July 2019 Shmup Club - Strikers 1945 II

[zoydo]

no progress on normal so far, but i got a monkey-clear yesterday.

[img width=362 height=500]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48295988496_db15a4e235.jpg[/img]

[VicViper_Mk2]

Well, after a ton of practice with all 6 planes, I finally managed to 1CC it on the 2nd loop on normal difficulty. Despite liking the Mosquito more I ended up getting more points with the Hayate instead. To be fair they're both very balanced, but the Mosquito is more direct with it's fast missiles.

Once 2nd loop starts, you're glued to your seat, everything becomes memorization, this was especially hard for the slower planes like the Focke wulf and Lightning, both of which I had to run through multiple times before I got the hang of it.

[img width=640 height=632]https://i.ibb.co/r5HVzxB/IMG-20190716-230955.jpg[/img]

[MetalFRO]

Congratulations, Vic! Amazing achievement! Great score, to boot!

[zoydo]

Good job vic, that's really impressive! Congrats 

[MetalFRO]

Got the clear this evening on Child difficulty, and right before my move! Here's the stream, for anyone interested:



I also reached stage 1-5 on Very Easy, and got over half a million points. I'm starting to find some level of groove with this game, but some runs just end very quickly because I get sloppy.

[EZ Racer]

Closing in on the 1CC on difficulty 3. Forgot about the mini-boss's laser attack in 1-8. Haven't been to 1-8 much, but pretty consistently reach 1-7. I have settled in on using the F5U. It's excellent speed is nice, but it's real bonus is it's special powerup attack, when charged to level 3. Works awesome on bosses, and is better than the bomb attacks.

Side note- I had shown the game to my kids earlier in the month, and when I started the run, my 8-year-old daughter walks in and yelled excitedly, "You're using the pancake!" (Taught her well  )

[MetalFRO]

Very nice! I've only managed to make it to 1-6 on Very Easy so far, but I don't think it's unreal to think I can make that 1CC by the end of the month. I almost want to try the game on the hardest difficulty, just to see how insane it is. Also, #raisingthemright

[zoydo]

score update (normal)

[img width=375 height=500]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48330567842_e1df29e31c.jpg[/img]

[EZ Racer]

So I've been focusing my time on two goals, getting a 1CC on difficulty 3 (very easy), and getting to 1-5 on difficulty 7 (very hard). Closing in on both goals. Died on the final boss on the Very Easy run.

Very Hard isn't as crazy as you might think, it's just that everything (and I mean everything) shoots, so if you don't take out enemies extremely quick it doesn't take long for the screen to be littered with bullets. Boss shots also move way faster. But it's really good practice for the easier difficulties, as actual enemy placement remains the same for the most part.

In all of my runs, I can definitely say that the Syumi stage gives me the most trouble out of the 1st 4, so I always hope I draw it first. Gliath is probably the easiest stage for me, but the boss battle has a different strategy if it's on 1-3 or 1-4.

[EZ Racer]

Check one of my goals off the list.

[MetalFRO]

EZ Racer, you're killing it this month! Keep up the great work!

[EZ Racer]

Got the 1CC on difficulty 3 tonight. Surprised me too, because I used up all my spare lives getting through the 1-7 boss, and somehow managed through 1-8 without a death.

I have noticed one trick to help. On turrets (NOT planes or vehicles), once you get close enough to them they will not fire, so it's advantageous to get as close as you can as soon as you can.

[zoydo]

Good job EZ Racer, congrats.


I'm done for July, here my results:
[img width=375 height=500]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48423526311_af1f02d2c1.jpg[/img]


Final thoughts:

"Oh look, a power up! Nice, just let me pick this up quic........aaaaawwww crap!"

[MetalFRO]

Final thoughts:

"Oh look, a power up! Nice, just let me pick this up quic........aaaaawwww crap!"

LOL! That's definitely going in the podcast episode 

[EZ Racer]

Sad to see this playthrough end-

Final thoughts- I feel like I could fill up a whole page of info on all the little details I noticed playing this game. But I think what drew me in the most it contains elements that you find in other successful game genres. One of the best parts about run n gun shooters is just going in guns blazing and wrecking havoc. This has that. One of the best parts about racing games is knowing the track or terrain, quickly reacting to changing elements, and with each playthrough finding ways to become just a smidge more efficient doing it. Strikers has that covered, too.

The aesthetics are fun, too, with its World War II meets Mechs vibe. The visuals and soundtrack are well done, the controls are excellent (and admittedly I didn't notice until the last day of the month that it was analog compatible), and it's one of the first shmups where every plane seems to be balanced, letting the player truly find the one that best suits their playstyle.

I think what I like most about this game is it rewards you for taking risks, giving you lots of ways through each level depending on where you decide to go. I think if you compared all the community playthroughs on a game like Gradius III, they'd look fairly similar in the way players approach each level. On this, I think there would be a lot of different strategies coming forth.

I know I'll come back to this game at some point in the future. Besides, it's one of the few games I have that I can attempt a passivist run (no shots fired). Thanks for the idea Duke.Togo!

One last comment- I was lucky enough to play this 2 player with a friend, and it was a fantastic 2 player co-op, other than if you think there's a lot going on with 1 player, imagine doubling that.

Thanks for introducing me to a new favorite!