Dragon Blaze...i kinda like it...am i imagining things?

evil_ash_xero · Post by **evil_ash_xero** » Mon May 25, 2009 10:39 am

OK, I really don't like Psikyo. Never have.

Well, i'm kinda liking this Dragon Blaze. I had played it before, but am playing it a bit more lately(Zero Gunner 2 isn't bad either).

My question is, am I just imagining this is a bit different than their other games, or have I just not played their other games in so long that I am incorrect? It seems like there are more patterned bullet attacks(as in Cave style) than I have seen before, which makes the game a good bit more enjoyable for me. And being able to shoot your dragon off into enemies is kinda neat too.

Anyway, what do you guys think? Was this just Psikyo as usual, and I am off my rocker, or is there something a bit different with this one?

moozooh · Post by **moozooh** » Mon May 25, 2009 10:46 am

No, you're on the right track. DB isn't typical Psikyo. If my memory serves me right, the characters' hitboxes are the smallest and attack patterns the densest among Psikyo games.

Jockel · Post by **Jockel** » Mon May 25, 2009 11:23 am

^^^^ this ^^^^
+ the dragon shot is fun and satisfying to do

FIL · Post by **FIL** » Mon May 25, 2009 1:37 pm

It isn't all that different from previous games but it's Psikyo at their most refined, the sum of all their experience.

Rob will be able to explain it better.

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Mon May 25, 2009 1:52 pm

The differences between Sengoku Ace and Dragon Blaze are pretty significant: liking one will not straightforwardly carry over to the other. Even with the differences between Gunbird 2 and Dragon Blaze, one could intelligibly like the one and not the other. Still, I think you should revisit Gunbird 2 if you're liking DB.

Dragon Blaze is one of my favorite games period. I'm currently playing Gunbird 2, and I'm appreciating it more than ever. The thing about it: with most sessions I either come away fairly frustrated or deeply satisfied. Missing a coin head or failing to continue the chain or... there's no end to the ways things can go wrong. Dragon Blaze is more forgiving and artistically it's worlds better.

Enhasa · Post by **Enhasa** » Mon May 25, 2009 2:14 pm

DB is the final evolution of the Psikyo formula. To me it feels closest to Dangun Feveron than anything else, hanging around the top of the screen, speedkilling, picking up enemy remains. Psikyo had a lot more experience than Cave in fast-paced games, so while I still like Dangun, DB is clearly better. Dragon shot is fun and strategic, whereas Dangun is typical Cave anality (miss a disco man -> reset).

BIL · Post by **BIL** » Mon May 25, 2009 2:16 pm

It's different. Love or hate DB, the Dragon mechanics and gold coin downpours easily set it apart from the Sengoku / Strikers / GB2 progression.

Limbrooke · Post by **Limbrooke** » Mon May 25, 2009 2:46 pm

I hate to shill my own started thread but it wasn't even a month ago when it was last posted in. Use the search function a little better.

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=22600

Dragon Blaze is a good game though, great potential for scoring that's quite rewarding pulled off. That's all I can muster to say since I just woke up.

jpj · Post by **jpj** » Mon May 25, 2009 2:58 pm

FIL wrote:It isn't all that different from previous games but it's Psikyo at their most refined, the sum of all their experience.

Rob will be able to explain it better.

yeah, it's like psikyo's ketsui

Necronopticous · Post by **Necronopticous** » Mon May 25, 2009 5:47 pm

Dragon Blaze is certainly different from any other single Psikyo game, however, it borrows and expands on many of the collective ideas that defined their previous games. If you are really enjoying Dragon Blaze, I think it's time to give some other Psikyo gems another chance. I recommend Strikers '99, as usual!

Ruldra · Post by **Ruldra** » Mon May 25, 2009 6:51 pm

I'm not a fan of Psikyo but I'd say Dragon Blaze is by far their best shmup. Still, the moving hitbox pisses me off to no end.

captpain · Post by **captpain** » Mon May 25, 2009 8:17 pm

Ruldra wrote:I'm not a fan of Psikyo but I'd say Dragon Blaze is by far their best shmup. Still, the moving hitbox pisses me off to no end.

Moving hitbox? What?

FIL · Post by **FIL** » Mon May 25, 2009 8:25 pm

The rider's head is the hitbox. When you move left or right your character leans, moving the hitbox off-centre.

There is a diagram in the strategy forum.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Mon May 25, 2009 8:49 pm

FIL wrote:It isn't all that different from previous games but it's Psikyo at their most refined, the sum of all their experience.

Rob will be able to explain it better.

Nah, you had it in one sentence. There isn't a whole lot different from Strikers 1999 and the same goes for S99 and GB2, etc. Strikers 1999 is when they started including a noticeable amount of slowly moving bullet clouds. I'm sure that's what the op is referring to. And they're a different color.

captpain · Post by **captpain** » Mon May 25, 2009 9:08 pm

FIL wrote:The rider's head is the hitbox. When you move left or right your character leans, moving the hitbox off-centre.

There is a diagram in the strategy forum.

Wow, that's... uh.....

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Mon May 25, 2009 9:15 pm

...awesome

Alec · Post by **Alec** » Mon May 25, 2009 9:28 pm

jpj wrote:
FIL wrote:It isn't all that different from previous games but it's Psikyo at their most refined, the sum of all their experience.

Rob will be able to explain it better.
yeah, it's like psikyo's ketsui

*head explodes*

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Mon May 25, 2009 10:24 pm

Alec wrote:
jpj wrote:
FIL wrote:It isn't all that different from previous games but it's Psikyo at their most refined, the sum of all their experience.

Rob will be able to explain it better.
yeah, it's like psikyo's ketsui
*head explodes*

ala Scanners film from 1981. ^_~

lgb · Post by **lgb** » Tue May 26, 2009 7:13 pm

I think Dragon Blaze's soundtrack is possibly the best of any Psikyo game, with some exceptions.

emphatic · Post by **emphatic** » Tue May 26, 2009 7:35 pm

jpj wrote:yeah, it's like psikyo's ketsui

^^this

Alec · Post by **Alec** » Tue May 26, 2009 8:34 pm

PC Engine Fan X! wrote:
Alec wrote:
jpj wrote: yeah, it's like psikyo's ketsui
*head explodes*
ala Scanners film from 1981. ^_~

^_~

jpj · Post by **jpj** » Tue May 26, 2009 8:43 pm

yeah thanks for that

nash87 · Post by **nash87** » Tue May 26, 2009 9:30 pm

Necronopticous wrote:Dragon Blaze is certainly different from any other single Psikyo game, however, it borrows and expands on many of the collective ideas that defined their previous games. If you are really enjoying Dragon Blaze, I think it's time to give some other Psikyo gems another chance. I recommend Strikers '99, as usual!

Don't forget cannon spike aka gunspike. definitely different, and definitely another psikyo game worth trying out. best character roster ever for a shmup