Shmup Nightmares (or, your WORST frustrations in a shmup).

[EPS21]

Big ball of death (TLB last pattern) in Mushihimesama. Now of course I'm not nearly good enough to actually get that far on one credit, but perhaps if I was maybe it wouldn't look so inhuman to do. And no matter how many times I play it I can't fathom how one even practices it.

[devilmanozzy]

Gradius V stage 5 the boss! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlSp1osh4N4

That brought me to tears, and of coarse the game has no mercy. "You need more practice" .....No you need to die already!

[RoninBuddha]

Raiden - getting the WRONG POWERUPS

[SFKhoa]

Mushihimesama Futari 1.5 Ultra - Stage 1.

[null1024]

Just. Fucking. Happened.

Died in R-Type at same time as boss. You are then unable to move when you respawn, and are killed again.


Damnit, this shit only is supposed to happen to people who play Gradius!

[gameoverDude]

One word: Checkpoints. This is one big reason I prefer the Salamander series (in general) over Gradius. Gradius V gets a nod for giving you the Revival Start option to turn them off. The checkpoint mechanic is obsolete and doesn't really belong in newer titles.

At least some games with checkpoints don't send you back too far, such as Border Down. This one manages to pull off a more fair CP system. You could even get pulled ahead if you're far enough along in the section, but you may not want that if you're playing for score (strategic suicide time!).

I agree on "Darius II" syndrome. Your ship is powered up, and then you die. You don't just lose a little bit of weapon power ala Darius Gaiden. NOOO. You get a mint condition, factory fresh Silver Hawk with... *drumroll* JACK SHIT, as in a piss-weak single shot and missile. You may as well forgo any attempt to grab the 1Ups. They don't matter.

Air Buster's zero-gravity mechanic in later levels is annoying. When you bring the stick back to neutral, the ship doesn't stop. Ugh.

I dread the OMG power-down in Parodius Da. That's not funny, Konami! It's sick. dieKatze88- I agree, this takes the fucked up cookie, eats it, and asks for the cake.

[sunburstbasser]

I also enjoy Salamander a bit more than Gradius, and have been playing a ton of each Thunder Cross game. Those two are worth checking out, I actually prefer them to Gradius II.

If checkpoints are done well I don't mind. Xevious, of all things, got it right. Get far enough ahead and if you die, you'll just start in the next zone. Seems we've taken a step back since then. In something like Gradius you just don't get anything back and in most Gradius games you are somewhat expected to be powered up beyond two speedups to beat the game. Konami really built a lot of "fuck you" moments into Gradius.

Hell, the thread could be Worst Frustrations (Gradius not included) and it'd be done within 4 posts!

[saucykobold]

Image Fight's second penalty area is completely outrageous.

I agree on "Darius II" syndrome. Your ship is powered up, and then you die. [...] You may as well forgo any attempt to grab the 1Ups. They don't matter.

I wouldn't go that far. If you die in the last level, you can use the rest of your lives to sputter to the finish line.

[monkeyman]

The one good thing about checkpoint games is that I can credit feed and still get a sense of achievement when I beat a level!
and I use the word 'beat' in the loosest sense of the term of course