A few newbie questions

[lostSUNDAY]

I only recently got into shooters, and i must say that im loving it. I'm currently playing DoDonpachi on the Saturn. I have been playing it for a few months now, and while i am loving every second of it i really suck. Im terrible at these types of games! For at least 2 months i couldn't even get into the Hi Score list! After a quick google i found a tip that said i shouldn't use the extra credits and instead start over when i die. This has kinda payed off, and i feel like i've taken my first "step" in the world of shmups. Now i can survive on 1 credit to the fifth stage before dying. Maybe not every time i play, but most of the times.

But i have a few questions:

1a. First, the ships. I have a hard time settling down with one ship. When looking at my Hi Scores i've preformed best with the Green/Shot followed by Blue/Shot, Red/Laser and finally Green/Laser.
I don't like playing with the blue ship. I understand that it probably is the best one, but it's a little boring to play with. In lack of a better term. So i think im done with that one for now. That leaves Green/shot, Red/laser and Green/Laser. Which one would you pros recommend? For what it's worth im having the most problems with the bosses i think...and the beginning of stage 3.

1b. Kinda related to the previous question. Even if im useing a "shot" typ ship, is it better to use the laser on bosses and other tough opponents? Or will my shots do more damage?

2. This question is more about shooters on the Saturn in general i guess. Right now im using a regular Saturn Joypad, and it's going...alright. It's no doubt a great pad. I also have a Virtua Stick and i've tried to use it a few times but there's something that is bothering me with it. Both the buttons and the stick feels like, i don't know, cheap? The stick might still be slightly better than the D-Pad, but the buttons are very bad imo. I made a quick ebay search and found this Hori stick.
http://global.ebay.com/PAD_FIGHTING_STI ... 05925/item
Anyone know if this is something worth picking up?
I feel that this is very important, i want to decided now if im gonna go for a stick or a pad.

3. I made a search on the forum for Saturn recommendations, but there are ALOT of them and it didn't really make me any wiser. Hell it just made me more confused! =)
If i love DoDonpachi, which one should i look into next? Battle Garegga and Radiant Silvergun are kinda off limits atm, since they're so expensive. I've been looking into Soukyugurentai, Shienryu and Kyukyoku Tiger II PLUS. Any of those worth picking up? Keep in mind that im a newbie, and terrible at shooters. So preferably something that it's not harder than DoDonpachi.

4. And last, are there any good youtube channels that post shmup replays and/or reviews? I think watching more replays would improve my game alot.

Thanks!

[ncp]

1. Most people use A-L or C-S, as they are complete opposites, while the other ships suffer from "strengths of none, weakness of all" syndrome. Use lasers on large enemies, this should be obvious enough.

3. Download MAME, especially if you don't fancy spending hundreds of dollars. There's also plenty of good doujin games for PC but I'm sure someone else would handle that response better. Touhou games are pretty popular (not around here though), with a good range of difficulty for beginners.

4. http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=xoxak#g/u
Maybe not exactly what you're looking for...

[PC Engine Fan X!]

There are some cool Dodonpachi (DDP) Superplays out there for your perusual. The Gamest Video Vol. 39 DDP VHS tape is worth a look with using the C-Type (Blue colored fightercraft) that was done by ace player ZBL-NAI.

There is another Gamest Video Vol. 43 DDP VHS tape that features both A-Type and B-Type fightercraft as well.

I'd recommend getting them on DVD-R for posterity so you may enjoy watching them at your leisure. I do have them myself and can burn you some DDP DVD-Rs of them if you'd like.

The Japanese Playstation version of DDP from developer/publisher SPS is the better version to own/play and features cool redbook audio so that you play the actual PSX disc in a regular music CD player and chill back with the cool DDP BGM tunes.

http://www.superplay.co.uk site is another cool site worth checking out for more DDP superplays besides youtube.

It's recommended that you use a good solid SS arcade stick if you want to better your scores on SS DDP rather than use a SS joypad setup. I sometimes use my Hori PS Fighting Stick setup with playing PSX DDP and it usual does the trick.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[TrevHead (TVR)]

(pops up) Play doujin shmups! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJEr4d7BsdQ (and runs away)

But seriously do try a few out, especially as some are (compared to ddp) quite easy to 1CC which could be just your thing for a bit of short term satisfaction or to have a quick game inbetween arcade shmup gaming sessions. Also your could try out those so called pratice shmups like kento cho's (aba games) Rrootage or Parsec 47. rRootage is just bullet hell boss fights great for just praticing. Also all doujins have been made for a horizontal screen where as console arcade ports are all best played on a Tated screen

Also you could look into ways that you can improve your chances of 1CCing a shmup. For example learn to use your bombs as an aid to getting a 1cc. In the past i had a habbit of hoarding my bombs and not using them even at points in the game i would die 90% of the time. This is ok if your praticing but for proper runs you want to be more disiplined in how you play and just bomb in the places you are most likly to die. It might seem the boring / pussy way but it really helps. EDIT this tread explains it all in more detail http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=30458

also for u tube vids check this thread out http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=14194

[szycag]

Do you have Galactic Attack/Rayforce/Layer Section for your Saturn yet? (Same game, but had many different names..) I picked that up here in the states for 5 bucks, and it's one of the best shmups on the system, or ever. It's not a manic like DDP, if you're looking for more like that. The Strikers 1945 games are cheap ways to start too, but most people think the presentation is too vanilla. Which is unfortunate because they're always fun, the bullets aren't as thick as Cave stuff but still have cool patterns and are fast.

[Ed Oscuro]

But i have a few questions:

The easy thing to do would be to look at the Strategy Board Index, found at the top of this subforum:
http://shmups.system11.org/viewforum.php?f=5

The DoDonPachi section has what you need.

[lostSUNDAY]

Thanks alot for the help guys!

Download MAME, especially if you don't fancy spending hundreds of dollars. There's also plenty of good doujin games for PC but I'm sure someone else would handle that response better. Touhou games are pretty popular (not around here though), with a good range of difficulty for beginners.

I downloaded MAME last night, to try out a few arcade games that didn't see any releases on consoles. I played some ESP Ra.De, and it was very good. I couldn't get my Xbox SF4 Arcade Stick to work with MAME, really strange since it's supposed to work on a PC. But i used the keyboard and im stunned how easy it was to control, almost to the point that it made me a little sad inside that it controls better than on my Saturn. Played on normal and blasted thru the first 3 stages without dieing once on my first try, and made some sweet dodges along the way. But i just can't bring myself to play any Saturn games on emulators, it just feels wrong. Stupid i know, but that how i roll i guess. And i am a Saturn collector, so im going to pick up the shooters one way or the other anyways. =)

It's recommended that you use a good solid SS arcade stick if you want to better your scores on SS DDP rather than use a SS joypad setup. I sometimes use my Hori PS Fighting Stick setup with playing PSX DDP and it usual does the trick.

I was afriad you would say that.
I'm gonna look into the Hori stick asap, as i said before i think it's best to start early and focus on one control method.

Also you could look into ways that you can improve your chances of 1CCing a shmup. For example learn to use your bombs as an aid to getting a 1cc. In the past i had a habbit of hoarding my bombs and not using them even at points in the game i would die 90% of the time. This is ok if your praticing but for proper runs you want to be more disiplined in how you play and just bomb in the places you are most likly to die. It might seem the boring / pussy way but it really helps. EDIT this tread explains it all in more detail http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=30458
also for u tube vids check this thread out http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=14194

VERY good links, thanks man!

Do you have Galactic Attack/Rayforce/Layer Section for your Saturn yet? (Same game, but had many different names..) I picked that up here in the states for 5 bucks, and it's one of the best shmups on the system, or ever. It's not a manic like DDP, if you're looking for more like that. The Strikers 1945 games are cheap ways to start too, but most people think the presentation is too vanilla. Which is unfortunate because they're always fun, the bullets aren't as thick as Cave stuff but still have cool patterns and are fast.

Except the 'Pachi games, Layer Section and Strikers 1945 are the only other 2 vertical shooters i own atm. =)
Layer Section is amazing, and the game that made me want to play shooters. It's like you said not a bullet hell game, but i still find it almost harder than DoDonpachi.
1945 is also great, maybe not as good as the games stated above, but still worth the $15 i payed for it.

I've made some hard thinkin' and i'm gonna pick up Kyukyoku Tiger II PLUS next. Judging from the vids, it looks very fun. And choppers are always cool!

[Kiken]

The Japanese Playstation version of DDP from developer/publisher SPS is the better version to own/play and features cool redbook audio so that you play the actual PSX disc in a regular music CD player and chill back with the cool DDP BGM tunes.

No not really. The PS1 port features better graphics since the explosions aren't pixelated to fuck like they are in the Saturn port, but the game runs a tad faster than it should (even with Wait On) and doesn't allow players to choose different ships in a 2-player game or to switch ships during play (as ship selection for tate display is done in the Options menu and nobody in their right mind would play this port in yoko)

Also, your second point is moot since both homeports utilize redbook audio.

2. This question is more about shooters on the Saturn in general i guess. Right now im using a regular Saturn Joypad, and it's going...alright. It's no doubt a great pad. I also have a Virtua Stick and i've tried to use it a few times but there's something that is bothering me with it. Both the buttons and the stick feels like, i don't know, cheap? The stick might still be slightly better than the D-Pad, but the buttons are very bad imo. I made a quick ebay search and found this Hori stick.
http://global.ebay.com/PAD_FIGHTING_STI ... 05925/item
Anyone know if this is something worth picking up?
I feel that this is very important, i want to decided now if im gonna go for a stick or a pad.

The Hori stick you're looking at isn't bad. Be warned, the buttons are a little stiff and aren't great for repeated tapping. The stick itself, is pretty good, although mine is really loose (I bought it used).

[Exarion]

I downloaded MAME last night, to try out a few arcade games that didn't see any releases on consoles. I played some ESP Ra.De, and it was very good. I couldn't get my Xbox SF4 Arcade Stick to work with MAME, really strange since it's supposed to work on a PC. But i used the keyboard and im stunned how easy it was to control, almost to the point that it made me a little sad inside that it controls better than on my Saturn. Played on normal and blasted thru the first 3 stages without dieing once on my first try, and made some sweet dodges along the way. But i just can't bring myself to play any Saturn games on emulators, it just feels wrong. Stupid i know, but that how i roll i guess. And i am a Saturn collector, so im going to pick up the shooters one way or the other anyways. =)

It does, but you need to configure it first. The motion on the stick is considered a POV switch, which no game will bind to motion by default. You have to configure each game manually.

[linko9]

Also, if the problem is that your computer isn't recognizing the stick at all, you need to download the 360 controller drivers from Microsoft. If you somehow still can't get it to work inn MAME, use Xpadder. Be sure to check out Prometheus' great replay (dl it in the DDP Hi-Score thread), you'll need Wolfmame .99 to play it back. You'll definitely want to play in MAME rather than saturn, as the saturn port doesn't loop, if I recall correctly.

[spadgy]

mine is really loose (I bought it used).

That's a problem with these sticks. They're generally fine quality, and certainly plenty good enough for a first stick, but sometimes a little loose.

Modding sticks is fairly easy in general (chucking a new stick into the casing is about as complex as Lego), but that particular stick is a bit tight on the space front, which limits your options a lot.

[lostSUNDAY]

The computer recognizes the SF4 stick, so thats not a problem. But it's still not working in Mame. Wierd. But whatever, it's not important. Won't be using it much anyways.

The last two days i've tried to slowly convert to using my crappy virtua stick on my Saturn (while im waiting for a good HORI stick to show up on Ebay). But dammit, its a tough transition when i have such a limited experience with arcade sticks. Like i said before, controlling the actual ship is easier. I feel its possible to make small adjustments when i'm dodging shots. Something that i have big issues with when playing with a regular pad. But hell it's a strain on my right hand! I think im holding down the fire button to hard, but it's an automaic reflex when the bullets start to fly. Guess it might be something that will pass with time, or at least i hope so...

[PROMETHEUS]

I downloaded MAME last night, to try out a few arcade games that didn't see any releases on consoles. I played some ESP Ra.De, and it was very good. I couldn't get my Xbox SF4 Arcade Stick to work with MAME, really strange since it's supposed to work on a PC. But i used the keyboard and im stunned how easy it was to control, almost to the point that it made me a little sad inside that it controls better than on my Saturn. Played on normal and blasted thru the first 3 stages without dieing once on my first try, and made some sweet dodges along the way. But i just can't bring myself to play any Saturn games on emulators, it just feels wrong. Stupid i know, but that how i roll i guess. And i am a Saturn collector, so im going to pick up the shooters one way or the other anyways. =)

You really, really want to stick to MAME if you want to perform well in Dodonpachi. The MAME version is superior to the Saturn version in graphics, sound, speed fidelity, and you get save states which is what you should really use to practice, instead of the "1 credit rule". This last point is so important it will multiply your progression rate by about 4 or 5 ! You can also easily record your runs in MAME which is a huge plus.

Keyboard is 100% great to play STGs. No need for a super screen setup either if you can't afford it, a 19inches screen in yoko position will suffice if you can play close to it, although a bigger screen or tate position is a big plus for comfort. It's also a little plus for performance but nothing too special (you really don't need it to perform really well).

As for ships, A-L, B-L and C-S are the best, although you could play whichever you like and make stellar scoring runs.

Now if you don't care much for performance, the concerns for controls, ships and systems aren't too relevant and you should just pick whatever you personnally prefer.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

So For DDP, Mame is the best choice? thx as im gonna start playing this as my next shmup 1CC, after only really playing doujin bullet hell which imo is easier then the arcade stuff in general. So ive no idea weather ill be able to complete it or not. Still itll be an intresting challenge since as of yet ive only seriously played doujin or early 8/16bit console shmups.

Im quite looking forward to it but itll have to be after im finished with the game im playing atm, which is fallout 3, which has turned into a tottaly masive fucking timesink. and as i am as a gamer i wont play anything else untill im done with the game im playing atm. Thats why i only play games like fallout 3 only now and again overwise ild only get to play 5 or 6 games a year for christs sake

Edit as a new commer to mame which is the best version to use? thatll play most shmups and the most titles from other genres? inc early cave titles.