What shmup are you playing now?

[dunpeal2064]

The gorge level is the extra stage right? Pretty sure you can't pick that one early.

The difference between versions:

Arcade and 360 are the same game (Or at least close enough), just different graphics. Arcade is low-res, 360 is high-res.

1.1 is a sort of twin-stick arranged mode, with much more emphasis on the option.

MBL is a seperate arcade release, with reworked scoring, an added character, an added difficulty, and an added bonus stage.

[Erik_Twice]

Your journey with Gradius II has been a pleasure to read Norris, you'll have the 1cc in no time!

Glad to hear that! I think it's fun to write about it, it's a very well well-made game and I'm temped to write a full analysis of it, a guide or something equally interesting.

I'm taking it slowly, only a couple credits per day. It's a difficult game and I think not focring myself through it makes it more enjoyable.

Its that first shmup 1cc that really hooks you. Looking back on a game you have conquered that once seemed nearly impossible really gives you the feels.

Oh indeed, indeed. I actually tried to beat DoDonPachi first, but it was before I actually understood how the games were actually designed so I'm approaching Gradius in a fairly more interesting manner than I used to.

[ExedExes]

After playing Eco Fighters today, my shmup itch was not quite satisfied, so I turned to what else I had in MAME.

Flying Shark (Sky Shark) -- even the NES port wasn't this suicidal with checkpoints!



UFO Robo Dangar



and absolutely crushed Ghost Pilots. The key is not to lose any lives for as long as you can because then you lose 3-4 in a row like I did. The curse of the pea-shooter !

[foxhound1022]

Ghost Pilots makes me angry. Never have I died more times from stupid enemies just crashing into my plane.

Still a good one, though.

[Erik_Twice]

My one credit ambition is starting to turn into reality, I beat stages 4 and 5 on the same playthrough! I can see myself beating the game now and my credits get longer and longer.

Stage 4 looks overwhelming at first and the checkpoints seem impossible at first but you don't need power, just the right amount of strategy. There are many hatches in this stange and if you don't destroy them as soon as possible they will release eight enemies and each one of those enemies will fire a bullet, which is more than you should ever try to dodge in this game.

This only leaves you with land-based enemies to worry about and you can carefully move so they are all destroyed by your missiles as you scroll through the screen. All the enemy turrets are either on the ground or on the same level as the hatches so you can

The boss of Stage 4 is called Death Mk II and can be easily understood as an amored Big Core with more dangerous weapons. He's easy to doge at first but you can easily take him for granted and die once he starts attacking faster and faster. I prefer Double to Laser to take Stage 4 so I timed him out.


The fifth stage is easier than the fourth one; the Moai can be destroyed my methodical movement, like the crystals in Stage 2 and while there are some difficult spots and the appeareance of the option thief, I managed to cross it unharmed. I'll probably have more problems getting to this stage than actually beating it.

However, this stage has not one but two different bosses. The first one is a group of four Jumping Moais that shoot an incredible amount of energy rings at you. They look daunting at first but they don't have a lot of resistance so killing them just requires dodging each of them once while they jump.

The second one is a trio of big Moai heads that fire smaller Moai heads that shoot at you. They fire so much crap it can be overwhelming and the two safe spots are riskier than beating the boss normally. Right now what I try is to take out the lower Moai head with my missiles so I have less junk to destroy.

Big Moai killed me so I didn't get to stage six. Let's see what happens next

[DocHauser]

In too-close-for-comfort news, I am now playing Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu.

[dunpeal2064]

In too-close-for-comfort news, I am now playing Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu.

Shh, thats supposed to be secretz.

Damn laser wheels are eating me alive.

[mjmjr25]

bored w/eco. playing pro gear on neo forums sotm. hit my all time high last night and finally took down the kraken.

[dunpeal2064]

bored w/eco. playing pro gear on neo forums sotm. hit my all time high last night and finally took down the kraken.

Legit dude, grats. Kraken is Stage 4 boss? I can make it to stage 4 (never, ever seen the fixed extend), but that stage eats me alive.

I haven't played Progear since you got me that conversion, I should pop it in.

[mjmjr25]

Kraken is stage 4, yeah. I can get through stage 3 usually intact, but sometimes I die on 3rd boss.

Stage 4 - I die at least once on the way up, but with the extend at 3mil, i'm able to hit the boss usually with one spare life in stock.

The Kraken is actually easier than the 3rd boss, I just needed to see the patterns a few more times, took about 6 runs to her last night to finally take her down. Stage 5 is a mess. First time I saw it was last night - it plays like stage 4 (scrolling upward) but has the enemies from stage 1 / 2 / 3. Sorta weird - same enemies, but they shoot more bullets and insanely faster. I got eaten alive and was a mil away from second extend.

Imma need to squeeze another 700-800K out of the the first 4 stages if I have a shot at that 2nd extend. Will play it another day or two before Mars Matrix...