Jumping aboard...

R_Typist · Post by **R_Typist** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 7:21 pm

Greetings,

I still consider myself a beginner-level shmupper, but I'm hoping that'll change. Recently I've been playing alot of R-Type (Delta, Final, III, original) and consider myself an entry level fan of the series. From there, I discovered Pulstar, Last Resort, and even enjoyed some Gradius from time to time.

R-Type is so far my favorite shmup. It's so simple, yet so strategically varied and wonderfully presented.

"I admire it's purity, unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality."

I just purchased a used Delta PS1 disk from Amazon.com. Unfortunately there are some disk scratches that I believe are causing alot of unfortunate blunders. Played some yesterday, and I got waxed twice on the second mission (darn bee-hives).

Otherwise, I realize that I now have a bias towards side-scrolling shmups. Perhaps something like Ikaruga would change that (If I could ever own a GameCube or Dreamcast). I find that side scrolling causes one to be more intimate with the environment and level details while overhead seems more concerned with formations and bullet-hell.

I used to really love the PC shmup Tyrian (HORAY FOR DOS BOX). However, it's weapon system is mostly a cosmetic novelty, and the game's difficulty and environments become terribly inconsistent. It's a beautiful non-anime shmup, and I wish those gameplay details could be cleaner.

Anyone with overhead to horizontal bias? I really should broaden my horizons.

mice · Post by **mice** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 7:33 pm

I'll be the first to welcome you to the boards then.

I feel the horiz' and vert's are two different genres.
Apart from the things you said, horizontals seems to go with the spawn-point-type-thing after death and verticals seems to be more of a continue-where-you-are kind.

But, I play both Vs and Hs about the same amount.
After doing guwange and ikaruga for a while I find myself playing metal black and thunder cross for as long afterwards.

Dale · Post by **Dale** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 7:54 pm

I prefer Vert's but hori's have their charms as well, if you don't feel like getting a bunch of system's to play shmups try some of the awesome freeware title's out their on the internet

And welcome.

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 8:21 pm

Welcome to the forums!

Have you tried Einhänder, Xexex and X-Multiply? Those are some fine horizontal scrollers that you will probably like, if you are an R-Type Fan.

FRO · Post by **FRO** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 8:51 pm

If you like R-Type, don't hesitate to try the Gradius seires (especially 2 & 5), & the Thunderforce series (especially 3-4). Oh, and welcome!

R_Typist · Post by **R_Typist** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 9:28 pm

Hey, thanks for the welcome!

@CIT

Thanks for the suggestions. Be warned, I've only got a PC and a PS2, but I am known to occasionally indulge in an arcade ROM once in a while.

@ FRO

I do like Gradius! I've sometimes sensed a blandness in environment compared to R-Type, BUT, it has it's own look and feel that is like an 80s-electro-rock-arcade that I've learned to appreciate. I love some of the music from Gradius III. SHOOT THE CORE

Everyone says Gradius V is great... I gotta jump the bandwagon and soon.

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 9:59 pm

R_Typist wrote:@CIT

Thanks for the suggestions. Be warned, I've only got a PC and a PS2, but I am known to occasionally indulge in an arcade ROM once in a while.

So you're all set! Xexex and X-Multiply run in MAME, and Einhänder is a Playstation game.

JBC · Post by **JBC** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 10:11 pm

If you want a good impression of vert shmups i highly recommend Strikers 1945 II, Gunbird, and Battle Garegga. To me they are the most playable overheads ever and i think they'll even out your impressions of the genres.

Make absolutley sure you play in tate with your monitor on it's side! The effect is genuinley lost otherwise

FRO · Post by **FRO** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:16 am

R_Typist wrote:Everyone says Gradius V is great... I gotta jump the bandwagon and soon.

Gradius V (IMHO) is the most balanced (difficulty-wise) of any of the Gradius games. The reason I say that (even though I haven't cleared the 1st level yet) is that when you die, other than the *sometime* invisible bullet syndrome (see the Shmups Glossary for a definition), it never really seems like it's anything else but your fault when you die. Sometimes in the other Gradius games it seems as though you're just being assaulted from all sides & there's no way out, but Gradius V removes some of this claustrophobia.

R_Typist · Post by **R_Typist** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:39 am

FRO wrote: Sometimes in the other Gradius games it seems as though you're just being assaulted from all sides & there's no way out, but Gradius V removes some of this claustrophobia.

I know exactly your point. The one mission in Gradius IV, I continually get stuck on the "reaching meatloaf plants". It's the mission after the lave one. It's just because there's only one pixel of safe zone, even with one option-orb.

PFG 9000 · Post by **PFG 9000** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 5:26 am

R_Typist wrote:Hey, thanks for the welcome!
Everyone says Gradius V is great... I gotta jump the bandwagon and soon.

Indeed you do. I'd suggest jumping onto that bandwagon...right now.

Anyway, I used to play hori's exclusively. I just didn't care for vert's. But I got desperate for more shooters, and picked up Shikigami no Shiro II (Castle Shikigami II in the US) for the PS2. It had me hooked instantly. Especially considering its budget status, I recommend trying it out if you think there's any chance of you liking a vert.

ill6 · Post by **ill6** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:13 am

Try Blazing Star and Progear while you are in mame...

I wouldn't take Ikaruga as in intro to Verts; though it is for some people it is so different to the rest of the genre.

Eps · Post by **Eps** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 1:37 pm

Take a look at the other thread entitled 'The Greatness of DDP'. Then, try DoDonPachi for yourself - it's hard, but fair. Garegga is a great game, but I'd probably not recommend it to someone just starting out with verts, as the bullets are (intentionally) hard to see and the rank system, which dynamically increases the difficulty based on your performance, is pretty unforgiving.

grahf · Post by **grahf** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:34 pm

I prefer vertical shooters myself, since i generally find them easier. I have no bias towards either however. Screen aspect aside, i think the main reason is that horizonal scrolling is what i was raised on. The majority of games scroll this way, and i find it easier to keep track of my character. On verticals, i always loose sight of my guy while im looking at the oncoming enemies.

R_Typist · Post by **R_Typist** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 11:23 pm

Is it me... or are vertical shooters more prone to being "maniac"?

I don't know alot of "maniac" horizontal. I've seen some parts of Pulstar (especially boss fights) that might classify as "maniac", but I just dunno what how the term is applied exactly.

I'm starting to believe that alot of "maniac" shmups can be truly beautiful is realized properly. It's like a perpetual fourth of July eye-massage.

The "Xenocide Files" are definately becomming a useful library of knowledge.

I downloaded DDP and discovered that I truly do suck at shmups once againl... ARGHH...

Dylan1CC · Post by **Dylan1CC** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:08 pm

Hello and welcome to Shmups!

For a system with a good mix of both horizontal and vert shooters, try the TG-16.

grahf · Post by **grahf** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 12:20 am

Indeed. But i would recommend you buy a PC Engine instead. Just about all the games are cheaper, and there is tenfold more variety.

J-Manic · Post by **J-Manic** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 12:47 am

Welcome R_Typist.

Very cool username, if I may say so myself.

R_Typist · Post by **R_Typist** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:48 am

J-Manic wrote:Welcome R_Typist.

Very cool username, if I may say so myself.

Thanks! I consider myself an accomplished typist so the name "forced" itself when I wasn't really trying to think of one.

I'm fairly PO-ed at my Amazon purchase of the used R-Type Delta disk. The thing must really be scratched in some key areas, as music sometimes doesn't come back and the game sometimes freezes inbetween the gameplay to the main menu.

In other news, I'm going to become a student again this fall. It'll be interesting to see how much time I'll have to play the games I like.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 2:53 am

R_Typist wrote:In other news, I'm going to become a student again this fall. It'll be interesting to see how much time I'll have to play the games I like.

Methinks that'd depend on your field of study...if you want lots of shmupping time, go into Physical Education or something.