie
Story
During the time of the grand battle known as Tatsujin, another battle was being fought in a remote area of the infinite universe, with similar stakes. The battle was known as Tatsujin Oh.
Original Game Features
- Visually stunning pixel art graphics with intoxicating bosses and atmosphere of dread.
- Team up two players co-op with two HyperFighters taking on the insanely difficult enemy.
- The blue laser that automatically tracks the enemy is back as a “search laser” in Truxton II, alongside a high-powered red “napalm bomb” and a green “normal shot” that becomes wide-range with power-ups.
- Melodic soundtrack with vibrant songs composed by Masahiro Yuge, the legendary musician behind the music to games like Flying Shark, Twin Cobra, and Truxton.
Quality of Life Improvements
- Minimal Input Lag: Emulation, input processing, and rendering all complete on the same frame.
- Quick Save using F1-F10, Reload with Shift+ F1-F10.
- Online leaderboards for Single Credit, No Assist, and Assisted plays.
- Rewind the game between 10-18 minutes, depending on the action.
- Capture sharable replays to immortalize your interstellar victories (or funny moments).
- Assist Features such as auto-fire at multiple rates.
- Very Easy Mode: Lower the difficulty to breeze through the adventure.
- Pixel perfect or full-screen scaling in windowed or full-screen mode.
- Rotate the gameplay in 90-degree increments.
- Steam Achievements.
- Choose between Raw Input on Windows or Steam Input.
- Hone your skills in the ultra-customizable practice mode!
Grind Stormer (Steam)
About
Are you sharp enough to dodge all the bullets and blast the enemies into oblivion?
Grind Stormer is a vertically scrolling space shoot ’em up originally developed by Toaplan. The game is an early manic shooter with plenty of bullets coming at the player, a concept that was further developed in Batsugun and eventually led to the bullet hell shoot ’em ups. The barrage of bullets makes Grind Stormer a very hard game even for the shoot ’em up veterans used to a challenge. Newcomers can utilize the new easy mode, rewind, and quick save to learn and progress.
The Japanese version of the game, called V・V (pronounced V Five), features a selectable power-up system with gauges, providing a strategic gameplay element where the key to success is to use the appropriate weapon for each level and enemy encounter. By collecting rhombus items the player can choose between different weapons similar to the Toaplan classic Slap Fight. The international version of Grind Stormer simplifies gameplay by eliminating the selective power-up system and replacing it with instant power-ups based on item acquisition.
Grind Stormer was created by an all-star team that would after their tenure at Toaplan continue their careers in the games industry.
“The perfect hybrid between old school Toaplan and bullet hell.” – Shmup Junkie
Story
It’s a game within a game! As a dashing young secret agent in the year 2210, you’ve received an assignment by the government to enter a virtual reality simulator with the NA-00 space fighter craft. The simulator is considered as the ultimate arcade machine. Many players have fought back, but no one has ever cleared it and returned to the real world. When you start to investigate the real purpose, you ask the question, “is this really just a game?” Pressing the start button, the speaker gives the start signal. “Showtime!”
Original Game Features
- Both the international Grind Stormer and Japanese V・V are included, providing different gameplay approaches.
- The satellite helper WING is standard on the aircraft providing attack variations such as a forward barrage or a wide strike.
- Upbeat sci-fi FM soundtrack from composer Masahiro Yuge, known for his work on Truxton, Twin Cobra, and many others.
Quality of Life Improvements
- Minimal Input Lag: Emulation, input processing, and rendering all complete on the same frame.
- Quick Save using F1-F10, Reload with Shift+ F1-F10.
- Online leaderboards for Single Credit, No Assist, and Assisted plays.
- Rewind the game between 10-18 minutes, depending on the action.
- Capture sharable replays to immortalize your interstellar victories (or funny moments).
- Assist Features such as auto-fire at multiple rates.
- Very Easy Mode: Lower the difficulty to breeze through the adventure.
- Pixel perfect or full-screen scaling in windowed or full-screen mode.
- Rotate the gameplay in 90-degree increments.
- Steam Achievements.
- Choose between Raw Input on Windows or Steam Input.
- Hone your skills in the ultra-customizable practice mode!
Dogyuun (Steam)
About
A visual assault of incredible pixel art shooting.
The one-of-a-kind science fiction-themed shoot ’em up Dogyuun is packed with gigantic bosses and a huge enemy variety that provides a tough challenge even for hardened shmup veterans. Dogyuun is a visual spectacle of amazing pixel art graphics and detailed animation under the artistic vision of Hayashi Miho and Koetsu Iwabuchi. The game also marked the debut of manga artist Junya Inoue as one of the graphic artists.
“Dogyuun will knock your socks off. From a presentation standpoint it’s virtually unbeatable in the genre to this day with some of the most creative and detailed stages and enemies ever created.” – Shmup Junkie
Story
On the planet colony Dino emergency occurred!
The new variable bomber Sylfers, fresh from rollout, head for the base cut away from the communication.
But, what they was….?
It was the base swarmed by enigmatic mechanic entities.
Now a desperate revenge starts!
Original Game Features
- Combine your Powers: When two players are playing at the same time, you can combine one player and two players with the unit beam button for the strongest power increase.
- Always Full Power: There is no power-up, and you can fight using “Mega Shot,” “Psycho Beam,” “V Laser,” and “Homing Fire.” Get bonus points for getting the same shot item.
- Superior Soundtrack: Rock your space battles with the soundtrack composed by Tatsuya Uemura.
Quality of Life Improvements
- Minimal Input Lag: Emulation, input processing, and rendering all complete on the same frame.
- Quick Save using F1-F10, Reload with Shift+ F1-F10.
- Online leaderboards for Single Credit, No Assist, and Assisted plays.
- Rewind the game between 10-18 minutes, depending on the action.
- Capture sharable replays to immortalize your interstellar victories (or funny moments).
- Assist Features such as auto-fire at multiple rates.
- Very Easy Mode: Lower the difficulty to breeze through the adventure.
- Pixel perfect or full-screen scaling in windowed or full-screen mode.
- Rotate the gameplay in 90-degree increments.
- Steam Achievements.
- Choose between Raw Input on Windows or Steam Input.
- Hone your skills in the ultra-customizable practice mode!
Twin Hawk (Steam)
About
Call in a formation of friendly fighter planes and fill the sky with bullets.
A vertical scrolling shooter game where you fight a conquering enemy. Defy the oncoming army and navy barrages! Rest assured, you are not alone; you can call up a formation of six friendly fighters.
Even though powerful enemies like tanks and battleships don’t require as much reflexes, the player must take a strategic approach. This makes Twin Hawk easy to play for players who aren’t familiar with Toaplan’s diverse lineup of shoot ’em ups.
Once the last stage is cleared, the game enters round two and returns to the first stage, but with each loop, the difficulty level increases and there are more bullets to dodge. Like the Japanese title of the game Daisenpu (Great Whirlwind) implies, the game will eventually come roaring into you with full force!
Story
In the year 193x, a fascist conquest of R country was planned. A small city, S City, developed from an oasis, was targeted as an experimental model area for the plan. The conquering army attacked the city, and the people, who had no way to accomplish anything, united the Daisenpu (Great Whirlwind) as an anti-conquest flying squadron to fight against the conquering army. And now, without waiting for the base to be completed, they took off.
Original Game Features
- Call for Backup: Six friendly planes flying in formation can be called in and provide back-up fire.
- Deadly Destructive Power: Call up the friendly fighters and press the button again before forming a formation, and the friendly fighters become a bomb with deadly destructive power.
- Two-Player Tango: The international version of Twin Hawk brings two-player cooperative action.
Quality of Life Improvements
- Minimal Input Lag: Emulation, input processing, and rendering all complete on the same frame.
- Quick Save using F1-F10, Reload with Shift+ F1-F10.
- Online leaderboards for Single Credit, No Assist, and Assisted plays.
- Rewind the game between 10-18 minutes, depending on the action.
- Capture sharable replays to immortalize your interstellar victories (or funny moments).
- Assist Features such as auto-fire at multiple rates.
- Very Easy Mode: Lower the difficulty to breeze through the adventure.
- Pixel perfect or full-screen scaling in windowed or full-screen mode.
- Rotate the gameplay in 90-degree increments.
- Steam Achievements.
- Choose between Raw Input on Windows or Steam Input.
- Hone your skills in the ultra-customizable practice mode!