Presentation is top notch. From the first time I took down the 2nd stage boss, to seeing the 3rd stage boss blow up a bridge before the showdown. Also the setting is cool. You're not a lone fighter. It seems there's tanks on your side fighting for the cause as well (although they're not interactive nor do they actually help). It's just a nice touch I rarely see in other games.
controling the heli is really intuitive (I'm using reverse). It becomes second nature in no time.
the hit box takes some getting used to, as does maneuvering the heli in between bullets, but it'll come easy as time goes on (took me an hour or so)
the music is great, I switched between arranged and arcade, but I prefer arranged
graphically, I'd say the best looking 3D shmup I've ever played
it may not have the creative fantastical (I don't mean like Galuda) setting of Ikaruga, but the 3D models are plain awesome. Raiden III should have looked like this.
Attention to detail makes you wonder how much time those guys spent working on this game.
bullet patterns remind me of some psikyo games, are there former members with GRev?
now the cons:
play area is small, doesn't seem like a problem at first but there's an invisible wall blocking your heli from the left/right and top/bottom of the screen
You can't go all the way up (you actually stop quite a distance from it) and the bottom seems to stop right at the tail of the heli (the hit box is the cockpit, so you have a bit of room there)
The left and right area restrictions can be frustrating as well
you'll find yourself trying to dodge bullets but instead being stopped by the invisible wall and getting shot down
rank is a bitch, but if you've played a raizing game or two, then this shouldn't bother you much. It's just a learning process. I've noticed that using the Vulcan over the other two weapons seems to retard the rank's progression, as does using your options sparingly.
The wait-and-use options system can be unforgiving. It can get intense when you have to wait for the gauge to recharge which is done by not shooting. Sometimes I find myself dodging a bunch of bullets waiting for it to fill up, only to use a bomb to bail me out instead. BUT, when you're sucessful in unleashing an option at the most important time (esp. a rocket option) it is worth it, no doubt and extremely satisfying at that.
conclusion:
the game is badass
there isn't a such thing of a perfect game, even with the flaws, the game does so well in other areas that you're willing to adapt to get better.
it's addictive and blowing up stuff seems to be the theme covered so well in this game
doesn't hurt that this is probably the best looking DC game I've ever seen (yep, I said it)
if this is the last DC game, then it really did go out with a bang (pun intended)
Does anyone have a problem with the pause right before you die, when im on a roll it sometimes throws me off, unlike other games that let you respawn right away
i like it, it lets you know how stupid you were to try and navigate right thru that impossible hail of bullets instead of getting the hell outta the way or using a bomb, fact is if you've just died then your 'roll' is over anyways
rtw wrote:
Are you implying that the stages will change if I change the date/time in my DC ? Since it's march now shouldn't that be winter in the game ? It sure is winter outside
well considering I've never set my system clock and no doubt many others are the same, It would be quite a surprise to find that everybody out there happened to have their clock set to March. Unless it changes with play time, or it's just a rumour
rtw wrote:
Are you implying that the stages will change if I change the date/time in my DC ? Since it's march now shouldn't that be winter in the game ? It sure is winter outside
rtw
that's what I heard, haven't tested it yet though
Would some please be so kind to try and test this out?
My copies are still in the mail and I am very curious about this.
*edited to adjust spelling*
Last edited by Super Laydock on Sun Mar 26, 2006 7:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Dave_K. wrote:
I remember reading that the game uses the system clock/date, and that the snow stage is there because its winter time right now. Meaning during the summer, I don't think stage 4 will be covered in snow.
Dave_K. wrote:
I remember reading that the game uses the system clock/date, and that the snow stage is there because its winter time right now. Meaning during the summer, I don't think stage 4 will be covered in snow.
That's where I got it from
I remember reading that too. Still would love to hear from someone who gave it a try with changing internal clock data...
The reflections on level 1 are so amazing...when you die and you get a 3d freeze frame rotating is just the coolest thing ever...THIS IS THE ULTIMATE 3D SHMUP on any system EVER!
Dave_K. wrote:
I remember reading that the game uses the system clock/date, and that the snow stage is there because its winter time right now. Meaning during the summer, I don't think stage 4 will be covered in snow.
That's where I got it from
I remember reading that too. Still would love to hear from someone who gave it a try with changing internal clock data...
This doesn't work. I tried March, July, and October and it doesn't work.
Wow, different seasons and weather for the second loop? Nice feature.
So in essence, that means the "Start (2-1)" option on the menu of Under Defeat, is practically the equivalent of playing a Border Down-like 'Arrange Mode' with remixed stages.
"Thunder Force VI does not suck, shut your fucking mouth." ~ Shane Bettenhausen
I just got the March issue of Edge and it has a section about Japanese developer support of the Xbox 360. They show Sendo No Rondo Rev X and state that Grev originally wanted Under Defeat to appear on the console but Mircosoft approached them and requested a Sendo port for the Live element.
So 360 is still a possiblity for a port I suppose. *-neo
I just got the March issue of Edge and it has a section about Japanese developer support of the Xbox 360. They show Sendo No Rondo Rev X and state that Grev originally wanted Under Defeat to appear on the console but Mircosoft approached them and requested a Sendo port for the Live element.
So 360 is still a possiblity for a port I suppose. *-neo
Tychom wrote:well considering I've never set my system clock and no doubt many others are the same, It would be quite a surprise to find that everybody out there happened to have their clock set to March. Unless it changes with play time, or it's just a rumour
I think it's a misunderstanding. The first 4 levels are based on the 4 seasons (spring, summer, fall, winter) and I think someone interpreted that as meaning that they somehow correlated to the actual seasons.
I don't think the code works on the DC version. I'm not sure what you need to do to unlock it on DC.
You just have to finish loop 1 to unlock the Loop-2 start option (you may credit feed).
Stingray and I played through the second loop just to get a look at it. All the stages have seasonal swaps (as has been stated) and are all mirrored left-to-right from their loop 1 equivalents (it's REALLY confusing the first time through... Stingray and I had to keep reminding each other... "Okay.. now, a big tank is going to come from the left, not the right."). Also, the loop 2 intermission images are all cutesy, so to speak (several of them feature the pilots in swimwear).
Enemies in loop 2 are far more aggressive, and there are certain enemies/elements that release suicide bullets once destroyed.
Awesome, thanks Kiken. I haven't unlocked a lot of credits yet. I got to the last boss but he messed my world up. Is UD like Ikaruga where you get unlimited credits after 9?
