Tasting the 1CC

[TonK]

Man, I'm getting so close to grabbing gold on Galuda...

How many times have you gotten the boss down to the last bit and almost beat the game, only to have your goal crushed?

It's a great feeling, but that last "man, why didn't I bomb?" or "if I didn't have that stupid death in stage x."

Can't count how many times this happened to me in Futari until I finally got it.

Any good stories from you guys?

[sven666]

just a couple more shots?

man i died a million times on that damn crystal, but on the plusside i beat it a million times too so i guess it balances out, great game

[chempop]

I hate that last attack so much, only made it through a few times. Currently working on clearing it with Tateha.

Tonk, I know you're not fond of ports but the PS2 Arrange mode is much more fun, have you played it?

For me I had a wild time trying to clear Batrider and Bakraid, both not so difficult games, but I was using my crappy Mame setup which didn't help. I'd gotten Bakraids final boss down to a sliver multiple times before getting beige succesful. Both was still my only Raizing 1CC so I'm especially proud of them.

I think the two games that put up the biggest fight or me were DOJ-BL (1st loop) and Mushi (PS2 Original mode). I was able to get to stage-5 in both games for over a year before finally seeing credits. Partially my own stupidity though for having "wait control" turned ON in DOJ-Blex thus reducing the slowdown. With Mushi I had already cleared Arrange mode (and that ridiculous TLB), Maniac mode, but Original was giving me a discouraging beating. It's because by stage 5 my hand was just tiring out from wailing on the buttons... Turned whatever rapid-fire settings on and after getting used to a 4th button I was able to clear it with little hassle.

[Kollision]

Interesting topic, I'm going through such a thing as I type.

Raiden on the FM Towns is killing me [not] softly. Even if it weren't for the checkpoints it would be harder than the arcade/PS1 version, and in the last couple of stages it turns into pure hell. To have it consistently planned took me more than I think it should, and it still keeps me on my toes every time I play it.

Last night I had the last straw with the last boss. Got to him fully powered with vulcan and homing missiles (H), plus 5 bombs in stock. I detonated all 5 bombs and I still died. Man, I wanted to yell, only I couldn't because it was 1 AM and I have neighbors.
My next strategy will be switching to straight missiles (M) halfway the last stage. It will be my final move on this, if it doesn't work after that blood will start squirting everywhere.

[Bananamatic]

I got to Gigafacer in Dimahoo with only 2 misses(which hardly ever happens)
Died 3 times on the first phase within 30 seconds. Never played again.

[wiNteR]

For me, Raiden-III was a different experience from other games. Normally I use save states/stage select, or whatever practice resources are available, freely. But, for this game, I thought I would change it up a bit. I decided to impose three restrictions:
- no credit feeding
- no stage-select practice of any kind
- no restart for any credit


Well, as I remember, in about 60-70 credits (yes, I was counting ) I managed to reach the final boss. But I really got stuck on that final boss. Took me somewhere around 40-50 more credits just to get it down. It was an aggravating experience because I couldn't figure out how to beat the first few patterns of the last boss. Most or all of of my bombs/lives would be wasted on that part leaving very little for the final form. Quite a few times I would reach it with 2 or 3 ships in stock, but still couldn't beat it.

I hadn't seen any videos of the game before either. It's interesting that after I beat the game, when I tried the final boss in stage select mode, I realized that the patterns giving me trouble could be beaten with simple single taps. If I had only practiced that part after reaching the final boss, I would have been able to clear the game within a few more additional credits.

I also remember doing a month of full runs only for ddp, for about a month, playing a credit every day -- when I improved my score from 50M to 70M. I can understand why some people choose to play full runs only, as there is a certain feeling of enjoyment, purity and raw skill about it. But, for me, I find them too time consuming and prefer to save my time by practicing the harder parts separately. I do think that some games are much better suited for playing full runs only than others. This is another topic though

[Ruldra]

It's customary for me to always end a run at the last boss before getting the 1cc immediately after. It happens so often it's funny. Happened with Mahou Daisakusen, Battle Garegga, Esprade, Progear...

A memorable one was Gradius V. Reached the last stage with 2 lives left, lost one at the beginning, made all the way to the downward corridor which is just before the brain room, then I got hit by a stray bullet. I raged afterwards, calmed down, started another run...and beat the game.

The worst one was Dragon Breed. No-missed both loops only to lose all lives on the last boss. Never played the game again. I really need to upload the run to youtube for posterity...

[zlk]

It seems to me that once you reach the last boss of the game, you are only 50-70% done. Killing the last boss can take almost as much time and effort as getting there. I have been stuck on the last boss of Ibara and SNS for what seems to be an eternity. I am pretty sure eventually I will 1cc both, but at this point I am not having much fun playing either game. I am get very close to the last boss in Espgaluda 2 and DDP2, but I won't bother playing either until I can use save states in mame to practice the difficult parts at the end of the game.

[chempop]

It seems to me that once you reach the last boss of the game, you are only 50-70% done.

That's a good point, I'm trying to recall if I've ever beat a final boss the first time I've reached it. Don't even get me started on ESPgaluda2 final boss, what a discouraging encounter.

[Jeneki]

I think most of my difficulty with that boss fight was because most of the dodging during the game is bullets moving vertically, then at the end there's gobs of bullets from the sides. Suddenly I'm all "oh yea, where is that hitbox _really_ located again?" LOL. Even though the tutorial points it out for us, it still took me forever to remember it.

[ZOM]

It seems to me that once you reach the last boss of the game, you are only 50-70% done.

That's a good point, I'm trying to recall if I've ever beat a final boss the first time I've reached it. Don't even get me started on ESPgaluda2 final boss, what a discouraging encounter.

Definitely agree with this. Especially in this series, since final bosses in Galuda I & II (heck even in ESP Ra.De) seem to push the difficulty curve a bit too far away from what the player had to survive in previous stages & bosses.

[dunpeal2064]

I'm currently going through this on Futari. Made it to Larsa a few times, and even had plenty of bombs to do the job, but then I would die with bombs in stock and screw it all up.

I decided to just fight Larsa until I can do it with only 2-3 bombs. That way, if I get there with anymore than that, I should be in the clear.

Its quite frustrating though, especially since in Futari, Larsa is noticably more difficult than anything else in that game up to that point. You can kind of blindly survive most of the stuff in Futari, but Larsa seems less likely to blind-dodge. Learning her patterns isn't all that bad though

I'll get that damn 1cc eventually. I just have to break those runs up with a game that kicks my ass a lot sooner, like Ketsui.

[iconoclast]

I must've died on Larsa's final phase in 1.5 Maniac about 40 times before I finally killed her (with Reco). One particularly painful defeat was on the second pattern of her final phase: I had a bomb or two left, but I figured since I can always dodge this pattern in training mode, they wouldn't be necessary... and of course I died almost immediately. I still had one spare life, but I wound up choking on another easy pattern that I could've bombed through and killed her.

I also had one fluke run in DOJ BL after playing it for two or three days. I made it to the last boss with a full bomb stock on my last life with Shotia, but I died during his final pattern when I could've just bomb spammed him to death. It took me another 10~ hours of practice before I could reach him again with any consistency.

[emphatic]

I've game over'd on the final pattern of ESPGALUDA at least 20 times. But once I got my technique down, it's manageable. The 5th boss of Ketsui however, I've only cleared one time of the 20+ times I've reached it. I never use training mode or save states though, because I'm a real man.

[TonK]

I've game over'd on the final pattern of ESPGALUDA at least 20 times. But once I got my technique down, it's manageable. The 5th boss of Ketsui however, I've only cleared one time of the 20+ times I've reached it. I never use training mode or save states though, because I'm a real man.

I would have had it last night.

I had 5 lives going into stage 5.

3 stupid deaths.

It was like I was damned.

I'm gonna really try for it tonight.

[ncp]

Both Espgaluda games' final bosses are so horribly disproportionate in difficulty compared to the rest of the game it pretty much makes me not want to take the game seriously at all. The first one isn't overly difficult but the rest of the game is so easy in comparison it doesn't flow at all. I think Futari Ultra might be the worst offender though. The stages are hard as hell but the final boss is so dumb there's almost no point in learning the damn stages since I'll NEVER beat that dickfest at the end of stage 5.

Most games are not that bad though.

I've game over'd on the final pattern of ESPGALUDA at least 20 times. But once I got my technique down, it's manageable. The 5th boss of Ketsui however, I've only cleared one time of the 20+ times I've reached it. I never use training mode or save states though, because I'm a real man.

inb4 pages of debate on save state usage

[KennyMan666]

Perfect Cherry Blossom. Died with exactly 30 seconds left on the final spellcard, a survival card.

[chempop]

Horizontal patterns in vertical games screw with my head. You just need to wait until a bullet is directly above or below you and move into it. Think of it as is if the bullet is dodging you

It's a pain but you'll get it, just don't barrier laser the last form when it has a sliver of energy remaining - unless you hate winning.

Props to Tonk, it takes a manly Cave fan to admit he hasn't beat Galuda... I kid! I take it you don't want anything to do with Arrange mode? Too bad, it's superior.

[Chaos Phoenixma]

I got to Gigafacer in Dimahoo with only 2 misses(which hardly ever happens)
Died 3 times on the first phase within 30 seconds. Never played again.

If I got that close to 1ccing, I would have stuck with it.


And I always game over on the final boss or final attack before 1ccing, then it'll take me a while before I actually do 1cc.

Before getting the 1ccs, I game overed on

Scarlet Gensokyo(Hard) several times
Scarlet Meister for Lunatic
Resurrection Butterfly
Hourai Jewel
Shikieiki being 1 hit from death(I never 1cc'd Lunatic on this cause I hate the game)
MoF/VoWG
Subterranean Sun(Lunatic) after killing the card.
Flying Fantastica when I played Normal and Legendary Flying Saucer on both Hard and Lunatic
Larsa's final phase on 1.5 and Black Label Originals.
Tyrannosatan's final on Deathsmiles and Deathsmiles 1.1
Bloody Jitterbug's final in MBL 1.1.
Satan Claws's final on Deathsmiles II X-mode
Final attack in Triggerheart Exelica
Final boss final attack in Strania on Normal
ESPGaluda II Black Label and Arrange final attacks

and probably some more I don't remember.

But that's a lot of final attack game overs and some not as final.

[xavierjesus]

@Emphatic

lulz.. & Following the 1cc, I sincerely hope you round up a Viking posse, & sack an' burn the nearest town!

[Skyline]

My closest 1CC on Galuda is dying with 1% of boss life remaining. Haven't gotten that close since.

I feel your pain, man

[-Bridget-]

My worst is dying on the final pixel of the final pattern of the final form of the final boss in Progear (the JP version, I think the US one is easier).


I'm pretty sure I broke the controller after that.

[MasterCProgram]

I just got Mushihime in the mail today, almost cleared it with 1 credit on Ultra (probably in one of the easy modes that bomb for you), ground the last boss down to about an eighth of a bar of health, and died...

Ugh.

It was very frustrating, it was one of those times when I'd get to the third stage of a game not realizing I'd not been hit, and then once the pressure's on...

[Casper<3]

Both Espgaluda games' final bosses are so horribly disproportionate in difficulty compared to the rest of the game it pretty much makes me not want to take the game seriously at all.

I disagree, I find Galuda 2's final bosses the perfect balance in difficulty when compared to the rest of the game.

[GaijinPunch]

Both Espgaluda games' final bosses are so horribly disproportionate in difficulty compared to the rest of the game it pretty much makes me not want to take the game seriously at all.

I disagree, I find Galuda 2's final bosses the perfect balance in difficulty when compared to the rest of the game.

Agreed.

[Aquas]

A memorable one was Gradius V. Reached the last stage with 2 lives left, lost one at the beginning, made all the way to the downward corridor which is just before the brain room, then I got hit by a stray bullet. I raged afterwards, calmed down, started another run...and beat the game.

I remember having a run ending by the doors closing immedietely before Venom brain in Gradius V. Nice. I think I died in one of the rooms before and had my speed not powered up and couldn't make it -in time- ^_^

[Casper<3]

[RNGmaster]

stupid gif

gb2/something awful
and keep your tiddies where they're welcome

[chempop]

Oh man, I wants to see what the dude getting out of the blue chair is about to do!

[KindGrind]

Definitely agree with this. Especially in this series, since final bosses in Galuda I & II (heck even in ESP Ra.De) seem to push the difficulty curve a bit too far away from what the player had to survive in previous stages & bosses.

My thoughts exactly. As much as I love the game, it's flawed this way. Nothing in the game foreshadows how tough the final boss turns out to be.

At least in Garegga, you get your ass kicked thoroughly before reaching it...