Hyper Duel

[jp]

Wow... last night, by some sort of weird fluke, I made it to the final boss. Oddly enough, I did this using the 03 ship, probably my worst ship (and the score definitely reflects that, as a level 7 score with 01 is higher!).


But regardless, I must say, WOW! I mean, I've played through most of Tecno Soft's shmups (TFII, III, IV, V, Blast Wind), but none of them really delivered on the final boss as well as I feel Hyper Duel does (mind you, thats saying a lot since all of the above except maybe TFII have in-fucking-credible final bosses).

Before I get into the awesomeness that is the final boss, I would like to point out that the pacing is superb, which places Hyper Duel above all other Tecno Soft shmups for me.


Level 1 is incredibly short and easy all while showing off the scoring system and making you use the Armor.
Level 2 is a bit difficult if you don't use the special, but otherwise not so bad.
Level 3... I'm undecided. Its cool, its fairly short, and the challenge is sorta there... but otherwise its kind of drab. Also, the boss, while simple enough, is cheap as hell at times (bouncing rocks anybody?).
Level 4 is spectacular, and presents a solid challenge making you utilize everything you've picked up in the previous levels.
Level 5 is a bonus round, or kind of an intermission between the learning levels and the kick that ass levels. Oodles of points, incredible background, and just a fun little level.
Level 6 is hard. Very doable, but hard. Also, the boss is borderline manic as far as I'm concerned.
Level 7 is kind of strange, in that its incredibly easy aside from the two giant spider mini-bosses and the final boss. Maybe its yet another psuedo-intermission between the difficult 6th level and the final boss?

Level 8:
When I first fired up Hyper Duel a year ago, I had in mind what I thought would be a great final level. I mean, with 8 levels, there's no reason the final level shouldn't just be a huge ass boss fight right? 8 levels is a lot... and by that time I think most shmup-os are ready to fight the final baddy and go home. Well...




--SPOILERS--




It fucking delivers man! It exceeded my expectations. Imagine approaching this giant mech like monstrosity that you have to battle piece by piece... and THEN SEEING THE LEVEL 4 BOSS SHOW UP TO HELP YOU OUT!!!!! Amazing. Awesome. Awe inspiring. But thats not all. At the end of the battle, the level 4 boss gets captured and assimilated by the enemy, and the final "Hyper Duel" takes place in outer space over the Earth's atmosphere. The scenery, the music, the fight... incredible. Absolutely breath taking. Even the pumped up finale of Blast Wind takes a back seat to the genious that is the final boss battle in Hyper Duel.

Sadly, I got owned by the final boss quite hard. Fast homing lasers and bullet-sprays do not bode well for a first encounter. And especially not with my worst ship! But regardless, I can't wait to 1CC this gem and see the ending, given that its Tecno Soft I know it won't disappoint.




--SPOILER--




So yes, bottom line, Hyper Duel (at least the Saturn version, I find the arcade version to be nigh on impossible since its missing the Gunlock... but then again, maybe staying in Armor mode for periods of time isn't the best strategy in the world), is the shit, and IMO the best... yes, the best, it has now surpassed Border Down for me, hori, in all of existence ever bar none. It is fairly challenging (possibly Tecno Soft's hardest shmup? I haven't played Eliminate Down so mehbe!), it has great pacing, some of the best music in any shmup, and the gameplay is just ole school fun. Rock. On!

[Rob]

You mean Elemental Master (not Eliminate Down). EM is easy.

[GaijinPunch]

I've been playing it (this week) quit a bit. I see there's no thread for it in the Hi Scores area. I wonder why. I'm not such a huge Thunderforce fan, but am really enjoying HD.

[jp]

I've been playing it (this week) quit a bit. I see there's no thread for it in the Hi Scores area. I wonder why. I'm not such a huge Thunderforce fan, but am really enjoying HD.

Done and done.


I'm also going to make a ST guide on Saturday. I should have it 1CC'd by then.

[Skyknight]

The names of the songs...

Attract mode: "Opening"
Vehicle choice: "Select"
St. 1: "Buster Gear"/"Cyber Fleet" (the first on the soundtrack CD, the second apparently from the Saturn disc; keep in mind that this was originally an arcade title)
St. 1/7 boss: "Void Kraken"
St. 2: "Overdrive"/"Full Burner"
St. 2 boss: "Cry Bringer"
St. 3: "Hidden Moon"
St. 3 boss: "I.W.A.O."
St. 4: "Cosmo Babylon"
St. 4 boss: "Black Angel"
St. 5: "Count Down"
St. 6: "Black Rain"
St. 6 boss: "Nightmare"
St. 7: "Night Sweeper"
St. 8: "Bloody Government"
Final battle: "Hyper Duel"
Ending: "Negative Power"
Name entry: "Congratulation!!"

I'm guessing that at least the first four boss themes are just named for the bosses themselves...

[GaijinPunch]

I'm also going to make a ST guide on Saturday. I should have it 1CC'd by then.

I will read it. I got to Stage 7 I believe, and completely choked. The thing is, the end of the game isnt' that hard until the last boss... just easy to screw up. RU playing Saturn or Arcade mode?

[jp]

Saturn. I want to 1CC Saturn Mode before dwelling into the "harder" AC mode.



I kind of agree about the difficulty. Mind you, I find the start of stage 4 (laser shooting bullet spraying thing) fairly challenging, and any boss past the 4th is fairly difficult IMO.


But for the final level, yeah, its easy until you get to the "Super Kick Your Ass Happy Hour" boss with his homing lasers and all sorts of other nastiness.

[Cthulhu]

I bought Hyper Duel on a cash-infused whim back when I was living in Osaka (I had just gotten some money mailed to me and it was calling my name from the shelves), and I was really, really pleased with it. Best "transforming mech" shooter ever if you ask me.

...turned out better than one of my other on-a-whim rare games, Fausette Amour... that game was -NOT- worth the money. Not a shmup though, so I'll stop complaining about it here.

[Icarus]

If you know how to deal with that huge laser on the final boss' final form, please let me know. I've cleared Hyper Duel lots of times but I can never figure out the behavior of the laser's firing pattern - sometimes it moves just a tiny bit, sometimes it sweeps the entire height of the screen, sometimes it moves in the opposite direction to your ship's location - and knowing the way the laser will move is key to surviving the last boss' insanely difficult patterns.

And yeah, I love Hyper Duel too. It's tied with TF4 for Technosoft's best game.

[GaijinPunch]

I kind of agree about the difficulty. Mind you, I find the start of stage 4 (laser shooting bullet spraying thing) fairly challenging, and any boss past the 4th is fairly difficult IMO.

I honestly die a lot on stage 2. :/
-Stage 4 boss I think is the easiest next to the first.
-Stage 6 boss... easier than it looks. You just gotta twitch, and in Saturn mode, it's smart to transform into the mech and unload the "bomb"
-Stage 7 boss - the crab thing. I've found it best to stay in mech form (w/o locking your gun) and have your gun horizontal to the very top of the boss. When he fires any round bullets, just shoot 'em (up and down motion while firing). It's easier said than done, but you can figure it out.
-Stage 8 boss -- I suck at. Help!

[brokendivide]

Really like this game, though find it much easier than any of the TF games for some reason.

The stage 7 boss, if you position yourself right (in mech form), you don't need to move ie more points. The stuff that rains down gets taken out, and for some reason, the horizontal bullets he fires won't go above the mech's waist. But getting the right position is a little hit and miss.

[BrianC]

You mean Elemental Master (not Eliminate Down). EM is easy.

Have you played in Japanese mode? I heard that it's harder in Japanese mode.

[Diabollokus]

Yeah I after hyper duel myself saw it buy it now £40 from germany should have picked it up.

If you can 1CC eliminate down your a dam king of shmuppin its tough as nails contender for best genesis hori.


So hyper duel is worth the money? I love tf4 is the music rockin?

[jp]

The music in Hyper Duel is superb, and up to the Tecno Soft standard, easily.



As for the bosses:
Stage 1: Stay in the corner in Armor mode, fire down. When it moves, just move to the other side of the screen and let your allies kill it.

Stage 2: Try to stay in the bottom or top corner of the screen, this will make the boss move to the top or bottom of the screen, so that you can move to the opposite end and stay away from the circular bullet spray and the machine gun/laser beam. Just make sure you keep your eyes peeled for the little circle of bullets that will chase you.

Stage 3: Stay up top in armor mode and shoot down on the boss. Use the super attack to take out loose rocks and homing missiles if you miss any. Once the cannon is out, move about 1.5 inches from the ground and all the way to the back of the screen. Get into ship mode and just sit there and hold down the fire button.

Stage 4: Take out the helper mechs as soon as the fight starts, and then just focus on blasting the main mech. If it goes into ship mode, move down and keep firing up until it gets close, then go into ship mode so that the uber beam doesn't fry you. Keep killing those damn mechs with the super attack whenever they show up.

Stage 6: Ship mode for the bullet hell, armor mode for when it stops to unleash the fireballs/homing missiles. Use the special attack if it looks like a bullet may hit you.

Stage 7: Get into Armor and stay in the top back corner and unload on it. When it goes into the death throws move around a little to avoid the random bullet clusters.

Stage 8: Be skilled?

[jp]

Yeah I after hyper duel myself saw it buy it now £40 from germany should have picked it up.


So hyper duel is worth the money? I love tf4 is the music rockin?

I've bought Hyper Duel twice, and I think I've paid $230 for it thus far, and IMO its worth THAT. So yes, its worth 40GBP.

[gabrielesquaratti]

i've bought it.i've played some times these days....i can manage to reach level 7 1cc...soon i will 1cc it!


then i want to try the hardest difficulty setting...i think that level 6 boss on very hard will be hellish

[boagman]

Holy freaking bump of a lifetime!

[GaijinPunch]

The best thing about bumps here are you see so many nostalgic names.

[scrilla4rella]

Necro-bumps is teh thread ever!!
-
I've noticed that this game has gotten a lot harder to find and also a lot more expensive both on Yahoo Auctions and in Akiba. Trader's had a complete copy with a price of 25,000 on it. I quickly dismissed it as a ridiculous price and moved on. When I came back the next week it was gone, suggesting someone actually payed the 25,000! It makes the current ebay price look decent.

[Pretas]

It's a shame the easily emulated arcade version is such a step down.

[Ex_Mosquito]

The arcade version is a step down? How so? I prefer the raw chip tune music of the arcade version personally, and missing 'lock-on' option just adds a little challenge, innit

Awesome game, though. I managed to 1-life it earlier on in the year. It's no R-Type, but it's a pretty decent game I thought.

http://youtu.be/LG44FlNxJd8

[scrilla4rella]

I'm working on a 1CC of the arcade game then will move onto the arranged mode. I know that once I get into the Arrange I'll never want to go back to the Arcade so I figure I might as well try to get my $150 worth and beat both modes.

[Sinful]

You know, this game really has awesome graphics/enemy & level design. Makes me feel all nostalgic of top of the line Arcade type graphics of the golden era. Hmm. Yum, yum, nostalgic Arcade graphics. ... That is all I have to say.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Is the Saturn mode considered easy? I read it was harder than arcade, but didn't conduct any thorough examination.

[Sinful]

Is the Saturn mode considered easy? I read it was harder than arcade, but didn't conduct any thorough examination.

Well I assume being able to look you mech form shots would be a big help. But it would be awesome if Technosoft countered this by making the game harder. But I have yet to get into this game, gonna wait until I finish with the Thunderforce series first... but I'd like to know this answer too.

[Kollision]

IIRC Saturn mode is a tiny bit harder than arcade.

[Sinful]

Joy. Thanks, Kollision.

[Captain]

Does the Saturn Version come with the secret TF music?