Mushi first iimpression

Never_Scurred · Post by **Never_Scurred** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:12 am

Finally sat down to play this game seriously after sitting on it over the last week and a half since i got it. First off, after spending the last coupla months reading about this game and its faults I must say that whomever said that the graphics looked smeared was absolutely right. It really does get painful to look at after awhile. Its like the colours start to blend in with one another and you hafta strain your eyes to focus on whats happening the screen. Ugly. Looked decent once I tate'd it but not that much of an improvement. I can say that this has to be one of the ugliest modern 2d games i've ever played next to SNK vs Capcom.

Second, the gameplay feels a bit funky to me thusfar. I noticed that when playing with my controller, my character moves awfully slow no matter which one i pick. I seemed to get better movement with my joystick but the characters don't seem to move as swiftly as i'm used to on other games. I also noticed that dispite the swift bullet patterns that the game "throws" at you, it seems to be a lil' more forgiving in terms of what gets you killed. I know that my bullet dodging skills aren't that good but this game seems to let me get away with mistakes that would have killed me in other cave games. The hitbox for your sprite must really be tiny then cause I swear there were a few times when I didn't think I was gonna make it through a bullet rush and I got past 'em unscathed.

Overall, I don't know what to make of this game. All the other Cave games i've played i've managed to appreciate within a few scant playthroughs, but Mushi doesn't seem to be a game i'll be returning to after I beat it. I may just 1CC just because I own it but I dunno...........

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:25 am

Mushi is horrible. Throw it away and get yourself a quality shmup like Planet Joker.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:49 am

Hitbox complaint is a fair one. I can't stand it when every hazard is exaggerated so much. The last few patterns are too ridiculous with very little visible space.

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:55 am

The last few patterns of the final boss? Or the Ultra mode 'true' boss?
The regular final boss patterns are pretty easy.

Never_Scurred · Post by **Never_Scurred** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 1:10 am

I actually like the bullet patterns. I like the fact that the game flings 'em at you gotta be constantly moving and aware. Its the tiny hitbox I didn't like. I dunno if thats the right way to put it but I would have been a bit satisfied if I were actually being penalised for lack of skills more so than the game giving me a pass. I'm gonna try it on a harder difficulty later on when I get some time.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 1:20 am

twe wrote: The regular final boss patterns are pretty easy.

Maybe so, but they're definitely ugly, sloppy patterns after games like DOJ that I didn't want to bother with. It seemed like Cave entering the realm of self-parody.

(team morale -5 pts.)

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 1:25 am

I like Mushi and Espgaluda 2 bullet patterns better than any other game ever made (except Ikaruga). I quite dislike DDP DOJ. How's that for FEKA USA team diversity!

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 2:15 am

Never_Scurred wrote:The hitbox for your sprite must really be tiny then cause I swear there were a few times when I didn't think I was gonna make it through a bullet rush and I got past 'em unscathed.

In case you weren't aware, most (all?) of Mushi's bullets have their own hitboxes: in otherwords, the center of the bullet has to hit the center of your sprite to nail you. In many cases your hitbox can pass through the outer part of a bullet and get away okay (though you still want to only do that when you have to, heh heh).

About all else I'll add is that if you haven't already you'll want to read up on the scoring techniques for Maniac mode (twe put a thread in the Strategy forum about it a little ways back): it makes scoring a whole new ballgame than just a variation on DDP-style chaining.

CMoon · Post by **CMoon** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 3:32 am

The only cave game I strongly disliked. I should sell mine at some point shouldn't I?

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 7:38 am

i thought most folks really liked this game? i have a copy on the way...

oh well maybe i'll still enjoy it, alot of folks dislike Ibara and i really like that one. although i thought this was more popular than Ibara for the most part...

is the filtering that bad in tate? what about compared to ibara...?

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 7:42 am

@Strider77: Personally, I think Mushi looks much better than Ibara in Tate. But Mushi looks worse than Ibara in yoko.

Both are solid games, though I prefer Mushi myself. Mushi offers a lot of play value because you have basically three games in there (Original, Maniac, and Ultra modes), much like Ikaruga. Find the one that suites you best, and you'll have a lot of fun.

Nemo · Post by **Nemo** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:00 am

If you want to correct the display and control issues, get the PCB.

neorichieb1971 · Post by **neorichieb1971** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:19 am

Ignorance is bliss. I've never seen the PCB to compare and I don't have a problem with the PS2 version at all.

I can see the difference in resolution and filtering compared to PS2 DDPDOJ. I am guessing the PCB looks more like that?

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:48 am

well i deffinately don't have the cash for PCBs.... i started to get into that once, but sold it all. i have to deal with home ports.

still, I have to admit things like the raiden fighters series having no home ports make me think at times...

tiktak · Post by **tiktak** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:19 am

About hitbox - play Original mode, hitbox seems a little bigger than on Maniac. Actually I find this game great in all modes so this topic seems very odd at first place

And after neorichieb1971 - ignorance is bliss, I really like tate graphics

Acid King · Post by **Acid King** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:50 am

Though I'm not a fan of the game, what you need to get used to to appreciate the game is the button tapping scoring mechanic. Most other Cave games have simpler scoring mechanics that are apparent on a few playthroughs, but Mushi's takes a faq readthrough. I still am not a big fan of the game, though Original mode is pretty fun. I would have sold mine by now if the Reko figure that came with the LE wasn't so freakin' adorable.

Daigohji · Post by **Daigohji** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 5:00 pm

I've had Mushi for about a week and I'm enjoying it so far. Original mode is refreshingly straightforward after a session on one of Cave's more technical titles, and I burst out laughing at the insanity of Arrange mode the first time I tried it.

I really don't see what people are complaining about with the graphics. It looks fine on my TV, even in yoko. About the only downside is the music. It works fine within the context of the game--in a simplistic Psikyo sort of way--but it's nowhere near as catchy as the Ibara or ESPgaluda OSTs.

cigsthecat · Post by **cigsthecat** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 5:57 pm

twe wrote:Mushi is horrible. Throw it away and get yourself a quality shmup like Planet Joker.

IBTN

Post by **Icarus** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 6:12 pm

I don't mind Mushi, but Cave have done better IMO. Original Mode is pretty good fun. The only thing... well, two things that bother me about the game in general are:
1) the hitbox that occasionally gives you some lucky and impossible dodges through walls of bullets, and occasionally kills you in seemingly safe situations; and
2) having to learn to play the piano to be able to score well in this game.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 7:33 pm

Icarus wrote:2) having to learn to play the piano to be able to score well in this game.

Well, you could always cheat and use the A+ and C+ buttons.

Post by **Icarus** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 7:40 pm

BulletMagnet wrote:Well, you could always cheat and use the A+ and C+ buttons.

Given the optimal technique required for this game, and the amount of button combinations possible for every single strategy, I think you need more than just one A+ button and one C+ button. Therefore, piano practice. ^_-

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 7:50 pm

Original mode is a poor man's Psikyo.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 7:52 pm

I thought you were hardcore.

I'm hardly an expert in Mushology (I prefer to just use the regular ol' A and C buttons and do the best I can with 'em), but offhand do you know exactly how the original autofire hacks in the Japanese arcades were set up? Were there several different "+" buttons added (offhand, I even forget if the PS2 version allowed such a setup)? In any event, to the best of my knowledge pretty much any of the "A tapping" techniques aren't too hard to do with just the regular A button (and thus can be adjusted on the fly), and the quick C-tapping is the main hack-worthy problem. twe would know more, heh heh.

Post by **Icarus** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:01 pm

Rob wrote:Original mode is a poor man's Psikyo.

And, strangely enough, I prefer it to Maniac, Arrange and the overly excessive Ultra.

BulletMagnet wrote:I thought you were hardcore.

I think you have me confused with someone else. ^_-

BulletMagnet wrote:I'm hardly an expert in Mushology (I prefer to just use the regular ol' A and C buttons and do the best I can with 'em), but offhand do you know exactly how the original autofire hacks in the Japanese arcades were set up? Were there several different "+" buttons added (offhand, I even forget if the PS2 version allowed such a setup)? In any event, to the best of my knowledge pretty much any of the "A tapping" techniques aren't too hard to do with just the regular A button (and thus can be adjusted on the fly), and the quick C-tapping is the main hack-worthy problem. twe would know more, heh heh.

It would depend on the arcade in question, but it wouldn't be unheard of to have a cab with two or more of each type of button set up, with differing frequencies. The actual frequencies would be dependant on personal taste.

The PS2 port is only allowed one A+ and one C+ to be set up, which makes it slightly harder for PS2 players to get scores anywhere close to a correctly set up PCB. Unless of course, you hack a joypad/stick with variable autofire circuits...

And again, piano playing. If I have to tap a button rhythmically in order to bring up a chain counter, then tap another to skyrocket, then hold a button through a section to maintain my counter, then... then... then... aww fuck it. If I want to learn to play the piano, I'll go to music school, thankyouverymuch. ^_-

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:30 pm

Icarus wrote:I think you have me confused with someone else. ^_-

Yeah, all you Raizing players are whiny wimps anyways.

And again, piano playing. If I have to tap a button rhythmically in order to bring up a chain counter, then tap another to skyrocket, then hold a button through a section to maintain my counter, then... then... then... aww fuck it. If I want to learn to play the piano, I'll go to music school, thankyouverymuch. ^_-

Least you can't accuse Cave of lacking uniqueness in this case.

Now quit complaining and dance across those ivories!

ill6 · Post by **ill6** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:02 pm

I know what you mean about Psikyo, it does remind me of that except its easier than most Psikyo games and it looks better in my opinion... I think its a really good game incidentally.

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:03 pm

Button tapping in mushi is refreshing, as to get a high score you need to actually have some rhythm and dexterity. You can't just hold down FIRE all the time and press a bomb or other special button once in awhile, like most other games. And really, Ikaruga has nearly as much button tapping. Bullet-eating Tageri in Ikaruga requires just as much (if not more) precise button-tapping rhythm as slow A-tapping in mushi, for example.

As for the arcade autofire setups, I only went to arcades in the Akihabara and Shinjuku areas, but I never saw a cab with more than one C+ or A+ setting. The C+ was 10hz, the A+ was 12hz at all the cabs with autofire rigged. I do know there are cabs with two C+ settings, but they are probably pretty rare. There's one at Goody21 (where SWY and WIZ play) with two C+ buttons installed, iirc. The second C+ would be at 7hz, and this would really just be used for the Stage 5 midboss. However with that 2.6 billion score made with rapid fire, who knows what settings were used. Perhaps something totally different no one had thought to try before.

LUNardei · Post by **LUNardei** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:05 am

About the 2,6 billion score, instead of something "new" I still like more the hypothesis of the "perfect setup": the right A+ and C+ for every situation (this means at least 8/9 buttons, ahah!).

Btw mushi is crap, don't play it

hd2dj07 · Post by **hd2dj07** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:53 am

my first impression is "It is so nice!!!!!"
and music is so exellent

mushihimesama is top favorite shooting game for me....

in a past, Mr. 415 's movie I seen
and enjoy it.

MJR · Post by **MJR** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 5:45 pm

I find it really weird that some people here complain about the graphics.
I finally got my ps2 modded, and bought a copy from play asia immediately. I was blown away by the colourful and imaginative design of the game. it's set up in jamma cabinet in TATE mode, so the graphics are as close to the arcade as possible - and I think I should know something about graphics.

Anyway, is there something severely missing from the ps2 port? Resolution? Palette? Frames? Effects? I haven't seen the PCB so it's hard to imagine. To me it looks prettiest game from cave I've seen so far.

shmups.system11.org

Mushi first iimpression

Mushi first iimpression

Re: Mushi first iimpression

Re: Mushi first iimpression

my first impression