What are you playing?

[Sarge]

I just started the first Casltevania and am stuck on Death. Not stuck so much as I got to him once, died quickly, then went to bed. After a couple nights I can make it to Level 4 without dying so that's progress to me. Hoping to have it beat soon.

That was always my hangup. I would always get through a couple of times, but then never did beat Dracula back in the day. Now, I'm pretty decent at it without (you can survive it with Boomerangs if you're lucky), and Triple Shot Holy Water makes that battle ridiculously easy as long as you don't get screwed by a random weapon drop in the hallway leading up to the fight...

[TSTR]

Does anybody have any tips that might help me out?

When all else fails, put the gun right up to the screen.

[Sarge]

Oh, if it's anything like the old NES Zapper was, mess around with your colors and whatnot on the screen. Makes a big difference, or at least it did for that system. No idea with light gun games on Genesis, though.

[TSTR]

Oh, if it's anything like the old NES Zapper was, mess around with your colors and whatnot on the screen. Makes a big difference, or at least it did for that system. No idea with light gun games on Genesis, though.

Yeah, there's also the trick of jacking either contrast or brightness all the way up (can't remember which). Then every shot registers a hit.

[Ack]

Playing a bit of Bloody Wolf on the TurboGrafx-16...

I am obsessed with the ending dialog and credits music to this game. How is the gameplay?

I've been playing Lethal Enforcers on the Genesis and I'm considering packing it away. I think I unfortunately have several things working against me, including:

-- this is my first lightgun game since Duck Hunt;
-- I'm playing on a 12" CRT;
-- the CRT is resting on the floor.

So basically we've got a combination of noob skills, a proportionately smaller shooting area that messes with precision and accuracy, and an unstable vantage point (I stretch out on the floor and lean on my elbows, so if I shift around even the tiniest bit, my calibration can get thrown off). I also have detection issues with one side of the screen, meaning that I occasionally can't hit enemies that hang out on the left edge. The game thinks I'm trying to reload instead, the result being that I get slowly shot to death by the same goon. Unfortunate.

Does anybody have any tips that might help me out? I can't change my setup, so I suppose I'm looking more for gameplay tips. Also, are lightgun games usually this hard? Or am I just bad? I can handle the truth.

I suggest putting a pillow down to protect your elbows. The resistance of the fabric and padding will also hopefully help fight your calibration issues when you move.

[marurun]

Finally stopped playing Fallout 3/NV/Tale of Two Wastelands. Was getting addicted and realized that, despite making a few changes, was still largely playing the same way I always do.

Trying FFIII on Steam now.

[Key-Glyph]

Ah, thanks for the advice, everybody. I hadn't thought about adjusting the television's brightness and contrast; I'll give that a whirl next week.

I'm already doing the pillow thing, so that's squared away. And once, in frustration, I did try shooting with the Justifier practically flush against the screen. It surprisingly didn't help in the later levels, when enemies stand behind inconsistent metal cover (several small beams, that kind of thing). My bullets continued to ricocheted away, which makes me worry that I really do need a bigger screen to get the hit detection right.

My aim's not terrible. I smoke the early levels. I've definitely improved a lot, too. It's just that there are so many little snags, some of which are hardware related. But you know, nevermind all that. You guys have inspired me to persevere. I'll beat this game yet.

[Exhuminator]

I'm nearly finished with Sin Episodes Emergence. Bought this one back in 2006 and only just now getting around to playing it. So far it's a rather underwhelming FPS and the dynamic difficulty adjustment is not calibrated well. I will try to finish it off tonight though because it's short and I spent $20 on this crap years ago.

[Ack]

I'm nearly finished with Sin Episodes Emergence. Bought this one back in 2006 and only just now getting around to playing it. So far it's a rather underwhelming FPS and the dynamic difficulty adjustment is not calibrated well. I will try to finish it off tonight though because it's short and I spent $20 on this crap years ago.

I played a bit of SiN a few years back was not impressed. One day I'll go back and finish it I suppose, but it will be a while.

Really the only thing I've ever cared about SiN for was introducing me to Bianca Beauchamp. I don't recommend looking up who she is unless you're at home alone and over the age of 18.

[Exhuminator]

I played a bit of SiN a few years back was not impressed.

Yes the original SiN was a total pile of trash. The Emergence sequel/reboot is at least playable, albeit uninspired monotonous drivel. The game has decent gunplay which is the only reason I'll bother finishing it.

introducing me to Bianca Beauchamp.

Ha ha. Well she had notable assets but IMO Cindy Synnett (girl with the gun) was the apex of the game's duo.