Oddball feats/sh*t you do in a shmup

[crithit5000]

This thread is dedicated to the more...weird things we do in shmups when that occasional boredom sets in. Examples of what I've done-

The infamous Gradius V ten point run. When the old shmups.com forums were up, someone had the idea to run through GV's first level without firing a shot until the boss, and shoot one ring it fires. Then proceeding with suicide. Nobody ever did it, so months ago I did it. Proof-



Also, after beating a boss in Ikaruga, I'm known for playing Pong/Breakout...just bouncing your ship off the walls at angles emulating those types of games. Bonus points if you go "BLIP!" out loud or change polarities when you hit the walls of the screen.

When playing shmups with friends over MAME32k, I tend to...er, 'dance' around the other player's craft. It's utterly stupid, but somewhat funny to me.

[CIT]

Something weird happened to me a couple of days ago when playing Shienryu. I collected a shield powerup in the third level and suddenly dozens of powerups started spurting out of my ship giving me lots of points when I collected them. Haven't been able to repeat it though. That game has some weird secrets...

I also tried to play Soukyugurentai once without ever firing a shot. Can't remember how far I got, but I think it worked out pretty well actually.

[landshark]

I know alot of other people do this, but in Gradius, that little mountain with a hole through it in the first level. I like doing loops around it while it's on the screen.

Strikers 1999, the water level. I tend to move my ship to the beat of the boss music while fighting the boss.

[Specineff]

This is a funny thread.

In Ikaruga I move my ship so it reaches the top when the screen fades, to give the impression I'm exiting the stage.

[RoninBuddha]

in Strikers1945 II, i tried to finish the game with bomb attacks only (flying pancake)

[ArrogantBastard]

In Ikaruga, I tend to do one of those things where I put my ship in the furthest corner on left side similar to ISO or WIZ in the Appreciate DVD.

Slightly off tangent and speaking of odd feats, I just managed to find VTF-INO's 0 pt. Giga Wing 2 replay video and was pretty much shocked at how much he could get away by firing shots and bombing without racking up any points at all, and two deaths in the game. Amazing.

[sjewkestheloon]

i had muchos fun in the none shooting run or psyvariar revision. a sky high level as you buzz like mad so you can access the even more difficult levels where you then get destroyed by some of the more advanced spams. i'm pretty sure you could actually complete the game without shooting at all.

[Zweihander]

i always make a point of dancing on a boss's dead body by rapidly making a circular motion on the D-pad.

also, i just got Sigma Star Saga today, and i'm already lvl. 46, with only 6 hours of gameplay... :/ after the first 5 hours i told myself, 'just don't give a shit about the EXP items, just shoot anything that moves, and avoid the EXP's if you can. that way, the later areas of the game might actually be challenging.'

[theevilfunkster]

I move my ship back in Border Down so it looks like the shockwave from the boss explosion is moving it. I do it every time.

[SheSaidDutch]

Maybe not too weird but I normally keep looping around the space inbetween the mountain onthe first level of Gradius I.

[zinger]

Good topic. This is what I do when there's not a lot of stuff going on in Gleylancer:

With the Saber weapon equipped (usually at the beginning of st 5), i tap the different directions of the d-pad and simultaneously press and release the fire button for each tap to the beat of the song in the following pattern:
Up+Shoot, Down+Shoot, Left+Shoot, Right+Shoot

Looks like some kind of dance.

I also tried to play Soukyugurentai once without ever firing a shot. Can't remember how far I got, but I think it worked out pretty well actually.

I almost never use the regular shot in this game, there's hardly any reason (except for maybe against missile attacks). But maybe you didn't even use the lock-on?

[FatCobra]

I've played Gradius games with no options. And when I do play with options, I like to keep moving the Vic Viper around and watching them dance and make patterns.

Also, I like do to the circle dance, where you move the stick or pad in a circle and watch the craft move from side to side.

[zinger]

And when I do play with options, I like to keep moving the Vic Viper around and watching them dance and make patterns.

Also, I like do to the circle dance, where you move the stick or pad in a circle and watch the craft move from side to side.

I do this too. I also like to move my ship in the shape of an eight.

[Ramus]

In Gunbird 2 I try to see how far I can get with out firing a shot. Since most Psikyo games come with bosses that self-destruct after a long time, it shouldn't be impossible to clear the game with little or no points. I can only get to 1-3 or 1-2 depending on the order of the levels.

[Zweihander]

after killing a boss in Border Down, i grind against the floor (since you're invincible after the boss dies)

[BulletMagnet]

On Psyvariar 2 I like to spin around all over the screen for no particular reason after I beat a boss (who was it who had the "Wheeee! I'm a beautiful robotic ballerina!" quote in his sig not too long ago?).

[captain ahar]

^ i believe that was Mr Spec

[diOdesu]

if i start grooving to the soundtrack i start shooting and tapping directions on beat. pop-locking fighter-planes! in sns 2 with 2 players i hit on the other player and circle around him/her forever...until i die. in chaos field expanded (or is that sns 2 also?), well the one with a centralized boss explosion, i position my ship in the middle and rejoice in victory with an aura of flames. no shot 1cc mars matrix is a hopeless dream of mine. i can get to stage 3 though! hurray for boredom!

[Specineff]

I move my ship back in Border Down so it looks like the shockwave from the boss explosion is moving it. I do it every time.

Ooh, I do that in Ikaruga too. And I even wiggle the joypad to make it look like it's rattling my ship.

[zaphod]

I like to try and get as far as Ican on my first life in Slap FIght without firing a shot. Try it someday. it's quite fun.

Don't forget to start playing normally after you die tho.

I will admit to doing the gradius Option Ddance too. it's just fun lopping around with tem and making patterns with lasers.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

I like to make pictures/words with my Options when there's nothing going on screen (ie. Hello, UFO, hi). Also, I rush to bosses that blow their core before imploding and place one of my Options there.

Edit: I do the eight movement too.

[Acid King]

After killing bosses in Ikaruga and Psyvariar 2 I position my ship in the middle of the boss explosion so that the ship is engulfed and it looks like the ship is spawning from the center of it as the explosion dies.

[bVork]

In Tempest, I don't touch the dial at all until Pulsars start showing up. It looks really weird to onlookers, but it's perfectly safe as long as you're semi-lucky and any Fuseballs that appear end up crossing your path before heading to the top.

[freddiebamboo]

It was a wee while back, but someone round here posted they can do the business on a sega "fission" fishing rod, it was (hopefully) in jest - but still, respect

[Icarus]

It was a wee while back, but someone round here posted they can do the business on a sega "fission" fishing rod, it was (hopefully) in jest - but still, respect

That was me. Four player Gigawing 2 marathon at a shmupmeet, only three regular DC controllers between us. Unlucky me had to pick up the slack with a Bass Fishing Rod. Did quite well with it too, although I'm never ever doing that again

I like to tap the Shot button in time to the music when I know its safe to do so (during stage breaks, after beating bosses etc). Sorta like "getting into the rhythm" when I'm shmupping.

[freddiebamboo]

I should have guessed

[superhitachi4]

Many times if I become bored, I play without using any weapons. Good way to master patterns.

[howmuchkeefe]

I do the figure 8 thing too, mostly to the beat of the music during slow parts.

I'll also do it with my mouse while browsing, which seems to annoy anyone who happens to be watching at the time. I'm a nervous, fidgety sort.

[gs68]

Sometimes I spasm my hands when I play, often to fire more rapidly. I also try to move in patters like circles and figure eights if it's safe.

[FatCobra]

And when I do play with options, I like to keep moving the Vic Viper around and watching them dance and make patterns.

Also, I like do to the circle dance, where you move the stick or pad in a circle and watch the craft move from side to side.

I do this too. I also like to move my ship in the shape of an eight.

I do the figure 8 dance as well. Maybe that's what I meant by circle dance.