Shmup Ticker: What are you playing RIGHT NOW?

[copy-paster]

Played Darius Gaiden, take ACEHMSY route, and fuck you Odious Trident!

[Stevens]

More Progear.

Reached Kraken at the shop last night, so that was cool since that is the furthest I've been on a credit.

Scoring is still improving slowly. During an actual run I had 5 million at Jimchuck, and during practice I turned that into 9 million by Kraken.

I also discovered auto fire in Fightcade, which is going to save my thumb I tried playing on a stick, but gah - I fucking hate sticks for shooters.

Been dabbling in Fever SOS and Guwange to keep me sane in between Progear sessions. Is it me or can you actually play Guwange, ignore scoring for all intents and purposes, and still clear it?

[CloudyMusic]

Is it me or can you actually play Guwange, ignore scoring for all intents and purposes, and still clear it?

There are no score extends, so sure. Half of the fun to me is scoring, though.

[Squire Grooktook]

Yeah. Scoring isn't too hard for the first half, so there's not much reason not to enjoy it a bit. But if you drop your chain or forget about it, it won't stop you from clearing.

[Stevens]

Thanks guys. I'll probably wind up trying to chain until it gets too hard and then just play it.

It is nice to have a Cave game where I can ignore it if I want though.

[Vludi]

Are you playing US or JP verson of Progear? i didn't have much problems to 1all the US version but you have to memorize stage 4 and 5.

[Stevens]

US.

[TJB]

All this talk of Progear makes me want a JP Board back, who's selling?? Haha. (Seriously hit me up ;_; )

I'm trying to give SDOJ (360 port) a fair go, struggling a little but maybe in time I'll adjust.
Also Esp.ra.de (PCB), going for the 1CC /w a good score still. It's uh... going slow.

[Stevens]

All this talk of Progear makes me want a JP Board back, who's selling?? Haha. (Seriously hit me up ;_; )

I'm trying to give SDOJ (360 port) a fair go, struggling a little but maybe in time I'll adjust.
Also Esp.ra.de (PCB), going for the 1CC /w a good score still. It's uh... going slow.

I now understand what you mean about stage 4. It's fucking awesome.

SDOJ is a monster (think I've seen the stage 4 midboss), and Esprade I find fun, but haven't really gotten into it just yet. I do love the mall at night stage though, the BGM is kind of haunting.

In other news it's official - games without autofire are off limits for me unless I play on a stick. Thumb started to bother me the other day so I iced the fuck out of it, and figured out how set up auto fire in Progear.

I think I would have gone out of my way to get over my stick hatred to keep playing it.

[Zaarock]

Still getting bodied by stellavanity. Slowly improving at scoring so maybe I'll reach the 2nd score extend before clearing hard.

Put some hours in RefRain & cleared Re:Extreme. Scoring looks sort of fun but not sure if I'll try it.

[Perikles]

I like to play random games from time to time just to see what the genre has to offer and what I might tackle in the foreseeable future. Little did I know that I would stumble upon what I presume is the most amazing rank system of all time. I dabbled with a game by the name of "Twin Eagle - Revenge Joe's Brother", the title alone should tell you all about its quality. I've never seen it in motion, all I knew beforehand was that it received a port for the NES and that it is apparently considered to be one of the hardest shmups ever according to the Japanese wiki. So, after setting up the controls and playing for two uneventful minutes, the wrath of heavens came upon me: after a helpful warning message ("ENEMY FIGHTERS COMEING UP!!") I got annihilated by a flock of red jets that appeared from behind. It's one wave after another, shooting lightning-fast bullets you can neither really see nor dodge with that brobdingnagian, clunky chopper of yours, just slaughtering you over and over again. After a good quarter-hour I decided to quit and watch a video, just out of morbid curiosity. Imagine my surprise when I saw entirely different enemy formations popping up, and rather docile ones at that! Since there are only so many options in the game I got an idea as to what could create this conundrum, and I'm now almost sure. If you play with an autofire rate that's roughly above 10Hz, the difficulty just skyrockets. I'm not sure how it works exactly, but I tried it a few times in a row and got it to work consistently. Just watch the difference! The first time I played with 10Hz autofire the entire time and even ceased fire whenever nothing was on-screen, the other two times I chose to play with 30Hz autofire and pressed down the shot button with reckless abandon. If that's not the most backstabbing way to punish high autofire rates then I don't know what is.

[Squire Grooktook]

Made it to REX CAVALIER in Hellsinker. Easily one of the most regal and imperious bosses in any game I've played, and the Apostles of The Seed still make my heart skip a beat.

This game is easily in my top 5 or at least top 10 now.

[Stevens]

Progear.

Earning the 1st extend at the end of stage 2 now. I'm happy with 3 million by the end of stage 2, but I would love to start stage 4 with 6 million. Need a little more work on stage 3 for that, but I can't imagine it will be that hard to find. Stage 3 is rife with point opportunities.

Stage 4 is coming along too, still need more practice though.

Love this game.

EDIT - Today was a good day.

Made a few small changes in stage 1 with regards to where I cash out. Scoring around a million consistently now.

Did the same for stage 2 and picked up another 300,000 giving me around 3.3 to start stage 3.

On stage 3 I tried leaving the train alone in the beginning (since it shows up at then end). I had 4 million right after the mid boss, which was also easier because that asshole train wasn't shooting at me.
Cashed out a shitload when I finally caught up to it and started my fight with Jimchuck with a bit over 5 million, started stage 4 with over 6 million.

Went back, loaded the stage 2 savestate. Died once on Jimchuck, then no missed stage 4 (even got the 1 UP) and died once on Kraken.

Unsurprisingly I didn't get too far into stage 5, but I finished the game with over 10 million.

Still lots to do, but seeing improvement is always great.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Took my GBA with Phalanx cartridge in to the park today. Quite playable, isn't it? Did they make hitbox smaller in the port?
I'm planning to take Konami Collector's Series: Arcade Advanced with me there tomorrow.

[The Armchair General]

Still playing Donpachi. I've been trying to get really consistent at the second loop. I thought it was impossible for me to get truly consistent at it 2 weeks ago but I think I've finally achieved some great consistency on the loop.

In fact, 5 days ago I managed to no miss the second loop for the 2nd time

Spoiler

And last night I managed to no miss the second loop for the third time with 2 bombs remaining

Spoiler

All of these runs were done with a death on the 1st loop to lower rank because max rank is insane and because of that no one has ever done a no miss run of Donpachi.

It feels sweet to finally get the consistency I've strived so long for. Very excited to start doing 2-ALL attempts again tomorrow.

[wiNteR]

I am assuming you are talking about japan version? I don't re-call in which version the bomb stock re-fills after every level (at least in one of version it does ... or maybe both?).

If you did this in japan version without re-fill then it's quite an impressive achievement. Even with re-fill a solid achievement nonetheless.

All of these runs were done with a death on the 1st loop to lower rank because max rank is insane and because of that no one has ever done a no miss run of Donpachi.

That explains things a bit :p. Though I was under the impression that the rank would rise fairly quickly and reach maximum level soon enough. Also bombing doesn't lower the rank?

The first four levels can be done (the third is difficult, fourth is very difficult). However, I don't know whether the fifth one can be done. A post from sikraiken few years ago seemed to suggest it is possible, but I do not know whether it is. Probably with the right routing, maybe (or maybe enemy formations in the level don't allow such a routing and at least a couple of bombs have to be used).

[The Armchair General]

I am assuming you are talking about japan version?

Yep. That's the version without full bomb refills. In the Japanese version you get a number of bombs that is equal to your stage number ( you get 1 bomb after 2-1, two bombs after 2-2, etc.)

Though I was under the impression that the rank would rise fairly quickly and reach maximum level soon enough. Also bombing doesn't lower the rank?

From what I can tell rank can't go up in the second loop. I also don't think bombing affects rank.

The first four levels can be done (the third is difficult, fourth is very difficult)

I can tell you max rank 2-3 is pretty tough. I have NMNBed max rank 2-5 using save states but it involved a lot of pixel perfect dodges which can't be done consistently in an actual run and I honestly don't think it's possible to make a consistent NMNB max rank 2-5 route.

[Vludi]

From what I can tell rank can't go up in the second loop. I also don't think bombing affects rank.

If so, suiciding twice in the end of first loop make any difference for lower rank?

[trap15]

Still plugging along on Same!Same!Same!, now made it to stage 8. I feel more like this is a doable 1-ALL by the day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPoOniyJq3s

[wiNteR]

If so, suiciding twice in the end of first loop make any difference for lower rank?

I would want to know that as well.

As I re-call, the rank in donpachi lowers in the second loop if you die and goes back up steadily (pretty much as one would expect).

So, from what I can gather, given his post, is that once you reach the second loop in the game the max rank (rank ceiling that is) stays constant on the level it was at the end of first loop.

It would certainly be a bit peculiar because for most games with rank, I guess:
1) the ceiling would just be some preset value constant through-out (psikyo games for example, also need accounting for power-ups if one insists on being precise).
2) there would be no ceiling as such (raizing games?).
3) minor variations on the above two

[The Armchair General]

Donpachi's rank seems to work like this:

> the game has four rank levels: easy, normal, hard, and very hard
> you start the game on normal rank
> rank will go to the next level (normal to hard) when you enter stage 4 (not 2-4) or enter when you enter the second loop.
> dying will drop rank by one level (hard to normal) and if you have only 1 live left, the game will set your rank to easy. The game also sets your game to easy after you use a credit.

I should say that Randorama's guide says that bombs influence rank but in my experience playing that doesn't seem to be the case.

If so, suiciding twice in the end of first loop make any difference for lower rank?

It set my rank to normal instead of hard which doesn't make much of a difference. Rank only changes bullet speed and there's next to no difference in bullet speed between hard and easy rank in the second loop.

[microfolk]

Made it to REX CAVALIER in Hellsinker. Easily one of the most regal and imperious bosses in any game I've played, and the Apostles of The Seed still make my heart skip a beat.

This game is easily in my top 5 or at least top 10 now.

After the Apostles of the Seed the clear is pretty reachable I think, Rex Cavalier is a bit quirky but I found it easy to get consistent at it. I hope you'll enjoy the final boss, it's one of the best moments I've ever experienced in a videogame.

Getting back to the topic I started again with Garegga after a pretty sizeable pause form the genre, I should really work on getting more consistent in scoring the first five stages and learning once and for all to survive the last two... Which means essentially learning how to deal with Black Heart Mk. 2 since I'm getting better and better with stage 6.

[endoKarb]

meh...

[Shepardus]

I've been there, you can do it!

What character are you using?

[endoKarb]

I'm playing Sonia. Trying to play at least... I'm awful at this game.

I guess I'll clear next time I get I lucky run (I had no strat for the last boss this time) but I'm still bumping into bullets all over the place.

If I could no miss 1-6, like, once in a blue moon, I'd be happy already

[Stevens]

Still Progear, lots of practice with the occasional full run. I've reached Kraken a few times now, but still haven't gotten to the last stage on a credit.

I've practiced the last stage and reached Volvox a couple of times though. I'd like to have some sort of plan for when I actually do reach stage 5 other than "assume fetal position and cry".

[Jonst]

Still Progear, lots of practice with the occasional full run. I've reached Kraken a few times now, but still haven't gotten to the last stage on a credit.

I've practiced the last stage and reached Volvox a couple of times though. I'd like to have some sort of plan for when I actually do reach stage 5 other than "assume fetal position and cry".

Are you managing to get the stage 4 extend with any consistency?

[Stevens]

Are you managing to get the stage 4 extend with any consistency?

Haha.

Short answer - Yes.

Slightly longer answer - Yes. However 40% of the time is a push because the 1st tank kills me. If I can destroy it without dying it is almost a sure thing. Have a good route for the 2nd and 3rd tanks that seems to serve me well.

Also - just reached stage 5. Fetal position assumed, beating administered.

[Jonst]

^ nice one! Sounds like you're on the right path to clear... Ideally hit stage 5 with a couple of bombs in stock.

Meanwhile, I'm playing everything and nothing. Getting to the final stages of various games but can't seem to push through to any clears.

[Stevens]

^ nice one! Sounds like you're on the right path to clear... Ideally hit stage 5 with a couple of bombs in stock.

Meanwhile, I'm playing everything and nothing. Getting to the final stages of various games but can't seem to push through to any clears.

Funny thing with bombing is I very rarely consider it because of the mechanics. The only place I'll have to spend a bomb 99% of the time is Jimchuck's last attack. Since I've kinda become obsessed with scoring I tend to die with bombs in stock.