Topic: Arcade SHMUP High Score Thread

That #1 is just going to take persistence which I don’t think I have time for at my age. Maybe if I was 15 again, I’d run enough times to get lucky enough. The biggest issue with this run is that it’s honestly mostly lucky drops at this point. And persisting enough to get lucky enough that one time to out do it. I’ll keep trying. But I don’t think I’ll have enough time required to beat it out tbh. @masterLEON

I really like Heroic Episode. I've been playing the Caravan Mode on it and it's really addictive. There's only 16 scores on that mode and 19 on the High Score Mode so it seems like it hasn't sold very well.It would be a good pick for a future weekly challenge.

Saying that just had a look at the rankings in the main game and it has a top 100. One interesting thing about it, it doesn't let you use continues.You can put them in but it won't let you continue from where you made it to. You die you enter your score and you start again.

@masterLEON Yeah, I may have to wait on a discount for SF collection too. Just depends what else I buy between now and then, lol!

I was planning on picking up KIRBY STAR ALLIES Day 1 but my son is still finding entertainment with Xmas gifts (SUPER MARIO ODYSSEY and ARMS) so might shift that gaming cash over to SF Collection 😉

@OorWullie I've got HEROIC EPISODE and many other arcade games on my Switch wish list. In fact, last night I had a break from SHOCK TROOPERS and hooked up my Mame/Final Alpha Burn kit and played a game or two of every arcade game on my Switch list. Kinda like a try and buy or not as the case may be.

I did a few runs of HEROIC EPISODE although it was listed under its Japanese name on my version. Good fun, that first level is almost like a primitive SHOCK TROOPERS or perhaps I just have that game on my brain this week, lol!

Talking of 1-1 fighters again, I took a stab at all the 1 versus 1 fighting game franchises on the Neo Geo with a view to adding a few to my Switch. I've already got KING OF FIGHTERS '98, ruled out the 'lesser' series such as WORLD HEROES and GALAXY FIGHTERS (?), KARNOV's REVENGE et. al. They're fine but I don't feel a strong need to own those on Switch.

Onto the big ones, despite my nostalgia for FATAL FURY 1 and ART OF FIGHTING 1. Going back to these series - just for the evening - I came out with the impression of liking GAROU MARK OF THE WOLVES and ART OF FIGHTING 3 the most of their respective franchises. Added them to my Switch shortlist.

I also added KING OF MONSTERS 1, LAST BLADE 1 and both SAMURAI SHODOWN II & IV to my Switch wish list. The latter two I couldn't decide which I preferred based on a single evening's play.

Excuse the waffle and tangent.

What fighters do you all have on your Switch or rate as the best in each Neo Geo 1-1 fighter franchises? Just curious.

@Lroy I've only got the 2 so far, King of Fighters 98 and Garou. I intend to pick up Last Blade and Samurai Shodown II. I had the latter on Wii VC and loved it. I delayed getting any more fighters until I picked up an Arcade Stick but that day still hasn't come. I find them really tough to play with the Pro controller and the Joy-con aren't ideal. Now I have my SF-30 Pro though I'll buy both of them soon. I've already tried it out on KoF98 and it feels great to play them.

@OorWullie Yeah, I only picked up a Pro Controller (the standard black one) at Xmas due to being put off about stories regarding the D-pad. Thankfully, I've found myself using the left stick predominantly anyhow and the D-pad whilst not perfect, hasn't been as big a hurdle as I feared. Before that I was joy-con in the grip and again for most games that was fine.

However, I agree Joy-Con and Pro Controller may not be the ideal kit for playing these arcade games though and fighters especially. So I may well end up waiting on getting anymore fighters until I get the HORI Switch arcade stick or vice-versa: get the SF Collection and these main Neo Geo ones to push myself to get the arcade stick! 😂

I've read your comments on here about how you tend to use the D-pad (and it not being ideal) for these weekly challenges. I've only been using the Pro Controller and the left stick for PULSTAR, AERO FIGHTERS and SHOCK TROOPERS. Whilst I'd rather have an arcade stick to try, I have found the Pro okay to use. What issues or drawbacks am I possibly ignoring or not aware of?

Just wanted to check people are cool with me going off topic in this thread now and then for related arcade gaming stuff? Or would you prefer we move such chat somewhere else?

Been nice to have these little tangents, catch-ups as the challenges go-on.

@Lroy Well the D-pad on my Pro is overly sensitive. Far too often it registers the wrong input. For some games it's fine, Pulstar and Aero Fighters 2 didn't really give me any problems but I knew from before Shock Troopers was a problem game. If I aim in 1 direction and ever so slightly rock it to the side it registers a diagonal input. In the heat of the battle it ends up happening 30% of the time. Puyo Puyo Tetris is one game where it's very noticeable. It makes you do unintentional fast drops. In 1v1 fighters, when I try to do a Hadoken style move my character ends up jumping as rolling it slightly too far registers a diagonal up input. It's way too easy to do. I know many others have the same issue as it was widely reported back when the Switch launched. It seems later editions of the controller have fixed the issue though. It can be fixed by opening the controller up and placing a small piece of foam or tape between the metallic contacts but I don't feel confident enough to do it. I know it's easy to do but still, Pro's are too expensive to mess around with. It's all good now anyway, I'm very happy with the SF-30 Pro. It actually adds to the retro feel.

@OorWullie Yes, I suspect the D-Pad on my Pro is similarly affected but like you - I'm loathe to open it up to mess with it. I don't think it's ideal to have to buy another additional controller considering the expense of the Pro and the extra set of Joy-Con I already have, so alas I'll make do with what I have for now. The arcade stick is the dream but I'd be interested to hear how you get on with this new retro-style pad you bought 👍

@Lroy I've no problem at all with going off topic myself.
It's actually what makes it a ton more fun, being able to get to know each other a bit better, get some insights into what people like and also getting some great recommendations in the process and sharing our excitement for games that are out and new ones we're looking forward to.

Now one might argue that we're better off sticking to the topic and put everything else in different threads.
But that would suck the group atmosphere right out of the competition I think.
As well as make it so that lots of stuff gets missed as it's harder to keep up with everything if it's spread out.

Feeling a little under the weather myself, so I'm taking it a bit easy right now. Didn't even feel like playing last night, so I just put on a film (Drag me to hell, quite fun one actually) and went to bed early.

@Shiryu

That game looks awesome! I dig those graphics. Cool looking shooter.

@Lroy

I live in the US and got it at Best Buy for $40.

Looking forward to Sengoku 2 tomorrow. I've never played it but I know I'm going to enjoy it. I just pre-ordered Detention and left enough funds in for S2. I totally forgot about Starforce though, I can't pass up on another TATE shooter, even a relic like that but I think I'll leave that one for a rainy day. I probably should have left Detention for one of those days too considering I've already bought Layers of Fear and Outlast and am yet to play either of them but it's only £6.18 on the Norwegian Eshop. It's one of those games you play in one sitting so no worries. Anyway that's enough about horror games on an arcade thread

@meppi64 Yes, I agree. Feels like we're all a bunch of buddies doing these weekly challenges and it helps share/stoke a love for these retro-arcade games.

Hope you are feeling better soon fella. You're in the top ten on SHOCK TROOPERS if I recall correctly. I've managed to climb up the table myself a bit with a 2.7 million score.

Let's give it a final push before the deadline if we're able 👍

@Agent721 Thank you. I'm waiting to see what it retails for at places like Amazon UK and Argos.

@OorWullie I gave SENGOKU 2 (hope we get 3 also) and STARFORCE a quick play on RetroPie last night. I'll be getting both for Switch too at some point.

@Lroy I always like to share suggestions, opinions & recommendations, so any kind of constructive OT is always welcome!

@RetroGamerAndrew Thanks mate, I feel the same.

Noticed you'd cracked 4 million mark on SHOCK TROOPERS along with @qualitybeats - I salute you both. Incredible scoring.

What's happened to @GrailUK ? Is he sitting this week out? Not seen him on the Global Leaderboards?

@Lroy Thanks!
I'm gonna try and give it another try tomorrow I think.
Just got another month long extension from my doctor today and I'm hoping this will be the last one.
Feeling a lot better than 4 months ago, but I still get super exhausted very quickly when I push myself just a little too much or have a bad night sleep. So all in all it's nothing too bad.

Every week seems like a new adventure to see what will drop at the end of the week.
Super excited for both Star Force and Sengoku 2 and I can't wait to see what will happen next week.
Really looking forward to a couple of my old favourites (Elevator Action, Wonder Boy and Terra Cresta for example), yet on the other side, I'm just as excited to see some lesser known games or classics I haven't played yet to come out.

Edit: The Neo Geo game for next week will be Real Bout Fatal Fury.
Just got Real Bout Fatal Fury Special on Saturn last month so I'll be looking forward to this version as well.