Finally got around to Pink Sweets and Muchi Pork...

[Chaos Phoenixma]

The port is pointless to play without the infinite lives. You won't be able to compete with the people that have it on PCB like with most ports.

At least there's still 1.01 and arrange.

[finisherr]

Just got the 360 port last week. Haven't spent much time with it since I also just got DDP SDJ. Not really sure what to make of it yet.

[Muchi Muchi Spork]

You must find a balance between survival and scoring and never take the easy way out (infinite lives shit).

The infinite lives thing truly seems retarded to me. I mean, it is essentially no different from credit feeding so why bother at all?

As EOJ once said, triggering the infinite lives trick is more difficult than a 1CC on a lot of other Cave games. That is the truth, even after understanding what and where the counters are in the background. Way more difficult than clearing stuff like Deathsmiles, Mushi 1.5 Original, Futari Black Original, Espgaluda and probably others.

[chempop]

As EOJ once said, triggering the infinite lives trick is more difficult than a 1CC on a lot of other Cave games.

I believe this but it still leaves people like me who can clear most cave games (yet only own the Pink Sweets 360 port) kinda at a standstill with even attempting a 1CC on 1.00 As someone who is attempting to 1-All the entire cave library (with shit scores, take that Gus ), I am certain the infinite lives is the only way it'll happen... so here's to the PCB dropping in price!

[Aquas]

You must find a balance between survival and scoring and never take the easy way out (infinite lives shit).

The infinite lives thing truly seems retarded to me. I mean, it is essentially no different from credit feeding so why bother at all? That and I heard its not even present on the port so it's of no concern to me. But, to your point, I always try to balance my gameplay as you say, but in this case the path to that balance is not clear in the slightest. My instinct tells me to just try to play for survival and avoid the obvious ways of scoring. That way, I have a better chance of scoring in later stages anyways (as is usual in these games but maybe I'm mistaken given how out of step PS is with other STGs).

There are some 1.0 ALL replays on the leaderboards, or is that not good enough? (Honest question.)

I'm getting around to PS (1.0, I am also a sucker for Vanilla modes) lately myself and now I see that it is a pretty awesome game. The little rank meter (on the port) goes a long way into understanding the game's rank dynamic for me. I know that once it's past 25% shit gets real. I'm really enjoying the shooting element and the importance of destroying or not destroying certain enemy and boss parts.

Abotu the lag discussion. Yeah, there is some lag in MMP and PS on the port when you consider the PCB's had some (which is authentic) and then adding on lag that HDTV's introduce (usually a 1/2 or 1 frame from what I can judge) but the games can still be enjoyed and played competitively. I absolutely hate HDTV's that have lots of lag.

[Marc]

Pork is pissing me off. I'd be really grateful of someone could tell me why in some games, the lard shot is active five seconds after starting, yet other times it fills but won't flash, and takes another 20-30 seconds, thus fucking my chain?

[casualcoder]

I can't seem to find any 1cc replays of PS without the use of the infinite lives. Checkings the scoreboard didn't seem to yield anything, and in the high scores I see no ALL. maybe Im missing it but the fact that it is this hard to find means it's vanishingly rare to find someone who can do it.

Marc, ive noticed this as well. Actually I've noticed that even when it flashes with the "press b" it doesn't let me unleash the lard. Another problem is I sometimes lose the multiplier and I have no clue where it happened. Perhaps a random pig head spawned and dropped off the screen (never can figure how that happens)

[NTSC-J]

I'd be really grateful of someone could tell me why in some games, the lard shot is active five seconds after starting, yet other times it fills but won't flash, and takes another 20-30 seconds, thus fucking my chain?

You need to power-up once to be able to use the lard attack. At the start of the game, the first two waves of enemies will drop enough small power-up chips so that you can use the lard, but if you miss even a single power-up chip you won't power-up and will have to wait for the next set of enemies. I think that's what you're asking, but let me know if I misunderstood.

Actually I've noticed that even when it flashes with the "press b" it doesn't let me unleash the lard.

It just means your lard meter is filled, but you haven't powered up yet.

Another problem is I sometimes lose the multiplier and I have no clue where it happened. Perhaps a random pig head spawned and dropped off the screen (never can figure how that happens)

Yea, you're just not noticing a medal fall off the screen. You've got to be careful with certain enemies that will spew medals, like the big plane-things in stage 2. They tend to blow some off the screen, so be sure to suck them in. Also, the small planes (or are they helicopters?) in stage 4 and towards the end of stage 5 will actually drop a medal apiece after crashing to the ground and they're easy to miss.

[Marc]

I see, thanks for that. Really enjoying the game, but the somewhat tame first level is mighty deceptive. I've read up about rank control but actually trying to implement it mid game makes my head hurt, so it's normally going ballistic at me by level three.

[KAI]

Played PS arrange yesterday, it was super fun but I still prefer vanilla.

[NTSC-J]

I see, thanks for that. Really enjoying the game, but the somewhat tame first level is mighty deceptive. I've read up about rank control but actually trying to implement it mid game makes my head hurt, so it's normally going ballistic at me by level three.

You actually shouldn't be doing any rank control in this game. You want a steady flow of lives and a full stock for each boss fight so that you can suicide a bunch of times to milk points.

[Marc]

I'm enjoying the fact that it's the first shooter I've played in a long time that doesn't make you feel like you totally messed up for bombing. I think milking is quite a way off for me yet though, still only made ST4 a handful of times.

[casualcoder]

I hate to be such a curmudgeon but I tried a serious run of arrange mode today and what a snooze-fest. The damn bullet shield sucked up about 98% of the bullets. What's the point of all of those great bullet patterns and not having to dodge? I think I finally died at stage 5 but it was mostly because I was falling asleep and stopped paying attention. Any way to turn off the shield?

[trap15]

If you're playing for score, you rarely keep the shield up. PLAY FOR SCOAR

[KAI]

If you are not playing Arrange for scoar, you are missing the fun of it. Give it another try, I can assure you it's fun as fuck.