Mischief Maker> Don't lose hope that fast. See if you can report the problem (with an error log or something, I think the game generates a txt file called "lock" or something) on the official BBS. Some of the RebRank people can speak english but try to keep it as simple as possible.
mjclark: try it on Hard or Extreme. The onsalught of crap on screen at high speed will keep you at the edge

But I guess it's by Central 04/05 that things really go to hell. And it definitely is more fast paced and engaging than, say, the new Touhou 13 demo, which I found faster than the previous but still dull as hell...
edit: granted, after experiencing 2-player sessions in Jamestown, I can say there is a whole unexploited side of the genre that needs to be explored. That's why I'm also looking forward for Project RepLiser as it supports 2 players on the same comp or via network IIRC. But the game is a bit better tailored for a single player compared to Jamestown.