Kakusei Zesshikai

[MrChiggins]

Still haven't warmed up to it. It's one of the only Cave scoring mechanics that feels a bit extraneous to me. I mean I get it: In Espgaluda, Kakusei is your key to both survival and scoring. In Espgaluda II, you have Kakusei for survival and Zesshikai for scoring. A little bit more complicated but still fairly simple. But in practice it just feels like there are too many options there... like some of the elegance is lost. I don't know.
Above all else, I really wish Cave had included a mode in Espgaluda II where Zesshikai is nonexistent.

[Estebang]

I'm still not sure if I completely understand how it works, myself.

From what I've read and watched, vanilla Kakusei is almost completely superfluous in high-level Galuda II play. Seems like they included it just because the first game had it.

[TLB]

I'm still not sure if I completely understand how it works, myself.

From what I've read and watched, vanilla Kakusei is almost completely superfluous in high-level Galuda II play. Seems like they included it just because the first game had it.

No, it can be overly useful for collecting goldz, which are required for zetsushikai.

[Special World]

Personally, I'd like to play an ESP2 where they simplify the fuck out of everything.

Take the bomb button out, even. Give me a 3 button system that only has Kakusei. That'd be nice when you want to take a break from crazy nonsense.

[chempop]

In Espgaluda II, you have Kakusei for survival and Zesshikai for scoring.

Sorta, but not quite. Kakusei rewards the player with points (and the size of the gold acts as a multiplier). Believe it or not there are parts where Zesshikai makes survival easier too.

I'm still not sure if I completely understand how it works, myself.

From what I've read and watched, vanilla Kakusei is almost completely superfluous in high-level Galuda II play. Seems like they included it just because the first game had it.

What gave you this impression? On the contrary, many people will use Kakusei and not use Zesshikai.
You need to spend emeralds to trigger Kakusei which gives you gold.
You need to spend emeralds AND gold to trigger Zesshikai and then you "cash in" at the right moments while spawning and cancelling suicide bullets with the multiplier going.

Personally, I'd like to play an ESP2 where they simplify the fuck out of everything.

Take the bomb button out, even. Give me a 3 button system that only has Kakusei. That'd be nice when you want to take a break from crazy nonsense.

Omake probably is what you should try! It seems very simple and is MUCH easier, but hidden under the surface are all sorts of interesting new mechanics that can easily be ignored. Plus I don't think it uses Zesshikai and has auto-shield barrier iirc.

One of my favorite games, glad people are talking about it. Good luck with the 1CC!

[CStarFlare]

I've played Galuda 2 while only using vanilla Kakusei mode, and the game really isn't set up for it. There's too many popcorn enemies that get in the way of bigger ones and drain the hell out of your gem counter. It's kind of fun to try to work your way around that - keeping larger enemies alive while you clear the screen of the worthless ones. I like to give it a shot occasionally, kind of like an always-kakusei run.

It's also good if you want to throw scoring to the wind and use it for survival.

[MrChiggins]

Sorta, but not quite. Kakusei rewards the player with points (and the size of the gold acts as a multiplier). Believe it or not there are parts where Zesshikai makes survival easier too.

I should've figured something like that was the case. I'm surprised I didn't pick up on it earlier. Interesting. I know the scoring will grow on me like it does with all good shmups but I can tell it's never going to be one of my favorites. God I love the Galuda aesthetic though.

I've played Galuda 2 while only using vanilla Kakusei mode, and the game really isn't set up for it. There's too many popcorn enemies that get in the way of bigger ones and drain the hell out of your gem counter. It's kind of fun to try to work your way around that - keeping larger enemies alive while you clear the screen of the worthless ones. I like to give it a shot occasionally, kind of like an always-kakusei run.

Yeah I've put upwards of a dozen hours in so far and that's the only way I've played. I haven't really thought about it but you're definitely right about it being built around the new scoring system (obviously). The guys at Cave are not idiots. A mode without Zesshikai wouldn't necessarily require all new enemy patterns but it almost would.

[gs68]

I'd rather just play Esp1 at this point. Esp2 is complicated, and not in a fun way. You'd think Black Label would make it more fun, but watching replays reveals that it gets even worse.

I ended up selling my copy to Kitaru. =_=

[J_Taishu]

I've played Galuda 2 while only using vanilla Kakusei mode, and the game really isn't set up for it. There's too many popcorn enemies that get in the way of bigger ones and drain the hell out of your gem counter. It's kind of fun to try to work your way around that - keeping larger enemies alive while you clear the screen of the worthless ones. I like to give it a shot occasionally, kind of like an always-kakusei run.

Didn't Esp1 do the exact same thing?

[Gus]

This "Espgaluda 2 is too complicated" shit needs to die. It's no more complicated than Ketsui.

Really, just read the fucking guide in the strategy section. Everything you need to know is all there.

[Special World]

This "Espgaluda 2 is too complicated" shit needs to die. It's no more complicated than Ketsui.

Really, just read the fucking guide in the strategy section. Everything you need to know is all there.

I completely understand how to play it.

It is definitely more complicated than Ketsui, unless I have a fundamental misunderstanding of Ketsui.

Quit assuming people don't understand a game because they want to tweak some aspects. I don't like 4-button systems in general.

[CStarFlare]

Didn't Esp1 do the exact same thing?

To a certain extent, but there's generally a lot more popcorn in 2 (to facilitate large amounts of zesshikai cancels, which cost you far fewer gems).

[xris]

Black Label is a tricky beast indeed. I absolutely love the look and themes in this game, but in the long run it was really messing me up. Something about just how ridiculously complicated it can be when you get it and start trying to do all these trick shot type maneuvers. I would get all stoned out, and have these weird panic attacks while playing it. Not fun. Haven't touched it in over a year. And I really like the Cave style wacky arrange modes. This was just so far over done. I went back to Futari and came to love it's simplistity.
When played right it is really fucking cool looking, like bullet hell for math nerds or some shit.

[Skykid]

Espgaluda II is pure elegance. One of Cave's finest.

Zesshikai is one of the most satisfying point buzzes ever, I love it when the screen glitches out (edit: sorry, glitch only in Galuda1) You're dicing with death when you get in there, but that's why it's so awesome.

Yagawa's arrange is really fun too, in a bonkers kind of way.

[MrChiggins]

Okay the scoring system is clicking with me fairly well now. The Kakusei to get gold gems and Zesshikai to release them is sinking in. I think I'm liking Arrange more than the other modes but I do have one question...
How does this player get so many bullets to appear? Is he straight up playing with different settings than me?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCJiabJ0t7Y

The first noticeable place is at 0:32 with those two rows of blue and red. And then at 0:40 it's like he's playing a different game. Does it have something to do with the "Lv 99 * 99" at the top of the screen? I tried turning up the difficulty but no luck.

[AntiFritz]

Okay the scoring system is clicking with me fairly well now. The Kakusei to get gold gems and Zesshikai to release them is sinking in. I think I'm liking Arrange more than the other modes but I do have one question...
How does this player get so many bullets to appear? Is he straight up playing with different settings than me?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCJiabJ0t7Y

The first noticeable place is at 0:32 with those two rows of blue and red. And then at 0:40 it's like he's playing a different game. Does it have something to do with the "Lv 99 * 99" at the top of the screen? I tried turning up the difficulty but no luck.

I don't yet own the port of galuda 2 so im probably wrong but i think the game has a rank system that transfers between plays. So if you keep doing better and better, eventually the game will be harder and allow you to potentially score higher. Kind like Daifukkatsu arrange-b.

[Skykid]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCJiabJ0t7Y

The first noticeable place is at 0:32 with those two rows of blue and red. And then at 0:40 it's like he's playing a different game. Does it have something to do with the "Lv 99 * 99" at the top of the screen? I tried turning up the difficulty but no luck.

When you blow the wings off those flying things but don't destroy the body, they kick out a ton more bullets in Kakusei or Zesshikai. I cleared arrange on 99*99 and I don't remember rank carrying over between plays, it all seemed pretty similar (could be wrong though EDIT: I think I must be wrong, I don't remember the stage 1 boss throwing out that much...?)

That player is particularly sick.

[Special World]

I never gave Arrange a proper shot, but that video is crazy enough to get me to try.

[BulletMagnet]

Does it have something to do with the "Lv 99 * 99" at the top of the screen? I tried turning up the difficulty but no luck.

If memory serves every time you 1CC the game with a character the game will "level up" by one for that character (and ONLY that character) - doing it on the 1P or 2P side affects which types of bullet patterns get thicker. To build it up to 99:99 you've got to grind like heck.

[AntiFritz]

Does it have something to do with the "Lv 99 * 99" at the top of the screen? I tried turning up the difficulty but no luck.

If memory serves every time you 1CC the game with a character the game will "level up" by one for that character (and ONLY that character) - doing it on the 1P or 2P side affects which types of bullet patterns get thicker. To build it up to 99:99 you've got to grind like heck.

So beat the game 198 times for max difficulty?

[Gus]

This "Espgaluda 2 is too complicated" shit needs to die. It's no more complicated than Ketsui.

Really, just read the fucking guide in the strategy section. Everything you need to know is all there.

I completely understand how to play it.

It is definitely more complicated than Ketsui, unless I have a fundamental misunderstanding of Ketsui.

Quit assuming people don't understand a game because they want to tweak some aspects. I don't like 4-button systems in general.

I get that the amount of depth the game offers and the whole 4th button thing can feel overwhelming at first but it just feels so easy and natural once you invest some time in the game. It's pretty much the opposite of Ketsui which is deceptively simple on paper but quickly becomes a pain in the ass once you decide to get serious.

[MrChiggins]

So beat the game 198 times for max difficulty?

Appears so. I just 1-ALLed it and now it's displaying a "Level 1" at the top of the screen. Stupid easy if you ignore scoring but scoring is such a buzz as Skykid puts it. My enjoyment of this game's scoring has pulled the quickest 180 of anything I've played yet. It really boiled down to me understanding that Kakusei adds gold and Zesshikai cashes it in. And that Zesshikai bullets cancel if you kill more enemies before you stop the mode (or something like that). Whoo buddy.

I get that the amount of depth the game offers and the whole 4th button thing can feel overwhelming at first but it just feels so easy and natural once you invest some time in the game. It's pretty much the opposite of Ketsui which is deceptively simple on paper but quickly becomes a pain in the ass once you decide to get serious.

I agree that at first Galuda II's scoring is harder to understand and embrace than Ketsui's, but I think they'd both be a pain in the ass if you decide to get serious. Galuda being more of a slow dull pain in the ass and Ketsui being more of a quick sharp pain in the ass.

[Skykid]

To build it up to 99:99 you've got to grind like heck.

Oh noes you don't, just download a 99*99 replay and watch it all the way through to the end (or fast forward, or let it run while you make a coffee) and iirc you get some kind of achievement and the rank level is magically available next time you visit your options!

If memory serves every time you 1CC the game with a character the game will "level up" by one for that character (and ONLY that character) - doing it on the 1P or 2P side affects which types of bullet patterns get thicker.

Thanks BM, that's interesting. I'm sure I cleared it with Tateha at least twice, might go back to it if I get the chance.

[deexor]

A little explanation on the arrange mode 99*99 boss-milking, because it's not entirely obvious:

A large portion of your score is received by cancelling boss bullets in Kakusei Over. Since overmode ends when you have no gold, it's best to enter boss fights, and most mid-boss fights, with 0 gems and 1000 gold. This way you can milk the first form for a good while.

Between each boss form, you should recharge on gold. This can be done by exiting overmode before it runs out - you should have over 100 gold left. This is because canceling boss bullets in regular mode creates gems only if you have gold (the most non-obvious part), and you need gems for Kakusei. Cancel some bullets, get gems, enter Kakusei when there's a ton of bullets on screen, finish the boss form, get 1000 gold. Enter Kakusei Over and repeat.

I haven't played arrange in a long time, so this is all from memory, but I did clear 99*99 several times, so I think it's mostly correct

[TLB]

So beat the game 198 times for max difficulty?

I just 1-ALLed it

I just 10-ALLed it. Bet you didn't expect that one.

I thought you could watch a replay and get 99*99 without having to grind? Is that not the case?

[Skykid]

I thought you could watch a replay and get 99*99 without having to grind? Is that not the case?

Two posts up

Oh noes you don't, just download a 99*99 replay and watch it all the way through to the end (or fast forward, or let it run while you make a coffee) and iirc you get some kind of achievement and the rank level is magically available next time you visit your options!

[TLB]

I thought you could watch a replay and get 99*99 without having to grind? Is that not the case?

Two posts up :wink:

Oh noes you don't, just download a 99*99 replay and watch it all the way through to the end (or fast forward, or let it run while you make a coffee) and iirc you get some kind of achievement and the rank level is magically available next time you visit your options! :D

FUCKIN' K-RAD!

[dunpeal2064]

So, you can set what difficulty you want the arrange at, its not a permanent change?

I honestly never knew this arrange mode was so crazy... but I DID know it was by Yagawa... don't know why I didn't put 2 and 2 together.

[Chaos Phoenixma]

How long did it even take before 99 * 99 was available?

I'm sure it took a long time for the 198 1ccs of Arrange even when spread across multiple people.