Ketsui is too brutal

[stryc9]

You just did it again

[emphatic]

Basically, Ketsui is for people with skills.

[chempop]

Ketsui, Galuda2, and Guwange are the only cave360 titles I haven't cleared yet. That's the main reason why I like them so much! To me the mechanics in Ketsui are brilliant, I love the aggressive style and how I NEED to use the proper shot in every situation to survive, not like Futari Original which makes it purely for score. I like how I need to anticipate and lock onto ever big enemy asap, and how dangerous even the smaller enemies are towards the end of the game, it's adrenaline filled throughout every moment. And then there is the soundtrack which is so damn badass.

[Special World]

For me, the star of Ketsui is not the scoring system but the bullet patterns.

They're just so good. All the aimed shots throughout the levels really keep me on my toes, and the organic patterns that undulate out of the bosses are something that even Cave themselves should reflect on.

[z0mbie90]

For me, the star of Ketsui is not the scoring system but the bullet patterns.

For me I think the star is the game in general. I like shmups with dirty gritty war feeling.

[kernow]

I like the setting and story, the fact that even if they come back successful they will be killed for mission secrecy's sake.

Very sad

Such heroes

[Special World]

I like the setting and story, the fact that even if they come back successful they will be killed for mission secrecy's sake.

Very sad

Such heroes

I did not know that.

That is badass.

Ketsui is so bleak, I love it. And it manages to be bleak without being grimy and ugly like DOJ.

[kernow]

From it's wikipedia page.

Being unable to enter the fray officially, the UN sets up a strike team of four pilots, each pair given one of two advanced helicopters: the plan is to simulate a rebellion within EVAC forces and bring down the company's headquarters, where research on a series of tremendous warmachines is taking place; for this reason, the planes both bear EVAC insignia and callsigns and are built according to stolen prototype blueprints - by no means, in success or failure, must the operation be traced back to the United Nations. However, for all this secrecy to be effective, even in victories the assault choppers will have to be destroyed... and the pilots killed. However, to compensate for their sacrifice, the UN shall fulfill one of their wishes, no matter what it is. And this, onboard a stolen EVAC carrier plane, is how the story begins...

[z0mbie90]

Man, being a character in a shmup can be tough

[Udderdude]

Also conveniently explains why the game over screen appears even after the ending .. :3

[Rob]

I like shmups with dirty gritty war feeling.

So do I, but I don't think Ketsui comes close to pulling this off - too soft colored, like most Cave games. They couldn't even keep the copters from looking goofy and cartoonish. Orange? Purple?

[z0mbie90]

So do I, but I don't think Ketsui comes close to pulling this off - too soft colored, like most Cave games. They couldn't even keep the copters from looking goofy and cartoonish. Orange? Purple?

Yeah that's maybe true. But in comparison with Futari and Espgaluda it's pretty grey

[AntiFritz]

Also conveniently explains why the game over screen appears even after the ending .. :3

Alot of other shmups do that too.

[Skykid]

Ketsui is so bleak, I love it. And it manages to be bleak without being grimy and ugly like DOJ.

Wash that mouth out.

[Jeneki]

While it's a shame about the pilots, think about it this way: Even if they do get shot down, EVAC uses so much dang ammo in the process they will certainly be bankrupt regardless. The pilot never really "loses" in this kind of game once you take this into consideration.

[Special World]

Ketsui is so bleak, I love it. And it manages to be bleak without being grimy and ugly like DOJ.

Wash that mouth out.

I like DOJ just fine, but it is an ugly, dingy game.

Just look at that first boss. Blugh.

[third_strike]

ALL ddp game sucks in boss look and in each game the bosses get even uglier! DOJ is very ugly but very fun too.

[Jeneki]

Out of curiosity, is the stage 5 boss in Ketsui supposed to be a rice cooker?

[Obiwanshinobi]

I like shmups with dirty gritty war feeling.

So do I, but I don't think Ketsui comes close to pulling this off - too soft colored, like most Cave games. They couldn't even keep the copters from looking goofy and cartoonish. Orange? Purple?

I believe they tried to emulate the mood of Gun.Smoke, Task Force Harrier (arcade), Gun Frontier and Battle Garegga, but with those muddy CG renderings instead of grainy pixel art Ketsui looks just cheap (like most coin-op games released in this century to be fair). Not that it matters great deal with all those bullets on screen.
DOJ, however, while also looking muddy and cheaper than DP or Toaplan games, is warm-coloured, like various kinds of honey and rust, which I sort of like. Ketsui's cooler blue cheese palette doesn't do much for me aesthetically.

[man9child]

I like the ship designs in Ketsui, and the general design of enemy ships/tanks. The game also has some cool graphical touches throughout, like how the stage 1 boss is inside of a domed baseball stadium.

The only stage background that I'm not a fan of is stage 3. I don't think the static background works that great for water, especially since it's orange, given the sunset or whatnot.

[mesh control]

The only stage background that I'm not a fan of is stage 3. I don't think the static background works that great for water, especially since it's orange, given the sunset or whatnot.

Stage 3 is the prettiest part of the game, unfortunately it's followed by that brown mess of stage 4.

[Jeneki]

People here are way to picky. Ketsui is friggin' beautiful. Even though I still get a giggle out of the stage 5 rice cooker.

[Udderdude]

Guys, it's obviously EVAC's version of Rob the Robot.

[Rob]

Guys, it's obviously EVAC's version of Rob the Robot.

Excuse to post video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_TBqEZYZck

[finisherr]

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.

Seriously? I feel the complete opposite about these games. Just as long as you don't pick up those hypers all the time (except that I fully hyper stage 1 and stage 2 bosses to reach that first extend), stage 3 is pretty reasonable to figure out, at least in comparison to Ketsui. I'm not good at DOJ, but I can get through Stage 1-3 pretty consistently.

My current survival strategy for DOJ: Stage 1-3

For the first half, those bike seat looking enemies have comfortable safe zones, just as long as you apply the laser and scroll left or right along with it, while in the safe zone, you're golden. The key for the last tricky bike seat enemy is to quickly sweep right with the shot to kill the enemies emerging from the right side then sweep back left with the laser to kill the last bike seat before the mid boss.

The mid boss typically works out fine with the laser just as long as I stay focused on its center core. Focusing right on the center kills him off before he has time to get nasty with the final attack pattern for too long.

The second half of stage 3 is all about bullet cancelling, similar to the original DDP. Typically my priority is as follows: Bullet cancelling enemies, large pattern-based enemies, smaller/sweeping aimed-shot enemies. There are a few instances in which I have to take out the sweeping guys before a patterned shot robot, but that's only because I'd get trapped in a corner otherwise.

As for the boss, I just laser it and dodge (with repeated practice), typically bombing once on the last pattern cause it gets a little too risky for me.

Now, about Ketsui. I can't even wrap my head around Stage 3 of this ball breaker. That large boat mid boss is harder than most stage bosses I've encountered. Sometimes, after a rough credit, I shake my head in amazement that some people can actually 1 ALL it.

[chempop]

Sometimes, after a rough credit, I shake my head in amazement that some people can actually 1 ALL it.

Don't give up, its totally doable! I used to feel the same way. I've 1-Alled most of Cave's games but Ketsui gave me serious trouble while playing it on and off since the 360 port was released. After playing it exclusively for the last couple weeks it finally clicked and I cleared it. I can see why it's really not that difficult once you know what to do, there are a few tricky spots but I think the difficult is mainly to due with the fact that I wasn't used to bullets the wobble, I'm used to DOJ style patterns which are much more linear in trajectory. There are 4 1-ups/Extends, so if you can panic bomb effectively you have a huge safety-net.

[Illyrian]

Out of curiosity, is the stage 5 boss in Ketsui supposed to be a rice cooker?

It's a stupid metal gorilla thing, it even pulls itself along by swinging along the support beams if you watch it closely.

[evil_ash_xero]

Ketsui is so bleak, I love it. And it manages to be bleak without being grimy and ugly like DOJ.

Wash that mouth out.

I like DOJ just fine, but it is an ugly, dingy game.

Just look at that first boss. Blugh.

Hmm..I think DOJ looks fine, but the bosses are really dull. Then again, most of the designs I like from the game, are from the previous game. The last boss(once again, a take on previous last bosses, in the series) looks pretty damn awesome though. It's offset by the fact that he doesn't move.

The first stage is pretty, and an original design.

I still can't get over how this was the first CAVE game, and manic shooter I got. Shock would be an understatement....followed by frustration, disbelief, confusion, and feelings of impotence. Not a good game to enter the fray with! Luckily, Galuda came in about a month later, and that gave me a chance.

I got better though.

[ptoing]

The first stage is pretty, and an original design.

It has some really horrible recycled stuff from Dodonpachi stage 4.
And some of the "cobblestone" or whatever texture looks like it was done with the Photoshop stained glass filter.

DOJ and Ketsui are both good games, but overall I think that they are among the ugliest games Cave has ever made. (Ketsui being number one fugly Cave game imo)

About being hard. I managed to get to the 3rd boss after a couple of credits when I first played it in London. I never played it much after that tho. Might give it a go at some point on Mame I guess.

[Deca]

Seriously?

It's funny you should bring this up right now because just yesterday I was playing DOJ and thinking about how much fun it is

I hated that game for the longest time and just couldn't make sense of it, but after clearing DDP and coming back it feels much more enjoyable. I think I just finally understand cave hitboxes and the patterns don't feel as cramped anymore. I've spent a LOT more time with DOJ than Ketsui at this point, and still find myself getting considerably further in Ketsui. Granted it's been a while since I played so I should probably revisit it.

For the record I've always found Cave games somewhat ugly. I'd say my favorite visually is MMP, probably followed by Progear or DOJ. I've just never cared for prerendered graphics

Edit: Just put a handful of credits through Ketsui, best was stage 4 midboss. I'm sure I would have at least hit the boss, if not stage 5, if I could remember how to get the extend out of the battleship.