Shikigami players?

[BulletMagnet]

If you want a quick way to try it out, I think the PC version has a demo floating around somewhere.

I know that Shoot the Core had a link to the demos of both Shiki games (that's how I first tried 'em out), I haven't checked in awhile to see if they're still active though.

[sethsez]

On topic; never played a shiki before but always had the impression they were a bit "psyvariar" - which seems to be met with apathy from many here.

Having read above posts on the merits of 2, I may give it a whirl.

They have similar buzzing mechanics, but that's about it. The level design is quite different, and there's a lot more going on in Shiki II. The Psyvariar games bore me to tears, but Shiki II is fantastic because it's so much more open to various playstyles, and does all of them well.

[Elixir]

http://www.4gamer.net/patch/demo/sikiga ... gami2.html

It's still there. However, the download doesn't seem to work properly.

[icepick]

I was just looking all over for where I downloaded demos of both games from, but with no luck. I did however find this neat picture!

On topic; never played a shiki before but always had the impression they were a bit "psyvariar" - which seems to be met with apathy from many here.

Having read above posts on the merits of 2, I may give it a whirl.

I played Shikigami no Shiro II after playing Psyvariar 2 after not playing any scroll shooting games for years, and I will admit to remarking to myself, "Hey; This game uses the same kind of buzzing system, but in a way that makes so much more sense and is so much more useful!" However, this has more to do with sweet Shiki's approachable nature and Psyvariar's radical primary game mechanics and design than anything. If one took the special attacks or scratching system out of Shiki, she'd still be a nice game to hang out with in most occasions.

Psyvariar's more... reserved. She'll chat it up with smalltalk aplenty, but unless you know what to say and how to say it, you might think her to be superficial and maybe even a little insincere. Playing Psyvariar without using the buzzing is like playing Giga Wing without reflecting or Ikaruga without changing polarity, except worse. There are basically two ways to approach Psyvariar, and unfortunately, most people go about it the less-endearing way.

Back on topic!

I think that there might be more activity on the thread if there were more slots for Kuga and Kim. These are by far the most popular characters and all 5 slots for Kim are taken up with 1CCs, and all but one for Kuga. I would suggest that we create a few more slots for these characters.

Anyone else care? Agree or disagree?

I would say that the last revision to the table format was a step in the right direction, and we could certainly take further action to open it up a bit more. I had an idea just now about perhaps 1CC scores being eligible for transcendence to a "hall of fame" list at the top of the table, or maybe...

Say; I think that I remember reading somewhere as to what was different about Shikigami no Shiro Evolution (for XB?), but all that I found after a quick search was this review. It has only extra FMV or something, right? Or, er... a gallery? I was thinking for a second that it had some of the characters from SNSII, but that ended up simply being an actual illustration for SNSII.

[professor ganson]

Thanks for sharing this review, icepick. Too bad the reviewer wasn't able to compare the XBox version with other versions.

I'm not sure why I care about how good the XBox version is: even if the XBox version were much better than the others, I seriously doubt that this would ultimately move me to have my XBox moded. Maybe because the XBox was the first console I bought as an adult (before that I had owned an Atari 2600 as a kid), I feel a bit of loyalty to it. Too bad there are only a few games worth playing on it (IMO).

I don't remember how the Shiki High-Score thread used to be organized. I actually like the set up myself, I just wish there were more slots, at least for the most popular characters. 5 just seems a bit austere. I mean, I seriously doubt that I'm a top 5 player on any game, so having so few immediately sends me packing.

[BulletMagnet]

I don't remember how the Shiki High-Score thread used to be organized. I actually like the set up myself, I just wish there were more slots, at least for the most popular characters. 5 just seems a bit austere. I mean, I seriously doubt that I'm a top 5 player on any game, so having so few immediately sends me packing.

It used to be a single overall high-score list, and all the entries were Kim and Kuga; eventually I stopped in and suggested separate tables for the chars, and the big cheese of the thread (I forget offhand who it was) obliged. As far as getting the Kim/Kuga tables lengthened, why not ask him? Or you could do what I did and just play the less popular chars; last I checked I was still #1 on the Roger table, why not get in there and dethrone me?

[Icarus]

Shiki Evo on the XBox is a remixed version of Shiki 1 - new bullet patterns, new enemy formations, harder levels and so on. The PC version of Shiki 1 actually has both available, Arcade Mode is the original game, while the Internet Ranking Score Attack is the Evo version.

[Plasmo]

http://forum.shmups.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=924#924

Now i want to see some new scores!GO PLAY THE GAME NOW!

[professor ganson]

Plasmo, you rule! Thanks a lot.

Icarus, thanks for the info. If I can get over my hang-up about playing games on my computer, then I might track down the PC version of Shiki I.

[captain ahar]

the first one is losing... i still planning on importing it one of these days so i can complete it (i hate MLFII so much ).

shiki II is great stuff. i must say though, this isn't the game i play when i feel like something difficult (extreme not-withstanding). i feel good about my shmup skills when i play shiki, and thats a good thing. there is something about that tension system that hands me confidence by the plateful. maybe i should try tempting death in my everyday life... y'know to spice things up a bit. try crossing the street with an 8x tension... hmm...

[BulletMagnet]

Before long that'd either 1) Make you come to the very unpleasant realization that real life offers neither smart bombs nor extends, or 2) Earn you a very cozy x8 with the cop who cuffs you and leads you off.

[superhitachi4]

I play the DC version of Shikigami no Shiro 2 a bit. Usually with an arcade stick, and sometimes tate mode. Great game.

[icepick]

Icarus- Thanks for the info! It sounds like a sort-of "Extreme Mode" for SNS, of course like the mode of the same name in SNSII.

Mr. Ganson- I know what you mean about feelings regarding playing these kinds of games on PC, but I'm starting to think that it's not so bad--With a proper controller (and maybe TV-out, if sitting on the couch feels more appropriate than the desk chair), I'm sure that SNS on PC wouldn't be too different from, say, SNS on XB.

(Perhaps you could even get/make an adapter to PC USB for whichever controller you usually use for SNSII--to further convince your gaming senses!)

Maybe I'll put it on my list to pick up as well, for the past-present-future Shiki experience (assuming of course that I'll be able to play SNSIII). It looks like Alfa System is mentioning new budget versions (again?) on their front page of "(SNS ) EX & II" being soon available for about $20, which is not too bad. I wasn't able to find anything about them at Yesasia or anything, though.

@ ahar & Magnet:

[Icarus]

BTW: forgot to add, about Shiki 1 PC: it also has TATE

[Zweihander]

i love the game, though some of the characters are utterly useless unless you're a shmupping GOD... i don't care what anyone says, Fumiko is the most useless 'craft' (no pun intended) since the Endymion Mark III.

[Elixir]

I've been trying to find a torrent of the entire PC game. Nothing became of it so I've been looking for the demo, but I give up.

[icepick]

Ta-da! Grab the download on the bottom (from 4gamer), "install.exe" (so descriptive):

http://www.4gamer.net/patch/demo/data/sikigami.html

I think that this is where I originally found it, and installed it, but I downloaded it again and scanned using Housecall just in case. Justin Case.

P.S. Fumiko is great! Her charge attack is quite strong (I prefer the single rather than the multi), and where else can one sit on one side of the screen, and shoot across to the other?

(Now, if she had "twin stick" control a la Gunroar, she would positively destroy the game. That could bring the arcade to the next level! Cabinets with two sticks per player, for either twin stick or double play mode. Kenta Cho is the man.)

[Icarus]

Fumiko requires very very deep knowledge of the game, the stages, the enemy formations and bullet patterns. If anything, she is a master player's choice, as you have to take great risks sitting stationary while you move the targeting reticule to your desired location. This is more so for Shiki 1/Shiki 2 Fumiko Type1 and their single target Shikigami than Type2 and Chibi's chain Shikigami.

I can see the appeal with her, however. Her Shiki appears to be the most powerful of all, especially when you drop all the laser bombs in one location, or all on a boss weak spot

[Elixir]

words text, etc.

Thanks, I've been looking for this everywhere.

[nullpointer]

damn, shiki2 is one of the best, not only coz its one of the few newer shmups i have 1cc cleared (with kim2 of corse!). I love it, because it works on several levels and is markedly different with each character. But I agree that the first few stages are rather easy compared to the later ones, but even so , i usually die by tmeptation to scratch too much !!

roll on the next proper shiki (none of this rpg nonsense:)