__SKYe wrote:Played a bit of Balloon Fight (FC) and finally managed to cross the 100k barrier (by quite a bit) and got a 150k score.
This is a really a very fun mode to play (more than the actual game) and gets really intense later on -- especially when deciding whether to go for that balloon and risk a shocky death, or accept the loss of those points and go with the safer path.
Still haven't gotten that Balloon Trip counterstop myself... actually I have no idea if it stops, or rolls over, or glitches/crashes. All I know is it's some harrowing shit.
About as distilled and quintessential as precision scrolling peril gets. Might give it a serious go when I have some time off in the summer.
One of my most treasured FC games. Albeit mostly for Balloon Trip's quasi-score attack, but even the main game's good for a laugh (and is secretly one of the most raucous 2P bloodsports on the platform). And yeah those bonus rounds are great, especially the use of the wrap-around screen to make otherwise-impossible catches!
Stevens wrote:Kung Fu Master - current HS is 313,000.
Made it to 3-2 twice now and would probably benefit from some save state practice (pretty sure I did this on 2-2 as well) since snakes, dragons, and confetti drop furiously by the 3rd loop. I don't know if I'm making this up but I am pretty sure I read the game is at max rank by this point.
You're making me want to finally give the AC version a proper go - IIRC I cleared just the first loop before moving on. I've wondered for years how the port on Irem Arcade Classics (PS1/SS) holds up... I'm sure there's some variances/inaccuracies, but mechanically it seemed dead-on so I said fuck it and nabbed a copy of the former.
The FC version is always great fun, but I seem to recall its difficulty maxing out by Game B's second loop (though it's certainly still pretty mean by console standards). Stage 2's reptile/confetti-fest is a notable problem there too, as is Stage 4's hornetpalooza.
EDIT1: although going for a quick Game B Loop 1 spin, I remember now that the hornets' spawns+behaviour are static. So as long as you don't screw up your moves, it'll be the same short, easily-controlled slate every time. Still pretty intense and satisfying nailing those flying kicks though!
EDIT2: Aww sheeit, this is compulsion.
Spent all evening messing about with Game B. Loop 3 definitely ups the difficulty a bit too - knives fly quicker and hornets will catch up to you easier. It's all thoroughly ruthless - constant pincer+high/low threat, no continues, death striking in a split-second's indecision. Game B Loop 1 is done in a flash, 2's already pretty damn dangerous, and tbh I'm currently maxing out at 3. Interested to see how this goes, it's a nice little gauntlet as it is.
St4 boss/
MAGICIAN and his knifer backup is the biggest asshole of the lot, inspiring me to revisit your posts on his AC equivalent. Although he doesn't duplicate on FC, it sounds surprisingly similar to the work-around I figured out for his nasty keep-away game. Oh hang on... he
does duplicate, just not with the method I took. Seems to do it in response to you stuffing his incoming high fireballs - I've just been ducking 'em. Get into crouch P's range limit and spam, chopping his HP and snuffing his revenge fireball - he'll die promptly. You need to work around his crowd support, attacking during a lull - he can't attack while you're frozen during his vanishing act, but they'll backstab you mercilessly.
I love the snapshot of early/mid 80s Japanese action gaming this port provides: an archetypal IREM hit from pre R-Type, ported home by a less-childsafe Nintendo who weren't afraid to kick asses off the machine. Excellence and craft all around.
EVERY ACTION GAME EVER NEEDS A "GAME B" MODE. I don't mind if the defaults are geared for hurt feefee wieners, a man's gotta eat... just gimme the real stuff under the counter and
keep that weak shit outta my face. 
All that said, I've no idea how this actually compares 1:1 with the AC version. Been years. I should rectify that. FC could be remarkably accurate, or a well-judged alternative, or a TOTAL FUCKIN DISASTUH.
I like it a whole helluva lot in its own right though.
Have you played it much Stevens?
Alien Soldier 2 occupies my head quite a bit... not just design ideas, but also the challenge of maintaining that militant wordlessness. I wish Silhouette Mirage and Guardian Heroes had been on MD too. Or in the arcade like RSG. Anything to ensure the action is the main story driver, not cutscenes.
Taken from Gradius II FC's title screen, but you can find equivalents all over Konami's most iconic 80s action games. Earliest I can recall is Big Core from the original Gradius. Seems to have been a big hit with Umechan Team (FC Salamander/Contra/Gradius II/Super Contra).
I saved at the start of each loop and yep, it keeps getting meaner up to at least 4. Authentically inhospitable arcade-calibre challenge! Loop 4 / Stage 2's spawn rate is such that you really want to hustle past stuff where possible rather than letting spawns gather:
: (damn ring-out!)
