Why have more than 5 shmups if you can't beat any of them?

[neorichieb1971]

This is an honest question

I can't beat any of my shmups except Gradius. The point is to beat them right? Or just to play them... With modern day games you beat them and put them aside. But with shmups you usually hit a dead end from which you can not progress. I have about 30 shmups on different systems, and I was wondering why I should even buy anymore based on this consensus.

Maybe it is the assurance of maybe finding you can complete

[Herr Schatten]

To hit new dead ends in new games?

[CMoon]

To hit new dead ends in new games?

Ha!

I dunno, MOST games are too hard to 1cc without either super-human skill or at least TONS of practice. I think it is the philosophy of newer games that has somehow convinced us that the point of games is to beat them. Some of my favorite games I can't beat.

[EOJ]

As I see it there are three reasons to play a shmup: 1) for a 1cc, 2) for score, and 3) just because it's fun. You can play for all three reasons, two, or only one, but if you're not playing for any then there's no point. Each are equally valid reasons for playing. It's rather simple really.

[Ganelon]

For collection's sake? Do you actually enjoy all the shooters you have?

[neorichieb1971]

Surely there is not enough of a variation in shmups that you need 10 of each variant that kinda do the same thing.

I can understand having say a Cave example, a Raizing, a Toaplan and a Treasure variant because they play slightly different. Surely thats fun enough right there?

I mean I love shmupping like the rest of you, I just wondered what inspires you to keep buying more and more of them.


I'm kinda excited about getting Trizeal, because I have not played a standard shooter in a long long time.

I guess its just the net that bogging me down, all these super power players that can beat games etc. I am just not one of them, and I was thinking, what the hell I ain't beat any of the games i've got yet

[8 1/2]

The point of a shmup is not to beat it, but to get a personal high score. That can change with each play. For master players, getting a 1CC is just the start of really unlocking the secrets of a game. To say, "I've never beat this game," when talking about a shmup is really missing the point. Have you ever "beat" Pac-Man? It's all about personal conquest. Who knows what sorts of patterns I'll be in the mood for today, and who knows what future ones will inspire me? And so I seek out new games...

[Ghegs]

Who knows what sorts of patterns I'll be in the mood for today, and who knows what future ones will inspire me? And so I seek out new games...

Very true. Lately I've been feeling very burned out from maniacs so I'm glad I bought Raiden DX back in the day so it can soothe my pains now.

[Ex_Mosquito]

Thats exactly why i filtered down to just 4 PCB shooters total, and whatevers on the xbox emulators. I just didnt have the patience to play them all. I find it alot more rewarding to just concentrate on a couple than fumble around on 4748476 different games.

[Diabollokus]

I play em for the bosses

Just love boss battles

The feeling of killing a mountain sized machine with a tiny space craft rocks. Just like that song against the odds.

Music kicks in then its show time. Suppose Garegga in mame was the height of it for me maybe thunderforce 4 boss 10 the music wow.

[Thunder Force]

I think it is the philosophy of newer games that has somehow convinced us that the point of games is to beat them.

Good point.

[sffan]

The point of a shmup is not to beat it, but to get a personal high score.

Exactly ... or to get as far as you can on a credit, regardless of score. That's the thrill. Whenever I've 1CCd a shmup, the main thrill goes away, which is to see how far I can get. If there's a second loop that's different, because the game goes on in this case.

[jtjin]

In my case, it's because they're so pretty! ^-^

-Embodiment of Scarlet Devil
-Perfect Cherry Blossom
-Imperishable Night
-Shiki 2
-Soeur De Barrage

*dances around in colourful bullet-curtain prettyness*

[MovingTarget]

Ive jsut bought a load of shmups recently, but I havnt had much chance to play any of them because Souky is very demanding

[Style-0]

Have you ever "beat" Pac-Man?

If I remember right there's atleast one person in the world that beaten pacman. It was done 6 or 7 years ago, by an american, playing for like 7 hours or something and getting the maximum score while not losing a single life. That's some good work, to say atleast !

[professor ganson]

Is the question: Why would someone want more than 5 shmups, unless they can beat them all?
Or is the question: Should one be spending money on yet further shmups when that money could be sent to Oxfam where it will help to relieve terrible suffering and misfortune? Isn't 5 enough if you haven't yet beaten them?
The first is presumably a psychological question, the latter a moral issue.
In response to the first question there is surely a variety of motives that drive people to buy more shmups. I wonder about it in my own case, and I just haven't figured it out. I like to collect shooters, but I'm not the sort of person who likes to collect more generally. I'm not sure what's going on other than that I like the experience of playing the various games, even though they don't differ terribly much. It's something I'm still thinking about.
The moral issue is less difficult for me: I believe that I have a duty to reduce suffering when I can do so w.o. incurring a comparable cost. The loss to me of one fewer videogame is surely outweighed by the benefit to another, who without clean water is going to suffer gravely. And OXFAM is a good organization: suffering will be reduced if I send my money. So I know I should be sending my money instead of buying more games. Yet I don't usually act in accord with this knowledge.
So now I'm back to the question of my psychology...

[raiden]

For collection's sake?

what´s the point of collecting?

Do you actually enjoy all the shooters you have?

yes. If I don´t enjoy a shooter, I sell it. Why should I keep it?

Surely there is not enough of a variation in shmups that you need 10 of each variant that kinda do the same thing.
I can understand having say a Cave example, a Raizing, a Toaplan and a Treasure variant because they play slightly different. Surely thats fun enough right there?

That´s pretty much my approach right now. I´m still in the process of finding out which Toaplan game I like best, but I´m pretty sure I don´t need anything besides Garegga and Dimahoo from Raizing, just like I don´t need anything besides Strikers II and Dragon Blaze from Psikyo. Cave are a little harder to judge, as they are still producing new stuff. Oh, and Treasure or Compile? No, thanks.

[MovingTarget]

For collection's sake?

what´s the point of collecting?

Whats the point in collecting anything then? Its just nice having a collection of collectable items, and I'd collect shmups over stamps anyday.

[visuatrox]

As I see it shoot'em ups are about getting a good score, and having fun while trying to improve your personal record. It is only those pesky modern games that are just about beating them

[MovingTarget]

Shmups are a bit like rpgs, except you level yourself up instead

[it290]

I agree with CMoon... how many people have 1cc'd Castlevania III, for example? But it's still lots of fun and a good challenge... you can always challenge yourself to do better.

As for Pac-Man... plenty of people have completed it, it just took a long time for someone to do a perfect run.

Anyway, I don't have a huge assortment of shmups, but the ones I don't really enjoy are all mostly 8 or 16-bit carts that don't have much monetary value anyway. It is nice to have variations on a theme, though. I like Cave shooters enough that when I'm feeling tired of one, I can try another and enjoy it without feeling a sense of repetition.

[sffan]

As for Pac-Man... plenty of people have completed it, it just took a long time for someone to do a perfect run.

Pac-Man wasn't really supposed to end. It only ends because of a bug. 8.5 could have used any example from the Golden Age, like: Has anyone beaten Asteroids? Galaxian? Sinistar? Joust? ...

[BIG]

I agree with CMoon... how many people have 1cc'd Castlevania III, for example? But it's still lots of fun and a good challenge... you can always challenge yourself to do better.

As for Pac-Man... plenty of people have completed it, it just took a long time for someone to do a perfect run.

Anyway, I don't have a huge assortment of shmups, but the ones I don't really enjoy are all mostly 8 or 16-bit carts that don't have much monetary value anyway. It is nice to have variations on a theme, though. I like Cave shooters enough that when I'm feeling tired of one, I can try another and enjoy it without feeling a sense of repetition.

There's this one dude who goes by the name "Verbatum" over at Neo-Geo.com who claims to have beaten the original Castlevania and a number of other games,Shmups included,without losing a single life/taking any hits..

All I can say is,pics pleaze.

BIG-

[kemical]

good question.
i haven't 1cc'd any shmups i own, well except borderliner ranger x, and after completing that game I haven't touched it since.. I'd only touch it again if I wanted to try for a higher score or maybe just 1 life it. I certainly wouldn't want to get rid of it though because I like it so much.

It's also strange that although I can play all the games mame emulates, I hardly put as much time into them as I do with the games I own. I just feel more motivated to try hard at playing a shmup I own compared to one on mame. Maybe its because they are a physical item you own, so it just has a greater value to get the most out of it.

It's also pretty hard for me to switch between playing multiple shooters, I can only focus on 1 or 2 that I really play seriously, otherwise I don't feel like I'm making progress. I dont think that would stop me from owning a bunch of games though, there would just be a lot that would need to wait in line to be played.

and then there are pc games, those come before shmups, i buy 'em for 50 bux when they come out and then play through them in less than a week (or continue to play multiplayer for a year), they are rewarding to play through and experience but it's not the same type of thing as a major hiscore or 1cc.
It's also hard for me to think of buying pc games as a collecting type of thing, it's stuff that could get thrown out after I've beat it and I wouldn't mind.

[overdrive]

Most of the shooters I "own", I do so through emulation. Back in the day, I'd bought a few, but as I got older and realized my money often was a bit better suited for things like paying rent and buying food, what I spent on games tended to go to RPGs and other long-term "beatable" adventures.

To me, the best thing about emulation is that I can easily use shooters to satisfy all my gaming needs. I've always loved big boss fights and playing a lot of games to the end. Due to not having the greatest of reflexes, I wasn't always skilled enough to do so in many shooters. So, by using freeze states, I can take a quick tour of any shooter out there. I can see what games have play styles I like, what games have the most awesome bosses and what games have the neatest levels.

And then, like I'm trying to do with Metal Black, if I find a game I feel like working through honestly to get the best score I can or make it the farthest that I can before dying, well, I'll have a lot of options to choose from...

It's just a great deal all around for me. I get to play games hardcore when I want and I get to cheat my way through them just to see what they look and play like, as well.

[8 1/2]

Billy Mitchell. Pac-Man God and hot sauce mogul.

[captain ahar]

I mean I love shmupping like the rest of you, I just wondered what inspires you to keep buying more and more of them.

i am constantly searching for that new experience. buying obscure shit so i can play obscure shit is justified because how else can i play Space Manbow (MSX2) or Undead Line (X86K) or Dimahoo (ARC) or Steam Hearts (PC-CD, laf riot it seems) or any number of other games.

honestly, no one i know gives a crap about shmups (except for you guys ) so all of this stuff is for my own enjoyment. yes, being broke can be fun!

[Galaxius]

I agree with CMoon... how many people have 1cc'd Castlevania III, for example? But it's still lots of fun and a good challenge... you can always challenge yourself to do better.

As for Pac-Man... plenty of people have completed it, it just took a long time for someone to do a perfect run.

Anyway, I don't have a huge assortment of shmups, but the ones I don't really enjoy are all mostly 8 or 16-bit carts that don't have much monetary value anyway. It is nice to have variations on a theme, though. I like Cave shooters enough that when I'm feeling tired of one, I can try another and enjoy it without feeling a sense of repetition.

I've one-lifed CV3, CV2, Haunted Castle, and Vampire Killer MSX numerous times. Just like any series, these games just take practice and pattern recognition.

I think if you concentrate on one game for long enough, you'll always be able to beat it/reach your goal. Spreading your gaming around 20 different shooters might be fun, but you won't advance your skills as quickly. Too many shooters, not enough time

[CMoon]

I've amassed a pretty decent collection but I only work on a few games at a time. The most serious players here suggest restricting yourself to two or even just one shmup at a time.

[it290]

I'm sure plenty of people have 1cc'd CV3, I was just saying that the majority of CV players probably don't make a point of having to 1cc those games the way shmuppers treat shmups. I've only 1cc'd a few shooters personally, but I continue to play a several that I have little hope of 1cc'ing, just because it's fun and I like the challenge.. not the challenge of 1ccing the game, but the challenge of improving my skills. Same with CV3.