Blazing Star...why are you so evil?

maxlords · Post by **maxlords** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 2:38 am

All right, I finally got a working Neo Geo MVS mobo, and I've sat down for the last couple hours with Blazing Star. Now here's a game that really dislikes players. Slow maneuverabiliy, super-fast enemies, and some nasty bullet patterns really make this one challenging for me at least. I got through the first level on one credit, but that's as far as I got. I got hammered into the ground in the 2nd level (course I haven't learned any patterns yet) and fron the 3rd on it was just a non-stop credit-fest.

Has anyone REALLY mastered this game? I've got it on default difficulty and it's just hard as nails. Even with infinite credits I was getting frustrated! And the later bosses....yeah right! Any tips on how to get further on fewer credits for Blazing Star? I was using the green ship which seems to have an excellent firing spread, but maybe underpowered bullets? Either way I need more practice....

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 3:07 am

The green ship is a nice one. Once you play it a bit more, stage 1 becomes a cakewalk even if you're getting greedy for score multipliers, and stage 2 isn't too bad either. It does get more evil though.

Might want to check out Kiken's replays too, he uses the green ship in those.

Twiddle · Post by **Twiddle** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 3:27 am

On the bright side, this game has no rank.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 3:30 am

The game's no cakewalk, certainly, but at least the first few levels (Stage 4 is as far as I can get on a credit) definitely aren't impossible with a bit of practice (though I've heard horror stories about the later stages). The green ship is definitely a good one to start out with, though the "defense" type might not be a bad choice either, since it can block "basic" bullets when powered up, though its offensive abilities are more limited.

EDIT: As for the "no rank" comment, you might want to look here.

it290 · Post by **it290** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 3:57 am

I don't find it to be too tough. I haven't 1ccd it, but most of my deaths tend to result from milking the bosses and attempting to grab all the jewels. I usually use the Windina (green ship mentioned above).

And yep, the game most definitely does have rank. If you don't believe it, do the powerup trick on the first level - it gets much more insane.

neorichieb1971 · Post by **neorichieb1971** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 4:06 am

I didnt find it that hard to get to level 4 on 1 credit. Although I've never got passed 4 on one credit ever either.

Memorization kills the game for me, I'd rather work on reflexes alone.

raiden · Post by **raiden** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 4:53 am

there are also 1cc replays availlable on http://www.super-play.co.uk/index.php?content=2, not only for the Windina, which is one of the strongest ships, but also for Aryustailm, which is very hard to handle.
I´m in the same league as neorichieb1971, but it´s just a matter of time to reach later levels. A buddy of mine played the game for 3 years to be able to reach stage 6 on one credit. Yes, the game requires memorization just like R-Type games, but the score elements make it less boring once you learned what to do in early stages.

neorichieb1971 · Post by **neorichieb1971** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 6:03 am

"3 years" lmao.

I think i've put about 15 hours into it so far, maybe less. I think its beatable, sure seems easier than any cave title.

Frederik · Post by **Frederik** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 12:10 pm

Funny thing is, I just started playing this gem a week ago...

And if I really recommend you something: Start playing for score. At least that is what I did and when you do, you suddenly realize that every enemy placement has got it scoring reasons.

Furthermore, I found all those ships are crap besides Aryustailm. Playing with this one is even harder, but oh so rewarding, when you crush swarms of small enemies on level one and then burn large tanks while your chain counter is at 128x. I play it on MAME and made several savestates on stage one and two so I can play those single segments over and over again--- and getting on close though on the enemies with your fiercy red flame JUST at the right time is endlessly fun. And with that kind of melodic, moody soundtrack it never gets boring.

I guess thats the problem with most modern games: Many people want to 1CC it first before trying to achive high scores, but believe me, playing the first three stages on DoDonpachi, trying to beat your OWN scores over and over again teaches you a hell lot more about the games structure than wanting to 1CC it while credit-feeding it trying.

In my opinion, credit-feeding is the death to any shmup. I usually die around the end of the second stage in BS, because I tried chaining the enemies too hard...but it was fun, and my scores improve.

On second thought, watching superplays of a game you`re just starting to learn isn`t a helpful thing either. So my tip is: Play on score, no credits, and choose Aryustailm. He lets you see the beauty of the stage design. Otherwise its just blam blam stage 1 blam blam stage 2. If you`re playing it right, you`ll nearly never use the standard shot but the charge flame, and in the stages there are many quiet moments that are just BARELY long enough to completely charge your flame to start another hell of a chain. And the female announcer will encourage you with her "Yeah!" or "Huuuh!", - I just love that lighthearted feel of BS.

And at least, I read many reviews claiming that BS is not as good as Pulstar. Hell, BS MIGHT be some kind of follower, but it has a completely different intention than Pulstar. This is no R-Type clone, but a intense hori with a damn fine scoring system.

Frederik · Post by **Frederik** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 12:12 pm

neorichieb1971 wrote:I didnt find it that hard to get to level 4 on 1 credit. Although I've never got passed 4 on one credit ever either.

Memorization kills the game for me, I'd rather work on reflexes alone.

I completely disagree. The game is so finely built around your charge attacks, that it would be a shame not to memorize the ideal chaining spots.

RoninBuddha · Post by **RoninBuddha** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 12:42 pm

BS has some nice effects that looks great, considering it's a NEOGEO... like Stage 5's sequence, wherein you move sideways..

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 3:00 pm

i love the blue ship, where you kill have to kill shit with muzzle flash.

Post by **Shatterhand** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 3:53 pm

I have a love/hate relationship with Blazing Star

at first I was blow away by the game design, graphics and everything. I thought it was one of the most fantastic horizontal shmups ever made.

Then frustration set in. I never beat level 4 , and I tried it and tried it and tried it. Level 3 already is a BITCH, and then level 4, argh argh...

Then I credit-feed the game just to watch it...

At that point, I said BS was IMPOSSIBLE to 1cc, for me it was just a ride of cheap deaths... i think from level 6 onwards, my credits lasted less than a minute...

And then I relegated the game to "cheap shit"

Then I saw people mastering the game, and then I begun to believe the game was actually doable.... but I just don't play it anymore....

it290 · Post by **it290** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 4:33 pm

Furthermore, I found all those ships are crap besides Aryustailm. Playing with this one is even harder, but oh so rewarding, when you crush swarms of small enemies on level one and then burn large tanks while your chain counter is at 128x. I play it on MAME and made several savestates on stage one and two so I can play those single segments over and over again--- and getting on close though on the enemies with your fiercy red flame JUST at the right time is endlessly fun. And with that kind of melodic, moody soundtrack it never gets boring.

Thing is, the points you get from 128x kills pale in comparison to those you get from leeching gems off the bosses.

Devil REI · Post by **Devil REI** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 5:50 pm

Blazing Star luv. Dino 135 is the way I swing. If I recall correctly, the top Japanese score for the game was using that ship. You can pull off some really nice score/save tricks with the "options" it has.

I could make it through Stage 5 before getting killed at my prime. I'd have to practice a bit to get up to that level again.

And if there's no rank in Blazing Star, why does it display a xxx/256 figure on the high score screen for the top score?

it290 · Post by **it290** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 5:51 pm

That number be the powerup level.

Frederik · Post by **Frederik** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 6:18 pm

it290 wrote:
Thing is, the points you get from 128x kills pale in comparison to those you get from leeching gems off the bosses.

I was already wondering why the player in this one replay messed around with the 1st Stage Boss for so long...he seemed to "rub" over it for what seemed like minutes. Need to watch it again.

LoneSage · Post by **LoneSage** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 11:23 pm

I think Blazing Star is relatively easy, doesn't require a lot of committment to become a total master. I can beat it in about 4 credits on default.

Amazing game, not only my favorite on the Neo but maybe even in my Top 5.

neorichieb1971 · Post by **neorichieb1971** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 1:01 am

Memorization kills the game for me because I like my shmups to be basic and simple. By the time I get to level 4 I forget about the thing that killed me last time from behind, so I get killed by it again

I don't play for score, I'm in the school of thought of beating a game before I refine my practices.

it290 · Post by **it290** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:07 am

Well, I'd say the majority of shooters require the same degree of memorization as Blazing Star.

maxlords · Post by **maxlords** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:56 am

Well, that certainly made things easier. I stopped grabbing every powerup on screen and suddenly the difficulty dropped like a rock. Yeesh. Now, can you grab the blue jewels without making the difficulty go crazy? I've managed to get halfway through level 3 on one credit tonight (only a day...but I do suck compared to some of the gods around here), and I've been avoiding every single jewel.

As for the ships, I tried the Aryustailm and the Dino 135. I found the Aryu too blasted hard to kill enemies with...damned thing just doesn't have the oomph of the other ships. I suspect a pro could do wonders with it but I'm not at that skill level. The Dino wasn't so bad though. Still, the rapid spread of the Windina seems to work to clear enemies like wheat and helps me live longer....I'll probably stick with it till I get the knack a bit more.

Anyone know exactly how the chaining works in this game? I keep getting multipliers but I don't know WHY I'm getting them so I can't really maximize em at this point....

EDIT: I just figured it out...seems to have something to do with how many enemies you kill with a single powered-up blast. What I don't get though is why my score didn't go crazy from getting all those chains and the blue gems. The difficulty stayed the same even with getting everything, but my score wasn't significantly higher with the gems and multipliers. Sure I made about 20% more in terms of points (was at 480K when I got whupped by the level 2 boss) but I didn't REALLY kick ass

I used the Hellhound this time...seems easier to get multipliers with it than the Windina, and I don't mind it. This is the first time in a while I've been hooked on a shmup like this (as you can probably tell from my posts).

Two playthroughs on a credit apiece are killing my wrist tho!

zakk · Post by **zakk** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:16 am

LoneSage wrote:I think Blazing Star is relatively easy, doesn't require a lot of committment to become a total master. I can beat it in about 4 credits on default.

L O L

it290 · Post by **it290** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:30 am

maxlords: not sure what effect the gems have on rank, but I know the bulk of it comes from collecting powerups and doing charge shots -- mainly the powerups. All you really need to do is powerup a few times, if you constantly collect them you're just asking for the game to kick your ass. As for the multiplers, they are gained by destroying as many enemies as possible with your charge shot or break charge shot, but don't worry about that too much. Get them when you can, and use the event icon when there are lots of enemies to kill, but focus on collecting every single gem, as every one you miss is a big detriment to your score. Also, milk the bosses when you can to gain gems from their shots - let them time out, you'll get more points from the gems.

Twiddle · Post by **Twiddle** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:57 am

it290 wrote:And yep, the game most definitely does have rank. If you don't believe it, do the powerup trick on the first level - it gets much more insane.

Holy shit.

Without that trick, rank went up pretty uniformly for me so I didn't notice it.

I think the point of that trick is to have enemies and bosses fire much more destructable shots at you so you can score more gems.

tizerist · Post by **tizerist** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:55 pm

is there anyone who can "put" this onto a DC disc for me??
or a emulator that will do it?
nice one

LoneSage · Post by **LoneSage** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:25 pm

zakk wrote:
LoneSage wrote:I think Blazing Star is relatively easy, doesn't require a lot of committment to become a total master. I can beat it in about 4 credits on default.

L O L

There's a thread at neo-geo where a guy explained how deep the scoring system can get, and yeah, that requires a ton of practice, but I'm talking about basic survival, not caring about bonuses and all that.
The Windina's the best ship for straight-out survival thanks to its green waves. Put me with any other ship and I start to fuck up.

Frederik · Post by **Frederik** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:43 pm

tizerist wrote:is there anyone who can "put" this onto a DC disc for me??
or a emulator that will do it?
nice one

There are certain ways to get the rom plus the Neogeo Bios to play it COMPLETEY ILLEGAL in MAME but YOU DON`T WANT TO DO THIS UNLESS YOU ALREADY OWN THE GAME AND CAN PLAY IT ANYWAY! So I told you what NOT to do. If you do it anyways then don`t say anyone encouraged you!

AOTD3025 · Post by **AOTD3025** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:57 pm

Figured I'd pass this on as we were wondering about it in the High Scores section.

You may have heard that Peplos/Asayuki is a broken ship/character. Apparently, you can milk the hell out of the mini-babies at the last boss, though what you do or what attribute that Peplos has that allows you to do this is unknown to me at this time.

As I got this from another forum, take this with a grain of salt. Note also that I am unable to read German, so I had to push the text through the Google translator (which is imperfect at best; several sentences just didn't make much sense).

You can find the afore-mentioned thread here.

If anybody can go into this in greater detail, I'd think it'll be greatly appreciated.

On a side note, I guess I'll have to learn to drive something else

-AOTD3025

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:59 pm

AOTD3025 wrote:...stuff...

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=7257

AOTD3025 · Post by **AOTD3025** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 7:16 pm

. . . and that's what I get for not checking back for a long time. >_<

Thanks!

-AOTD3025