Shmup Ticker: What are you playing RIGHT NOW?

[trap15]

Hah, I'm also a Type-B fan. Green (Helicopter) all day erry day.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Someone else uses the green helicopter, amazing. I would probably stick to shot type since during bosses you can just laserbomb for damage, it's during the actual stages that it gets nasty for me and that's where shot is more useful.

I'm thinking I might 1cc it with B-S then try for the loop with B-L. Only recently have I lmanaged to kill the St5 boss with only a few bombs (yay pointblanking) so I know I can get to St6 with enough lives/bombs to clear it, but I need a run where I don't make a whole bunch of mistakes beforehand. Because of the upped movement speed when lasering, I suspect B-L is the better type for serious score/chaining runs, not to mention I'm finding I want a bit of extra damage than B-S provides at some points.

I've always liked semi-controllable shots; you can direct it where you need to an extent, and the main shot even if you're just firing straight is a good deal wider than Type A's (B-L shot is as wide as A-S). And, if you're at the bottom of the screen, holding down when you're moving side to side causes the options to spread out much quicker, so you can flail around and take out popcorn like a pseudo-spreadshot. The only issue with Type B is that the side shots don't feel all that strong in DDP, especially compared to DonPachi where they would rip through weak enemies. In DDP, if you're just hitting with the controllable needles, even popcorn tanks take rather a lot of hits.

I credit-fed with my friend/roomie through Gigawing 2 (lots of fun!)

Is GigaWing 2 like the first game where if you play coop, each team pairing has its own storyline & endings (with a good ending if you both 1CC it)?

[EmperorIng]

lol as if we could ever 1CC anything Takumi.

As if -I- with all my meager shmup experience could ever 1CC anything Takumi!

But from what I observed (I played as Romi and he as Chery) there was indeed character-unique dialogue after several of the levels (though the opening and ending are the same).

I actually don't know if the "real final boss" is locked to all players who don't 1CC the game. I know that was the case in Gigawing, but t seems to end fairly conclusively in the sequel.

My roommate and I have resolved to practice a bit and conquer Under Defeat sometime later tonight. It's on like donkey kong.

[Kollision]

Add me in as another fan of type B in Donpachi.

On topic, I'm having fun with Hyper Duel (arcade mode), Strike Witches (surprisingly fun despite the simplicity) and SNES Gradius III.
When I get my TATE setup fixed for good I will get into Dodonpachi.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

lol as if we could ever 1CC anything Takumi.

As if -I- with all my meager shmup experience could ever 1CC anything Takumi!

LOL, it's not that bad (at least the first game, never played the second). Speaking of which, I've wanted to see the good multi-character endings; anyone up for netplaying coop 1cc runs?

I can't seem to find a ship I like in DOJ... B-S/L has decent enough spread but I don't think I can stand the low movement speed. Will probably focus exclusively on A-L so it's not as big a change when I hopefully can eventually get used to A-E's low bomb count.

tonight i am playing a wonderful game called 'let's see how many times I can die with a full bomb stock', otherwise known as dodonpachi

[chum]

Gun.Smoke.

Some of my issues that I hope to resolve in order to progress:

Stage 3. Horse tends to randomly take damage here so I always lose it before facing the Ninja. The stage is rather cramped which is annoying. Horse takes damage on other stages too at times even though nothing hit me. Don't understand why.

Stage 5 boss, Pig Joe. Now, this guy is real troublesome. I've only gotten past him twice out of maybe 30-40 attempts or so. What I've noticed is that it's in my best interest to stay at the bottom unless he's throwing dynamite, that's when I try to get some shots in. The fireballs are insanely hard since Pig Joe kinda just aims them in your general direction. It doesn't help that the stage has no horse (unless It's hidden)

Stage 8 boss, Los Pubro. Haven't actually reached him on a one-credit run, but the fight is unfair to me. The boss itself isn't troublesome, but enemies enter from the sides and place themselves very very far down on the screen and I cannot find a way to survive.

Strangely, stage 7 is easier than stage 6, and stage 6 is IMO easier than 5 due to the boss fights.

Another thing I do not understand is how the game determines that you damage the boss. It seems obvious enough (If boss is lying, rolling around, jumping etc he won't take damage) but that doesn't seem to be the case entirely as I often blast away at Pig Joe when he's throwing dynamite and he's not taking damage.

[ShmupSamurai]

Mecha 8....first time I've ever pulled out a MSX emulator, pretty fun but Stage 4 is just too brutal ...I wish the Power1 shot wasn't so criminally underpowered and narrow. Still, it's rather inspiring.

[trap15]

Battoru Galegga!

[null1024]

Progear [Arcade/MAME].

What difficulty is considered normal? The US set has default at 2.
also, I suck at this game

[BPzeBanshee]

Japan set is difficulty level 4, play that one since it has additional sounds/voice stuff that isn't present in the US version.

[Ed Oscuro]

lol as if we could ever 1CC anything Takumi.

Twin Cobra II.

[EmperorIng]

Twin Cobra 2 doesn't count!

(in that I consider it more Toaplan and that the weapons are so wildly imbalanced that if you stick to the green and just have patience you'll eventually come out on top)

I finally beat Under Defeat today, though I used about 7 credits. The farthest I can get on one is stage 1-3.

I think it's dumb that the final boss can only be damaged from INSIDE the barrel.

But worse is the smog and smoke from its cannon blast that obscures your ship so you can't dodge the oncoming bullet spray. Did the people at G.Rev forget that kind of important rule when it comes to making a shmup?

The lack of extends makes any desire to play for score in the game pretty moot. Though I feel like if I strictly go for survival I can make it through on 1 credit with a little bit of practice. Like, once I stopped trying to kill everything, things got a little bit easier.

One of these days I'm going to need to finally beat Ikaruga.

Still working on Chaos Field as well. : D

[Kiken]

I think it's dumb that the final boss can only be damaged from INSIDE the barrel.

Is it too soon to tell you that there's a whole second loop to UD? And you can damage the stage 5 boss from the exterior, but it has to be either using a rocket or by deploying a bomb.

But worse is the smog and smoke from its cannon blast that obscures your ship so you can't dodge the oncoming bullet spray. Did the people at G.Rev forget that kind of important rule when it comes to making a shmup?

Your shots are not obscured by the smoke. Keep firing to display your position.

The lack of extends makes any desire to play for score in the game pretty moot. Though I feel like if I strictly go for survival I can make it through on 1 credit with a little bit of practice. Like, once I stopped trying to kill everything, things got a little bit easier.

Actually, when you start playing for score is when you're going to be surviving much longer in the game. Learning how to prioritize enemy destruction in UD is tantamount to clearing the game and you do that through careful use of your option pods.

[EmperorIng]

Is it good to switch up between your option pods throughout the game?

Stage 2 and 3 I primarily rely on the cannon for its quicker load time, and 4 and 5 I stick with the rocket because things need to be dead fast, at that point.

And by second loop, do you mean it has something like a "real last boss"? Or is it just the game flipped horizontally (which it seemed to me as I played up to stage 2-4 before giving up on account of it being too late)?

And where is the boss vulnerable on the exterior? It seems unreliable at best (outside of the bomb, which does negligible damage) - I've been practicing at it at least a good seven or so times.

[Erppo]

I just used the rocket for everything all the time since it's awesome. I've seen people swap for the cannon for some parts of stage 4 but I didn't see any need. The beauty of the rocket is in that you're always in complete control of it while the other options just do whatever they want.

[EmperorIng]

Really? Half the time I use the rocket it overshoots or completely misses the target.

-sorry for clogging up this thread with Under Defeat chatter-

[Kollision]

depending where I am at the game, if I take anything that's not rocket by mistake I just reset

EDIT: I meant rocket

[CDexWard]

Currently I am trying to beat Akai Katana Origin. That stage 2 boss is messing with me though. I pretty reliably make it there with no live or bomb lost and she always ruins my run. I also got stage 3 down to a reliable no-miss but when I have only one live left after the aforementioned bossfight that doesn't really help me.

[BPzeBanshee]

Currently I am trying to beat Akai Katana Origin. That stage 2 boss is messing with me though. I pretty reliably make it there with no live or bomb lost and she always ruins my run. I also got stage 3 down to a reliable no-miss but when I have only one live left after the aforementioned bossfight that doesn't really help me.

You're pretty much guaranteed to lose at least one life from the Stage 2 boss. If you can ace the first stage and most of Stage 2 you should be able to get past her.

Personally I can't get past stage 4. Last time I did I got killed by an unknown force.

[Klatrymadon]

Getting back into Dariusburst (PSP). Can anyone remind me how to pull off Burst-counters consistently? I'm trying to use the small rings that flash before the lasers emerge as a countdown, which is how I think I used to do it, but I'm not having much luck today.

[null1024]

Virtual On [Saturn].

I officially like it more than on the PS2. There's something about the differences in attacks and how some of the stages have changed that make me like it more.

I did have a few rounds against some friends on the PS2 version though.

Also, US model 1 Saturn controller is the best for this game, the triggers have nearly no throw, jumpcancelling feels much nicer with it, and it's the only reason I'd pick a model 1 controller over the JP style ones.
EDIT: oh what the hell, wrong thread. I was wondering when I would make this mistake.


The shmup I've been playing recently was Progear [Arcade/MAME]. So goooood.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Personally I can't get past stage 4. Last time I did I got killed by an unknown force.

What do you mean by this? I ask because St.4 Origin was where I had a death with no bullets onscreen at the bottom of the screen during the boss's first phase transition. Only time I've had that bug happen, couldn't recreate it in subsequent runs or training mode, curious if it's the same issue.

[BPzeBanshee]

Personally I can't get past stage 4. Last time I did I got killed by an unknown force.

What do you mean by this? I ask because St.4 Origin was where I had a death with no bullets onscreen at the bottom of the screen during the boss's first phase transition. Only time I've had that bug happen, couldn't recreate it in subsequent runs or training mode, curious if it's the same issue.

Unfortunately I can't remember the exact details but I think it also happened at the midboss. I figured I'd just not noticed a bullet or collided with the boss while it was still in it's intro frame or something.

[Kiken]

Back to Mushi Futari 1.5 Maniac. Been practicing the complete stage 2 boss milk as well as improving my stage 3 boss patterns as well. Figure I can add 50 million to my top score just by getting those parts down. Still need a lot of work on the second half of stage 4 as well as various parts of stage 5. Breaking 600 million is not out of the question, I just have to clean up my play.

[jepjepjep]

Hah, I'm also a Type-B fan. Green (Helicopter) all day erry day.

I like to use the green heli in Donpachi too, but I'm a type-C guy in Dodonpachi.

Batrider, got to stage 5 on one credit the other day!

I got in a quick game of Batrider today before heading to work. Marvelous!

[BareKnuckleRoo]

DFK Novice. I can get the normal 2nd loop pretty reliably now thanks to being aggressive with bee collection , but geez the requirements for the Ura Loop are strict. Can't imagine how bad it'll be in the normal arcade difficulty.

[trap15]

Zetsu Akai Katana.

I think my overall preference order for Akai Katana modes goes something like this:
Zetsu > Original > Shin

Not really a fan of the fact that I have to basically completely relearn everything and ignore all my other tricks if I want to go play Shin...

[EmperorIng]

Gosh dammit, I was so close to that 1CC. I lost a bunch of lives to Iron Hammer because I was trying to see if shooting missiles directly at him would kill him quicker. With the level-1 laser, he went down without a problem. Too bad I had lost my level 5 laser.

Gah, damn, I was doing really well this run (and I didn't even intend on reaching the easiest final stage, because I can never remember where each stage goes in this game).

Soon though. I'm sure I'll 1CC Darius sometime or another before this year is out.

[Erppo]

DFK Novice. I can get the normal 2nd loop pretty reliably now thanks to being aggressive with bee collection , but geez the requirements for the Ura Loop are strict. Can't imagine how bad it'll be in the normal arcade difficulty.

It's no Ketsui since you are still allowed multiple mistakes. I get to the Ura loop reliably almost every run I play now (at least if you ignore stage 1 fails), but it does take a while of learning.

[beatsgo]

Xeno Fighters R

This is a worthy fangame to play, though I got some issues with it. Explicitly the frame rate, overpowering Round Laser Jade Knight, slaves and options with Vic Viper, no joystick support, and last release is a year ago. Otherwise the quality of the game overshadows these issues. Raiden is written all over it!

Got up to Stage 4 (failing last three missions) before dying to the boss with Jade Knight.