what makes a shmup unfair?

[Pirate1019]

...Theoretically, a fair game would be possible to 1cc on your first try, if you're good enough...

Sounds like a boring game. I don't want to beat a game on my first try. I'll bet the "good enough" players really appreciate spending money on a game just to beat it the first time through. That's, like, 45 minutes of playtime. Unless the game has some score mechanic that gives me an orgasm, I'd probably just move on and regret wasting my money.

[Damocles]

...Theoretically, a fair game would be possible to 1cc on your first try, if you're good enough...

Sounds like a boring game. I don't want to beat a game on my first try. I'll bet the "good enough" players really appreciate spending money on a game just to beat it the first time through. That's, like, 45 minutes of playtime. Unless the game has some score mechanic that gives me an orgasm, I'd probably just move on and regret wasting my money.

Welcome to the world of Doujin shmups. I'd say 70% of the PC shmups I've 1cc'd were on the first try. ...not including the Shikis or other arcade conversions.

[Rob]

OMG I DIED THIS GAME IS UNFAIR LOL

I've seen that pic before, but where? I know, every thread!

[Ganelon]

...Theoretically, a fair game would be possible to 1cc on your first try, if you're good enough...

And yet, theoretically, it's possible to 1CC almost any game on your first try, if you're good enough. For those games that involve luck to a degree where you can lose without any way to affect the outcome, I'd call them unfair.

[Asherdude]

A SHMUP is unfair when it's finally released on a system that you traded in, so you can get a Nintendo Wii.

Damn you, Raiden III!

[henry dark]

There's a section about half way through stage 4 of Batsugun where jet fighters suddenly emerge from the bottom of the screen and fire directly and quickly (as everything is at that point in the game anyway) at you without warning.

It's one of those lovely "oh, for f*** sake..." moments.