Shoot the Core-cast

27/02/2023

New video version of our Mushihimesama Focus Shot episode, featuring Mark MSX of The Electric Underground! Huge thanks to Mark for allowing us the use of several of his Mushi-related videos, so we could get this episode uploaded a lot more quickly.

In Focus Shot 001, MetalFRO and Addicted are joined by none other than Mark MSX of The Electric Underground, to taken an in-depth look at Mushihimesama! We p...

11/02/2023

https://youtu.be/To-TDzfzZ4c

Welcome to Episode 007 of Shoot the Core-cast! For December 2018, we decided to do a little something different. Instead of looking at a single game, we took...

31/12/2022

Welcome to Episode 006 of Shoot the Core-cast! This time around, we take a good look at the HOT-B Sega Genesis classic, Steel Empire! We dive into the original game, and disect the re-releases since then, talking about the changes, and getting into the game's steampunk world.

Welcome to Episode 006 of Shoot the Core-cast! This time around, we take a good look at the HOT-B Sega Genesis classic, Steel Empire! We dive into the origin...

23/11/2022

In Episode 052, MetalFRO and Addicted welcome guest Rena to the show to dive into the lore, game mechanics, & scoring of Deathsmiles!
https://linktr.ee/shootthecorecast

16/11/2022

This is Episode 03 of Shoot the Core-cast! In this episode, MetalFRO and Addicted take a detailed look at Raiden V, the latest in the long-running series of classic shoot-em-up games. Originally released on the Xbox One in 2015, marking the 25th anniversary of the series, this is part of a new wave of shooters being released, as the genre begins to come back into vogue. But what did we think of it? Have a listen, and let us regale you our take on the game.

Here's the original Raiden V play through thread:
http://www.rfgeneration.com/forum/ind...

*NOTE*
This episode was originally released in audio form September 4th, 2018.

Check out all the podcast fees on our Linktree page:
https://linktr.ee.shootthecorecast

This is Episode 03 of Shoot the Core-cast! In this episode, MetalFRO and Addicted take a detailed look at Raiden V, the latest in the long-running series of ...

05/11/2022

In Episode 02 of Shoot the Core-cast, MetalFRO and Addicted talk about the original Gradius, from Konami! We discuss differences in the different regional versions, as well as various home conversions and ports. We also talk about the game's influence on the genre, member high scores, and more!

In Episode 02 of Shoot the Core-cast, MetalFRO and Addicted talk about the original Gradius, from Konami! We discuss differences in the different regional ve...

30/10/2022

Shoot the Core-cast finally comes to video! As is the tradition, we begin at the beginning, and start with Episode 001, covering the venerable R-Type. We hope to get out 1 episode per week until we catch up to where the audio version is at, and then try to get video episodes out as quickly as possible, once the audio version is edited and released. Enjoy!

Here it is, Episode 001 of Shoot the Core-cast! The audio version originally debuted in August of 2018, and was the inaugural episode of a podcast that has b...

05/10/2022

Shoot the Core-cast is coming to video! Yes, the podcast will finally be making a partial transition to a video format. The primary podcast release will still be the monthly audio version, but the plan is to record footage from each game and edit it down so the audio can feature in the videos, so for those who prefer to use video platforms instead of podcast apps to consume their content, this will be a way for those individuals to do so. Stay tuned, as we plan to get several episodes ready to release, and then will time the release of those over the course of a few weeks, to space them out, and provide time to record and edit more footage. Eventually, we'd like to get caught up to where we can release the video episode within a short time of the audio version, but it will be a while before we're caught up enough to do that. For now, please look forward to the video version coming soon!

It's been a long time coming, but I'm finally going to be bringing my podcast to video! We're 50 episodes in, so it will take a while to catch up, but once t...

24/07/2022

https://youtu.be/mA8n2mM9glk

After Seibu Kaihatsu had to halt its operations, some of the development team left to join another studio known as MOSS. That team was still intent on carrying on the legacy they had built with the Raiden series of games, so they created Raiden III for the arcades in 2005, and subsequently for PlayStation 2. In North America particularly, this was a bit of a later release, as the PlayStation 3 was already out, and it wasn't met with the same warm reception. But the team soldiered on, and just 2 years later, released the much more well-received Raiden IV in arcades, and then just over a year later, it hit the Xbox 360 as a console exclusive. 6 years later, Raiden IV Overkill released on PlayStation 3 and PC, adding 2 new stages, allowing 3 ships to be playable from the start (instead of DLC, as with the 360 version), and including the new Overkill mechanic, which expanded the scoring. And in 2021, an updated version was released, called Raiden IV x Mikado in conjunction with the Mikado arcade chain in Japan, which features the Raiden IV Overkill game in its entirety, with a bonus soundtrack of live recorded music that are all covers of songs from the original game's release.

Despite humanity beating them back time and time again, The Crystals have invaded Earth once more. The VCD immediately launches a new model of the Raiden fighter, the Fighting Thunder ME-02 Kai, to stop the Crystals from taking over the Earth. With your upgraded Plasma Laser, you can choose how it's equipped, and take on the Crystal hordes one more time. Fight across the Earth, and into space, to free humanity from this scourge. Join the RF Generation Shmup Club in August 2022 as we play Raiden IV!

Join the playthrough by signing up here in the thread on RF Generation:
http://www.rfgeneration.com/forum/index.php?topic=19676.0

Or tweet at us to signal your participation:
https://twitter.com/shootcorecast

You can also join the RF Generation Discord to participate:
https://discord.gg/tCM2Qbaf

Shmup Club August 2022 - Raiden IV (Summer Of Raiden)

21/07/2022

In Episode 048, Addicted and MetalFRO pick apart Seibu Kaihatsu's flagship game Raiden, to kick off our Summer Of Raiden event! What makes this game tick? We try to get to the bottom of it, and figure out what made it so popular, and have such lasting appeal.

Check out our Linktree page to find the feed for your preferred podcast platform:
https://linktr.ee/shootthecorecast

https://youtu.be/8fnobktpKhk

In Episode 048, Addicted and MetalFRO pick apart Seibu Kaihatsu's flagship game Raiden, to kick off our Summer Of Raiden event! What makes this game tick? We...

30/05/2022

Welcome to the Summer Of Raiden! We're spending the summer concentrating on the classic Raiden series of games, and we're kicking things off with the very first game in the series. Developed and published by Seibu Kaihatsu in Japan in 1990, and brought to the West courtesy of Fabtek, Raiden took some established elements within the shooting game genre and further solidified them into a simple, but potent mix. Their no-frills approach proved to be popular in arcades, and over the next couple of years, inspired a slew of imitators who took the basic Raiden formula and put their own spin on it. What is it about this game that caused it to become such a big hit?

Taking many cues from legendary shooting game developer Toaplan, Seibu Kaihatsu took the basic elements codified in Twin Cobra and changed a couple things around to simplify the approach in a couple ways, but expand upon those ideas in other ways. An extra element added to coop play helped set the game apart from its contemporaries. In the year leading up to the release of Street Fighter II, it was the right environment for a game like Raiden to find its audience and succeed. The game not only spawned multiple sequels, but also received many home conversions.

The year is 2090. Alien lifeforms known as the Crystals have invaded Earth. The Crystals took control over most of Earth's military hardware to use in the invasion. In response, the world organization known as Vanquish Crystal Defense develops the Fighting Thunder attack craft, a cutting-edge weapon based on Crystal technology. To survive against the invaders and fight back, VCD deploys Fighting Thunder as the only hope for humanity. Blast off with the RF Generation Shmup Club in June 2022 as we play the original Raiden!

Sign up here on RF Generation to participate:
http://www.rfgeneration.com/forum/index.php?topic=19666.0

Or join the RF Generation Discord to join the discussion:
https://discord.gg/NW2p3Qb7

You can also tweet the podcast account to signal your participation:
https://twitter.com/shootcorecast

Welcome to the Summer Of Raiden! We're spending the summer concentrating on the classic Raiden series of games, and we're kicking things off with the very fi...

30/04/2022

G-Darius is the 4th in the venerable Darius series of arcade games from Taito. It's the 1st of those games to feature 3D graphics, and introduces a couple neat mechanics to the series. With the recent release of G-Darius HD, we thought it would be a good time to look at the game more closely, and revisit it, especially with the very recent G-Darius Version 2 patch that adds the more difficult variation of the game to the package. Join the RF Generation Shmup Club in May 2022 and play along with us as we take a look at G-Darius!

To participate, you can sign up here:
http://www.rfgeneration.com/forum/index.php?topic=19664.msg282975

Join the RF Generation Discord and discuss the game with us there:
https://discord.gg/Ndx9jPY

Or tweet at us with your participation, share your photos/screenshots of your score, and more:
https://twitter.com/shootcorecast

G-Darius is the 4th in the venerable Darius series of arcade games from Taito. It's the 1st of those games to feature 3D graphics, and introduces a couple ne...