Blackbird wrote:Survival play is playing by ignoring the scoring system and concentrating only on progressing as far as you can.
You use the optimal weapon for the situation, regardless of whether it is the ideal weapon for score. Perfect example of this is using shot to sweep/kill popcorns more rapidly in Futari Original, regardless of what color the counter is in. Another example would be ignoring proper weapon usage on boss death; glancing at the health bar to determine the timing for weapon switch is a distraction (however small) that could kill you if you're in the middle of dodging a pattern.
Another obvious example is putting distance between yourself and the target when it makes it easier to dodge the bullets. Playing further away in games that utilize point-blanking as a scoring mechanic (Ketsui, etc.) makes it easier to survive in a lot of situations, at the expense of score.
Scoring is about risk versus reward; increasing your risk so your reward (score) is higher. Survival is about minimizing risk. These strategies aren't always mutually exclusive, though; sometimes the optimal way to score in a section is also the optimal way to dodge it.
I agree with this. This is exaclty how I play 80% of the time I play shmups. I would rather see how far I can get than see how high I can score. Putting more distance between me and the enemy, making room to dodge. Picking the strongest ship to dispose of enemies quickly and bomb like theres no tomorrow.
Sometimes I do like to figure out the score mechanic and have fun with it, but it only lasts for stage1+2 then things get too hectic and I flail about trying not to get shot
When i play in "survival" state of mind, i just play without using bombs... because when i act as a lone wolf, a one man versus one army, i am not supposed to have an atomic bomb or a dozen kamikaze friends to wipe away a full battalion of opponents. I must take them down myself, with my bare hands (well...bare bullets)
Survival...
Ho... and maximum difficulty, it s not supposed to be a walk in the park.
MX7 wrote:If you read pretty much any interview with the top Japanese score players, they will invariably say the same thing "I never bother with scoring until I can comfortably 1CC the game". I was surprised by how long this can take for some top score players. A Ketsui dude said it took him a whole year to 2-all the game. He went on to get the world record. Ignoring score for a year... what a fucking casual (:
Yeah, this. When I play a game at first I try to figure out what are the most difficult patterns, where do I have a tendency to die etc. and work out a strategy. It's only after I clear the game a few times and feel really comfortable with it that I start attempting to beat difficult patterns/bosses without using bombs or attempt to really indulge the scoring system.
Skykid wrote:
The moderators should put aside your achievements and consider banning you Gus.
This rhetoric of yours is getting old, you're like a broken record. Worse, you're actually lowering the tone of the entire forum by constantly insinuating that there's a vast gulf of credibility between players like you, who play in an unhealthily obsessive fashion, forgoing friends, sunlight, and the pleasures of social activities; and those who are here to enjoy the genre and the hobby to their own personal maximums.
The only invisible line that separates you from any one else on here is that you're an asshole.
We can respect your scoring ability but not your ethics or demeanour. It would be good for the entire forum if you took a leave of absence.
+1
Couldn't have put it better myself. For a moment I felt sad that I was saying this about a Skykid post but I think you have the right idea here, man. Even if gus isn't banned I think he needs to take a break from shmups forum for his own sake. This egotism he has about the genre isn't a good trait at all, and when he sets the genre down it's going to stay a part of his personality. Pursuing a hobby to the degree that he does re4ally sahapes a pewrson, and I don't think shmups are shaping him for the better.
it's hard to separate scoring and survival considering they're complementary. Scoring well can get you extra lives. Extra lives let you play longer. Playing by the seat of your pants is hella fun but having at least a basic understanding of how to score well is definitely desirable if your goal is to get further in whatever game you're on.
whoozwah wrote:it's hard to separate scoring and survival considering they're complementary. Scoring well can get you extra lives. Extra lives let you play longer. Playing by the seat of your pants is hella fun but having at least a basic understanding of how to score well is definitely desirable if your goal is to get further in whatever game you're on.
There's always a counterexample.
Like Ikaruga.
A game where scoring means playing in the absolute most insanely dangerous way possible. If for whatever reason you're playing Ikaruga for survival, then the only score extend worth going for is the first one, since anything past that will probably get your ass killed unless you're exceptionally badass.
