Last Resort (Neo-Geo)

[charlie]

Hi chaps,

Seeing as you're experts and all, maybe one of you guys knows if there is anything to be gained by playing through Last Resort the second time. Basically, once you finish the game it gives you some cryptic message about the galaxy not *quite* being at peace or whatever, and starts you back at the beginning of the game (only it's harder this time round, more enemies and a bit faster).

I haven't bothered playing through again yet, although i have the second round saved on my memory card. Do you get to see a proper ending or something? Or does it just loop forever?

Anyway, i've been trying to beat it with one continue which is going ok i guess. I can get as far as the level 4 boss, before the wrist fatigue really starts to kick in. My joystick has also developed an irritating squeak when i push the A button too, which isn't helping...

Cheers
Charlie

[BulletMagnet]

Spoiler alert!

[BIL]

I remember someone posting this Last Resort 1CC on Youtube. According to the last part's comments there's a true ending after 2-5.

edit: doh! I was a bit slow there.

[charlie]

Ah, cool. I haven't looked at the spoiler

I actually don't like looking at videos of others 1cc for games i'm trying to beat myself, they always confuse me when they do something differently to what i'm used to/how i do it.

I've had Last Resort for about 10 years now, mostly gathering dust on a shelf. I hadn't actually finished it until the other day

Cheers
Charlie

[toaplan_shmupfan]

I keep trying to get into this game but it seems that the base firepower is underpowered, the pod is of limited use (or I'm not using it right even after charging it up), and I'd probably do better if I understood what the different special weapon letters meant and the red vs. blue color.

Any ideas? I barely make it past the section where all the gun turrets are firing slow but many shots in Stage 2.

[boagman]

I keep trying to get into this game but it seems that the base firepower is underpowered, the pod is of limited use (or I'm not using it right even after charging it up), and I'd probably do better if I understood what the different special weapon letters meant and the red vs. blue color.

Any ideas? I barely make it past the section where all the gun turrets are firing slow but many shots in Stage 2.

Good *grief*, dude! The game's challenging, but nowhere near *that* challenging, especially in the first couple of stages. The pod, and its correct usage, is of vital use, yes, both in terms of massive offensive production, and in defense of your ship. You've played R-Type, have you not?

Regarding the weapons, different weapons are better at different times/portions of the game. Just because a powerup is *there* doesn't necessarily equate to "I should pick that up" if you're already armed. Do you like what you have now? Will the weapon you have now benefit you in the next section? Remember that there's no powerup "staging" as there is in other games...once you've got the pod and your weapon of choice, it's as powered up as it's going to be.

Learn to charge-and-fire your pod at its full capacity for greatest damaging effect. It's pretty standard stuff, and it's a game that's *well worth* playing through and getting good at. I love it.

[Ghegs]

My favourite MVS shmup. Love it. I've only made it to Stage 4 on a credit and haven't played in a while, should get back to it.

I'd probably do better if I understood what the different special weapon letters meant and the red vs. blue color..

Quick guide:

H - missiles that go forward
G - missiles that go up and down
L - lasers
S - speedup
Z - speeddown

Blue means the orb bounces off walls when it's charged and shot, Red means it rolls along them. And the orb cancles bullets that hit it, making it invaluable for survival...like in that section of Stage 2 you mentioned.

Remember that there's no powerup "staging" as there is in other games...once you've got the pod and your weapon of choice, it's as powered up as it's going to be.

This isn't true, actually. There are four power-up levels - the first being just the ship without the orb. First time you pick a powerup, you get the orb which'll shoot green bullets at whichever direction it's pointing at. Next powerup gets you the weapon the letter represents. And the next one gives you a stronger version of that weapon.

Also worth noting that switching between powerups doesn't reset the power level, so you if you pick the powerups in order of, say, G, M, L, you'll end up with a fully-powered laser.

[charlie]

I like the red orb and the vertical bombs for that section on level 2. You can clear all of the little turrets that way

I've not really found the blue orb all that useful TBH. Is it more powerful or something?

Cheers
Charlie

[Drum]

I love the player ship design in this game. That's about all I have to say about it other than, yeah, I found it pretty damnably hard - at least at first.

[boagman]

Remember that there's no powerup "staging" as there is in other games...once you've got the pod and your weapon of choice, it's as powered up as it's going to be.

This isn't true, actually. There are four power-up levels - the first being just the ship without the orb. First time you pick a powerup, you get the orb which'll shoot green bullets at whichever direction it's pointing at. Next powerup gets you the weapon the letter represents. And the next one gives you a stronger version of that weapon.

Also worth noting that switching between powerups doesn't reset the power level, so you if you pick the powerups in order of, say, G, M, L, you'll end up with a fully-powered laser.

Okay, you've explained this better/more fully than I did. I was really trying to differentiate the weapons powerup system in this game and its like counterparts (R-Type, Pulstar, etc.) from others where you power up different weapons in "stages" (Gradius, Andro Dunos, etc.). You fleshed it out a bit more than I did. Well done.