Ketsui is too brutal

[BeruBeru]

Been playing a lot of ketsui lately, but I just can't feel I'm improving, the game feels way harder than DOJ for some reason, and even playing for survival feels like a mistake.
Is the game really that extreme or it's just my imagination, because I have yet to play a cave game that I can fail miserably on the second level.

Anyway, tips and encouraging words would be appreciated

[BPzeBanshee]

In before the haters be hatin for n00biness at Ketsui.

Actually we're on the same boat. I can't get past Stage 2 for the life of me. I'm inclined to think that's because of the mindfuck patterns that aren't exactly like Cave games made prior to it.

[z0mbie90]

Anyway, tips and encouraging words would be appreciated

Keep playing and don't give up. I suck at Ketsui but I still think it's a great and fun game. I always make the mistake on change to another game and when I come back to Ketsui I fail all the time

So my tips, just keep on with it.

[joeboto]

In before the haters be hatin for n00biness at Ketsui.

Actually we're on the same boat. I can't get past Stage 2 for the life of me. I'm inclined to think that's because of the mindfuck patterns that aren't exactly like Cave games made prior to it.

the bullets has mind on its own.
I usually 1 miss before the stage 2 boss, and then got raped after stage 3 midboss, and it goes downhill. stage 4 is usually a bombfest.

[Sapz]

It's definitely one of the hardest Cave games, but it becomes a lot easier after you figure out when and where it's good to use the spread and lock shots. Locking onto large enemies quickly and taking them out ASAP is key to survival.

[Hibachi]

I suck at STG's full stop and have not 1ccd a single Cave game so play for pure enjoyment rather than score.

I can get to stage 4 on Ketsui on 1cc though when playing just for survival so all I can say is keep trying.

[burgerkingdiamond]

practice? come on you should be able to no miss the first 2 levels. Geez

[Jockel]

practice? come on you should be able to no miss no bomb the first 2 levels if not 3 levels. Geez

fixed.

[burgerkingdiamond]

practice? come on you should be able to no miss no bomb the first 2 levels if not 3 levels. Geez

fixed.

I was trying to go easy on him

[Ghetto Tate]

practice? come on you should be able to no miss no bomb the first 4 levels if not 5 levels. Geez

fixed.

fixed

[Siren2011]

Didn't we have a thread just like this one not too long ago?

Yeah, Ketsui is a bitch, especially at stage 5. But the brutality is there to challenge adventurous players. Only at first do the tricky patterns of stage 4 appear scary. Once you've played the stage countless times, experimenting with what works and what doesn't, you'll follow your rainbow. Can't stick around, have to keep movin' on. Guess what lies ahead? Only one way to find out. Lolz, etc.

[evil_ash_xero]

I almost made it to stage 5(just a second or two from killing the boss)...so you can do it too. I am not that good at all.

[TonK]

practice? come on you should be able to no miss no bomb the first 5 levels if not 1CC it. Geez

fixed.

Fixed.

[BeruBeru]

For the record, I did the first two levels with no-miss and no-bomb several times, but it's the fact that I can still fuck up there easily.
The farthest I got on 1 credit is level 4 mid-boss.

Quick Update: Practiced all day, defeated doom, was meh.

[Special World]

I'm not very good at the game; I usually only get to stage 3. Even so, I try to score as best I can and I absolutely love the bullet patterns in Ketsui. Stage 2 and 3 are absolutely fantastic, but stage 1 is a bit boring.

[emphatic]

but stage 1 is a bit boring.

False, it's one of CAVE's best stage 1's. Lot's of fun stuff, exciting boss (when you take it apart piece by piece).

[Siren2011]

but stage 1 is a bit boring.

False, it's one of CAVE's best stage 1's. Lot's of fun stuff, exciting boss (when you take it apart piece by piece).

I thought it was exciting at first, but after playing it 500+ times? Yeah... Not so fun. Sometimes it takes getting to the fifth stage before things get exciting for me. Playing on one credit can be very boring, especially in early stages. And I find Ketsui's first stage to be a prime example, playing for score or not.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

In before the haters be hatin for n00biness at Ketsui.

Actually we're on the same boat. I can't get past Stage 2 for the life of me. I'm inclined to think that's because of the mindfuck patterns that aren't exactly like Cave games made prior to it.

Yeah theres a difference between the general "TIS GAMZ SUX COS IS TOO HARD " comments we see on YT to the occational "This game is kicking my butt, I need some tips and words of encouragement please"

So weary traveller heres a picture of a cat.



NOW SOLDIER GET BACK ON YOUR FEET AND GO GIVE THEM HELL!!!!!

[Observer]

In before the haters be hatin for n00biness at Ketsui.

Actually we're on the same boat. I can't get past Stage 2 for the life of me. I'm inclined to think that's because of the mindfuck patterns that aren't exactly like Cave games made prior to it.

Yeah theres a difference between the general "TIS GAMZ SUX COS IS TOO HARD " comments we see on YT to the occational "This game is kicking my butt, I need some tips and words of encouragement please"

So weary traveller heres a picture of a cat.



NOW SOLDIER GET BACK ON YOUR FEET AND GO GIVE THEM HELL!!!!!

And there are those comments like...

TOUHOU IS HARDER.

You all know you love those!

I think part of the "brutality" of Ketsui relies on the fact that there aren't many "magical" tricks to cancel out some of those big clusterfucks of bullets. They just fill the screen and ultimately pwn you if you don't know how to dodge or divert bullets and find gaps between patterns.

Yes, some big enemies clean the screen for a moment but it's not the same as permanently switching between invincibility modes and pummeling things away or having a quick escape route, not when you are point blanking like a beast. Here you can really feel the enemy is angry at you.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

And there are those comments like...

TOUHOU IS HARDER.

You all know you love those!

Yeah I know Its always fun to find something I can rant about and sink my Shmup fanboy teeth into. When I first caught the shmup bug and joined this forum it was creditfeeding and playing the games the RIGHT way. After scaring all the casual shmuppers away from the forum I and a few fellow crusaders moved onto mainstream shmup reviews. Now most reviewers (sadly) have got their act together Touhou and its fandom was on the menu with M$, Steam and Cave / DS slowdown as sidedishes.

After eating more then my fill of touhou ranting ive mellowed out somewhat, even going so far as to enjoy playing IN, been friendly to the fans and worst of all put a hat on my avatar. Im quite sure the me from 3 months ago would have a heart attack if he/I knew

Since I wasnt the only one doing the ranting I would guess that there has always been that element of crusading members on this forum. So what topics were popular before I joined? I would guess Ikaruga was big here at one point considering how high the lingering resentment is.

[Observer]

Well, you could say Ketsui was a hot topic before it got "tainted" by MAME and became "used goods/second hand" (totally Kannagi here =P). Lost its legendary status right away the moment the amorphous, unnamed mass decided to put its claws on it. (I know, 360 port, but not everyone has a j360)

Then the PS2 CAVE ports, scaring away newbies, bloodflowers Imperishable Night cab (seriously, it was one of the most awesome things I've seen around), the wave of Dreamcast shooters and that's as far as I remember. I began lurking back in 2006-2007 and some stuff kept getting bumped now and then, including Ikaruga, heh.

I only complained once, and heavily, about the lolis and such. I'll never do it again since it's like being Don Quijote against the windmills. Doesn't prevent me from throwing smarmy or retarded comments now and then, especially with Toehoe 13 demo out and all

Back to Ketsui, what everyone else said: practice makes the master. I can make it to stage 4 in one piece. Perhaps losing one life and bombing like mad. Stage 4 feels like a big fast-paced puzzle where you have to work your way through freaking convulsed patterns at the rhythm of an electric guitar while SHIT GOES BOOM. It's hard as nails but it's rewarding as hell since it leads to EVAC INDUSTRY CO. LTD. And more things go BOOM!

So, yeah, Ketsui is brutal. Brutally awesome.

[Barrakketh]

And there are those comments like...

TOUHOU IS HARDER.

You all know you love those!

I think part of the "brutality" of Ketsui relies on the fact that there aren't many "magical" tricks to cancel out some of those big clusterfucks of bullets. They just fill the screen and ultimately pwn you if you don't know how to dodge or divert bullets and find gaps between patterns.

Amusingly enough, I find that my familiarity with Touhou makes the "mindfuck" or "bullets have a mind of their own" patterns perfectly manageable. It's the normal Cave fare that gives me trouble, just like it does in every other game of theirs

[Deca]

Ketsui is definitely MUCH easier than DOJ. If I can stop myself from playing aggressively/score attacking, it's not a big deal to hit stage 4 on one credit. Honestly this is a game I can see myself 1ccing without TOO much hassle.

DOJ on the other hand....I've only seen stage 4 once or twice, if that. I usually don't make it to the third boss, and I wouldn't call myself a beginner.

[captpain]

The first loop of Ketsui is certainly no cakewalk. In some ways, though, it's more bark than bite; once you learn to decode certain patterns and figure out where you should generally be onscreen at certain points, it becomes a lot easier. Of course, familiarity with enemy entry positions is hugely important, because the only way to take things out quickly is with a full lock-on and tickle laser.

[emphatic]

Not only is it hard, the stage 2 soundtrack will haunt you when you least expect it. You're outside, mowing the lawn then out of nowhere you start to whistle it. Shit is brutal.

[dinosaurjerk]

well you should practice imho. also the boss in stage 2 looks a lot harder than he [she?] actually is. the big pink and blue pillow bullets aren't as big as they look because the, uh, bullet hitbox is a lot smaller than the bullets themselves. ALSO be sure your staying an inch or two from the bottom of the screen so your side options + the stupid pathetic nose laser hit the big enemies full on, like the large planes and tanks, makes them die a lot faster. even tho the nose laser is pathetic and weak it makes them go down faster which is critical and even more critical in the later stages. good luck and god bless

[Ghetto Tate]

ALSO be sure your staying an inch or two from the bottom of the screen so your side options + the stupid pathetic nose laser hit the big enemies full on, like the large planes and tanks, makes them die a lot faster. even tho the nose laser is pathetic and weak it makes them go down faster which is critical and even more critical in the later stages. good luck and god bless

Staying at the bottom of the screen doesn't usually end up very good.
Being aggresive in the middle/upper part and killing shit asap makes things much easier.

[jonny5]

ALSO be sure your staying an inch or two from the bottom of the screen so your side options + the stupid pathetic nose laser hit the big enemies full on, like the large planes and tanks, makes them die a lot faster. even tho the nose laser is pathetic and weak it makes them go down faster which is critical and even more critical in the later stages. good luck and god bless

Seriously? Have you even played this game before?

[Bananamatic]

I find DOJ infinitely easier...mainly because your laser pierces while ketsui has somewhat weaker shots

[chempop]

I haven't spent a whole lot of time with the port yet, but so far I think it's harder than DOJ-BL. It's a lot easier for me to triangulate bullets traveling in straight lines than to figure out the tricks to dodging warbling Ketsui patterns. Probably one of the next Cave games I try to 1-All, hopefully it won't take me 1.5 years like DOJ-BL did.