Deathsmiles IIX way too easy?

[casualcoder]

I finally got around to getting Deathsmiles IIX. In my first (and only) play through of the game, I managed to get to the final boss with 2 lives to spare. I probably would have had more lives had I not ran around stupidly on stage 1 and if I had bombed more. 

Now, I know DS is supposed to be a lot easier than standard Cave fare but it's been annoying me to think that it could be that easy. I understand if I played level 1 mode all of the way, but I had it cranked to level 3 (is there no 999 in this one?)

I can't figure out how to get the difficulty appreciably higher. Am I missing something?

The other thing is, I though the game was very fun to play. It was definitely better overall than I thought it would be. it felt like a classic arcade experience, bad polygons not withstanding.

[BulletMagnet]

It sounds like you were playing "IIX" mode, which was designed for the 360 edition: you might also want to try the regular ol' Arcade mode, which still isn't anything earth-shattering challenge-wise but is a bit more demanding on the whole, at least in my opinion. It's also worth nothing that Follett and Rosa (not sure if you used them, but they're only playable in IIX mode) are somewhat overpowered here, so using one of the other characters might make things more interesting as well. Not to mention the requisite "play for score" thing.

[Jonst]

A lot people say espgaluda or mushihimesama but ds IIX has to be the easiest cave game hands down.

[casualcoder]

It was IIX mode. I used Windia (even though I'm a Rosa player in DS). There is really that much difference between arcade and IIX? I thought it was a minor tweak like in DS.

[BulletMagnet]

No, in this case they play fairly differently: have a look around here if you haven't already (and apologies, as I know it needs a bit of cleaning up at some point).

[Despatche]

is it easier than deathsmiles level 1 no extras?

[professor ganson]

Coincidentally I pulled this game out yesterday for the first time in a long time. I noticed it seemed pretty easy, but didn't get far because I was more interested in the graphics than the actual gameplay. I just love the pagan-Christmas theme to it.

[Cuilan]

IIX mode can get rather hard when playing for score. But even so, it's not as hard as the first one.

[Pretas]

I feel the difference between the two games' challenge levels is most strongly felt in the extra stages. Whereas DS1's Canyon was a brutal slog and arguably tougher than the final stage, DSIIX's amusement park is made something of a joke by the copious amounts of slowdown. Canceling "sperm" bullets gives a score-friendly bullet clear as always, and there aren't any vertical sections to confuse you (while the Canyon was largely vertical). The boss isn't a big deal, as long as you know their movement patterns and don't collide with either dancing animal.

[casualcoder]

Well I guess thats kind of a nice bonus getting another mode out of the arcade version. It may even be my favorite mode. Still, it's not much more of a challenge. Recharging is incredibly easy. I suppose I will go right to playing for score on this one as the 1cc is pretty much a gimme.

[shmuppyLove]

Just pulled it up on the XBL market to see how much it was, and found this lulzy screen:



DEATHS MAILS ahahahha

[AntiFritz]

Just pulled it up on the XBL market to see how much it was, and found this lulzy screen:

http://download.xbox.com/content/images ... eenlg7.jpg

DEATHS MAILS ahahahha

Reminds me of this.



Not jumping the gun are you cave?

[To Far Away Times]

I'm pretty sure you can beat Deathsmiles IIX all level 1's without touching the controller.

Okay, not really, but it's got to be the easiest shmup I've played.

[ACSeraph]

I agree its Cave's easiest clear, of the games I've played. It's really fun though, and I also love that Evil Christmas theme. The final boss music is so perfect.

[ilitirit]

DFK on IOS is the easiest Cave shmup. It also happens to be the only one I've 1CC'd

[ACSeraph]

Well I consider the iOS games kind of a different group than the console games, all of them are much easier in comparison. DFK wouldn't be my pick for easiest iOS clear though, DOJ and both Mushi games were easier to me, though DFK certainly isn't hard either.

[Kaspal]

DFK on IOS is the easiest Cave shmup. It also happens to be the only one I've 1CC'd

Yes, is easier if you play it only for survival, and dont make it to the 2nd loop ... but if you play it for score, and try to make it to hibachi, then you'll probably have more fun, and take your words back.

I always play it for score, and depending on the mood, i make it to tsaibachi kinda regularly ... hibachi, not so much.... and when i do, i usually get my ass handed to me (have to continue at least once to kill him)... so, yeah, it's easier if you dont play it seriously, otherwise, it gives a good challenge (specially if you play it on hard and make it to the hidden ura loop).

[trap15]

Playing DFK for score is fun

[ratikal]

The difficulty isn't the point here. I mean yeah, the game is stupid easy at level 1, but you miss what makes this game great. Scoring in stages on level 3 leads to some intense fun.

[casualcoder]

The game has really grown on me a lot in these past few weeks. A 1cc is super easy even when taking lots of risks when playing for score but I've never really played a pure scoring game before and this one is about as close as you get to a pure scorer.

It's kind of nice not having to worry about dropping a 1cc and ruining an otherwise stellar scoring run, and because of this I'm finding myself playing a lot more risky than in most other STGs. The game is just constantly lighting up your brain area that corresponds to reward. Constant floods of skulls are like popping candies one after the other... Its like those silly lights and whistles that come out of slot machines except you don't lose your shirt and it does take some skill. It's not a heady experience like espgaluda 2 or ketsui but you can't play those every time. At least I can't. Just wished the 2X visuals were available in the arcade version but it doesn't matter much in the end.

[Special World]

Yeah, it's one of the few Cave games I can clear. I got to the last boss with no lives in stock and... he didn't hit me once. It *looked* like he hit me a bunch of times, but nothing connected. Seemed way too fair for its own good, at that point.

Great game though, I really love the scoring system and how much points and shots are onscreen at once. Plus the music is awesome.