WarioWare meets Horizontal Space Shmup

[Dreadling]

Hi everybody,


I've been asking my shmup buddies all day about whether a game like this exists, but I've only heard rumors:

Is there a game that pushes you through a lot of fast micro-levels, demanding that you use quick thinking and skill shots, before letting you rest or fight a boss? I'm thinking like 5-to-30-second levels each, sometimes shifting to vertical or backwards shooting ... then the backdrop flashes and shifts you into new gameplay.

It'd be cool to experiment with an idea like that, but I'm curious if this has been tried. Does anyone know for sure?


Thanks!
-D

[Ghegs]

There's the Shmups Skill Test which is available in XBox 360's Shooting Love 200X (there's also a slightly different version in PS2's Trizeal) which kind of fits the description. It's vertical, though.

[Dreadling]

There's the Shmups Skill Test which is available in XBox 360's Shooting Love 200X (there's also a slightly different version in PS2's Trizeal) which kind of fits the description. It's vertical, though.

I did hear about 200X via /vg/! Thanks for the tips.

Bangai-O is apparently similar as well but has a more free-form atmosphere.


Do you think it would be too jarring to put a serious story into that kind of mercurial gameplay?


The high concept is that, due to expansions in fusion technology and FTL travel, sociopolitical phenomenons called "Lightning Wars" have occurred (title in-flux). These are high-speed, high-casualty skirmishes that bubble between dozens of different factions in known human space. Casualties typically diminish on both sides when robots are used, but some factions are experimenting with clones and other technologies ...

Therefore, any rebellions or high-mobility governments must be prepared for scrambling at all times. They typically invest in ships and suits equipped with inertialess drives with less than one-second jumps -- colloquially dubbed lightning bolts, or simply bolts.

Players will literally experience (harmless) lightning or other FX leaping across the screen when tougher enemies appear, which can be skill-shotted or dodged as needed. Otherwise, the player will jump in between different battlefields after short warnings, and occasionally rest during longer jumps or pit-stops at space stations (where shopping and story can be delivered).

[Dreadling]

There's the Shmups Skill Test which is available in XBox 360's Shooting Love 200X (there's also a slightly different version in PS2's Trizeal) which kind of fits the description. It's vertical, though.

Do you think it would be too jarring to put a serious story into that kind of mercurial gameplay?

Eschatos seems to have the idea that I'm looking for down pat! Very different backdrop, speed, and pattern styles in 30-40 second waves.

I'm thinking between 10-40 second waves (maybe 60 for gauntlet bosses) but this looks promising.

Thanks for the link to 200X, wouldn't have easily found this otherwise!

[Dreadling]

And Judgment Silversword!

[RegalSin]

That would make a great forum group project. We all could work together on coding part of our ideal shooter, and create a boss.

One moment it could be Metal Slug, another moment it could parodius, and so forth. To even make it more auwsome, we could even make it a gba game ( or something along those lines ).

Wouldn't that be special.