Mars Matrix - what's the deal here?

[FRO]

I've been messing around w/ Mars Matrix on MAME trying to decide if I want to track it down for Dreamcast. Holy smokes, this game is hard! I thought Gigawing was difficult, but this takes the cake. How the heck do you navigate all those bullet swarms, especially when basic enemies are coming on the screen 10-20 at a time & they're all shooting them?

I'm trying to balance the "melee" attack & the shield attack (in similar fashion to GW), but I find myself unable to dodge the large amounts of bullet storms, partially due to their being (seemingly) no way through it (like a Psykio swarm, but 3 times over) & the shield taking too long between charges to fend off all those attacks.

Anyway, I'm mostly just venting because I spent the last 30 minutes trying desperately to not die every 30 seconds, but either I'm playing it wrong, I'm missing something, or I just suck at this game. Any thoughts?

[neorichieb1971]

There is a rebound mechanism in the game. Where you do something to repell the bullets back at the enemies.

I've not played it so someone else will have to help you.

[Neon]

The game is hard.

http://forum.shmups.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=78 will help

edit: the Dreamcast port has unlockable stage-by-stage superplays, someone should upload them. There's hopefully a cheat to speed up the unlocking...though they weren't too many points IIRC.

[Rob]

but I find myself unable to dodge the large amounts of bullet storms

Here's a video I made for level 3 (6mb). One of my all-time favorite stages. You can get huge experience on this stage and it has some fun maze-like patterns. Definitely takes a little memorization.

The in-game replays kind of suck.

[sjewkestheloon]

it all comes down to very short one or two second deflections, moving to a free space and repeating. also i found the melee attack much more effective all round. stick with it, as with practise i can now usually get well into stage 3 on one credit. stage four is evil though... i'd say the hardest stage in any shmup ever (at least that i've played)

[CMoon]

. stage four is evil though... i'd say the hardest stage in any shmup ever (at least that i've played)

Basically my take on it. I could do 1-3 with practice, but 4 is just sick!

[PepsimanVsJoe]

Seriously I think the sixth stage in Mars Matrix is just absurd, and then you get to the final boss.

The unlockable bonuses in the DC version are ridiculous. It takes like 9 umpteen trillion points to unlock new colors for the ships wtf.

[superhitachi4]

One of my favs. I'd definitely recommend picking up the Dreamcast version if you can find it. (I usually play the DC version) With a little more practice, I'm sure you'll improve. A key to Mars Matrix is to not abuse the Barrier fuction right off the bat. Practice using it as little as possible, and only when absolutely necessary.

[dpful]

Definitely pick it up.
I'm a huge fan of the CPS 2 version, and the dreamcast has twice the cool stuff, with the remixes and the unlockables, which make it play differently.


It's really not so bad- a quick burst of misquito sheild will get you all the way across a crowded screen, and it's ready to go again a very short time later. The cube collecting is manic insane! Watching the replays really gives you a perspective on how to chain those.

[Xexyz]

Practice will help, and yes, the DC version is worth picking up. Like others have said, don't abuse the bullet reflection attack too much. Small, short reflective bursts will deplete the recharge meter less.

Also, I've found that playing Cave shmups (particularly DoDonPachi: Daioujou) have helped me better navigate through the bullet swarms in this game. It's also a relief since the Cave title I mentioned happens to be on a whole other level of insane difficulty.

[BulletMagnet]

I'd definitely recommend picking up the Dreamcast version if you can find it.

Another thing I don't think anyone's mentioned yet is that on the DC version you can set the shot/absorber, rapid fire, and piercing cannon to different buttons, which might make the control a bit easier for you. But yes, along with the other stuff people have mentioned I'd recommend grabbing it if you can get a decent deal on it.

[Ex_Mosquito]

To chain successfully your're gonna have to memorize all the enemy placements and what enemies give out the larger exp cubes (giving you more time to get the next cube before the chain meter runs out) Try using the refect in short bursts if you just want to survive, also remember you can aim the mosquito reflect by pressing the opposite direction, VERY useful for killing enemies from long distance. It's pretty much down to creativity from then on

Here's an old vid i did a few years ago.


http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark9/Ex_M ... 3chain.avi

*Ignore the end, i shouldnt have used the GHB but my tv-card was about to crash and i didnt want to lose the replay., honest *

[FRO]

So then what does gathering the experience cubes do for you, exactly? Does it increase the size of your shield meter or something like that? It seems like they aren't doing much (though I must admit when dying as often as I have been probably means I'm not collecting enough to do any good before I'm wasted).

[nZero]

So then what does gathering the experience cubes do for you, exactly? Does it increase the size of your shield meter or something like that? It seems like they aren't doing much (though I must admit when dying as often as I have been probably means I'm not collecting enough to do any good before I'm wasted).

Weapon power up, and score.

[BulletMagnet]

If you collect cubes in rapid succession (before the little meter in the upper left is empty, sort of like chaining in DDP) you'll notice that the indicator next to each successive one (which tells you how much it's worth) will go up (+1, +2, +3, etc.); it works basically like collecting medals in the Giga Wing games, except that you need to KEEP collecting the cubes to keep the counter increasing, because if you go too long without collecting one the counter will reset and you'll have to start over from +1 again. Collecting lots of them at high values will increase your experience counter (also found in the upper left corner corner someplace); once it gets high enough, your plane will "Level Up," change shape slightly, and your regular shot's power will be increased (the absorber and piercing gun stay the same though). The experience meter (IIRC) also acts as a score multiplier, though I'm not sure if it works the same way as the GW games do.

[dpful]

Yeah, the cube chains are real important, as a strong gun makes all the difference. Remember, if you're colecting single cubes, and your count is up to 300 or whatnot, then every one of those single cubes is going to be worth 300+ single cubes!!

[Acid King]

So then what does gathering the experience cubes do for you, exactly? Does it increase the size of your shield meter or something like that? It seems like they aren't doing much (though I must admit when dying as often as I have been probably means I'm not collecting enough to do any good before I'm wasted).

Check Rando's ST. The longer you have you cube chains going, the faster your weapons powerup. I forget exactly, but I think by the end of the first stage I usually had my weapons are 3 or 4, chaining pretty much the whole thing and exploiting the boss for cubes.

[Rob]

It seems like they aren't doing much (though I must admit when dying as often as I have been probably means I'm not collecting enough to do any good before I'm wasted).

In addition to what the others have said, they also make you feel really cool.

This thread put me in a MM mood, so I recorded a little better chain for stage 3 (+1975, 1.9 million exp). 2.6mb

[ROBOTRON]

Mars Matrix rules.

If you happen to pick up the game for DC, make sure you watch the ENTIRE intro before playing...that alone is worth a purchase...its exciting and fun to watch.

[superhitachi4]

Mars Matix rules.

If you happen to pick up the game for DC, make sure you watch the ENTIRE intro before playing...that alone is worth a purchase...its exciting and fun to watch.

Yeah, I completely agree. Kick ass intro.

[professor ganson]

How the heck do you navigate all those bullet swarms, especially when basic enemies are coming on the screen 10-20 at a time & they're all shooting them?
(like a Psykio swarm, but 3 times over)

Good question, and nice comparison. If I'm lucky to get to level 3, then I more or less instantly perish.

I wish that I was able to watch Rob's and Ex's videos, as presumably they reveal the answer to your question. (I guess I'm missing a codec, whatever that is. Maybe my computer at work will work.)

Even though this game is one of the hardest I've played, it's also one of the most thrilling. You owe it to yourself to get the DC version, FRO.

[captain ahar]

never was enthusiastic about takumim but this thread inspired me to give mars matrix a spin (or 'return' as it were).

incredible, i'll definitely be playing this one for a while. and hopefully, one of these days, i'll be able to pick it up for dreamcast.

[Randorama]

It seems like they aren't doing much (though I must admit when dying as often as I have been probably means I'm not collecting enough to do any good before I'm wasted).

In addition to what the others have said, they also make you feel really cool.

This thread put me in a MM mood, so I recorded a little better chain for stage 3 (+1975, 1.9 million exp). 2.6mb

You can do much better, though, i think

[professor ganson]

Still can't view Rob's video. You should make a DVD, Rob-- I would pay good money for a copy.

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

Still can't view Rob's video. You should make a DVD, Rob-- I would pay good money for a copy.

I don't know how to get the video to work either. A Mars Matrix DVD would be cool. I wonder what the world record for Mars Matrix is. Rob's score is likely not too far away from it.

Also Mars Matrix is one of the best games ever. Highly recomended Fro.

[zakk]

I wonder what the world record for Mars Matrix is. Rob's score is likely not too far away from it.

.

World record is 'counter stop'.

[Rob]

You can do much better, though, i think

I think I might have to try again then. It was definitely an embarrassing ending.

Still can't view Rob's video.

I'm pretty sure this would be the same problem I had which was solved here: http://forum.shmups.com/forum/viewtopic ... =divx#4502

[professor ganson]

Still can't view Rob's video.

I'm pretty sure this would be the same problem I had which was solved here: http://forum.shmups.com/forum/viewtopic ... =divx#4502

Just what the Dr. ordered. The video is a piece of art-- watched it over and over. I must return to this game soon.

[Neo Rasa]

FRO when I'm playing by myself I use the straight laser ship and don't even bother with the spreadshot one. Also I gotta say I actually use the "Piercing Laser" melee attack more than the standard gun anyway. To me it's the main weapon. I think one of the videos on the DC version shows the player taking down the entire first and a half levels with nothing but it.

[Fighter17]

Mars Matrix is the best Takumi shooter ever made, second place is Giga Wing.