Rendering Ranger R2 1CC?

[Aggro Sky]

BioMetal is another game that is decidedly average IMO.

It's my favorite console shmup of all time, and probably the best execution of a "block" mechanic in a shmup ever. Being able to sacrifice your meter and shield for skull crushing blows turns it into one of the coolest offensive/defensive balancing acts out there.

Enjoyment is directly proportional to # of enemies bashed down with the shield, I suspect. :3

It's really a shame there isn't some kind of scoring system based on speed killing. Messing around with it, I've found some pretty risky but stylish strats for ending bosses* and enemy waves early. Would probably be the deepest 16-bit era shooter if it did.

Regardless, one of those rare simple/oldschool shooters that get better and more endearing with post-1cc revisits, rather than growing stale.

*My favorite so far is that you can kill the penultimate boss before it uses its third spread pattern by tap dodging through his laser wall and laser/smashing the core repeatedly. Nervy as hell, but oh so cool.

I like the Western OST of Biometal

how abnormal am I among my peers?

I'd be more tolerant of it if not for how well the original ost gels with the action and imparts a gorgeous and unique mood and atmosphere to the adventure.

It's like taking Castlevania and playing rap music over it.

Actually that might actually be cool.



On a side note, I'm thinking of trying to find a non-region locked repro cart of the game with SFC ost. Having that in my collection would be nice.

You've made some good points. I own the Western SNES version and haven't spent much time with it. Perhaps I should remedy that. Although I would also recommend spending more time with Rendering Ranger as I feel it also grows more fun the more you practice...

[Squire Grooktook]

Disclaimer: I haven't actually played Rendering Ranger, I just wanted to preach from the biobible as long as the topic of super nes shmups was up ^_^

My only problem with BioMetal is that it's too easy.

OST and atmospheric blasphemy aside, I recommend trying a 1lc if you haven't already*. It's about as involved a struggle as nearly any on the console, and quite rewarding to return to again and again. Much like Elemental Master, it's thrillingly manic even if it's relatively forgiving. One of those games that I never regret a revist of.

*Knowing your achievements, I wouldn't be surprised if you haven't already, ha ha

[BIL]

It's like taking Castlevania and playing rap music over it.

Actually that might actually be cool.

I missed this and



fuck me it's good. Far from its only deftly deployed sample, but I love how he dropped in the Frozen Shade's squeaky yelp - that's one of my favourite Enemy Out SFX ever, always tickled when others recall it too. ^__^

[Durandal]

I like the Western OST of Biometal

how abnormal am I among my peers?

Biometal JP's OST just *clicked* with me when I first heard it, I easily consider it the best SNES soundtrack and one of the best game soundtracks of all time. The only con I can think of is that the songs can be too short, but that doesn't take away from the fact that what plays is god-tier. The masterful use of the bass guitar, the excellent hard-hitting drum samples, and swinging bells create an unique catchy but moody style outside of any known genre.

Bio Metal Warfare sets the mood for the entire game with a melancholic yet oddly hopeful outlook. All the stage themes are damn catchy and unique in their own right, save for some more atmospheric pieces like Metal Insect Lair and Deep Underground Ruins. Boss Encounter and Core of the Bio Metal Planet come swinging in and immediately set the urgent tone of the boss fights, though in a better world Core of the Bio Metal Planet would have been the default boss theme with Boss Encounter kicking in when the boss is at low health. No other song says Mission Complete better than Staff Roll.

After listening to the whole soundtrack three times I googled Yoshio Nagashima and was disappointed to find out that he scored a few arcade games but then disappeared into the void of nothingness after scoring Battle Monsters. I need to satiate this urge for more of his style, but I can't search what I can't put into words. Only Zuntata comes close.

I don't think the Western soundtrack is bad by any means, even though the transition to the SNES makes all the 2Unlimited covers sound relatively samey, because I have a predisposition towards cheesy 90's techno rave anyways (woo, Zed Blade and X-Kaliber 2097). The problem is that the Japanese soundtrack is the nectar of gods, even though I seem to be one of the few people on Earth who thinks so. And I haven't even played the game.

[BIL]

After listening to the whole soundtrack three times I googled Yoshio Nagashima and was disappointed to find out that he scored a few arcade games but then disappeared into the void of nothingness after scoring Battle Monsters. I need to satiate this urge for more of his style, but I can't search what I can't put into words. Only Zuntata comes close.

Have you tried Megablast? Zuntata, but seemingly little-feted. Not as alchemically perfect, but I definitely feel a resemblance - actually, when I first played BioMetal (SFC), I'd wondered if they might share composers.

Stage 2

And of course the incredible Gun Frontier, but that one's (justly) far more renowned.

[Squire Grooktook]

fuck me it's good. Far from its only deftly deployed sample, but I love how he dropped in the Frozen Shade's squeaky yelp - that's one of my favourite Enemy Out SFX ever, always tickled when others recall it too. ^__^

Dracula's "What" is also used quite well. This guy has some really good stuff. I'm also fond of his Alundra mashup, and his anime mixes always bring a smile to my face.. He's actually doing the osts for some indy games these days, though I haven't had time to listen to them.

Bio Metal Warfare sets the mood for the entire game with a melancholic yet oddly hopeful outlook.

Indeed. Melancholic but hopeful is how I'd describe the overall mood set by the ost. Perhaps strongest when pushing through the final locked down stronghold with the anthemic "Fight to the End!" playing.

save for some more atmospheric pieces like Metal Insect Lair and Deep Underground Ruins.

I've grown to like these quite a bit. Not the best listening music (although I suppose the same could be said about the ost overall, with only the aforementioned fight to the end being melodic enough for out-of-game listening sessions), but they set a wonderfully dreamy, almost folkloric mood to the exploration.

No other song says Mission Complete better than Staff Roll.

The melancholia is quite strong with this one as well, though. It almost makes me expect a "victory...but at what cost?" or "you were the invaders all along" ending twist. No such thing is present in the game, though I'm not above headcanon'ing it

And I haven't even played the game.

That's a problem. You better correct it. Son.

[Durandal]

After listening to the whole soundtrack three times I googled Yoshio Nagashima and was disappointed to find out that he scored a few arcade games but then disappeared into the void of nothingness after scoring Battle Monsters. I need to satiate this urge for more of his style, but I can't search what I can't put into words. Only Zuntata comes close.

Have you tried Megablast? Zuntata, but seemingly little-feted. Not as alchemically perfect, but I definitely feel a resemblance - actually, when I first played BioMetal (SFC), I'd wondered if they might share composers.

Stage 2

And of course the incredible Gun Frontier, but that one's (justly) far more renowned.

Close, but no cigar. YACK's stuff does nail the melancholical aspect, but his songs tend to lack intensity. Gun Frontier seems like an interesting listen, however.

That's a problem. You better correct it. Son

Already downloading it

[Squire Grooktook]

^^^YOU MAKIN ME PROUD

Besides the obvious Yack picks (Born To Be Free), my favorite track from him is probably Grey Lips from Senko No Ronde. Driving yet beautiful.

[BIL]

I find YACK a bit hard to put my finger on stylistically, I'd honestly not guess Metal Black and Border Down were the same guy despite loving both soundtracks. edit: well, that's exaggerating... I pick up the common jazzy threads. I guess MB is YACK plus extra post-apocalyptic burnout.

However, I know Elevator Action Returns' Colors of Night is smooth and sexy AF.

*hammering exchange of automatic gunfire*
*shrieks of agony, heavy ordnance detonations*
*sax solo*

[Squire Grooktook]

^^^Oooh, that's a nice one. Haven't actually played Elevator Action Returns yet.

Re: Biometal again

I think the closest analogy I can make for Biometals system is actually Dark Souls/Bloodbornes stamina mechanic, where your ever recharging meter can be spent on blocking enemy blows or evasive maneuvers, or can be cashed in for punishingly risky but skull crushingly strong blows to the enemy. Either game, gotta balance it like a martial art.

[BIL]

Check out Runark aka Growl too, I've yet to play a single credit but that st1 theme, man... it's Gun Frontier-galvanising. HELL YEAH BRO, LETS RESCUE ANIMALS AND BUST UP SOME FUCKIN POACHERS! (FREQUENTLY WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF SAID ANIMALS, RAWWWRRR)

To my regret, I've yet to do more than admire Souls from afar, but stamina's an excellent way to put it regarding BioMetal. There's a gritty sense of teetering on the brink of exhaustion and sudden death, deliberately putting everything your ship has into bludgeoning the hordes, knowing you'll have to evade stuff you'd sooner block. The simple pleasure of the shield attack really seals it - even launched it feels less "shooting" stuff than smashing it, to Raizingesque pyromancy. It's the only STG I recall offhand besides Metal Black and its stout, bulldoggedly nose-to-nose melees where the word "violent" inevitably comes to mind.

edit:

Besides the obvious Yack picks (Born To Be Free), my favorite track from him is probably Grey Lips from Senko No Ronde. Driving yet beautiful.

WTF, that was fifteen minutes?! I was blasting it in the background while composing the above, I swear it was making me type faster. Good stuff. Haven't played any of the Senkos, and only noodled about with their OSTs but it sounds like I should at least give the latter a runthrough soon.

[Durandal]

^^^YOU MAKIN ME PROUD

Besides the obvious Yack picks (Born To Be Free), my favorite track from him is probably Grey Lips from Senko No Ronde. Driving yet beautiful.

That's good, damn good, in fact it's so good I decided to upload the entire Senko no Ronde soundtrack to YouTube since there were no full high quality SnR uploads as far as I could see.

[Squire Grooktook]

^^^Yeeeaaaaah boi

This will work nicely for my super secret game development work music.

[pegboy]

Disclaimer: I haven't actually played Rendering Ranger, I just wanted to preach from the biobible as long as the topic of super nes shmups was up ^_^

My only problem with BioMetal is that it's too easy.

OST and atmospheric blasphemy aside, I recommend trying a 1lc if you haven't already*. It's about as involved a struggle as nearly any on the console, and quite rewarding to return to again and again. Much like Elemental Master, it's thrillingly manic even if it's relatively forgiving. One of those games that I never regret a revist of.

*Knowing your achievements, I wouldn't be surprised if you haven't already, ha ha

I did do a 1LC of BioMetal on hard about a year ago. I think the hardest part is not getting killed by the final boss, as his attacks can be pretty random and he can just swat you on a whim if you aren't on your toes. I do think it's one of the better shmups on the SNES, I just wish it was either a little longer or had a second loop to spice things up more.