Hellfire, overall impressions.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

I've been playing some Hellfire lately and just want to get some opinions about the game. It does seem like a decent shmup and is a bit difficult, I cannot get past the third level for some reason mainly the aiming walkers that float up and down from the screen borders. What do you think of this game overall.

[iatneH]

I think it's a great game, but I am a sucker for Toaplan shooters. Very nicely designed around the directional shots but that means you have to memorize the stages so you don't get raped from behind.

It gets really tough though, you're screwed if you die once.

[neorichieb1971]

I lost patience with the mommy boss, or whatever it is. Its a tight fit and you need to memorize the movements.

Technically I think its top class, the colours are amazing, sprites and music all top notch. Difficulty is unforgiving, I need to practice more but just don't have the gene out long enough to do so.

[Fighter17]

Genesis/Megadrive version > Arcade version.

Genesis version fixes and improves the game by not making the damn laser ultra long (it slowdown the whole damn game plus gives you a slow firing rate). You also get a special laser attack in the Genesis version, shields, and a pod that helps you out.

But the game is still a bitch even with the extra items. The music was well done on the Genesis and the graphics were good too. Very well done Toaplan game and ported nicely by NCS.

Much better than the arcade version.

[Andi]

I play the game with the blue (4 way diagonal) laser on about 95% of the time. Basically, I only switch my weapon up on a few bosses and (very) occasionally to the green (vertical) laser. Anyone else have a similar strategy?

[iatneH]

Nope. I switch around a lot, though I tend to use the red forward shot the most, maybe 40% of the time.

[Master O]

Another odd thing about Hellfire is that there are 2 versions of the arcade game: the 1P and 2P versions. Why are there 2 different pcbs for the 1 and 2 player games?

Strange...

I play the game with the blue (4 way diagonal) laser on about 95% of the time. Basically, I only switch my weapon up on a few bosses and (very) occasionally to the green (vertical) laser. Anyone else have a similar strategy?

Yea, I use the diagonal a lot, too, since this game loves to attack you from the back (sounds like Gradius 3 [arcade]... ).

[The Coop]

I personally enjoy the game. It's harder than a left turn at the height of rush hour in NYC, but it's well made on all fronts. A brutal six levels to be sure when it's on "Yeah Right".

[mulletgeezer]

Genesis/Megadrive version > Arcade version.

Genesis version fixes and improves the game by not making the damn laser ultra long (it slowdown the whole damn game plus gives you a slow firing rate). You also get a special laser attack in the Genesis version, shields, and a pod that helps you out.

But the game is still a bitch even with the extra items. The music was well done on the Genesis and the graphics were good too. Very well done Toaplan game and ported nicely by NCS.

Much better than the arcade version.

I find the arcade game much better than the MD version. The MD version's weapon looks crap and as was often the case with MD games it's too easy. The arcade version is a proper hardcore manly game and is greatly underrated by many shmuppers.

I think the pce version is quite jolly too, with it's tacked on movie sequences and fruity soundtrack.

[MJR]

I just bought the 2-player version PCB, and since I completed MD version I can do some comparing..
Arcade version looks better (at some points, but some sprites are better drawn in megadrive version), and it is not as frustrating as megadrive version you can continue right away where you died.
I also think I noticed some motherships in the final level that were not in the megadrive version, but I might be imagining things.. after all it was more than 10 years since I played it on megadrive.

Anyone interested to contribute for Hellfire highscores?

[ROBOTRON]

- I really like Hellfire for Genesis. Besides the fact thats its fun to play, it has some really rockin' tunes. I find myself rockin' to the beat in my chair while playing this. The only complaint I have is it takes so long to power up...other than that, its a class act.

[Fighter17]

I find the arcade game much better than the MD version. The MD version's weapon looks crap and as was often the case with MD games it's too easy. The arcade version is a proper hardcore manly game and is greatly underrated by many shmuppers.

You find the MD version easy?

The weapons didn't look like shit at all.

I just bought the 2-player version PCB, and since I completed MD version I can do some comparing..
Arcade version looks better (at some points, but some sprites are better drawn in megadrive version), and it is not as frustrating as megadrive version you can continue right away where you died.
I also think I noticed some motherships in the final level that were not in the megadrive version, but I might be imagining things.. after all it was more than 10 years since I played it on megadrive.

That's the World 2-player PCB. Get the Japanese PCB and it's only one player and has checkpoints. This is the same case for Fire Shark, Twin Cobra, Twin Hawk, and few others. I perfer playing the Japanese PCBs since that's the original form of the game (having no checkpoints in a Toaplan shmup besides Batsugun is just flatout weird for me).

[Diabollokus]

Big fan of hellfire, First shmup I ever played must have been 5 years old at the time. I don't find it that hard compared to say gaiares but then again I've got every level memorised to perfection. Very good game, level design and music are spot on, I love the little helper droid dude.

Beat it continuously in the harder difficulties to get a special message from the devlopers.

I remember some old story in a magazine that in the factory level if you took out the lower half of the boss you opened up a door to a bonus area, never found out if it was true or just lies.

[MJR]

That's the World 2-player PCB. Get the Japanese PCB and it's only one player and has checkpoints.

Nnooo thanks...! I'm really happy that the checkpoints are gone, the game is insanely difficult as it is already! ...and for €60, it was a bargain!

[yojo!]

Beat it continuously in the harder difficulties to get a special message from the devlopers.

PCB or console ?

[CIT]

Genesis/Megadrive version > Arcade version.

Genesis version fixes and improves the game by not making the damn laser ultra long (it slowdown the whole damn game plus gives you a slow firing rate). You also get a special laser attack in the Genesis version, shields, and a pod that helps you out.

But the game is still a bitch even with the extra items. The music was well done on the Genesis and the graphics were good too. Very well done Toaplan game and ported nicely by NCS.

Much better than the arcade version.

It's not often that Fighter17 says something I can agree with, but he's right here.

I'll add that the Megadrive version actually has slightly better (more detailed) graphics than the arcade.

Also, in the MD version the item bonus goes up to 10000, making it a lot more interesting for score play.

[Diabollokus]

The Genesis version had the developer message, no idea about PCB, I think there might be 2 or 3 messages in total.

[DEL]

MJR wrote;

Anyone interested to contribute for Hellfire highscores?

Hellfire..........................................(Arcade 2P)
DEL - 1,444,370 - Last Boss of 2nd & final loop

There's never been a Hellfire Hi-Score thread on this site, or any other that I've seen... So I keep my Hellfire Arcade high score over at Namakoteam HQ.

I completed both the 1 Player and 2 Player versions when it was out in the arcades and I still rate Hellfire (Arcade Ver) as one of my top 5 games ever.

The Megadrive version is irrelevant to me. The arcade original is a manly game as mulletgeezer says.

[MJR]

Hey, thanks.

There will be one now, as I'll set it up.. I must remove viper phase 1 first from my cabinet, though, so I can play it and contribute my own scores