W Ring PCE

w-ring · Post by **w-ring** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:44 pm

I have always thought that W-Ring is one of the best and most underrated shooters of its generation. I think it has a more depth than most of its contemporaries, because each weapon has an alternate version, and each level has an alternate version. With the other version of each level, the difficulty is higher, but there is more opportunities to gain powerups/points/lives, so it adds a strategic element.

The location of the warp point for the first 5 levels is:

Level 1

Early in the level, there is a square formation at the top of the screen,
fly into it.

Level 2

At around halfway though the level, at the centre of the screen, there is
an empty space surrounded by wall, with an 'ex' symbol. Crash through
the wall and collect the symbol

Level 3

Just after you first encounter the mechanical snake enemy, travel to the top of the screen, just behind a floating island and move left to right until
you warp.

Level 4

Shortly after you first encounter the 'lightning machine' enemies, there is
a small crevice, back into it.

Level 5

As soon as the level starts, either hold down up and left, or down and right. Both hidden 'ex' symbols transport you to the same secret
level.

Does anyone know where the warp point for level 6 is? I am pretty sure there is no alternate version of level X, but I might be wrong on that.

Anyone got any strong views on the game?

Post by **Ghegs** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:36 pm

I think it's a great lil' diversion shmup with some cool ideas, but the lack of difficulty keeps it from being much else.

I didn't know Stage 5 has an EX stage...bummer, I missed it.

w-ring · Post by **w-ring** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 10:23 am

> but the lack of difficulty keeps it from being much else

True, but I find some of the best games of this era aren't too challenging, like Thunder Force 3 and Super Aleste

w-ring · Post by **w-ring** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 2:17 pm

I have put HOURS into trying to find the level 6 warp, but no luck.

I have been using the alternate version of the ball weapon (red), because since the level is quite narrow, I thought the coverage (with the bounce) would reveal the warp.

I guess it could be outside the usual playing area, like the level 2 warp, but I have tried using the blue laser on everything and still not made it appear.

Anyone got any ideas as to where it could be hidden?

LSU · Post by **LSU** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 4:47 pm

I only just picked this one up a few weeks ago, and although I haven't really given it a thorough run through yet, what I saw so far I quite liked. It obviously owes a fair bit to the Gradius series, but that's no bad thing at all. Didn't know about the level warps, so I'll have to go back in and take a look.

doodude · Post by **doodude** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:37 pm

Alas, I have only an emulated version but still Ive found it to be an interesting game.

The sound/music in itself is very compelling & its appealing to the eyes as well.

Ive just played thru' a couple of levels looking for the afore mentioned power ups etc without finding them.
I could have missed them of course. Would the emulated version normally be the same, as in fully emulated, or would there be certain characteristics omitted?

EDIT: Ahh, I did get the warp in level 3.

The Emulated version has just the W Ring sounds file if youre so inclined to take a lil acid & zone...

If I was to use 1 word to describe W Ring it would be......... Freaky!

w-ring · Post by **w-ring** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:11 pm

I really love W-Wing, really unusual and compelling game. I like the music on stage 2 especially. I had to get it after I saw a video of it on pcengine.co.uk.

Doodude, I think my descriptions of the warp points are probably not very well worded. A tip for finding them though, is equip the blue laser weapon, because since it punches through walls, it makes finding the 'EX' symbol warp point a lot easier. It makes pretty short work of the game's bosses too, finishing most of them in well under a minute.

doodude · Post by **doodude** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:51 pm

No prob, Ill go code blue on my next round. Thanks!

Im partial to stage 2's bizarro music too...

doodude · Post by **doodude** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 2:52 am

I see ghegs has a run at W Ring on his site. Nicely done...

neoalphazero · Post by **neoalphazero** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:39 am

W-Ring and Override are two favorites of mine, they tend to be overshadowed by the rest of the PCE shmups.

Really enjoy level 3's music and color-cycling water effects. *-neo

Post by **Ghegs** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:17 am

doodude wrote:I see ghegs has a run at W Ring on his site. Nicely done...

Thankyew, thankyew