Shmup Ticker: What are you playing RIGHT NOW?

[CloudyMusic]

Started working on Futari BL Maniac, liking it so far. Fun bullet patterns plus huge gratifying cash-ins?

Mushi Futari Black Label. Gonna try to get my first 1cc, doing it the 1-Sissy way.

Do what makes you happy, of course, but having come into this genre with a similar mindset last year, I found it to be ultimately far more enjoyable to play for score and let the 1cc's come naturally as a part of that. Focusing on a 1cc at the exclusion of all else always felt a little unfulfilling (and more frustrating) to me.

[Crafty+Mech]

Storm Strikers on an iPad 3, really nice Shmup! Need to 1cc this game so I can move onto the two newer games Sunny Tam has made.

[adpag]

Do what makes you happy, of course, but having come into this genre with a similar mindset last year, I found it to be ultimately far more enjoyable to play for score and let the 1cc's come naturally as a part of that. Focusing on a 1cc at the exclusion of all else always felt a little unfulfilling (and more frustrating) to me.

Yeah, I do normally play for score. I guess this is a bit of an experiment as it would be nice to know that I could clear something, even though it might feel a bit of a hollow victory.

[null1024]

Cho Ren Sha [PC].

yay, sound is fine!

Made it to 2-0 and died shortly after entering. The 1-6 boss made me run out of bombs, that crazy fast pattern he did made me nearly shit myself, I fucking yelled "WOAH" when it just happened. Man, that was such a tense and enjoyable fight though.

Man, I want to 2-ALL that game. Fuck. The last stage is 3-0, right?

edit:
aaaah, playing on my netbook's keyboard is the worst, the directional buttons are stiff and I had to remap z/x to a/s because of the crap keyboard, so I gave up and started using my Saturn pad, but that has its own issues, so now I'm dying on stupid easy patterns that I see, but I need more effort to think to move, blaaaaah
I haven't even made it to 1-4 on the netbook... siiigh.

Also, I just noticed that the second form of the stage 2 boss is easier than the first by miles, haha.

so gooooooood
The game does give you too many lives though [got 3 extends], and there's no limit. Also, the shields. I did no miss stage 1-4 and would have done so for 1-5 if it wasn't for the boss, bleh [counting shield loss as a miss].
edit: that last sentence is lies, watched my replay and I did lose a shield there, bleh.



Dangun Feveron [Arcade/MAME].
aaaaaa, speed 2 is too slow but 3 is too fast and the game wants you to play at speed 4

[mesh control]

Mars Matrix
I'm bored.

Not exactly "playing" but I'm currently going frame-by-frame over a Dragon Blaze video to see every enemy's coin drops and point values.

It's taken 5 hours over 3 days and I'm finally at Stage 4. I think I might have lost my mind.

RIP, RNG.

[Zaarock]

Radiant Silvergun [XBLA]

Training mode until I get good at all the levels(apart from 5A..), mostly Stage 2 for fun right now since I never really played it before. Then hopefully get the arcade 1cc I should've gotten back when the port came out instead of always killing myself trying to chain Stage 5. After that maybe play story mode(the full game, really).

Silly how few people play this, really. I still can't get into Ikaruga, it's much harder in terms of scoring but where are all the bosses man. It's like RSG stage 5A: the game(with two weapons), as in still a cruel nightmare for me.

[EmperorIng]

If I ever get rich, I'll pick up a Saturn copy of RS. Would love to finally be able to play that beast (and I don't have a 360 with me).

==

Played Soukyogurentai for the first time in over a month. Got about 9.9mill, penultimate stage. I think if I manage to 1CC this game, I'll be on the top of the leaderboards, for sure! Everyone better watch out!

Played a little Darius II and RayForce to brush up (and I was in the mood for Taito-style masochism). RayForce was a decent score of 1.7mill (nowhere near my best), and Darius II is the same score I always get, dying at the same stage I always die on.

[Aquas]

Guwange (40M+), Ginga Force (Score Attack Hard), Muchi Muchi Pork 1.0

Good shtuff.

[Vamos]

G-stream 2020 hoping to clear it soon although last stage is a bit of a bitch.

[BPzeBanshee]

G-stream 2020 hoping to clear it soon although last stage is a bit of a bitch.

Hooray, someone other than me playing it!

I got up to there once and got slaughtered because I had no idea what I was doing. If you can get to the final boss just doing what Kaiser did in his video shall nab you the clear!

You submitting any highscores?

[louisg]

Taking a break from Batsugun to play some Soldier Blade. I've had this game forever and I still can't beat the thing. The last level makes it hard to power up, and it really throws a lot of bosses at you. The way they did the boss rush was really clever though, and it's a pretty engaging level. I still feel like I'm beating my head against the wall though

[BareKnuckleRoo]

GG Aleste 1 & 2. Suddenly my Game Gear collection feels like shit, because I don't own these gems.

[powerflower]

SöldnerX2 on PS3 (download).Check it out!Awesome graphics,deep but easy to deal with scoring system and killer soundtrack.Finally Germany made an awesome shooter.And sooo much unlocking content plus extensive extra challenges plus the "Final Chapter" (three bonus levels and even more challenges).

Dont miss it guys,its a real gem:)

[Drachenherz]

SöldnerX2 on PS3 (download).Check it out!Awesome graphics,deep but easy to deal with scoring system and killer soundtrack.Finally Germany made an awesome shooter.And sooo much unlocking content plus extensive extra challenges plus the "Final Chapter" (three bonus levels and even more challenges).

Dont miss it guys,its a real gem:)

Personally, as I started with shmups a few years ago, yeah, I thought that söldner X2 was a great game. But after beeing exposed to some CAVE, Psykio, Toaplan and some Doujin-goodness...


I came to realize that Euroshmups are not my cup of tea anymore. But I have to admit: SX2 IS pretty good for an euroshmup.

On a sidenote, what I consider a Euroshmup and what I din't like about it:

- lifebar
- (too) long length of the stages and/or the whole game
- flashy graphics with a touch of "cheap"
- underpowered pea-shooter and enemies that take ages to take down
- control of your own vessel... Just doesn't feel spot on and a bit sloppy. In worst cases: inertia

Yeah, those are my very personal subjective criteria of what makes a game a euroshmup... And why I have come to not like them anymore.

[powerflower]

I know exactly what you mean...and btw,Grüsse aus Deutschland:)

But that "cheapness" you meant is Euro-Style.(you played Manece on the Amiga?)Dont compare it with Cave.Two different beasts.

The sountdtrack for me kicks every Cave shooter,for me its on par with GunFrontier and MetalBlack.
Its an subjective thing I guess.

Cave="Dont complain Im unfair,YOU suck"

Konami="I made a degree in epicness"

Taito/G.Rev="Wanna have some LSD and exploring your own mind?"

Irem="Just wanna fuck you up"

Love them all.

Edit: The control thing you meant isnt the fault of the developers,its the fault of Sonys laggy BlueTooth pads.Therefore I play it with the analog stick,much better than the digipad "disaster".Sony fucked up their pads big BIG time!

But Sony promised they fix that problem with their PS4:)Lets see...

[Drachenherz]

Hey Kraftblume, just to be clear, I didn't mean to attack you or devalue the kind of games you like. There's no arguing about taste and what pleases one and what not. And you mean "Menace" I think? I think I remember such a game during those far away amiga-times, and I remember loving the fuck out of it.

And of course it's not fair comparing such a game to one made by cave.

I just wanted to show that my shmup-tastes changed over the time and as more I am exposed to the different kind of shmups.

And guess what: I played Söldner X2 about 2 weeks ago, I had some fun with it, especially graphics and sound wise. But I can't see myself playing it for countless hours, like Crimzon Clover, Mushi Futari, Esprade, Strikers 1945 II or even Blue Wish resurrection + or Eden's Aegis.

To get back on topic: at the moment, I'm playing Espgaluda, DDP doj WL, Mushi Futari BL maniac and Muchi Muchi Pork in order to find out which one I shall chose for more concentrated play...

I'm leaning towards Espgaluda, but the other offerings are soooo good too, I can't decide yet. And there's Dragon Blaze in the mail, too...

Ah, so much to play, so little time...

[powerflower]

Hi Drachenherz,I wasnt offended by you.(Mach dir kein Kopf...)But thanks for your kind words.Oh yes Menace I meant.That was a really big deal those days made by Psygnosis.Intro Sound kicks ass: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXBpMCVicic

Another Euro schmup on the Amiga ported to the SNES with great intro sound: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRAmj6-prq0

Ooops,how do I post links here,Im confused...

One thing I miss in Cave shooters is the soundtrack.Unfortunately it doesnt catch my heart except of Akais Boss sound,thats crazy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS5IurvDgG8

[Vamos]

G-stream 2020 hoping to clear it soon although last stage is a bit of a bitch.

Hooray, someone other than me playing it!

I got up to there once and got slaughtered because I had no idea what I was doing. If you can get to the final boss just doing what Kaiser did in his video shall nab you the clear!

You submitting any highscores?

Yes mate i submitted one yesterday and maybe another tonight if i can beat my score and the hiscore board glitch doesnt ruin my day hah.

[AweOfShe]

Trying to No Miss, on Mamoru-kun wa Norowarete Shimatta, but I can't do it. I will ALWAYS get hit on the second phase of the final boss.

*tries again*

[Drachenherz]

Hi Drachenherz,I wasnt offended by you.(Mach dir kein Kopf...)But thanks for your kind words.Oh yes Menace I meant.That was a rally big deal those days made by Psygnosis.Intro Sound kicks ass: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXBpMCVicic

Another Euro schmup on the Amiga ported to the SNES with great intro sound: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRAmj6-prq0

Ooops,how do I post links here,Im confused...

Just keep a space between your text and the text of the link.

Edit: oh yes, I played the fuck out of menace! After seeing your linked video, I even started humming along with the music! Thanks for this glorious feeling of instant nostalgia.

[powerflower]

Ahh thanks buddy:)

And great to see you liking Menace,yeah back those days NOTHING could compete with the Amiga sound chip.Segas System16 board was like shhhh.... in the sound section,both of them introduced 1985.

Im hearing many voices in my head right now like

ASO2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjzF7hV1 ... 7C9BFDF664
and: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODDWg_rb ... 7C9BFDF664

Enjoy:)

Second link I fixed (Im such an I-Net noob)

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

Credit feeding Air Gallet. Whoever the sprite artist was at Gazelle is the man.

[Zaarock]

Radiant Silvergun [XBLA]

Training mode until I get good at all the levels(apart from 5A..), mostly Stage 2 for fun right now since I never really played it before. Then hopefully get the arcade 1cc I should've gotten back when the port came out instead of always killing myself trying to chain Stage 5. After that maybe play story mode(the full game, really).

Silly how few people play this, really. I still can't get into Ikaruga, it's much harder in terms of scoring but where are all the bosses man. It's like RSG stage 5A: the game(with two weapons), as in still a cruel nightmare for me.

Almost ready to do full runs now, mostly just need consistency now. The game is also shorter than I remember, which is great. Doing a couple Ikaruga credits per day as well, somehow I recalled my memorized routes from 4 years ago during a game lol.

Also looked at my best run in RS(10.5mil) again and my stubbornness in stage 5A looks so strange to me. I literally dropped the chain 15 times but kept trying to start it again over and over, as well as losing my last two lives trying to do so. Was hoping for some silly miracle I guess (playing it in training was starting to drive me insane lol). I did look very much in the zone in the run and my weapon use was much more intuitive than it is right now. Did a fancy sword dance to the 5A music when the boss shows up because of pressure, I'll have to make that a tradition

[jepjepjep]

Credit feeding Air Gallet. Whoever the sprite artist was at Gazelle is the man.

Joker Jun

[BPzeBanshee]

Pink Sweets/Muchi Muchi Pork. Holy fuck the arrange modes are trippy. So fun to play.

[Klatrymadon]

Same here. Having a lot of fun with 'em both, but - even after reading Plasmo's guide - I still don't really understand how to score in Pink Sweets. I can raise the main medal value, milk some destructible bullets and stuff, but otherwise I'm a bit lost. I'm sure I'll pick up the groove eventually, though...

[BPzeBanshee]

That's about what I figured too. Make sure NEVER to use the Rose Cracker because enemies killed with it not only give less score most of the time but decrease the counter for popping extends (-1, normal deaths +1, extends at 2500). Killing destructable bullets counts as +1 too if I read Plasmo's guide correctly. Also don't ever pick up or use the Rose Hips because killing an enemy with them returns 0 score.

So, medal up, don't aggravate the rank much, don't pick up anything you don't need except medals/Special Powerups, *I think*. Someone correct me if I'm mistaken.

[Squire Grooktook]

Right now I'm juggling

Eschatos
Dogyuun
Gradius II
Thunder Cross 2
Rayforce

[Klatrymadon]

Yeah, that's pretty much how I've been playing! The Rose Hips can be a pain in the arse sometimes - Lace virtually vacuums the bastards up.

[EmperorIng]

I have been trying to get back into speed with Souky, though sometimes it gets very tiring hitting the same Stage 3 boss brick wall, followed by the Stage 5 EVERYTHING brick wall, over and over again.

Playing also a bit of Darius II, where no matter how hard I try I still sometimes lose a life on the second stage. It very much puts an end to my desire to play Darius II!

On a cool note, I just won an ebay bid on the Salamander Deluxe Pack for the Saturn.

I eagerly look forward to Konami utterly frustrating me time and time again to the tune of cool music. Looking forward to branching out into the Salamander games, which I have never played.

I am surprised that I was the only one bidding. I was able to snag the pack for $40, which, considering Saturn prices, was not too shabby.