hylian_elf wrote:

Are there 5 levels or 6? Can’t remember. I used to be able to get to the bit with the rotating lasers on level 5 or 6. Always fucked me, that bit. Lots of popcorn enemies AND giant lasers to avoid.

 

5 levels.  Level 5 is the one with the "laser wheels". Totally mental. Can probably be learned rote if you don't want to hyper and bomb your way past them but a nightmare.

There might be a TLB but that's probably after a 2nd loop - hard to comprehend how much more manic that would be.

I struggled putting the shmup specific emulator together, but did sort myself out with launchbox, brilliant bit of kit, just need to play stuff more often. Whilst I don't post here as often as I should I do read all the posts and love you keeping my fave genre alive, cheers Davy

Hex Machina so best.

Actually I have few nice ones on Steam I really need to spend some time on too at some point. ZeroRanger is rather nice and my PC monitor is mounted on a rotateable stand now for TATEing.

Should record some Cannon Spike runs. Lovely game that deserves a pile of attention.

Nex Machina is amazing. Love it.

Played some more DFK and getting better. Had some real focussed practice on level 3 - starting to get the feel for a path now and id-ing those big enemies that I'll get cancels with - there are a few really tight spots were the cancel kicks in JUST in time.


Tried Bomb style and it feels just a bit harder because the firepower is lower - it will be a good step up after clearing with the strong style

ALso tried the Power style which has only 1 bomb in stock and it's only auto. Tough way to play - for the pros only I suspect. For a lark I went back to novice mode and tried the Power style. Novice really is set a lot easier than 1.5 - only really noticed it going back. But the power style is still a challenge even on Novice. Not sure it would be a good idea but maybe playing the power style through novice first will help learn the new paths you will have to take with it.

Took a bit of a break and went back to classic DDP on MAME thinking my DFK antics would improve my game.

It hadn't.  I was woeful.

Wondering if the auto-bombing of DFK is making me lazy. Hmmmmm.

Had a brief daliance with Kingdom Grand Prix. It's quite an interesting little game. The main play feature seems to be a trade off between speed and firepower. The longer you hold down A the faster you go but you only produce bullets by tapping A which kills the speed.

You don't die by colliding with enemies - only bullets - so the trade off is fair and requires a bit of skill. It feels a bit chaotic because collisions with enemies produce bouncing and as each level is structure like a kind of track with narrow sections you have to be considered when it comes to argy bargy.

High scores aren't saved but there's a save file produced so I think it saves best times. After level 1 you can select from 2 tracks for each subsequent level with a choice of 3 for the last (6th) level so there's a nice bit of replay value.

Replay is also helped by the fact there's a good selection of craft that have quite different weapon sets.

The game has a GP/ karting Cup like structure with scores for placing in a points table that is separate from your game score. There's a 2nd loop and I suspect there's a target cup score to gain access to it.

There's a TATE mode and a good looking yoko mode (called Saturn mode) which is nice.

Anyhow it's back on the shelf and I got back to DDP Res 1.5 arcade.  Practicing level 3 and getting a good route down for that. The more one plays this and starts to learn the levels the more one appreciates that Cave level design.  It seems that real aggression is required - you need to be placed up the screen in places as the laser is more powerful close up and you have to get rid of the large enemies before they fill the screen with bullets.  It's also very enjoyable the way each level has references back to DDP wrt their structure and where large and bullet cancelling enemies appear.  Very pleasing.

4 player modes - NICE.

Nice work there @Tempy.

I note your spelling of the "s" word. I tend not to have a c in there. 

Story for me has always been an irrelevance but I see what you mean in your article. A shooter story is best conveyed in the ways you talk about - having it embedded within the mechanics of the game itself does add a certain something to a game.  The DDP series' nonsensical ramblings add to its sense of fun.

I have dipped my toe with Zero Ranger and really enjoy it but I've set it aside as I try and concentrate on 1CC-ing DDP Res 1.5 arcade mode. My PC is up on the blocks at the minute otherwise I'd be back at Zero Ranger after reading this.  Its enjoyment is enhanced by my rotatable monitor stand.

I'm also a huge RType Final fan and your writing is nudging me to booting that up instead as I have still a lot left to do in that - not even sure I completed the "final" level with any ship. I played it lot until I unlocked Mr Heli. I really need to get back to it.

davyK wrote:

Nice work there @Tempy.

I note your spelling of the "s" word. I tend not to have a c in there. 

Story for me has always been an irrelevance to me but I see what you mean in your article. A shooter story is best conveyed in the ways you talk about - having it embedded withing the mechanics of the game itself does add a certain something to a game.  The DDP series' nonsensical ramblings add to its sense of fun.

I have dipped my toe with Zero Ranger and really enjoy it but I've set it aside as I try and concentrate on 1CC-ing DDP Res 1.5 arcade mode. My PC is up on the blocks at the minute otherwise I'd be back at Zero Ranger after reading this.  Its enjoyment is enhanced by my rotatable monitor stand.

I'm also a huge RType Final fan and your writing is nudging me to booting that up instead as I have still a lot left to do in that - not even sure I completed the "final" level with any ship. I played it lot until I unlocked Mr Heli. I really need to get back to it.

I pretty much agree with you but I do think there are games that use the format in a specific way, but it’s not a great many of them. I dunno how the C got in there, it’s probs a style guide thing as it’s not how I write it!

Followed RType Final with my other PS2 purchase reason. Gradius V

This (to me) still looks absolutely gorgeous. Still one tough game too. Absolutely glorious stuff and I would love to see what Treasure would do with Parodius in a modern machine.

Damn it. Ordered DDP DOJ. £45.  Comes with a bonus disc superplay DVD.

I need to lie low for a couple of weeks and stop spending money.....

New arrival....just need the console to play it on now...