Espgaluda II

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Icarus
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by Icarus »

Skykid wrote:Watching superplays is pretty integral to learning how to properly play, score and learn some neat tricks. Serious players always take a look at replays to progress afaik.
Indeed, but it is only one piece of a larger puzzle. Watching superplays is not really useful or helpful to players who have little understanding of the scoring system, poor hand-eye co-ordination, or are lacking in the basic ability to control their character/ship with sharp precision, for example.

I picked up my copy of the game on Monday, and have only given it a couple of hours play so far due to other things, but I can see progression being much slower for me than it was with Futari. It took me a week to clear 1.5 Original with 300mil+, and Black Label Original with 590mil+, but Espgaluda 2 ramps up to assrapist difficulty as early as stage3.

I am playing Arcade Mode as Tateha, though, which might have something to do with it. ;p
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by adversity1 »

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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by Plasmo »

Hey ICR, why don't you post some of your scores. I miss you in the highscore threads. :cry:
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by CptRansom »

Special World wrote:It's not *that* complicated. The strategy thread is just a whole lot of info dumped at once.
I just want to play the normal mode of the game. I'm not concerned with Black Label, Arrange, or anything else right now - just the basics told in stupid-person English (shit, even if it's just in a PM so I don't pollute this thread with anymore newb-ness).

I never played the first Galuda. I know to shoot things for gems and hit the slowdown button to get coins (which slowly depletes gems). Sometimes I see bullets getting cancelled and I don't know why. There's a little clock/meter around me when I'm slowed down, and I know that when I run out of gems while slowed down, bullets get faster.
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by NR777 »

Skykid wrote:
I could be wrong, but I get the impression some of you chaps are unfamiliar with Espgaluda?
I never did get to play the first Galuda (got into Cave only about two years ago). I have a copy, but I can't get it to run on PCX2...it just chugs. I think my computer is too slow for it. I will be able to correct this problem soon because I am getting a modded PS2 from a friend soon.
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by Icarus »

CaptainRansom wrote:I never played the first Galuda. I know to shoot things for gems and hit the slowdown button to get coins (which slowly depletes gems). Sometimes I see bullets getting cancelled and I don't know why. There's a little clock/meter around me when I'm slowed down, and I know that when I run out of gems while slowed down, bullets get faster.
Heh, OK. Learning the system isn't hard, but manipulating it effectively is.
Simply put:

Normal Mode:
- This is the mode you're in normally, when bullets are a blue colour. Killing stuff in this mode will give you green gems, used to fuel the slowdown - you can get a maximum of 500, and any more killing done when you max the gem counter will generate gold bars instead. You get larger green gems (of a higher value) by being at near point-blank range when you destroy something.

Kakusei Mode:
- This is the mode you enter when you tap the Kakusei button (the slowdown activation button). Bullets are purple in this mode, and you need green gems to activate Kakusei, wherein the gems will act as a countdown timer for this mode. When you destroy something in this mode, all the bullets fired by the enemy you destroyed will be automatically converted into gold bars, so to maximise gold generation, you want to use Kakusei on stuff that spews bullets everywhere.

Kakusei Zesshikai Mode:
- This is the mode you enter when you press and hold the Kakusei button - you'll hear a chime of a sort when you activate it. This mode requires both gold bars and green gems to activate. Enemies destroyed in this mode will have their bullets cancelled like in Kakusei Mode, but instead of converting into gold, they'll spawn bullets that lock onto your position. These spawned bullets can then be cancelled again by destroying more stuff, where they'll continue to respawn into more bullets.
The most important point here is that you can move through bullets while they are spawning, as if you're invincible - once bullets have started to move from their spawning point, they become lethal.

The main grunt of the scoring system therefore is to quickly amass gold bars and green gems until you get to a section of the stage with enemies that spew bullets everywhere, then shift into Kakusei Zesshikai and use controlled destruction to get lots of spawned bullets on screen (for a 500x multiplier per bullet) for lots of points. Remember that the spawned bullets in Zesshikai are only lethal when they are moving, so aim to leave some small tanks or flying enemies on screen so you can pop them with a tap of the fire button and force the bullets to respawn, which will give you a second or two to reposition yourself, or fly through the cloud to a safer place.

The countdown timer that appears around your character is to let you know how much time you have left in Kakusei or Zesshikai - I don't use it personally, as I'm used to quickly glancing at the counters in the top corner of the screen.

Finally, don't worry about manipulating Over Mode (when the bullets are red and move much faster than usual) until you get to grips with Kakusei and Zesshikai.
Last edited by Icarus on Sun Apr 04, 2010 9:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by chempop »

^Perfect simplified explanation there. One small correction though...
Normal Mode:
- This is the mode you're in normally, when bullets are a BLUE colour.
fixed

I do however believe that there are some important elements of Over Mode which should be included.

When your green Gems run out in Kakusei mode the bullets will change from pink to red and a new circular meter will appear around your character. Each time the meter fills your Kakusei Over Level (probably not the official name) will increase and the bullets will speed up.

In Over Mode destroying enemies will give you gold instead of gems (larger gold ingots will be rewarded as your Over Level increases), but enemy bullets will not be neutralized like they do in Kakusei Mode.

Pressing the Kakusei button while in Over Mode will return you to Regular Mode and bases on the Over Level reached all enemies will now give you extra green Gems when destroyed. This is critical!
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by shmup-o »

Thanks guys, that was a great write-up!
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by Skykid »

Isn't it the case that every enemy you destroy in Kakusei mode depletes the gem countdown much faster also?
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by Burningvigor »

I asked this in strategy and nobody knows.. but maybe you guys will know.

How do you activate Boss5(Serei) 3rd song. Its not the one from arcade or black label. Its a totally different song and it has a heroic tune to it. Ive gotten in only twice in black label, and I think it has something to do with Over mode.


On a serperate note.. can anyone explain the gist of the story? What are the characters about and why can they change sex?
Also why in Black label is Asagi switched out with that little girl? Isnt that girl a younger version of the 5th stage boss also? Whats up with that?? are everyone robots?

Sorry if its asking too much, it just seems like theres an intresting story going on and I kind of want to understand.
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by PsikyoPshumpPshooterP »

Burningvigor wrote: are everyone robots?

LMAO
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by Burningvigor »

PsikyoPshumpPshooterP wrote:
Burningvigor wrote: are everyone robots?

LMAO
Yeah sorry if its a stupid assumption. Was just thinking that because boss 4 and 5 seems like they're androids or something. Boss 5 seems to throw her sword away and detach her arms and legs to attack with missles.
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by EPS21 »

heh I totally thought that was the case too, I mean after you beat her, a slice of her face gets cut off and reveals the robotic innards.
chempop wrote:Pressing the Kakusei button while in Over Mode will return you to Regular Mode and bases on the Over Level reached all enemies will now give you extra green Gems when destroyed. This is critical!
I was wondering why in GP's guide getting to overmode 3 was so important to scoring, but was never explained why. Extra green gems sound very good indeed. Once you get to overmode 3 though, is there anything that reduces it? I heard dieing doesn't, so what does reduce it then?
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by roker »

great write up Icarus (with an assist by chempop)!

I love your Garegga vids btw (they helped me get far in the game, but sadly never a 1cc)

Anyway, I just wanted to say that Omake! mode reminds me of the chill mode in Rez where I can kind of relax, listen to the good music, and look at all the cool combo effects on the screen (it helps if you're high).

I'm not sure how scoring works, but when I'm in the mode to just play without getting sweaty palms or have my heart beating too fast, Omake! let's me chill and have fun.
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by -Bridget- »

Icarus wrote:
Skykid wrote:Watching superplays is pretty integral to learning how to properly play, score and learn some neat tricks. Serious players always take a look at replays to progress afaik.
Indeed, but it is only one piece of a larger puzzle. Watching superplays is not really useful or helpful to players who have little understanding of the scoring system, poor hand-eye co-ordination, or are lacking in the basic ability to control their character/ship with sharp precision, for example.

I picked up my copy of the game on Monday, and have only given it a couple of hours play so far due to other things, but I can see progression being much slower for me than it was with Futari. It took me a week to clear 1.5 Original with 300mil+, and Black Label Original with 590mil+, but Espgaluda 2 ramps up to assrapist difficulty as early as stage3.

I am playing Arcade Mode as Tateha, though, which might have something to do with it. ;p

I agree on this. Much like with Futari (God mode for me), the difficulty gets a massive jump in stage 3 in Galuda 2.

However.... I often find that while Cave is great at alot of things (as in, nearly everything), they seem to have issues with difficulty balancing. In Futari, the 2nd half of stage 3 IS the hardest part of the game for me, in God mode. If I get past that, well, stage 4 is a score farm (with a stupid easy boss), and stage 5 actually ISNT anywhere near as obnoxious as 3 (but it sure is awesome!!!)

Maybe it's different in Arcade/360, but I find that to be the case for Black Label in this game as well. Stages 1 and 2 arent bad.... though stage 1 CAN be annoying to chain completely, there's one section I'll screw up every now and then which leads to great deals of cursing and possibly controller hurling. Stage 2, I did finally figure out how to chain the first half (it's such a pain though, but it's soooooo satisfying). Stages 4, and also 5, I can completely chain without overmuch trouble, though the last little bit of 5 will sometimes make me lose the chain.

Stage THREE though. Ugh. Uuuuuugh. For whatever reason that stage is a total nightmare for me. I *will* take a hit at the "unending midboss", I swear that thing has too much health..... and I'll often take another at one of those stupid fat floaty jerks that take a trazillion years to kill. I *can* chain fairly well in 3, but I'll do it in a muuuuuch less risky way; I'll use Zesshikai's bullet-multiplying on a couple of specific foes, but I wont use Kakusei or Overmode here, cause I dont need it getting any zanier.

I'll figure out a route eventually, but for now, just ugh.


On another note, is it just me, or is Arrange mode a little more interesting at lower (or base) levels? For the higher levels, scoring seems to be a mostly stationary sort of thing, against the bosses.... but at base level (with Asagi), I found I was having to DO alot more; it seemed a little more interesting. Though, I also havent spent too much time with this mode yet, I may just be missing something or not doing everything right. It's still great though, either way.
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by Schrodinger's cat »

Man, you pretty much have to play Arcade/360 mode like Futari BL Original in order to get enough gems so that you can actually cash in decently in Zatsushikai mode. What makes this even worse than Futari is that popcorn enemies always try to kamikaze rush you if they fail to shoot you down. Those little fuckers are vicious!
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by Skykid »

-Bridget- wrote: In Futari, the 2nd half of stage 3 IS the hardest part of the game for me, in God mode. If I get past that, well, stage 4 is a score farm (with a stupid easy boss), and stage 5 actually ISNT anywhere near as obnoxious as 3 (but it sure is awesome!!!)
I hate the 2nd half of stage 3 on original letalone God Mode - it will fuck your scoring run 2 out of 3 tries. I can only imagine that Cave wanted it that way, as an intentional mid-game 'wall'.

Anyway, wrong game for this thread -

I didn't find Esp2 gets too tough until stage 4, which has tricky spots and an (awesome) total bastard boss. stg 5 is just all round rough.
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by Trevor spencer »

Skykid wrote:
I didn't find Esp2 gets too tough until stage 4, which has tricky spots and an (awesome) total bastard boss. stg 5 is just all round rough.
Stage 4 boss is so much harder than Stage 5 boss IMO
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by orange »

okay i got this and it's incredible

i wish there was a mode that had zesshikai permanently on
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by GaijinPunch »

EPS21 wrote:I was wondering why in GP's guide getting to overmode 3 was so important to scoring, but was never explained why. Extra green gems sound very good indeed. Once you get to overmode 3 though, is there anything that reduces it? I heard dieing doesn't, so what does reduce it then?
My guide assumes you know the scoring system of the original ESPGaluda, which is probably a bad thing. I will update it here sometime soon. However, it explicitly states that you will not lose your kakusei level when dying like you do in the first game. (It did at one point, anyway).
can anyone explain the gist of the story?
Here's the story of the first one:
https://www.gamengai.com/cmnt_inf.php?i ... ranslation
Note that you'll need to use the "next page / previous page" links only.

That explains the whole sex-changing thing. The second story is just new bad guys that found Seseri before she really died.
I didn't find Esp2 gets too tough until stage 4,
The stage 3 extend item is an asshole though.
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by dmauro »

GaijinPunch wrote:The stage 3 extend item is an asshole though.
It always gets me because that spot is so good for racking up the points, but it's also really easy to get yourself trapped between a bunch of zetsushikai bullets. >:0
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by drunkninja24 »

How in the world do I get this game to save my high scores? The best I've managed is to get it to stick when I've finished a game, but if I exit and go back in, they're gone again. As far as I can see, they're set to save automatically...
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by chempop »

Just a guess, but when you're looking at the scoreboard does it say "Today's" ranking. One of the buttons cycles through the different character scores and then to your all time high scores.
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by drunkninja24 »

chempop wrote:Just a guess, but when you're looking at the scoreboard does it say "Today's" ranking. One of the buttons cycles through the different character scores and then to your all time high scores.
Ah, found it. Guess the main thing that bugs me is the fact that (at least yet) the high score that is shown when you play doesn't seem to change from the default, even if you have one that is higher.
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by Special World »

I dislike that it shows the dailies rather than the all-time.

Or maybe I don't. I dunno what I want anymore!
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by Aquas »

I've spent a few hours+ with the Arcade mode so far and managed to get the 2nd extend today and reached 50 million points. My initial impression is that it's a pretty fun mode. I try not to use Zesshikai too much, except when I finish off bosses and can reach the 5th stage typically. At stage 4 the difficulty ramps up and seems to just get harder from there on. I'm getting the feeling it's a good idea to aim for a clear before tinkering too much with Zesshikai--to save my sanity. In the latter stages it seems Kakusei becomes a little more important for escaping certain situations as a lot of criss cross can start happening with the bullet patterns. And after playing this mode, surely, Rade and Galuda do share that ESP gameplay feel. The patterns are fun but become intimidating in that fashion. The difficulty is more on par with Rade and having the guard barrier to save your ass really helps out.

Since getting to play this game, I feel a greater appreciation for the series. The style and world is badass. Eventually I want to go back and clear Rade and Galuda 1... but now, Galuda 2 is my goal. :D I encourage anyone who's still on the fence, and was a fan of at least one of the earlier games a bit, to get this one. As for scoring big, I've yet to cross that boundary, so I can't say for sure if I will love it.

And I haven't even tried the 4 or so other modes!
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by yyr »

GaijinPunch wrote:Here's the story of the first one:
https://www.gamengai.com/cmnt_inf.php?i ... ranslation
Note that you'll need to use the "next page / previous page" links only.
Thanks for the link. I was aware of the first game's story, but not in that level of detail.

That said... I'd love to know more about what exactly is going on in the second game.

drunkninja24, the top score shown on the screen while you play is reset every time you launch the game.
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by PsikyoPshumpPshooterP »

how do you reach final boss Kujaku??? i cleared 360 mode with all 3 characters and havent reached this boss
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by EOJ »

PsikyoPshumpPshooterP wrote:how do you reach final boss Kujaku??? i cleared 360 mode with all 3 characters and havent reached this boss
You have to snap your fingers THREE TIMES right before stage 6 starts.
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Re: Espgaluda II

Post by PsikyoPshumpPshooterP »

EOJ wrote:
PsikyoPshumpPshooterP wrote:how do you reach final boss Kujaku??? i cleared 360 mode with all 3 characters and havent reached this boss
You have to snap your fingers THREE TIMES right before stage 6 starts.
tried it , didnt work.
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