Ginga Force (Qute, Xbox360)

[adversity1]

Mine arrived today, I don't like it at all.

First off, keep at it. This is a great game once you get the hang of it.

Seriously how the hell are you supposed to deal with those laser wall turrets that appear under you while a spotlight is being shone on your ship? Avoid them and bam, you hit a dark coloured enemy hanging in the dark, not firing.

Unlock better weapons which will take care of enemies in the dark, OR use the jamming unit which makes it harder for them to detect you. One of the best weapons in the game comes from clearing one of the Judgement Force mini-games, give those a try.

One mistake I think people might be making is starting the game on Normal. Start on Easy. Eschatos was like this too, but in Ginga Force you need to start on Easy so you can start unlocking weapons quicky.

Sounds exactly like the complaints that some people had on Eschatos and I love that game.

The only thing that I'm not too keen on is that it seems like the only way that you can compete in this game is by playing the Score Attack mode and that seems to be broken up into small parts.

Anyways, my copy is going to arrive tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to playing this!

Score Attack has a "Total" leaderboard which adds up all your individual stage scores achieved in Score Attack Mode.

I'm confused as to how I'm gaining extra lives on stages from the start. Is it just playing the stage over and over?

I think that as you uncover and collect Extends in Story mode you're able to start with them added to your stock for that stage next time you play it, but I'm not positive about that yet.

Yes, in Story Mode you earn an extra life for every credit you play on each stage, up to a max of 30. Obviously Score Attack Mode does not have this.

Just wait until you try it on Hard. You have to be hellishly careful to avoid the spotlights in the background (so that you don't trigger the enemies that send out the blue laser walls), even then, the smaller enemies just shower the screen with miniscule, slow moving bullets which seriously hamper maneuverability.

Story Mode Hard is very tough, whereas Score Attack Hard is re-balanced and a lot of fun. Score Attack Hard reminds me of Mushi Maniac level of difficulty. The toughest part about Story Mode Hard is that the enemies have really high durability, so you not only have to unlock good weapons, but also experiment with different extra items. I've found a combination of items that will probably make Story Mode Hard easy sailing, so keep trying stuff out.

I think I need to write a FAQ on the weapons and items. I'll try to do that this week. Seems like the language barrier is getting in the way a bit (ironic given that everyone wanted a region-free release).

[trap15]

Unlocking weapons = RPG elements = Shitty design

[Squire Grooktook]

Isn't unlocking weapons for story mode only though?

Since when have "story modes" in arcade style games ever been balanced or well designed?

[adversity1]

Unlocking weapons = RPG elements = Shitty design

You can't use the unlocked weapons in Score Attack Mode. You do have to beat the Story Mode stages before they open up in Score Attack Mode which some people may find a bit of a chore. I don't care because the game itself is fun and Story Mode is a good way to learn the stages.

[SePh1r0tH]

Mine arrived today, I don't like it at all.

* Confused visuals, even when it's bright it's a mess to work out what's what.
* Impossible to see what's happening in stage 2

Seriously how the hell are you supposed to deal with those laser wall turrets that appear under you while a spotlight is being shone on your ship? Avoid them and bam, you hit a dark coloured enemy hanging in the dark, not firing.

There is an item under "Extra Items", cost 30000 credits but it makes it MUCH easier to avoid detection. It makes the enemy sights have very low range as well as decreases the size of the spotlights. Try it out =P

[Special World]

This game sounds alternately amazing and terrible. Really looking forward to getting my copy in tomorrow and playing it

I have faith in Qute.

[pestro87]

Sounds exactly like the complaints that some people had on Eschatos and I love that game.

The only thing that I'm not too keen on is that it seems like the only way that you can compete in this game is by playing the Score Attack mode and that seems to be broken up into small parts.

Anyways, my copy is going to arrive tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to playing this!

Score Attack has a "Total" leaderboard which adds up all your individual stage scores achieved in Score Attack Mode.

Now I'm super excited to get this game!!!

[VixyNyan]

Almost done with the game myself~ Loved every bit of the game! <3

Story mode does gradually become easier the more you play each stage, because of the CR currency you collect, the unlockable weapons and items, and also the extends you get each time you play too.

Game is fun as hell. Haven't used any other weapons besides the Eschatos ones but they just feel so good.

After playing around with the Eschatos weapons for a while, I later switched to the Laser Gun family (LV2 being Heavy Laser Gun). Finishing the missions requirements on the tougher chapters made it a bit easier with that weapon. ^^

OR use the jamming unit which makes it harder for them to detect you.

For the first time, yes it's gonna be useful equipping that extra item, but it disabled the achievement for that specific chapter, the one about avoiding the search lights.

Also it isn't that tough of a stage, if you stay from a distance when shooting the search light units on the first and third part of the stage a little bit, not too much, so the blue light appears from them. Later on, when you play through the game, you can unlock the Half Slow special weapon, that slows down everything in any stage for a short time (based on your shield bar). It makes it easier to avoid search lights too.

I think I need to write a FAQ on the weapons and items. I'll try to do that this week. Seems like the language barrier is getting in the way a bit (ironic given that everyone wanted a region-free release).

That might be true, but on the good side, "almost" every weapon and item has their names in katakana, and it isn't hard to read that from mind without the need of a dictionary. Also for weapons and items you still haven't unlocked yet, hints for each one tells you what difficulty and chapter you need to beat before you can unlock it, and also other requirements too.

[SePh1r0tH]

Anyone having trouble saving the game? It looked like it was autosaving at every menu but I went back to the game and it says 0 credits and 0:00 time played. What a waste of a few hours lol. I was really enjoying the game too =(

[Joerpg84]

I don't understand people's hate either. Although stage 2 seems ridiculous...I love it cause of the challenge and am constantly replaying it with different weapons. I improved when I used the slow down as I could avoid the spot lights and didn't trigger the blue lasers.

I love the rpg elements. Makes the game last longer. Love seeing what's unlocked and earning credits to purchase. Makes each playthrough worthwhile.

I also love each time you play you can find credits which help carry over on the next time you play that chapter.

Personally I think this game is just as good as eschatos. If not better in some departments.

Now I am dreading hard mode..that I if I can actually beat normal lol. I think it is doable once I roll up the lives.

[Joerpg84]

Anyone unlock the Judgement games yet? I'm curious what they're about, as I really liked the extras on Eschatos.

I loved the eschatos ones too!

This has 6 of them. I have unlocked the first 2 and it seems to be roughly 32 short segments of enemy waves. You not have 3 pre set ships with each having a different special, main an sub weapon. So far they are fun...although the Y game is like galaga on steroids lol



What is everyone's favourite equips?
I'm having trouble on chapter 9 easy lol. Not getting any extra lives whn replaying either.

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

So do the extra games looks like retro throwback games or are they just different modes with Ginga Force 3D type graphics?

[VixyNyan]

What is everyone's favourite equips?
I'm having trouble on chapter 9 easy lol. Not getting any extra lives whn replaying either.

Any of the Laser Gun weapons combined with either a spread-type sub weapon or Tracking Beam Scorpio, combined with the Half Slow ability (slowing down enemy attacks and bullets). It helps a lot on Chapter 9 as well, but you could either use Half Slow or Counter Shield if you prefer guarding against bullets, both works well depending on what setting you feel most comfortable with.

So do the extra games looks like retro throwback games or are they just different modes with Ginga Force 3D type graphics?

Different modes with GF 3D graphics. You fight waves of enemies as Joerpg84 mentioned. They are the same for Easy, Normal and Hard, with added enemy bullets in each difficulty.

You can pick between 3 different ship setups.

Type A (Blue): Heavy Ion Gun / Beam Smart Gun / Counter Shield II
Type B (Orange): Beam Cannon / Option Bit IV Quadro / Ultimate Charge Bomb
Type C (Green): Laser Gun / Tracking Beam Scorpio / Clearly Half Slow

Personally Type C is the best for both Judgement Force training simulators (Tiger & Dragon), since Scorpio tracking multiple enemies and shooting with the piercing laser gun helps destroy all enemies while slowing their movement at the same time. Very useful to get a fast time for each chapter too.

[Joerpg84]

What is everyone's favourite equips?
I'm having trouble on chapter 9 easy lol. Not getting any extra lives whn replaying either.

Any of the Laser Gun weapons combined with either a spread-type sub weapon or Tracking Beam Scorpio, combined with the Half Slow ability (slowing down enemy attacks and bullets). It helps a lot on Chapter 9 as well, but you could either use Half Slow or Counter Shield if you prefer guarding against bullets, both works well depending on what setting you feel most comfortable with.

So do the extra games looks like retro throwback games or are they just different modes with Ginga Force 3D type graphics?

Different modes with GF 3D graphics. You fight waves of enemies as Joerpg84 mentioned. They are the same for Easy, Normal and Hard, with added enemy bullets in each difficulty.

You can pick between 3 different ship setups.

Type A: Heavy Ion Bun / Beam Smart Gun / Counter Shield II
Type B: Beam Cannon / Option Bit IV Quadro / Ultimate Charge Bomb
Type C: Laser Gun / Tracking Beam Scorpio / Clearly Half Slow

Personally Type C is the best for both Judgement Force training simulators (Tiger & Dragon), since Scorpio tracking multiple enemies and shooting with the piercing laser gun helps destroy all enemies while slowing their movement at the same time. Very useful to get a fast time for each chapter too.

Thanks for the tips! The more I play this game the more I love it. If anyone is on the fence, I can easily say this and radiant silvergun are my favourite shmups on the xbox. The amount of replay value has kept me playing for ages. I decide to try eschatos again and it seems noway near as good IMO.

Does anyone know what the extra items are in this game? I'm not sure what the pickaxe or the wireless ones are lol...I think the percentage one is a multiplyer but the other one looks like reflection?

[ratikal]

I assume Hard mode is unlocked once you clear Normal mode? Stage 9 in Easy mode is still giving me some trouble. It's a little bit memo-ish and a little slow, but if I saw what I thought was stage 10, I don't mind.

[VixyNyan]

Yes, it unlocks after Normal Chapter 10.

I usually pick the order that one of the achievements mentions: Destroy center engine -> left engine -> right engine. That's the one route I'm most comfortable with. Also it helps to have the HP display extra item equipped (it has a % on the icon), it will display all the enemy healths, boss parts and missile hatches you can destroy, which speeds things up so you don't have to endure so much hostile enemy attacks for that long, so you can just focus on the important parts and beat the chapter much more easily. ( ^ u^)-b

Also on Normal in Chapter 9, on the left side, 2 blue lasers will stop you from moving forward, so you have to zig zag to the left and right without shooting, to avoid the blue missile bombs that comes from the rear. With some careful dodging (or tap-dancing with the d-pad in steady increments, whichever you prefer) you can survive that segment and oncoming ones too. ^^

[Special World]

Wow, this game is so weird; I really have no idea what to think at this point. Is there any way to increase your energy besides picking up those blue powerups? I keep running out of energy and I don't know how to better manage it. Or is there maybe a way to make bigger energy cubes appear? I also don't get why my main gun's energy depletes even when I'm not shooting :\

Also, the first Judgement game was waaaaaay too easy. Hopefully they get harder. Maybe I just don't get the scoring system at all, if there is one. I personally really like the orange ship, though I haven't tried the blue one yet. I think the fundamentals of this game aren't quite as good as Eschatos, but here's hoping it makes more sense as it goes along. Has anybody been watching the story sequences? Can you tell what's going on from watching them or are they mostly talk?

[VixyNyan]

Main weapon always drains energy no matter if you shoot or not, Sub weapon only drains when you use it, so there's a balance of shooting as much enemies in groups to regain the energy again. Each weapon in the shop and equipment menu has a set amount of energy you can use for them, it's different for each. Bigger energy cubes drops either from shooting many enemies in a row, from a set group during play, large enemies or when you have destroyed a enemy that cancels bullets.

As far as I know, the colors for your ships is only cosmetic. ^^;

The summarized story is, you capture criminals in the first 6 chapters (including Tini the cute pink haired hacker who steals valuables like gold and jewels), then in the 7th chapter, it involves you being labeled as a criminal for trespassing into a base involving Inspection System "Spacia" (the orange hair girl) and the white-masked guy Virizion (Birijion). You defeat one of your comrades who's related to Margaret (Chapter 7 boss), then join forces with the criminals you captured to stop Virizion (Birijion) and his huge space machine of mass destruction, and save the world. That's the short version of it.

[Special World]

I meant the orange ship in score attack :p

[VixyNyan]

I meant the orange ship in score attack :p

v

You can pick between 3 different ship setups.

Type A (Blue): Heavy Ion Gun / Beam Smart Gun / Counter Shield II
Type B (Orange): Beam Cannon / Option Bit IV Quadro / Ultimate Charge Bomb
Type C (Green): Laser Gun / Tracking Beam Scorpio / Clearly Half Slow

You should also try the green one, which is Type C. The laser gun and tractor beam helps a lot while you slow down time with the Half Slow technique. I haven't tried the orange one that much o.o

[Special World]

I mostly just think the orange ship is awesome. Shotgun and charge shield are rad.

[ratikal]

Stage 10 in a nutshell


I might make a HS thread soon.

[Joerpg84]

Yes, it unlocks after Normal Chapter 10.

I usually pick the order that one of the achievements mentions: Destroy center engine -> left engine -> right engine. That's the one route I'm most comfortable with. Also it helps to have the HP display extra item equipped (it has a % on the icon), it will display all the enemy healths, boss parts and missile hatches you can destroy, which speeds things up so you don't have to endure so much hostile enemy attacks for that long, so you can just focus on the important parts and beat the chapter much more easily. ( ^ u^)-b

Also on Normal in Chapter 9, on the left side, 2 blue lasers will stop you from moving forward, so you have to zig zag to the left and right without shooting, to avoid the blue missile bombs that comes from the rear. With some careful dodging (or tap-dancing with the d-pad in steady increments, whichever you prefer) you can survive that segment and oncoming ones too. ^^

The percentage thing is actually pretty good then!! What are the pickaxe and wireless looking items?

If you are running out of power...you can get extra items that reduce usage by 10-20%. It's under pow-10%

I chose exactly the same route for stage 9 sonde the middle is the most difficult. And slow is important for that chapter...stage 10 is my favourite. Slow was not useful for that stage since one f the attacks I impossible.

[VixyNyan]

What are the pickaxe and wireless looking items?

They are useful for specific chapters, just like the Jamming Unit for Chapter 2.

The pickaxe makes it so you can't get hurt by debris or rocks in Chapter 5.

And the other one, you mean FCSE right? It allows you to collide with friendly units in Chapter 7, or some other effect like that, needs more confirmation and testing. ^^;

stage 10 is my favourite. Slow was not useful for that stage since one f the attacks I impossible.

Yea it's better to just stick with a Counter Shield (specially the high level ones) on that chapter. O:

[Alfred]

Ginga Force is amazing. At first i was a bit disappointed but after playing for about 2 hours and unlocking stuff and getting better at it i am loving it. I have only unlocked stage 1,2,3 and X game. Amiami only took six days with SAL rigistered mail 790¥ well packaged and game was 5,910¥. I didn't have to pay any tax. I will use Amiami for all my Xbox STG needs. I saved a shit load of money

Did anyone turn off the subtitles and voice volume to zero?. Much better i think.

[Special World]

So, is there any type of formalized scoring to this game, or is it just "kill as much as you can as fast as you can"? It's fine if that's the case, Eschatos's original mode was simple and great, though I did prefer advanced.

Also man this game is hard. There's some annoying attacks in this one for sure. Anything where an enemy comes up behind me is super agitating.

Also yeah, turned down the voices to almost 0. I left them on low so I wouldn't be confused when nothing was happening.

I do wish that score attack removed all the cutscenes, though. And gave you the option to play the levels as a gauntlet. Maybe it's an unlock, but I doubt it.

[Special World]

Man, this game is hard even on easy. Stage 9 is killing me repeatedly. Just bought the level 3 shield.

[ratikal]

In Story Mode, there really is no scoring. I wouldn't say it's exactly balanced for score what with all the weapons and stuff you can choose. I'm on Hard right now and I noticed that stuff takes WAY longer to kill than compared to score attack. In Score Attack, every 1000 CR you collect gets you a multiplier. You also get a ton of extends, making it easy to clear the stage, but you'll get nothing for points dying all the time.

The only things I don't like about this game:
-No train level (though remedied by underground level)
-Type B has the best special weapon but also the worst main weapon

But god damn...this game is incredible. Everything about it reminds me why I love this genre.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

I watched some replays of this and it looks really good, even the 3D graphics are much better than I expected. A purchase will have to wait though as I need the money for other things first.

[Joerpg84]

Man, this game is hard even on easy. Stage 9 is killing me repeatedly. Just bought the level 3 shield.

Stage 9 on easy was pretty ridiculous lol


I used the slow motion clock instead of shield as it helps heaps. The homing from beating the first simulator training helps a lot too. And that laser line level 2 is good. The left side of the boss had me stuck but the easiest way is to not shoot those green things. Wait till the purple laser and then just destroy that part. good luck lol. Just try to survive 2 parts and you may get a life.