A new found love for a genre

[ktownhero]

I'm a relative n00b to the shooter genre. That isn't to say I haven't played my fair share since my days as a kid playing Zanac for nes (I'd say that was my first hardcore shmup experience), but in the last 10 years or so I completely forgot about the genre. Ignoring it for the perceived more "complex" genres.

That is until the recent release of the Wii Virtual Console. I decided to download Super Star Soldier on VC when it came out, and it was like getting splashed with cold water on a hot day. A passion was reborn. I suddenly remembered why I loved these games as a kid, and that I still have that love for them today. I went on to play through Super Star Soldier, Soldier Blade, R-Type, R-Type 3, Gunstar Heros and Metal Slug Anthology.

It wasn't enough.

I then remembered a few years back when I obtained Ikaruga by recommendation of a friend. I had played for maybe a half hour a few years ago, and never looked at it again.

I went to my basement, and dug out my old Dreamcast. Low and behold, Ikaruga was STILL inside the Dreamcast. It had been the last game I played in my long-forgotten Dreamcast.

This time around I decided I would put the effort into truly understanding Ikaruga, and what makes it so special. What I got back was even more. I am nowhere near being "good" at this game -- I have a mere ~15 hours of practice (I have since purchased the GC version) -- but this game has captured my heart.

I have an idealistic vision of videogames eventually evolving as accepted forms of art, but few today come anywhere close to such a status. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is one game that I hold in such a regard. In my opinion, Ikaruga has also reached that status. Everything about this game, from the music, to the visuals, to the gameplay, to the deliberate placement of every enemy, wall, and bullet has completely sucked me in. When I went to bed last night, my mind was swimming in thoughts of chain combo possibilities. The only other game to ever capture my mind like that is Tetris. I see myself playing it for dozens of hours to come, and that 1cc is going to feel great.

Anyway, this is my first substantial post here, and I just wanted to introduce myself with it. So hi to everyone, and I'm glad I found a community of people that love these games. I'm sucked in for good this time.

[iatneH]

15 hours of practice

That's a good 8 hours longer than most regular folks play it, and surely a good sign.

Welcome, just be careful not to spend too much money :)

[SFKhoa]

My father and grandfather were both shmup freaks, and they both taught me how to play shmups. Glad to see the shooting love in you has been rekindled.

[Specineff]

We need brave, trained pilots for when the evil 4D interdimensional lizards decide to invade. We'll launch every Zig for great justice. Props to your dad and gramps.

[sven666]

if you like artsy-fartsy games where you can just marvel over the designers fantasy and imagination you should definetly pick up LSD

not much gameplay but the visuals combined with the sound are really something special!

welcome to shmups.

[Jeffrey]

Welcome. About a year ago I remembered how much I liked playing Gradius when a teen. Still here. There's a lot of information in this community.

[icepick]

Hello, and, nice story.

I went to my basement, and dug out my old Dreamcast. Low and behold, Ikaruga was STILL inside the Dreamcast. It had been the last game I played in my long-forgotten Dreamcast.

That's like finding a present! I love it when that happens.

I came back to scroll shooting in a similar way... remembering having played games like this when I was younger, yet only having brief glimpses of understanding of the genre, thus putting them aside for a number of years -- then, stumbling upon something current that reconnects you with the "shooting love" part of the brain.

Welcome, just be careful not to spend too much money

Indeed. Start out small, make your selections wisely, and take things one step at a time. It's up to you to determine your own pace, but when you start to notice that your purchases are getting ahead of your gaming, try to adjust the ratio a bit (without getting into the "collection rotation" habit). There will always be something new to check out, so enjoy the games that you have, more than enjoying looking at the ones that you could have.

... and welcome.

[Acid King]

Welcome, just be careful not to spend too much money

Quite fucking true.

[Belmont]

aye the first thing i did after discovering my love for shmups was hit up every game store within a 10 mile radius. buy a sega saturn and blow 1500$ on shmups....i still havnt gotten into most of the games i bought though. I have probubly put more time into gradius V ikuraga and dodonpachi then all the others combined.

[Monk 0 Nuggets]

aye the first thing i did after discovering my love for shmups was hit up every game store within a 10 mile radius.

Funny fact:

There isn't 1 video game store within a 30 mile radius of my house.

PS
Welcome!

[MovingTarget]

if you like artsy-fartsy games where you can just marvel over the designers fantasy and imagination you should definetly pick up LSD

not much gameplay but the visuals combined with the sound are really something special!

welcome to shmups.

Combined with DDP DOJ makes for an experience you'll never forget!

[MovingTarget]

aye the first thing i did after discovering my love for shmups was hit up every game store within a 10 mile radius.

Funny fact:

There isn't 1 video game store within a 30 mile radius of my house.

PS
Welcome!

Ha, there isnt one within a 90 mile radius of my house!