Imalice

[Zeether]

http://amamoriya.gozaru.jp/imalice/

Got pointed out by the shmups Twitter, looks like a Pixel game style wise with JSS style stage "areas" ranked in difficulty. Not sure what the tactics are for scoring high but it seems like filling the "Norma Clear" meter is one factor. So far there's only a demo with stage 1.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH3i3Ctz04o

[Zaarock]

This game seems really promising, the 0.1 trial doesn't get very challenging but it's just a first stage after all.

There's a very funky rank system looking at the manual, the triangular shape on the right of the HUD cycles through 5 forms based on the 'destiny' points you get (charge shot is +1, laser is +2, and not shooting for a second is -1). The manual seems to say that the second highest rank (yellow) has the highest scoring potential.

Since you want to speedkill enemy waves managing the rank for score must get tricky. The game gets a lot harder at higher ranks and seems to trigger extra enemy waves and attacks for bosses which is neat.

edit: nvm, hardest seems to have highest potential.

charging the shot makes your ship get a damage aura and when the charge is done it does a larger damage burst, which is fun to use. Rank seems to get locked in place if you keep killing enemies, but changes to the next one when it can. Some bonus enemies might be worth milking for points

[Ebbo]

This game makes me want to stop everything I do and move to live a quiet life in the mountains.

In other words, very promising stuff so far.

[Despatche]

yeah games like this (and final bossssss : () discourage me pretty hardcore

god even that logo is just genius

[Aleksei]

Fun demo, looking forward to the full version.

[Necronopticous]

Wow, looks absolutely beautiful.

[Squire Grooktook]

Good to see more devs embracing fast dodging and pace. This plays awesome.

[KAI]

Dat Aura Kill! This guy has talent, a lot of it.

[Blackbird]

Hot dog! This looks like some new hotness right here.

[Cagar]

To be honest, I was a little disappoint with the demo. The music feels forced, the gameplay was a bit confusing (jesus CHRIST that hud) and it just.. didn't feel that good. The only part where I raised my eyebrows a little was when the boss came, other than that it was pretty disappointing.
Nice artstyle though, but overall I was expecting something much better.

[Zaarock]

The only part where I raised my eyebrows a little was when the boss came, other than that it was pretty disappointing.

Did you try keeping the rank high? there's not much going on on normal/easy. Expecting people to manipulate rank to get survival challenge is questionable though

[Squire Grooktook]

The only part where I raised my eyebrows a little was when the boss came, other than that it was pretty disappointing.

Expecting people to manipulate rank to get survival challenge is questionable though

To be fair, even Garegga or Ibara isn't really hard survival on the first stage.

[Zeether]

Version 0.2 just dropped for the web trial. I think there's a few new things in there, not sure. Broke 2 million though which was a nice achievement.

[Shepardus]

I just got 2009740.

Love the artstyle, especially the backgrounds. The laser weapon's really satisfying to use.

It's still only one stage which is a bit disappointing to me as I was hoping for more with a new version, but there seem to be some changes to the gameplay systems and/or interface. I never understood it in the first place so I can't say.

[Zaarock]

Got 7.2 million here: http://www.twitch.tv/xaerock/c/6350211
Over 7.5 seems possible, probably going to grind at it for a while.

edit2: 8.3 million http://www.twitch.tv/xaerock/c/6353648 . Getting that final yellow wave on area 0 requires you to play very well. 9 mil might be possible?

Neat game, I didn't play the first version properly since the scoring seemed so confusing with the weapon management.

The rank and special waves depending on your weapon use is gone. Instead there are big colored items that allow you to select which special wave you want. By collecting a small colored item you make sure that color appears for the next wave.

In this version you pretty much just speedkill stuff for time bonus & more enemy waves while activating the yellow special waves. The game might look complicated but scoring is very straight forward. Very similar to Eschatos, except you keep getting more enemy waves until timers run out.

This is pretty amazing for a first stage tbh. Difficulty seems right for a first stage but the scoring is still interesting. But like Final Boss, I imagine it will take many years for the full game to be finished. This has been in development for a few years already.

edit: the Norma gauge tells you how close you are to the enemy kill requirement (for bonus points) on a wave. On bosses it's boss health.

[Zeether]

Just tried your strats and constantly charging the secondary weapon is a massive pain. I wish I could do better.

[Zaarock]

Turns out there's an alternate 'score attack' mode if you push F4 on the main menu. Seems identical except for fancier menus and you get much larger life stock bonus (this is good, since on the default mode you can just suicide to trivialize the bosses). I think that mode was shown in either the last Comiket or Endless Shirafu's STG exhibition? I wonder why it isnt just on by default. Managed to get 10.2mil on it but you can probably do a lot better.

Apparently it's possible to get one more special wave on the final area before the boss if you're fast enough, orz