so f***ing frustrated!

[bwod1e]

hello you crazy shmup fans!

So heres my little story.
I am just as obsessed with gaming as you guys (of course why else would i be here) and always have been since a young age.
Ive owned nearly every console and loved them to bits, but my goal was always to own an arcade machine i could play Street Fighter 2 CE (i know we hear it all to often) So about 3 years ago i bought a Namco Excellena and since have been stocking up on all my old fav games, from fighters like mortal kombat 2, street fighters, to beat em ups like punisher, double dragon, final fight, golden axe, to classics like bombjack.. my list goes on.
One of my fav games of all time is Twin Cobra.. i love it i love it i love it. I just recently got my hands on it after playin it non stop at my local arcade as a kid and cant stop playing it. It left me wanting more schmup action badly!
The only other shmups i have really played is gunbird 2 on DC (which i really enjoyed), rtype (sms), Parodius Da (snes) and raiden, back in the old days

Coming to this forum has really opened my eyes to a whole genre of gaming ive missed out on that i would love to sink my teeth into

Ive been reading threads for weeks, getting a guage on prices of games and who likes what etc. Im just finding it so FRUSTRATING trying to figure out what i should spend my money on. Ive tried some games on mame but nothing really excited me to much

I watched one of the fellas auctions on ebay, i was quite keen for psyvariar (sp) but went for loads of cash.

Also nearly buying a Raiden fighters II board..

pro gear looks awesome

border down looks great, but cant see a jamma pcb version anywhere

i dunno, theres just so many different shmups you guys love and i dont know where to start or what will be the best way to try em

I would really like some games that are great for 2 players, that have a modern feel, with nice bright colours and bullet patterns. good strategy and difficulty that keep bringing you back.

I know this is a shit of a thread because everyone likes different games.. just trying to express my frustration lol
someone help me plllllease
try not to flame me to hard

[Dave_K.]

Word up on the Exceleena.

Pick one company you like the most (Cave, Psikyo, Raizing, Seibu....), buy one game, and play it consistantly for 6 months. No need to rush to play everything in sight.

Most shmups have more depth than you will ever think at first, so being patient is key. Learn/research the game to the fullest extent possible (read/contribute to the strategy threads). Play for the 1CC first (use bombs as often as you can to get by tough parts), then go back and apply the strategy for higher scores. You will get the most enjoyment/appreciation out of each game this way.

[bwod1e]

im like that tho, once i get sucked in, i want em all lol
maybe your right.. should test the waters of each developer and go from there
more suggestions tho

[JBC]

*Viper Phase 1 plug*

DO IT NOW! C'MON!

[Dave_K.]

*Viper Phase 1 plug*

DO IT NOW! C'MON!

I don't know why, but I've always had a dislike for the Raiden Fighter Series. Only played DX in the arcades long time ago (was damn hard, and couldn't afford it then). But playing VP1 now is totally changing my outlook on Seibu. Good recommendation (pretty much starting at the top of the series though ).

[benj]

Sentimental Shooting. Can't go wrong with that.

[JBC]

[DEL]

bwod1e - Firstly, take Dave_K's advice and buy only 1 or 2 boards and spend months on them.

You've listed Twin Cobra as a favourite, which should mean that you'd enjoy the other titles from the Toaplan Legendary Series; Truxton, Hellfire, V.V., Batsugun, Flying Shark, Fire Shark etc.

You mentioned Border Down, which is a Classic as far as I'm concerned (and very deep).

If you like shooters with TONS of replay value, personally I think that Armed Police Batrider is the one!

If you want to try Manic, of course try a Cave board; Ketsui, Progear.

As for good 2 player shooters, err...Gun Frontier, Gemini Wing, Dragon Sabre (2-players make the GigaWings' too easy).

As you say though, 'tastes vary' - each shooter company has a different appeal, and some won't suite your taste.

[DEL]

"suit"

[sjewkestheloon]

some personal favourites that i have put an unhealthy amount of time into that i would recommend to any shmupper:

strikers 1945 part II
ikaruga
mars matrix
dodonpachi
fire shark/same same same

if i could only have 5 shmups i think my list would read something like that.

[sven666]

If you like shooters with TONS of replay value, personally I think that Armed Police Batrider is the one!

If you want to try Manic, of course try a Cave board; Ketsui, .

check, two best games ever made.

[bwod1e]

thanks so much for your replies guys
i know i could read plenty of threads on here and get similar information, and i have been through the readers top 25, but i wanted more of a personal recommendation with reasons why! they really mean alot to me

i tried gemini wing, Gun Frontier, viper... bit old for me
i think the main reason i love twin cobra so much is because i have such fond memories with it.
i really am looking for something newer.
i liked batrider quite a bit, but still want something newer with crazy bullet patterns and nice backgrounds

please keep suggestions comin

[bwod1e]

games like ketsui, ikaruga just seem to go for so so much money
is it worth my while just getting a DC and hooking it up to an astro city cab, or is it definatly nicer to have the original arcade pcb?

[bwod1e]

just played progear, and wow its so amazing for when it was made
i love how accurate it feels with the bullets being able to shave past you, very fair.

i still want some bright futuristic verticals

[CMoon]

The logic behind sticking with Toaplan is good.

I HIGHLY recommend Batsugun. The reasoning with this one is that Batsugun is an inbetween came. It has all your favorite characteristics of a good toaplan shmup, but it also has characteristics of early Cave games. Many call it the first manic, though it has a decidely old school feel to it.

This is actually one of my favorite shmups specifically because it bridges this gap, feeling right in the center!

Plus, it has a great soundtrack! If you wanted a bright futuristic vertical, this is IT!

[Ko.oS]

I would really like some games that are great for 2 players, that have a modern feel, with nice bright colours and bullet patterns. good strategy and difficulty that keep bringing you back.

Dangun Feveron?

ZeroGunner2 is mucho fun w/ a buddy too, altho it doesnt have much bulletspam and the BG is a little bland . . .

[stratos]

If you like shooters with TONS of replay value, personally I think that Armed Police Batrider is the one!

Ehm... scuse me for the ot... but have you received my PM and my e-mail with the Batrider inp replays you requested from me?

[stratos]

Learn/research the game to the fullest extent possible (read/contribute to the strategy threads). Play for the 1CC first (use bombs as often as you can to get by tough parts), then go back and apply the strategy for higher scores.

Yes, indeed... regarding the ST threads: I prefere to read them only to understand the score system of the game, at first. I play firstly for survival and, in this period, I don't read the ST; then I read the threads to understand the score mechanics properly, but I try to use informations to build up my own strategies. Then, when reached my limits, I read also the level by level strategies or watch superplays.


If I watch superplays o read strategies at first, I simply try to imitate them without a real understanding of the game mechanics, so I get really frustrated, because these are advanced strategies by players that can achieve the 80% or more of the world records. Probably, if you play Garegga, Batrider or Ibara, you'll probably need to read at least something on the rank managing, but I think that putting toghether all the advanced things the first times you play takes often to frustration, if you are not a really experienced player like Ica, Rando, Plasmo, Valgar and others.


I started to play reading the ST and watching superplays with Garegga and Ibara: I continue to play Garegga (it is too beautiful ) but I gave up in frustration with Ibara, because I'm really not Archer. Now, I'm trying to restart from the beginning with ESPrade (not so Raizing, it's the classic Cave style manic) working on my own strategies and I really don't ever get frustrated or bored


And always remember: these are GAMES, not the olimpic challenges... if you play for fun (I assume that you can get fun from a shmup only if you play at least a bit seriously), and you manage to obtain a good record playing this way, you coul'd probably start (if you really wish) to compete with other players, or start training sessions for the shmeets... but the first goal in playing a game is always to get fun


And that's another big, OTtish post (at least interesting, I hope)

[Dave_K.]

games like ketsui, ikaruga just seem to go for so so much money
is it worth my while just getting a DC and hooking it up to an astro city cab, or is it definatly nicer to have the original arcade pcb?

Yes, DC is the poor man's Naomi. Graphically, and gameplay wise, DC is identical to the PCB. Only reason why you'd want to buy Naomi is if you are a hardcore collector, or thinking of putting the cab into a public setting to make money on it legally.

[bwod1e]

thanks again for your replies guys, i have definatly found a gem of a forum here!

i tried Batsugun. I think it was really cool.. nice back grounds, cool bosses definatly a nice game. Tis closer to what i want, but even still want something more modern.. looks like im going to have to get myself a DC.
How accurate really is the DC tho, i said this on the neo geo forums but so many people say mame is the poor mans arcade, but IMO it feels like utter shit. its so far off having the real pcb!
is the dc comparable if set up correctly, do the controls feel exactly as they should?

stratos, can really tell how passionate you are about the genre, twas an interesting read hehe

[stratos]

thanks again for your replies guys, i have definatly found a gem of a forum here!

i tried Batsugun. I think it was really cool.. nice back grounds, cool bosses definatly a nice game. Tis closer to what i want, but even still want something more modern.. looks like im going to have to get myself a DC.
How accurate really is the DC tho, i said this on the neo geo forums but so many people say mame is the poor mans arcade, but IMO it feels like utter shit. its so far off having the real pcb!
is the dc comparable if set up correctly, do the controls feel exactly as they should?

stratos, can really tell how passionate you are about the genre, twas an interesting read hehe

Thanks

I have to say I love modern games like you (the proof: I'm playing with ESPrade) but I also love mid nineties and older games. And love Batsugun, that's badly emulated in MAME. Fortunately, I'm going to buy a Saturn, and my first buys will be: Garegga, Rayforce, Batsugun.


If you like modern games, you shoul'd try Gigawings (DC) or ESPgaluda (PS2): you can afford them very cheaply (they are console ports, after all) and they are also really accesible games, even if they shoot a Hell of bulletts at you...


Let me know your thoughts

[it290]

For Naomi titles, the DC is pretty much 100%. Same with a few others, like Gunbird 2. The CPS2 ports aren't quite perfect, but are still pretty damn good.

[BulletMagnet]

i tried Batsugun. I think it was really cool.. nice back grounds, cool bosses definatly a nice game. Tis closer to what i want, but even still want something more modern.. looks like im going to have to get myself a DC.

Out of curiosity, did you know that there are 2 versions of Batsugun, the "normal" version and the "special" version? The former is a bit more "oldschool," while the latter has a smaller hitbox, a couple of progressively harder pseudo-loops, and a few other touches that bring it even more into the "modern" era. Just curious if you tried both, or just one...

In any event, there's a (pretty much arcade perfect) port of Batsugun on the Saturn which contains both the normal and special versions, so if you ever get a Saturn which can play imports (or a cart/mod which allows it to) you might want to spring for that if you like the game, especially if you want to save the big bucks for arcade-exclusive stuff.

[elvis]

http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/

You can put more than just arcade boards inside that Excellena.

[bwod1e]

excellent, thank you very much for the link elvis!

i didn't realise that bullet, it sounds like it might be worth me giving the other version a go!

so whats the deal with the strikers series?

[BulletMagnet]

so whats the deal with the strikers series?

WW2 planes vs. giant mecha series from Psikyo (the Gunbird guys). Vertical scrolling, timed item collections, charge shots, several planes to choose from.

First one lays out the basics listed above, second one (aside from shuffling the lineup/stages) gives charge shots more power but limits their use. Haven't played enough of the third one to comment much on it, but it replaces the WW2 planes with modern ones.

All 3 are playable in MAME: the first 2 games are also available on Saturn, PS1, and PS2, while the third is arcade-only.

[bwod1e]

ive got a full rom set for mame, but the strikers are all screwed up, anyone able to give em to me?

you a fan of the series bullet?

[BulletMagnet]

Personally I'm not a huge Psikyo fan in general, but I did find the two Saturn Strikers games for relatively cheap and picked them up some time ago.

Also, just be aware, IIRC asking for ROMs here is against the rules, so you'll hafta search for those yourself. Don't worry, they're out there.

[bwod1e]

ahh sorry bout that
yah will have no problem getting em, woulda just been quicker from you shmup buffs
nevermind though
i still dont know now wether im going to buy strikers III, raiden fighters II
esperade goin for 145 from excellent :S
cant get a dc yet, cause need antoher cab. dont plan on destroying my jamma cabling

poop

[xaer0knight]

i thought Change Air Blade was fun as hell with 2 players.. 1 one 1 shmup what the hell?! i fell it love with it after i read the review on shmups.com. Psyvariar 2 is an excellent game but id imagine that its quite expensive (plug: i did the review on shmups.com), Shikigami no Shiro 2 for DC/Arcade i found quite fun with 2 players.. and its the only way i will play Gun Bird 2 is with 2 players.