Radio Zonde Then...

[mjclark]

After looking at the mechanics of the new Stella Vanity release I decided that, just as there is a time in every man's life when he grows a beard, it was time for me to seriously address Hellsinker. So much has already been written about that game and (with the help of this forum and the English wiki) I'm really starting to appreciate it it like never before and am discovering it's depth as something to be explored and enjoyed rather than feared.
In order to consolidate the Hellsinker experience I thought I'd better take a relook at Radio Zonde to get some history and context (if you don't know where you've been you don't know where you're going etc) but I just can't enjoy it.
I've seen a few other people make similar comments and it seems to be neurotically complex in a way that's just a bit irritating and frustrating, rather than mysterious and enticing like Hellsinker.
I'm aware that I've only just brushed the surface of it yet and am open to the possibility that it might click for me eventually (as many other games I initially disliked have done) but I'm really interested in what other people's experience of Radio Zonde is, especially as there's a lot less written about it than Hellsinker.

Also I really want to like Radio Zonde cos the whole feel of the game reminds me of coming down off acid

[Captain]

it can be actually harder then Helsinki

And it has a less practical attacks

but it has nice music

and is almost as fun as Hellsinker.

[RNGmaster]

Play KHYH (one of 4 secret characters) and it's actually a pretty straightforward shmup. However, you have like no bombs and boss patterns can be irritating. It's a damn tough game, unlike "hey I can bombspam and I have a shield" Hellsinker.

[Treasurance]

Don't know, game feels like a bunch of random, detached, extra irritating (not to mention difficult) shmup stages glued together with that level select screen of a main menu.

HS is maybe a bit more consistent and at least has much stronger aesthetic elements and story to keep it together (though it really could use some increase in difficulty)

harder then Helsinki

now that's how you misspell

[ShmupSamurai]

Ooooh...Radio Zonde.. I had some great times with that game...can do pretty good until the 3rd boss where you have to pull alot of RSG-eqse manuvers while chasing the boss through that $##^$# block field....Grrrrr... I don't how MANY times I got splatted during that everytime I dodged a bullet right to run into the nearest wall...

The very final boss still sends shivers down my spine....easily one of the best shmup final batttles I ever had, the part where I discovered I could move and aim along the perimeter of the play area as the boss and I begin that 3rd phase- a spiraling dance of death-made my jaw drop the first tme I witnessed it... Took me 3 tries to nail that bitch, though. The bullet patterns get insanely scary towards the end...I almost maxed my bodycount during the very last phase when her shadow clones came up to rip me a new one...still have that moment on replay....

[mjclark]

Play KHYH (one of 4 secret characters) and it's actually a pretty straightforward shmup. However, you have like no bombs and boss patterns can be irritating. It's a damn tough game, unlike "hey I can bombspam and I have a shield" Hellsinker.

That suggestion to play as KHYH is really making this a bit more accessible so thanks for that
What's the difference between playing as Savior and as Destroyer?