PC Shooters

[maxlords]

I've got Diadra Empty and I still haven't wrapped my head around that one. It's....different

[AimeeSH]

I had forgot I ordered copys of Hellsinker and Diadra from eurotaku about a month or so ago. Now I'll end up with 2 copies of each.
Will end up selling or more likely giving a copy to a friend.

Eurotaku has emailed me today also.

They now have Diadra back in stock, copies of Hellsinker due in stock on Friday (5th August)
Refrain C80 stock on 14th August, and Ether Vapor Remaster C80 on 13th August.

[AimeeSH]

Copies of Hellsinker and Diadra which I had ordered from amazon.co.jp arrived today.
Ended up about ~$70 for both games including shipping using the freight forward method via EMS.

Is there any patches I need for either games?
Also any notes on how to play Hellsinker?

[Aisha]

Copies of Hellsinker and Diadra which I had ordered from amazon.co.jp arrived today.
Ended up about ~$70 for both games including shipping using the freight forward method via EMS.

Is there any patches I need for either games?
Also any notes on how to play Hellsinker?

There's a good Hellsinker guide in the Strategy section of this forum: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=26334

As for patches, I don't remember what version the games ship as now so your copies might already be current, but Hellsinker's latest version is 1.008f, which can be obtained here. Diadra Empty's latest version is 1.54PLUS, obtained here. Note that you'll have to enter a password found on the inner plastic ring of your Diadra Empty disc in order to install its patch; a screenshot on the latter site points out where it is.

[RNGmaster]

Also any notes on how to play Hellsinker?

I printed out the strategy guide and spent about 3 weeks playing. Still have no idea how it works. Fun game though.

[AimeeSH]

There's a good Hellsinker guide in the Strategy section of this forum: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=26334

As for patches, I don't remember what version the games ship as now so your copies might already be current, but Hellsinker's latest version is 1.008f, which can be obtained here. Diadra Empty's latest version is 1.54PLUS, obtained here. Note that you'll have to enter a password found on the inner plastic ring of your Diadra Empty disc in order to install its patch; a screenshot on the latter site points out where it is.

Thanks for the links, the disk had 1.54PLUS and 154LW for Diadra not sure what the difference is.
Hellsinker had 2 exe's also, one dx9 and the other wasn't. Can't see where it says what version it is.

I had a look at the guide for Hellsinker, it helps but I'm still not sure whats going on.
The game is fun even though I don't follow it yet.

Out of all the Doujin games I've played now I like these ones the best.
Namely:
Crimzon Clover
Diadra Empty
eXeed3rd Jade Penetrate Black Package
Hellsinker

That's not to say I haven't enjoyed the others, just cherry picked a few out.
Most of them I got from Rancor's website before he left in July.

[Illyrian]

I'm stunned anyone would recommend Cloudphobia or Diadra Empty.

Both showcase god awful mechanics that have no place in shmups these days.

Cloudphobia with it's retarded "miss an enemy and your mothership gets harmed!" thing and Diadra with the entire design of the game and you playing in one large area and flying about all over the place. Both are completely rubbish.

I agree with the rest of your list though and exceed 3rd black package is exceptional.

[Observer]

The "LW" version of the Diadra Empty exe is a "Light Weight", that is, one that runs far better and with more consistent framerate by sacrificing light effects and some trails plus a couple of background details. It'll still keep the intentional slowdown (for example, when you are hit, when a boss goes boom or when the object count goes far beyond the 4000-7000 IIRC). The problem with the game is that is runs at 1024x768 (a total novelty back when it was released, especially for doujin games) and uses a brutal amount of 2D sprites, especially during True Level and the Extra chapters.

It is seriously the most ignored and underrated horizontal STG around, and one of the bests in terms of content and length (campaign is 8 chapters, the Extra isn't one stage, it's a brutal 5 chapters campaign that has score requirements and challenges the player to unlock -and survive- Chapters 4 and 5, 5 is by far one of the most exaggerated things ever). icewind needs to make a successor or something else in the same vein, perhaps adding even another layer of exaggeration.

Crimzon Clover, Hellsinker and Diadra Empty are indeed part of what I consider the "shared throne" of doujin STGs. I always add Kamui due to its sheer awesomeness and historical importance to the genre (being an independent effort that looks better than you would expect). Then comes many of the Touhou series entries, the "Twins" series (especially Alternative Sphere, which fixed pretty much everything that bothered me about the games), the Suguri series, Ether Vapor, Samidare, exception, Muramase's games... The list goes on.

Illyrian> I take you never played Fantasy Zone? The game is pretty much a Fantasy Zone clone... The author himself kept posting pics of that game.