Thunderforce V opinions?

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Pshooter
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Thunderforce V opinions?

Post by Pshooter »

How does this game compare to the other top PS1 shooters? (Einhander, G-Darius, R-Type Delta).
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sven666
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Post by sven666 »

its on par with einhänder.. i like gdarius better (personal prefference only, im sure alot of you feel otherwise) but none of those games can compare to the genius that is R-type delta...
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JBC
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Post by JBC »

I actually prefer it to all of those except G-Darius but it is at a near tie.

Thunderforce V is definetly an excellent game and the story is downright wicked - especially if you've been into TF before. You will feel the need to 1cc this game naturally.

The music is absolutley superb. The final boss theme and the ascension into space theme are rockin' like dokken. You'll remember them for ages. Of course, TF games have always had fine tunes.

Though - it is way too short. G-Darius will last you alot longer with it's multiple pathways and more complex gameplay style (capture balls and big lasers). Thunderforce is more traditional shmup than that where you pretty much just collect powerups and stuff.

Really man, get them both - it's not like it'll break the bank or anything. You should also check out Raystorm while you're at it.
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Pshooter
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Post by Pshooter »

that's what i was also wondering. which is better, raystorm or raycrisis? and how do these two compare to the other best shmups on the PSX?
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Turrican
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Post by Turrican »

TFV is perhaps a notch below R-Type Delta, which is PS1 absolute best imho.

You owe yourself to play TFV. It's just so awesome.

Now let's wait for the usual degeneration of this thread:

"in case you don't know, PSone version SUXORZZ! Get Saturn!! There's no reason not to buy a SS these days!! Kill the infidels!" :roll:
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PFG 9000
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Post by PFG 9000 »

I prefer G-Darius, Gradius Gaiden, and R-Type Delta to Thunderforce V (it's been too long since I've seen Einhander...can't really compare that one). I've been trying to get into the TF series, and while I can recognize the work that went into TFV, one thing really kills me about the game: it's extremely memorization based. Moreso than TFIII and TFIV, in my opinion. While that's certainly not a flaw, it makes it frustrating for me to play. Why should I die so often because I was too close to a certain edge of the screen, or because I didn't know this miniboss was going to lunge in this direction unexpectedly?

I guess I just prefer more reflex-based/bullet dodging shooters, but if you don't mind memorization, by all means give TFV a try.
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Post by JBC »

You're right about the memorization thing... never thought about it as compared to 3 and 4.

I would have mentioned Gradius Gaiden but i'm assuming Pshooter has no means of playing it on an american PS1 or 2 (like me, for now)?

I'm not as in to R-Type Delta because i feel that it didn't stay true to the series roots and became more... uh... 'normal'. Like when a band gets popular and puts out nothing but crap ass cds afterwards. I await the day that a new 'real' R-Type arrives (i.e. - never). Pulstar is as close to that as i'll ever get and i suppose thats approaching 10 years old now... ?

Uh... i'm depressed now. I'll drink more. *smirk*
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Post by Pshooter »

so what about Raycrisis vs Raystorm? differences, which is better?
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Post by iatneH »

I like Thunderforce V, I rate it a close third behind R-Type Delta and Gradius gaiden. Personally I don't like Einhander or G.Darius as much.

As for Raystorm and Raycrisis... I don't really like them much at all. They should be decent on their own but once you start trying to compare them to Rayforce/Layer Section, you find out that they simply can't hold a candle to their ancestor.
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Post by Pshooter »

i'm trying to narrow all the PSX shmups down to like the best five games or so. so far i'm hearing that r-type delta and g-darius are good, and einhander is good but maybe a bit over rated. i do keep hearing that gradius gaiden is many people's favorites, why is it so good?
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Post by LSU »

I think TFV is superb on both PS1 and SS.

Gradius Gaiden is my absolute favourite PS1 game, though. The selection of ships, the level design, the performance of the game engine, the graphics, the stages (refracting crystalline, gravity well)... it's 100% pure class all the way.

As for Raystorm Vs Raycrisis, I think I prefer the newer one, but I do like them both - they're both solid games.
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Post by PFG 9000 »

Gradius Gaiden is good for many reasons if you're a Gradius fan. To me, it's the perfection of the Gradius formula. I think it has one of the very best game soundtracks I've ever heard (right up there with Castlevania: SotN), and I have a fairly massive collection of game CDs. It has two player simultaneous mode. It's got Lord British from the Salamander series and two additional ships, and of course, the Vic Viper too.

But the levels are the best part.

It's got the classics, like the Moais and the moving Base stage, but it's got new stuff too. The classic volcano stage seems like yet another retread until a black hole opens behind you and all the landforms start getting sucked in. The Crystal stage has walls that refract your laser weapons all over the place. Bosses taunt you ("You think you can beat me with THAT? Loser!") Little things like that make the game pure classic.

If you don't like Gradius though, Gaiden won't change your mind.
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Post by PaCrappa »

I don't like TFV at all. Terrible game. I get suspicious when people complain about debris in Garegga and forget about it in TFV. Overrated. Every game mentioned in this thread (even Ray Crisis) is a better PS1 game.

Pa
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Post by Nei First »

Pshooter wrote:i'm trying to narrow all the PSX shmups down to like the best five games or so. so far i'm hearing that r-type delta and g-darius are good, and einhander is good but maybe a bit over rated. i do keep hearing that gradius gaiden is many people's favorites, why is it so good?
Most of the points have already been said by PFG 9000, so I'll just add to it.

The thing is you could hate the gradius series and still love Gradius Gaiden, it's like a break off from the series. (The vic viper and friends go on holiday).
There are four different ships to choose from, each with their own distinctive weapons, you can edit the weapon arrange system choosing what type of weapons you'd like to receive first.

The graphics don't exactly push the PSX hardware but they're good enough. Add to that brilliant gameplay, and a truly fantastic soundtrack and you've got what's generally regarded as the second best gradius game in the series.
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Post by PaCrappa »

What's first best then? I always thought it was Gaiden?

Pa
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Post by Nei First »

PaCrappa wrote:What's first best then? I always thought it was Gaiden?

Pa
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:wink:
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Post by PaCrappa »

Nice, right on man.

Pa
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Post by bluberry »

TFV is sexyawesomegreat. Just a bit less memorization-heavy and I'd have liked it even more than TFIV--well worth the money I paid for the Saturn version, haven't played the PS1 one.
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Post by Sabreman »

I was hugely disappointed with TFV after reading so much praise about it for years. I got hold of both the Saturn version and the Playstation version, and I just find it to be an incredibly shoddy game - this coming from a huge fan of TFIII in particular and the series as a whole. The Saturn version in particular is very ugly and suffers from slowdown which hinders the player, and as has been mentioned it frequently becomes very difficult to make out what's going on amidst the polygonal mess.

The PS version doesn't suffer so much technically (though it seems to be attempting far less in the way of special effects), it's a little cleaner to look at but still surprisingly bad considering both host machines' other achievements.
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Post by CMoon »

At what point was it established that Einhander held such a high standing in the world of PSX shmups? I always thought it was overrated and was quite transparent that it was not from a hardcore shmup developer.

As far as TFV, it is OK, but I really think 3 and 4 are so much better.

As far as psx shmups--the Pachis, Gradius Gaiden, Raiden DX, Toaplan shooting battle, Zanac Neo, etc... So many great games, why does Einhander deserve so much attention?
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Post by captain ahar »

CMoon wrote:As far as psx shmups--the Pachis, Gradius Gaiden, Raiden DX, Toaplan shooting battle, Zanac Neo, etc... So many great games, why does Einhander deserve so much attention?
i never thought it did, so i'm confused too.
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Post by Nei First »

captain ahar wrote:
CMoon wrote:As far as psx shmups--the Pachis, Gradius Gaiden, Raiden DX, Toaplan shooting battle, Zanac Neo, etc... So many great games, why does Einhander deserve so much attention?
i never thought it did, so i'm confused too.
Coincidentally, I'd like to know as well....
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Post by Pshooter »

it is the highest overall rated pdx shmup generally:
http://www.metacritic.com/games/playstation/scores/
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Post by UnscathedFlyingObject »

Nei First wrote:
PaCrappa wrote:What's first best then? I always thought it was Gaiden?

Pa
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:wink:
I still like Gaiden better.

Edit: I don't like how unbalanced TFV is. Gosh, half the bosses die before they even attack if you use the web weapon. If you don't have it, you're basically screwed.
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Post by Nei First »

UnscathedFlyingObject wrote:
Nei First wrote:
PaCrappa wrote:What's first best then? I always thought it was Gaiden?

Pa
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:wink:
I still like Gaiden better.

Edit: I don't like how unbalanced TFV is. Gosh, half the bosses die before they even attack if you use the web weapon. If you don't have it, you're basically screwed.
You really do like Gradius Gaiden don't ya? :wink:

I do love it too though man, I still think the graveyard stage is kickass! 8)
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Post by Pshooter »

and does psx Souky own all the games we've been discussing?
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Post by ROBOTRON »

T5 is so divine...one of Technosoft's greatest. Its in my top 15 all time fav shmups.
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Post by Turrican »

Pshooter wrote:it is the highest overall rated pdx shmup generally:
http://www.metacritic.com/games/playstation/scores/
Ah, what wonders used to do with the press the brand "Squaresoft" on a game's box...
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Post by PFG 9000 »

UnscathedFlyingObject wrote:I still like Gaiden better.
Agreed. I love Gradius V, and it's obviously prettier and more polished than Gaiden, but Gaiden is just...fun. Totally fun. Like almost no other game I've ever played.

Am I becoming a fanboy? :shock:
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Post by Turrican »

PFG 9000 wrote:I love Gradius V, and it's obviously prettier and more polished than Gaiden,
No. Not so obviously. Preferring Gaiden is completely legitimate, and doesn't label you or anyone as fanboy.
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