Shmup Ticker: What are you playing RIGHT NOW?

[CRI]

started playing doj again. doing some st. 2-5 chain practise atm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6LJJA0tyoM
as you can see i still fail at it but i think i'm slowly getting there.

[Squire Grooktook]

Playing Einhander with all unlimited ammo cheat enabled, now it just feels right for me.

Yeah why not hack Metal Slug for infinite machine-guns while you're at it. It's not like you don't have an unlimited ammo base weapon in either title anyway, or that they don't constantly throw weapons at you to deal with each situation

[Xyga]

Because it's dreadfully easy until the last boss completely decimates you. I've gotten to him no-miss even without autofire and there was no chance of beating him. Also it has some pretty amazing issues for scoring.

That said the music does rule.

The graphics are nice as well.

Hotdog Storm's biggest flaw for me is that it's one of those 'green weapon' games.
You don't like that particular weapon ? You don't want to take it ? Too bad the option will be floating around you half the time you're playing.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Hotdog Storm's biggest flaw for me is that it's one of those 'green weapon' games.
You don't like that particular weapon ? You don't want to take it ? Too bad the option will be floating around you half the time you're playing.

I agree the bouncy weapons can be annoying in some games when you grab one you really don't want, but the ones in Hotdog Storm thankfully stay up near the top of the screen, and two of the three weapons are really powerful with effective charge shots (and the laser has a weaker charge shot with an invulnerability shield).

The final boss also doesn't seem that nasty - you need to memorize the patterns, but mechanically once you do it doesn't seem that daunting (I mean you can use the laser's charge shot to dodge if you need).

[Shoryukev]

Been playing a couple of Turbografx-16 shmups I just got last week, having a blast. I am new to the system so I only have a small handful of games, but so far I've got one shmup that takes itself very seriously....and one that doesn't whatsoever LOL

R-Type
I suck at shmups so I'm not exactly blazing through the second loop or anything, but this game is a ton of fun. Everything about it feels polished and there's a reason it's a classic!

Air Zonk
This whacky game is really fun, and oozes early 90s 'tude! The parallax scrolling can be a bit distracting at times (I often find myself zoning out looking at the different layers and lose a life LOL), but the graphics are great! The oddball enemies and AI partners make this game light-hearted and fun.

[BIL]

That said the music does rule.

Hell yeah. I always meant to say thanks for the tip on the Battle Mania 2 connection. Crystal-clear leads, fat n' fuzzy power chords, airtight bass/drum interlock... these chaps knew how to FM synthesise themselves up a full rock band. BM2's super-cute sound test ain't just for show! Any fans of Tecno Soft's MD soundtracks (particularly TFIV and Devil Crash MD) should check them out, the resemblance in both tone and musicianship is striking.

[Kollision]

Slooowly learning Gradius IV atm.
On Saturday I had a couple of good runs through the moai level, and I think I'm starting to get consistent at that.
+ checkpoint practice on the Cell stage

GOOD MOAI IS DEAD MOAI

[Perikles]

Was rather diligent the last few days and cleared a handful of arcade games I've had on my bucket list for a while: Air Duel, Mega Zone (2 loops), Metal Black, Sonic Wings 2 & 3, Vulgus (3 loops) and Youjyuden. I don't have too much to say about the two SW games (2 is my favourite of the three main entries, 3 I find to be by far the worst) and I've written about most of the other games elsewhere, but a few words on Metal Black:


I'm somewhat surprised about the notoriety that adheres to it. It took me about 90 minutes in total to get a clear in this game, and during the successful run I lost two lives due to embarrassing inexperience (one on the second boss and one on a laser duel against the final boss - wasn't even aware that these can backfire which resulted in a doe-eyed death). I vividly remember reading that this game is both cheap and hard, vast hyperboles both. Lurking larger enemies will always take their time before doing anything at all, even without any prior knowledge there's always enough time to get in position and take them out before they do anything threatening. Some of the set-ups with teleporting foes can take a player by surprise, but those tricks only work the first time, you can always use a laser to clear the screen and you have so many extends in this short game it doesn't even matter if you lose a life. Bosses are piteously weak.

Having said that, I also find the game to be rather boring. I get the aesthetical/experimental/"nascent" angle, the two extraneous bonus rounds as well as the tedious "proem" to each stage where nothing happens - on top of an already undemanding game - is a bit of a pace-killer for me. I do like the aggressive conception of the main weapon, though, you're always demanded to hunt down enemies above and below you.

[BIL]

I vividly remember reading that this game is both cheap and hard, vast hyperboles both.

Welcome to the MB.ALLer club! We're not exactly exclusive, but no matter how our numbers grow, the myths and legends seem to persist!

I do like the aggressive conception of the main weapon, though, you're always demanded to hunt down enemies above and below you.

Best feature of the game, easily. Also the most fundamental! Fail to utilise it and you're fucked, fucked, fuuuucked! But once you GIT SOME BAWS and wade into the fray, aggressively bashing down the seemingly-overwhelming hordes, *boof* you'll join the club in no time.

No coincidence that MB and the decidedly tougher Gun.Smoke are the only games I've felt compelled to contribute STs for, to date. Both revolve around powerful but idiosyncratic strafe mechanics, ignored at players' grueling peril and giving rise to much scary legend.

[copy-paster]

why not hack Metal Slug for infinite machine-guns while you're at it.

Both are different games and shares different situation so I can't compare with that. Also playing shmups with limited ammo looks tedious and bad (except it's bomb stock or 'special' guns).

[Squire Grooktook]

Both are different games and shares different situation so I can't compare with that.

No, both games have very similar systems (unlimited ammo main weapon with periodic limited ammo power ups) that are applied in strikingly similar ways. For all intents and purposes, Einhander's weapon system is basically Metal Slug's adapted to stg format.

Also playing shmups with limited ammo looks tedious and bad (except it's bomb stock or 'special' guns).

But Einhander doesn't have limited ammo. You keep saying this in multiple threads, and it's not true. Your default gun has 100% unlimited ammo and can be used to kill anything and everything in the game (it's not even that weak compared to other base-power level pea shooters in other games. Definitely superior to Metal Slug's pistol at least). It's only your 'special' guns aka Gunpods that have limited ammo, but it's constantly recharged because half the enemies in the game carry gunpods and bosses constantly drop them from destroyed parts (just like Metal Slug).

It's a finely designed game. And you're doing a massive disservice to a very cool system by cheating your way out of it.

[Shepardus]

Having to dodge bullets is also tedious, so I use invincibility cheats to get rid of the annoying mechanic that is death.

[Perikles]

But Einhander doesn't have limited ammo. You keep saying this in multiple threads, and it's not true. Your default gun has 100% unlimited ammo and can be used to kill anything and everything in the game (it's not even that weak compared to other base-power level pea shooters in other games. Definitely superior to Metal Slug's pistol at least).

I wholeheartedly agree with your judgement on the game itself, but that's a bit of an euphemism. Dying before a boss can be a nightmare (unless you have Riot or Flash as starting pods, I suppose) for the few resources you get during the beginning of the checkpoint are usually not nearly enough to exert much pressure. The longer the fight persists, the more dangerous the patterns you have to deal with it, Hyperion even kills you outright after a while. Einhänder is a tough game even when you are in possession of several adequate weapons and excruciatingly hard without them. Only few arcade games are as demanding, and I think that is saying something.

[Durandal]

But Einhander doesn't have limited ammo. You keep saying this in multiple threads, and it's not true. Your default gun has 100% unlimited ammo and can be used to kill anything and everything in the game (it's not even that weak compared to other base-power level pea shooters in other games. Definitely superior to Metal Slug's pistol at least).

I wholeheartedly agree with your judgement on the game itself, but that's a bit of an euphemism. Dying before a boss can be a nightmare (unless you have Riot or Flash as starting pods, I suppose) for the few resources you get during the beginning of the checkpoint are usually not nearly enough to exert much pressure. The longer the fight persists, the more dangerous the patterns you have to deal with it, Hyperion even kills you outright after a while. Einhänder is a tough game even when you are in possession of several adequate weapons and excruciatingly hard without them. Only few arcade games are as demanding, and I think that is saying something.

I think most bosses feature destructible parts which when fully destroyed also drop a weapon pod. For example, destroying the top arm of the ST2 boss nets you a Hedgehog which you can use to speedkill the boss by spamming grenades on top of its head rather safely

[Bananamatic]

the stuff in einhander is at least consistently dodgeable, it's not like any of the checkpoints put you into a gradius situation where you lose 8 lives trying to recover

the hardest part of the game is having to play through the super long and boring stages 1 and 2 where nothing happens

[Perikles]

I think most bosses feature destructible parts which when fully destroyed also drop a weapon pod. For example, destroying the top arm of the ST2 boss nets you a Hedgehog which you can use to speedkill the boss by spamming grenades on top of its head rather safely

That's the only boss where you get such a potent weapon during the fight (well, you sometimes also can stock up on cannon munition during the Hyperion fight, but that's random, I believe). You will always be given a few weapons before the start of a boss fight, but not always particularly powerful ones. Having to fight e.g. the fifth boss with just the machine gun and one round of the cannon is rather nail-biting.

the stuff in einhander is at least consistently dodgeable, it's not like any of the checkpoints put you into a gradius situation where you lose 8 lives trying to recover

I agree and disagree. The ship in Einhänder is always maneuverable no matter in which state you are elsewise and you do get enough resources to make it past every section and boss. On the other hand, most Gradius checkpoints aren't even that problematic to recover from (the only exceptions are III AC and varying degrees of high-loop spots elsewhere - not too many people care about the latter, which realistically only leaves the former for a sensible comparsion) while Einhänder's late-game recoveries are continuously tough compared to almost every other horizontal with checkpoints, arcade and consoles alike.

[Bananamatic]

That's the only boss where you get such a potent weapon during the fight (well, you sometimes also can stock up on cannon munition during the Hyperion fight, but that's random, I believe). You will always be given a few weapons before the start of a boss fight, but not always particularly powerful ones. Having to fight e.g. the fifth boss with just the machine gun and one round of the cannon is rather nail-biting.

I feel the opposite way about einhander tbh
if you have the correct weapon you shit on the boss so hard that they barely do anything and you won't even hear the sweet ass music
waste of good game design when playing "properly" involves not even seeing most of it

[Vludi]

Is there any difference between US/JP/EU Einhander?

[Perikles]

Is there any difference between US/JP/EU Einhander?

There's no PAL/EU version, but the US version has a few tweaks from the Japanese original. Most notably, the cannon can fire in rapid succession in the US version, but also receives less ammunition per pick-up. A few other weapons also give slightly different values, I believe, and a handful of enemies seem to be in different spots/are in one version but not in the other etc. The rest is apparently identical or at least very close (as far as the gameplay is concerned).

[Squire Grooktook]

Touhou Dim Dream - Lunatic.

Damn.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Touhou Dim Dream - Lunatic.

Damn.

It's not an exaggeration to say this is one of the hardest Lunatic 1CCs in the entire series. The AI in PoDD Lunatic is absolutely frightening and will mess you up. One if my fave VS shmups, I'm actually more fond of this than PoFV and Twinkle Star Sprites (Change Air Blade I'm in love with too).

[Squire Grooktook]

I've grown quite fond of vs play in TSS due to exploring it quite thoroughly with friends and coming to realize what an absurdly well designed, deep, and exciting game it is for competitive play. I like both Touhou titles, but have only spent time with single player.

Very much enjoying Dim Dream, though there are some things that bug me about it. Unlike TSS and its massive fireballs, the typical micrododge emphasis on the series makes high speed feel more like a character weakness then a strength. Still a great time dodging random high-speed flak though.

As with the rest of the PC98 Touhou titles, it's also surprisingly aesthetically pleasing despite the lack of drawing skill (sprites are okay, the minimalism is actually appreciable). Constant screen flashing/shaking fireworks, and a few subtle visual tricks make it more eye pleasing than it seems at first.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Unlike TSS and its massive fireballs, the typical micrododge emphasis on the series makes high speed feel more like a character weakness then a strength. Still a great time dodging random high-speed flak though.

I dunno, I'd say it can depend on the matchup - some EX attacks like Reimu's annoying yin yang orbs or Mima's bouncy orbs are easier to avoid with high speed, and high speed characters also generally have an easier time maintaining their combo by rapidly moving across the screen to sweep enemies. Chiyuri does suffer in that her attacks are generally easy for the AI to avoid, and like Marisa can't bomb during a charge shot, so those disadvantage her too. I do tend to play as Yuuka Kazami in PoFV so I totally get the appeal of low movement speed.

Of the low speed characters, I find Kana's much faster charge speed generally more useful for shutting down a boss summon in a pinch. Ellen has really effective EX and level 3 charge shots (great for using while a boss is on the enemy side), but her charge speed is so long that you can easily get hit and interrupted during the charge time. A low charge speed is a huge risk/reward disadvantage, one that Rikako makes much better use of with her rotating gears charge attack that's generally way more effective than Ellen's.

[Blinge]

Fuckin' Battle Garegga son.

Just chain died in airport stage because turrets are hard.

[BIL]

[Perikles]

Ever curious, I decided I would savestate my way through Argus, having done so with Battlantis and Valtric before. I cannot properly describe the exultation I got out of the boss in Area 13. Here's a video with a few attempts for demonstration purposes.

To explain this miracle: only the sideway shot hits enemies in the air, the thin laser hits targets on the ground. If you just hold the button for the laser it will change colour and then has to recharge for a while, whilst using autofire allows you do use it permanently. The goal against those bosses is to destroy all of the large bases that resemble something out of Xevious. The more parts you destroy/time passes on, the more enemies/projectiles appear.

Thanks to the magnificent programming in this game and due to the particular weaponry you have for this stage (it changes from stage to stage) the screen is filled so quickly that your autofire will completely cease to work after mere seconds, and even mashing the buttons manually won't do much anymore. Also, due to how the laser works without autofire you'll have to sit there and wait until it is in working order once more which means you have to waste time which in turn produces more objects on the screen which impedes you even more. The eschatological slowdown even persists after you lose a life (see 0:31 and 2:45), however, it might just subside from one second to the next, flinging you into a bullet (see 2:44).

I've seen a lot this genre has to offer. Lots of wonders, surprises, beginnings and ends. This is something truly extraordinary, though. What a great game.

[Stevens]

Two more runs to Volvox followed by abject failure.

Been playing some Steredenn too over the last week to break up routine. Starting to get further into it (stage 5/6), but still haven't looped it.

The rogue elements are welcome, but if the game has a weakness it is that there are too many weapons and more than half of them are shit.

[Shepardus]

Ever curious, I decided I would savestate my way through Argus, having done so with Battlantis and Valtric before. I cannot properly describe the exultation I got out of the boss in Area 13. Here's a video with a few attempts for demonstration purposes.

Reminds me of the 2-3 boss in Parodius Da, except instead of bell powers you get peashooters that don't even work all the time.

[Obscura]

Crimzon Clover: World Ignition Boost mode.

Such rank. Much intense. Wow.

Seriously, though, I wish I had tried this with Type-Z Boost when I got the game, instead of focusing on Type-I Original. It's the "moderate difficulty" mode that I wanted but didn't realize the game had.

[reckon luck]

Radiant Silvergun // Xbox 360. I think I've got stages 3 and 2 down, but stage 4 is wrecking me.

Trying to stop myself from buying another dozen 360 games... RType Dimensions is at the top of the list. Starting to think I should've just gotten this console instead of a PS4.