Shmup Ticker: What are you playing RIGHT NOW?

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Fired up DDP2 Bee Storm. WHY DOES EVERYTHING TAKE FOREVER TO DIE, aaaaaa

Seriously, bombs are friggin pathetic. Stage 4's chain link fences take about a million years to die, and then there's stage 5 where all of the ground targets are durable to the point where I find I'm overwhelmed as they get to the bottom of the screen. The graze/meter style laserbombs also suck for damage, and you can't stock any extras. Fantastic.

None of the shot types seem to be particularly powerful as all of their lasers take forever to kill stuff compared to your standard Pachi game.

[Hagane]

Rob made a comment to the effect that 750,000 was possible in the first 4 stages of Dragon Blaze, on default order. I proved that in a single run today!



Not a big deal but I'm tightening up scoring quite a bit now that I'm shooting for 1.8m.

Wow man you are getting really really good at DB.

[Klatrymadon]

Revisiting Gradius ReBirth at the moment. Managed to push myself up to the #10 spot on the Euro leaderboard after a few goes, which was nice but also a bit of a shame - I don't think many people have played it or tried to beat their old score since the game was updated and the leaderboard reset. I remember tviks having an impressive loop-22 score, but now the benchmark is 1.5mil. Nice to see Ebbo on there, though.

Ed: just started playing Thunder Force VI, too. Using 'Free Range' feels like cheating!

[RNGmaster]

Wow man you are getting really really good at DB.

I'm learning how to NMNB 2-1 and 2-2, but yeah this game's loop is absurd. I think that, even at absolute maximum, I'm entering 2-1 with 7 bombs. Then I lose 1 on 2-1, gain 1 from the easy 2-2 NMNB, lose at least 2 on 2-3, and lose 2 on 2-4. That gives me 2, maybe 3 bombs into 2-5 on a perfect run. Considering how sadistic the bookspam and boss are, I'll make it to 2-6 on my last legs, with no resources to speedkill the boss. A 2-ALL seems really, really far off.

And all of this is savestates, too - when I actually make it into the loop with like 3 lives 7 bombs I'll be shaking so hard I'll fudge up boss openers and stuff.

Mostly I've actually been working on my ST.

[null1024]

Galactic Attack [Saturn].

Very good port of RayForce. Got to area 5 on however many credits it gives you [and shortly died after beating the area 4 boss]. I found myself dying more on the stages than on the bosses. Lost my first credit somewhere in area 2, that was annoying. 3 completely stupid and very easily avoidable deaths.

Biggest issue I have with it is that all the raster effects don't work right because I can't TATE my screen, they're in the wrong orientation and the bit when you go into the moon looks wrong [it should have a raster effect on the surface].

[EmperorIng]

If I am doing good, I don't start dying in Galactic Attack until Area 4: The Fissure of Consciousness. If I'm lucky, I can make it past the spider robot boss without losing a credit. But that's generally where I lose my first credit.

It's nice that the Area 5 boss is so easy. It's like a free "Get an extend" session.

I am a wussy, though, and play with the 8 credits cheat, and usually lose 7 of them on Area 6 and Area 7. Those levels are brutal. I reason that I need at least 2 credits in the bank to beat Con-Human. That laser spam is just a killer.

===

I've been practicing a good bit of DonPachi seeing how far I can make on 1 credit. This is the first time I've ever done anything than credit feed the game for fun. I've gotten to stage 4, almost at the boss, before biting the bullet. The first three stages are pretty easy at this point, but 4 really starts throwing crap at you.

And continuing to die left and right at Raiden IV... >.>

[BPzeBanshee]

Played some Darius series. Having multiple screens seems incredibly silly but Darius Gaiden rocks my socks and is on only one screen (at the least the version I got running).

Played the older Gradius games after that and failed hard. Played the later R-Types afterwards and failed hard on those too.

Clearly the old horizontals aren't my forte.

[O. Van Bruce]

having a lot of FEELS while playing Subterranean animism after a year or so.

[EmperorIng]

Darius Gaiden is probably one of my favorite shmups, and once the Darius series ditches the multi-screen gimmick, the games get a whole lot better (though Darius Burst seems to be an exception - an awesome multi-screen Darius game). That's not to say that Darius 1 and 2 are awful (though they definitely are clunky and frustrating).

Darius Gaiden is, for me, one of those great "pick up and play" shmups that I've actually gotten my friends to get into. Same with G-Darius. No complicated scoring system. Just simple, refined shootin' with big colorful fish robots. Nothing I want more in a shooter!

[null1024]

If I am doing good, I don't start dying in Galactic Attack until Area 4: The Fissure of Consciousness. If I'm lucky, I can make it past the spider robot boss without losing a credit. But that's generally where I lose my first credit.

It's nice that the Area 5 boss is so easy. It's like a free "Get an extend" session.

I am a wussy, though, and play with the 8 credits cheat, and usually lose 7 of them on Area 6 and Area 7. Those levels are brutal. I reason that I need at least 2 credits in the bank to beat Con-Human. That laser spam is just a killer.

Heh. This last run, I panicked on the Area 5 boss after going through areas 1-3 on my first credit, doing somewhat fine with area 4, just thrashing the boss, and then I proceeded to lose 2 credits in area 5, and the rest were lost on the boss. Gah. And he really didn't look too hard either.
Didn't know there was an 8 credit cheat, neato.

[chempop]

Nothing new here, still playing Dimahoo and making progress! Getting handfuls of secret items in stage 4 is such an amazing feeling.

I am practicing the whole game wih extends EVERY 2million rather than the default 2m and 5m only. Allows me to practice that last stage and giga-facer more often, I can 1-all on this setting. I'm in it for the long haul though, once I am more comfortable with the colosseum I'll revert back to defaults.

[O. Van Bruce]

Feels good man.



For me, Black Label was more difficult than 1.5

[Kollision]

still playing Raystorm with almost no progress

[onilogan87]

i'm playng mushihimesama futari now, and getting "easy" achievements.
after i want to 1cc one of the cave title that i get. What be the easyest between Deathsmiles, Mushihimesama futari, akai katana e dodonpachi?

[hwl]

From easy to hard: Futari Black Label Original, Deathsmiles, Futari 1.5 Original, Akai Katana, Dodonpachi.
IMO.

[dunpeal2064]

I'd say Deathsmiles is easier than Futari BL, but they are both quite clearable. Just go with the one you enjoy the most, and the clear will come.

[Zaarock]

Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu 1.5 1-ALL with Strong style is in the same league as futari BL imo. you barely need to think of strategies because you can get hit a huge amount of times because of autobomb.

[Bananamatic]

Autobomb games are always easier

[Dylan1CC]

Gradius Gaiden. One of these days I'll make it past the Moai stage on one credit.

[onilogan87]

Thanks to everybody
i think i will go first with Deathsmiles, i almost 1cc'd it (arrived at Jitterburg with 5 full lives and 2 bomb but i am so stubborn to don't bomb that tiranno satan killed me 3 times with all full bomb stock).
then i'll pass to futari v1,5 original ( kiniro is awesome).
There is someone that 1 cc v 1,5 Ultra mode, without having nervous brackdown, bleeding eyes and destroyed joystick?

[Klatrymadon]

Revisiting Gradius ReBirth at the moment.

I'm currently learning loop 3, but stupid mistakes and restarts are driving me hatstand. I don't suppose anybody knows of a video demonstrating recoveries on this loop or higher?

[null1024]

Galactic Attack [Saturn], made it to Area 6 [with continues, my first credit ended in the middle of Area 2, depressingly enough], and lost my last credit in the middle.

Area 4's boss is a joke. Area 5's boss, I just need to pay more attention, it seems easy enough.
Area 5 has some deaths I have no idea how to avoid, where stuff is coming from behind, and I can't stay far enough up on the screen to be able to react. It looks like I can kill them before they reach my layer, but some still manage to get through.

Also, how is the default difficulty compared to the arcade RayForce? It seems easier here, but I dunno.

[EmperorIng]

I actually have a lot of trouble with the Area 4 boss.

With the big gundam knock-off, I usually

-hide in the top corners to avoid the lightning blast, and then swoop back to bottom middle while he's spamming bullets
-shuck and jive to dodge his punches
-stay absolutely centered on him, because that means most of his green lasers miss you
-bait the homing laser balls away from you by staying in one spot and moving to another

The spider-mech boss usually gets me with several of those homing lasers being in close proximity to one another. That's because I usually take the time to destroy one of its legs. I don't know; maybe I shouldn't do that and just focus on killing it?

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I'm really seriously playing Ikaruga for the first time (GC, on the Wii), because I stole it from my roommate and I don't give no fuck.

Seriously, I don't even really play these games for score but Ikaruga's chaining system is fucking frustrating the hell out of me. I mean, it's not like I've gotten past the stage 3 boss, anyhow (and I've clocked over two hours on the game thus far). But all this jumping through the hoops for those little bastard enemies to pop up..... it's not all that fun! BUT I KEEP ON DOING IT ANYWAY. WHY.

[null1024]

I actually have a lot of trouble with the Area 4 boss.

With the big gundam knock-off, I usually

-hide in the top corners to avoid the lightning blast, and then swoop back to bottom middle while he's spamming bullets
-shuck and jive to dodge his punches
-stay absolutely centered on him, because that means most of his green lasers miss you
-bait the homing laser balls away from you by staying in one spot and moving to another

The spider-mech boss usually gets me with several of those homing lasers being in close proximity to one another. That's because I usually take the time to destroy one of its legs. I don't know; maybe I shouldn't do that and just focus on killing it?

With Area 5's boss, usually, I get hit by the homing laser balls by accident. The lightning blast got me once, but recent runs, I've been able to avoid that pretty well.
The green lasers have a nice easy pattern to dodge, which is surprising, since I usually hate hate hate laser spreads like that.

The Area 4 boss is really easy -- shoot the two right side legs off. Or left, but I usually stick to the right. Pick a side and keep to it, or you'll just drag the fight out.
When it starts shooting the homing lasers, drop whatever focus you have on shooting that side and just start moving [keep shooting too, but don't pay attention to what you hit], you can weave around them pretty easily, it doesn't put much ordinance in the way when the lasers are on screen. Then go back. By destroying 2 legs on the same side, it becomes a really short fight, as it falls off because it can't hold onto the edges.
Go around the spread shot it does, don't even bother risking getting hit. Sure, the fight will be a little longer, but it doesn't have a constant stream of attack, so you can just blast its legs during its downtime. Do not try to blow up the middle, it will take too long.


As for Ikaruga, I gave up on even bothering with chaining. I still can't beat Chapter 3 for my life.

[Ibl]

Right now it's Blue Wish Resurrection Plus, Cho Ren Sha 68K and Eden's Aegis.
Trying to 1CC them (BWR+ is for score though, just managed to 1CC it).

[O. Van Bruce]

Espgaluda II... Gotta tame that bitch now... specially the final boss.

[null1024]

DoDonPachi [MAME].

I just got a cheapo VGA to Composite converter, so I was testing it out.
It is not the best for shmups, it has noticeable lag, and it looks like ass. But it works.

Was playing with my nephew, stuck 4 credits in and didn't put any more. We made it to stage 3 and died [he usually used up the other 3 credits]. It doesn't help that he keeps moving around and the screen keeps panning, that feels weird as fuck.

[2D•TRON]

• Metal torrent - ds

• Darius gaiden - mame. Playing with keyboard No hi score to rave about as yet, I am awaiting delivery of a Qanba Q3 so hopefully this will change!

• Phoenix HD - iPhone

• M.U.S.A. - Wii

ask me again in a week and there will be whole new list. That's the great thing with shmups that has been lost with the modern day gam, pick up and play lives on, thanks to forums like this and the dedicated collectors/cab builders/mame contributors may it long continue.

[EmperorIng]

I wonder if it's considered "cheating" to use the autofire cheat (lol) on the Saturn version of Darius Gaiden. At least if you're posting your scores in the appropriate topic.

Because, lemme tell you man, without that cheat, the boss fights take about 10x longer and the chance of dying increases at that rate as well.

Still loads of fun though. I usually do a run through of the game on the saturn every other month or so. I can get to any final boss with the autofire on, before losing my first credit. Without it, I usually make it to about the 5th stage. Neon Light Illusion is usually where I start panic-bombing like a motherfucker.

EDIT: actually looking at the topic in question, it seems autofire is not some sort of dis-qualifier. Hurray! When I get back to my apartment I think I'll do a few runs and see where I stand.

[Xeno]

Playing Dodonpachi Daioujou currently and I am really wondering what is the reason that in the 1st stage if you destroy the thing with the spinning wheels in the beginning of the stage slowly, the game continues to flow nicely, but if you go straight to top of it and blast it away quickly the game almost stops and it takes ages for the big ships to arrive and the game to continue with it´s normal pace, is this somehow related to scoring? Feels weird anyways.