Let's discuss Psyvariar, the best shmup series of all time

[Obiwanshinobi]

A much smaller AI on Earth called Lambda designs the Axion ship which is piloted by the telepathic Psyvariars, fresh out of cryostasis for this task.

I wonder why that AI bothered rather than controlled the ship by itself. Although three buzzwords: AI, cryostasis and telepathy boast nine whoopin' syllables, count 'em all.

[ciox]

Well, you have to go even deeper... basically Psyvariars carry some kind of midichlorians called Psyons that interact with neutrinos to create the grazing effect, this is why they must "finally wake from long time sleep".
The devs really wanted their psionics in there, Psyvariar is just a fancy way of saying Psi Warrior.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Super Monkey Ball 2 story, according to the manual, is the series' midichlorians. Did I really need to know that Baby is a child of Aiai and Meemee sent from the future, no less?

[ciox]

 
Apparently some Revision cabinets in Japan have "autofire" buttons for rapidly moving either left/right or up/down.
Kinda cool and unexpected that someone would put in the effort, it's also a lot less cheat-y than a button that lets you roll perfectly without moving.
 

[spadgy]

How'd I miss this thread? I bloody love the series, and prefer rolling with stick movement than a button; it just feels more natural.

The reason I love the series is because, through bullet grazing and well implemented rankiness, there's a whole range of play styles to be toyed with, and as such a wealth of difficulties and ways to play within the default settings. A survival clear's score and scoring clear's score can be so insanely different, and the range of experience between the two extremes mean there's something in there for all kinds of player, I think.

And I just love bullet grazing. I find it very satisfying, and a lovely realisation of risk/reward gameplay.

I admit Medium Unit looks like a plate of food colouring boosted dog sick on PS2, but its a great series with some great touches. Lovely OST too.

I'd love to make my GNET of Medium Unit a full kit one day. Damn me for missing a Skykid deal years back!

[Pretas]

I admit Medium Unit looks like a plate of food colouring boosted dog sick on PS2

Try turning the soft focus filter to 0 in screen settings. I'm also curious why you single out Medium Unit, when Revision has mostly the same graphics with palette swaps.

The only problem I have with the graphics is that it can be difficult to see the bullets through the bright lava in Volcano. Otherwise, it's a very stylish game.

[spadgy]

Perhaps I was hasty with my words. I should have said:

'I admit Medium Unit looks like a plate of food colouring boosted dog sick on PS2, and its a great series with some great touches. Lovely OST too.'

Personally I feel the colour palette to be a little gaudy, but I kind of warm to it (And I think that Psy 2 on original hardware/Dreamcast looks superb).

As for my singling out go Medium Unit, I've simply spent less time with Revision, and these feel less placed to pass comment.

[ciox]

Btw, the arcade in question is HEY in Tokyo, if any Psi Warrior fan is near it and would like to see how those fancy buttons work.

[qmish]

Sadly, i feel useless. Dunno, i'm pretty ok with smth similar in XII Stag, but in Psyvariar 2 i feel like a baby who can't move. Also under impression i need huge monitor for that and in tate.

[iconoclast]

Thread should be renamed to "You really need to play Psyvariar"

[Shepardus]

You really need to rephrase that as 'You really need to rename this thread to "You really need to play Psyvariar"'

[ciox]

Sadly, i feel useless. Dunno, i'm pretty ok with smth similar in XII Stag, but in Psyvariar 2 i feel like a baby who can't move. Also under impression i need huge monitor for that and in tate.

What version? The roll button is missing from the DC and Xbox versions because they figured that new mechanic where you roll and then keep a direction pressed to keep rolling is enough, but the PS2 ver added it back in.
To move fast you either have to trigger the roll constantly while going where you want to go (like wiggle up and down while going right, some serious gymnastics on a keyboard let me tell you), or tap the roll button if it's available in your version.

Btw, SUCCESS did a stream where Reassemble was supposed to be featured, maybe someone with Timeshift access can take a quick look http://live.nicovideo.jp/watch/lv262149415

[FlyingFinn]

Nice to see this thread! I really enjoy psyvariar, psyvariar 2 was ok too but I never fell in love it as much as with first one.

I play with ps2, too bad that series have not been ported to newer consoles.


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[gray117]

Nice to see this thread! I really enjoy psyvariar, psyvariar 2 was ok too but I never fell in love it as much as with first one.

I play with ps2, too bad that series have not been ported to newer consoles.

My sentiments but swap the 2 games around - I'm pretty shallow though - psyvariar 2's feel was just kind of great trip for me that kept me coming back... I wouldn't even say it was spectacular, there was room for improvement, but it was just very nicely done on the presentation/atmosphere front and a pretty unique game to boot.


... it'll probably never compete with my joystick destroying experience, but what's happening(/ed) to that mobile game?... A quick google probably suggests no news yet...

[ciox]

Nice to see this thread! I really enjoy psyvariar, psyvariar 2 was ok too but I never fell in love it as much as with first one.

I play with ps2, too bad that series have not been ported to newer consoles.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There's a digital download version for PS3 that runs alright.

[qmish]

How do you deal with bosses, is what i can't understand maybe...

I'm pretty disappointed if this game is just another hitbox orgy one as i more hate than love them >< It burns my eyes that you need to draw in your mind some little area on your ship and then try to make it very close to bullets but not too close. Also that crazy boss patterns which are fast walls of bullets and you need to roll touching them but not to die at same time.

Really, i adore bullethells for their existance, but all that "oh look really tiny point on screen and you need to make it several mm apart from other tiny things" makes me ragequit all of that. Though in case with Psy2 i might be also just don't gettin the system in my mind... r u saying that u have invisibility when gauge is full?

[ciox]

You get some invincibility whenever you fill the gauge and level up, the invincibility time is indicated by that glowing orb that gets smaller over time
Grazing ain't easy overall but it becomes easier if you roll, that makes your hitbox smaller and your graze radius bigger.

[qmish]

Hm, thanks.

I find myself being caught in trap when i aim at "safe place" in enemy "spider net of bullets" while trying to touch them so electricity happens and then overall pattern changes and anavoidable mess of incoming stuff kills me.

That being said, for me Psy 2 one of aesthetically beautiful games ever, especially when i watch how someone plays it who is good.