How do you keep your nerves cool?

[D-KMR]

When you're so close to achieving your goal?
Not neccessarily to do with shumps so I thought "Off Topic" would be a good place to put it

I'm so close to getting my 2nd 1cc ever (Espgaluda) but start panicking like crazy when I reach 5-2 and that extremely long last boss, how do you guys pull through in situations like these?

Oh and hi guys, thought I'd finally make an account after lurking in these parts for a little while

[Skykid]

You'll never completely shake the adrenaline, and why would you want to? That buzz is what it's all about, and where shmups excel as a genre. It bottles the rush and forces you to drink every time. Get the clear and you may as well have conquered the world. Flip the TV the bird, stand up and punch the air.

Best coping mechanism is practice and little else.

Welcome to the forum. This thread is in the wrong place, needs to go to Shmups Chat.

[D-KMR]

You're right Sky, thanks for the inspirational words.
I lost sight of the reason why I was doing this in the first place.
I will git gud. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxGRhd_iWuE

[Bananamatic]

play more, once you get there for the 20th time(and you start getting there on a regular basis) it becomes less stressing

or take a shortcut and hit the bong

[dunpeal2064]

play more, once you get there for the 20th time(and you start getting there on a regular basis) it becomes less stressing

or take a shortcut and hit the bong

One of these two methods helped me nail a Galuda 1cc, this guy knows what he's talking about.

Also, practice the boss until its boring. Then, when you get there with more resources than necessary, just play it safe and the clear should come. Galuda has a lot of resources to take advantage of.

[Jonst]

Yeah,I was going to say the same as above.also try not expect too much.just play like "I'll try my best and see what happens" don't put to much pressure on yourself.I used to get the old sweaty palms and all that (still do from time to time) but it's true,the more you start hitting late stages and final bosses,the more you expect to get there and does indeed become less stressful.Having said that,constantly reaching a final boss and not clearing whatever game can drive you mad!

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Familiarity. The more you play shmups, the more you'll feel like you know what's ahead, and where it'll be safe to throw a bomb. Knowing what to expect takes away from the tension a lot. This doesn't apply to single games either; as you play more shmups, you'll get used to bullet patterns and recognize the various types of attacks, for instance, it becomes easier the more you play to see when shots are aimed at you and you can think "oh, I just need to tap dodge this", or you'll recognize attacks similar to others you've dealt with in the past, so you'll feel more comfortable dodging them.

[drauch]

Juuust the right amount of alcohol.

[dunpeal2064]

Juuust the right amount of alcohol.

ST please

By the end of Gradius V I always end up either sober or drunk as fuck.

[DataDream]

I just tell myself that failing isn't a very big deal, and that I can always try again if I fail. Definitely helped me a lot over the years for gaming, now I'm pretty calm when playing.

[RegalSin]

I just realize the game was made for children, and their is no mathematical side of it. If a five year old can figure it out, what is stopping a fifty year old?
As a kid, I had that problem, I would get to worked up, about things, thiking it was just as real as me. But now I realize, everything is a hitbox ( some hit boxes are smaller then others ), and it does not matter if the ficitonal world is saved or not.

[Blinge]

I just realize the game was made for children, and their is no mathematical side of it.

get out.

[Bananamatic]

I couldn't figure out stage 2 of Gradius when I was 10

[drauch]

I just realize the game was made for children, and their is no mathematical side of it.

get out.

New favorite quotes.

[null1024]

This isn't strictly a shmups only thing. I'll be doing time attacks for Ridge Racer or something, beautiful first two laps, and the excitement of such a brilliant run makes me completely fuck up the third. Usually results in an immediate reset, since I know I can't recover and still beat my best time.
I have to remind myself of something I learned when I was very young and played Street Fighter: "as soon as the word 'perfect' appears in your mind, you will get hit" -- and it's held true as long as I can remember, barring godly luck [since if I think that word, a misinput is on its way!].

Unfortunately, my next run usually won't be as perfect [and thus I won't get past my best time], so the ruinous word will never even enter my head.

[Illyrian]

Juuust the right amount of alcohol.

This is actually a thing that has worked for me in the past. I 1cc'd Raiden Fighters 2 primarily because I had a buzz on from white wine and was chilled out nicely.

[retrojc]

Honestly, I have never 1CC'd by the skin of my teeth. I practice hard, then basically when I know I'm on the last boss I unleash the stock of bombs and then scream. Punch the air, and then that's that.

-

[D-KMR]

Cheers for all the responses guys, I really appreciate the advice.
Guess it's time to hit up those savestates

Juuust the right amount of alcohol.

Duly noted.

[Wyrmnus]

Juuust the right amount of alcohol.

This is actually a thing that has worked for me in the past. I 1cc'd Raiden Fighters 2 primarily because I had a buzz on from white wine and was chilled out nicely.

QFT. A few beers would sometimes give me quite the win streak on UMVC3

[evil_ash_xero]

I.V. sedation.

[rugdoctor]

beta blockers, does wonders for the blood pressure too.

[Khan]

Masterbation, yes im being serious it helps to relax atleast it does with me.

[rugdoctor]

definitely bringing my alcohol wipes (and a bottle of bleach) if ever I play at your place.

[drauch]

Masterbation, yes im being serious it helps to relax atleast it does with me.

Play with one hand?

[shmuppyLove]

I'm actually going to give some real advice for once!

Play with something other than the game music. The game audio is designed to manipulate you, and you'd be surprised at how different you feel when listening to something else.

I haven't really tried different types of music to see if there's any difference, but probably stay away from something like dubstep or screamo.

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

I actually do better when I'm talking to someone else while playing. I guess it helps keeps my mind off how terrible I'm doing at the game.

[DEL]

"How do I keep my nerves cool?"

I don't.

[system11]

I don't, and often it bites me.

Case in point I was trying to 1CC Robocop a week ago after watching iast stream it. I knew I could do it, I've done it before but not for about a decade. So I fired up the PCB and played through to the very end on my first attempt, but just before the final boss my hands started shaking and then I walked straight into a turret ambush, and then I fucked it up totally at the boss.

Used to happen to me in Phantasy Star Universe too, I was part of the racing/clan circuit and in races every time the heart rate would soar and I'd get the shakes, but I'd played that game so much I was able to autopilot through it.