What shmup are you playing now?

[dunpeal2064]

See, if Compile shooters had scoring other than "Kill things, grab powerups", I may continue to play them for score. Zanac Nep dpes have some scoring... but IDK... I like to work on scoring as I work on my survival.

my problem is, I just don't want to play an hour long game that I know I will completely clear, even if I might be able to improve my score a bit.

With Cave, I can ignore scoring and get rocked for months. It took me almost a year to clear the Futari Originals, and that was with scoring only in the first two stages.

Now, I've been playing that game for a year, have 1cc'd two modes... and yet I still play it everyday. And, I can still play it and totally ignore score, and still have a challenge, by trying Maniac... or I can work on my Original scores, since even with the clear, I did not make it on the shmups high score thread.

I think its just such a great balance of survival difficulty and scoring depth that few other devs have reached... and by few, I mean Raizing.

Since I play Cave so much for score, when I look to a retro shooter, it usually isn't to squeeze points out of it, but to just play it for a challenge (Like Gradius, R-Type, Toaplan, Raiden).

[ExedExes]

Ha ha, to be fair, I do think Compile is the best console shmup developer. They really knew how to push a system to its limits, with really fast moving, insanely detailed sprites.

My only issue with compile is the difficulty. I spent months tracking down MUSHA. I 1cc'd MUSHA on my 2nd attempt, which made me sad. Its like... 9 fairly long stages, and if I know I am going to clear it... why play it again?

So, I tracked down Gun Nac, as it looked great. it was... but it was also 9 pretty long stages, and I got the 1cc in my first time ever playing the game.

So, I tried GG Aleste via a Game Gear emulator... 1cc on my first try.

Zanac Neo... 1cc on my 2nd credit.

I do want to try Space Megaforce still... but I am just Cave-spoiled. Most Cave shooters have 5 stages, and I usually can't get through those 5 stages, so I am used to 20 minute runs, not hour long runs.

Not every game's gotta be a 1cc challenge. You gotta try Space Megaforce and The Guardian Legend if only to experience them.

[dunpeal2064]

I will!

I guess for me, a shmup does have to have a 1cc challenge, just because there are so many that I love, but cannot 1cc. So I feel like my time is better spent developing my skills. Plus, I have not seen stage 5 or later in most of the games I like, so its also like fighting to see more of the games I love.

I'm not saying that means the games are bad, Ill give each one a chance. Just not the kind of game Id play on a regular basis.

Fwiw, I don't like Thunder Force much either, so maybe I have a thing against console-designed shmups, and Id just never thought about it that way.

[mjmjr25]

Ahhh, good to hear.

I thought I was a lone wolf in my aversion to Thunder Force. In particular, Thunder Force V which gets raved by the masses, but I thought it was a hot and clunky mess.

I can certainly appreciate more retro shooters, say RECCA, which is incredible the little I played. But even when it comes to retro shooters, I lean toward Toaplan stuff or the like for the depth they provide.

I think they (older retro shooters) are great for what they are - an occasional diversion or something neat to play once a year - but a very few can I find myself sinking my teeth into for extended periods.

[dunpeal2064]

Now RECCA is a fine game.

Maybe I should try more Caravan Shooters.

[fvgazi]

I'm inching my way forward in M. Futari 1.5 right now. I keep getting a new high score every day! (I'll refrain from posting in the HS thread until I make substantial movement).

I'm thinking about trying some G. Darius or Darius Gaiden just because i've seen a few people talking it up recently.

//edit
I, too think thunderforce is meh. I wouldn't say it's a BAD game, because i've certainly had fun playing it, but it's not the type of shmup I want to play every day.

[ExedExes]

Fwiw, I don't like Thunder Force much either, so maybe I have a thing against console-designed shmups, and Id just never thought about it that way.

Ya know what, I have to agree with you here. Everyone's like ZOMG greatest Genesis shmups EVAR but I can think of many more that don't get a lot of love on there. Truxton, Fire Shark, Bio-Hazard Battle, etc.

I played 3 stages of Thunder Spirits (SNES) and just didn't enjoy it. Don't understand *why* either.

I'd love to try those on the Turbo CD - Lords of Thunder & Gates of Thunder. THEY look good.

I lean towards the older ones because they're the ones I grew up with. I'm always up for a good console or arcade classic. I'm slowly getting into the crazier ones -- still love Giga Wing on the DC but I know there's tons more, and I'm playing them with all of you.

[rantz97]

Tatsujin, Steel Empire, Musha Aleste, Battlemania 2, Grindstromer -> very2 delicious dinner menus

[mjmjr25]

I'm inching my way forward in M. Futari 1.5 right now. I keep getting a new high score every day! (I'll refrain from posting in the HS thread until I make substantial movement).

I'm thinking about trying some G. Darius or Darius Gaiden just because i've seen a few people talking it up recently.

//edit
I, too think thunderforce is meh. I wouldn't say it's a BAD game, because i've certainly had fun playing it, but it's not the type of shmup I want to play every day.

Echo, echo...

Agreed on all counts. Though, I prematurely posted my crap Futari score and still haven't improved on it - admittedly I haven't given it but 90 minutes of love total, though.

I'm actually REALLY enjoying G Darius the second time around - after thinking it was balls hard the first time and sorta disjointed in the way the boards and mid-bosses change on you. But now, yeah, really really liking it. It's rather indepth too, which I didn't quite see the first time. I'll be posting some in that thread later today.

And yup, Thunderforce is one I don't understand the praise for. To each their own though - at least folks are shooting stuff.

[ZenErik]

I need to get back to shmups soon. Been all about BlazBlue CSEx and Tales of Graces f. Perhaps I'll go with Deathsmiles to ease my way back in with something I may be able to 1CC with some practice.