To play, or not to play?*many

[Exarion]

It's May, and I'm looking at getting Futari after having spent quite a while with ESPGaluda 2. However, DeathSmiles US comes out in only a bit over a month, and Sin and Punishment 2 comes out on the same day, and Ilvelo might be released about two weeks after that. On top of that, I haven't played anything from before this year except for Raiden Fighters Aces and the XBLA port of Ikaruga. How am I going to have any time to actually play any of these games unless I drop some of them from my list? I'm wondering what is worth playing and what isn't.

I already have DeathSmiles preordered, and as stated above I'm looking at getting Futari. I liked ESPGaluda 2, didn't really care much about RFA, and liked Ikaruga until I tried scoring, at which point I said I would never play it again. I have a 360 and a Wii, both of which are US region, as well as a DSi. I can play region-free imports, but I am unwilling to hack my consoles. I have an HRAP EX-SE for 360, so I would prefer games that I can use that with.

[MathU]

Ugh, I really wish they hadn't delayed Illvelo so much. Now it's too close to Sin and Punishment 2's release and several other great games are coming out this summer too.

[Van_Artic]

go straight on Espgaluda 2 if you don't want to pay for extra DLC (Futari Black Label)

[Anesthetize]

I would definitely reccomend Futari. I've had the most fun I've had with a video game in quite some time playing Futari (and some frustrating moments, but not due to the game, just my lack of skill).

I'm in about the same position as you, though, as I've preordered Deathsmiles but also really want to try out ESPGaluda II. Guess it can wait a few months...

[ncp]

Just get them all and play whatever you feel like playing...

Playing one game does not diminish your skill at another. You don't have to play ONLY ONE GAME for a week at a time! You're talking about a small handful of games, not an entire library of them.

[Limbrooke]

...arcade games, pick out one you can do ok, one you can do as opposed to a whole bunch of em where you don't know what the hell you're doing...

Pick a game, play it a lot. There's tonnes of games out there and almost nobody can play them all. It's not life or death so simply decide for yourself and pick what interests you most. Games will always be there but life waits for nobody.

[ncp]

Good advice if you hate yourself and don't want to enjoy playing video games.

[Limbrooke]

Good advice if you hate yourself and don't want to enjoy playing video games.

It depends on the goal. If you want to have fun, sure, play whatever suits the individual at a given moment since most people are ADHD nowadays anyway and cannot focus on something specific for a long period of time. I think if you want to get good at a specific game, one at a time is just fine. Personally, I stradle both sides of this but I have a decent idea on what I should run and what I should avoid or not bother with. It seems to me the topic starter has his/her hands in many cookie jars and despite a decision on Ikaruga (for shame) doesn't seem to know what they really should do pardon AOTA. Pick a game, spend a good amount of time in it to form a view on whether or not the game is for you and move on. Otherwise, it's video games so don't worry by asking "which to get" or "which first", pick what looks interesting.

[ncp]

If you want to have fun, sure, play whatever suits the individual at a given moment since most people are ADHD nowadays anyway and cannot focus on something specific for a long period of time.

Playing video games is not a job. I mean damn, you started the sentence with "If you want to have fun" and then implied this is a bad way to do things. There's nothing stopping you from getting good at a game while playing other games. There's no need to restrict yourself to one game in an attempt to get better. If he can afford to buy the games, there's no other reason NOT to get them.

edit: also I don't think you know what ADHD is

[Limbrooke]

Playing video games is not a job. I mean damn, you started the sentence with "If you want to have fun" and then implied this is a bad way to do things. There's nothing stopping you from getting good at a game while playing other games. There's no need to restrict yourself to one game in an attempt to get better. If he can afford to buy the games, there's no other reason NOT to get them.

edit: also I don't think you know what ADHD is

I never implied it's a bad thing at all. Asumption ho! As I also said it depends on the motive. Fun or entertainment is always the bottom line, whether it's fun in a specific game with the indirect result of becoming good or just playing anything when the time beckons while becoming good in a different perhaps more balanced manner. Games aren't everything, that's the point I'm trying to make and there is more to life than buying X games. Pick a game, spend some time in it, and move on to the next one. This topic is about advice and my advice is to pick a game, not a whole bunch but just one at a given time.

No need for edits but I don't believe you know what ADHD is either. Agreement!

[Exarion]

Good advice if you hate yourself and don't want to enjoy playing video games.

It depends on the goal. If you want to have fun, sure, play whatever suits the individual at a given moment since most people are ADHD nowadays anyway and cannot focus on something specific for a long period of time. I think if you want to get good at a specific game, one at a time is just fine. Personally, I stradle both sides of this but I have a decent idea on what I should run and what I should avoid or not bother with. It seems to me the topic starter has his/her hands in many cookie jars and despite a decision on Ikaruga (for shame) doesn't seem to know what they really should do pardon AOTA. Pick a game, spend a good amount of time in it to form a view on whether or not the game is for you and move on. Otherwise, it's video games so don't worry by asking "which to get" or "which first", pick what looks interesting.

Too many games look interesting, which is why I'm asking here. I'm also fine with paying for DLC that adds a lot to the game, such as Futari BL. If anyone has played any of the games I asked about, they could give me some advice about the game, and then I can narrow the list down enough to actually play what I eventually decide on. I've stated my impressions of previous games I've played, so as to aid that.

[xris]

I'm type that spends long periods on the same shmup. And I'm backlogged already.
Keep 'em coming! It'll be the best 2-3 that get played over time. It's nice that there's options for everybody now!

[ncp]

Not wanting to play the same game for days at a time is not even close to a sign of ADHD.

Anyway you asked about Futari, DS, S&P2 and Ilvelo... That's 4 games, I'm sure over the course of a couple weeks you can put time into each of them. Futari is obviously the best on the list though .

[apple arcade]

id get all you listed except ivello, i don't really like milestone shooters.

[EPS21]

Sounds like you're enough of a Cave fan OP, so you absolutely must get futari. I'd put it at the top of the list and BL is very very much worth it.

With its multitude of options/scanlines, and a ton of modes for everyone, I'd say its the most well done 360 port to date. So if you had to get just one for this summer, or even over the year, I'd make it that one.

[njiska]

Like everyone else, I'll say it depends on your tastes, but I can say that Futari is incredibly fun and one of the most visually and aurally stunning shooters CAVE has produced. Black Label is worth it and depending on your skill level will offer you different challenges.

Treasure's Sin and Punishment: Successor of the Sky (I refuse to call it Star Successor) is also quite an impressive game. It builds on everything the first game established and offers some exciting battles against enormous, angry bosses. Unless they've changed more than the title from the JP release, I highly recommend it.

Deathsmiles is good fun and a great deal (Mega Black Label and MBL 1.1 on disc), but it's different than the verti's you're used to. Lots of slow down too which I found kind of disorienting.

[lmagus]

Deathsmiles is my favorite in that list

[gray117]

From what your saying about ikaruga scoring is definitely an issue... in that respect I'd recommend futari and BL for you.

For me esp2 and ketsui were better buys... but I've always been more of a [bad] survival player.

S&P is much more of an 'experience' ... I can't say no to it, but feel uncomfortable recommending it from a rewards point of view if score is one of those things that really tweaks you... That being said if you want something a little different as an alternative rather than an addition - go for S&P.

[Exarion]

Okay, I've ordered Futari, it should be here friday. I've decided against Ilvelo after looking at the scoring system, and probably will be getting sin and punishment 2, but not now, still too worried about it being a memorizer.

[ncp]

still too worried about it being a memorizer.

what?

[cj iwakura]

Good news! You can skip Ilvelo.

[Exarion]

still too worried about it being a memorizer.

what?

Chaining in the XBLA port of ikaruga is extremely memorization heavy, though I'm not sure if its that way in the other versions of the game (I hear the XBLA port is broken). I'm assuming that even when played for score, Sin and Punishment 2 is not memorization heavy. Now I just have to decide when to get it.

[ncp]

If you're worried about memorization you might want to look into another genre altogether

S&P is a rail shooter btw

[mesh control]

...arcade games, pick out one you can do ok, one you can do as opposed to a whole bunch of em where you don't know what the hell you're doing...

Pick a game, play it a lot. There's tonnes of games out there and almost nobody can play them all. It's not life or death so simply decide for yourself and pick what interests you most. Games will always be there but life waits for nobody.

this is some truly great advice.

[clp]

Good news! You can skip Ilvelo.

STFU + GTFO