Let's All Play-Current challenge: Beat Outrun - end in one of the bottom 3 goals [Archive] - Page 3

Ed Oscuro

11-20-2009, 09:25 PM

I would just like to point out some Metal Storm bosses have safe spots. Found at least two, although only one is good through the whole fight. The first is at the second boss (the one with lasers cutting the room into four quadrants); simply crouch at the beginning of the fight. The second is the first really nasty boss, with four stages (the three patterns followed by spitting out patterns one after the other); you can walk so that your back leg is a few pixels from the edge and just fire up without getting hit by one of the attack phases. I'm not counting the first fight as having a safe spot, although that one's so easy I might as well. Despite the safe spots, I have to say I'm always amazed by how well put together this game is.

kupomogli

11-21-2009, 01:28 AM

Bloodreign

11-21-2009, 02:12 AM

I played half of the game the other day, need to play it and complete it tomorrow though.

Truthfully, playing Metal Storm the game felt like it had so many cheap memorization techniques. Not just at specific parts, but throughout each stages. The stages I completed I guarantee that I could now go through them in a continue probably because I already know of those cheap parts, but yeah. I don't know why people say such great things about it as I'm only mildly impressed by it because of the unique features at the time. I've played it once before and thought it was good, but that's it, only played it, never put some serious time into it.

Welcome to games from Irem, they pretty much symbolized play through the game in one life or not at all. ;)

I do own this game and haven't put a ton of time into it (and yeah I like it), I believe I've gotten to the third stage on occasion, but the game is pretty difficult, something else I expect out of an Irem title.

c0ldb33r

11-21-2009, 04:21 PM

I've been playing though Metal Storm, I'm on level 6. The level 5 boss was a bitch.

edit: beat it.

So, there's no real last boss? the boss rush is the last boss. weird. I thought that big computer thing was going to be a final boss, but you just have to shoot those 4 points. meh. Is there a real boss on hard mode?

Fun game though. The level 6 boss (with the three platforms) was pretty nuts. It really tested your ability to handle the vertical shifting.

kupomogli

11-21-2009, 09:46 PM

Welcome to games from Irem, they pretty much symbolized play through the game in one life or not at all. ;)

Oh. That explains it. The only Irem titles I've played are the R Type games, Disaster Report series, and Steambot Chronicles. Steambot Chronicles was probably the best of their games and Raw Danger was decent.

As for the R Type series, you know my opinion of those. Nothing more than level memorization with extremely cheap deaths you're guaranteed to die at if you've never played the game.

Atleast with games like Mario, Mega Man(except the Zero series,) Castlevania, Ninja Gaiden, it's very well possible to actually get through the games without dying too much, even on your first time playing. That's because the games aren't entirely based off memorization and whether it's your first time going through or 50th time, it's skill that's going to get you past and not whether you know what is going to happen or not.

Oh yeah. And I beat Metal Storm. I hated nearly every minute of this pos.

cOldb33r. For me I just did a small hop to the left once near the top of the screen on the stage 6 boss to land on the next platform, repeat. When they were red I just waited until all their parts opened then shot the other two then the one I was standing on at the time.

Ed Oscuro

11-22-2009, 06:12 PM

308,000+ points, but still no one-continue clear (I want to get a no-death clear eventually). I got to 5-2 on one continue easily. Bought the farm because I forgot there was a laser enemy in a certain spot (I usually do). Before that there's very little memorization, just a bit of experimentation to figure out how to take things out safely (and usually the experimentation isn't dangerous). The only bosses that give me trouble are the second (for some reason that one's giving me trouble today) and the platforms, which aren't really that bad, just takes a few lives.

This game is easy, stop blaming Irem for being a shit gamer. Also LOL @ dissing their entire output you mostly haven't played.

c0ldb33r

11-22-2009, 08:48 PM

It's finally my turn to pick another mission! Much to kupo's dismay, I'm going to pick another Irem game. :)

This week we need to blast off and destroy the evil Bydo Empire! That's right... R-Type. I've played enough R-Type to know that asking someone to beat the game would be like asking them to chew through a wall. So, we're going to play just the fun bits.

MISSION: Your mission is to beat levels 1, 2 and 3 of R-Type in a single credit.

This is actually a pretty simple mission. The game doesn't really get hard until levels 4/5.

What version of R-Type can you play? Any version that has a set number of lives (this excludes the xbox 360 infinite mode). You can pick from: Arcade / Sega Master System / Turbografx-16 / Gameboy / Gameboy Color / MSX / Commodore 64 / Amiga / ZX Spectrum / Amstrad CPC / Atari ST / X68000 / Playstation / Xbox 360 (classic mode). I don't know if any of these versions allow for choice of lives/difficulty levels. If they do, you must use the default for both.

Enjoy! :D

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s182/c0ldb33r/th_WACKY.png (http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s182/c0ldb33r/?action=view&current=WACKY.png)

BTW, thanks to hg101 for the list of versions and neat graphic of Dobkeratops.

PROTIP: Having trouble playing the game? Try the Sega Master System version. It can't handle the same amount of enemies and bullets, so the game is a little easier as a result.

Icarus Moonsight

11-23-2009, 12:43 AM

I'm going to try this on each version I can, since I love R-Type and all.

Status:
Arcade (MAME): YTBP
Sega Master System: This. Is. Caketown! *booted into the pit*
Turbografx-16: YTBP
Gameboy Color: YTBP
Playstation: YTBP

Kupo: Try X-Multiply.

Ed Oscuro

11-23-2009, 12:46 AM

http://i50.tinypic.com/1zpqs7t.jpg

Game Boy / DX is easier (can use the pod to lock onto the second bosses' weak spot.

As you can see, I need to work on this game. I like not having to worry about walls and stuff; vertical shooters are more my thing (I like Sorcer Striker / Mahou Daisakusen though).

Bloodreign

11-23-2009, 01:19 AM

197,500 stage 3, nearly at the end of the huge warship, didn't have time to throw my force pod back in front of me, still prefer playing it on R-Types, but MAME was there a bit faster than trying to find the game on my shelves. This one's a classic, but I still like R-Type 2 just a bit better, the really big memorization parts don't happen until later in R-Type 1, c'mon Kupo, go ahead and give this game some playtime, it's quite good, despite you not liking it, it may do as it did with me long ago, grow on you.

Nice challenge coldb33r, really like this one and had to participate as it's been a long time since I last fired up any R-Type game. I remember buying R-Types off ebay long ago, possibly the best $10 I ever spent this side of Gradius Galaxies and Castle Shikigami II.

Ed Oscuro

11-23-2009, 03:12 PM

Everybody done with Argh-Type? I have a couple ideas ready, not sure which one to go with just yet though.

p.s. It works better to choose a specific game and settings versus "you can play any of these games of wildly varying difficulties at varying settings." I was playing the arcade game with default settings (i.e. three lives, default difficulty), otherwise I would have gotten an R-Type DX score in before Icarus posted. I still posted about the game first so I claim the win (hate to do it but sheesh).

c0ldb33r

11-23-2009, 03:17 PM

Everybody done with Argh-Type? I have a couple ideas ready, not sure which one to go with just yet though.
People have until next Saturday at midnight to post a win. They only get a point if they get it done before then. So you should post your mission next Sunday sometime and I'll update the first page.

Actually wait - Icarus Moonlight posted the following 3 minutes before you did:

Status...
Sega Master System: This. Is. Caketown! *booted into the pit*

I counted this as meaning that he already beat the challenge for the SMS version. Am I right Icarus? If so, Icarus gets to pick next :)

Ed Oscuro

11-23-2009, 03:20 PM

I don't want to be a drama queen about it, but I'm getting shafted for actually trying to challenge myself vs. playing the easiest version just to preempt everybody else.

Looking at your initial rules post, I think that your pick kind of breaks the spirit of your own rule #6 - the ports aren't practically identical to the original game.

Incidentally I used mameplus_bin_x86-0.135r4465-20091104 to play the game.

c0ldb33r

11-23-2009, 03:31 PM

I don't want to be a drama queen about it, but I'm getting shafted for actually trying to challenge myself vs. playing the easiest version just to preempt everybody else.

I don't know what to say, the rules specifically allow for like 20 different versions. Provided that someone plays one of those versions, they're fine.

Looking at your initial rules post, I think that your pick kind of breaks the spirit of your own rule #6 - the ports aren't practically identical to the original game.

You're kind of right, rule 6 says:

6. If a game is available for a number of different systems (because of ports) then you may play any port of the game IF it is practically identical to the original port (you'll have to use some discretion here). I suggest that those who create the mission rules should address this issue. If you want to limit people to a particular version, say so. However, keep in mind that allowing ports will increase the available number of players.

However, rule 6 says that "I suggest that those who create the mission rules should address this issue.", which is exactly what I did. In any event, rule 8 allows mission makers to opt out of any rule as they see fit.

8. The person making the mission rules for a game may add, remove or alter any of the above rules for their game.

Ed Oscuro

11-23-2009, 03:40 PM

I'm all for having fun and not caring but that's just sadistic.

Edit: Just for the record, this has taken up enough space so I'll abide by the result, but PLEASE make the playing field even next time.

Icarus Moonsight

11-23-2009, 08:36 PM

Give it to Ed. I actually hadn't played the game when I posted, but I did finish it afterward. I knew I could, R-Type SMS was the first 1LC I ever attained.

XYXZYZ

11-23-2009, 10:09 PM

Did it, 220,800 on stage 4. Arcade version, default settings. I got to the target on the ship in stage 3 without dying, then I crashed into a wall. Then I died twice after that trying to beat the damn thing. Killed it on my last life.

c0ldb33r

11-25-2009, 01:40 PM

Give it to Ed. I actually hadn't played the game when I posted, but I did finish it afterward. I knew I could, R-Type SMS was the first 1LC I ever attained.
Good enough. Sorry Ed, I thought Icarus had finished it.

Ed picks the next mission!

AB Positive

11-27-2009, 09:11 AM

Gave this a whirl on a few versions and actually... I find the arcade version easiest. I was able to actually beat level 1 on one credit first go which is farther than I ever got on SMS :D

Ed Oscuro

11-28-2009, 04:27 AM

I think this is ahead of time (by about 19.5 hours), but I'm going to post it now so there's some time for feedback.

Challenge: Complete the first three stages of Super Contra arcade version without dying; don't use the Shell (bomb item) in the top down stage (Stage 2). For extra bragging rights, you can take out all parts of bosses before defeating them, but it's not necessary.
(I was thinking about doing the full game, but that would take a bit longer because learning some of those enemies if you don't know the tricks takes a while, longer than I can reasonably expect most people to want to attempt in a week, although I feel that if you can beat the first three stages without dying you're very close to completing the full game on Normal. This is not as hard a game as its reputation suggests, at least not on Normal difficulty where you can cheat quite a bit. Hard mode is another story, that's got some epic difficulty.)

Rules: DIP switch settings are MAME defaults: Normal difficulty; lives and continues don't matter because you won't be dying (although it's perfectly alright to use Continues, or even savestates for practice only, if that helps you out). Either version in MAME is fine; the difference is that the Japan board has a better title screen and lets you play a harder second loop, whereas the game ends after beating the final boss in the US version.

Tips for victory:
You can upgrade your guns by picking up the same icon again. Some guns end up much better than others (lightning gun seems to do double damage, for example, but is still pretty useless). Picking up any weapon gives you invulnerability for a short period, but stages are predictable enough that it's not needed.

Your heroes can jump higher if you pull up on the joystick while jumping.

You can tap the fire button quickly (with two fingers) to fire the first level rapid fire gun very quickly. Also keep in mind that if you're playing with a keyboard and holding the fire button down that you may have trouble registering jumps - key priority issues. A wired controller isn't a must though; I've been playing with a keyboard.

Stage 1: The tank can be obnoxious if the machine gun fires right before a tank shell. You may be able to jump over it, but it's best to prevent the guns from firing in the first place.

At the boss, sometimes the second rapid fire gun icon disappears if it lands on the ground in a certain spot.

After defeating the helicopter, and you run to the bunker entrance on the right, beware of a green beret running up close behind you (from the left). He's almost always there.

Stage 2: This stage is no problem. The rapid fire gun, and probably others as well, can shoot farther than enemies can. Check out the blinking lights on the heads of the boss guys!

Stage 3: Be careful and watch for movement, especially trails of bullets. Just like Super C you'll be firing into the trees a lot. It may be worthwhile to inch along and let unwanted powerup blimps fly away so you don't have to worry about unintentional pickups.

The boss is hardest if you try to take out the little goo spitting cherubs (okay they're about as close to a cherub as a housecat is to a spider, and about as pretty as that thing from Sengoku Ace). Thankfully, you don't need to. I think they give some ridiculously low point value (like 1000 points each, if that) for how difficult it is to destroy them when compared to the bosses' point payout (something like 100K), how much longer it lives, and how difficult its attacks are to dodge when you go after them.

starsoldier1

11-28-2009, 09:24 PM

I just completed the R Type challenge but I only made it to stage 7 before losing all my lives. I even did a vid on it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUQfs4gLjmk

or

http://www.blip.tv/file/2906377

Nonplus

11-28-2009, 09:58 PM

I finally beat the R-Type challenge, died on the fourth level, and turned it off, but I think I'm going to keep practising until I can at least get past level five.
Until then, onto Contra!

c0ldb33r

11-28-2009, 10:31 PM

I beat my own R-Type challenge. I beat the level 3 warship without losing a single life and then level 4 wiped the floor with me. I was playing the PC Engine version on my PC Engine Duo.

I've only ever managed to beat level 4 on the SMS version. But, I only needed to beat level 3 and that was enough. I believe my score was about 179K.

I'm gonna ask that everyone double check my score tally at the first post of this thread. Make sure that I've kept your scores up-to-date. I've tried my best :)

Nonplus

11-28-2009, 10:42 PM

kupomogli

11-28-2009, 11:01 PM

First off. Fu** Irem. Second. I beat the challenge.

Now. I first started off with the PC Engine version. Beat stages 1 and 2 multiple times, stage 3 though? Bullshit. First time I got on stage 3, just like Irem is known for, bullshit cheap death because a blue ball comes forward really fast, I didn't know it wasn't an enemy so shot and died. Horse shit. Once you lose the blue lasers you're fucked, and it always seems that I lose those at the beginning because of stupidity.

Then people on here said the SMS version was easier. So I load it up and. Wtf. You liars. First and second stage were harder, but then I got to third stage which the cheap cannon bullshit is even cheaper. If you get past the cannon part, the rest of stage 3 on SMS is a joke, especially if you get there with the blue(which I died at the cannon part so obviously had to get the blue part later in the stage.)

There is one thing I do like about the SMS version over the PCE version. YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE STAGE :O. The area of view is much larger in the SMS version. I hate that about different version shmups, the fact that the area of view on some versions you can only see your ship and nothing else unless they're right ontop of you.

Anyways. Even though I did say fuck Irem. They're not all that bad. Atleast Steambot Chronicles is a fairly good sandbox type game that feels like Mega Man Legends somewhat.

Ed Oscuro

11-29-2009, 05:47 PM

I hope the next challenge kicks in soon or else I'm gonna have to make it the whole game - some folks have had a heads-up on this one for a while now. :whip:

:-D

c0ldb33r

11-30-2009, 03:23 PM

Hey Kupo I need some clarification, the time post on your posting says 12:01 AM yesterday.

My local time zone is Atlantic time (GMT-4:00), so does this mean that you actually posted that on 11:01 PM Satuday night (Eastern time?)

Also, for the Super Contra challenge, does Contra 4 for the DS have that game built-in or is it only the NES versions?

kupomogli

11-30-2009, 04:52 PM

I'm on central time. I live in Fort Walton Beach Florida, closer to Alabama. Says 11-28-2009, 10:01 PM on my post.

c0ldb33r

11-30-2009, 05:10 PM

kupo - thanks, I added the win. You and XYXZYZ are tied for first place :)

Hey Ed, can we use the XBLA version of Super Contra?

Icarus Moonsight

12-01-2009, 12:24 AM

Just tried it, this is never going to happen for me. I'll blame my stick... YEAH! Piece of crap thing. ;)

XYXZYZ

12-01-2009, 12:03 PM

I didn't know about the challenge until today when the subject line was updated. I work all weekend, so I have to do this in three days and I really don't think it's going to happen. But I'll try!

Ed Oscuro

12-01-2009, 10:51 PM

Just tried it, this is never going to happen for me. I'll blame my stick... YEAH! Piece of crap thing. ;)
Try your keyboard.

Also, here's a fun tale about how broken Super Contra really is, something that won't help with the challenge but it's worth a laugh: The boss for the stage immediately after the one I had you guys tackle is the dreaded Alien, same thing as seen in Contra III The Alien Wars. With the upgraded rapid fire gun all you have to do is run at it and keep firing to kill it before it can get in a shot (at least on normal difficulty). Good times.

Arasoi

12-01-2009, 10:53 PM

Ed pointed out that my score was too low and it seems I didnt run this one right. I'll run it again.

Ed Oscuro

12-01-2009, 11:09 PM

The challenge that made Kupo get MAME. Plus some ROMz. (If anybody can't play the game because they don't have MAME please let me know.)

Arasoi

12-01-2009, 11:52 PM

Okay, this time was much harder but I pulled it off again, correctly this time. The little pod/skull aliens were giving me fits on stage 3 so I had to start over a few times. I had the best luck with the spread gun.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n310/Protogem/scontra.gif

This was a tough challenge, I've mastered stage 1/2 but stage 3 is still a rough one for one lifing.

Ed Oscuro

12-02-2009, 12:05 AM

I just finished it as well; I wanted to call it a night and stop trying but it would have made me feel worse about leaving everybody else trying to do it. I had to reset a bunch of times due to dumb deaths in the third stage (and, as I lost focus, elsewhere as well), mainly not remembering precisely how to deal with the first half of the third stage (one of the hardest parts of the game and you have to sort of guess-memorize your way through bits of it). My win round did feel victorious; MANY lot more running shooters appeared at that fallen tree right past the body of water in stage 3 (like five, instead of the usual one or two) to try and stop me but I dodged all their bullets. Then I blasted away the third boss - didn't attempt to take out the little cherubs to the sides of the face weak point, I just focused on it.

Solution for the first part of stage three: After clearing the first ground turret (it's green), watch for the first item blimp to appear, and immediately stop when it does. After it passes start shooting diagonally up and right until you get to the sandbag gunner. Depending on your difficulty and preference, either clear up the two (three?) gunners in trees above, or take him out first (I always do the trees first, but I'm not sure which I would do if I had to do this on Hard difficulty).

The mortar is kind of a crapshoot, especially with my keyboard where I'd be shooting and trying to jump at the same time. The body of water right before that and the stuff immediately after isn't bad though (except for the flying enemies, again take a moment to let the item blimp pass).

With my headphones to the side, most of the sound reminded me of stuff you'd hear in a mall drifting out of a Hallmark Cards store for some odd reason. The ONE sound that emanates clearly at any distance is the sound of the aliens from stage 4 shrieking. Argh. I didn't beat stage 4 this time, but today getting through Stage 3 was enough.

This is proving what I feared - this game really can be troublesome to deal with. Once you know it well (and are in practice) it's not entirely bad, but I've always been aware it took me much longer than a week to clear it the first time. That said, only stage 3 is really troublesome.

Ed Oscuro

12-02-2009, 12:11 AM

Also, for the Super Contra challenge, does Contra 4 for the DS have that game built-in or is it only the NES versions?
Only the NES versions are included there, and those aren't eligible, sorry. The only place most of us are going to be playing this is in MAME; the only other choice I'm aware of is the original arcade game / PCB. Sorry for not noticing this question earlier!

EDIT: Arasoi reminded me that Xbox Live Arcade has some version of Super Contra or other. It looks pretty much like a straight port of the arcade game, except with a HORRIBLE HORRIBLE FILTER on the graphics. If somebody has this and wants to compare it to MAME or (haha) the original PCB, please do. I'm not sure if it's appropriate, but it should be (if it's set to Normal, and not Easy, and if it doesn't have different controls or faster autofire for most weapons or something).

fahlim003

12-02-2009, 10:59 AM

I'm pretty close to clearing Arcade Contra, perhaps I'll finally get the Super Contra romset and give it a whirl today.

fahlim003

12-02-2009, 11:07 PM

Super Contra (Japan)
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/958/scon0007.th.png (http://img260.imageshack.us/i/scon0007.png/)
Almost there, just need to iron out the kinks for the 3rd boss.

kupomogli

12-03-2009, 01:56 AM

So far only finished the first stage without dying, but the things I could say about Super Contra for the arcade. What a piece of shit.

Hit detection is ass for one. On many occasions I've been hit when an enemy or bullet was not even touching me. Nice invisible spots. Great job Konami.

All the weapons suck except the Grenades and the Spread. Machine Gun is somewhat okay except for one thing(my favorite part about the game; the control.)

Saving the best for last. The control. The control sucks balls. Another game that came out the same time, Forgotten Worlds, has great control uses the same system, but can Super Contra do the same thing? Of course not. How else is Konami going to fuck people over out of their money by actually putting in a good gameplay system. Instead, if you shoot forward and then aim up, you slowly raise your weapon so by the time you get diagonal upwards you've already spent an hour playing the game. You'd assume you can press diagonal up at the same time then shoot right then, nope. You have to press up then right for some dumbass reason to shoot diagonal right instantly. What kindof bullshit flaw is this? The control is by far the worst part of the game. If this piece of crap game actually had "good control, give it the same control that's in the NES Super Contra or something, I would have beaten the entire game without dying, not suffering through repeatedly playing through over and over because I happen to be aiming upwards to downwards(or left and right on stage 2) while an enemy is running at me and my shot doesn't hit him.

The game is difficult for no reason other than the terrible controls. Then having to play the game on an emulator on a keyboard takes the shitty control of the game to a whole new level. The least they could have did was make it a genuine difficult game not just add shit control to push difficulty. Like Rastan. Rastan is a difficult yet amazing game. You wonder why the majority of the fanbase thinks over half the Contra series sucks balls(it's not control on every game, but atleast half the games have some sort of bad design.)

*edit*

Also, it says "please continue" because the game sucks so much they have to beg you to keep playing. I still haven't given up because I don't want to lose a point since I already lost one by skipping possibly the easiest game in the world because I don't like it much(Kirby Super Star.)

Icarus Moonsight

12-03-2009, 03:42 AM

I never played the actual cab, but Super Contra had dial control (as did Forgotten Worlds)? Maybe that explains how it's a pain in the ass to shoot up down or diagonal... at all. O_O

Ed Oscuro

12-03-2009, 04:49 AM

Super Contra had dial control
Nope.

Sosage

12-03-2009, 04:54 AM

Nope.

I can also confirm that every dedicated Super Contra I played on back in the days did not have dial controls.

Arasoi

12-03-2009, 06:55 AM

Super Contra did not use a rotary joystick. It would have been nice, but it isn't that big of a deal. The controls are pretty easy to get the hang of after a few minutes.

kupomogli

12-03-2009, 01:12 PM

I've died a ton of times on stage 2 early on just because of the piece of shit controls. Fuck Super Contra. I love how it takes an hour to shoot from left to right even though you just moved right and then completely stopped then moved diagonal left to shoot but it's still straffing from the right. If I do happen to beat stage 2 then it's after going through stage 1 atleast 100 times getting lucky as crap and beating it and then going through stage 1 100 more times and still not beating it again. Yeah, I beat stage 2 once without dying.

The absolute shit controls are the only reason this piece of shit game is difficult. I'd rather take the challenge of one lifing Super Contra on NES. Atleast you have control on where you're going to actual fire.

fahlim003

12-03-2009, 06:29 PM

Super Contra (Japan) [Wolf MAME .106]
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/8233/scontraj.png

Done, not a bad game and apart from the 2nd loop in the Japan version, just about the same length as Arcade Contra. Perhaps not as fun but it's good, good enough I waited far too long to have not tried it.

Ed Oscuro

12-03-2009, 07:28 PM

Kupo made my AIM window flash pretty much non-stop for two and a half hours last night. First MAME was a piece of shit (somehow he got into trying to center a joystick), so I had to explain that (keep in mind that I'm explaining every step of the way). Then the game was crappy; instead of taking a few minutes to get used to the aim sweep (which I explained) he spent well over an hour bitching about it. He claimed he wouldn't play the challenge, then he said he'd beat it, then he said he wouldn't play it again.

He also compared it to Rastan (?!), Forgotten Worlds (just like above), which somehow has "the same system," and then he started trying to tell me what the best weapon was.

I hope everybody else is enjoying the game!

kupomogli

12-04-2009, 12:20 AM

I pretty much used what I said to you as a condensed version of "Super Contra sucks."

I mentioned Rastan above as well. As Rastan is a difficult game, it's just not difficult because of a crappy control system like Contra. It's got actual difficulty.

Also. What's with the incredibly small screen on Contra. That's another flaw in the game. It's like when playing 1942 it's got that small screen size. Now with 1942 it's obvious, it's a vertical shooter that's designed to be longer than it is wide. But with platformers and shooters, usually you'll want to see what's in front of you, which another flaw with Super Contra is that you can only see about two feet in front of you.

Ed Oscuro

12-04-2009, 12:44 AM

Super Contra is not Rastan; it is not Forgotten Worlds or 1942. You will understand this, or you will not; that's your problem, not mine, nor really anybody else's. You've expressed these terrible ideas of yours more than enough times, but they aren't getting any closer to being justified.

Can we have the thread back now? :wink 2:

Arasoi

12-04-2009, 12:46 AM

You've expressed these terrible ideas of yours more than enough times, but they aren't getting any closer to being justified.

Agreed, play it or don't play it. But seriously give it a rest with the constant bitching. It's not interesting or insightful, it's just annoying.

Bloodreign

12-04-2009, 02:00 AM

Rastan is a hack and slash, Forgotten Worlds is a jetpack shooter which used a dial controller, other than being arcade games, they share nothing in common.

Now back to the challenge.

As for myself, I get my ass handed to me in this game, and it's not because of the controls, it's because I need practice.

Icarus Moonsight

12-04-2009, 02:46 AM

I think I am getting better. I can finish the first level now. Also found that the upward inputs need a moment to cycle to or through. As in, it's not instantaneous. You can get some good dispersed defensive fire this way. I initially thought the controls were botched, but I think the way they are is deliberate and could be used to your advantage when you understand how the gun aims and the timing. I'm saying that because after trying to do what the game is looking for on the input side, I'm getting better results.

I still prefer the controls in Super C NES. :D

Ed Oscuro

12-04-2009, 06:32 PM

Here's how aiming works:

If you move the joystick from the center to any of the eight cardinal directions (up, down, left, right, and diagonals), he will immediately start shooting that way. If you sweep the joystick through different directions (for example, from the joystick pointing right to the up-right diagonal to up) the aim point will sweep through those directions at a steady rate.

Thus, if you return the joystick to the center you can immediately fire at any of the cardinal directions. It's very handy to shoot diagonally downwards (in the first stage) at enemies in a trench, or aim a single bullet at an item blimp above (I do it all the time).

It's not complicated, but with my keyboard in MAME it often is tough to hit the up diagonals, but sweeping through diagonals still doesn't cause me any problems. There's rarely any reason to stop running so folks playing with a real joystick will find that you can aim towards where enemies will be with plenty of time to spare in most situations.

Hard difficulty, as I said before, is a bit different and more plodding and dependent on jumping over lots of bullets. Different story.

Arasoi

12-06-2009, 12:06 AM

Looks like I'm choosing the new challenge.

Mission 12: Space Manbow

Beat The first 5 stages of Space Manbow without continuing

The usual caveats apply. No save states, no cheat cartridges (yes, one does exist for the MSX). I can't provide ROM links, but for those those needing help with the MSX2 emulator heres a simple set of instructions. Find and download the emulator called bluemsx, locate your rom, and do the following.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n310/Protogem/MSXemu1.gif

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n310/Protogem/MSXemu2.gif

Yep, thats it. I'll be playing this one in RGB with a real cart and MSX2+. Good luck everyone!

c0ldb33r

12-06-2009, 03:01 PM

I was hoping to beat the last one, but couldn't get past the controls.

Hey Arasoi, I've got a question about this mission - "Beat The first 5 stages of Space Manbow using only 1 continue."

To me, this means that we can continue once (use all our lives and then continue one time). Is this what you meant or did you mean that we cannot continue at all?

Ed Oscuro

12-06-2009, 03:31 PM

I believe he means one "credit," just the first set of lives. It isn't written that way though, so he'll have to clarify that. I'm practicing doing it with just the first set of lives.

I am gonna say right now, folks trying this challenge via emulator should just force their way to the fifth stage and the boss. In fact, folks using real machines might want to practice on an emulator as well ;)

When you die at the fifth stage boss you've got to go through the whole high-speed section after the laser barriers again to face the boss. The boss is the nastiest in the game up to this point, easily; it's either impossible or harder than usual to point-blank it with autofire to make it go away before it gets a shot in. Its pattern is kind of nasty and unpredictable too, plus it circles around to the far left of the screen where you can't hit it and have to dodge all its shots until it circles back.

On top of that, the section of stage right before it has a lot of "homing" enemies which I deal with poorly.

Arasoi

12-06-2009, 06:41 PM

Sorry for the confusion, I should have stated "without continuing".

I edited my original post.

I'd better start practicing too.

Ed Oscuro

12-06-2009, 11:18 PM

Done with the challenge, proof coming soon. Hope to get a bit further here.

Turns out the fifth boss is actually pretty easy. I lost a bunch of lives on the first section of the level for some reason this time, though.

Emulator practice shows that the second loop is harder, possibly much harder - the enemies that shoot three beams in the first stage sweep in from the left, so it looks like I will actually have to use the directional switch - which I kept forgetting about until today (found it again by accident).

Ed Oscuro

12-07-2009, 01:38 AM

Important thing to mention:

Arasoi asked me some days ago what I thought a decent number of stages to get through Space Manbow on one continue would be. I just pulled up the number five on the spot (I vaguely remembered that was about when the first boss that was "tough" for me shows up). I knew he probably was thinking about making it the challenge so I didn't play it or test it out at all until the number came up. Even so, it might not be fair to choose another game. That said, I did beat this one fair and square. Welcome for thoughts on this one. Actually, I'm hoping somebody else will actually finish this one - if nobody else does I'll certainly try to claim next choice.

I got through yet more of the game after that (obviously haven't been playing all this time), and my final score was 766,X00 points at Stage 7. If I can just learn that one the first loop is within my grasp.

Screen snap here. (http://i47.tinypic.com/xdi4qd.jpg) Too bad the pause for Space Manbow is so silly (occasionally it just throws up garbage, as well). Also, playing around with BlueMSX some, the game feels less responsive under MSX2 emulation, but I ought to check it out more. Definitely suffers a bit of slowdown on the 2+ that lets players essentially adjust game speed. Also, BlueMSX has a terrible UI (couldn't come back to small screen after the mouse moved during fullscreen, i.e. it crashed; quicksaves don't actually save a state to the hard drive, LOL).

Icarus Moonsight

12-07-2009, 04:46 AM

I've heard good things about NLMSX. Last build was over 5 years ago, but that doesn't seem too be to concerning. blueMSX GUI is ugly mess... And the fullscreen toggle was thought up by the Thousand Armed Goddess apparently. LOL

Also, since playing some of the MAME games in the challenges... I don't like what they did to MAME+ GUI or it's options/setting and folder structure. I'm going to try switching to MAME32. I'll go command line version if needed though. Batch files are cake anyways.

Ed Oscuro

12-07-2009, 05:10 AM

Also, since playing some of the MAME games in the challenges... I don't like what they did to MAME+ GUI or it's options/setting and folder structure. I'm going to try switching to MAME32. I'll go command line version if needed though. Batch files are cake anyways.
MAME Plus! ?

And MAME32 is now MAMEUI, has been for a while.

Icarus Moonsight

12-07-2009, 05:29 AM

Yeah, this is the first time I've put MAME on my 'puter since Monday Morning MAME, before it went into torpor last time.

MAMEUI, great. Now I don't have to search for and dig up an old MAME32 build off my external HDD. :D

v.135 already, man these guys work like beavers. LOL

I tried MAME+ .134, then found an old archive of MAMEPlus! .114 (I think, when ever they finally got Gradius 4 working, somewhat) and ran with that. Still had the config files for joystick game select and the screenshots. My custom folders were back too. *sigh* Time to start over. :mad:

fahlim003

12-09-2009, 10:45 PM

I made it to Stage 4 but have not beaten the boss. If death occurs at the boss or nearly anywhere in the later 1/2 of 4 recovery is not too easy, somewhat frustrating.
I should be able to get to 6 by weeks end.

Arasoi

12-10-2009, 04:48 PM

I made it to Stage 4 but have not beaten the boss.

Same here, though I've had to use some continues. I've got the knack of getting powered back up in the tough sequence before the boss though. This challenge is harder than I expected, but that's a good thing.

fahlim003

12-11-2009, 07:24 PM

Challenge done.
RuMSX 0.28 (MSX2 settings)
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/2684/enough.png

I quite dislike this game but it's challenging at the very least. I would like it if there was shield since many deaths early on (in terms of experience, not progress) are cheap. I won't be touching this for a long time to come.

Stage 6 is also amusing. If you die anywhere in the 1/2 way point you can essentially repeat the same section over and over again, since several enemies yield high numbers of points, netting at least 1 extend per go. I did not beat Stage 6 and when all was said and done in this run I had 935,000 points. That's double what I earned in the previous 5 stages, good old Space Manbow.

Ed Oscuro

12-12-2009, 02:26 AM

fahlim003

12-12-2009, 09:25 AM

I was wondering if there was a checkpoint milking trick for Stage 7. I didn't die in Stage 6 so I missed that one. Definitely puts a damper on plans to play the game for score (first loop anyway).

Edit: Also, the game gets rather more amusing from Stage 7 onward (though the play style doesn't really change). After Stage 7 the game starts to break up into shorter segments with short bosses and other stuff up to the end of the game.

Also, letter N on the keyboard changes the direction of the options' shots (first up and down, then backwards; third press returns them to front and center). I got good enough in the first loop to play most of the game without switching, but it really simplifies things. Seems to be a must-have for the second loop, and very useful in loop one's seventh stage.

The milking in Stage 6 is absurd, simply since if you're patient millions of points are possible without any consequence. It was funny, at first I simply wanted a 500k score... then 600k was possible, then 700k, then 800k, then I thought a million would be good but I wasn't too interested and satisfied with 900k so I gave up the ghost. 7 and up sounds interesting, more lively anyway, although 5 is a pretty active area too. I'll check out some more replays on the 'tube.

And yeah, I know about the option switch. I used the mapped controls in RuMSX to use my Saturn pad. A fire B option switch. It's pretty handy to be sure.