Shmup Ticker: What are you playing RIGHT NOW?

[jammiejay85]

Rapid Hero - (making it to stage 5 now regularly but still looking for a decent 1 million points score)

I should also post a bit more on the forum.

[Giest118]

Been playing the shittiest game of all time, Battle Garegga. Got myself a score of 8.19 million before dying to Junkey Monkey.

So yeah, I've learned to like Battle Garegga. I'm gonna clear the shit out of it. Might even go for a letter score while I'm at it.

[Ikazu-san]

Currently re-learning Radiant Silvergun. Can't stop busting out the sword when I need lighting.
Also badly emulated Saturn music gives it some charm.

[Shepardus]

I've been playing a bit of Radiant Silvergun too (when I'm not bashing my head against Bakraid). I've been liking it more than I liked the brief time I spent with Ikaruga, probably because I find the weapon system more fun to use and there's more boss battles. The game also has excellent presentation with its soundtrack and the general "cinematic" feel of the game. Even though the chaining system is even sillier and more necessary to use than Ikaruga's I haven't been turned off by it (yet) because it does fit with the very deliberate pacing of the game. Granted I have yet to get past the first stage (stage 3), but from videos I do know what to expect.

[Jonst]

I've changed my mind (again) instead of relentlessly going from game to game, I've decided to go back for a bit and try TLB clears of ketsui x and akai katana zetsu. Just had a game of both, the essentials and memory is there I just made stupid mistakes due to drink and my alloted game time has gone into overtime... I just never get tired of akai katana!

[Squire Grooktook]

I've been playing a bit of Radiant Silvergun too (when I'm not bashing my head against Bakraid). I've been liking it more than I liked the brief time I spent with Ikaruga, probably because I find the weapon system more fun to use and there's more boss battles. The game also has excellent presentation with its soundtrack and the general "cinematic" feel of the game. Even though the chaining system is even sillier and more necessary to use than Ikaruga's I haven't been turned off by it (yet) because it does fit with the very deliberate pacing of the game. Granted I have yet to get past the first stage (stage 3), but from videos I do know what to expect.

I have a love/hate relationship with RSG.

I LOVE the environmental hazards, boss gimmicks, and pace.

But I HATE the slow movement speed and chaining system.

Weapons I'm a little neutral on. I like the idea, but half of them feel like their more just for shooting in different directions then truly fufilling different roles imo. Final Boss STG does it better imo.

[Gamer707b]

You made me laugh reading your post Giest118. Sounds like me hating on Layer Section. I came to a point of just HATING it, but kept going cause I just wanted to complete it. Still working on it btw.

[Stevens]

I tried to like RSG but I have this issue called lack of focus and find the # of weapons overwhelming.

I'm at the point where any upcoming run can be the one I get the 2 ALL. Everything has fallen into place...it will be mine soon!

Also digging the time I am spending with Mars Matrix again, even if I've only cleared it the one time. So glad I went back to it in December.

[Gamer707b]

All this talk about RSG is making me go back to it. One of the few games to have made me spend 100+ on. I love utilizing all the weapons for different sections. Also been gaming for 30+ years ,and this has some of the most amazing bosses ever!! Shooter or not. The music......ahhh.... What happened to Treasure? They've been mia for a long time. Aside from re-releasing their old games, they haven't done anything new.

[guy113]

Currently I'm playing Bullet Soul Infinite Burst

It's a very good HD game, it looks like a Cave game.

Very fun.

[Jonst]

Fuuuuuuck!! Awesome job stevens, congratulations! You're the boss of under defeat, I salute you. Well done!!

Meanwhile my latest mission was ruined by my daughter shouting at me about unicorns (she's 3 and it was her supposed to be her bed time) I had s no miss run on ketsui x late in to stage 4 up to that point... Played ak after that and had s no miss, potential score beating run late in to stage 5 when my wife came to ask me a load of pointless questions... Ending that run too...

EDIT: moved to correct thread!

[Squire Grooktook]

Rayxanber II and III:

I can sort of see how the HG101 guy hated the first two games. It does a ton of naughty things, like enemies appearing behind you with no telegraphing whatsoever. And on top of it, your ship feels perpetually under powered.

Still though, I am enjoying it. The Boost system is really unique (when its actually needed, somewhat rare, to the point I have to question why it needs a cool down?) and almost feels like a platformer jump in the way it gives you some extra evasive power in favor of a tricky commitment. Some of the enemy patterns are extremely creative as well.

To be honest, I'd say the second game at least doesn't feel terribly polished in a lot of ways, and I could see many people here having the same reaction to it as the hg101 guy did. Still though, it's definitely not forgettable or trash, and I think it's rewarding if you see it through.

Third game I'm enjoying too, but the first stage is kinda boring. Gets better after that though.


Crimzon Clover:

Figure I need to spend some quality time with a danmaku game again. Forgot how visceral break mode is.


eXceed 2nd- Vampire Rex:

Coming back to the game for a no bomb clear after my initial high scoring 1lc.

This game to me is a massive hidden gem. Seems like a shoddy loli version of Ikaruga at first, but it really becomes its own thing when you learn how to point blank grind enemies to build up your bomb and than chain multiple bombs in some sort Psyvariar-esque chain of invulnerability. Very unique and aggressive playstyle, and the faster move speed and bullets than Ikaruga helps that too.

Sadly a no bomb clear, even if it allows you to see some of hte more creative boss patterns, just isn't as fun. Without bombs, the game loses much of its sense of aggression and becomes a much more sterile experience (both in terms of the static predictability of patterns, and their relative lack of complexity). A poor self imposed challenge, the game is best played the way it was meant to be.

[horaceappleton]

Nice to see RSG get love; it may flatten out at higher levels, but it's still my favorite to play.

Phantasmagoria Trues continues; I've gotten a few more quality runs, but I'm still not at the level I really want. I think a no-major-chokes clear can hit 1.3 quintillion, maybe 1.5. I've backed off on practice for a while, because I'm at a computer for my day job, and my wrists threatened to go on strike; decent PT play is too input-intensive.

eXceed 2nd looks like a blast. A weird blast.

[Stevens]

Alternating starts in Under Defeat between 1-1 and 2-1. My last few runs starting on 1-1 I haven't lost a ship until the 1-5 boss.

If I can get to the 2nd loop from the beginning I can smash my old high score. I'm 100% certain I can score close to 5 million now based on my average total for both loops.

Now I have to do it.

[copy-paster]

Latest play : Salamander 2, Ketsui ( I like this simple scoring system and the gameplay more enjoyable than DOJ )

Too bad that DDP SDOJ is the latest Cave shmup games

[dink]

Koutetsu Yousai Strahl
For me, this game is so epic. I could write a page why I love this game so much, but I'll just sum it up with a line of text: 10/10 music, 9.5/10 gameplay for a classic/h-scrolling shooter.
My weaknesses in this game are those beehive/barrel things that come out in 3's and shoot real fast, and those kamikaze hover-planes. I could 1cc it instead of 2cc if it weren't for them....

again, big thanks to trap15 for liberating the sound(nmk004)-rom

[Stevens]

The good - Put up my highest score ever in UD 1st loop.

The bad - Missed the 2nd loop by 2%. Sad face.

Minor good - I played a credit on the 2nd loop and I was done by 2-3. I would have beat my high score, but only by 300,000.

Off to watch hockey. Go Rangers!

[LordHypnos]

I've been busy lately, but I've gotten a few chances to play. Mostly been sticking to Under Defeat and Triggerheart Exelica. I'm still struggling with stage 3 in UD. I'm thinking it might be wise for me to just bomb my way through the midboss so I can get a little further than come back to it later. I seem to be incapable of dodging the horizontal pattern and the two aimed spreads all at the same time >_< Never have been good at bullets that go directly vertical or horizontal (as opposed to radiating out from a source).

I've mostly just been playing full credits of Triggerheart, but have been doing some optimization in the first stage. Also I had a really annoying thing where I got 80-90% of my high score (which ended on stage 3) in the first stage, alone, and then managed to die a bunch of times in the second stage before I actually exceeded it. Also, I really like the medalling system overall, but I hate how much it punishes you for dying (it like halves your multiplier), super frustrating to die in the first stage, for that reason. Grrr. Anyway, I'm not playing it all that seriously yet, just for a break from ramming my head up against UD.

[gimebe]

I've been trying out Type-III in CCWI. I initially thought it was the worst shot type, but it doesn't seem all that bad.

[Stevens]

Starts on 1-1. Dies twice on 1-4.

Starts on 2-1. No miss to 2-5.

The fuck?

Edit - One more run later in the day. Started on 1-1. Died on 1-5 and opened the 2nd loop. Stupid death on 2-2 and last life on 2-3. Beat my old high but not by nearly as much as I want to.

I probably should have figured that my 1st run into the 2nd loop would end this way, that's what happens with shooters:D

I'll get it soon.

Saturday morning editz - Last 3 or 4 runs from 1-1 I've gotten into the 2nd loop each time. I'm still starting on 2-1 every other credit. I did come close to clearing loop 2 again, but fell a bit short.

Need to clean up 1-5 as I still have a difficult time no missing that stage. My last run I no missed everything up until the FINAL FUCKING APPROACH TO THE BOSS and I eat a fucking stray. Died again on the boss and wound up cashing out on 2-2.

Taking a break for the rest of the afternoon. Maybe I'll play a bit this evening.

Enjoy the Saturday everyone.

[Stevens]

Under Defeat. Ended on 2-5 with a score of 4,360,860.

I think it is time to go for a new clear..

[Kiken]

It would appear that you're getting quite close to the All Clear, Stevens. Keep at it.

As for me, I've been playing Keio Yuugekitai for the past week and managed to nail an SCC last night. Gonna start recording runs this evening. Thing is, I'm at odds with whether or not to leave in all the cut-scenes since they greatly lengthen the game time.

[Lobinden]

I just got back from a week long trip so I got bored and decided to try a game I haven't played yet, so I gave Blue Wish Resurrection a shot.

I really like it, especially the soundtrack. The amount of slowdown does feel a bit ridiculous at certain parts though.

[Stevens]

It would appear that you're getting quite close to the All Clear, Stevens. Keep at it.

At this point I think it is just a matter of sticking with it and making sure I play a credit or two every other day or so. I think it will happen eventually. Thanks for the encouragement!

I just got back from a week long trip so I got bored and decided to try a game I haven't played yet, so I gave Blue Wish Resurrection a shot.

I really like it, especially the soundtrack. The amount of slowdown does feel a bit ridiculous at certain parts though.

I like BWR a lot too. I just wish I didn't have to hook the laptop to the TV to play it proper.

I think I've decided it is time to go back to Zero Gunner 2. Came close to a normal (I know the default is 5) clear last summer but got distracted by Fur Fighters, which is a fantastic game in its own right.

[Jonst]

Cleared akai katana zetsu and ketsui x again yesterday, which was cool as I hadn't touched ketsui for a year... I just can't seem to settle on a new game to get into...

[Stevens]

You could always play more Ketsui:D

What are your options Jonst?

I played Zero Gunner 2 for the 1st time since August. Came back pretty quick as I made 1-6 on my 2nd run.

[Jonst]

Well, my options for games are many. I have quite a few consoles and s supergun and many games... I just can't seem to find that combination of fun/progression and determination with anything since raiden fighters 2. Much as I love many games, I've tried a few over the last couple of months like, esprade, ud, doj, sdoj, esp 2, ibara... Fun though they are, no real progression... Plus it's shit times at the moment as my wife and I had to put our beloved cat down yesterday after spending nearly £1000 to find out what was wrong with him only to find that there was nothing they could do for him...

[endoKarb]

Plus it's shit times at the moment as my wife and I had to put our beloved cat down yesterday after spending nearly £1000 to find out what was wrong with him only to find that there was nothing they could do for him...

That's awful. I'm really sorry you had to go through that.

[Jonst]

Thank you endokarb. Yeah, we're pretty devastated, he'd been with us a long time and was a hell of a character!

[Stevens]

Aww. I'm sorry dude. Went through the same thing back in January. Sucks.