Shmup Ticker: What are you playing RIGHT NOW?

[Doctor Butler]

I got Mamorukun Curse for $5 on PSN. It's pretty decent.

[Patashu]

I am currently doing Bug Princess/Mushihimesama [iOS] Original 'get a good run on video' attempts. So far I've had three NMNBs choke super hard in stage 5, and a lot of practice and routing has happened, it's just getting stage 5 to work in a run that's left. I'm out of hours to play it today... I'll play more tomorrow.

[ACSeraph]

Gokujou Parodius

Having a great time, clear the game, feeling pumped. Special stage... OK. Suddenly this game remembers Gradius and it's spawn aren't allowed to be fun and shits all over me for my remaining eight lives. Wouldn't want to leave me feeling good about myself after a round of Gradius after all, even if I did just fucking beat the god damn game.

[Stompp]

I got back to playing Super Spacefortress Macross This was one of my first arcade PCB's and it's been resting for far too long. Pretty straight forward game but I like the sounds and the visuals <3

[broken harbour]

Been rocking Espgaluda 2 recently, I didn't really like it that much when I bought it over a year ago, but upon playing other Cave games like Mushi Futari and DDP DOJ, holy crap I get it now.

OMG Omake mode is awesome, it makes the scoring system a little less complicated, it feels really natural. Of course, it's an easy 1cc, but it's addictive as hell.

[MovingTarget]

Just got Akai Katana a few days ago, learning my scoring routes in the first few stages of Slash mode, and its awesome!

Yoko shmups aren't normally my cup of tea, but this game does enough things right to have me totally hooked.

[mamboFoxtrot]

Yes, AK is super awesome. There needs to be more games where you can shoot swords at shit!


Started playing Cotton 2, Saturn version. I was thinking that it'd be a bit on the easy side since it has a health bar, but ho shit was I wrong! Its not every day in an STG where I game over more than once on stage 1...
Trying to choose between using Rapid or Command XYZ button selection. Rapid saves my thumbs, but damn those motions are awkward to pull off! Meanwhile, using Command makes the special moves easier... but I keep hitting the wrong button!
What I don't get about Rapid mode is that it also gives you rapid-fire on the Grab and Magic/Bomb button. What the hell good is that supposed to do me?!

[nosorrow]

I was always intimidated by the Cotton 2 button attacks layout, so I purchased Boomerang instead. I can't say that I'm the biggest fan as those sprites are too big for their own good. Good looking/sounding game though.

[EmperorIng]

Yes, AK is super awesome. There needs to be more games where you can shoot swords at shit!


Started playing Cotton 2, Saturn version. I was thinking that it'd be a bit on the easy side since it has a health bar, but ho shit was I wrong! Its not every day in an STG where I game over more than once on stage 1...
Trying to choose between using Rapid or Command XYZ button selection. Rapid saves my thumbs, but damn those motions are awkward to pull off! Meanwhile, using Command makes the special moves easier... but I keep hitting the wrong button!
What I don't get about Rapid mode is that it also gives you rapid-fire on the Grab and Magic/Bomb button. What the hell good is that supposed to do me?!

Cotton 2's control scheme has many a mystery.

I don't use the command xyz too often, but it can help. Rapid is not worth the trouble since it messes up your timing anyway (ie what you mentioned with rapid grab and stuff).

I can reliably get to stage 3 before being overwhelmed, since your main shot is next to worthless and your sprite is so big.

You have to spam your magic attacks to get anywhere in the game.

[LordHypnos]

Recent stuff that I've been playing:

rRootage (always), XOP Black Ultra, and Mountain of Faith. I tried recording some rRootage, and ended up getting super broken slowdown and a new highscore in stage 4R. Because of that, I had to get an even higher score without slowdown to purge my table of cheaty scores, so I did Also got a recording (using ffmpeg ultrafast profile and 25FPS--not sure which made the biggest difference) That seems more legit with a score around 2 mil. Mountain of Faith is being kind of tricky for me. My best credits usually end with me running out of energy for bombs somewhere in stage 4, but I can't practice stage 4, because of the stupid needing to clear a stage to unlock practice mode shit. I played a few credits of Fast Striker 1.5 to try to regain some of my former abilities, and I didn't quite, but it's a pretty fun game that gets fairly intense at high rank with suicide bullets and shit. Also, some of the interactive scenery / stage hazards are cool like the lasers in stage 3. Game seems to run nicely on a PC CRT through VGA (was getting awful motion blur when I tried it on an LCD at one point. I think it was a shitty LCD). Also nice to actually be able to read the text and realize I've been putting my name in as Myp and Nyp instead of Hyp. lol. Also tried playing Aero Chimera a bit, and damn is it hard. I can barely make it past stage 1 Then I realized that my screen was running at 50Hz, and it got even harder

Aside from doujins, I was trying to copy Rob's stage 3 route in Mars Matrix. Haven't worked on it for a while, though. I also played a little Dragon Blaze and Fever SOS (Dangun Feveron) in MAME. Does anyone know if the world versions of those are easier than the japanese versions? Both games are pretty awesome in any case. I really like the scoring in Dangun, while the dragon shot is a pretty cool gimmick in DB. Can't make it very far in either

[Prinny]

Playing the 4th Touhou game, Lotus Land Story. Kind of need a small break since I feel like I'm hitting a wall and failing to pass it in XED (for STGT Gaiden).

Almost tempted to do a lunatic run just to see how it feels after doing a blind 1cc.

[friedrich]

Only Resogun at the moment. After having played about 20 hours, I can now reach the last stage on Veteran. I should be able to clear it pretty soon.

I like it even better than Stardust HD. It's also the first game where I like an enemy chaining scoring system.

[professor ganson]

Under Defeat (DC) - wanted to see how this would look now that I've finally got a working s-video cable for my DC and it did not disappoint. I put off getting the HD version because I figured the game was going to shine best in tate display on the DC. Maybe that's right, and in any case I don't need better than this. Looks and play fantastic.

[null1024]

Sanvein [PS1].
Was doing fairly well until midway through the third area [taking the default route, and was going for full-stage clears]. Been picking Photon/Gluon as my weapon combo, haven't been able to do well at all with any other so far.

Man, this game is great. It's so fast and fun, even if it's floaty as hell.
BAMBAMBAMBAM next stage BAMBAMBABMBAM oh shit time is low BOSS BAMBAMBAMBAMBAMBAMBAMBAM next stage

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

Ginga Force. Played Crimson Clover too untill my crap computer froze up on the second level. Seemed pretty great.

[Knockworstface]

R-Type


The original hard as nails 1987 classic...."R-Type".

[Bonus!]

Spent half an hour or so clearing Rozen Diadem today. Kind of okay. The final boss fight was strangely calming.

[nosorrow]

I've been alternating between Ibara (PS2 - both modes) and Giga Wing (Dreamcast) for the past few days.

[ACSeraph]

Wow Hector '87 is a pretty bitchin' game when you have an autofire controller to play it with.

[Patashu]

HOLY SHIT KETSUI IS FUN

[Blinge]

No it's not. It's like pulling teeth

[Squire Grooktook]

Like most of Cave's library, I find the excessively static boss patterns grow a little dry on repeat playthroughs, but the sheer sense of depth, variety, and technique to the levels elevates it to a status that eclipses most other productions within the genre.

[Jonst]

No it's not. It's like pulling teeth

[Patashu]

Dang, the ketsui meh has arrived in full force

[Jonst]

^ I was in love with it,now it's becoming a chore to play...I can't move on until I've cleared it.

[broken harbour]

Hit the wall in Espgaluda 2, I've been loving Omake mode but I just can't get a decent run in all of a sudden. Boo.

[blackoak]

Strikers 1999 pcb, really enjoying it. Something about Psikyo 1-ALLs makes them just right for continual-but-casual evenings of ~30min play. I find this one a little easier than the previous games, but it could just be that I've played a lot of Psikyo now. Will be fun to someday attempt a 2-ALL of one of these.

[trap15]

No it's not. It's like pulling teeth

[eatdogs]

Exerion
Quarth
Raiden dx
Omega boost

[CIT]

Spriggan mk2 (PC Engine)

I remember the game not being too hot, but holy shit, it's actually pretty close to a real stinker.