Einhander: Great game or overrated?

[To Far Away Times]

I go back and forth with this game. I feel like it should be a great shmup, it has sky high production values and a lot going for it, but when I start playing I lose interest quickly. I feel like I'm missing out somehow, like the game just doesn't click with me. What do you guys think?

[KAI]

Over"Squaresoft"rated

[Kollision]

Masterpiece

[Squire Grooktook]

I like it a lot, I don't think it's over-rated.

I like the almost Metal Slug ish stealing weapons system, where you get a limited burst of power with a unique firing mode for a while after picking them up. I like how varied the boss fights are, and how they make use of a lot of gimmicks like ramming you, homing saws, water sprays, etc. And overall the level and boss design is really solid.

I also like a lot of little details about it, like how you can stun enemies and make them reel back by destroying certain armor pieces. Makes kills feel a bit more "personal", like you're doing combos on something in a fighting game.

Overall I think it's a really fun game. Peeps weened on Cave/Touhou/Danmaku style stuff might not appreciate it or might find it frustrating or difficult to get into, but if you like oldschool shmups I'd say it's one of the most memorable for that style, and definitely up there.

[Jeneki]

It has some interesting game mechanics, but the slow pacing makes it hard to plod through. I would enjoy the game more if it didn't keep interrupting me for long "cinematic" viewing angles and boss introductions.

[To Far Away Times]

It has some interesting game mechanics, but the slow pacing makes it hard to plod through. I would enjoy the game more if it didn't keep interrupting me for long "cinematic" viewing angles and boss introductions.

R-Type Delta does this a bit but it's paced much better. It's more like a couple of seconds to breathe and then you go right back into the meat grinder.

[Captain]

Its a movie that you play.

[ciox]

Its a movie that you play.

[cicada88]

i feel like Yasujiro Osu when I'm playing movies

[unusedSUITCASE]

It always seemed too finicky to me. It does look nice though.

[ZacharyB]

It looks interesting to play for score. Let a whole bunch of enemies linger on the screen, then destroy them as fast as possible to get the x16 multiplier, which then stays there for a little while.

Anyone know if there's an extra bonus value that goes up each time you hit x16? I remember seeing a number increase every time a player hit x16 in a Youtube video.

[Kiken]

Anyone know if there's an extra bonus value that goes up each time you hit x16? I remember seeing a number increase every time a player hit x16 in a Youtube video.

It's a sort of rank counter. Each time you hit the 16x multiplier it becomes slightly more difficult to do it again.

[TWITCHDOCTOR]

Einhander ehh?
I have a couple likes and dislikes for this game.

Its a great epic shootemup, but its not an "Arcade" style shooter; which I would prefer.
I prefer the classic style of powerups, and pattern memorization.
This one feels more like the "long haul", or more of an endurance shmup.
Playing for score, and 1CC(on credit clear) are lost to me in this game.

Its a great game... just like Radiant Silvergun , although just not my favorite style.

I'd rather play a game that takes about 30 minutes or so to play through. Rather than a two hour experience.
I'm sure that someone can become really good at it, even still, its gonna take some time to play through it. Even longer to master.

[Squire Grooktook]

I'd rather play a game that takes about 30 minutes or so to play through. Rather than a two hour experience.

Einhander is like 45 minutes long. Not any longer than a Cave 2 all, really.

[TWITCHDOCTOR]

Well, the last time I played Einhander, it took quite a while to play through. Granted, I'm not a master of this game, nor did I time myself during playthrough.

Its a good game, its just that I feel that since its so long, its harder to master.
I'm an old school fan, so when I say longer and harder to master, I'm comparing it to the likes of the following:
ThunderForce II, II,IV V
Lords of Thunder/Gate
UN Squadron/Area88
R-Type
Pulstar
etc,etc.
You get the idea here...

Einhander is longer shmup, kinda like X2, or Gradius V...even R-Type Final.

Still great games though, don't get me wrong here.

[BrianC]

Its a movie that you play.

No, that's Dragon's Lair.

[waiwainl]

I liked it very much - the gameplay is better than the looks though

[gray117]

It's very good, but for several reasons it doesn't inspire a quick revisit/repetitive play even for those who like it.

It's a notable oddity coming from square and that gets it an easy byline in a review, and/or reason for anyone to look at it, but it still has a fairly low profile; I don't think it's overrated.

It remains a really interesting, well executed ps1 game that came from no where, and erm... went back there... 1997 says the internet, a year before rtype delta - which is probably a more significant time difference back then than it is now in terms of comparing releases.

[neorichieb1971]

I like many others feel the control requires a bit much concentration. Takes you a bit out of the game.

Would be nicer as a conventional shmup.

[Gaia]

Definitely overrated.

[zendor118]

Great game.

[Bananamatic]

needs shorter stages 1 and 2 imo
and less checkpoints

[antron]

1st Gen 3D = blah

[Kollision]

the amount of heresy in this thread annoys me
above all 1-game shooters, Einhänder is probably the one that deserves a sequel the most

[professor ganson]

I have to agree with those who have issues with the pacing, but the look and style of the game is superb. Don't you pick up weapons from fallen enemies? If so, it wasn't as memorable as in Kirby games but still a nice idea.

[DestroyTheCore]

I was just thinking about Einhander. I bought the game 3 years ago and never bothered trying until today. This game is so simple yet interesting. I couldn't expect more from a horizontal shmup on PS1.

[Pretas]

This game is so simple

No it isn't. The weapon system is challenging to master, especially with the ship that lacks an infinite machine gun to fall back on. There is also a DDP-like combo meter.

[DestroyTheCore]

This game is so simple

No it isn't. The weapon system is challenging to master, especially with the ship that lacks an infinite machine gun to fall back on. There is also a DDP-like combo meter.

I suppose one doesn't fathom the scoring system of a shmup within an hour when you just smoked weed. You're absolutely right.

[Shatterhand]

Overrated

[R-Gray 1]

Great game. Gr8 bosses..gr8 stage design.
Can change speeds, changing weapons mechanics,
and more.
....

I read posts above good mention about R type delta and einhänder