Any hectic procedural shmups released last couple of years?

[A7A]

So I haven't been playing stuff for a couple of years. I got tired, basically, of the standard of three strikes and you're out. Parsec47 was my favorite shmup but wanted more of that sort of shmup. And what do I mean by "that sort" then? Well, a shmup (or a twin-stick shooter, or a run n gun or whatever basically if it's in that general area of play, and thus not rogue-likes) where you lose lives quickly, and gain them just as quickly. Geometry Wars, for example. This motivates me to keep playing much more than memorizing levels and only having a couple of lives each round of play.

So: procedural randomness, always having a chance of keeping oneself in play (thus not a game where you can do a long chain through the whole level and if you don't then you're screwed highscore-wise that round).

Got anything for me? Perhaps just some kind of random infinity mode in some game where you have more than one life?

[nasty_wolverine]

http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~cs8k-cyu/

creator of parsec47, and a few similar shmups and games.

[Obiwanshinobi]

where you lose lives quickly, and gain them just as quickly

Try Zanac Neo and Zanac X Zanac (just not on PS2 where Zanac Nao may lag). Both older than a couple of years, but suiciding is viable tactics in both.

[Blinge]

Super Stardust HD (ps3). I think it's underrated

[amdiggywhut]

Was also going to suggest Zanac Neo.

[LordHypnos]

On that asahi-net site (Kenta Cho / ABA games), You'd probably like the random modes in rRootage (they have an R at the end of the stage). There's probably around 40 R modes, but they vary in difficulty and gameplay mechanics, depending on things that will probably become obvious if you download it (but are difficult to explain in text). noiz2sa has several endless modes (there's like 4 different difficulties of endless mode), though the "invulnerable when those rotating things are over your hitbox" mechanic kind of bugs me. For that reason I prefer Parsec 47. Otherwise though, the bullets are a little bit slower than in P47, which could maybe be nice depending on your taste. Tumiki Fighters isn't procedurally generated to my knowledge, so probably don't get that one.

Otherwise, I don't know, unfortunately

[ACSeraph]

Wouldn't most Yagawa games fit that description? The easiest to jump into is probably Pink Sweets Arrange. You'll be running on a constant stream of extends and suicides (for the rose cracker) if you are doing it right.

As for truly new stuff, I think what you are looking for is Saidaioujou 360 Shot. Instead of lives you have an energy meter that maxes out around 10,000. If you get hit you autobomb at a cost of 3000 energy. Fall below zero and you die. By collecting gems and scoring well you will build hyper as in DOJ. When in hyper mode killed enemies drop green gems which refill your main energy. If done at opportune points you can get over 3000 energy from a single hyper. So for basic survival, if you get hit, hyper to recharge, recharge the hyper, and sit on it until you get hit again. But it's more interesting than that. You also have a special attack, the shotlaser, which drains your energy directly. The tradeoff it it builds your chain and hyper extremely fast for huge score, so by living on the edge constantly draining your energy for hyper and recharging you can get mad scores. Basically there's a lot of depth to it, a wide range of difficulties to accommodate any player level, and it totally avoids the 3 strikes and you're out style that you dislike.

[Squire Grooktook]

Gundemonium Recollection on harder difficulties or higher rank actually fits the "lots of deaths and extends" format. You can only have 3 lives at a time, but you can get like 2 or more extends per stage on the hardest difficulty, and that's even if you don't score well. You will very much need them all, also.

[A7A]

Thanks everyone, looks like I got some research to do! I've played Kenta Chos other games and Super Stardust too, but the rest of them I've barely heard of. noiz2sa is one of my favorite ones, and rRootage too! Don't remember any invulnerability there though, LordHypnos... would have to check it out again someday! Also wow, did not know Kenta Cho was so prolific the last year! No big games though, which probably is a shame.

[japanesesuperplayer]

Gradius 3 is pretty much the game for you. You can get extends fairly quickly (first at 20k then every 70k points) and you also lose them very quickly and it has infinite loops so you can keep playing until you game over.

[ACSeraph]

[LordHypnos]

Don't remember any invulnerability there though, LordHypnos

Yeah, it's not noticeable until someone points it out to you. Haven't figured out how to really use it to get out of a tight spot, but I feel like you kind of have to to get really high scores. It's like when those cage things are over your hitbox, you don't get killed. If you just ignore it, and are playing for survival the game is probably fine, I just find it hard to ignore now that I know it's there.

[A7A]

Yeah I guess although Gradius 3 might fit part of the description, those games really get me and I rage quit really quick. All that restarting with bad weaponry and everything too, jeez...