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The wait is almost over for both arcade and Namco fans, as Bandai Namco Amusement’s highly anticipated sequel to Deadstorm Pirates, GoldStorm Pirates, is back on location test in the United States. The game has gone through multiple rounds of testing, both in Japan and the US, and after a long period of silence, it’s making waves again. This time, it’s being tested at the Dave & Buster’s in Schaumburg, Illinois.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📢あと3日#アミューズメントエキスポ
出展タイトルを一部ご紹介！
━━━━━━━━━━━━━🆕Goldstorm Pirates
✅海賊気分を味わえるガンシューティングゲーム最新作！
✅激しく揺れるシート、エアー噴射、舵輪ハンドルなどギミックいっぱい！ pic.twitter.com/E1T2KP4NCN— バンダイナムコアミューズメント公式アカウント (@bnam_jp) November 22, 2023
A Return to Form
First appearing on US test back in June 2023, the follow-up to Namco’s popular 2009 swashbuckling shooter that had players battling skeletons and navigating treacherous waters in a dynamic motion theater cabinet. This latest iteration builds on top of that successful formula, updating it to great effect .
Presently, there are two very different cabinets on test: An enclosed motion theater that has only been seen in Japan, then a large, open design that has been testing out West. Japan tends to shy away from games that are too large, due to space constraints, where as FECs in the US can’t get enough of them. Both versions play up the gold & treasure aspects of the game, also incorporating elements of a pirate ship into the design.
More Stages and Gameplay Enhancements
While cabinet design plays a big part in the overall arcade experience, the gameplay is where GoldStorm Pirates is really making strides. In previous tests, players only had a couple of stages to choose from, a sign that the game was still a work in progress. Now, with the latest version, more stages are available, meaning players can expect a more complete experience.
The game continues to follow the multi-stage format that Deadstorm Pirates popularized, giving players the freedom to pick the stages they want to tackle first. This flexible approach adds a level of replayability to the game, making each session feel fresh. According to recent feedback, players have even caught glimpses of potential game endings, further hinting at a more complete product compared to earlier versions.
Lower Price, Bigger Appeal
Another key change in this round of testing is the cost to play. Previously, GoldStorm Pirates was priced at 15 credits per session at Dave & Buster’s locations. However, this has been cut down to just 8 credits in the current test. Whether this price change reflects the actual value of the game or is just part of Dave & Buster’s internal pricing strategy remains to be seen. Either way, the reduced cost makes it more accessible for players curious to try out this latest pirate-themed adventure.
What’s Next for GoldStorm Pirates?
For those eager to play, there’s more good news on the horizon. While a specific release date hasn’t been set, Bandai Namco has hinted at a Q1 2025 release, and the game is expected to make a significant showing at IAAPA 2024. If the final version remains consistent with what we’ve seen so far, GoldStorm Pirates will likely retain its motion-based gameplay and pirate-themed antics, but with a polished cabinet and more content.
This extended testing phase has given Bandai Namco the opportunity to refine the game, and while the final version might still see some tweaks, it’s clear that GoldStorm Pirates is shaping up to be a worthy successor to Deadstorm Pirates. With new stages, better cabinet design, and a more accessible price point, this arcade shooter is bound to draw attention once it’s officially released.
If you’re near Schaumburg, Illinois, now’s your chance to get a sneak peek before the game officially sets sail across U.S. arcades. Keep an eye on the IAAPA 2024 show for more details and, hopefully, the final confirmation on the game’s launch!
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