Bombing attitudes

[TrevHead (TVR)]

I think part of the reason why many folk dont use their bombs properlly is cos their introductions to the genre are BWR and other X.X games which have auto-bomb or DDP that encorages bomb hoarding.

I recon a good treatment to bomb hoarditis is that freeware vert Genetos as it encourages ppl to bomb as much as possible as it gives you loads of bombs that can be used to get massive score combos. It might be a bit on the easy side but it still is fun to play though. Also Recca and Demolition Gunner ISAD are recommended aswell due to them having a unlimited supply of bombs like Genetos

[toaplan_shmupfan]

Go play Flying Shark, 'll teach ya to bomb. Hell, the game fills your bomb stock back up at the end of each stage. It really is a nice feature for an old school survival shmup... THAT EVERYONE SHOULD PLAY! (Obligatory play Flying Shark post)

Yeah, I'm definitely too good for bombing when it comes to Futari's Original mode. SIGN ME UP! D: I-I'm saving them for the last boss. :/

Technically, Flying Shark/Sky Shark takes all the bombs away to calculate the end of stage bonus for bombs left and then resets the bomb stock to three bombs for the start of the next stage. The bonus is 3000 points for each bomb left. Though all stages are technically passable with no bombs used I find it's good to use 2 bombs for each railroad tank in stage 4 (middle of stage boss tanks entering one at a time), and three bombs for the near end of stage bomber boss in stage 5.

When I played Futari Original mode in the arcade, the shmup mechanic was intuitive but I didn't know about the scoring mechanisms so I did use bombs.

So I'll generally bomb in a shmup that has them whenever it looks like I'm trapped by bullets or, if the game actually seems it requires using bombs to help destroy the boss. For example, they certainly help in Raiden stage 3 when getting rid of those side box parts of the boss and then being able to stay in the safe spot for the main spread shot being fired left/right/center, so it almost seems that bombing is required there (at the expense of less of an end of stage bonus bombs left multiplied by medals collected).

[neorichieb1971]

I don't get this. People don't bomb simply because of their ego or over confidence. Its as simple as that. With 200-300 projectiles flying around at some points in these games the odd hiccup is going to happen. You are all acting like bombing is some kind of shameful act. If I got to the end of a 1cc and used every last bomb I would be doing laps around my cab singing "You ain't got shit on me".

[toaplan_shmupfan]

See, attitude about bombing changes quite a bit when playing at home vs. playing at the arcade.

In the arcade, playing for score generally means getting on the initials board, which ideally means getting the #1 high score. To do that, bombing must be done minimally for maximum bonus points.

At home, it doesn't matter. One plays for their own score, they can bomb or doesn't bomb as they see fit to do or not do.

Either way, a game that is passible without bombs but gives them for situations a player may think they need them is truly a fair game and eventually a player will learn to do the game with no bombs.. In contrast, a game that depends on them can be unfair in spots even if it's not unfair most of the game--what if the boss absolutely needs two bombs to reduce its firepower but the player only has one or even no bombs when they get there?

[monkeyman]

I usually bomb about a split second after my ship has exploded. After that happens a few times then I get more to the point where I bomb every time a bullet appears on the screen. I really need to find a middle ground...

[emphatic]

Go play Flying Shark, 'll teach ya to bomb. Hell, the game fills your bomb stock back up at the end of each stage. It really is a nice feature for an old school survival shmup... THAT EVERYONE SHOULD PLAY! (Obligatory play Flying Shark post)

Yeah, I'm definitely too good for bombing when it comes to Futari's Original mode. SIGN ME UP! D: I-I'm saving them for the last boss. :/

Technically, Flying Shark/Sky Shark takes all the bombs away to calculate the end of stage bonus for bombs left and then resets the bomb stock to three bombs for the start of the next stage. The bonus is 3000 points for each bomb left. Though all stages are technically passable with no bombs used I find it's good to use 2 bombs for each railroad tank in stage 4 (middle of stage boss tanks entering one at a time), and three bombs for the near end of stage bomber boss in stage 5.

^^This. I bomb once at the train tanks on stage four, but wait until more enemies appear on screen. I only bomb the stage 5 bomber planes if I still got bombs (died right before it).

So, what's the current record for biggest current bomb stock when dying? It must be Twin Cobra or something. I've often died in that game with full bomb stock (I think that's like 10 or something) which is incredibly stupid, as that game doesn't give you bonus points for the remaining stock or points for picking up bomber items when fully loaded either.

I find myself trying to not bomb, because it's not as fun as dodging. Arrogance towards a game is okay in my book.

[Daigohji]

The way I see it, if I use a bomb to get through a difficult spot then I'm not learning anything. I still won't know how to deal with that situation in the next run. There are generally two situations where I'll use a bomb. The first is if I've exceeded my high score; I'll use bombs liberally to push that run as far as possible. The other is if I've tried every way I can think of to cope with a particular section, but consistently die there on dozens (or hundreds) of runs. In that case I'll just admit that the pattern is beyond me and bomb through it. It's usually overlapping multiple patterns that cause the latter, where it's my eyes are defeated rather than my reflexes.

[Yoshino]

Great topic.

I've been having problems hording bombs as well; so in some games I started overcompensating with the ordnance. Like Raiden series, Garegga I've been bombing a lot for some reason. I do feel you need to learn how to get out of almost any situation without bombs so I try not to use them on some runs as well.

Is the best tactic to deal with dying with bombs to just try to use them as much as possible, then "fine tune" from there? That's one thing I'm trying to figure out...but of course it will vary for each game.

[captpain]

You should be bombing loads in Garegga, but not for survival. Read Icarus's ST thread!

[RNGmaster]

I don't get this. People don't bomb simply because of their ego or over confidence. Its as simple as that. With 200-300 projectiles flying around at some points in these games the odd hiccup is going to happen. You are all acting like bombing is some kind of shameful act. If I got to the end of a 1cc and used every last bomb I would be doing laps around my cab singing "You ain't got shit on me".

Furthermore, in games like Mushi Futari, where you are given full bombs after dying and thus should be using them more often, my stubbornness still prevents me. Here the rationale is "Well I'm already doing worse than I should be, having just died, so I'm not going to make it even worse by using my bombs as well."

Yeah, this is a pretty common attitude. But think about it this way - a run where you don't die with bombs in stock and you bomb every time you're about to be trapped is better than a run where you never bomb at all.

[neorichieb1971]

I am not sure for every game, but flying shark has a delay of 1 second ish between the button press and the explosion. With pin point accuracy of the bullets your dead by the time you think of bombing. Its not like that in Cave games because the patterns are much more predictable (unless its your first time on lvl 5 etc). So attitudes on bombing are different from game to game.

As for people saying "I didn't bomb the last 20 times so why I should now?". Well that depends on if you did exactly the same thing on your 21st try as you did the first 20. I find myself occasionally trying something a bit different and end up in a tight spot. With that in mind my bomb finger is itchy because suddenly I am cornered/lost.

I haven't even started on chaining. For chaining your usually following a very predictable pattern because thats how you chain.

[Estebang]

I think the genre needs to rediscover the old Twin Cobra/Raiden attitude towards bombs, where they're very powerful, strategic offensive maneuvers rather than a panic defense handicap. I know most of Raizing's games make use of bombs for non-defense purposes, and many don't make you invincible, but you're usually still discouraged from using them as an attack.

[esreveR]

Bombs? What are those?

[gs68]

How I'll play DFK if the chance to play it on 360 or AC ever arises:
1. 1-ALL it with Bomb Style (if BL, Auto-Bomb ON).
2. All future runs will be on Power Style (and if BL, Auto-Bomb OFF).

[Casey120]

I need to work on my bombing also , I usually die with full stock because I believe I can master that situation and then die , when I do try to bomb more I use them to early regretting every bomb I release and then run out of stock when i really needed one .

[mesh control]

A couple of credits in gunbird2 usually get me to bomb in other games. Also, I'm used to older games like xevious or r type which don't feature bombing.

[sirmax]

I barely use bombs. I hoard them and everytime I think I could need one for whatever reason, I immediately think "nah, maybe you need it more later". Same procedure every time. On the other hand I panic bomb everytime I die.