December Shmup Competition Thread

[techwizard]

I tend to go speed, option 1, shield, missile, double, option 2, and sneak in another speed up at some point in there. I'm surprised that I am the only one using double.

i don't have much experience in the first game but in 3 i always found double to not do as much damage as laser in one hit, and the weird angles it fires at makes it difficult to land both shots on one target.

[Duke.Togo]

I agree that it isn't as strong, but it saves my bacon enough to warrant it in my book. If I had the tail gun option from some of the other Gradius games, I would take it.

[RetroRage]

The double laser is very useful in level 4.  Stay low and it's smooth sailing

[MetalFRO]

This is where I'm at in Gradius at the moment:
[img width=700 height=525]http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q388/MetalFRO/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-12/F9A7E2F6-D96D-4FC6-9797-77803742FA84.jpg[/img]

I missed the boat on NOT using a turbo controller, so I must confess that I used the NES Max on this run. But I got farther than I've ever seen in this game, so it gives me hope that I might be able to do well enough without the turbo. I'll post a pic in the next day or so once I've hit a nice score sans turbo.

[techwizard]

the hint about dodging, staring at your own ship the whole time and only glancing at everything else, improved my game so much. one attempt using that strategy carried me all the way to the easter island head level. also duke's hint about how to deal with the volcano's helped heaps too!

[JerryGreenwood]

[img width=640 height=480]http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a420/JerryGreenwood/2014-12-03211534_zps2d924ac3.jpg[/img]

I got pretty deep in the game. I'm not sure which level because I think I did a warp after level 3.

Two nights ago I beat level 3 and went on to the next level like normal. Last night I beat level 3 and then the music changed and a bunch of Vectrex-like Moai heads came flying at me. After that passed, I think I went to level 5. It looked like the level that MetalFRO made it to.

If anyone can shed some light...

[GrayGhost81]

I gave R-Type the college try last night, but I couldn't even come close to Retro's score so far. I may take another crack at it tonight. I really didn't like the game at first but got more enjoyment out of it as I got a little better at it.

[singlebanana]

This is where I'm at in Gradius at the moment:
[img width=700 height=525]http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q388/MetalFRO/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-12/F9A7E2F6-D96D-4FC6-9797-77803742FA84.jpg[/img]

I missed the boat on NOT using a turbo controller, so I must confess that I used the NES Max on this run. But I got farther than I've ever seen in this game, so it gives me hope that I might be able to do well enough without the turbo. I'll post a pic in the next day or so once I've hit a nice score sans turbo.

That's one hell of a score!  More importantly though, thanks for your honesty on using the controller. I'm not posting this score of course, so be sure to submit another one(s) when you have them. Thanks for joining us.

[singlebanana]

I gave R-Type the college try last night, but I couldn't even come close to Retro's score so far. I may take another crack at it tonight. I really didn't like the game at first but got more enjoyment out of it as I got a little better at it.

Where's your score dude?

[GrayGhost81]

I gave R-Type the college try last night, but I couldn't even come close to Retro's score so far. I may take another crack at it tonight. I really didn't like the game at first but got more enjoyment out of it as I got a little better at it.

Where's your score dude?

You want me to post even if it's only a pitiful fraction of the current leading score?

[singlebanana]

I gave R-Type the college try last night, but I couldn't even come close to Retro's score so far. I may take another crack at it tonight. I really didn't like the game at first but got more enjoyment out of it as I got a little better at it.

Where's your score dude?

You want me to post even if it's only a pitiful fraction of the current leading score?

Sure, if a lot of people don't play this game, you'll acquire some overall points. You get at least 5 out of 10 points for playing each game.

[GrayGhost81]

I see. Reread the OP and I'm little clearer on it now. I'll give it another go and post before the end of the week.

[singlebanana]

More info on those warps........

Stage 1 warp: To activate the warp to stage 3, you must destroy each of the four hatches that appear on this stage when the thousands digit of your score is even. Of the four hatches, three are on the lower portion and one is on the upper portion.

Stage 2 warp: To activate the warp to stage 4, you must destroy the Big Core within two seconds of the core turning blue. This is only possible with very well placed shots from lasers.

Stage 3 warp: To activate the warp to stage 5, you must destroy 10 or more Moai statues. Use missiles to destroy bottom lying faces, and double-shot or options to destroy top lying faces.

[techwizard]

More info on those warps........

Stage 1 warp: To activate the warp to stage 3, you must destroy each of the four hatches that appear on this stage when the thousands digit of your score is even. Of the four hatches, three are on the lower portion and one is on the upper portion.

Stage 2 warp: To activate the warp to stage 4, you must destroy the Big Core within two seconds of the core turning blue. This is only possible with very well placed shots from lasers.

Stage 3 warp: To activate the warp to stage 5, you must destroy 10 or more Moai statues. Use missiles to destroy bottom lying faces, and double-shot or options to destroy top lying faces.

thanks! i was wondering how the first one activated, so far i have yet to see the real level 2, i always get the warp.

[singlebanana]

I warped again last night and paid more attention to what the bonus was. I think I got 50,000 points. Does that seem right?