Okay, a quick and dirty scoring guide to VP1, which goes upto and including stage6. I'll list only key points and strategies for each stage, as I'm assuming everyone already has their own tricks for their runs.
The almost-complete set of replays (no stage8 boss) is here (thanks to zakk for the hosting!).
Please note two things:
1) that this is a cross-post from the old namakoteam! forum.
2) that this only goes up to st6 - I may finish it off in the future.
WARNING: Pic heavy, as per usual. ^_-
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> STAGE 1 <
http://bigcore.rsdio.com/icarus/viperph ... il_icr.avi
- Getting a good start on this stage is important, so here's a quick run down on the technique for catching all the ships at the beginning.
A) As soon as you start out, get over to the right edge of the screen, but about half to one ship's width in, and no higher than a third of the screen up from the bottom. This is so you can shoot down two rows of ships at once, which saves time in the beginning parts.
B) As you start to destroy ships, back down the screen in one fast mvement, then slide across to the left and place yourself so that you can shoot down both rows of ships that are left. You also have to ensure that you shoot down the third red ship readying for takeoff while you move across (marked in the screen).
C) After you destroy all the ships on the right side, quickly move over to the left side of the screen, along the bottom of the screen, and destroy everything there. Make sure you destroy the one in the bottom-left corner (it's easy to miss, so you have to watch carefully as you play to make sure you do so). - After you destroy the two large triangular ships, you should stay near the right side of the screen to destroy the two red ships readying for takeoff, as they're also very easy to miss. (Marked in screenshot below.)
After you destroy these, the rest of the stage should be straightforward. Just make sure you catch all the red ships that are readying for takeoff.
> STAGE 2 - BOSS <
http://bigcore.rsdio.com/icarus/viperph ... ss_icr.avi
A) When the boss fires it's single line of hollow bullets, stay near the corner of the screen (right side is okay) and dodge the single bullets until the spread comes. The spread's pattern is in a 2x3way pattern, and to dodge this you should dodge through the gap in the pair of bullets on the very left side of the spread.
B) After you dodge through four sets of spreads (the boss fires six in total), the boss will stop firing aimed hollow bullets for the last two pairs, so cut back to the center of the screen (you should be on the left side by this point).
C) The boss will fire a quick line of aimed shots at you, so take this opportunity to get close and deal some quick damage before backing off to the corner of the screen, and repeating from A).
NOTE: If you're going for the quick kill, dropping a bomb just after the first or second spread is fired should give you enough time to pointblank the boss for a second. Make sure you back off quickly after the bomb is about to wear off, otherwise you take a bullet.
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> STAGE 3 <
http://bigcore.rsdio.com/icarus/viperph ... 3discs.avi
http://bigcore.rsdio.com/icarus/viperph ... ss_icr.avi
- DEALING WITH THE SPIKY DISCS
There are a few things I have noted about the spiky discs that appear towards the end of the stages (and repeated in other stages):
a) These discs always appear in pairs, one on the left edge of the screen, one on the right.
b) There are always four pairs in each formation set.
c) The discs will stop on the screen at a position about a ship's length higher than you are on screen (so if you're on the middle of the screen, the discs will stop higher than the middle). After they stop, they'll fire again, and then charge at you.
d) They ALWAYS appear in the same place in the stages they feature in (st3, st7, st8)
The way to deal with the spiky discs is to learn where they appear in first and foremost, and then manipulate their behaviour in this manner:
A) Stay up one side of the screen, and wait for the first pair to arrive. As soon as they arrive, the disc on your side of the screen will be instantly destroyed, while the other disc will fire, so tap down to dodge the incoming bullet.
B) As the rest of the discs arrive, slowly tap down the screen to dodge the incoming bullets. As soon as you've destroyed four discs on your side of the screen, start moving across the screen to catch the other discs. Keep moving down the screen to dodge incoming fire.
C) Don't be afraid to sit on the bottom of the screen as you chase the last disc, as it's harmless at this point. If there are more sets incoming (such as the end of st2, or end of st8) quickly move up the side of the screen and repeat the technique in mirrored form. - HANDLING THE BOSS
The most imprtant thing to take note of is the two turrets marked here:
You have to listen carefully for the low electronic grinding noise as it signals these turrets opening. As soon as you hear it, get near a corner of the screen and quickly sweep over to the other side to dodge the pattern. The ship is just fast enough to avoid the outer bullets but only if you're fast enough to prepare yourself for it.
The other thing to note is that you do not want to be any higher than this line on screen:
This is because you'll have to sweep up one side of the screen when dodging the spread, and if you go too high up the screen, you'll be killed, as the ship isn't fast enough to dodge the bullets at that range. Corner to corner should be enough.
The second pair of activated guns on the boss have an easy enough to avoid pattern.
Finally, make sure you destroy all the small generated railturrets, as they can be tricky to avoid if you are caught dodging a spread.
> STAGE 4 - BOSS <
http://bigcore.rsdio.com/icarus/viperph ... ss_icr.avi
This boss can be tricky to deal with at high rank. This quick guide assumes you're at medium rank (one death or more).
A) First, destroy all the orbs circling the boss. Once done, pointblank the boss for a split second to deal a bit of damage.
B) These two turrets will activate shortly after. Point blank them to destroy them (they're quick to destroy), and then pointblank the boss for a bit longer. Don't do too much damage here, just enough.
C) Quickly get over to the left side, and under the spinning turret, and point blank it to destroy it. Try and nudge the screen quickly to bring the other spinning turret on the right into view (about half of it on screen), which should be enough for you to watch it as it spins. Wait a second.
D) After two seconds, quickly get over to the right of the screen (the spinning turret should have stopped firing at this point, and will appear to stop spinning). Quickly pointblank it, then as it's destroyed, move over to the far right of the screen, and start tapping down the screen to the corner to dodge the pairs of bullets coming.
E) Keep moving to dodge the bullets by moving down, then along the bottom to the left of the screen again. After the pattern has finished firing, cut back to the center of the screen, to the area marked in the screenshot (where the grey bit meets the bottom edge of the boss). Clear any orbs on screen by doing a quick left-right while firing, taking care fo avoid aimed shots).
F) Listen out for the electronic noise shich signals an attack firing. To dodge the first pattern, tap down initially until the third set of bullets are fired, then sidestep them. (At higher rank, you'll have to dodge a fourth and maybe fifth set.) You are free to bomb this pattern and get some pointblanking done.
G) Do a quick left-right to destroy the generated orbs, then get back to the marked area.
H) To dodge the second pattern, stay centered, and when the pattern is fired, tap down the screen. The bullets should miss you, if you are placed properly. (At higher rank, you may have to sidestep the last set of bullets). Again, you can bomb this pattern as well, if you desire safety.
I) BOOM! If the boss is still alive at this point, drop a bomb.
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> STAGE 5 <
http://bigcore.rsdio.com/icarus/viperph ... v1_icr.avi
http://bigcore.rsdio.com/icarus/viperph ... ss_icr.avi
- When you meet the first set of mines at the start of the stage, a large bomber will follow them on the left side. This is the first key point in this stage, as it's easy to miss the 100% due to fast moving enemies flying in from the top-right corner, which sweep past the bomber. To catch them, position yourself so you are attacking the right wing-tip of the bomber as shown in the screenshot.
If you're quick enough beforehand, do a bit of pointblank damage before positioning yourself, to ensure you don't have to deal with the bomber for an extended period of time (as the pattern is annoying to dodge). - The middle section is probably the most difficult of the stage, as it involves a ton of fast-firing sniper tanks.
There is no real easy way to deal with this section, other than
1) KEEP MOVING
2) Use the background as a guide - tanks appear all over the asteroids in view, so make sure you mop them up before moving on
3) Do not get caught on the edge of the screen - if you anticipate a trap, BOMB.
During this section, you'll want to attack the large silver sled-shaped enemies directly with your main shot, to ensure you do enough damage before they fire their hard-to-avoid patterns. - HANDLING THE BOSS
This boss is a quick one, but all movements must be done fluidly. The single-bomb technique is as follows.
A) Stay back when the boss appears so you don't get rammed. As soon as you get a clear chance, get up and pointblank the boss, nose-to-nose.
B) Stay centered to avoid the initial spray attack. Once this pattern is finished, move over to the right, in line with the boss's right side booster.
C) Watch the turret (marked) carefully. As soon as it starts firing, quickly move to the left side of the boss (again, in line with the left booster), then quickly back to the right side, and finally re-center yourself in line with the boss's center. This should be in one fluid movement.
D) Stay centered to avoid the double-bullet stream, but slowly move down the screen, about one to two ship's lengths. This is because the boss moves quickly on the next attack to try and ram you.
E) As soon as you see the arms on the boss open up (you should have backed down the screen a bit for point D), drop a bomb and pointblank the boss.
F) BOOM! The boss should be destroyed at this point. If not, back down to the bottom of the screen to avoid the spread attack (which is easy to avoid).
> STAGE 6 <
http://bigcore.rsdio.com/icarus/viperph ... v1_icr.avi
http://bigcore.rsdio.com/icarus/viperph ... ss_icr.avi
- MEDAL PODS
In this stage, and also in stage7, you'll come across an enemy formation consisting of very fast moving discs that rush directly at you.
While they are easy to deal with with Wide, they are also a signal for the following large medal-carrying ships. (You'll know the formation I'm talking about, it starts slow them speeds up.) To deal with the medal ships, hug the edge of the screen, quite low down (about 1/4 of the screen) and when they come in, get under them (still hugging the edge of the screen) and pointblank them. There are always two medal ships. - HANDLING THE BOSS
This boss is very tricky, and requires fast, fluid movement and a lot of confidence. Don't be afraid to bomb if you have to (but be aware that this one takes up to five bombs to down from start). This technique is a no-bomb tech.
A) As soon as the boss music starts, get centered and pointblank the central turret and then the three hexturrets on the left.
B) Quickly move in a diagonal line down and to the right of the screen to damage the three hexturrets on the right. Use your main shot to destroy them, making sure you dodge any bullets that are fired.
C) Quickly pointblank the center of the boss until it "explodes", then quickly back off down to the bottom of the screen and line yourself with the outer edge of the boss's right side. When the spread is fired, tap gently and rhythmically to dodge the spread - the spread fires four times and is aimed - then quickly line yourself up with the left edge of the boss.
D) Repeat this method of dodging and realigning yourself with the boss's edges. Make sure you keep alternating sides - if you started from the left side of the boss before, align yourself with the right side next, and so on. Quick thinking and judgement is important here, as the boss fires quickly and periodically, and moves in fast movements.
E) If at any point you anticipate a trap, drop a bomb and realign yourself. The boss should go down within a minute of sustained fire.
NOTE: There is an easier way to beating the boss, by hugging a screen edge and tapping up and down to avoid the spread attack, however you will forefeit the 100% this way. Choose your tactics carefully. - > BOSS SPEEDKILL TECH <
http://bigcore.rsdio.com/icarus/viperph ... ll_icr.avi
This must be done fluidly, so I advise you use a state to practice. Use this one if you want (make sure you have the state folder "viprp1j" in the "sta" folder of your MAME directory), just press F7 and then 8 to load.
A) As soon as the boss music starts, set yourself up to destroy the central turret and the three hexturrets on the left. Sweep back and...
B) ... destroy the three on the right. As soon as they're destroyed...
C) Pointblank the boss. Now, after the initial "explosion" (marking the change in attack pattern) watch the central crystal very carefully. Because when it changes to a white colour, about a split second after is when the spread attack starts.
D) You want to drop a bomb when the spread is just about to start.
E) Stay centered with the boss, and wait until just before the bomb is about to burn out. Quickly do a tap movement to the right and dump a bomb to the right of the boss. This is to catch the drone coming in on the right of the screen, as well as giving you some cover to pointblank again.
F) BOOM! If the boss still isn't dead by now, drop another bomb.
