Shmup Ticker: What are you playing RIGHT NOW?

[Kollision]

those moai started acting differently last night and made me yell more than usual
shit I hate moai

[Stevens]

Zero Gunner 2 and Under Defeat.

After many hours on ZG 2 I have finally figured out that I prefer the Apache to the Hokum.

[LordHypnos]

Zero Gunner 2 and Under Defeat.

After many hours on ZG 2 I have finally figured out that I prefer the Apache to the Hokum.

Oh, I was meaning to say that I'm looking forward to reading about your progress on ZG2. Seems like such a cool game

[Stevens]

ZG2 has 7 difficulty levels, 5 is the arcade default.

Comically enough when I first got the game it repeatedly handed me my own ass and it took me some time to realize that the default difficulty was actually above the average.

I am currently playing it on 4 and can make stage 6 on a credit. 4 is a little easier, but the main thing is that I am actually learning the stages now. There is also an extend at 600,000 points which helps quite a bit.

I will move up to 5 after I clear it on 4. I don't think it will take me more than a week at the rate I have been progressing.

LH - How are things on your end?

EDIT: What the hell? I just posted by best run/highest score with the Comanche of all things. A copter I never gave a second glance to in the year + I have owned this game.

[LordHypnos]

@Stevens: Is that directed at me?

If so, I guess I did a good amount of practice yesterday. I don't think I've fully internalized my stage 6 route, yet. Seems like I screw it up a lot of the time. Other times it works fine (In practice, only, of course). I think the issue is knowing when to cut back, because most of the stage is pretty basic bullet herding, for the most part. However, you also need to kill large enemies that will give you serious problems. Making sure that you cut back at the right times is essential to being at the right place and time for that. Generally this can be achieved via a fairly quick backlash with the mosquito, and if all goes well local-rank-wise, I've always been able to recharge in time for the next one.

I have a route for everything now, too. My 5th stage route gets me pretty decent experience, as well, now that I figured out how to full chain the stage. Even when my chain breaks in the last section, I still usually get around +1200 which is adequate for my goals (1,600,000 or higher by 6th stage). That is provided I don't die, of course , but I'm definately getting better at that part. Yesterday, I aced st4 almost every time in practice, which is good, so I didn't practice it too much. I'm still having some problems with stage 3 (It really goes up and down a lot), so I think continuing to practice st4 a little (To make sure I don't forget everything) and practicing 3, 5, and 6 in depth, plus bosses is kind of my priority at the moment. I also think I might do some recording of the final boss of stage 5 in MAME to see if there's any patterns that I can find, because that guy seems kind of random. I love his explosion animation, though.

I dumped my score attack experience counts in my high score games list, if you're interested. The combined total is over 3,000,000 now Though the best that I've done in an actual game is still under 2,000,000

Regarding difficulty in ZG2, Gunbird 2 has the same sort of layout with 5 being the correct arcade difficulty. 4 is called "easy," but is almost indistiguishable form arcade. lol. I'm sure 4 will be a good foundation for completing 5 though, in any case. You'll at least know about the enemy placement, and stuff. It will also help you get a hang of the controls, though you might already have that down for all I know

[OmKol]

After clearing Parodius da on MAME (1CC) I'm trying to clear Gokujou Parodius. My current best run - stage 5 (+Moai Stage) -_-

[X36]

1.Dodonpachi Dai-OuJou Black
2 TouHou Perfect Cherry Blossom.
3.Strikers 1945 III

[coffeyrt]

Ikaruga right now. Been working on it for a couple of weeks off and on. Practicing the 3rd boss and trying to defeat it without dying. I am still not sure how to work through the 4th level. That one still boggles my mind with the color switching and the waves... but I am working through it.

[amdiggywhut]

Just received Bullet Soul: Infinite Burst in the mail yesterday. Planning to give it a go tonight...

[cave hermit]

Got eschatos and ginga force in the mail monday; Eschatos has the best soundtrack I've ever heard. Makes me wish I went through with ordering the wonderpack so I could get the ost... I'm going to try and 1cc this one on hard. IM TOUTLLY GONNA DEW IT DIS TIM GUYZ. I'm determined to 1cc a shmup for the first time before college starts next month.

[professor ganson]

R-Type II - Haven't played this much and it really deserves some of my time. Very nice so far.

[mastermx]

Ikaruga right now. Been working on it for a couple of weeks off and on. Practicing the 3rd boss and trying to defeat it without dying. I am still not sure how to work through the 4th level. That one still boggles my mind with the color switching and the waves... but I am working through it.

Stage 4 is my favourite stage of the game. It is so difficult at first due to that revolving pattern. But once you understand how it works, it becomes a blissful gaming experience. Just keep practicing it, after you've got it down, you'll see how easy it actually is.

[amdiggywhut]

Just keep practicing it, after you've got it down, you'll see how easy it actually is.

This statement could pretty much apply to anything, ever.

[cave hermit]

Just keep practicing it, after you've got it down, you'll see how easy it actually is.

This statement could pretty much apply to anything, ever.

What about eating the sun?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWlbzdaJJ_s

[Patashu]

Dodonpachi Maximum [iOS].
My original goal is to make a '1CC' video of 1-A to 5-E then do the secret stage immediately after, but Hibachi might prove too difficult for me to be feasible. We'll see in a week or two how consistent my 5-E gets.

[Squire Grooktook]

Just keep practicing it, after you've got it down, you'll see how easy it actually is.

This statement could pretty much apply to anything, ever.

Not really, at least not for me. There are some things I've pulled off in this genre, but still find them incredibly stress-full and difficult.

[mastermx]

Just keep practicing it, after you've got it down, you'll see how easy it actually is.

This statement could pretty much apply to anything, ever.

I don't think so, some things are impossible.

[Jonst]

Still,grinding away at ketsui x mode.Getting closer to a clear,I can consistently get the extends and die less on bosses...just need to put it all together in a consistent run.At least I regularly make stage 5 after the mid boss,just need to keep my resources for the final fight...

[Stevens]

I think Ikaruga is an amazing game.

I put close to 200 hours into it and could S++ chapters 1-3. However I was spent at that point. After 80+ hours on stage 3 I was burnt out.

I will occasionally play it from time to time, but I don't chain anything and truth be told if I'm not chaining I don't find it nearly as fun. It is also way less frustrating

[ciox]

I think Ikaruga is an amazing game.

I put close to 200 hours into it and could S++ chapters 1-3. However I was spent at that point. After 80+ hours on stage 3 I was burnt out.

I will occasionally play it from time to time, but I don't chain anything and truth be told if I'm not chaining I don't find it nearly as fun. It is also way less frustrating

1-3 is a big chunk of the game, but still stage 4 is quite big and very fun to finally conquer (that moment when you start seeing through the vortex is great, it just takes a little while).
Me i've put out about 120 or so from what Steam says but still don't feel burned out, can't until I get that 1 coin clear anyway.

[Stevens]

I think Ikaruga is an amazing game.

I put close to 200 hours into it and could S++ chapters 1-3. However I was spent at that point. After 80+ hours on stage 3 I was burnt out.

I will occasionally play it from time to time, but I don't chain anything and truth be told if I'm not chaining I don't find it nearly as fun. It is also way less frustrating

1-3 is a big chunk of the game, but still stage 4 is quite big and very fun to finally conquer (that moment when you start seeing through the vortex is great, it just takes a little while).
Me i've put out about 120 or so from what Steam says but still don't feel burned out, can't until I get that 1 coin clear anyway.

I wish you luck! You are more dedicated than I:)

If a game is on the DC and has helicopters developers feel on stage 5 it must have a part where you are dealing with three giant pain in the ass enemies at once. In Under Defeat it is the three flying tanks, that with practice I learned to deal with from a survival standpoint (I can get the option bonus on two of them).

In Zero Gunner 2 there are these three cranes on the 5th stage. Today was the 1st time I didn't lose a ship on them, but I am still far off from a solid strategy that will allow me to do it most of the time.

EDIT - Got it. Thank you mystery guy on youtube!

[ACSeraph]

those moai started acting differently last night and made me yell more than usual
shit I hate moai

Seriously fuck moai

[Kollision]

those moai started acting differently last night and made me yell more than usual
shit I hate moai

Seriously fuck moai

You know, their absence is 50% of the reason why Gradius V is the best of the series hands down.

[professor ganson]

Playing some PS1 horis:

Gradius Gaiden
Harmful Park
R-Type II

Enjoying all three a lot. Harmful Park has got to be the cutest shmup of all time. Gradius Gaiden has some cheap deaths, but it's still a good time. R-Type II is simply classic.

[ACSeraph]

Coming to terms with the fact that I hate G Darius.

[Squire Grooktook]

those moai started acting differently last night and made me yell more than usual
shit I hate moai

Seriously fuck moai

You know, their absence is 50% of the reason why Gradius V is the best of the series hands down.

I actually really like the Moai stage in Gradius II. It's got some really fun dodging and it always feels exciting to zip through the cooridors trying to get behind some stone cover in time to avoid a blast of cheerios. The boss is also fun to recover against, provided you can't/don't abuse the safe spot.

[cicada88]

Recca on 3DS VC
Life Force on 3DS VC

Raiden IV: Overkill on PS3

Multiplayer Kokuga on 3DS

[BIL]

Seriously fuck moai

You know, their absence is 50% of the reason why Gradius V is the best of the series hands down.

I actually really like the Moai stage in Gradius II. It's got some really fun dodging and it always feels exciting to zip through the cooridors trying to get behind some stone cover in time to avoid a blast of cheerios. The boss is also fun to recover against, provided you can't/don't abuse the safe spot.

I've always wondered if GV's first boss's cheerio laser generators are a sly Moai reference. They have a vaguely similar outline, like you could almost texture them with Rapa Nui google search photos and call it a day. The encirclement arrangement is reminiscent of Moai Dimension (second loop ver) from Gaiden, too.



I'm vaguely tempted to edit my sig's Moai into the way past cool blue ones from Gaiden that have EYE LAZORS (and can double KO you if blown up carelessly!).

[nosorrow]

Had a bit of a Genesis/Megadrive marathon today: played some Eliminate Down, Elemental Master, Sagaia, Fire Shark and Musha. I pretty much suck at all of them, which pains me to admit (not really, but you know what I mean). Anyhow, Musha and Eliminate Down are damn fine games.

As I'm writing this, I'm listening to the great synth metal of the Lords of Thunder intro. Time now to give some love to the Sega CD (X'Eye).

[marco75]

PC Engine version of Kyoukoku Tiger on 3DS. Beat stage 1 - 3 without getting hit. Can't get past stage 5 boss.