On October 10, M2 hosted the event “M2 Shot Triggers 10th Anniversary Thank You Festival ~Let’s Jailbreak Together!!~” at esports Style UENO in Ueno, Tokyo.Here is our report on this event,
which drew a large crowd. Please be sure to read to the end, as we’ve included hands-on reports on *Senjin Alesta* and *Armed Police Battle Rider (tentative title)*—both of which were announced at the event—at the end of this article.Although the venue was small, there were merchandise booths run by M2 and Cave, as well as displays of garage kits. Furthermore, loud cheers rang out every time a new title was announced, clearly demonstrating the high level of anticipation for this event.
Kicking off the event was the
port of *Armed Police Battle Rider*
At the start of the event, following introductions by PR representative Hibana Yokel and Executive Director Kazuki Kubota, M2 CEO Naoki Horii took the stage a little later. The event kicked off with the announcement of the long-awaited port of *Armed Police Battle Rider*.
Next, Director Shotaro Ashizawa took the stage to reveal details about the game.*Armed Police Battle Rider* is a vertical-scrolling shoot ’em up featuring various guest characters from Rising’s (now Aiting) past titles. It boasts a volume so vast it cannot be fully experienced in a single credit, and features a star-studded lineup that brings together bosses from other titles all in one place.
During the demo presentation, two game modes were explained: “ARCADE Mode” and “SUPER EASY Mode.” SUPER EASY Mode, in particular, stands out because—despite the game’s high difficulty—it has been adjusted so that even beginners can aim to clear it.
This allows for gameplay that might seem contradictory at first glance—even courses designed for advanced players can be conquered by combining them with SUPER EASY Mode.Note that since the SUPER EASY Mode demo at this event was limited to a fixed practice course, the line moved relatively slowly.
Additionally, there was a sneak peek segment showcasing the M2 Gadget featured in the game. The slides presented here included specifications for the Garrega unit and explanations of its various states.
It was also mentioned that developing the gadgets was a challenging task due to the sheer volume of information that needs to be displayed; the final version is scheduled to display more than twice as much information as the gadgets shown this time. The frequent use of the Start button in the controls was also discussed. After explaining the
game’s features, Director Ashizawa himself began a live gameplay demonstration.He demonstrated the game by successfully clearing not only Stage 1 but also Stage 2, even while taking damage. Since there was still time remaining after the demo, he proceeded to showcase the SUPER EASY mode. In SUPER EASY mode, not only is the bullet curtain thinner, but bullet speed is also slower, and the game has been balanced so that picking up various items doesn’t make the game too difficult.
Regarding the game itself, it was described as a culmination of the series, featuring the appearance of mechs and bosses from *Battle Garegga* and *Mahou Daisakusen*, achieving the same lavish “all-in-one” feel as classic fighting games of that era.
At this point, concerns regarding the game’s release were also discussed. Specifically, it was noted that if the game isn’t released by next year, it will be difficult to sell a physical copy on the PlayStation platform.
Next, a poll regarding the Nintendo Switch 2 version was conducted via applause. The results showed that the key card version received no applause, while the standard version with pre-loaded data garnered a lot of applause. While acknowledging that the decision is difficult due to the significant price difference, the speaker added that this feedback would serve as valuable material for explaining the situation to the client.
Other topics touched upon included the fact that the competition ratio for “JAILBREAK Tickets” (which include early entry privileges) reached 4 to 1, as well as the fact that this event featured hands-on demos, merchandise sales, stage events, and live broadcasts all taking place simultaneously.
The announcement concluded with Director Ashizawa’s closing remark: “Please buy it! It’s packed with content!”
“Naoki Horii & Kubota Reflect on the 10th Anniversary of M2STG”: Looking
Back While Discussing the Essence of the Event
Next up was the session “Naoki Horii & Kubota Look Back on M2 STG’s 10th Anniversary.” The slideshow began with a retrospective on M2 from 2016, back when the tradition of hanami (cherry blossom viewing) was still alive. They recounted how the topic of a re-release of *Battle Garegga* came up during a hanami gathering.
Next, they moved on to the story of announcing the port of *Danjuu Feveron* at the Cave-hosted event “Cave Festival: The Great Sports Festival—Sweat, Tears, and Gym Shorts.” They nostalgically recalled that although they had planned a surprise announcement, they let the cat out of the bag before showing the video, which dampened the audience’s surprise.
Furthermore, when they were working on the *Danjuu Feveron* port, there wasn’t even an “M2ShotTriggers” logo yet. As a result, they created the logo (brand) sometime between June and August 2016.
At the time, development of *Battle Garegga* and *Feveron*, which had been in the works for some time, was proceeding in parallel; however, since releasing them simultaneously would have been difficult, they decided to focus on *Battle Garegga* first (according to Mr. Horii, development itself had actually begun back in the Wii era).Subsequently, in October 2016, field testing of the port was conducted at Hey in Akihabara.
On December 10, 2016, Super Sweep hosted an event titled “Deployment! Garrega Police 24 Hours: Year-End Grand Investigation Special” (footage from the event is available in the video archive).Reflecting on the event name “Garegga Police,” Mr. Horii recalled that he was very nervous at the time about whether they would be able to release the game successfully, given the existence of “Garegga” fans who were extremely demanding when it came to quality.
In April 2018, *Ketsui Deathtiny ~Kizuna Jigoku-tachi~* was showcased as a playable title at the “Akihabara Frontline 2018: Cave Squad’s New-Style” event, hosted by Cave.In November of the same year, they held their first in-house event, “M2 Shot Triggers Crossbow Appreciation Festival.”(The character “弩” used in the event name and elsewhere originates from the phrase “Recommended for All Humanity” coined by Tsuneoki Ikeda—known as IKD—while supervising *Ketsui Deathtiny: Bonds of Hell*, which went on to become the game’s tagline).
“Darius Cosmic Collection,” released in February 2019, featured the M2 Shot Triggers logo and M2 gadgets.He recalled that at the “Esprade Christmas Party ~M2 Shot Triggers Crossbow Appreciation Festival II~” held in December of that same year, so many people flocked to the bingo tournament that the event became so crowded they had to impose admission restrictions.He also revealed a behind-the-scenes story: Mr. Horii had been carrying around the Nintendo Switch version of *Battle Garegga* and had people try it out secretly on-site.
In 2020, due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, it became difficult to hold in-person events, so a live stream was held in September of that year.Regarding the “Alesta Collection,” released in December 2020 bundled with the Game Gear Micro, Mr. Horii recalled that since this marked M2’s first foray into hardware, he harbored significant anxiety, thinking, “If this doesn’t sell, the company might go under.”
In 2021, they released titles such as *G Darius HD*. Furthermore, *Senjin Alesta* began operating on the APM3 cabinet.He explained that the reason *Senjin Alesta* was designed with a relatively mild difficulty level for an arcade shoot ’em up was partly due to the circumstances at the time, as the number of arcade patrons had declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
From 2022 to 2025, the company released *Flying Shark! Shark! Shark!-TOAPLAN ARCADE GARAGE-,” the launch of the streaming program “M2STG Live Broadcast 2,” and the 2023 release of “DoDonPachi Dai-Ohjo: Rinkai Tensei” (a project initiated following a consultation with IKD), the company continued its vigorous expansion.In particular, it was revealed that the development of *Zero Fire -TOAPLAN ARCADE GARAGE-* proceeded after M2 acquired and was transferred all rights to the titles that NEC Avenue had previously released on the PC Engine.
Additionally, on August 7, 2025, the release dates for *Operation Night Strikers* and *Gradius Origin Collection* coincided. This overlap led to the creation of a collaborative poster.Furthermore, it was noted that the standalone version of *Night Striker GEAR* marked M2 Shot Triggers’ first title to be released on Steam.
Then, building on the journey so far, an announcement was made regarding titles that had not yet been revealed in the slides. The titles unveiled were Data East’s *Edward Randy* and *The Great Ragtime Show*. Live gameplay footage of both titles was shown, bringing this session to a close.
Cave Segment! “New Testament: DoDonPachi Dai Fukkatsu” Announced
Once Again
Following a
break, the session continued with an announcement from Cave regarding *New Testament: DoDonPachi Dai Fukkatsu*. Cave producer Akihiro Kotani took the stage and spoke about the development history of *New Testament: DoDonPachi Dai Fukkatsu*.(*For more on the development history of *New Testament: DoDonPachi Dai-Ojo*, please also read the interview article published in our magazine.)
In addition to IKD’s involvement in Stage 6, the game incorporates a variety of elements as homages to past titles. Furthermore, Ryu☆ (Ryutaro Nakahara)—known for contributing music to the *beatmania IIDX* series and other projects—has participated in the soundtrack, providing a total of about six tracks, including not only stage themes but also boss battle themes.
The “Assist Mode” featured in this title automatically slows down enemy bullets when they approach the player’s ship. It was explained that this feature has improved the game’s accessibility as a bullet-hell shooter to the point where even a 5-year-old can clear up to Stage 4.
Furthermore, it was revealed that the game’s “Shooting Royale Mode” is being developed as a versus mode by the same staff who worked on the Arena Mode for *Gothic is a Magical Girl*.In addition to explaining these new features, the session concluded with a renewed announcement of the roadmap for *New Testament: DoDonPachi Great Revival*. The addition of a training feature is scheduled for October, the unlocking of “AREA 6” in Royal Mode for November, and the implementation of “Black Label” this winter; it was also stated that they will begin work on further refinement projects in the future.
Furthermore, the session concluded with a statement expressing their desire to pursue the development of a new title in the future.
Next up was the
long-awaited console port, *DEVIL BLADE REBOOT Consumer Edition* (tentative title).
Next up was the announcement of “DEVIL BLADE REBOOT Consumer Edition (tentative title),” a console port of the shoot ’em up “DEVIL BLADE REBOOT,” originally developed independently by Mr. Shigatake.This title is a full remake of the original game—which was created using “Desaemon+”—rebuilt by the developer himself using the “Shooting Game Builder” (hereinafter “StgBuilder”) game engine.
A comment from the developer, Mr. Shigatake, was shared at the event. In his remarks, he expressed gratitude for the porting request from M2 and requested that the game be released while user enthusiasm remains high. He also noted that this marks the first attempt at a console port using the 64-bit version of StgBuilder.
Mr. Horii
then provided additional explanation. After touching on the challenges involved in porting titles built with StgBuilder, he showed footage of the game running on a PS4 development kit. He explained that while it might appear complete at first glance, the internal optimization is still in progress, and the adjustments required from this point onward will be extremely difficult.He further noted that the challenges stem from their goal of creating a platform capable of running not just *DEVIL BLADE REBOOT* itself, but all titles powered by the same engine.
The session concluded with the announcement: “Stay tuned for more updates!”
Announcing “M2ShotTriggers ARCADE,” a new initiative for
APM3 cabinets! The first title is *Ultimate TIGER*!
In this session, “M2ShotTriggers ARCADE”—launcher software that enables M2ShotTriggers titles to be played on Sega’s ALL.Net P-ras MULTI Version 3 (APM3) cabinets—was announced, along with its first title, “Ultimate TIGER.”The APM3 version of *Ultimate TIGER* is being released under license from TATSUJIN and will be playable in arcades with M2 Gadget and Super Easy Mode features enabled.
The game’s flow was explained here.Since playing *Ultimate TIGER* from start to finish takes about 50 minutes, it is divided into “Course 1” (Stages 1–5) and “Course 2” (Stages 6–10). Before playing, players can customize button layouts and wallpapers in the settings menu (settings can be saved using an Aime card).
The specifications for the Super Easy Mode included in “Ultimate TIGER” were also explained.It features a DDA (Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment) system where the difficulty level changes based on the number of Bombers you possess. When your Bomber count reaches the maximum of 7, the difficulty and enemy bullet speed gradually increase depending on your survival time, eventually reaching a level of difficulty that surpasses even the arcade version.
According to Mr. Horii, the driving force behind this initiative—which could be described as a “reverse port”—was a strong desire to “bring the game we created back to the arcades.” He added that the adjustments specifically tailored for arcades have resulted in a game with a very satisfying feel.
“M2ShotTriggers ARCADE” will launch on October 15. As a side note, he mentioned that they had initially aimed for a launch on October 11, the day after the event. He concluded by noting that “Ultimate TIGER” is the first installment and that players should look forward to future additions to the lineup.
The Home Version of “Senjin Alesta” Is
Finally Announced!
The final session of the event was the announcement of the home console version of “Senjin Alesta.”This title is a vertical-scrolling shooter developed by M2 Shot Triggers for the arcade, and it began operation on Sega’s APM3 cabinets in July 2021. Director Daisuke Koizumi, who took the stage, revealed the details.
The game’s concept is “how to convey the fun of the genre to those who are new to shooters.” To that end, four difficulty levels have been implemented, allowing players to choose based on their skill level.This concept emerged from the team’s pursuit of a shooting game that meets the needs of the times, taking into account the COVID-19 pandemic during development (2021) and the shifting market environment, where arcades were increasingly focused on prize-based games.
During development, the team was also mindful of capturing the “essence of Alesta,” introducing features such as weapon switching, Every Extend, enemy bullet destruction, and a rank system. In particular, Every Extend is a system where, even if your ship is shot down, you don’t have to give up—by persevering, your allies will return over time, giving you another chance to fight.
This title features an “Assist” function that automatically activates power-ups, as well as a “Blow” function that deflects enemy bullets, allowing for strategic gameplay by combining these features. Additionally, the game includes over 800 unique voice lines, avoiding the repetitive sound design typical of retro games and incorporating modern presentation techniques.
The new mode “Senjin Alesta BLADE,” added to the home console version, features the “Blade Missile,” a new weapon capable of eliminating enemy projectiles. The Blade Missile can be charged and fired, or released over a wide area like a bomb.
New tracks and rearranged songs will also be added to the soundtrack.The game includes newly arranged BGM by Hirokazu Koshio, as well as new BGM for “Senjin Alesta BLADE” by Sakuo Kudo and chibi-tech of the M2 Sound Team.
While the arcade version displayed instruction cards on the left and right sides of the screen, the home console version implements a dedicated “M2 Gadget.”In addition to visualizing various parameters, players will be able to view detailed information such as explanations of enemy characters and character dialogue. Furthermore, the opening and ending sequences will be fully voiced, and an illustration gallery and sound gallery will be added.
After introducing these new features, a live gameplay demonstration of BLADE Mode took place, covering up to Stage 2—which is available in the demo version. Following the
demo, it was announced that pre-orders would begin. *Senjin Alesta* is scheduled for release on March 18, 2027, on Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PS4.Pricing is as follows: the standard physical edition for PS5 and Nintendo Switch is 7,480 yen (tax included); the limited physical edition is 11,880 yen (tax included); and the digital edition for PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch is 4,950 yen (tax included) (*The PS4 version is available only as a digital download).
In addition to the main game, the Limited Edition includes a special booklet titled “Senja Alesta Official Archive (tentative title)” and a special soundtrack. Furthermore, both the Standard Edition and Limited Edition come with “Latna’s Definitive Strategy Guide” as a first-print bonus. Pre-order bonuses specific to individual retailers are also available.
At the end of the session, Director Koizumi expressed his gratitude, saying, “I hope you’ll experience the joy of beating the game and appreciate the fun of this genre!” Mr. Kubota added, “The celebration doesn’t end until you get home!” and Mr. Horii concluded, “This would not have been possible without your support. Thank you so much for your encouragement!” bringing the lengthy event to a close.
Get an Early Look at the
Ported Versions of *Senjin Alesta* and *Armed Police Batraider*!
At this event, playable demos were available for the home console port of *Senjin Alesta*, which was announced at the event, and the long-awaited port of *Armed Police Battle Rider*.
The demo version of
*Senjin Alesta* allowed players to play up to Stage 2.The major difference from the arcade version is that it is now fully voiced; not only do the characters have voices, but even the opening story explanation is voiced, allowing players to gain a deeper understanding of the game’s world and narrative. Since I had played the
arcade version extensively—even clearing Casual Mode on a single coin—I decided to challenge the high-difficulty “Original Mode” this time.The enemy bullet patterns in Original Mode were brutal; even when making full use of the “Blow” attack to cancel enemy shots, dodging was difficult, and I took damage repeatedly starting from Stage 1. However, this game features four different player ships that can be switched between, and a system where downed ships respawn over time.
Thanks to
these features, the game strikes an exquisite balance—whether in Casual or Original Mode—that never feels unfair. The controls are responsive, and I found it to be a smooth port with no noticeable input lag.
Next, I played “BLADE Mode.”Of course, the new missile attacks change up your playstyle, but the biggest change is the ability to freely switch between player ships. This greatly expands your strategic options—for example, choosing “Kushin” during high-density bullet hell sections like mid-boss battles, or “Tanya” when you need to concentrate high firepower—allowing for a more strategic playstyle than in previous games.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to master the missiles during this trial session. Since missiles can not only be used to clear bullets but also earn a lot of points, they’re an element that makes me want to actively study how to use them effectively.
Next up was *Armed Police: Battle Rider*. This was my first time playing this title, but based on my experience, it was playable without any particular issues.
Due to time constraints, I wasn’t able to experience the entire demo, but thanks to the intricate pixel art and countless destructible objects—not to mention the thrill of score attacks—I was able to fully savor the “exhilaration of destruction.”Since I played in SUPER EASY mode, the moderately adjusted bullet speed and bullet patterns made it very accessible, and the experience left me eagerly anticipating the full release.
Note that I did notice slight display and input lag at times during gameplay, but since this is a pre-release version, I expect these issues to be resolved through future refinements.
“Armed Police Battle Rider (Tentative Title)” © 1998 EIGHTING ©2026 M2 Co., Ltd.
“New Testament: DoDonPachi Dai Fukkatsu”©2008, 2026 CAVE Interactive CO., LTD.
“Ultimate TIGER” © TATSUJIN Co., Ltd.
“ALL.Net P-ras MULTI Version 3” © SEGA
“DEVIL BLADE REBOOT Consumer Edition (tentative title)”©SHIGATAKE GAMES ©M2 Co., Ltd.
“Edward Ragtime Show” © G-MODE Corporation / DATA EAST and the DATA EAST logo(s) are registered trademarks of G-MODE Corporation. ©2025 M2 Co., Ltd.
“Senja Alesta” ©2021, 2026 M2 Co., Ltd.
“M2ShotTriggers ARCADE” ©2026 M2 Co., Ltd.
