Why I now like Espgaluda

PsikyoPshumpPshooterP · Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:55 pm

is because i never sat down to enjoy this game!!!Now i get what everyone is saying about Espgaluda..At first, its scoring system to me pissed me off but i had 2 hours and half session with each cave ps2 game today and i realized how fucken fun this game really is. granted, i stil dontthink the music is all that great, but the gameplay is top notch. I still believe Mushi is a great game but to rank these cave ps2 shooters would be a really hard thing to do. I just notced that playing cave ps2 is so much more enjoyable on a HRAP..playing on a ps2 pad is just really boring to me..in terms of Fun, i would have to rank Espgaluda as #1 as cave ps2 shooters come but the graphics, i still have to go it to Mushi.*dont strike me*

So for all of the negative comments I have made on Espgaluda in the past, i would like to point them as invalid. Ok thanks for actually reading this and giving half a fuck.

sffan · Post by **sffan** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 10:04 pm

Shouldn't your topic be, "Why I didn't like Espgaluda?" From your post it seems you like it now, right?

icycalm · Post by **icycalm** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 10:20 pm

That would still be wrong, since he doesn't exactly giveus the reasons why he didn't like it in the first place. The thread should be renamed "Why I now like Espgaluda".

Regardless, I am glad you changed your mind. In this page I explain in detail why I like Espgaluda.

God, I love that game.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:06 pm

Welcome to the club, PPPP. It is a very fun game. Also nice to have a Cave game that doesn't crush your spirits.

WarCheese · Post by **WarCheese** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:30 pm

Hello all:

Oh? ESPGaluda is easier than the other Cave offerrings? Maybe I'll give that a try.

Personally, I have just modded my own PS-2 to play DOJ. How does DOJ compare to ESPGaluda in terms of difficulty?

WarCheese

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:33 pm

WarCheese wrote:Personally, I have just modded my own PS-2 to play DOJ. How does DOJ compare to ESPGaluda in terms of difficulty?

Just about opposite ends of the scale, heh heh. While Galuda is one of the easier Cave games (though by no means a complete pushover), DOJ is one of the hardest. Not unfairly, but even so it'll lay a whoopin' on ya.

elvis · Post by **elvis** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:46 pm

ESP Galuda currently rates as my #1 favourite Cave game (and I'm a massive Cave fanboi, and happy to admit it).

I'm no shmup god. I stumbled across DDP on MAME by sheer accident, which prompted me to search for this obscure company called Cave, which landed me on these forums (and the Xenocide files). Without it I would have never gone on to find Mushi nor the ESP games.

Galuda is definitely one of the easier Cave titles, and I love the scoring system. Visually I prefer Mushihime Sama, but for some reason I find myself putting the hours into Galuda more than any other shmup I own.

I only just grabbed DDP-DOJ the other week, and it's tough. Damned tough. Tough enough to steal my lunch money and send me home crying with a black eye. "Spirit crushing" is definitely an apt phrase. I actually prefer the original DP to DOJ I think.

Where I live there's not a shmup in an arcade within 1000 miles, so I'm looking forward to a console port of ESP Galuda II (if that ever occurs). But for now Galuda lives permanently in my PS2, and will stay there for some time.

PsikyoPshumpPshooterP wrote:is because i never sat down to enjoy this game!!!Now i get what everyone is saying about Espgaluda..At first, its scoring system to me pissed me off but i had 2 hours and half session

Without trying to be rude, making any sort of judgement on any game without giving it a good couple of hours play is a bit silly. Some of my alltime favourite games in other genres are titles that took me a few hours of play to fully get into and learn the complexities of.

Honestly: if you can pick up a game and fully understand it's mechanics in 5 minutes, do you really think it's going to offer you some sort of long term reward?

Dandy J · Post by **Dandy J** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:48 pm

WarCheese wrote: ESPGaluda is easier than the other Cave offerrings? Maybe I'll give that a try.

Personally, I have just modded my own PS-2 to play DOJ. How does DOJ compare to ESPGaluda in terms of difficulty?

Well, ESPGaluda is the easiest Cave game, and DOJ is the hardest.

PPPP welcome to the "I like ESPGaluda club".

Leeram · Post by **Leeram** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:52 pm

Imagine that you are being chased down the street by a dog.

Galuda is akin to that dog being a Labrador. It will catch you but when it does it will just want to love you and play catch.

DOJ is akin to that dog being a pack of Rotweillers that haven't been fed for at least 48 hours and you are wearing "essence of rabbit" aftershave... and you have no shoes on... and the pavement is made out of glass...

Ibara is whatever is chasing the Rotweillers!

Cheers

Leeram

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:17 am

If that last post weren't as long as it is, I'd consider sigging it.

elvis · Post by **elvis** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:56 am

That's the single best analogy I've ever read. It's scary how accurate it is.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 1:07 am

elvis wrote: Honestly: if you can pick up a game and fully understand it's mechanics in 5 minutes, do you really think it's going to offer you some sort of long term reward?

Sure, if the story makes up for the gameplay. After all, RPGs and adventures fit this description perfectly.

I really like Leeram's analogy too. And I love nothing more than getting ripped to shreds while punching as many rottweilers in the face as I can.

ghibli99 · Post by **ghibli99** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 6:40 pm

First of all, this thread reminds me that I need to go dive back into Mushihimesama. For some reason, I played it like 2 times, and then shelved it. Maybe I was bitter that I had to dismantle parts of my A/V rack to connect my damn analog RCA cables to get sound out of this game! Thank goodness they addressed this in Ibara.

As for Espgaluda's music, the Stage 2 BGM is awesome, IMO. I agree to an extent, though, I find the music to be somewhat mismatched to the overall theme/feel of the game. I was expecting something a little more fantasy-like with modern influences... when I think of Guwange or Dangun Feveron's soundtracks, those fit the theme of those games perfectly.

Anyway, glad you're liking it.

sffan · Post by **sffan** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 8:42 pm

Leeram wrote:Imagine that you are being chased down the street by a dog.

Galuda is akin to that dog being a Labrador. It will catch you but when it does it will just want to love you and play catch.

DOJ is akin to that dog being a pack of Rotweillers that haven't been fed for at least 48 hours and you are wearing "essence of rabbit" aftershave... and you have no shoes on... and the pavement is made out of glass...

Ibara is whatever is chasing the Rotweillers!

Cheers

Leeram

I don't get the part about Ibara chasing the rotweillers. The dogs are chasing you because they're hungry and want to eat you, not because they're being chased themselves.

Ko.oS · Post by **Ko.oS** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 9:30 pm

I don't get the part about Ibara chasing the rotweillers.

http://www2.ibarahatesdogs.com

Guardians Knight · Post by **Guardians Knight** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 9:41 pm

so whats better then, Galuda or Mushi?

Since its newer and therefore is more novel at the moment im going with mushi.

i was going to ask some time ago what was the best shooter on ps2 but i guess by asking the above i'll probably get the same answer...or maybe it's rotweillers for me.....

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 10:44 pm

Can't wait till it becomes avalible in MAME,ain't around these parts at all

icycalm · Post by **icycalm** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 11:51 pm

Guardians Knight wrote:so whats better then, Galuda or Mushi?

Is it necessary for one game to be better than the other? Can't they both be equally fantastic? Is a Lamborghini better than a Porsche? How about a Ferrari, an Aston Martin, a Bugatti or a TVR?

Then again, if I had a choice to own only one of the above-mentioned cars, I'd go with an Aston Martin. And I am sure that some of you would go with a Ferrari, while others would choose a Porsche or a Bugatti or a TVR.

It's a matter of taste. The question is not "which one is better?", but "which one do you prefer?"

RoninBuddha · Post by **RoninBuddha** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 11:52 pm

i like ESP as well...

wait, im talkin Ra.De.

elvis · Post by **elvis** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:13 am

Denny wrote:Can't wait till it becomes avalible in MAME,ain't around these parts at all

Mate, there aint a shmup in an arcade within 1000 miles of me. That didn't stop me buying a PS2, modding it, and LEGALLY PURCHASING these titles from Play-Asia.com.

Emphasis on the LEGALLY PURCHASING. If you want Cave to keep making games, you really should pay for them.

RoninBuddha wrote:i like ESP as well...

wait, im talkin Ra.De.

I don't mind Ra.De. Of course it's nothing like Galuda, but that's a good thing IMHO.

As to the "Mushi vs Galuda" debate - I couldn't choose a clear winner. Buy both and be happy.

RoninBuddha · Post by **RoninBuddha** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:47 am

elvis wrote: I don't mind Ra.De. Of course it's nothing like Galuda, but that's a good thing IMHO.

im just a dissapointed fan... im one of te few (i'd liek to belive) who werent excited about Galuda... i LOVED the cyberpunk feel and the atmosphere of RaDe, so, needless to say, i would have prefered a follow up to Ra De.... back then, i was excited that a new ESP game was to be released, but then it turned out to be Galuda.. which personally for me felt a bit too "magical"... im not feeling the game...

not that i hate Galuda, its a solid game, also one of Caves better titles, im jsut dissapointed that RaDe never got any sequels and what not...

ehhe, as if RaDe and Galuda are the same anyways

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 1:34 am

im just a dissapointed fan... im one of te few (i'd liek to belive) who werent excited about Galuda... i LOVED the cyberpunk feel and the atmosphere of RaDe, so, needless to say, i would have prefered a follow up to Ra De....

I find the controls in ESPRade to be by far, the most clunky of any of Cave's efforts past Donpachi. Even the games before it (Dodonpachi) and after it (Guwange) feel much more smooth flowing. Maybe it's b/c you can only slow down when you're using the B-shot. I dunno. I like the game, a lot, but I think it's greatness is mostly aesthetic.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 2:33 am

GaijinPunch wrote:Maybe it's b/c you can only slow down when you're using the B-shot.

Hmm? IIRC, in Ra.de you slow down by holding the shot button rather than tapping it, the same as in most Cave games...you sure you aren't thinking of Arrange mode on Galuda? In that game you have to hold down the pierce shot button to slow down...

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 3:54 am

BulletMagnet wrote:If that last post weren't as long as it is, I'd consider sigging it.

Here's a shorter version:

ESPGaluda is a like a loving Labrador.

DDPDOJ is a pack of rabid hungry Rottweilers.

Ibara eats Rotties like those for breakfast.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 3:58 am

Hee hee, thanks for the effort.

RoninBuddha · Post by **RoninBuddha** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 9:51 am

BulletMagnet wrote: Hmm? IIRC, in Ra.de you slow down by holding the shot button rather than tapping it,.

that sir is true...

GaijinPunch wrote: but I think it's greatness is mostly aesthetic.

you're right... well, i like to get the "mood" or "Feel" of the game first.. maybe that's why i like it more...

ghibli99 · Post by **ghibli99** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 11:59 pm

RoninBuddha wrote:you're right... well, i like to get the "mood" or "Feel" of the game first.. maybe that's why i like it more...

Speaking of Esprade's mood, the first time I showed my friend that game a few months ago, the first thing out of his mouth was, "Jesus, dude... bad day at school, or what?"

I think that every time I start it now... slightly twisted, but oh well! Love the visuals in Esprade.

freddiebamboo · Post by **freddiebamboo** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 12:10 am

GaijinPunch wrote: I find the controls in ESPRade to be by far, the most clunky of any of Cave's efforts past Donpachi.

I really agree with this, but I'm hoping it's just poor emulation in mame. It just seems too twitchy and unpredictable.

As for galuda, it's a great game. One of the few shooters you can play and not have to restart over messing up/dying, you aren't punished too hard for fuck ups. Very good intro to cave games I reckon.

icycalm · Post by **icycalm** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 1:25 am

Actually, losing a life in Galuda really kills your score. You can still 1cc it, of course.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 1:31 am

icycalm wrote:Actually, losing a life in Galuda really kills your score. You can still 1cc it, of course.

I'd put it in the middle in terms of "fuckitude". Nothing like DOJ, not nearly as nice as ESPRade or Galuda II.