Hi, im new here!

[1up]

Yes finally I came out of the shrubs. Been reading the forum for quite some time now and now I want in. Didnt know where to post this so it goes to the offtopic forum.

Im 26 and am currently studying advanced computer science in Denmark. Being a student means next to no frickin' money on my bank account meaning less cool shmups for me. But, lets get this out in the open, I got MAME and I love it. I've been into emulation since 1996 and have all my favorite roms stashed away on my laptop. Flame me if you want but thats the fact and if I had the moolah I would buy the stuff, and if its cheap sometimes I do
Another thing that sucks around here is the lack of arcades. We had 2 huge ones here in the 90's but they vanished and now theres absolutely nothing. we do have something called the arcade museeum which is a 2 hour drive from where I live but he mostly has the really old games pre 1990 like 1942, donkey kong etc. Went there last summer and had a good time.

A quick flashback, brainstorming the games ive played on the consoles and computers ive owned in the past, the following games came to mind. You can call this my shmup history of games that I really liked:
1942 (C64)
Rygar aka Contra(C64)
Project X (Amiga)
Star Wing (SNES)
Strikers 1942 II (PS1) still have this one
Einhänder (PS1)
Ikaruga (GC) still have this one but GC is broken

played almost all of the arcade shmups because of MAME, but these are the ones i play regularly:
Dragon Blaze
Striker 1945 III
Metal Slug series

Thanks to this site the following games have gotten my attention:
DoDonPachi (sweet, sweet sprites)
GigaWing (awesome gameplay/design)
ESP Ra.De
Mars Matrix (hardest game on the planet??)
Pro Gear

Mars Matrix is the single hardest game ive ever played. The bullet patterns are nothing like the other shmups out there. A real challenge and I dont think of myself as a shmup noob but damn I got blasted outta the skies in a matter of minutes.

and finally I hate to coin feed. I like the challenge in get the farthest I can on 1 credit. Hi-scores are meant to be broken

[sven666]

welcome to shmups

take the boat over to göteborg sometime and visit my arcade, none better outside of japan

[zinger]

Welcome.

Mars Matrix is the single hardest game ive ever played. The bullet patterns are nothing like the other shmups out there. A real challenge and I dont think of myself as a shmup noob but damn I got blasted outta the skies in a matter of minutes.

Did you know there's a way to absorb bullets in this game, much like Gigawing? Go watch the tutorial again (not saying it's an easy game, though).

[SAM]

Wellcome.

Are there more than one 1Up here? I recall someone use a simliar username.

[rolins]

welcome.

Mars Matrix is awesome. I don't think it's really that hard though. You just need some practice thats all.

[1up]

practice makes perfect. The gameplay mechanics are so easy. Just one button for regular and "bomb" attack. The bullet absorbing is awesome. This game is very addictive because of the easy controls and challenging gameplay.

[sjewkestheloon]

welcome

oh and the trick to mars matrix is holding fire for a second, immediately deflecting and sweeping away the bullets, removing surplus targets until recharged and then rinse and repeat. that's until you start trying to get some real chains going and then you can refine this technique for the individual waves of enemies.

well this is what i do anyway.

[iatneH]

and finally I hate to coin feed. I like the challenge in get the farthest I can on 1 credit. Hi-scores are meant to be broken

You passed the test, welcome brother!

Just kidding. Welcome to the boards, hope you'll continue to find lots of helpful information here.

[Arznei]

Hi.

[BulletMagnet]

Welcome, hope you enjoy the site. As a small heads-up, when you mention such titles as the Metal Slugs and Starwing, there's a bit of an ongoing debate around here (which most, myself included, would rather not start up again ) about whether these games are "shmups" or "borderliners" (shameless plug time!): as such, be slightly careful about listing them among your "shmup collection" (which, btw, you might as well list here), to avoid setting off the slightly overzealous among us. In any event, hopefully I haven't scared you off, and welcome.