I DID IT! Share your latest 1CCs/other triumphs here...

[To Far Away Times]

Although I've been playing shmups most of my life (I'm 48) I'm not very good at them.

I got my first ever 1CC a few months ago with gate of thunder and last night I got the 1CC on MD M.U.S.H.A.

A small victory, but a victory nonetheless!

Congrats! I love both of those games. If you like those, you'll probably like Thunderforce III a lot if you haven't played it.

[barmskii]

Thunder force 3 is next on my list, I've played it on and off for years, I bought it not long after it released back when I was a mere slip of a lad but never put enough time into it.

[Sengoku Strider]

Thunder force 3 is next on my list, I've played it on and off for years, I bought it not long after it released back when I was a mere slip of a lad but never put enough time into it.

It's really all about learning the stage layouts as much as anything, to avoid all the gotcha traps it throws at you. If you sit down and go at it for a week or two, you'll likely get it.

[Coct444]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKGznlJ ... el=Coct444

My latest Gradius III (Arcade / PS2) 1- ALL. This is my current highest score at 1 loop..

[BIL]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKGznlJ ... el=Coct444

My latest Gradius III (Arcade / PS2) 1- ALL. This is my current highest score at 1 loop..

Was enjoying that the other day, superbly done!

[copy-paster]

The fact you did that on PCSX2 emulator really baffles me lol, the emu is SUPER input laggy to play this particular port even with various lag reduction tricks.

Thunder force 3 is next on my list, I've played it on and off for years, I bought it not long after it released back when I was a mere slip of a lad but never put enough time into it.

It's that easy (in Normal mode) because the game will give you like 20 extends for free and 8 credits to creditfeed. Sure it has strict memorization play going on but not as egregious as TF4 and you can limp through the last 2 stages with no powerups as long as you have 10-15ish lives.

[locoBro1196]

Not a huge accomplishment but I can finally put my Switch's Aleste Collection to rest after having 1cc'ed GG Aleste 3 today.

Actually I put in a few hours on this title years ago but I gave up on stage 5. Amazing OST to get you through most of it but man, it is long and, worst of all, extremely monotonous...with a tough as nails boss to top it all.

Anyway in the end I was able to complete it after roughly 7 hours. I have to say stage 7 is an amazing technical achievement that helps to forget the whole stage feels way too long...

I doubt I'll go back to this collection anytime soon, it was my most played title during the early years of the pandemic and the first time I got to play the Aleste series. Happy to get closure after all this time.

[samspot]

Not a huge accomplishment but I can finally put my Switch's Aleste Collection to rest after having 1cc'ed GG Aleste 3 today.

Nice work! I just started working on this one. I got a crazy idea to see if I can get on top of the arcade challenge leaderboard. That means 150 Power Strike 2 gold medals plus everything else so perhaps it’s a fool’s errand…

[XoPachi]

I really don't know how to gauge a victory for Mecha Ritz. I've been "clearing" it regularly, but the rank makes it hard to judge and it's basically impossible to actually fail unless you jack the rank to the absurd maximum. My goal was to at least reach the final boss with 100+ rank which I did, but I can't seem to keep it above 50 through the fight. I also tend to just quit going for Sweet Bonuses after stage 2 because I honestly don't know how the fuck you're supposed to get all of them (at least with Red).

I've been playing it quite heavily this week and I can say there's a lot of little things I don't like about it despite it being quite fun and addicting. Seems to be the case of having mixed feelings with Hey! for me because I just hated Dezatopia outright.

ALL THAT ASIDE

I think I'm satisfied with the clear I just got. 14,888,343 with Red at a starting rank of 100. Pretty much maintained it through the entire game frequently jacking it up to the late 200's.

[Angry Hina]

Thunder force 3 is next on my list, I've played it on and off for years, I bought it not long after it released back when I was a mere slip of a lad but never put enough time into it.

It's that easy (in Normal mode) because the game will give you like 20 extends for free and 8 credits to creditfeed. Sure it has strict memorization play going on but not as egregious as TF4 and you can limp through the last 2 stages with no powerups as long as you have 10-15ish lives.

But you can chaindeath alot after losing weapons in the wrong situations. Its just really memorizing heavy in the cave and fire stage.

[Steven]

it is long and, worst of all, extremely monotonous

Turn kaiteki mode on. That will get rid of both of those problems.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Even without it, I found it quite fun with levels distinct enough that they never feel monotonous (the first GG Aleste suffers this a bit particularly with the moonbase level).

I recently beat Special Mode with slowdown off (again? can't remember if I did it before) and man I am not fond of Special Mode. The revenge bullets are brutal on a cramped screen and you have to dodge powerups to avoid getting a non bullet cancelling weapon at a bad time.

[locoBro1196]

Turn kaiteki mode on. That will get rid of both of those problems.

yeah, I got the advice to try that mode on by a few other people. I gave it a try and indeed it gives the whole game a more modern feel.

Even without it, I found it quite fun with levels distinct enough that they never feel monotonous (the first GG Aleste suffers this a bit particularly with the moonbase level).

Definitely, the game overall is loads of fun, and to me stage 7 really is a massive technical achievement in Game Gear.

[samspot]

I just got the GG3 today too. What are your thoughts on the wave 7 safe spots with the A weapon? Design mistake or throwing players a bone?

[locoBro1196]

I just got the GG3 today too. What are your thoughts on the wave 7 safe spots with the A weapon? Design mistake or throwing players a bone?

Congrats! I can't comment on that because I had no idea those safe spots exist I used C weapon throughout most of the game.

[velo]

After putting it off for five years, I bought PS4 Terra Force and accidentally no-missed it twenty minutes. Made a point of setting it to Normal too (MAME defaults to Easy). Terra Force is incredibly generous!

I honestly wonder if I'm missing something here? Didn't even loop AFAIK. Not a bad game at all, just entirely more in line with contemporary FC shooters. Big BOMBAs are undeniably satisfying, the tunes are lovely (reminds me of Sega's inimitably warm summery Quartet), and it's got a comfy Gradiusesque aesthetic. Some alright Huge Battleship content. Might be a decent Babby's First ALL.

LOL no you're just good I guess

Isn't Terra Force the one where if you pick up a Bomb powerup when you're at max, you get a shield instead? Once you hit that point you really have to blow it to actually die and lose your weapons. I cleared that one by accident too. Once you hit full power it rolls over and dies.

[BIL]

After putting it off for five years, I bought PS4 Terra Force and accidentally no-missed it twenty minutes. Made a point of setting it to Normal too (MAME defaults to Easy). Terra Force is incredibly generous!

I honestly wonder if I'm missing something here? Didn't even loop AFAIK. Not a bad game at all, just entirely more in line with contemporary FC shooters. Big BOMBAs are undeniably satisfying, the tunes are lovely (reminds me of Sega's inimitably warm summery Quartet), and it's got a comfy Gradiusesque aesthetic. Some alright Huge Battleship content. Might be a decent Babby's First ALL.

LOL no you're just good I guess

Isn't Terra Force the one where if you pick up a Bomb powerup when you're at max, you get a shield instead? Once you hit that point you really have to blow it to actually die and lose your weapons. I cleared that one by accident too. Once you hit full power it rolls over and dies.

Now you mention it, yeah, I think that's exactly how it works. Between the impressively massive bombas, and the multi-hit shield, plus the hori underworlds' total lack of terrain, you're pretty much set.

Despite looking every bit a big honkin' late 80s arcade STG, it really feels like it was designed explicitly for novice and/or younger players. Kind of a novelty in that regard. Had the underworld BGM in my head for days after, and again now I'm typing this.

[Jonpachi]

Fighting through the work week, on little sleep, pushing deadlines, etc, etc.

Still put up a nice PB on Futari 1.5 Original after not touching it for long while:

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Congrats on the Futari clear!

Despite looking every bit a big honkin' late 80s arcade STG, it really feels like it was designed explicitly for novice and/or younger players. Kind of a novelty in that regard. Had the underworld BGM in my head for days after, and again now I'm typing this.

Yeah, there's more than a few arcade games out there with very fun beginner modes or that are aimed at less hardcore audiences that can be cleared with not too much skill or effort. Certainly more than I realized. Reminds me of my experience with Dragon Buster, I got into the game recently because I really liked the poster artwork, and it turns out clearing a few loops really isn't that tough. The challenge is getting one of the endings by beating a loop while carrying a few specific items but technically speaking getting to one of the dragons and beating it is quite doable for a beginner.

[Sengoku Strider]

Got the Musha Aleste 1cc, normal, original hardware. I'd beaten the game before, but my single credit runs had always ended at the last stage - and usually the final boss run. I played it a couple of times the past few days, just sat down and on my second attempt it all came together. It's not a super difficult game or anything by shmup standards, but if you're not playing with save states then having to continuing at the last stage is rough because you don't have any drone stock built up so you get swarmed and are only going to be able to get so much practice for the ending. Which means starting over is the most viable strategy, but it's not a short game so I'd typically only get a couple of runs in. Anyway, I dig the game, I'll go back for a hard clear for sure.

[Jonpachi]

Got the Musha Aleste 1cc, normal, original hardware. I'd beaten the game before, but my single credit runs had always ended at the last stage - and usually the final boss run. I played it a couple of times the past few days, just sat down and on my second attempt it all came together. It's not a super difficult game or anything by shmup standards, but if you're not playing with save states then having to continuing at the last stage is rough because you don't have any drone stock built up so you get swarmed and are only going to be able to get so much practice for the ending. Which means starting over is the most viable strategy, but it's not a short game so I'd typically only get a couple of runs in. Anyway, I dig the game, I'll go back for a hard clear for sure.

Compile were the masters of creating the sense that you're in full control, and cruising for a total gimme clear, before they crank ALL THE DIALS in the last minute and destroy all your ambitions (See: Blazing Lasers).

[Sengoku Strider]

Compile were the masters of creating the sense that you're in full control, and cruising for a total gimme clear, before they crank ALL THE DIALS in the last minute and destroy all your ambitions (See: Blazing Lasers).

Yeah, totally. Even GG Aleste 3 keeps up the tradition, it's not so bad until the last 2 stages or so when it starts playing hardball for real. Of all the Compile shmups I've 1cced so far I thought Musha was tougher than GunHed or Spriggan and probably Space Megaforce (it's been a long time now on that one), but while GGA 1&2 weren't bad at all the end of GGA3 seemed most demanding of any. I still haven't gotten around to knocking down the original Aleste or Power Strike II, though I have no-missed every stage individually in the challenge mode on Aleste Collection.

[Arino]

The fact you did that on PCSX2 emulator really baffles me lol, the emu is SUPER input laggy to play this particular port even with various lag reduction tricks.

Is the PS2 version of Gradius 3 a good choice if played on PS2 + CRT?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The fact you did that on PCSX2 emulator really baffles me lol, the emu is SUPER input laggy to play this particular port even with various lag reduction tricks.

Is the PS2 version of Gradius 3 a good choice if played on PS2 + CRT?

That'd be the ideal setup in running Gradius III, Arino.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Arino]

The fact you did that on PCSX2 emulator really baffles me lol, the emu is SUPER input laggy to play this particular port even with various lag reduction tricks.

Is the PS2 version of Gradius 3 a good choice if played on PS2 + CRT?

That'd be the ideal setup in running Gradius III, Arino.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Okay, I was just wondering how the PS2 version compares to ACA, Mame, or idk what else

[locoBro1196]

I finally got the 1cc on Slap Fight Arcade version (on Steam) after nearly 15 hours. Amazing game. I first tried it on MD quite a few years ago and fell in love with it, but never seriously attempted a 1cc until recently. I went ahead with the Steam version because I couldn't get any non-bootleg ROM to work on MAME, too bad. And I had bought the Toaplan bundle anyway so that was the logical choice.

The game kept kicking me in the balls all the way through areas 60-70. It's not so bad after that if one holds on to the homing missile weapon and switches to the regular shot right before the final boss. But yeah it took almost a full week to figure out a strategy that would work for me.

I managed to make it quite far into the second loop. Next I want to go back to the MD version which I got the 1cc for earlier this week, it's admittedly easier than the Arcade, but I'm very intrigued by the Special mode, which I'm ashamed to say I haven't played before.

[Andrey Aritonov]

Raiden / Raiden Trad
As in-study to some more...

[blazinglazers69]

I finally got the 1cc on Slap Fight Arcade version (on Steam) after nearly 15 hours. Amazing game. I first tried it on MD quite a few years ago and fell in love with it, but never seriously attempted a 1cc until recently. I went ahead with the Steam version because I couldn't get any non-bootleg ROM to work on MAME, too bad. And I had bought the Toaplan bundle anyway so that was the logical choice.

The game kept kicking me in the balls all the way through areas 60-70. It's not so bad after that if one holds on to the homing missile weapon and switches to the regular shot right before the final boss. But yeah it took almost a full week to figure out a strategy that would work for me.

I managed to make it quite far into the second loop. Next I want to go back to the MD version which I got the 1cc for earlier this week, it's admittedly easier than the Arcade, but I'm very intrigued by the Special mode, which I'm ashamed to say I haven't played before.

Do it! The "Special Mode" is a misnomer--it's literally a different game just with the same mechanics. Basically more like a sequel and a little harder than the vanilla MD version I'd say since the homing missiles can't do a lot of the heavy lifting. Incredible ost as well. As cringey and overused as the term is, it truly is somewhat hidden and a bit of a gem.

[Steven]

Slap Fight MD is the best STG released on a console during that entire console generation and every other console before that generation as well and is one of the top 5 best STGs of all time. Play it.

[locoBro1196]

Do it! The "Special Mode" is a misnomer--it's literally a different game just with the same mechanics. Basically more like a sequel and a little harder than the vanilla MD version I'd say since the homing missiles can't do a lot of the heavy lifting. Incredible ost as well. As cringey and overused as the term is, it truly is somewhat hidden and a bit of a gem.

Slap Fight MD is the best STG released on a console during that entire console generation and every other console before that generation as well and is one of the top 5 best STGs of all time. Play it.

I went off on a tangent over recent few days and just managed to get a 1-ALL on Tiger Heli (Switch) after some grueling ~10 hours which were mostly spent trying to learn the devilish patterns in stage 4. I have a really bad headache right now which can probably be blamed on the OST. I like the game, but I can understand why it's not amongst the most popular Toaplan titles.

Anyway, after seeing all the glowing praise for Slap Fight MD, it's definitely what I'm going for next. Steven's statement in particular is certainly encouraging!