After almost 2 years of playing my three Sankyo/Bisty Lumina framed games (Evangelion 2, Galaxy Railways, Dai Yamato 2) I decided to try something new. CR Yamato ( ＣＲ宇宙戦艦ヤマト a.k.a. Starblazers in the USA) from Fuji comes in their 2008 OvalOne frame with a number of cell and frame upgrades that provide for a great playing experience.

The first thing you notice about the frame is the construction - this thing is heavy duty! Unlike the Lumina frame, these sides are aluminum and give it a lot more rigidity when opening the front doors. The ability to swap out cels is incredibly easy - two red knobs on the front of the cell just twist and you're ready to go - no more endless unplugging of cables. The front only has a top tray, both the shooter bypass and the overflow dump to an opening where you place your tray to collect your winnings. Volume is adjustable via a factory volume control and at the lowest setting is perfect for home use.

The LCD screen is flanked on each side by half of the bow of the Yamato. During certain portions of gameplay the animatronics bring each side to the center and the LCD behind plays a fantastic firing sequence on the main gun. There are plenty of cool visual "chance" sequences during gameplay that include Analyzer(IQ9),

Four versions of the game are available - each with a different set of odds, payouts, and cell design:

FPB (Featuring Kodai and Yuki) 1/310, 60%, 3 & 5 & 10 & 13.
FPL (Featuring Starsha) 1/310, 64%, 3 & 5 & 10 & 13.
FPH (Featuring Capt. Okita) 1/310, 63%, 3 & 5 & 10 & 13

Some Gameplay Video from a FPB: