I love bullet hell games but I suck at them!

[Special World]

imo Eschatos is the one of the easiest, funnest, and most intuitive 1CCs. Gives you a shield to block through the worst patterns, good amount of extends, etc. And the skill levels really work you up, from absolute beginner to master. Also has the benefit of not feeling like a baby mode--Cave shmups on novice mode feel so slow and lifeless that I end up dying just because I'm not involved. "Oh hey that one bullet that came out surprised me well okay this sucks."

But mostly just practice at your favorite games that aren't a huge difficulty wall. I love Ketsui and Daioujou Black--but they're too hard to clear. I was fortunate that my favorite shooters are Mushihimesama Futari Black Label (Original mode is a challenge, but surmountable with practice) and Eschatos. Or maybe I gravitated towards them because they're incredible and also within my skill level. Who knows.

[DoctorKwack101]

Thank you all for the tips and recommendations! I've also discovered a recently-released game on Steam called Graze Counter which I've been having a blast with and earned me my first proper 1CC. I heartily recommend it to anyone struggling with bullet hell games like I am.

I look forward to trying out these games you folks have recommended and working to get halfway decent at shmups, haha. If anyone else has any advice or recommendations, I'd love to hear them!

[Bananamatic]

imo Eschatos is the one of the easiest, funnest, and most intuitive 1CCs.

the 3D camera is confusing as fuck and you get no bombs at all, especially with enemies running into you
wouldn't call it intuitive at all

[Special World]

imo Eschatos is the one of the easiest, funnest, and most intuitive 1CCs.

the 3D camera is confusing as fuck and you get no bombs at all, especially with enemies running into you
wouldn't call it intuitive at all

imo the camera switching parts are amongst the easiest in the entire game and the shield is more useful than a full cache of bombs and also incredibly useful for enemies that run into you

but that is just this troper's opinion

[Squire Grooktook]

The camera switches are fine on normal, but if you're playing on hard (which I immediately gravitate to, since word of the creator puts it as the "intended difficulty" and "arcade difficulty") they become an utterly unfun, irritating, pain in the ass which constantly steal lives and score. I've learned to loathe them with all my heart.

I still also love Eschatos with all my heart, though. And I do recommend it to anyone, stage 3 irritations aside.

[BluesDNA]

I'd say: Do not stress nor rush yourself with shmups. Enjoy the path, not the 1CC itself. We all know that this isn't a casual genre of games.

Enjoy, dude. You should be attempting to beat yourself on every credit. any small progress should be welcomed. That's my philosophy

I've only 1CC'd Donpachi (took me 1 month of intense gaming) and Deathsmiles as bullet hells.

On classics I've beaten quite a few more. But that's it! Take it easy

[M.Knight]

the 3D camera is confusing as fuck and you get no bombs at all, especially with enemies running into you
wouldn't call it intuitive at all

The camera switches are fine on normal, but if you're playing on hard (which I immediately gravitate to, since word of the creator puts it as the "intended difficulty" and "arcade difficulty") they become an utterly unfun, irritating, pain in the ass which constantly steal lives and score. I've learned to loathe them with all my heart.

That exactly matches my own experience with the game's 3D camera. Maybe I should stick to Normal difficulty even though I've already 1CC'ed it, as I would rather play an easier but enjoyable and fair game than an harder one that pisses me off due to all its bullshit.
I would add that the trapezoïdal perspective also enforces artifical tunnel vision when combined with the vertical orientation. Scanning the whole screen instead of focusing on your ship's immediate surrounding is discouraged given how much more important and huge the bullets at the bottom are.

[Goompaolo9500]

I have some advice...

If you play on a 360, play Mushihimesama Futari Black Label Original Mode as mentioned earlier.

If you play MAME, Playstation (JP) or Saturn (JP), get a copy of DodonPachi and play that. Don't ask me how to do this if you don't already.

Next, play the game. Use your bombs. Don't try to be a hero and No Miss/No Bomb. Read the tips in the strategy section for general gameplay. Watch replays when you get stuck on hard parts.

Oh yeah, and play that game...a lot. Get fully immersed. Take breaks, but not too long. You'll forget your routes. That's really all it takes usually. Scoring well is a whole other can of worms I never quite figured out how to do, but first loop clears are usually achievable if you use most of your resources and get somewhat consistent on safe routes.

Don't look at the bullets. Looks at the gaps. Stay calm. Heard bullets to find openings. Don't move if you don't have to. Learn to tap dodge. Bomb the hell out of the last boss.

Good luck.

Well thanks. I was trying for Dodonpachi Arcade. Before this advice, I am at a headstart since I got a game over in Stage 5 boss. But again, I will look forward to that.

[KAI]

Play Karous, it's the easiest game ever if you play for survival.

[djsheep]

I highly recommend this PDF document written by PROMETHEUS: viewtopic.php?t=34497 -- It breaks down things really well with DoDonPachi as a reference point. Definitely good reading regardless!

[d0s]

Play Karous, it's the easiest game ever if you play for survival.

I love Milestone games and think more people should play them but by "playing" like that you learn nothing and get no sense of accomplishment, and just end up with the impression that it's a dull game. Those games are fun when you play for score

[Obscura]

But mostly just practice at your favorite games that aren't a huge difficulty wall. I love Ketsui and Daioujou Black--but they're too hard to clear. I was fortunate that my favorite shooters are Mushihimesama Futari Black Label (Original mode is a challenge, but surmountable with practice) and Eschatos. Or maybe I gravitated towards them because they're incredible and also within my skill level. Who knows.

DOJ Black isn't as hard as its reputation would suggest -- it's a reasonable intermediate game (at least for 1-loop play), probably about on par with Dodonpachi or Espgaluda 1. It's also a better beginner game than Futari Black Label; it's a harder clear for sure, but its difficulty curve is a lot smoother (it doesn't have silly spikes like Futari BL stage 3) and its more fun score system will keep you more engaged in the early levels once you've got survival on them down pat.

DFK 1.5 Strong/Bomb 1-ALL is easier than either Deathsmiles 1/2/3 or Futari BL; I have no idea why it doesn't get mentioned more in these threads. Also, it's more fun than Eschatos, Futari BL, or Deathsmiles, as long as you just take your 1-ALLs and don't try playing for score (because Ura route is asinine).

[Special World]

But mostly just practice at your favorite games that aren't a huge difficulty wall. I love Ketsui and Daioujou Black--but they're too hard to clear. I was fortunate that my favorite shooters are Mushihimesama Futari Black Label (Original mode is a challenge, but surmountable with practice) and Eschatos. Or maybe I gravitated towards them because they're incredible and also within my skill level. Who knows.

DOJ Black isn't as hard as its reputation would suggest -- it's a reasonable intermediate game (at least for 1-loop play), probably about on par with Dodonpachi or Espgaluda 1. It's also a better beginner game than Futari Black Label; it's a harder clear for sure, but its difficulty curve is a lot smoother (it doesn't have silly spikes like Futari BL stage 3) and its more fun score system will keep you more engaged in the early levels once you've got survival on them down pat.

DFK 1.5 Strong/Bomb 1-ALL is easier than either Deathsmiles 1/2/3 or Futari BL; I have no idea why it doesn't get mentioned more in these threads. Also, it's more fun than Eschatos, Futari BL, or Deathsmiles, as long as you just take your 1-ALLs and don't try playing for score (because Ura route is asinine).

I would say DOJ Black is definitely far harder than Espgaluda 1. Its difficulty curve may be smoother than Futari Black but I'd say it's consistently *harder* throughout. I'm lucky if I can make it past stage 3 in DOJ, and forget getting through the other levels. And I happen to think Futari Black has more fun scoring.

Can't stand DFK 1.5, clearing that game feels like spamming continues because of how generous it is. Or it would be if I could bother to stick with it past one credit. Very boring, very bland design imo. Definitely not even remotely as fun as any of those games.

I suppose what I'm saying is I disagree totally, but that's fine--different opinions and all that.

[Squire Grooktook]

DOJ is an easy 1-all for intermediate level players. But for anyone new to the genre it's gonna stomp ya.

But as we all know, there's no universal answer to "good beginning game". Some people want to be eased in, some people want to be punched in the face immediately and told to get good.

Here's some freeware suggestions: I like Cho Ren Sha 68k a lot. It's free. Give it a try. If you don't like it, try Eden's Aegis instead.

[copy-paster]

2 words: Batsugun Special.

[evil_ash_xero]

Deathsmiles has routes you can take, that make the game pretty damn easy.

Akai Katana isn't very hard either. I've 1CC'd both of those games. And I'm not very good.

A lot of the CAVE games have beginners modes too, so that's an option for you as well.

And don't be too hard on yourself. These games are meant to be a real challenge. Many many people can't 1CC these things.

[Goompaolo9500]

But mostly just practice at your favorite games that aren't a huge difficulty wall. I love Ketsui and Daioujou Black--but they're too hard to clear. I was fortunate that my favorite shooters are Mushihimesama Futari Black Label (Original mode is a challenge, but surmountable with practice) and Eschatos. Or maybe I gravitated towards them because they're incredible and also within my skill level. Who knows.

DOJ Black isn't as hard as its reputation would suggest -- it's a reasonable intermediate game (at least for 1-loop play), probably about on par with Dodonpachi or Espgaluda 1. It's also a better beginner game than Futari Black Label; it's a harder clear for sure, but its difficulty curve is a lot smoother (it doesn't have silly spikes like Futari BL stage 3) and its more fun score system will keep you more engaged in the early levels once you've got survival on them down pat.

DFK 1.5 Strong/Bomb 1-ALL is easier than either Deathsmiles 1/2/3 or Futari BL; I have no idea why it doesn't get mentioned more in these threads. Also, it's more fun than Eschatos, Futari BL, or Deathsmiles, as long as you just take your 1-ALLs and don't try playing for score (because Ura route is asinine).

I would say DOJ Black is definitely far harder than Espgaluda 1. Its difficulty curve may be smoother than Futari Black but I'd say it's consistently *harder* throughout. I'm lucky if I can make it past stage 3 in DOJ, and forget getting through the other levels. And I happen to think Futari Black has more fun scoring.

Can't stand DFK 1.5, clearing that game feels like spamming continues because of how generous it is. Or it would be if I could bother to stick with it past one credit. Very boring, very bland design imo. Definitely not even remotely as fun as any of those games.

I suppose what I'm saying is I disagree totally, but that's fine--different opinions and all that.

On iOS version of Mushihimesama Futari, tried Ultra Mode, Normal Mode(Hell Mode seems too Impossible). Reached up to the last attack of Larsa on the TLB.

[munchiaz]

Haven't played it myself, but Bullet Soul, from everything ive read and seen seems like a good entry point for bullet hell shooters

[Obscura]

I would say DOJ Black is definitely far harder than Espgaluda 1. Its difficulty curve may be smoother than Futari Black but I'd say it's consistently *harder* throughout. I'm lucky if I can make it past stage 3 in DOJ, and forget getting through the other levels.

Let me guess -- like most people who struggle with DOJ stage 3, it's the second half that gives you problems?

The key to that is to abandon all hope of micrododging the aimed clouds of crap from the drones. Sit way up the screen, misdirect bullets at huge angles away from where you intend to go, and then macro-sweep across. It's one of the easiest segments of the game once you understand what you're supposed to do there.

[Goompaolo9500]

I would say DOJ Black is definitely far harder than Espgaluda 1. Its difficulty curve may be smoother than Futari Black but I'd say it's consistently *harder* throughout. I'm lucky if I can make it past stage 3 in DOJ, and forget getting through the other levels.

Let me guess -- like most people who struggle with DOJ stage 3, it's the second half that gives you problems?

The key to that is to abandon all hope of micrododging the aimed clouds of crap from the drones. Sit way up the screen, misdirect bullets at huge angles away from where you intend to go, and then macro-sweep across. It's one of the easiest segments of the game once you understand what you're supposed to do there.

Tried doing that. Try to use bombs at least