Mars Matrix - It's a bit tough...

DazTM · Post by **DazTM** » Tue May 17, 2005 10:39 pm

Does anyone else find this rock hard?

got hold of it today for the Dreamcast and while I can complete the first stage without dying, I fall to pieces within moments of reaching the second. Does anyone have any advice I can use?

sjewkestheloon · Post by **sjewkestheloon** » Tue May 17, 2005 10:46 pm

master the bullet reflection. don't use the special attack for any extended period of time, but briefly hold the button, collect the bullets and sweep to the opposite side of the screen. you can even aimthe collected bullets back at the enemies, to help further.

other than that, yes, it is extremely tough. i think my best was about 4 continues to complete it and that's after extended play. but then again i do suck a little when it comes to manics

freddiebamboo · Post by **freddiebamboo** » Tue May 17, 2005 11:17 pm

Yep, one harsh game. As sjewkesb said, it is all about managing your reflects properly, which gives you more chaining options and gives you more firepower.

And the bosses are a complete piss take

Chum_Bum · Post by **Chum_Bum** » Wed May 18, 2005 2:18 am

Could someone define manic shooter for me? I'm new and this is the most used term that I don't quite understand. I think it means a shooter that is impossible to beat without always using bombs/special attacks to clear the screen of bullets, but I'd really like someone to clarify this for me. Thanx!

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Wed May 18, 2005 2:30 am

It kinda depends on who you ask, but my best "generalization" would be that "manic" games feature a lot of bullets and things onscreen a lot of the time, requiring the player to weave through a lot of stuff for much of the game, while more "non-manic" games feature fewer enemies and bullets to deal with, though usually also less powerful weapons and a larger hitbox to make up for it. Neither is impossible without using bombs or the like though (well, maybe Psikyo's stuff

), you just have to play them different ways.

FatCobra · Post by **FatCobra** » Wed May 18, 2005 3:06 am

Would the Strikers games count as manic? The bosses spew alot of bullets at times.

CMoon · Post by **CMoon** » Wed May 18, 2005 9:57 am

I recall MM being pretty playable through the first three levels, but after that things just getting stupid (although this is true of a lot of shmups). There's that part in level 4 where the entire screen fills with bullets. Maybe I'd do better at it now, but at the time I was pretty clueless as to what to do to get around that.

sjewkestheloon · Post by **sjewkestheloon** » Wed May 18, 2005 11:40 am

ah that section in level four is delightful. again it's all about deflecting bullets and charging quickly. staying in the safespot you made is essential and bomb if it becomes too much towards the end. you then have a break for a while before you move onto the miniboss station thing so you can charge up completely

Randorama · Post by **Randorama** » Wed May 18, 2005 1:25 pm

Yeah, read my ST in the Strategy section, i bet it can help, surely more than the other stuff in this thread

llabnip · Post by **llabnip** » Wed May 18, 2005 1:50 pm

FatCobra wrote:Would the Strikers games count as manic? The bosses spew alot of bullets at times.

I wouldn't classify any of the Strikers games as manic. I think "modern shooter" is more likely a good description. It's a step up from the classics, but not to the manic level yet. I think games like Batstugun and DonPachi are the last of the modern shooters... and start to approach manic in the later levels... I'm not a fan of manic shooters - I prefer the older designs. Fortunately, there are hundreds of classic and modern shooters for me to choose from!

gs68 · Post by **gs68** » Fri May 20, 2005 6:02 am

A BIT tough? I can barely breathe after stage 2.