Danmaku and rhythm games - similar skillsets?

[Pretas]

Right after playing a lot of Beatmania IIDX with speed mods on, I switched to Ketsui. I was noticeably more focused on the task of dodging, and better than usual at perceiving the paths of and gaps between bullet patterns. For the first time, I beat Stage 3's boss without bombing or dying.

I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced a direct correlation in skill between these two genres. They both demand rapid-fire visual processing of incoming patterns of small objects, and the fine motor skills necessary to properly react to those patterns with twitchy wrist and finger movements. It only goes as far as dodging, though; rhythm games obviously can't help you with the more technical aspects of play, such as rank control and chaining.

[Bananamatic]

rhythm games look fucking impossible to me

[KAI]

This question again.
In my case, when I play a lot of IIDX I start sucking at shmups.

[Pretas]

rhythm games look fucking impossible to me

And I'm sure Futari looks the same way to a lot of Bemani hounds with no experience in the STG genre.

[Spirit X]

rhythm games look fucking impossible to me

And I'm sure Futari looks the same way to a lot of Bemani hounds with no experience in the STG genre.

Yep. Wouldn't call myself a hound but I've never really had any trouble with high level bemani games....but I sure am struggling to get my head around shmups atm. And I am playing Futari too. I guess there must be some kind of cross-over though in the ven diagram of skillsets required. I think the real trick to playing bemani is just learning to look ahead (e.g. look at the top of the screen on Guitar Hero, not the bottom like most people do), kind of like sight-reading music I guess. Learning to do that and still having the kind of relaxed focus that keeps you aware of the rest of the screen must also be important in shmupping I'm sure.

You could even try mixing both genres together with Retro/Grade on PSN. One of my favourite little gems of the past few months. Imagine playing a horizontal shmup in reverse....in time to the music. Worth a gamble if you have a spare 7 or 8 quid lying around.

[Deca]

Bemani was my first passion, ever since I stumbled across a Beatmania GB rom in 1999. I got into shooters after years of very serious bemani play, primarily 2dx. I hit my biggest plateau several years ago and haven't played much since, but they've been on my mind recently. I've been a bit apprehensive to get back into it, shit got too personal for me and toward the end especially I'd say it was legitimately emotionally damaging. I'm afraid it'll be difficult for me to approach it from a productive angle at this point.

At any rate, this is a pretty common question. I'm not sure they call for the same sort of skillset but they certainly attract the same sort of people. There's a lot of overlap between the bemani/shooter/fighting game communities in particular. I'd say it extends a bit to racing games as well. It's really just proper arcade games in general that attract a particular crowd I'd say.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Yeah, any arcade style game or console game that encourages you to force yourself to improve your reaction time and precision I think will inevitably have some crossover skill improvement when you go on to another game genre. It might not be a huge overlap, but learning to be patient and improve with very difficult games helps you to realize that game you thought looked impossible actually isn't necessarily all that bad, and gives you more confidence to tackle other arcade games.

[casualcoder]

Yes. Timing is a crucial skill required for both genres. There is far more leeway allowed in most other game styles but certainly the few frames of reaction time required to dodge a bullet, or hit a timed direction pad taps into a similar ability.

For this reason, I've also noticed that those with musical talent tend to find it easier to adapt to these game styles. I'm a musician myself and whether it's a tightly timed combo in a fighting game, or manouvering between bullet patterns, it all comes down to being able to identify and reproduce a consistent pattern.

[spl]

I think the skillsets are completely different. It's more about the type of person who is willing to learn these games and play them properly. If you do not put time into something, you will never be good at it.

[Spyke]

This is why I call Space Channel 5 a shmup...

Ant

[Giest118]

Well, I do still occasionally play the Guitar Hero games on Expert. And rock the fuck out of everything.

[TransatlanticFoe]

Memorising
Reaction
Situational awareness

The first two are pretty much video games in general but the latter I see some crossover. Being able to read oncoming patterns/waves and react accordingly is definitely a skill in both genres, although shmups are obviously far more punishing for little mistakes. As well, this tends to be linked more heavily to memorisation in rhythm games than shmups.

[LastDancer]

The only thing I noticed is both require you to handle some fast objects.

[Rex Cavalier]

They can feel similar because alot of shmup stages and fights are synced to the music one way or another, intentionally or not. I sometimes end up memorizing the stage using music. Yet i wouldn't say they are same, i am pretty decent at shmups but horribad at rhythm games.