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Choose Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha if you want the Strikers 1945 trilogy; choose Bravo for Gunbird, Gunbird 2, and the Samurai Aces games. Both collections support vertical TATE play and list the same Switch play modes. Darius Cozmic Collection is the better fit if documented replay, ranking, and display options matter more to you than Psikyo’s particular lineups.
Alpha or Bravo: which Psikyo collection fits your games?
The key difference is the games included, not a documented advantage in platform features. Nintendo’s US listings describe six games in each digital collection and list TV, tabletop, and handheld modes, one-to-two players on one system, and Japanese and American English support.
| Collection | Games | Best fit | Nintendo-listed release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha | Strikers 1945; Strikers 1945 II; Strikers 1945 III; Sol Divide; Dragon Blaze; Zero Gunner 2 | Players who want three Strikers games in one collection. | January 21, 2020 |
| Psikyo Shooting Stars Bravo | Samurai Aces Episode I; Samurai Aces Episode II: TENGAI; Samurai Aces Episode III: SENGOKU CANNON; Gunbarich; Gunbird; Gunbird 2 | Players drawn to Gunbird and Gunbird 2, the Samurai Aces games, or a less conventional entry in Gunbarich. | February 18, 2020 |
Nintendo describes both collections as supporting vertical TATE play, a vertical-screen orientation suited to arcade shooters originally designed for upright displays. That is a listed feature; the store pages do not establish how every individual game handles screen layout or how the display compares across collections. See Nintendo’s Alpha listing and Bravo listing for the product details.
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Choose Alpha for Strikers
Alpha’s most obvious draw is having Strikers 1945, its sequel, and Strikers 1945 III together. The collection also adds Sol Divide, Dragon Blaze, and Zero Gunner 2, so it is not exclusively a Strikers bundle.
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- The limited edition includes
- psikyo shooting stars Bravo for Nintendo Switch
- psikyo shooting stars Bravo art schematics
- Bravo code Red official soundtrack
- art Cards/ illustrations.Collector's box
Choose Bravo for Gunbird and Samurai Aces
Bravo groups two Gunbird titles with three Samurai Aces entries. Nintendo Life’s March 2020 review calls Gunbird and Gunbird 2 likely attractions and describes the Samurai Aces series as varied. Those are the reviewer’s evaluations, rather than objective rankings.
Consider Gunbarich if you want a change of pace
Bravo also includes Gunbarich, which Nintendo Life describes as a breakout-style game with pinball elements. It gives the collection a different kind of play from its straight shooter entries.
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How do the Psikyo collections compare with Darius Cozmic Collection?
Darius Cozmic Collection is a useful alternative if you are choosing based on preservation and practice features as well as game selection. It centers on Darius titles, while Alpha and Bravo divide their lineups among Psikyo series. Taito’s official page documents online high-score rankings for arcade versions, automatic replay recording with up to five saved replays, replay controls including speed adjustment, and scanline and smoothing options.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →| Comparison point | Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha / Bravo | Darius Cozmic Collection |
|---|---|---|
| Lineup focus | Alpha: Strikers-heavy, plus Sol Divide, Dragon Blaze, and Zero Gunner 2. Bravo: Gunbird, Samurai Aces, and Gunbarich. | Darius titles; Taito’s page notes that versions of Darius II differ in enemy placement, boss durability, and balance. |
| Orientation and variety | Nintendo promotes TATE play for both. Bravo includes Gunbarich, described by Nintendo Life as blending breakout and pinball elements with shooter features. | The cited Taito page documents display filters, but does not establish an equivalent TATE feature in the material cited here. |
| Documented play and display tools | The cited Nintendo listings establish TATE and basic play modes, not comparable ranking or replay features. | Taito documents online rankings, replays, replay-speed controls, scanlines, and smoothing. Nintendo Life’s 2020 review also discusses save states and controller configuration, while noting limitations. |
These are different priorities rather than proof that one collection is categorically better. If your main question is which Psikyo games you want, choose between Alpha and Bravo by lineup. If rankings, replays, and display adjustments are important to how you practice or revisit arcade releases, the documented Darius features make it worth comparing. Taito’s Darius Cozmic Collection page describes its features; Nintendo Life’s 2020 review offers a reviewer’s assessment of the release, not a current universal ranking.
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- Classic shooting games in a retro compliation for NSW!
- Includes STRIKERS1945, STRIKERS1945 2 , STRIKERS1945 3 (STRIKERS1999), SOL DIVIDE, Dragon Blaze, and ZEROGUNNER2.
- Pixel Perfect: Experience classic shooters in beautifully rendered high definition.
- Play Your Way: Choose your gameplay experience with horizontal mode, vertical “TATE” mode, or hand a JoyCon to a friend in local multiplayer.
- The Arcade Comes Home: Multiple difficulty levels and settings make sure there are no quarters needed.
What should you know about responsiveness and extras?
Nintendo Life’s March 2020 review of Bravo criticizes the Switch ports for high input lag and a lack of extras such as stage select or training options. Treat that as a dated review assessment, not a latency measurement in this article: no independent input-lag testing is established here, and the review does not verify whether later software updates changed the behavior. The criticism is relevant if precise response or practice tools are priorities, but it should not be mistaken for a verified current measurement.
Edition and availability: what the listings establish
The cited Nintendo US store pages label the listed Alpha and Bravo editions digital. They do not establish current physical stock or guarantee what editions may be available from retailers now. Check the listing and edition details at the time you plan to buy rather than assuming a cartridge release or current availability.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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