Deathsmiles IIX (Xbox 360) - GoD US/Can/Mex, Platinum JP

[charlie chong]

DIS GAYME SUCKZ ON CRT
I GOT ARCAYDE MODE LOOKING OK (YOU CAN SIZE THE SCREEN IN THE SPECIFIC GAME OPTIONS UNLIKE 2X MODE ) THE MENUS ETC ARE CONFUSING AND NOT WELL THOUGH OUT

[Elixir]

spadgy, did you play X mode on level 3, plus the amusement park-> castle?

The difficulty there is hardly "hollow".

"average" would be a better term. The only thing I find difficult on Lv3 via all paths is Satan Claws, when he starts jumping around the screen. Then I freak the fuck out and die.

[spadgy]

spadgy, did you play X mode on level 3, plus the amusement park-> castle?

The difficulty there is hardly "hollow".

I admit my 'hardest' X-Mode 1CC is just with three levels on level 3, the rest on level 2, with the EX as well. So I'm yet to try for the full level 3 EX 1CC, but I think you miss my point.

I didn't mean to imply that I think the difficulty is hollow - I was using the idiom 'hollow victory' both with reference to a post above and to try and describe the general feeling I was left with after 'doing well' in X-Mode. My highest scoring X-mode run came from a very easy 1CC when I didn't know the game, and a glitch upped my score ten-fold. I'm sure you'd understand that that feels something like a hollow victory to me. Subsequently the online highscore boards feel a little lacking in substance to me, which rather undermines the feeling of meaning when I play X-mode.

I've tried many times since, and feel I'm developing more of an understanding of the mode, and yet I can't beat my 'best score'.

Anyway, I think this is perhaps just a case of a little semantic misunderstanding, and I'm not totally put off X-Mode. I'm just going to put a little more into Arcade Mode for now, as it feels like a tighter, better game to me.

[chempop]

The only thing I find difficult on Lv3 via all paths is Satan Claws

Same here, especially if I save my power-up juice for the earlier bosses, they go down so quick. I'd recommend not using Follett, Rosa, or Supe. There shots seem considerably stronger than Casper, Windia, and Lei's. Anyone agree or disagree with this?

As far as Arcade vs X-mode, I like them both a good deal. The patterns in X-mode are denser, but less aggressive I seems. I like canceling the suicide bullets with the lock shot in X-mode, but I the simplicity of Arcade is nice too. This is going to be a very close call.

About all the hate on recent Arrange modes: I keep reading negative feedback on Arrange modes in Futari, Galuda 2, and now DS2X, as if they somehow take away from your overall enjoyment of the port. Thankfully, I've enjoyed all of them immensely. I'd rather have an extra mode that is totally over the top and absurd, than not have one at all. They make a nice break from rigorous training and frustrating losses, seeing as how you are damn near invincible. Is it mostly the PCB users who complain about these extra modes or do most people wish they were excluded altogether?

[lmagus]

Never played a game in PCB, didnt LOVE all Arrange modes, but I'd definitely rather have them then not. It's good to have more options, even if not everyone likes them, they're there for those who do.

[emphatic]

Tried this very briefly (monitor is TATE) just to see how bad the screen mode was for Arcade mode, and it's... not good, but could probably be playable on a 4:3 if you really wanted to. Perhaps CAVE thought nobody would play this in the arcades anymore if they can have a full screen port in "glorious" high res at home? I hope this negligence of the "original mode" is limited to this release and won't be happening for future ports. I mean, what if they make a DDP-DFK port and add a BL port as DLC without TATE? I wouldn't buy it on principle.

[EOJ]

I like canceling the suicide bullets with the lock shot in X-mode, but I the simplicity of Arcade is nice too. This is going to be a very close call.

FYI in order to score well in Arcade you also cancel suicide sperm bullets repeatedly with the lock-shot. It takes a lot more skill than the dumbed down scoring in X-Mode.

do most people wish they were excluded altogether?

I just wish they didn't suck. Espgaluda 2's arrange was pretty good, though.

[xris]

I like arrange modes, getting to play a game with a wacky new rule set is fun. How could I complain about optional content? I also like that they are easy diversions.

[spadgy]

It might not deliver the nuanced scoring systems many of us love, but I've found the Arrange modes discussed above a lot of fun as novelties.

After some posts above like chempop's I've gone back to X-Mode just now, and had fun, but the fact I can't beat my glitch created score is infuriating!

[Trevor spencer]

Tried this very briefly (monitor is TATE) just to see how bad the screen mode was for Arcade mode, and it's... not good, but could probably be playable on a 4:3 if you really wanted to. Perhaps CAVE thought nobody would play this in the arcades anymore if they can have a full screen port in "glorious" high res at home? I hope this negligence of the "original mode" is limited to this release and won't be happening for future ports. I mean, what if they make a DDP-DFK port and add a BL port as DLC without TATE? I wouldn't buy it on principle.

Please , dont even joke

[TaygetaVendetta]

The abnormal clear bonuses are confirmed as a bug and will be fixed with the Mid-June patch, along with a leaderboard wipe according to this post on the blog.

Hopefully the DS 1.1MBL patch goes live around the same time the DSIIX patch is up.

[Phellan Wolf]

The abnormal clear bonuses are confirmed as a bug and will be fixed with the Mid-June patch, along with a leaderboard wipe according to this post on the blog.

Hopefully the DS 1.1MBL patch goes live around the same time the DSIIX patch is up.

I have been very critic wirh 5pb about the DOJ patch, but recently Cave is doing the same. They release their games with minor but really disturbing bugs that don't get a patch. I really hope they fix it but it is getting on my nerves recently because every game released has very stupid bugs. It is like they don't test their games before launch.

[Shuurin]

Sounds like its time to spam achievements and throw EX stage/score to the way side and just have fun. Ahahaha, I just got the glitch myself wasn't even playing seriously and ended up with 3.7 billion least it'll be fixed in mid-june.

[spadgy]

The abnormal clear bonuses are confirmed as a bug and will be fixed with the Mid-June patch, along with a leaderboard wipe according to this post on the blog.

Fantastic news! Thanks TaygetaVendetta. Time to focus on Arcade Mode until that time then. Unless I try and keep up my standard on X-Mode, which sounds like a recipe for getting a new high score that is wiped which I'll then never beat!

[thamasha69]

On my 29" PVM CRT, if I set Arcade Mode's screen size options to 150x150 and the overall game options to 130x100 (or maybe I mean 100x130), arcade mode is certainly playable, ad fills most of the screen

Thank you for this. I was unaware of the overall options resizing. Between that and my monitor's controls, I have full screen 4:3 (xbox 360 at 1280x720 vga). Sorry for the crap pic:

[EOJ]

Nice!!

[StarCreator]

Another idea for those trying to get Arcade to fill a 4:3 screen - have you tried going back out to the Xbox system settings and changing your display type to widescreen (so that it doesn't add the letterboxing on the top and bottom), then stretching it to fill the screen horizontally? This might only work at 480p or less though...

I would experiment myself, but I've been chained to my cubicle all weekend. x_x

[dmauro]

On my 29" PVM CRT, if I set Arcade Mode's screen size options to 150x150 and the overall game options to 130x100 (or maybe I mean 100x130), arcade mode is certainly playable, ad fills most of the screen

Thank you for this. I was unaware of the overall options resizing. Between that and my monitor's controls, I have full screen 4:3 (xbox 360 at 1280x720 vga). Sorry for the crap pic:

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/4631 ... nloadq.jpg

Great idea! The actual width you want is 134 (I turned the wallpaper on and increased until the wallpaper was completely gone). I actually make it a little thinner though just because for some reason this game puts out a wide signal and even with my hori size monitor knob turned all the way down, it still goes off screen a bit.

I've got arcade mode running full screen in my astro cab now.

[charlie chong]

NOT SURE IF I WANNA RESIZE MY HOME T.V JUST FOR THIS GAME
I MIGHT THO
MY TV IS ONLY 20 INCH

[chempop]

screw you guys who have adjusted your monitor or TV settings to get fullscreen arcade mode. I can't seem to find any zoom-in options on my 2000 sony wega trinitron 20"... I guess I'll be keeping an eye out for a new display, after all I've wanted a new dedicated hori screen for ages so my current one can be perma-tated.

Argh, I'm jealous!

[spadgy]

Glad to be of service thamasha69! In fact, I need to return thanks because your pic has prompted me to tinker with my PVM's myriad display settings to get a full screen pic.

On that subject...

screw you guys who have adjusted your monitor or TV settings to get fullscreen arcade mode. I can't seem to find any zoom-in options on my 2000 sony wega trinitron 20"... I guess I'll be keeping an eye out for a new display, after all I've wanted a new dedicated hori screen for ages so my current one can be perma-tated.

Argh, I'm jealous!

Have you tried accessing your TV's secret service menu? Many modern consumer TV's have hidden menus for engineers and repairmen that are accessed through a secret button combo (easily found online through the name and model number of your TV). That usually lets you play with the picture size beyond what you can normally do. A disclaimer from me though - I've been told this can lead to you ruining your TV. I should say you shouldn't do it, despite the fact it's never given me a problem. Just in case.... You shouldn't do it.


And dmauro - I went for 134 first too, but had to drop to about 128 to squeeze it all in.

[Trevor spencer]

screw you guys who have adjusted your monitor or TV settings to get fullscreen arcade mode. I can't seem to find any zoom-in options on my 2000 sony wega trinitron 20"... I guess I'll be keeping an eye out for a new display, after all I've wanted a new dedicated hori screen for ages so my current one can be perma-tated.

Argh, I'm jealous!

Dont get rid of that TV yet , i own a 21" sony and adjust the GEOM sttings in the service menu , works a treat

http://myweb.accessus.net/~090/sonypal.html

I enter mine by swithing the TV off into standby mode and then press this button combo

power
i+
5
Volume +

[emphatic]

Another idea for those trying to get Arcade to fill a 4:3 screen - have you tried going back out to the Xbox system settings and changing your display type to widescreen (so that it doesn't add the letterboxing on the top and bottom), then stretching it to fill the screen horizontally? This might only work at 480p or less though...

I would experiment myself, but I've been chained to my cubicle all weekend. x_x

480p running as widescreen gives you some extra size actually. Not much, but every little bit helps.

[dan76]

I posted about switching the 360 to 16:9 mode a couple of pages back - doesn't really make much difference. The game somehow knew - but as the achievements were unlocking they were all stretched tall. The only other thing i can think of is that some old dvd/vhs players allow you to put them into 16:9. It might work if you run the 360 via scart into one of these with a scart output. Seems like a lot of hassle and there may be some lag. I'll try this at the weekend and post if it works.

I 1cc'd Arcade mode last night for the first time - got around 250mil with Windia - but at the end of the credits the screen went black - just as it was about to show my score card. I don't know if this is another bug... or my 360 is on the way out. I turned the 360 off and on - everything was fine. Weird though.

I got to admit that Arcade mode seems a bit slight compared to the original DS and X mode. It's a real shame the 2 extra stages/characters are only available in the other two modes. Might just have to learn to love x-mode.

[chempop]

Damn, I was all mixed up about what's what in this until today. I've been calling the homing blue needle bullets: sperm bullets. Now I understand that it's the RED ones that are activated by lock-shot when powered up. The blue ones are just in X-mode, but the red ones are in both modes. Okay, just needed to clear that up so I don't continue to fool myself into thinking that I know what I'm talking about

Anyway, thanks for the tips on TV settings. I think I'm going to make due and keep things as is for now, maybe look for a new widescreen display in the near future.

I still haven't had the EX-stage boss glitch yet.

[MachineAres 1CC]

Does anyone know how this Fever mode works in arrange? Doing certain things can extend how long you stay in fever mode, but I can't figure out exactly what they are.

And can anyone explain why lock-shot is so damn atrocious in this game? It was one of the best assets in the first game, now it's worthless. It never even stays locked on for more than about 10 seconds.

These are really the only things I don't understand about the game and now that I know so much more about the system, the game gets more fun. Also, TLB Pigeon Blood Jitterbug is insane.

[lmagus]

What comes in he DLC card?

[TaygetaVendetta]

Got it yesterday. The graphics are incredibly ugly, its reminds me of a browner Mamoru-Kun. May have been acceptable if the first DS was done in this style as well, but its hard to go from one of the best looking shmups to...this. The designs and ideas for the new bosses (the gentleman boss in particular, I think his name was Mr. Tamekosu? His laugh is as infectious and hilarious as Larsa's) and stages are wonderful, I just wish they'd of been sprites. The intro cutscenes for the bosses look surprisingly good and funky, like those low res FMVs from PS1 games. I like the music a lot, as much as the original's OST.

While I haven't figured out the finer intricacies of the scoring system and things like that, the gameplay feels solid. It is noticeably easier than the original DS (on the first two levels anyway, haven't taken a crack at level 3 yet), I guess you can't blame Cave for wanting to expand their audience and make something easier to jump in to (though level one in the original DS seemed like the perfect balance for this imo). Maybe a new game mode as DLC will have an extreme difficulty to please the people around here? Wouldn't mind having Sakura playable in it, either (seemed an odd omission to leave her out).

Anyone know if theres a site thats ripped all the static images/ending pictures from the game yet?

@Imagus - I believe its just that bizarre mix of Joy to the World.

[chempop]

In regards to the lock-on shot

It was one of the best assets in the first game, now it's worthless.

Hmmm, interesting that you feel this way, my initial reaction is the opposite. Maybe I never maximized it in the first game, actually I'm certain that I didn't seeing as how I never even used it during many of my All-clear scores. In DS2 though, it is needed for the background enemies, allows serious point milking when your multiplier is way up, and also triggers the RED sperm bullets when in Fury (which when timed just right) will help you get close to 1000 fury points immediately once you run out. In the first stage alone I can use Fury midway through, and also be maxed out again while I finish the boss off. I guess I need to check out some high score replays of the first Deathsmiles to see just how useful it was in that game, I didn't feel like it was needed to do well though, where in DS2 I'm using it all the time.

[adversity1]

And can anyone explain why lock-shot is so damn atrocious in this game? It was one of the best assets in the first game, now it's worthless. It never even stays locked on for more than about 10 seconds.

You're seriously wrong about everything.