Mushihime-sama

[Aguilar]

Is there any shmup fan on here who doesnt actually like this game? Everywhere i've read about this game is nothing but good. Im definitely getting this on 360 here soon, but ive downloaded a ps2 emu and the iso to get my feet a little wet before I do put the order in. As I am new to shmups ive been trying some danmaku games here recently like Triggerheart Exelica which I love and Mars Matrix which I havent really gotten into, anyway..

If you like it tell me why, and if you dislike it tell me why.

[apple arcade]

Is there any shmup fan on here who doesnt actually like this game? Everywhere i've read about this game is nothing but good. Im definitely getting this on 360 here soon, but ive downloaded a ps2 emu and the iso to get my feet a little wet before I do put the order in. As I am new to shmups ive been trying some danmaku games here recently like Triggerheart Exelica which I love and Mars Matrix which I havent really gotten into, anyway..

If you like it tell me why, and if you dislike it tell me why.

It is fun, has a nice enviroment/setting. good shooting fun.

only thing though, after playing futari, there is little reason to play the original.

[evil_ash_xero]

I'm not a big fan of it. However, that may have something to do with the PS2 port's smear-o-riffic graphic filters.

It just doesn't really have a lot of kick, for me. It's pretty, but I dunno, it doesn't do much for me.

I'm quite fond of Futari though. Very good game. Lots of "kick".

[kengou]

I like it, very awesome bullet patterns, really frantic stages, a lot of difficulty, memorable bosses. The scoring system is a bit incomprehensible to me, but whatever.

[Aquas]

The original mode is a lot of fun, feels like a mixture of toaplan and psikyo difficulty in regards to herding bullets and how fast they are respectively. It has easy stretches and tough parts, once you get to know the stages, then it's the bosses who'll probably steal your lives. Not a hard clear, but satisfying to work towards.

Maniac mode is kind of an odd pickle. It's the only chaining style game I've gotten into, I found it rewarding to "skyrocket" my score at the given times, but there is a good amount of trial and error that comes in achieving a 150 million + score. At midbosses typically, you use a certain shot method to build a counter up. At the same time your option's lazers will make a counter rise. When they're up and good, you then cash in by using a different type of shot before it dies. It's cooky but keeps your right hand very busy through out the game.

And then I've always enjoyed the diversity of the stages, which are a bit cooler than Futari's stages IMO. Stage 5 remains one of my favorite STG stages to date. But Futari's stage 4 and 5 also play similar to it. It's a wild ride especially in the original mode.

[alastair jack]

Is futari a lot better? I haven't played either.

[Kollision]

only thing though, after playing futari, there is little reason to play the original.

This is so not true.
With all the flashy and ugraded graphics, IMO Futari still loses to the original for the original's 5th stage alone. And the music in the 1st is better.

Both games are awesome though and should be equally appreciated.

[evil_ash_xero]

Is futari a lot better? I haven't played either.

Most people would say "yes", but there are always those who think differently.

[Kyle]

I'm not a big fan of it. However, that may have something to do with the PS2 port's smear-o-riffic graphic filters.

I wouldn't dismiss it so easily. It's worth picking up if you already have Futari. It's a must to play it on a CRT with the sharpness cranked up. I'm with Kollision. I prefer the music and the level design of the original. Stages 3 and 4 for me have more charm than anything in Futari.

[Herr Schatten]

Original mode is pretty much the best thing Cave ever made.

[ZOM]

Yeah, +1 to plain ole Mushi in Original mode. Oh, and I'm in love with the stage 4 BGM.

[Square King]

I've never played it and I've put maybe a dozen hours into Futari, but I'm more attracted to Mushi's music and stages, it seems. That said, I love Futari.

[neorichieb1971]

Its my 2nd favourite Cave game. Its also the most amount of money I've paid for a PCB. Its got subliminal powers pulling you in. You will dream about it. I've never played Futari so It might not have the same effect for you.

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

@op: Just in case it hasn't become clear in the course of the thread - there are two different Mushihimesama games which are pretty different in terms of feel and game mechanics. The first post sounded as if you assumed that there was only one game that's been released on the PS2 and the X360. PS2: original, X360: Futari/ "sequel".

Anyway, my two cents: yes, I would say that Futari is by far the superior game. Although the first one does have the better music (Futari has good to great music, but it's no match for the awesome tunes in the first; sometimes, I find myself humming different themes from the first game all day) and graphics that are almost as good as the second one, its bosses are a bit crappy - I just think the bullet patterns are boring, sorry - and the scoring system is just too complicated for my taste whereas Futari's scoring system is deep and workds incredibly well despite being easy to understand. ALso, I'm much better at Futari

Still, the original is a good game, just not as good as Cave's best. And, if you tate your television, the crappiness of the interlaced graphics isn't very noticable.

[neorichieb1971]

I was quite disappointed with the PCB on the graphics side of things. People said it was clearer than the PS2 port. That maybe the case but its certainly not crystal like older jamma games. As someone described it on here "it has that muddy look due to the 3D rendered sprites". I just wish it maintained the hand drawn look with very sharp looking sprites. I am guessing the 360 HD ports are sublime.

Are all Cave games like this now?

[emphatic]

I was quite disappointed with the PCB on the graphics side of things. People said it was clearer than the PS2 port. That maybe the case but its certainly not crystal like older jamma games. As someone described it on here "it has that muddy look due to the 3D rendered sprites". I just wish it maintained the hand drawn look with very sharp looking sprites. I am guessing the 360 HD ports are sublime.

Are all Cave games like this now?

I read somewhere that the SH3 games all suffer from this "blur" you experience due to sprites not being hand drawn anymore. So far all of the SH3 hardware games ported to the 360 looks awesome in HD, correct.

[apple arcade]

only thing though, after playing futari, there is little reason to play the original.

This is so not true.
With all the flashy and ugraded graphics, IMO Futari still loses to the original for the original's 5th stage alone. And the music in the 1st is better.

Both games are awesome though and should be equally appreciated.

I don't know, Futari's stage 4 takes it for me.

Too bad you can't play Futari's stage 4 and then Mushi's stage 5. that would be sick!

[MathU]

I find the scoring system completely uncompelling, and I hate the pink puke bullet patterns.

Namiki's soundtrack is about the only thing I like about it.

[gray117]

Mushihime-sama original is something I treasure more than futari...

Objectively futari has some very nice elements and develops some great play tempos, but it is also a more of an over saturated and aggressive presentation, that does feel like its trying just a touch too hard.

Mushihime-sama original has a much greater cohesiveness, and feels much less forced. It makes it more charming in my opinion.

The differences and impacts o9f the various modes ... hmmm ... its quite an interesting debate on the pitch of implied narrative vs. ludic compulsion... *scuttles off to make a geeky, and almost pretentious, note...

[chempop]

I like Mushi more than Futari.

Better Music
Difficulty seems more progressive throughout the levels
Don't have to constantly be looking at some meter in corner of screen
No silly snowman or cutesy stage clear graphics
Sticks with the insect theme, although I do like the robo-dinos in futari too
Level design has more creativity (stage 3+4 are my favorite)

Futari is still an amazing game, just not quite as solid as the first IMHO.

[zlk]

I would much rather play mushihime sama than futari. The levels in the original are more interesting. I also like the original music better and the music seems to fit the levels more appropriately than the sequal.

[KindGrind]

Like pretty much everyone else, I really like the original Mushi levels 3-4-5 better than Futari. I find myself playing Futari more, only because my X360 is plugged in and the PS2 is not.

[Necronopticous]

They are both absolutely fantastic games. Also, if you are playing them correctly, they differ like night and day.

[chempop]

^That is a good point, how often do sequels play so differently than the original?!

[Aguilar]

@op: Just in case it hasn't become clear in the course of the thread - there are two different Mushihimesama games which are pretty different in terms of feel and game mechanics. The first post sounded as if you assumed that there was only one game that's been released on the PS2 and the X360. PS2: original, X360: Futari/ "sequel".

Yea heh I diddnt know this when I opened the thread, I thought futari was a remake with additional content. Im playing the original right now and its giving me headaches already, cant wait to see what futari does xD. Memorizing the first level is more of a challenge than I would've expected xD. Must sound pretty pathetic to all yall....

[Aquas]

Im playing the original right now and its giving me headaches already, cant wait to see what futari does xD. Memorizing the first level is more of a challenge than I would've expected xD. Must sound pretty pathetic to all yall....

Naw man, you'll get the hang of it after a while. Remember, tiny dodges are your friend. Rock on.

[Aguilar]

I usually use the R1 fire to dodge the 1 hit mobs so I can get through them quick, and then switch to the X fire to slow things down so I can weave throught the more complex bullet patterns slowly. Is this how its supposed to be done?

[Aquas]

Generally speaking yeah, and notice that your hitbox is highlighted with an circley aura when your use the strong shot.

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

Must sound pretty pathetic to all yall....

Haha hell nah man, although I love shmups I'm quite the sucky player...there are quite a few posters here who have no problem admitting that they're shit at these games. Fuck it, have fun, it's all that matters.

[Square King]

Must sound pretty pathetic to all yall....

...there are quite a few posters here who have no problem admitting that they're shit at these games.

I need to play Mushihimesama somehow. It sounds like my ideal game. For me to suck at, of course.