New to shmup community, have some questions

[Neon01]

Hello all, this forum is a godsend! I've been a long-time fan of shmups ever since I got into video gaming about 20 years ago, but I've never been that serious about it. It seemed to be really dying off ever since the PS1 here in the states, so I'm very glad to see there's a community alive that supports it.

I'm interested in getting some shmups, and I own a PS2 and PS3 (not that this matters). I have owned R-type final, but really didn't like the mechanics of the game much. Recently, I picked up a bunch of cheap US PS1 and PS2 shmups (geki-oh for PS, Mobile Light Force 2 for PS2, and Castle Shikigami 2 for PS2). I've got Gradius V on my list. Are there any other US releases that I should pick up before I start modding/importing?

I like Shiki 2, but as this is really my first "bullet hell" game, I'm not sure how much I'll like it in the long term. I'm a little frustrated by the game because its so difficult for me. I can play through the entire easy version with Kuga, but its dissappointing that it only goes to level 3 - this is about the difficulty level I would like.

Now I'm thinking about modding my PS2 and getting some of the greats talked about here: ESPgaluda, DDP DOJ, Homura, Ibara, etc. Are all of these just as difficult (or possibly worse, in the case of DOJ) as Skiki 2? I prefer a game I can at least get through to (near) completion, then I can work on scoring over time. Maybe I just stink at Shmups, because I can't think of a single one (maybe Axelay) that I can 1CC. I used to play the hell out of Raystorm and loved it because it is about the right difficulty level for me (on arcade normal).

I've found that I can do better at Shiki 2 using the analog stick as a joystick (with thumb and index finger), but its not ideal. Are there any good joysticks for the PS2?

Sorry for the long post. I probably should have posted this one question at a time. Look forward to spending some time here.

[sven666]

my advice: you cant go wrong with a ps2 and your skills will improve over time

as for specifik game tips, do a search, there are loads of topics on the subject

[CIT]

Yeah, PS2 is the way to go, and get Espgaluda. The game is a very modern shooter, but not so difficult, if you decide not to push your score. I think you can really learn a lot from the game. Plus, it's fun as hell, and that's what counts.

[Neon01]

Thanks guys, maybe I'll pick ESPgaluda first.

Also, maybe I worded my post incorrectly, but I already have a PS2. I was just wondering which shmups are some of the easier ones to "cut my teeth" on.

I'll check out ESPgaluda.

[freddiebamboo]

I've found that I can do better at Shiki 2 using the analog stick as a joystick (with thumb and index finger), but its not ideal. Are there any good joysticks for the PS2?

For controllers, you'll want a saturn pad
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-m-4 ... 0-imb.html

And if you have the cash, a hori joystick
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-zl- ... -1rrr.html

[ktownhero]

Neon,

Hang in there bud, soon enough you won't be so frustrated by the "bullet hell." It seems so intimidating at first, but once you get over the fear you'll start enjoying it.



EDIT: Or rather, I should say, once you make it through your first hardcore wave of bullets without a scratch, you'll fall in love

[FRO]

R-Type Final for PS2 (& Delta for PS1, for that matter) is an excellent choice. Also, G-Darius & Raystorm for PS1 if you don't already have them. Good choice on Geki-Oh, that's a solid title.

[Turrican]

R-Type Final for PS2 (& Delta for PS1, for that matter) is an excellent choice.

He got that one but didn't appreciate it.

[BulletMagnet]

A warm welcome to another new member.

Also, maybe I worded my post incorrectly, but I already have a PS2. I was just wondering which shmups are some of the easier ones to "cut my teeth" on.

Once you're able to play imports, as other have mentioned ESPGaluda is a good choice to get into "manic" shmups, though another one you might want to keep an eye out for is Double Shienryu: it's pretty easy to just play through and finish, but begins to test your skills some more once you're comfortable enough with it to play for score (there should be a link to a review of it on the shmups.com main page). It's also inexpensive, and contains the original Shienryu (which you've already got as "Geki-Oh"), though this version can be played without slowdown and in tate mode. On that note...

like Shiki 2, but as this is really my first "bullet hell" game, I'm not sure how much I'll like it in the long term. I'm a little frustrated by the game because its so difficult for me.

One quick question here, as I don't think you or anyone else has mentioned it: are you playing this and your other vertical shmups in tate (full-screen vertical) mode, or in "letterboxed" mode, like Geki-Oh is played in? If not, you might want to consider investing in a cheap TV or monitor which you can turn onto its side (you might not want to do that with a "good" TV, as it can damage it), since playing in vertical orientation can sometimes help you see things more clearly and play more precisely in games originally designed to play in that mode, Shiki included.

Hope you enjoy your time here.

[ROBOTRON]

Its a great thing to have a PS2...its backward compatible to PS1 so u can enjoy a lot of those. I would definitely look up a copy of Einhander.

Once you mod your PS2...the rest of the PS1 shmups that were never ported to U.S. like maybe Soukyugerentai.

[Neon01]

Thanks for the welcomes.

Bulletmagnet: I've read about "tating" the tv, but I've never done it. As you guessed, I'm unwilling to try this with any of the TVs I currently have. Perhaps a cheap TV, but then I'd be sacrificing quality (cheaper TVs don't typically have component inputs, which is what I'm using now on a 27" direct-view HDTV). I do have a 17" LCD that would work, but I've read about the issues with non-native resolution there, plus it only takes VGA, and my PS2 doesn't output in that format.

What do most do for a Tate solution? Not sure if I dedicate enough time to warrant a $100+ new display though. I'd probably sooner upgrade my controller to a Hiro RAP.

Robotron: I used to have Einhander for the original PSX (before I sold the console). It was kind of neat, maybe I'll pick that up again. Not my absolute favorite game though.

I'll probably grab some import PS1 games, but I'm trying to go PS2 first, on account of the graphics. Frankly I'm very surprised at the poor quality of the graphics on some of the PS1 games - like Geki-Oh (Shienryu). This looks like it belongs on the Super NES. Hell, I think Axelay looked better.

Favorite shmups that I've played to date: Blazing Lazers (PCE), Raystorm, Axelay, UN Squadron, Shiki 2. Most of these are probably too easy to be considered quality shmups on this board.

I'd really like to pick up G-Darius for the PSX, but I've seen that its included on the Taito Legends 2 collection (PAL) and one of the Memories collections (JAP). I was hoping to hold out until it comes to the states, will this ever happen? I read about it in that thread, but never saw a conclusive answer.

[Turrican]

Favorite shmups that I've played to date: Blazing Lazers (PCE), Raystorm, Axelay, UN Squadron, Shiki 2. Most of these are probably too easy to be considered quality shmups on this board.

I was going to welcome you but after reading this...

too easy = not quality. Exactly the kind of thought we don't need around here, as we've got too many already.

The day there's an official statement that UN Squadron, Axelay or Gunhed are too bad for shmups.com is the day I leave.

[BulletMagnet]

What do most do for a Tate solution?

I personally use an old Commodore 1084 monitor, and an RGB cable that someone from the forums here made for me, so I can hook up my Saturn, DC, and PS1/2 to it (unfortunately, that member's not around here much these days). Look around and you'll find others who have done the LCD thing, among other things: as for the LCD input issue, they do make "VGA boxes" which can be used to connect a game system/VCR/etc. to a monitor, though I'm not sure how much they go for.

Others around here could probably give you more details on technical issues like this than I could.

[iatneH]

Any good PS1-compatible joystick ought to do for you. I think there is a Namco-made joystick that a number of members here recommend. Ascii also has a good one.

Recommend you fire up DoDonPachi in MAME. You will fall in love.

And welcome

[Neon01]

...
Recommend you fire up DoDonPachi in MAME. You will fall in love.

And welcome

Thanks. I keep reading that everywhere, but I'm a little fuzzy on it. From what I've read, you need a PC, ROMs, a monitor, and a joystick, right?

Does it run on a normal PC (I have a P4 2.4 GHz)? I've also read that you need a special video card called a AVGA card? Where do you get all this equipment? Will a PS joystick work for a MAME setup or do you need one built for a PC?

Does all the MAME hardware cost money, or are we talking essentially free like most emulators?

[ktownhero]

It won't cost you a penny, except for a controller. You may catch flak around here for it though.

[iatneH]

Thanks. I keep reading that everywhere, but I'm a little fuzzy on it. From what I've read, you need a PC, ROMs, a monitor, and a joystick, right?

Does it run on a normal PC (I have a P4 2.4 GHz)? I've also read that you need a special video card called a AVGA card? Where do you get all this equipment? Will a PS joystick work for a MAME setup or do you need one built for a PC?

Does all the MAME hardware cost money, or are we talking essentially free like most emulators?

It's just an emulator, so you just need the program and the ROM (won't tell you where to find them, but Google will help you), and you can display it on your normal computer monitor. The AVGA card is only if you want to display it in low resolution on a RGB monitor.
You can use a PC joypad, or if you have a PS stick, you can use something like this.

[Frederik]

I would even encourage you to try out a shitload of MAME roms (and delete them if you don´t feel comfortable about playing games you don´t own afterwards), to find out what you like. If you find out you really dig a certain subgenre, you can always buy the physical gamea, the PCB, the wii virtual console version or whatever.

And a good PC gamepad also enables you to play great freeware games like
Warning Forever, Tumiki Fighters or Cho Ren Sha 68K, that are all highly praised. You can find all those amongst tons of others here: http://shootthecore.moonpod.com

And besides, my humble is that emulation makes many shmups accessible to a wider audience, which is a good thing.