Questions of a NOOB

[Markx]

Hello guys and gals,

I was thinking of playing and focusing on one game only, I never 1cc'd any game before and I may not 1cc this one, I am just looking for a nice SHMUP game to play that will improve my skill all around. At first I thought of Ibara I love that game the visuals are lovely but it felt somewhat very hard also couldn't see the bullets in original mode, then I thought of Ikaruga but hated the memorization and the chaining system, I just want to go all out shooting and destroying everything through raw and pure skill, then I thought to myself perhaps the guys at the shmup forum can help me. After lurking here for a while and reading many topics, It came to my attention that some of you here think highly of Dodonpachi and they believe that everyone should start from this game but I just don't like the visuals and I don't think it is emulated accurately in Mame OS X.

How do you campare the difficulty of Dodonpachi to Ikaruga? Which one is going to be harder to 1cc while adhering to scoring system?

Do you think having a lazy eye will be an obstacle to performing well in SHMUPS?

I also love Psikyo games from Strikers 1945 II to Dragon Blaze and Zero Gunner 2.

Thank you!

[Deca]

If you hate memorization then you shouldn't play Ikaruga, especially if you want to adhere to the scoring system. I would guess that it's harder to 1cc DDP while full chaining everything, but the Ikaruga chaining is really tedious in its own right.

I always tell new players to try a few different games representative of the big developers, decide which style they like the most, and go from there. If you just want to get your first 1cc out of the way I would say to balance out how much you enjoy a game with how soon you can see yourself potentially clearing it before deciding that its THE ONE. Not that it's bad to just focus on a game you like regardless of difficulty, but getting your first 1cc is going to be a huge confidence booster and feel amazing. Granted, it'll be even better if it's something really hard, but you might find yourself struggling to stay motivated and keep progressing.

I guess based on what you said in your post, my recommendation would be to spend a bit of time with some Raizing games and see how you like them.

But yeah I dunno, as long as you're enjoying yourself I guess you're doing it right. Expose yourself to a bunch of different types of games and then from there decide which you want to get serious about.

[Bananamatic]

Explore the genre and pick 2-3 games you really like and focus on scoring in those(or just 1cc and drop them if you don't like the scoring). You might end up liking something that hardly anyone ever mentions.

One game is really easy to burn out on and you'll get nowhere with playing too many at once.

[Moniker]

^What they said. Shop around a little while and see what you like.

A pretty easy 1-ALL is Batsugun Special. It's sort of the common ancestor of Cave/Psikyo/Raizing but doesn't in any way feel obsolete. If you don't like DDP (it's not my favorite either), don't force it. I've argued elsewhere that it isn't good at training you for shmups in general; just cave shmups.

I've found Raizing (Bakraid, Garegga, Batrider) and the Raiden Fighters series are both good for general training. Bakraid is probably the most accessible Raizing in terms of survival. The Raiden Fighters games don't differ a whole lot between them conceptually, so just see which you prefer.

If you want to go Cave, but don't like DDP, try DonPachi (its predecessor). If you have the means, Mushi Futari is a great choice and not too expensive. Both very good standard shmups. The others are all very unique in terms of play style, so see if any click (I like ESPrade, myself).

[Obiwanshinobi]

I would not recommend games with small hitboxes and slow bullets (cool kids are about to suggest those). Middle ground (Dangun Feveron - small hitbox and fast bullets, Raiden III&IV and late Psikyo - medium hitbox and fast bullets) is okay if you ask me. Speaking of vertical scrollers, that is.
Early Psikyo games even on shmupmame have remarkable input lag. Dragon Blaze, Gunbird 2 and Space Bomber seem emulated perfectly to me.
I say play what you like best and avoid games with input lag worse than 1 frame (the latter leaves Garegga, Batrider and Bakraid out in the cold). Mahou Daisakusen is a fun game by Raizing, with good controls on shmupmame.

[Moniker]

I would not recommend games with small hitboxes and slow bullets (cool kids are about to suggest those)

I'll bite. I was actually playing Scarlet Devil the other day and found it plays quite a lot faster and has more genre-standard patterns than the subsequent games. You could certainly do worse.

[shmuppyLove]

I'll second the recommendation of Batsugun Special. Very accessible to loop/clear, but some of the hi-scoring tricks you'll have to look up in a FAQ, they would be impossible to find on your own.

Also Bakraid is a good entry into Raizing. Don't start with Garegga or Batrider, they will destroy your soul.

I've also been really digging Ray Force and Strikers 1945 Plus lately.

[Deca]

Don't believe all the Garegga and APB fear/hate. They were among the first I played seriously and I love them to death. I will say that I've been working on them forever and still feel pretty far from a clear, getting stuck on all the common end game walls, but they're something I've never stopped playing or enjoying. I will agree that they shouldn't be your sole focus though, especially starting off (although APB normal course is a pretty easy 1cc, you just have to decide if it counts for anything to you lol)

Futari really is a fantastic game, and offers a lot of content with its different modes. Cave isn't my favorite developer but I will never hesitate to recommend that game.

[chempop]

Armed Police Batrider and Battle Bakraid are both good starting places because they have the normal 5 stage courses and are tons of fun. Batsugun Original or Special are great as well, but I'm not certain that the soundtrack is emulated in the Rom that works with Mame OSX (I could be wrong).

I don't know what it's like to have a lazy eye, but I'd imagine as long as you are having fun it shouldn't prevent you from pursuing the genre.

[Markx]

The first shmup I bought was Elemental Master for the Genesis and that was many many years ago, I played that game a lot but never 1cc'd it. I saw Psikyo games and loved them the clear and nice presentation but later stages were very hard with confusing and very fast bullets.

My skills are not refined and that is why I consider myself a NOOB or a beginner in this genre but I have played and collected many shmups games from PS2 to XBOX 360 and the Dreamcast, I think I have played everything out there and I might have 1cc'd Einhander in the PS and I might be wrong, My memory is vague.

I love Ibara so much but I am not sure, I love to see those very beautiful runs of I karuga in YouTube and I envy those guys I wish I can do the same, I also love Dodonpachi DOJ, Once I did quit smoking I had this burning passion for SHMUPS dodging bullets, destroying objects again and again!

[rancor]

Another vote for Bakraid. It was my first arcade 1cc (after a YEAR of trying) but it was really satisfying once I completed it. Once you get that one the Raiden Fighters series will come easily.

[ELabit]

Blazing Lazers/Gunhed for PCE and tg16 is great because it's not to hard but always challenging and has a perfect learning curve. You wont get too frustrated so you will continue at it but will feal really accomplished to clear it. The scoring system is a lot of fun too so you can play both aspects of the game and have a lot of fun.

[Obiwanshinobi]

I wouldn't recommend any Compile shmup for 1cc as the ultimate goal. If you do choose GunHed, though, play it on Hard (you can find the way to unlock it in the strategy thread on here).

[Markx]

I tried Battle Bakraid and the difficulty is just right, I didn't choose any plane yet but I like the focused shoots so what do guys you recommend? Is there a good FAQ for Battle Bakraid or a place to read about this game?

[Moniker]

I tried Battle Bakraid and the difficulty is just right, I didn't choose any plane yet but I like the focused shoots so what do guys you recommend? Is there a good FAQ for Battle Bakraid or a place to read about this game?

Flame Viper (aimed flamethrower) and Sabre Tiger (homing missiles) are the typical favorites. I also like Buster Lizard, which is kind of like the Chaser2000 in RFA. You can also pick three modes for each ship if you select them with (A) shot, (B) bomb, (C) option formation or (ST) start button. I'm not real clear on A, B, or Start, but C seems to give you upgraded secondary shot and different (maybe weaker) primary shot.

You can check out Icarus's ST in the strategy forum; it's not as complete as his other Raizing STs, but it's a good start. I think somewhere in that thread the ship modes are described properly.

[rancor]

I didn't choose any plane yet but I like the focused shoots so what do guys you recommend?

Flame Viper straight up wrecks shit. Once the flame is fully upgraded you're unstoppable.

[Deca]

I always go straight to the Flame Viper, but my best runs are always in the...I forget what its called. It's the replacement Flying Baron, second ship in the initial lineup.