horror-themed shmups and horror-themed stages

Observer · Post by **Observer** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:49 pm

Bill wrote:
Observer wrote:
jpj wrote:r-type
hahaha, was going to say the same. R-Type Delta Stage 6 is pretty much a horrifying moment... The music helps.
Delta's sixth stage is my favourite, as far as creepy / horrific shooter moments go. Stage 5 is no slouch either, with the pitch blackness and various horrible things squirming around in it. But Stage 6 feels like a cross between a morgue and a filthy abattoir. It's just downright nasty.

I wish I knew exactly what Delta's story / progression was. I always put it down to the player busting into a Bydo-infested facility of some sort, but I'm not sure. Anyone know the game's background? The manual is kind of Engrish-ish, iirc.

I'm pretty sure there is an official site that states the timeline and when does R-Type Delta take place. Damn, I can't find it at the moment. Sorry.

After the horror of Stage 6, the last stage is awesome with the choir and the ominous percussion and super "serious business" deal... yet one of the endings is a mix of the sad and the scary. You know which one.

Oh, yeah, also seconding Artseneit stuff.

Not quite "horror" per se but Stage 4 from PriZhm goes from a surreal forest with massive ships with skulls to a red hell (including the skull ships and more), music change included (starts with a soft, even childish tune then changes to a completely distorted and ominous one). Bullet speeds also get crazier.

We need the Silent Hill of the shooters. Something using the Chaos Field reality system but with a clever and evil twist...

BIL · Post by **BIL** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:00 am

Observer wrote:I'm pretty sure there is an official site that states the timeline and when does R-Type Delta take place. Damn, I can't find it at the moment. Sorry.

Oh yeah, I think I know the one you mean. There's also Delta's official site, which has an english translation. A little clunky, as I remember:

"Hearing the news of the Bydo's banishment and the return of R9 to the earth, some shouted fo job...."

But the stage guide explains a lot. Seems Delta involves an orbital facility crashing to Earth, with the player first infiltrating its defense systems and then fighting the Bydo within. I love Delta's progression, it reminds me of Rayforce's constant drive towards the target.

http://www.irem.co.jp/e/game/r/r_delta/story/index.html

We need the Silent Hill of the shooters. Something using the Chaos Field reality system but with a clever and evil twist...

I was going to mention SH2's ghastlier locations, regarding Delta's sixth stage! Has the same kind of foul atmosphere, like you've arrived in the aftermath of something horrible. And yeah, I'd love to see a quality shooter that took an SH-like approach to reality warping. It makes perfect sense for risk-reward. I know CF and Galuda kind of play with the concept of mucking with time-space a little.

I've always fondly imagined a Guwange / GunSmoke game starring Valtiel from SH3 scrambling about on grimy stone floors, heh. Something about his manic yet controlled movement makes him seem ideal for a gruesome action game.

Mortificator · Post by **Mortificator** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:03 am

Bill wrote:
Observer wrote:
jpj wrote:r-type
hahaha, was going to say the same. R-Type Delta Stage 6 is pretty much a horrifying moment... The music helps.
Delta's sixth stage is my favourite, as far as creepy / horrific shooter moments go. Stage 5 is no slouch either, with the pitch blackness and various horrible things squirming around in it. But Stage 6 feels like a cross between a morgue and a filthy abattoir. It's just downright nasty.

I wish I knew exactly what Delta's story / progression was. I always put it down to the player busting into a Bydo-infested facility of some sort, but I'm not sure. Anyone know the game's background? The manual is kind of Engrish-ish, iirc.

You're right about the concept for Stage 6. It's actually the base you launch from at the beginning; Dobkeratops comes out of the pilar from the "select your fighter" screen. Irem explains the story behind all of Delta's stages here, and you can read the same for the arcade games.

BIL · Post by **BIL** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:19 am

Mortificator wrote:You're right about the concept for Stage 6. It's actually the base you launch from at the beginning; Dobkeratops comes out of the pilar from the "select your fighter" screen. Irem explains the story behind all of Delta's stages here, and you can read the same for the arcade games.

Damn, that explains everything! So Delta goes full-circle... I was always a bit confused about the Select Fighter hangar in the background of the miniboss fight. I thought it was a similar but different facility that'd come to a nasty end. Thanks, that makes me appreciate Delta's progression even more. Very cool game, and rock-solid quality to boot.