What shmup are you playing now?

[hashiriya1]

Aw nuts! I totally forgot that PixelJunk was on sale for 5 bucks. Oh well.

[sabrage]

Continuing my NES adventures...

I like Air Fortress' hybrid gameplay, but while the chunky graphics look very nice they really hinder maneuverability and I think that's going to prevent me from fully enjoying it.

I certainly don't consider myself particularly good at shmups, but I can't even get past the first level in Sky Shark. I like to imagine the original developers as some sort of supervillain conglomerate, laughing at their customers' frustration while simultaneously profiting from it. It's an absolute little bastard, and easily my favorite of the 4 games I tried out today.

[god]

Started up Nemesis for Game Boy (thanks Noise.) Man that laser noise is annoying. Currently trying to figure out that second level; those enemies that spawn right on top of you are a total bitch. Luckily I can just set it to 99 lives and zone out...

I found this cart for $5.00 recently at a little retro game shop. It was the only reasonably priced item in the whole place. I've been rocking it on the train on the gba-sp. I can get to level 3 without losing a life when I'm feeling particularly sharp. In the bit before the boss with the enemies spawning on top of you, I use the diagonal shot. Keep moving around. Try to be moving from right to left as much as possible. Sounds weird but it worked for me. Eventually you'll work out their pattern. The diagonal shot and your 2 options should take out anything that appears in front of you if you are going backwards in a zizag.

It is a very fun game. I love the sense of power when you are fully powered up. Also, when I was playing Life Force Salamander on the NES recently I barely noticed a difference with the speed powerup activated. Not so with this game, the difference is pretty major.

[sabrage]

Started up Nemesis for Game Boy (thanks Noise.) Man that laser noise is annoying. Currently trying to figure out that second level; those enemies that spawn right on top of you are a total bitch. Luckily I can just set it to 99 lives and zone out...

I found this cart for $5.00 recently at a little retro game shop. It was the only reasonably priced item in the whole place. I've been rocking it on the train on the gba-sp. I can get to level 3 without losing a life when I'm feeling particularly sharp. In the bit before the boss with the enemies spawning on top of you, I use the diagonal shot. Keep moving around. Try to be moving from right to left as much as possible. Sounds weird but it worked for me. Eventually you'll work out their pattern. The diagonal shot and your 2 options should take out anything that appears in front of you if you are going backwards in a zizag.

I've been playing this quite a bit while waiting for shipments at work. I'm currently working on perfecting the last two levels, and then I'm going to start working towards a 1cc. As with all Gradius games, I can do great when I'm fully upgraded... But it can be very difficult to recover from a death. I almost always go with the diagonal shot, though I'm thinking lasers may be the way to go on level 3 to take out the Moai. It's definitely a very faithful translation of the Gradius formula, and a game I think every Gameboy fan should own.

[fvgazi]

I bought Akai Katana this morning and I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

[mjmjr25]

I bought Akai Katana this morning and I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

Is there anything (majorly) different than the JP release? It looks like the JP version is still selling at $70-ish and the US release is new for $40-ish.

[dunpeal2064]

The jpn releases hold value.

Raiden IV and RFA still fetch $50+

Oh, and there is a platinum release set in jpn, so it till be at Futari prices. No differrnces though, aside regional.

If only they'd patch arcade mode

[fvgazi]

The jpn releases hold value.

Raiden IV and RFA still fetch $50+

Oh, and there is a platinum release set in jpn, so it till be at Futari prices. No differrnces though, aside regional.

If only they'd patch arcade mode

What is wrong with AK arcade mode? I have no idea because I've never played the JPN release or a PCB.

[dunpeal2064]

Nothing aside its lack of a 4:3 mode. Not noticeabe on a hdtv, but on a crt or cab you get double letterboxing. Deathsmiles 2x had this isue too, but the original DS was fine iirc.

The real problem is my lack of an hdtv.

[fvgazi]

Nothing aside its lack of a 4:3 mode. Not noticeabe on a hdtv, but on a crt or cab you get double letterboxing. Deathsmiles 2x had this isue too, but the original DS was fine iirc.

The real problem is my lack of an hdtv.

"original mode" is in 4:3. The other 2 modes; Slash and Climax are in 16:9.

//edit
well, for 4:3 the actual gameplay screen is. I don't know how it translates on a SDTV (assuming this leads to the 2x letter-boxing you're talking about).