Have lost some interest in Radiant Silvergun

[evil_ash_xero]

You know, this game used to be tops with me, but it has really lost me a bit lately.

I think it has to do with it being basically a shmup version of Alien Soldier. It's mainly a boss-fest with little splashes in between. And the little splashes aren't really all that interesting. Just little swarms of ships flying at you. And "Saturn Mode" is excruciatingly long.

I think what has hurt it too is that Ikaruga seems far tighter, and the level design and enemy patterns are much better. It just keeps my interest a lot more. Also, with Gradius V, it doesn't ever lose my interest because of the incredible stage design(an no, not backgrounds, the actual obstacles and other things you go through).

RS is such a bombastic game, and is filled to the brim with imagination, that it will always be in my tops list, but it has slipped a bit.

Don't get me wrong, it's incredible, and it's one of the best, but it seems a bit flawed compared to Treasure's later efforts. It's funny, because when I first played Ikaruga, I was really let down, because visually it's so colorless, and not as interesting. Now, I just think it's brilliant, and now RS seems like the flawed game. Funny how that works.

s/m

[Rob]

I think what has hurt it too is that Ikaruga seems far tighter, and the level design and enemy patterns are much better.

I like the crate that moves to the right and the ships that crash into each other.

[MX7]

I've been getting into Radiant Silvergun quite a bit lately. I would still call Ikaruga the better game, but RS has a particularly pleasing atmosphere. The ridiculous difficulty, Sakamoto's Williams-esque score and the disorientating rotation of the bosses make this a completely satisfying experience. It's easy to see why so many non-shooter fans elevate it so highly. I dislike the methodical nature of the scoring system though, but I'm quite happy to credit feed at the moment until I learn the ropes.

[nimitz]

Treasure games are pretty much the definition of memorization. they are also the strictest games ever.

Its like having a simon says game, which ALWAYS use the exact same pattern.
Not really my definition of fun.

[jpj]

i should start playing this game again, but i'm so far away from ben i don't think i'll ever get there. eventually you'll get to a point where 1/3 of your score comes from stage 5. don't get me wrong, i can see why valgar and plasmo think it's one of the greatest levels in a shmup ever, but it's damn frustrating seeing your score go down the toilet after 20 minutes of good scoring.

obviously ikaruga improves on a lot of stuff, and is definitely the better "arcade" game. but give credit where it's due. how many other people have made a shooter as good as this *on their first try*? it's also ten years old now as well

i worry that some people dismiss this because they are so l33t, and it's a game the mainstream praise.

[evil_ash_xero]

I think what has hurt it too is that Ikaruga seems far tighter, and the level design and enemy patterns are much better.

I like the crate that moves to the right and the ships that crash into each other.

Ah, i'm guessing you don't care much for these games, hmm?

Well, when I think of Ikaruga, I think of the 4th level, where you are in that spinning satellite thing, and the streams are crossing each other, and you have to dodge those, and the other ships at the same time. I mean, it's briliant stuff.

Honestly, most recent overhead shooters have NOTHING. There is no level design whatsoever(well, shiki II and III have a stage or so that do).

s/m

[Frederik]

Treasure games are pretty much the definition of memorization. they are also the strictest games ever.

Its like having a simon says game, which ALWAYS use the exact same pattern.
Not really my definition of fun.

Enemy chaining in general is a very annoying concept.

[John845]

I hate chaining and I wish this game would get a freaking next gen console release via xbox live. It's so frustrating not being able to play this.

[Strider77]

I like RS more than I like Ikaruga to be honest...... Ikaruga always fealt a little basic compared to RS to me.

[Frederik]

I have yet to play RS, but Ikaruga kind of falls apart when not played for score. RS, on the other hand, still seems like a challenging and fun game if you completely ignore chaining. I mean, you can still play Ikaruga for survival and have a good time, but in many parts the game is so completely focussed on chaining that it feels pretty unsatisfying and awkward.

[evil_ash_xero]

I like RS more than I like Ikaruga to be honest...... Ikaruga always fealt a little basic compared to RS to me.

That's exactly how I used to feel. And it's easy to see why. I mean, RS is one of the most over the top and epic shooters ever. And with all the weapons you have, it's easy to see why one would feel this way.

I guess just over time Ikaruga's overall design won me over. I think it mainly has to do with RS's lack of emphasis on the stuff in between the bosses.

Don't get me wrong though, RS is great.

s/m

[moozooh]

I have yet to play RS, but Ikaruga kind of falls apart when not played for score. RS, on the other hand, still seems like a challenging and fun game if you completely ignore chaining.

This is a bit misleading, because chaining powers up your weapons in RSG. And without that power, you just can't kill shit in time. :\ I don't remember who it was that said it, but RSG's game mechanics is very rigid; there's little to no room for variation.

[evil_ash_xero]

I have yet to play RS, but Ikaruga kind of falls apart when not played for score. RS, on the other hand, still seems like a challenging and fun game if you completely ignore chaining.

This is a bit misleading, because chaining powers up your weapons in RSG. And without that power, you just can't kill shit in time. :\ I don't remember who it was that said it, but RSG's game mechanics is very rigid; there's little to no room for variation.

Well, of course there is the way around this. You know, playing the Saturn version where it saves your experience. Which was a good idea.

However, it's a shame that there's no option to do this in the Arcade version. Saturn version just wears me down.

s/m

[jpj]

i'm like a moth to a flame...

you'll need your ABC levels to be at least level 10-15 to take out xiga. but there is a lot of room for variation with weapons and routes. including one famous replay where the game is cleared just using the sword... in fact that's one thing that makes the game very fun - experimenting with seven weapons at your fingertips

[Gungriffon Geona]

this game annoys the living hell out of me for the simple fact it's extremely convoluted. there's so many different things at your disposal, and each has specific purpose, perks and faults, and many other things. add to it chaining, the experience system, awkward enemy patterns, and other things of that nature, and shit gets confusing as hell in a very short ammount of time. I honestly wonder what people are praising so heavily about the game, I can do well on most shooters, but RSG is like getting 3 or 4 stages in and losing every sense of structure.

[jpj]

i actually find the game too easy

[neonecko]

i actually find the game too easy

pro status^

[evil_ash_xero]

i actually find the game too easy

Wow.

[jpj]

there are a lot of safe spots, and little tricks

for example, if you chain well and get your weapons to level 30+ then you can kill xiga (with the B+C lock-on weapon) so quick, he wont even do some of his nastiest patterns.

i used to beat stage 4 with about 11 mill almost every time, but always make a mistake somewhere on stage 5, ending my run with about 15 or so. when i finally got a decent 8-9 mill from stage 5, during a deent stage 4 route run, and got 20 mill, i was like: "right ... now fuck this game"

my advise would be to check out ben's replays on super-play.co.uk

concentrate on these things, in this order:
chains
100% destruction on bosses
weapon bonuses (particularly A+B weapon, and C shot)
secret dogs
grazing/milking

here's a great strategy guide. it's a machine translation from french to english, but it's easy enough to understand i think

when you come to score better, and make it further through the game, i think you will find it a lot more fun

[innerpattern]

this game annoys the living hell out of me for the simple fact it's extremely convoluted.

[Taylor]

Treasure games are pretty much the definition of memorization. they are also the strictest games ever.

Its like having a simon says game, which ALWAYS use the exact same pattern.
Not really my definition of fun.

Enemy chaining in general is a very annoying concept.

True, but there's chaining and then there's Treasure Chaining.

A few cave titles have chaining, but you only need to remember a strategy for certain points. You certainly have to learn the stage, but you will naturally sweep left and right through some popcorn, hold your laser on the big ships, etc. A lot of it just comes naturally through good game flow or intuitive mechanics.

In something like Ikaruga there's no real flow, you remember the composition of every single wave and you have to be in position before it gets on screen. Every part assumes you're playing like a robot, you can't freestyle any of it.

[Ruldra]

A bit off-topic, but is there any saturn or arcade emulator that runs RS well? On Mame it's just horrible.

[moozooh]

SSF runs RSG just fine, but you need an up-to-date PC for full framerate.

[jonny5]

never understood what all the hype is around this game....i didnt like it at all....mind you i disliked ikaruga as well.....

which is odd cuz i like puzzle games

to each there own.....

[captain ahar]

I had it myself for about 2 weeks to a month.

after a couple years of weighing the pros and cons, i broke down and picked it up from a forum member (long since absent), and spent a few days playing, got frustrated because i suck at it (i'm a player who tries advanced shit first, instead of working their way up to it), and put it down.

soon after my parents started charging me rent, spurred on by a move to a new house, and i did the "responsible thing," not having any money, and sold it. regretted it ever since, considering i find it increasingly hard to justify plopping down the $160 again.

now about Taromaru...

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The Sega ST-V version of Radiant Silvergun is the "lean and mean" version without any extra frills compared to the SS version. Sure, the ST-V mobo will save your RSG high scores provided that you don't remove said ST-V RSG cartridge from the cart slot via a CR-2032 coin-type lithium battery. It's cool to listen to the ST-V RSG BGM "chip tunes" in stereo via the stereo 4-pin output on the mobo itself...sounds pretty damn epic IMO, especially with a 100w pair of stereo speaker setup. ^_~

Of course, a JPN region ST-V mobo is the proper way to play RSG with a 3-button setup (unless you like to play the USA region ST-V mobo with RSG and be content with a 2-button setup instead).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Acid King]

I bought Radiant Silvergun when it came out and loved it to death. I just played Saturn mode and credit fed with the limited continues I had and tried to clear the game. Then probably 5 years ago I started playing it for score and I liked it less and less. Ultimately, I sold it with the rest of my collection to fund the purchase of a cab about 3 years ago.

The bosses are the games high point. I think Ikaruga is better because it is more focused and the stage sequences don't have the "traffic controller" vibe Silvergun has, where chaining properly means not killing literally dozens of enemies. Which is a shame really because with the multiple colors, Treasure could have made chaining really interesting and flexible by allowing mixing of colors during chains.

[Herr Schatten]

this game annoys the living hell out of me for the simple fact it's extremely convoluted.

[silvergunner]

Played RS often since release,without a doubt a great game.But I found it overhyped.Why?It´s a matter of taste!There are so many shmups outthere which don´t need to hind behind!Personally,I prefer Ikaruga because of fast chaining-action,graphics,sounds and music...