First Goal for a New Player

[jkoch]

Hello,

I played some shmups as a kid on NES, SNES, and Genesis, and messed around with Gradius V a little on the PS2. After having a blast with Super Stardust on the PS3 though, I'm getting into shmups a little more seriously now. I think I'm not improving overall as a player because I just play lots of games, never concentrating at getting good at any one game, and I just keep feeding credits.

I'd like to know if anyone can suggest a goal to help improve my overall skill. Should I attempt to beat a game on "very easy" mode using limited credits, or should I maybe work toward being able to just beat the first boss on one credit in some game? Also, are there any games that are considered easy or at least suitable for beginners?

Thanks,

John

[Macaw]

1: Pick out any arcade game.
2: Play it and only ever use a single credit. When you die, restart.
3: You will get better.

[Shatterhand]

1: Pick out any arcade game.
2: Play it and only ever use a single credit. When you die, restart.
3: You will get better.

Not when you die, but when you lose all your lives of your credit, do not continue and then restart.

Yeah, you will get better. Try to stick with one game for sometime, preferably one you enjoy, heh.

[Pirate1019]

Make sure you pick a game you enjoy playing.

I'd go for a 1CC (1 credit clear) to start with and go up from there.

[tada]

1: Pick out any arcade game.
2: Play it and only ever use a single credit. When you die, restart.
3: You will get better.

I usually never play beyond one credit either, just due to habit. Once you get farther than the farthest you can usually get, the adrenaline will pull you through, even though you're going into uncharted territory.

As for a "beginner" shmup, I'd recommend Espgaluda.

[Pirate1019]

As for a "beginner" shmup, I'd recommend Espgaluda.

That requires money and a modded/jap PS2 or swapdiscs. Just play around in MAME for a while. Start in the kiddie pool.

[kengou]

I'm also fairly noob (haven't 1CC'd anything). My current goal is 1-crediting Ikaruga on easy (and max stock and fastest extend... ) and once I achieve that I'll increase an aspect of the difficulty and hopefully work my way up to a normal 1CC. Right now I'm 6 or 7 crediting the game, so I have a way to go.

I also love Dodonpachi, Esp.Ra.De,, Giga Wing, pretty much any Gradius... all are pretty simple in terms of shooting everything and staying alive, but if you want you can go for score and have a much deeper experience. I actually got really close to 1CC'ing Gradius III on the SNES, but the slowdown there is extraordinary.

[BulletMagnet]

Some people prefer the "never use more than one credit" method stated above, while others use continues to practice later stages before going for the single-credit run. As long as you eventually get to the point where you can 1CC something, the path you take to get there simply depends on your preference. If you're unsure as to which suits you, try both and find out.

[neorichieb1971]

As for a "beginner" shmup, I'd recommend Espgaluda.

That requires money and a modded/jap PS2 or swapdiscs. Just play around in MAME for a while. Start in the kiddie pool.

He owns a PS3, which means he is rich or in debt.

[Tempest]

When I get start out on a new game, I tend to use as many credits as it takes to finish the game once, just to get an idea of what's ahead of me no matter how good/bad I do on a 1CC. Also, be sure to check out the Strategy section for tips and tricks from the other folks here.

[neorichieb1971]

When I get start out on a new game, I tend to use as many credits as it takes to finish the game once, just to get an idea of what's ahead of me no matter how good/bad I do on a 1CC. Also, be sure to check out the Strategy section for tips and tricks from the other folks here.

Words of truth there. Like me, I usually get to level 4 or 5 of most shooters, they only get harder after that so I know i'm in territory I can't possibly pass unscathed. If you can do a once through on unlimited credits, test your staying power you can see if your good enough for the 1cc.

If like above, you try 1cc by stopping after 1 credit, your going over and over the same terrain and probably dying in the same areas. What I would suggest is you set a goal to reach 1-4 on most games before trying the latter stages, then practicing the latter stages.

If your in the USA, Gradius V (which youve already played) is a good start.

[shoe-sama]

while others use continues to practice later stages before going for the single-credit run

I abuse savestates

[icycalm]

My advice is to ignore the advice of people who tell you to play more than one credit at a time. You'll only end spoiling the game for yourself.

Furthermore, if you are planning to play manic shooters:

1. Get a large screen

2. and a decent stick

[Damocles]

Find a game you enjoy playing and just play it. I agree with the one credit at a time crowd. Your experiences will be much more meaningful if you don't feed past your current skill/experience level.

As for those who say that using only one credit stunts you because you will keep dying at a single spot...well...I look at it this way: If you keep dying and keep credit feeding you're not learning anything anyway since your brain probably shuts off after the first credit (if you're going for a 1cc) and you're taken out of the game. That, and continuing means the pattern is probably over or you can just bomb through it.

It's up to you.

[j^aws]

1) Everytime you die: Remember where; when and why you died.

2) Fix 1.

[themachinist]

Take shmuproids. Available at your local grocer. 1 pill = 1cc guaranteed.

[professor ganson]

Hey jkoch,
Pick a game you like that has a Hi Score board here. Try getting on and climbing up the board. Use the strategy section for tips.

[neorichieb1971]

Take shmuproids. Available at your local grocer. 1 pill = 1cc guaranteed.

If I knew they existed I would have 1cc'd alot of shmups by now.

[Zebra Airforce]

Find a game you enjoy playing and just play it. I agree with the one credit at a time crowd. Your experiences will be much more meaningful if you don't feed past your current skill/experience level.

[Ed Oscuro]

I often spend too much time on one stage and not enough with later ones. It seems best to focus on getting past stages first, and then work on mechanics later.

[Elgin McQueen]

Hey jkoch,
Pick a game you like that has a Hi Score board here. Try getting on and climbing up the board. Use the strategy section for tips.

Hmmm, might try that one myself actually.

[-Bridget-]

I'm also fairly noob (haven't 1CC'd anything). My current goal is 1-crediting Ikaruga on easy (and max stock and fastest extend... ) and once I achieve that I'll increase an aspect of the difficulty and hopefully work my way up to a normal 1CC. Right now I'm 6 or 7 crediting the game, so I have a way to go.

I also love Dodonpachi, Esp.Ra.De,, Giga Wing, pretty much any Gradius... all are pretty simple in terms of shooting everything and staying alive, but if you want you can go for score and have a much deeper experience. I actually got really close to 1CC'ing Gradius III on the SNES, but the slowdown there is extraordinary.

Actually, Gradius 3 on the SNES might be a fair one to start with, now that I think about it. Good for new players.

Personally, I think it's the easiest shmup I've ever seen. If I actually lose a ship at any point during the game, then Im probably asleep or something.....


It's a fun one, though, and again, good for players new to the genre.

That's just my opinion, though.

[kengou]

Gradius III is fairly easy compared to other shmups I've tried, but still if you die in later levels you're basically screwed.

Best advice I can give is play a single game, over and over. A lot. I've been doing somewhere between 15 and 20 hours of Ikaruga and I just today 2-CC'd the game on easy with max stock and all that. 9 million and something points. That's a jump of like 5 credits and 5 million points, practically overnight. I have no idea how I did it but I'm going to 1CC this thing damnit!

[Ko.oS]

watching/analyzing/plagiariazing replays helps too

[Pirate1019]

watching/analyzing/plagiariazing replays helps too

If you can sit through an entire one without falling asleep.

[jpolz]

As for a "beginner" shmup, I'd recommend Espgaluda.

That requires money and a modded/jap PS2 or swapdiscs. Just play around in MAME for a while. Start in the kiddie pool.

He owns a PS3, which means he is rich or in debt.

I play all my PS SHMUPS using HDLoader. I haven't come across one that hasn't worked properly, and I own quite a few:

-ESPGaluda
-Mushimimesama
-DoDonPachi - DAI-OU-JOU
-Psyvariar 2: Ultimate Final
-Gradius III & IV
-Gradius V
-Ibara
-Mobile Light Force
-Castle Shinkigami 2
-Sylpheed:TLP


It's less expensive than importing a JP PS2, has faster load times, and keeps your import discs/packaging minty fresh.

[Zebra Airforce]

It's less expensive than importing a JP PS2, has faster load times, and keeps your import discs/packaging minty fresh.

So, you can install imports too? Interesting.
I wonder, could this possibly fix some of the problems Ibara has with loading (big black areas, skipping an entire level before loading the music, etc.)?

[jkoch]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm going to switch back and forth between Gradius III and 19XX for now, mostly just one credit.

jpolz, are you using the HD loader on the PS2 or PS3? Can you tell me more about it?

Thanks,

John