Pink Sweets, first impressions

Dandy J · Post by **Dandy J** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 11:15 pm

Dangun is one of the best.

IMO Mushi is easily Cave's worst game.

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 1:44 am

Kiken wrote:
BulletMagnet wrote:This is slightly off topic, but on a whim I tried out a shmup that's not often mentioned around here, called "Nostradamus" (by Face, from 1993) in MAME...judging from what I've gathered about PS from what's been posted here, I can't help but wonder if the developers of PS drew at least some inspiration from it. Most notably, like PS, it gives you a very powerful charge shot which can absorb bullets both while it's being charged and when you actually fire it (though the mechanics are a bit different, as you might expect). There's not much in terms of a complex scoring system (though there are invisible items you can shoot and reveal, which increase in value as you collect more of them), and I haven't played enough of it to say what kind of rank system (if any) it has, but as soon as I tried it I immediately thought of some of the PS footage I'd seen...the "full screen vertical" charge shot was especially similar to what I'd seen in one of the PS videos. Anyway, I just figured I'd mention that, off the cuff...
I'd wager that most of the inspiration for PS came from Summer Carnival 92' Recca (for Famicom).

In that case, Compile pwned them earlier with Aleste/Power Strike's weapon number 2. Charge shot, neutralizes bullets (doesn't power up when sucking them up) and causes one hell of damage when released.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 2:28 pm

Specineff wrote:In that case, Compile pwned them earlier with Aleste/Power Strike's weapon number 2. Charge shot, neutralizes bullets (doesn't power up when sucking them up) and causes one hell of damage when released.

Hmm, I'd almost forgotten about that one...Space Megaforce had a weapon like that in there (number 6, IIRC), and indeed, it could absorb (most) bullets from the front while charging, and could be pretty devastating (when fully powered up, though it was rather useless when at low levels). Certainly a "prototype" of what's seen in PS, but I wouldn't quite equate it to PS's feeling on "being near-invincible most of the time"...Nostradamus isn't quite at that point either, but comes closer.

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:57 pm

Just got back from my trip to Japan. This game is pretty blah. I played it a bunch at Hey in akihabara, and two different arcades in Shinjuku. There was no line for it at any arcade, I only saw one other person playing it the whole time I was there!

Rastan78 · Post by **Rastan78** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 1:52 am

I think this game actually looks exciting. The system seems unique and the over the top art style is also a departure from anything else from Cave or Raizing. Looks like the kind of game where you would have to spend a lot of time to get to know the gameplay before you can really judge it.

It sounds like the biggest complaint is about the graphics being kind of a juxtaposition of two different styles, not about being poorly drawn or anything. I think the more realistic looking scenery just makes the giant toy/robot sprites look even more weird and surreal. I like to see more of this creativity and experimentation even if the fans of DDP/Mushi/Espgaluda might be a bit turned off and wait for the next sequel. It's also kind of nice to see a little bit of the crazy Parodius kind of vibe going on in a new Cave game.

Given the way that Mushi was a huge success, I'm glad they're still trying out different ideas and getting new staff involved instead of just letting IKD crank out bullet maze after bullet maze set to techno beats. I'm sure the long lines will still be there for Mushi 2.

Reserving judgement in an optimistic way . . .

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 6:35 am

Rastan78 wrote: Looks like the kind of game where you would have to spend a lot of time to get to know the gameplay before you can really judge it.

Maybe, but I'm doubtful. I saw one guy play it and he was quite good. Still didn't really excite me though.

It sounds like the biggest complaint is about the graphics being kind of a juxtaposition of two different styles, not about being poorly drawn or anything.

Not really, I thought the graphics were quite good. It's fun to play I guess, in a parodius type of way, but it feels sorta 'light' and 'empty'. I'd much rather play ibara or ibara black label (which is much better than the PS2 Arrange mode, I might add).

NTSC-J · Post by **NTSC-J** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 3:34 am

I saw a guy play through to the end yesterday, the final stage is brutal. One of the last bosses' patterns literally fills the entire screen with overlapping bullets, it's pretty trippy. Even cooler, his final form goes "final attack!" and charges up a hadou gun from Ibara and shoots it at you!

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 3:49 am

NTSC-J wrote:Even cooler, his final form goes "final attack!" and charges up a hadou gun from Ibara and shoots it at you!

That certainly won't do anything to stifle the rumors that "Dame Edna" is actually Bond in drag.

Post by **undamned** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 4:01 pm

twe wrote:Just got back from my trip to Japan. This game is pretty blah. I played it a bunch at Hey in akihabara, and two different arcades in Shinjuku. There was no line for it at any arcade, I only saw one other person playing it the whole time I was there!

I did actually see numerous people playing it at HEY, but my thoughts about the actual game were about the same as yours, " It's fun to play I guess, in a parodius type of way."

The lightning weapon seemed pretty worthless to me. I could probably appreciate it if I gave it some time but, for playing it 2 or 3 times, I just wasn't that impressed.
-ud

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 5:18 am

I'd still pick this up of a home port shows up...

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 5:31 am

Strider77 wrote:I'd still pick this up of a home port shows up...

Me too.

I think they could make a really funky Arrange mode for this one.

freddiebamboo · Post by **freddiebamboo** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 1:46 pm

I'm still looking forward to this, it looks like fun and judging by reports it's not as easy as it seems in the vids.

A port could be a long time away though.

segasonicfan · Post by **segasonicfan** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 10:43 pm

Dangun is a credit stealer...would never translate well to console. Even if it is the worst of the cave series, it still rocks.

How could you say that about my beloved?

Then again, to each his own. Hands down my favorite Cave game though and it's unlikely anything will ever beat it.

It sounds like Pink Sweets may be closer to Dangun the way people are talking about it. That would sure be great.

-Segasonicfan

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 1:18 am

Just from the pics I've seen, the three weapon-types seemed a bit uninspired and I haven't seen any interesting enemy patterns. Still, I'd no doubt preorder this.

NTSC-J · Post by **NTSC-J** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:57 am

Something is fishy about Pink Sweets...

This afternoon I finally got to see a master player at work and it was pretty nutty. Maxed out rank is going to boil most of you alive, especially everyone that thought the game looked like a push-over.

This guy had 5 spare ships in stock and hit the C mark while still in stage 6. Then...something weird happened. He died a few times and was down to two spare fighters, then seemed to get back on track and continued destroying the game. Then, all of a sudden he dies, then dies, then dies, then dies...the game was real angry with him, and was kicking his ass, but no matter how many times he died none of his spare ships got docked! He must have died like 6 more times and nothin'. No hidden 1-ups, he just kept on going like he had 20 in stock. He was almost at the 6th boss, his score at E+, when all of a sudden the game froze.

Weird shit.

Post by **Icarus** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 12:20 pm

That sounds like a bug or an exploit to me. -_-;;

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 1:37 pm

Yeah, that doesn't exactly sound kosher, heh heh.

NTSC-J · Post by **NTSC-J** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 6:43 am

Pink Sweets ALL clear with Kasumi torrent download here for those interested.

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 6:50 am

Thanks a lot for that info, NTSC-J. I've been waiting a long time to see an ALL-CLEAR for this game (actually, to see any decent gameplay vids).

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:47 am

Damn, I downloaded 99.4% of the file only to have it stop with 3.5MB left. Apparently no one has completely downloaded the file there as it says "0" files have been completed.

NTSC-J · Post by **NTSC-J** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 8:07 am

lol I got it down to 99.3% only to have it stop as well. I guess our seeder decided to call it a day...fuckin torrents.

gionmatsuli · Post by **gionmatsuli** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 8:32 am

Stopped at 99,4% too

NTSC-J · Post by **NTSC-J** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 8:54 am

Looks like you can still view the first 6 stages even if the download isn't all the way complete.

And well...fuck, it's another one of these "just tryin to beat it" runs. This guy skips out on getting medals completely. Apparently no one wants to play this game the way it was designed.

Twiddle · Post by **Twiddle** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 9:07 am

I really want to see a+ 15 million ALL score. I'm not sure how rank really works here -- though if the system is mostly similar to Recca then it's probably based on how long you stay in max power, and it's been said already that all pickups raise it, and medals seem to be the prime offender in rank.

zakk · Post by **zakk** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 9:15 am

NTSC-J wrote:Looks like you can still view the first 6 stages even if the download isn't all the way complete.

And well...fuck, it's another one of these "just tryin to beat it" runs. This guy skips out on getting medals completely. Apparently no one wants to play this game the way it was designed.

Stage 7 works too.

The missing parts are spread across all the files. Luckily it doesn't so much matter. Maybe you'll get a glitch or jump/freeze somewhere, but I'm watching the end of stage 7 now.

Post by **Icarus** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 3:04 pm

Thanks for the heads up. Looks like the primary seeder has done off. Should be interesting to get a good look at the in-game systems now, and start to come up with an idea of how to best approach the game.

I. WANT. THIS. GAME.
Because the girls sound cute when they squeak when grazing bullets. ^_^;;

EDIT: Don't ask me why, but I kind of half-expected the last boss robot's head to fly off and do a Glow Squid. Wasn't quite expecting the hadou attack though. ^o^

I have a couple of ideas on the basis of the rank system. Need to compare with the Meidi&Midi replay just to check, will post my thoughts later tonight after work.

gionmatsuli · Post by **gionmatsuli** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 5:50 pm

The vizualisation doesn't work for me; I use VLC
Ignore my post it works now

bpe · Post by **bpe** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:57 pm

~This guy had 5 spare ships in stock and hit the C mark while still in stage 6. Then...something weird happened. He died a few times and was down to two spare fighters, then seemed to get back on track and continued destroying the game. Then, all of a sudden he dies, then dies, then dies, then dies...the game was real angry with him, and was kicking his ass, but no matter how many times he died none of his spare ships got docked! He must have died like 6 more times and nothin'. No hidden 1-ups, he just kept on going like he had 20 in stock. He was almost at the 6th boss, his score at E+, when all of a sudden the game froze.~

Aha ! I thought I was seriously missing something, but I have seen this twice as well, minus the freezing part (what with the game being too boring to stick around

). Same deal -- player dies a zillion times, but just keeps going.

Good to know I'm not such a n00b that I can't even read a ship read-out anymore.

Kiken · Post by **Kiken** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 3:23 pm

NTSC-J wrote:Something is fishy about Pink Sweets...

This afternoon I finally got to see a master player at work and it was pretty nutty. Maxed out rank is going to boil most of you alive, especially everyone that thought the game looked like a push-over.

This guy had 5 spare ships in stock and hit the C mark while still in stage 6. Then...something weird happened. He died a few times and was down to two spare fighters, then seemed to get back on track and continued destroying the game. Then, all of a sudden he dies, then dies, then dies, then dies...the game was real angry with him, and was kicking his ass, but no matter how many times he died none of his spare ships got docked! He must have died like 6 more times and nothin'. No hidden 1-ups, he just kept on going like he had 20 in stock. He was almost at the 6th boss, his score at E+, when all of a sudden the game froze.

Weird shit.

I D/Led a video with a different extend-related glitch. The player no misses his way through the first 4 levels. Gets to stage 5 with 5 ships in stock, picks up the Extend halfway through the level and his stock appears to "cycle", returning to 2 ships in bay.

Post by **Icarus** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 4:20 pm

Kiken wrote:I D/Led a video with a different extend-related glitch. The player no misses his way through the first 4 levels. Gets to stage 5 with 5 ships in stock, picks up the Extend halfway through the level and his stock appears to "cycle", returning to 2 ships in bay.

Where'd you get that vid, Kiken?
There's not nearly enough footage of this game going around.