Shmup Ticker: What are you playing RIGHT NOW?

[Siren2011]

I drove to Austin, TX today and walked into a local arcade called Arcade UFO for the second time. The first time I absolutely hated Daifukkatsu ver. 1.5. This time I was like "WHAT was I THINKING?!? This game rocks!" I'm not crazy about the autobomb (is there an option to turn this off?), but I LOVE the way the screen scrolls in this one more than any other shooter I've played. It almost gives you a feeling of vertigo. Plus, I really enjoyed the (stage 2 or 3?) boss pattern that reminded me of the stage 5 boss ship's "berserk" pattern in Battle Garegga. In just three credits, I got halfway through the fifth stage with power shot, and my score was first place on the cab (nothing fancy, just a little over 55 million). The loli-bots were incredible to fight against, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that they can be "stripped" for extra points by waving your ship from the top to bottom of their body after they are defeated.

One thing I hated was the lasers. Totally unnecessary. Not once did they pose a threat -- thanks to your own laser which cancels it out --, and at best they looked flashy.

I will definitely be going back to beat my score and 1CC the bastard.

[RNGmaster]

StellaVanity trial is finally cooperating. Too bad I have to play Dull-Oh I mean Daioh.

[captpain]

StellaVanity trial is finally cooperating. Too bad I have to play Dull-Oh I mean Daioh.

GET BACK TO WORK

[Klatrymadon]

Playing Darius Twin again, mainly so I'll have cleared everything in the series, bar Another Chronicle. It's mediocre, to be sure, though not quite as fun-free as I remember. Need to figure out where people are pulling those 5mil+ scores from. :p

Plugging away at Futari, too. Managing to keep my multiplier intact through the second half of stage 3, now.

[JJXB]

Mostly Giga Wing and Progear. what versions should I stick with though since I alternate between the US and Japanese roms.

[Rex Cavalier]

Crimzon Clover

[duckman]

The excellent PC-98 shooter Flame Zapper Kotsujin, and the old Touhou games.

[Vetus]

Galaga Legions DX. In hard mode, of course (I have played stage 1 in normal mode and it was quite easy). And it's freaking awesome.

[fogelmir]

Akai Katana, and the Always on Mushi Futari.

[CHI]

Darius Burst Another Chronicle
helping Electrocoin promoting this game at Casino...

[Deca]

Darius Burst Another Chronicle
helping Electrocoin promoting this game at Casino...

Lucky I'm dying to give that game a try.

[durias]

Kyotokei

[CulDad78]

Captain Tomaday again - love this game.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I drove to Austin, TX today and walked into a local arcade called Arcade UFO for the second time. The first time I absolutely hated Daifukkatsu ver. 1.5. This time I was like "WHAT was I THINKING?!? This game rocks!" I'm not crazy about the autobomb (is there an option to turn this off?), but I LOVE the way the screen scrolls in this one more than any other shooter I've played. It almost gives you a feeling of vertigo. Plus, I really enjoyed the (stage 2 or 3?) boss pattern that reminded me of the stage 5 boss ship's "berserk" pattern in Battle Garegga. In just three credits, I got halfway through the fifth stage with power shot, and my score was first place on the cab (nothing fancy, just a little over 55 million). The loli-bots were incredible to fight against, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that they can be "stripped" for extra points by waving your ship from the top to bottom of their body after they are defeated.

One thing I hated was the lasers. Totally unnecessary. Not once did they pose a threat -- thanks to your own laser which cancels it out --, and at best they looked flashy.

I will definitely be going back to beat my score and 1CC the bastard.

DDP-DFK 1.5 is an awesome shmup, isn't it Siren2011? With so many different ways to play it, you eventually find your own favorite way of playing it for score. None of my local arcades have this particular PCB in stock anyways...what does it take for them to get it in?

Too bad Cave Co. Ltd. won't allow current DFK 1.5 PCB owners the proper chance to upgrade to DFK version 1.51 as that's a Matsuri event PCB exclusive indeed. Just like with the highly desired DDP-Special Campaign Version PCB that everyone wants but it's still under "lock & key" in a vault somewhere. Perhaps, a heavily armed team that specializes in extraction methods oughta do the trick of acquiring them both?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[RNGmaster]

Eden's Aegis Hell mode. Just perfected Stage 2 boss. Fun stuff.

[Emuser]

Trigon.

Got to stage 9, saw the final boss. I cannot figure out what to do and I can't practice with save states since they crash mame when I try to load them. Makes it really hard to be prepared for the other stages.

[Little Purple Popper]

Deathsmiles ii Arange. There is something supremely satisfying about killing Santa slowly to a euro cheese remix of Ave Maria. And if your finding Deathsmiles ii difficult to get into, my best advice is that it is a shmup best served stoned. =p

[null1024]

Truxton II, Progear. I did fairly well in Progear, terrible in Truxton II.

Also, is it me, or are Cave levels really, really short?

[Sapz]

STGT aside, Strikers 1999! Getting really close to a no miss first loop now.

Also, is it me, or are Cave levels really, really short?

Cave stages seem pretty middling in length to me. Play this game if you want to see some short stages. For a 2-ALL, which is 16 stages (each with multi-form transforming bosses) in total plus a credits screen in between, I think it totals to something like 28 minutes.

[Siren2011]

DDP-DFK 1.5 is an awesome shmup, isn't it Siren2011? With so many different ways to play it, you eventually find your own favorite way of playing it for score. None of my local arcades have this particular PCB in stock anyways...what does it take for them to get it in?

It sure is. I'm not too bothered about the game's lack of immense challenge, but it seems like a retrogression from DOJ, mainly because the hypers not only cancel out bullets the instant they are activated (that in itself does not bother me at all), but they give your shot properties the ability to cancel many bullets on impact with your own. I like it a lot, but I doubt I'll find as much excitement in it as I did from Daioujou. It will always be of sentimental value to me though, because it's the first CAVE game I've ever played on an authentic arcade machine.

Too bad Cave Co. Ltd. won't allow current DFK 1.5 PCB owners the proper chance to upgrade to DFK version 1.51

Whoa! What changes were made in that version? That's awesome!

[Kiken]

I drove to Austin, TX today and walked into a local arcade called Arcade UFO for the second time. The first time I absolutely hated Daifukkatsu ver. 1.5. This time I was like "WHAT was I THINKING?!? This game rocks!" I'm not crazy about the autobomb (is there an option to turn this off?), but I LOVE the way the screen scrolls in this one more than any other shooter I've played. It almost gives you a feeling of vertigo. Plus, I really enjoyed the (stage 2 or 3?) boss pattern that reminded me of the stage 5 boss ship's "berserk" pattern in Battle Garegga. In just three credits, I got halfway through the fifth stage with power shot, and my score was first place on the cab (nothing fancy, just a little over 55 million). The loli-bots were incredible to fight against, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that they can be "stripped" for extra points by waving your ship from the top to bottom of their body after they are defeated.

One thing I hated was the lasers. Totally unnecessary. Not once did they pose a threat -- thanks to your own laser which cancels it out --, and at best they looked flashy.

I will definitely be going back to beat my score and 1CC the bastard.

Autobomb is always on in DFK 1.5. If you don't like it, stick with Power Style, since you can only hold one bomb in stock and you don't start with any per life.

The Danger lasers start posing a threat when you've built up rank and are hypering since switching between auto-rensha and laser causes shifts in slowdown and what you can and can't cancel.

Too bad Cave Co. Ltd. won't allow current DFK 1.5 PCB owners the proper chance to upgrade to DFK version 1.51

Nobody in their right mind would want this.


As for me.. it's back to ESPGaluda II.

[zxtec]

Gradius II

[beatsgo]

Gave Genetos another try to unlock more secret history on it and had a blast doing at it. Once I got the last sub-weapon unlocked I went crazy using it. Love the many tributes this game does for all of shmups, incredible game overall!

[Moniker]

Satazius and Armed Seven (Astro Port)

Much ado has been made of Satazius, but Armed Seven is just as good. It isn't really a precursor to Satazius: if Satazius does Gradius better than Gradius, Armed Seven pays more tribute to R-Type Leo. Fast paced and incredibly well-balanced weapon selection. Right now I'm just having fun messing around with the different styles of play that come with weapon selection.

I'll have to hunt down the remaining Astro Port games stat.

[Siren2011]

I take back all the nasty things I said about Ikaruga. I have a newfound appreciation for this game thanks to easy mode. It only makes sense to start with the basics, then add the complexities of normal mode after you've mastered the former.

[BPzeBanshee]

Also, is it me, or are Cave levels really, really short?

Cave stages seem pretty middling in length to me. Play this game if you want to see some short stages. For a 2-ALL, which is 16 stages (each with multi-form transforming bosses) in total plus a credits screen in between, I think it totals to something like 28 minutes.

I've been playing Raiden Fighters JET lately myself, and I daresay JET's stages are even shorter still at times.

That said stage length doesn't stop the game from being damn hard at times. Personally I feel that I've made a breakthrough that's been some five years coming in being able to get to Real Battle Phase 1 almost consistently and appear to score somewhat well.

[Rex Cavalier]

DDPDOJ

[jadkni]

Darius Gaiden. Again.

[chempop]

After having finally All-cleared Galuda2 (hooray!!!) I'm not sure what to play. Tried a handful of plays with DFK-BL but it absolutely crushes me!

Maybe I'll return to Futari God-mode, Galuda1 Arrange, Garegga, or something Psikyo.

[RNGmaster]

Back to Dragon Blaze. I seriously love this game.Just 1 day in, I can see that I'm struggling much less than I was 3 months or so ago.