Cave- what's your favorite design wise? Least?

[evil_ash_xero]

To me, the design of Cave games is what makes a good game great. I've always been pretty down on a lot of the designs of the games since Jun left. I thought DOJ had some of the all-time most boring bosses in a Cave game(or in most well known shmups), so that hurt it for me(also, I didn't care for much of the stage designs either). I haven't played Galuda II, but watching the Superplays, it looks GREAT design wise, so i'd have to say that's the best looking of their games, since the Jun days(in my opinion). I think he did a great job on Death Smiles. And you can see, that making a gothic lolita game can go pretty wrong(see the sequel).
Mushihimesama is pretty, but not really up my alley(girly fantasy). The bosses are a little lackluster on average. I mean, it's a giant bug. But it's just a giant bug. It's a T-Rex, but it's just a T-Rex. Still, it's got it's moments.

I think Guwange is the all time peak for designs in a Cave game. I don't think they'll ever top that, in my eyes. I don't know exactly what the low point would be. I HATE the boss designs in DOJ, but I can't say it's all that bad looking as a whole. I think Galuda 1's stages are marred by being almost uni-tone. I have no idea why you would want to make an entire town brown.

Anyway, what's your faves or loathes?

[Runefaust]

Best: No long thinking required - Ketsui! Yes i know what you would say, just big tanks, planes and choppers, but they are presented so mighty and angry, you just know a hard and fierce fight is about to start.

Least: Pink Sweets. Fighting some gigantic toy robot for about 5 minutes is just no fun.

[jonny5]

ketsui....with mushi in a close second

[emphatic]

Ketsui. Just love how the appearance of some enemies are so well integrated into the backgrounds. Like the first mid boss, appearing from a lower level below. Or the descending into the underground (scrolling backwards) on level 5.

Also, the bullet patterns are OMG.

[Danbo]

My favourite is Ibara... nice industrial/steampunk/gothic look to things and all the spikes, drills and claws on the enemies and bosses look really "cruel", which is very fitting for the game.

Least favourite? Deathsmiles. i dislike the cheesy "Halloween" setting and the girls are rather creepy. (yeah i know i like ibara shhh)

[Necronopticous]

Favorite: Guwange & Mushihimesama series.
Least Favorite: Dangun Feveron.

[gameoverDude]

My fave is Ketsui, for many of the reasons already said above by Runefaust & Emphatic. I'll also add Manabu Namiki's BGM as another big factor. Doom's BGM "No Remorse" is one of the most insane tunes to ever come out of an arcade cabinet's speakers and goes perfectly with the final battle. Stage 4's BGM "Defensive Line" is maybe one of the best shmup tracks ever, with some gritty bass guitar chords in the background.

It's a shame Tomoharu Saito had passed away.

[Elixir]

Ketsui/Futari tied. Least favorite is Ibara because I don't like games that encourage you to bomb.

[captpain]

I like Guwange's design because it's like a ninja slaughtering mega cinematic fantasy orgy.

I mean, really, the last boss fight is so damn cool -- the sound going out, then slowly fading in as the huuuge waves of bullets start flying. Or in stage 5 when you finally make it to the boss area and hop down inside.

The art in general looks great and the bosses are totally wild. The spirit shot makes for a nice change of pace, as well.

[nZero]

I'm going with ESPRa.De. It's one of those games that really makes me feel the whole world around the game, the characters have motives and there's a reason that I'm going the places that I'm going. Deathsmiles (minus the EX stages) and the Galudas really pulled this off nicely as well, I think.

Least favorite is Daifukkatsu. Full of generic levels that give no sense of progression and derivative mechanical bosses that transform into giant lolis for no reason.

[third_strike]

..derivative mechanical bosses that transform into giant lolis for no reason.

When I saw ketsui in first time in replay I got one suddenly erection. I saw the same Espgaluda II replay all days during two weeks. But when I saw one DFK replay in last weekend I repeated "what fuck is this" during the whole replay. That giant mechanical lolis Sucked how nothing before this!
Cool!

[emphatic]

I forgot to add which one I like the least and it's of course DeathSmiles 2.

[captpain]

..derivative mechanical bosses that transform into giant lolis for no reason.

When I saw ketsui in first time in replay I got one suddenly erection. I saw the same Espgaluda II replay all days during two weeks. But when I saw one DFK replay in last weekend I repeated "what fuck is this" during the whole replay. That giant mechanical lolis Sucked how nothing before this!
Cool!

Seriously. DoDonPachi has the best style of the series.

No Lolis in that type of sci-fi for me, thanks.

[Danbo]

Least favorite is Ibara because I don't like games that encourage you to bomb.

the guy isn't talking about game design...

[dpful]

My fav would be DDP DOJ if it wasn't for that long boring last level. I think the art for Mushi is georgous exept for the water level, the boring background on the giant bug level, and the pale sand level.

[ZOM]

Ketsui with DOJ & DDP a close second and very close third place.

I also like Mushi's stage 4 along with the BGM that plays there gives off a nice atmosphere.
Guwange is just something else - I love it but depending on the mood I could place it either before Ketsui or after DDP.

[Elixir]

Least favorite is Ibara because I don't like games that encourage you to bomb.

the guy isn't talking about game design...

Everyone in this thread is talking about game design except for maybe the OP.

[Grinning Cat]

Assuming we're talking purely about aesthetic design...

Best (by far): Guwange

Worst (also by far): Death Smiles II

[kernow]

Really like the sprite based art in Dodonpachi, everything seems to fit so well in it.

Also the boss designs, music and overall presentation of progear, feels real steampunk and almost ghibli like.

Love the boss with the ventriloquists dummy who holds it up as a shield when his ship blows up , hah

[adversity1]

Daifukkatsu's bosses certainly leave a bit to be desired, but in terms of lighting, vibrance of colors, transparencies etc. it is CAVE's most beautiful game period IMO. Futari Black is a close second.

However Guwange is still amazing looking for being so old.

[AraraSPAMWitch]

Kind of a toss up between Guwange and Progear...Guwange wins hands down in the music department, and since it's all Asiany the weaboo in me loves it, but Progear is so damned pretty and immersive I'll go with that. The color palette is lush and detailed but it never becomes garish or cartoony, and there's a really great sense of interaction between your airborne fighter and the ground enemies that's hard to get in a top down game, especially considering there are no environmental obstacles. The explosions are quite satisfying and it's always a pleasure to watch hundreds of gems and rings fly towards you. The character designs are great (Rivet...*fanboy sigh*) and the bosses are distinctive and memorable despite being mechanical thingamabobs.

I find the game itself fucking obnoxious, though. The hitbox is completely beyond my comprehension, despite the fact that they clearly show it whenever you start. Maybe I'm retarded, but screw danmaku horis, they drive me nuts.

Least...I dunno. The bosses in DFK are outright atrocious and lazy, but the rest of the game looks so absolutely amazing I can't help but forgive that. DFK's giant robo-girl bosses are the only thing I can think of that I genuinely disliked looking at/hearing in a Cave game, but I haven't played Muchi Muchi Pork yet so maybe one day that'll change.

[Raizen1984]

Best: ESPRa.De. Love the cyber-punk atmosphere. Reminds me of Akira.

Worst: Dangun Feveron/Fever SOS. Just a stupid idea. Seemed like they thought they were being too unoriginal making a space shooter and threw in a random disco theme to cover it up.

[Matsunaga]

Dodonpachi is the best. Deathsmiles is the worst. I don't like little girls in my games.

[evil_ash_xero]

Best: ESPRa.De. Love the cyber-punk atmosphere. Reminds me of Akira.

Worst: Dangun Feveron/Fever SOS. Just a stupid idea. Seemed like they thought they were being too unoriginal making a space shooter and threw in a random disco theme to cover it up.

Yeah, Ra.De. has great designs. It reminds me of Akira also(which is great). That would probably be my second favorite. I love how at the end that lady is sitting on the statue's head, and then it breaks off and she's flying in the air with bullets coming out of the eyes. Awesome. It's got great music too.


I think they should have went further with the disco thing in Dangun. You only really get it with the music and in between the stages and of course the bombs and little men flying about.

After doing a little more searching, i'm gonna have to give it to DS II for being the all time low. God, it looks awful.

[moozooh]

Most favorite:

1. Guwange.
2. DoDonPachi.
3. Ibara (then again, pretty much all of its design roots grow from Garegga et al.).
Honorable mention: Progear (not particularly beautiful, but the style is consistent and well-delivered).

Least favorite:

1. DeathSmiles 2 (tasteless).
2. DoDonPachi DaiFukkatsu (nice visual effects but the color scheme, flashiness and overall lollipop feel are aggravating).
3. Dangun Feveron (looks dated even for its own time, although the music selection redeems that somewhat).
Honorable mention: Espgaluda (the design is very hit-and-miss in this one).

[mr_m0nks]

From my limited experience of Cave

Fave. Progear, theres is something wonderfully charming about the sprite design in this game its the closest i think you can get to a studio ghiblhi shmup

Least fave. Mushi Mushi Pork too much colour and too much going on for my little eyes to cope with. Mainly down to the garish colour palette and size of some of the bullets .

[KidQuaalude]

Favourite : DoDonPachi - Crisp, clean and futuristic sprite design. Musihime Sama comes a very close second.

Least Favourite : Ibara (PS2) I can barely see the bullets sometimes...grrr.

Also, hello! My first post on th forum, tho I've been reading off and on for a while now.

[evil_ash_xero]

Most favorite:

1. Guwange.
2. DoDonPachi.
3. Ibara (then again, pretty much all of its design roots grow from Garegga et al.).
Honorable mention: Progear (not particularly beautiful, but the style is consistent and well-delivered).

Least favorite:

1. DeathSmiles 2 (tasteless).
2. DoDonPachi DaiFukkatsu (nice visual effects but the color scheme, flashiness and overall lollipop feel are aggravating).
3. Dangun Feveron (looks dated even for its own time, although the music selection redeems that somewhat).
Honorable mention: Espgaluda (the design is very hit-and-miss in this one).

The lolibots in DF look ridiculous.

[neorichieb1971]

Best ESPra.de - I just like the colours and feel of the game. The music is awesome as well.

Worst - Don't have a worst, I didn't like ESP galuda 2 though.

[worstplayer]

Best: DDP and DOJ (I never played Ketsui)
Worst: Progear and it's messed up perspective. Mushi's puke-green explosions are also exceptionally fugly, but rest of the game looks OK.