Arquivos de Posts

Shmup Report #6

This new chapter in my shmup diary comes with a minor twist. I have only included 1CCed games, and have also rounded the number to 10. As my conscience as a shmupper evolves, I can no longer comply with considering a game as "beaten" unless I clear it with one credit only.

Longer and more detailed takes on some of the games mentioned below can be read in this astonishing new blog: 1CC Log! Future 1CCs shall also be included there, so you might as well stay tuned on the blog for upcoming new comments on my 1CCed shmups. This post also marks the last installment of my Shmup Reports here in this website.

From the list below, Choplifter, Trouble Shooter and Fire Mustang had already been beaten in my teen years.

Choplifter (Master System) – This is a serious contender for best 8-bit hori-shmup of all time. Scrolling is controlled by the player, who must dodge enemy fire and rescue POWs back to the base. Classic gameplay, great graphics and pumping music in 6 loopable stages that don't actually get any more difficult. A must have for all SMS owners!

Sagaia (Master System) – A port that suffers from a possible rush job that left the game with some severe flaws among the all around completeness of the transition. All weapons are there, and the music is still great, but flicker and slowdown do make some parts of the game a real chore. Being more difficult than the Mega Drive version, it should appeal only to die hard Darius fans - like me!

Armed Formation F (PC Engine) – Terra Cresta wasn't that famous, but it sure had its share of copycats, and this little game is proof of that. When you take off the overwhelming color palette that confuses bullet dodging, it's actually fun.

Gradius II (PC Engine CD) – The difficulty was raised a good deal in this sequel to the classic Gradius, to the point where you have to face a boss rush with just one checkpoint (die in the last boss in stage 7 and you're back to the start)! Old ideas are recycled (the claustrophobically boring Moai stage) and new concepts are introduced (high speed stage and spider-mecha boss). Being as difficult as it is, it sure felt good to loop it.

Super Raiden (PC Engine CD) – This special version of the game has two extra stages after stage 8 – not to be confused with the extra one found in Raiden Trad for the Mega Drive. The regular stages are overall easier than in other ports, but the last 2 compensate the challenge accordingly. If not for the port itself, Raiden fans should play this at least for the sake of these extra stages.

Eliminate Down (Mega Drive) – One of the rarest and also most praised shmups made for the Mega Drive. Indeed it's a brilliantly designed horizontal shooter, densely varied and never boring. Fast passages alternate with slow and nerve-wrecking parts in one of the most complete 16-bit shmup experiences ever. If only the music was as outstanding as other aspects of the game, Eliminate Down could easily stand as one of the contenders for best 16-bit shmup of all time.

Fire Mustang (Mega Drive) – Simple yet fun. No complicated gameplay, just shoot, power-up twice and bomb when necessary to escape bullet swarms. The amazing parallax and sensation of speed add to the World War II action for a brief round of fun.

Trouble Shooter (Mega Drive) – The only bad thing about this little title is that it's too easy. It oozes cool and has a great gimmick – fly with two girls full of attitude – while presenting very nice graphics/parallax. It paved the way for the sequel Battlemania II, which is reportedly harder and more beautiful. I should play it shortly to see if that's true.

Strikers 1945 (Saturn) – The first on a double bill task I decided to face, Strikers 1945 is the quintessencial early Psikyo vert shooter. Six planes at your disposal, high level of challenge and short stages with an increasing number of bullets to deal with. If you think this is hard, why not try the sequel?

Strikers 1945 II (Saturn) – Well, I tried it. And I gave up right after trying, for the sheer monstrous leap in difficulty. Only after some weeks I decided to come back to it, now willing to go for the 1CC. Die, you bio-creature last boss freak, dieeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!

Now for a video treat featuring brief scenes of all shooters from this diary excerpt:

Text posted by Kollision on April 8th 2009