REFRAIN ~PRISM MEMORIES~ - High Scores + strategy

[s1mplehumar]

I guess I'm still a tad confused about pairing M.E.F.A2 with the Concept Reactor. Is the Concept Reactor the concentrated shot? The guide says the x4 M.E.F.A2 combo will buffer boss bullets, but when a boss does their special (with the snappy animation screen) I can't seem to combine the two to block.

Are you confused yet?

[ZenErik]

I guess I'm still a tad confused about pairing M.E.F.A2 with the Concept Reactor. Is the Concept Reactor the concentrated shot? The guide says the x4 M.E.F.A2 combo will buffer boss bullets, but when a boss does their special (with the snappy animation screen) I can't seem to combine the two to block.

Are you confused yet?

They are two separate attacks. Each has their own meter in the bottom left.

The meter for the MEFA2 is at the bottom and can go up to 6. MEFA2 attacks have 4 levels depending on how many times you press the MEFA2 button. All MEFA2 attacks can cancel SOME bullets depending on where they hit. A x4 MEFA2 will cancel almost everything. A x3 or x4 MEFA2 will stun a boss. I believe the x4 version stuns the boss longest.

After the boss is stunned you'll want to get all up in their grill to get as many large prisms as possible. You will see a blue ring around the boss that shrinks until the boss is no longer stunned. Getting these prisms helps build up your score and your concept reactor.

The concept reactor is a different button. You can store up to 3 of them at a time, but there are no different levels. It will cancel bullets but NOT lasers. But the concept reactor cancels bullets in a way that leaves them on the screen. They become transparent and do not damage you. You can shoot them to build up points and your MEFA2 attack.

So it works in a cycle. Both shot and MEFA2 attacks will get you prisms to build up the concept reactor. And both shot and concept reactor attacks will help build up your MEFA2 attack meter.

I have not done extensive testing on this to see what the best combos are, but it's a fun system.

For a higher score and building up your MEFA2 and concept reactor faster on regular enemies you'll want to point blank the crap out of them. As with many shmups, be aggressive. If you're not up in the enemy's grill 90% of the time you're doing it wrong.

[s1mplehumar]

^ That's a great help. Thanks.

49,212,990 - s1mplehumar - Stage 3 - Bronx Terror - PC

Wow. Stage 3 = LSD overload. I can see how ones score would skyrocket from Stage 3 on. I think the prism count quadruples at Stage 3.

[ZenErik]

^ That's a great help. Thanks.

49,212,990 - s1mplehumar - Stage 3 - Bronx Terror - PC

Wow. Stage 3 = LSD overload. I can see how ones score would skyrocket from Stage 3 on. I think the prism count quadruples at Stage 3.

Just wait Until stage 5!

It's also easier to enjoy the visuals in the game if you're watching someone else play. So while the lighting is great on stage 5, I do not really pay too much attention to it since I'd rather not keep dying.

Edit: Must Viper (Miria) is clearly the n00b ship. Now I'm playing with Blitz Lester (Tee), and the game is much much more difficult. I need to read about how to get her special to actually connect. Seems like point blanking bosses may be important with her. And the concept reactor may be what is necessary to do so. Hmmm. Perhaps I should look for replays of her on YouTube.

I know most of the levels inside out, but figuring out what to do with her is a bit challenging thus far.

[mjmjr25]

38,201,640 - mjmjr25 - Stage 3 - Miria - PC

meh.

[mjmjr25]

184,398,310 - mjmjr25 - stage 4 (boss) - Bronx Terror

Coasting through first 3 stages now. Difficulty picks up heavily on stage 4 though.

Using the reactor a lot more as well (wasn't using it as much before because "didn't need it" per se) but the points for bullet canceling and time-efficient boss killing are evident.

@Erik, how many lives do you hit level 4 with?

[s1mplehumar]

184,398,310 - mjmjr25 - stage 4 (boss) - Bronx Terror

Coasting through first 3 stages now. Difficulty picks up heavily on stage 4 though.

Using the reactor a lot more as well (wasn't using it as much before because "didn't need it" per se) but the points for bullet canceling and time-efficient boss killing are evident.

@Erik, how many lives do you hit level 4 with?

Nice. I'm still getting a feel for timing the cancels with boss charges.

[ZenErik]

866,369,340 - ZenErik - ALL - Bronx Terror - PC

1CC with Bronx Terror.

184,398,310 - mjmjr25 - stage 4 (boss) - Bronx Terror

Coasting through first 3 stages now. Difficulty picks up heavily on stage 4 though.

Using the reactor a lot more as well (wasn't using it as much before because "didn't need it" per se) but the points for bullet canceling and time-efficient boss killing are evident.

@Erik, how many lives do you hit level 4 with?

Very nice!

I begin stage 4 with 6 or 7 lives. Made it to stage 5 with 8 lives, haha. The trick on the actual stage 4 boss is to not move very much.

[Opa Opa]

My (real) copy arrived.

Here's my best so far.

89,496,350 - Opa Opa - Stage 4 - Must Viper - PC

[Opa Opa]

110,459,550 - Opa Opa - Stage 4 (boss) - Bronx Terror - PC