Mushimesama PCB vs PS2 question

neorichieb1971 · Post by **neorichieb1971** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:43 pm

I've got the ps2 version, because of the filtered graphics is the game actually harder? I only have a 17" monitor and I have to sit on my bed which is 5 feet back from the screen. I'm sure i'm not making it easy for myself.

I haven't got to level 3 yet on origonal mode.

On top of that it looks like composite even though i'm using RGB. I think Raiden DX looks better than Mushi

Its a shame because I really like the game. Maybe its a good thing ports aren't coming out. I've actually got to level 5 before, so not reaching level 3 is pants.

PROMETHEUS · Post by **PROMETHEUS** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 11:00 pm

I've read you're supposed to be able to get a good picture, and about the difficulty, I've heard many times that the port and the PCB version are about as hard, but the slowdowns don't occur at the same moments, meaning you will have trouble switching between the 2 versions when you play for score.

Never played it myself though.

neorichieb1971 · Post by **neorichieb1971** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 11:05 pm

Yeah, but i'm sure a cleaner display would make things easier to see.

I just figured out something though, when you keep your hand down on the fire button your options shoot lasers. Which I knew before but since I haven't played it since 6 months ago I forgot. . Now i'm back on track sort of.. Getting to level 4 and 5 now again. Its making sense again now.

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 11:08 pm

The PS2 port of Maniac mode is only a bit harder in parts of Stage 3 and the Stage 5 midboss, as there isn't as much slowdown, and the slowdown that is there is jerkier, so you have to be careful not to ram into a bullet. I never found the blurred graphics to be a big issue in Maniac mode, but it did make my eyes strained quicker than when I play the PCB. With that said, I got a 359mil ALL in Maniac mode with a PS2 dualshock controller on the PS2 port (437mil ALL with rapid fire used). I have not yet beat that score on my PCB, even though I've had it nearly a year. Take from that what you will.

I do find Original mode easier on the PCB though. I got 51mil on the PCB, while I think my highest on the PS2 port was 20 or 30 mil (I didn't play it very much though). I think the faster bullets in Original mode paired with the blurred graphics makes for a tough time.

Ultra mode is slightly easier on the PS2 port. The PCB runs a bit faster, as it has less slowdown.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 11:17 pm

I think your problem is the 17" monitor to be honest. Although I'm not sure if that's a valid argument for Original mode.

themachinist · Post by **themachinist** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 11:32 pm

Just curious, should he be playing on something larger?

Twiddle · Post by **Twiddle** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 11:33 pm

depends how close you are to your display

neorichieb1971 · Post by **neorichieb1971** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 12:08 am

Yeah, im definitely struggling on stage 3. Too many graphics meshing together, it looks like a big mess. Would help if screen was bigger, my highest score was on a 21" TV.

I am sure the XRGB is not helping. Its making what was blurry even more blurry than before. Even the text in the menus is blurry and thats saying something.

Can someone test out Mushi on a XRGB if you have one and let me know how it compares to TV viewing.. cheers.

neorichieb1971 · Post by **neorichieb1971** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 2:20 am

Just plugged in my supergun for some ESPra.de action, this game is just the dogs bollocks. Its crystal clear, colours are defined and vibrant. I think I'm gonna have to save up for a Mushi PCB.

General Martok · Post by **General Martok** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 2:40 am

It's not the xrgb , it's the game itself . Yes even the text is blurry from the screen filtering. (try to compare it with the ps2 version of espgaluda which has sharp text even in the 480i yoko mode).
Maybe enableing fake scanlines on the xrgb will help a bit with sharpness

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 3:32 am

neorichieb1971 wrote: I think I'm gonna have to save up for a Mushi PCB.

Smart man.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 3:34 am

General Martok wrote: Maybe enableing fake scanlines on the xrgb will help a bit with sharpness

Won't work. The game is interlaced. He's risking a seizure by doing that.

Richie: Get the PCB... it's night and day. I would recommend at least 25" monitor first though. The mushi hitbox is like a single pixel... you really need a big display (and you need to be somewhat close to it).

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 3:38 am

GaijinPunch wrote: I would recommend at least 25" monitor first though.

Eh, that's really up to the individual. I got better scores on Mushi with my 20" TV than I have with my 25" monitor. Maybe I should downsize.

-Bridget- · Post by **-Bridget-** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 3:55 am

I have the PS2 version as well, and while I havent played the PCB, I can definitely agree with that bit about stage 3....

Hell, just going from Arrange mode to Maniac...... There's slowdown in a couple of specific attacks from the 3rd boss in Arrange, and I go to Maniac and suddenly it isnt there at all........ splat!!!!

Inconsistancy is annoying, yes....

But as far as graphics go, I've never had any problems with the PS2 version.

I know exactly where the hitbox is, and can do that "squeeze between the bullets" thing with great regularity.

Just takes practice, is all.

Well, that's my opinion anyway......

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 4:22 am

TWE wrote:
GaijinPunch wrote: I would recommend at least 25" monitor first though.
Eh, that's really up to the individual. I got better scores on Mushi with my 20" TV than I have with my 25" monitor. Maybe I should downsize.

Well, 28" is standard arcade size, so is the size it is "meant to be played on". I recall you getting sick scores on a pad, and not being able to use a stick not that long ago. Would you still say a pad is superior? Certinaly some people will feel more comfortable (and get better scores) but that doesn't mean that on a whole it's not a handicap.

neorichieb1971 · Post by **neorichieb1971** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 4:25 am

I think a bigger screen is going to help. But comparing ESP ra.de to Mushi on ps2 makes so much difference. I came close to beating my highest score on Ra.de after playing mushi and that doesn't happen very often.

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 4:54 am

GaijinPunch wrote: I recall you getting sick scores on a pad, and not being able to use a stick not that long ago. Would you still say a pad is superior?

Well I still haven't beaten the Mushi scores I got with a pad, since I've been playing it with a stick.

I've gotten used to a stick, but there are still some shooters I can't play well with a stick, and I need a pad. One is Ikaruga (I mentioned this in another thread).

I got my 43mil Espgaluda ALL score with a pad too (on a 21" TV in YOKO mode via composite inputs, yay!).

I don't think either one (pad or stick) is superior really. I've seen people get amazing scores with either one. It's all about what you were brought up on. I've been playing with pads since I was 3. I only played with sticks in the arcades when I was a young teen (and only fighting games, and I always played better on a pad at home when the ports came out), and the past year.

But anyway, there's another thread for all this "pad vs. stick" business, so I don't want to get too off topic here.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:20 am

W/ the right equipment, I think you could prove that sticks (good ones) are more defined and have better sensitivity than pads... but yeah, doesn't mean they're for everyone.

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:37 am

GaijinPunch wrote:W/ the right equipment, I think you could prove that sticks (good ones) are more defined and have better sensitivity than pads...

Perhaps, but you're using a different part of the body to control each. With a pad, it's all about the movement of the thumb over the dpad. I find with games like Ikaruga that need quick, pinpoint-accurate movements, it's much easier with my thumb. With a stick, you're using your whole hand. A hand is a much more complex thing to control than a thumb. I find it difficult to consistently hit accurate taps, often over-tapping a bit and ramming into something.

Let's not forget even with a stick you still hit each button with an individual finger. Imagine trying to play a game where you had to use your whole fist to press the shot button. That's almost what it feels like when a "pad man" picks up a stick for the first time.

Maybe i just need to get used to it more. I do find a stick much easier to use with games that require a lot of sweeping back and forth movements across the screen, like Mushi Futari's Original mode.

And of course the ultimate benefit of a stick is it doesn't put calluses on your thumbs!

So much for not going off topic.

P_HAT · Post by **P_HAT** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:37 am

GaijinPunch wrote: and have better sensitivity than pads...

and this is are problem, in some shmups =\
Too many sensitivity.

neorichieb1971 · Post by **neorichieb1971** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:55 am

Staying off topic

Sticks generally feel the same (not that they perform the same), but pads come in so many different shapes and sizes that I have preferences. I would use a saturn pad instead of a stick in some cases, I would never use a DC pad, I can use the dualshock sometimes (Gradius 5).

I would never buy a GC shmup because the pad is crap, I hate all forms of big pads (DC, Xbox, XB360).. I hate em.

Currently uses agetec for all shmups on all systems

DEL · Post by **DEL** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 8:24 am

neorichieb 1971 - TWE's answer to your original question is all you need:-

The PS2 port of Maniac mode is only a bit harder in parts of Stage 3 and the Stage 5 midboss, as there isn't as much slowdown, and the slowdown that is there is jerkier, so you have to be careful not to ram into a bullet. I never found the blurred graphics to be a big issue in Maniac mode, but it did make my eyes strained quicker than when I play the PCB. With that said, I got a 359mil ALL in Maniac mode with a PS2 dualshock controller on the PS2 port (437mil ALL with rapid fire used). I have not yet beat that score on my PCB, even though I've had it nearly a year. Take from that what you will.

I do find Original mode easier on the PCB though. I got 51mil on the PCB, while I think my highest on the PS2 port was 20 or 30 mil (I didn't play it very much though). I think the faster bullets in Original mode paired with the blurred graphics makes for a tough time.

Ultra mode is slightly easier on the PS2 port. The PCB runs a bit faster, as it has less slowdown.

Other than that, a large 26-28" screen helps with this particular game.

RGC · Post by **RGC** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 12:09 pm

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 12:25 pm

Same thing happened w/ me playing ESPGaluda. Was playing w/ the PS2 pad at home, just starting to understand the score mechanic. Played it on the cab and hit enlightenment.