Shmup of the Month Club 2014 (Completed)

[dunpeal2064]

Ok, I still don't understand actual scoring though. I mean, yes, kill big enemies to get a multiplier going...but i'm going to kill them anyways? I mean, is the only strategy to kill big enemies in succession (again, i'm doing that anyways?). I'm really struggling to understand here - can someone please elaborate with more detail.

I can clear normal at will now - but my hi is still 4.8 mil. Going for medals tonight i'm geting 4.0-4.5 mil. Ignoring medals and trying to actively string together large enemies i'm getting about 3.5-4.0 mil.

The majority of points seem to come from getting the chain up to max and then killing a boss. Without any medalling or chaining throughout the first stage, you will still net 11m if you can manage to kill the first boss with max multiplier.

In the stages... I haven't really tried chaining together large enemies for 100k medals. The chain timer is pretty short, so I imagine the goal would be to kill big dudes, but leave one if he is already on screen and you have a bit of time left.

The main quirk with chaining seems to be extending it past areas without large enemies, either via bomb or suicide. Although, I don't imagine its worth losing many bombs, when you will want all the resources possible to attempt a boss score.

I'm still trying to figure it all out myself. This game is a beast. The complexity of YGW with the required precision of Dodonpachi. What a great game!

[mjmjr25]

Don't get me wrong - I love this game. My only frustration is playing what feels like an amazing run...and having 1/3 the score at the end as some people have after stage 1.

Getting that multiplier visible is a huge help - and I was able to get 4mil on a non-medal run, which is about 1mil more than I was doing before when trying that...but even at that, i'm still scoring higher when I go for medals primarily.

I have a real frustration - it's usually stage 3 or 4 (as they of course are random 2-5). It's the water stage and toward the end, their are these stationary continually spawning turrets, 3 on each side, as you kill the gun, it drops a medal, then respawns...and another medal. Every run I lose my medal chain here as I can't find a way to not have at least one medal be directly under a bullet...or accidentally kill one behind me and it drops off screen in a second. That part I imagine is a farm for medaling if done right - but right now I fear it.

[ExedExes]

Mine won't run in MAME either. Not sure why, as I have all I need...

I figured it out. It looks like after version 0.147, they added a new file to the romset and they changed the name of the zip file. I'm gonna PM noise and dsh here. My solution should work for them.

[jepjepjep]

Sweet, Battle Bakraid! I don't know how to score in this game, but I like it a lot otherwise.

[mjmjr25]

Sweet, Battle Bakraid! I don't know how to score in this game, but I like it a lot otherwise.

That makes two all of us.

[jepjepjep]

To be honest, I can't bother myself to learn the chain timer/suicide stuff. It seems like too much of a gimmick. I like to just blast stuff. I tried to get a game in just now but two credits in a row blown by kids grabbing my arms.

[mjmjr25]

To be honest, I can't bother myself to learn the chain timer/suicide stuff. It seems like too much of a gimmick. I like to just blast stuff. I tried to get a game in just now but two credits in a row blown by kids grabbing my arms.

I had that at first. The answer:

Lego Marvel (Wii U) - when I play, I set them up w/this and I can get a good 4-5 runs before the old arm pull let-me-try-or-get-me-a-fruit-snack kicks in.

Anyways - I agree - i'm not one for suiciding ever and while I get why it's rewarded I still don't like the gimmick either.

I am understanding a bit better - basically time your big enemies, loosen one up, but don't kill, go to another, kill it, go back, get the other, then get small stuff, then another big. I have had x32 and x64 a couple times. Some bosses are easier than others to dissect and get multiplier going. I'm not going to try to extend some chains through slow areas - it's so precise I just don't have the time to dedicate to it.

Alas, slight improvement:
NORMAL
6,140,740 - mjmjr25 - Flame Viper (B) - Round 6 (boss) - PCB

Took my first couple runs on advanced:
ADVANCED
3,182,860 - mjmjr25 - Steel Bat (C) - Round 6 - PCB

[jepjepjep]

Lego Marvel (Wii U) - when I play, I set them up w/this and I can get a good 4-5 runs before the old arm pull let-me-try-or-get-me-a-fruit-snack kicks in.

Ha, ha. Nice! My daughter doesn't like to play any video games and my son likes to but he's too little that he gets stuck every 30 seconds and needs help. My game time is pretty much limited to after they're asleep.

Nice progress Mike!

[dsheinem]

Ok, got it running on the PC - I had to update my version of MAME. I'll try on the cab tomorrow. This game makes me wish I was playing Garegga

Still, it's fun. I will suck at doing this for score I think, but I hit about 1 million and stage 4 in an early run (normal mode) when taking my first shot. Good pick, Mike.

How many stages are in Normal mode? Advanced?

[mjmjr25]

6 in normal, 8 in advanced.

Stage 1 and 6 are always the same, the others will rotate a la Psikyo games.

Best I can tell 1st ship is the least powerful and 7th ship is the most powerful after having used them all a few times. Ships 4-5-6 (can't remember, Flame Viper, Steel Bat) seem to have the best combination of speed and power.

The last ship is very powerful - but very slow and very hard to chain with as he kills some stuff to fast.

Stage 6 kicks up the difficulty quite a bit. Reminds me of the last stage in Sorcer Striker; boss after boss after boss, each one tougher than the last. None are brutal until the last - his second form is pretty tough.