These are my Shmup confessions...

[Jonst]

Im not finding espgaluda as easy as everyone seems to think (well stage 5 and boss anyway, the rest is peasy).
I dont think i'll ever beat any of the hibachis in arcade modes
see above, in my little average shmupper world i count completing all levels and the last boss as my 1cc
Ibari looks ugly to me.
i dont like hori shmups, but i love vert ones in the cab.
I dont understand any hatred towards cave, they make cool shmups anything else doesnt matter to me.
Im not scared of bomb spamming.

Prob lots more, but this is a fun thread and wanted to contribute

I have the same problem with espgaluda,I moaned about it a while back! I can make it fairly consistently to the final stage mid boss with a good stock of lives,then just lose them back to back to silly mistakes then by the time I'm on the final boss' forms,I have one life left.as always I fail when the boss is down to a sliver of energy.this has happened so many times...eventually it just becomes to tedious to keep playing through then I just give up! So,no...you are not alone in thinking this!

[Jonst]

I get angry. real angry.
No other genre makes me rage as much as shmups and I can only theorize that its because you don't do as well as you're capable of most of the time. When you're in the zone it's all great, but how often is one in the zone?
And of course; you're playing yourself instead of someone else.
If I've practiced a game i suffer heavily from restart syndrome.. If I lose concentration and ruin a great run later in the game, the self flagellation begins..
I've never really done this but, thanks to getting into shmups I've formed a rather nasty habit of punching myself in the head after a clumsy death. Anyone else do similar? I imagine there's a lot of controller throwing

I used to have all these things...I agree with your theory.these days I think I'm much calmer if it all goes tits! There's no point to getting in a rage,it didn't change anything,I still fucked up the run and felt like a twat for overreacting to game! but,getting really angry does happen with some people,so you wouldn't be alone on that one.

[gs68]

I get a little disheartened whenever I set a new record score I'm proud of, hit up the game's respective high score thread, only to realize that submitting a score would put me in last place.

I mean yeah the point is encouragement to get better but it feels a bit like a self-inflicted form of taking a test, thinking you did acceptably well on it, only to fail because of the grading curve.

[Sarethums]

i try hard as balls 100% to beat my high score and as soon as ive surpassed it i feel lethargic and want to quit or suicide just to save the 'new high score'. this is what was my greatest challenge was becoming a geometry wars champ.

sarethums

[Jonst]

I get a little disheartened whenever I set a new record score I'm proud of, hit up the game's respective high score thread, only to realize that submitting a score would put me in last place.

I mean yeah the point is encouragement to get better but it feels a bit like a self-inflicted form of taking a test, thinking you did acceptably well on it, only to fail because of the grading curve.

same!

[gs68]

* Part of why I'll quit trying to play a game for score is because I watch superplays and see that WR runs involve milking bosses for the absolute maximum time possible. What do you mean that boss has a long 10-minute timer? YOU'RE GOING TO MILK IT AND LIKE IT.
* I give no fucks if a character or ship I'm using is high- or low-tier. If I enjoy it I'll use it. Usually as far as leaderboards and other such indirect competition goes that's what character-specific boards are for.

[PedroMD]

* Part of why I'll quit trying to play a game for score is because I watch superplays and see that WR runs involve milking bosses for the absolute maximum time possible. What do you mean that boss has a long 10-minute timer? YOU'RE GOING TO MILK IT AND LIKE IT.

The moment I discovered what the term milking meant, I thought "nope, no way I'm ever gonna do that". It's the point where playing the game stops being for fun or improvement and just becomes work.

[gs68]

On a slightly-irrelevant note, that's why I don't take scoring in Sin & Punishment: Star Successor seriously. Very long boss timers + milkable projectiles and enemies during bosses especially at x16 multiplier = no thanks.

And on a more relevant note...

Part of why I like Gradius Gaiden is because every ship is good. Not often do I play a game where I actually play every single ship, character, or shot type available. I usually choose depending on what tactics I feel like going with for the day. Do I want the balanced Vic Viper, the penetrating Lord British with its sliding 2-way missiles, air-to-ground assault with Jade Knight, or splash damage abuse with Falchion Beta?

[hecheff]

The moment I saw MUSHA Alesta mentioned on this thread, I ran a search for Rule 34 of the lead character but found nothing.
... myeh.

[gs68]

I like that Hellsinker has bosses that only end on timeout (Perpetual Calendar's last form, seg7 Rex Cavalier, Unnamed 290, Garland+771). The fact that all the other bosses have to be milked for as long as the timer--which is lenient enough that killing the bosses straight results in a lot of leftover time--to get the best scores is a turn-off for me.

[hecheff]

I think this is just Drakon's work.

Just noticed this.
Is that Bubble Memory?

[Captain]

I like that Hellsinker has bosses that only end on timeout (Perpetual Calendar's last form, seg7 Rex Cavalier, Unnamed 290, Garland+771). The fact that all the other bosses have to be milked for as long as the timer--which is lenient enough that killing the bosses straight results in a lot of leftover time--to get the best scores is a turn-off for me.

on your decision, its absolutely.

[nasty_wolverine]

I like that Hellsinker has bosses that only end on timeout (Perpetual Calendar's last form, seg7 Rex Cavalier, Unnamed 290, Garland+771). The fact that all the other bosses have to be milked for as long as the timer--which is lenient enough that killing the bosses straight results in a lot of leftover time--to get the best scores is a turn-off for me.

on your decision, its absolutely.

Keep your Dignity.

[Squire Grooktook]

I honestly feel character shmups are more suited to the genre for me than space ships. I see the player craft as more of an avatar of the player than anything else, so something more humanoid in aesthetic gels better for me.

[Wyrmnus]

I hate games with overly-complicated (in my opinion) scoring (Galuda 2, Mushi Maniac/Ultra, Deathsmiles, etc.)
I hate looping games to the point that I refuse to play a looping game outside of tournaments/events (which sucks, because I'd like to get into DOJ/DFK/Ketsui but the thought of playing two loops in the [very, very distant] future just UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH).
I hate milking (MMP/DFKBL/etc) as well as slowly destroying boss parts (Garegga/Bakraid/Batrider/Ibara/etc).
I hate point-blanking but mostly because I'm just fucking bad at it.
I'm not a big fan of all-or-nothing scoring (DDP/DOJ/DFK come most readily to mind) but I recognize that it's just because I suck and get discouraged easily.
Mars Matrix is the shit but I can't seem to bring myself around to going back for the counterstop.
I tried really hard to get into Touhou but I'm just not a fan. At least I can say I tried.
I don't like sticks and greatly prefer pads.
I think SDOJ 360 Mode is the best mode in the game as long as voices are turned way, way down.

My "personal statement" from an OT thread: I get frustrated with games incredibly fast which almost always leads to me giving up after a few days and switching games. Then I get frustrated because I don't stick to any one game long enough to ever get good at these games. Then I get frustrated because I'm completely aware of this fault and never seem to fix it. The longest I've ever spent on a single STG is a month and a half for Mars Matrix, followed by 360 Mode for SDOJ at two weeks, followed by seven days for PCB Lunatic. Any other score or clear I've done is within 2-3 days because I just get burned out/angry too fast. I lack discipline, and I've been told several times, "The skill is there. You just really need to start actually trying." I've got serious respect for people who are able to stick to games despite the frustration and slow progress regardless of their scores.

Starting to wonder if maybe I should just quit altogether. I like dodgin' boolitz and shootin' things, but I'm stymied on a scoring system that doesn't make me want to hit things. Meh.

You and me, man. We're like.. the same. Cept I spend less time on STGs, like a week. Primarily because of my pride. I look at all the video links on YT and I mutter to myself ' Arrogant fuckers. Looking down on me as always. ' So what do I try to do. I try to do exactly what they do, but I start from an easier difficulty, assuming that I'd be able to learn my way up.

But you know what happens? I can't even clear some games on the EASIEST DIFFICULTY. You have ANY FUCKING IDEA HOW DISCOURAGING THAT IS!?!?!? I get way too frustrated at my lack of ability to learn as fast as the Shmups forum users and I definitely get jealous at what I feel are enemies. I just.. cringe at the thought of being looked down upon with a grin on people's faces. I hate it, man.

[Cagar]

I honestly feel character shmups are more suited to the genre for me than space ships. I see the player craft as more of an avatar of the player than anything else, so something more humanoid in aesthetic gels better for me.

It's the opposite for me: DESTRUCTION of high-tech stuff and EXPLOSIONS feel better, and it's hard to make flashy but natural feeling destruction if there are humanoid characters

[Furry Fox Jet Pilot]

I find Battle Garegga to be utterly average.

Agreed.
Also, the only game I have ever managed to reach the second loop on 1 credit is Fire Barrel. The only games I have 1CC'd is Battle Bakraid's Normal Course and Raiden DX's Training Course with 100% secrets and 99.2% enemies destroyed, but I used a few bombs somewhere.

[Muchi Muchi Spork]

I want to murder (in cold blood) everyone here who hasn't downloaded Donpaccin.

[Runefaust]

My turn:
- Akai Katana is God (Ketsui comes 2nd)
- I like Bakraid much more than Garegga
- I hate Gradius
- I hate Batrider
- Gallop is awesome
- I don't give a damn about Spine Cards
- My Eliminate Down is a China clone
- Raiden looks ugly for me
- When there is character artwork, i tend to play girls for being sexy and cute
- I hate games with no Full Auto
- Robo Aleste surpasses Musha in almost every aspect
- I killed and phoenixed my Progear to get rid of the suicide battery
- Until recently i did not know Thunderforce II has hori levels. I tried several times playing it but always quit after 1 minute because the first overhead stage sucks so much. I youtubed it to see how other levels look like and i was OMG!!!
- I tried to read the entire thread but lost interest on page 3
...you still reading?

[Wyrmnus]

I want to murder (in cold blood) everyone here who hasn't downloaded Donpaccin.

Noooot sure how I can do that with my phone. Unless some PC version has appeared or something.

[Muchi Muchi Spork]

Well then Wyrmnus I can't tell you how to pronounce your name but I can tell you the scene I'm going to paint for you is not unlike one from a 1980s Schwarzenegger movie with a take, a kill, then a one liner. First I'm gonna snatch your dumbphone away from your hands. Then I'm going to thrust it into your nose at a 45 degree upward angle sending phone and bone fragments into your brain and killing you instantly. Then I'll say "give me a call, Wyrmnus" in my best Arnie voice.

So does anybody else here not want to buy an iPhone and download Donpaccin? Anybody?

[-S.L-]

I have an iphone 5 AND and iPad and still not interrested to get Donpaccin

Give me one good reason to get it (appart of the fact that you want to kill me)

[Pteriforever]

I get angry. real angry.
No other genre makes me rage as much as shmups and I can only theorize that its because you don't do as well as you're capable of most of the time. When you're in the zone it's all great, but how often is one in the zone?
And of course; you're playing yourself instead of someone else.
If I've practiced a game i suffer heavily from restart syndrome.. If I lose concentration and ruin a great run later in the game, the self flagellation begins..
I've never really done this but, thanks to getting into shmups I've formed a rather nasty habit of punching myself in the head after a clumsy death. Anyone else do similar? I imagine there's a lot of controller throwing

Wow, I do EXACTLY the same thing

[Muchi Muchi Spork]

I have an iphone 5 AND and iPad and still not interrested to get Donpaccin

Give me one good reason to get it (appart of the fact that you want to kill me)

Best ios game ever and without it you're dead.

[Wyrmnus]

Well then Wyrmnus I can't tell you how to pronounce your name but I can tell you the scene I'm going to paint for you is not unlike one from a 1980s Schwarzenegger movie with a take, a kill, then a one liner. First I'm gonna snatch your dumbphone away from your hands. Then I'm going to thrust it into your nose at a 45 degree upward angle sending phone and bone fragments into your brain and killing you instantly. Then I'll say "give me a call, Wyrmnus" in my best Arnie voice.

So does anybody else here not want to buy an iPhone and download Donpaccin? Anybody?

Well. Damn

[-S.L-]

I have an iphone 5 AND and iPad and still not interrested to get Donpaccin

Give me one good reason to get it (appart of the fact that you want to kill me)

Best ios game ever and without it you're dead.

What so good about it ? Isn't it all in Japanese ? (menu etc...)

[Muchi Muchi Spork]

You really need to play it (correctly) to understand. I don't think I could explain any Cave game in text that would do justice to the gameplay. The menus are in Japanese but most of them are yes or no and the others we have mostly translated. I can't read anything but English and I'm on Rank 13. If you read the Donpaccin thread and the strategy thread you will be able to play it.

[Wyrmnus]

Just a rant of anger.

Fuck ESPGALUDA. On MAME anyway. I could save state as much as I want. That final Boss' Final pattern is fucking impossible. I'd have to literately slow down time in order to weave in between that shit AND dodge the oncoming bullets from above just to clear that shit.

My confession here is that I got so pissed at this that when I finally gave it up, in order NOT to break something, I bit my own arm. It's the only thing I could think of. Punching a pillow won't do me any good, and I'm not in a position to make holes in walls.

/end rant.

[Muchi Muchi Spork]

You're doing it wrong. All you have to do is tap block right before you get hit then run to the side of the screen to release the laser where it doesn't hit the boss. If it hits the boss it refills his energy. Use the little bit of invincibility and a few seconds of dodging to hit him with your normal shot and then repeat. So long as you reach him with enough resources, which is easy, you can beat him easily without having to master the weave pattern at all.

[Wyrmnus]

I'll give that strategy a go. Thanks, Muchi

EDIT: After some trial and error I managed to nab the clear