MAME ROW #91 - R-Type II

[mediamogul]

@gtbfilms

I believe some work is being done to add hi-res vector rendering to the libretro cores as well, but there's no guarantee on if or when it'll happen. It really is worth a look though, as the games are absolutely stunning. While you're there, be sure to check out 'Black Widow'. You may already be familiar with it, but it's an Atari vector game that I've only recently discovered where you play as a spider and the play mechanics in how you lure in and destroy enemies is very unique and a lot of fun. Also, due to the intricate design and color work put into all the smaller enemy insects, it's a real show piece for hi-res display.

[obsidianspider]

This week's winner is R-Type II

[youxia]

98900

Should be easy to beat, I've only got to about 2/3rd of the second level.
I find this game rather hard, in a really devious way, it's like everything is just designed to make your life a pain. Still love it, it's R-Type after all, but I can't say it's actually "fun" in a way Parodius was.

And that second level...oh, boy. Never felt safe for a second there.

[GtBFilms]

This is tricker than the original R-Type!

My opinion so far is the blue reflecting lasers are the best for the second level. The pink and blue one is good for the part where there are sort of robots being generated on conveyer belts at the top and bottom and orbs behind them to stop more being generated. The yellow laser is just as useless as it was in the original game and the new orange laser is a poor cousin of the blue one.

I'm sure later levels will require specific weapons but I can only get to the level 2 boss so far.

The levels seem a lot shorter than the original R-Type with only a couple of respawn points in them.

My best score so far - 116000

[youxia]

124200 - uhhh...just about :P Still die on level 2 boss, though it all makes a bit more sense now.

[thelostsoul]

You guys rock. I'm still on 1/3 of level 2 and get only 61000 something points (so no worth to picture it).

[youxia]

After figuring out that pesky level 2, managed to crank it up a bit to 158700. It's actually not so bad if you:
-keep the blue laser as @GtBFilms says
-try to kill all the kamikaze yellow things very early (they crash into ceiling)
-kill ALL the spores
-figure the boss movement pattern and just go around it, shooting the big red bulb
-personally, I don't upgrade Speed too much anymore, it makes the movement too jerky

It's actually worth persevering, because level 3 is rather awesome: you fight huge alien spaceships.

[cyperghost]

@thelostsoul
I'm with you just managed round about 50k points. Not worth a picture shot.
But anyways... I remeber that I used to play this game on GameBoy and yeah ... that version was much easier (afair)

[GtBFilms]

@youxia Nice score! I had a few more tries last night, but I can't beat it.

I took a look at a gameplay video on YouTube, and, apart from the guy playing it having super-human reflexes, there doesn't seem to be much of a trick to the level 2 boss, apart from knowing when it's safe to fly under/over him.

However I still couldn't do it!

I saw the big ships in level 3 from this video and it looks pretty cool, but even more hectic. I noticed in the later levels he's making a lot of use of the little orbs you get above and below the ship to take out enemies.

When I saw that final level with walls that spin around, I gave up all hope of every being good enough to complete this game!

[mitu]

@gtbfilms said in MAME ROW #91 - R-Type II:

I took a look at a gameplay video on YouTube, and, apart from the guy playing it having super-human reflexes, there doesn't seem to be much of a trick to the level 2 boss, apart from knowing when it's safe to fly under/over him.

For the L2 boss, I think 2 charged shots (1 above / 1 below ) would be enough. I noticed that if you're close enough to the bottom, the boss never hits you when it 'ducks' and you don't have to hide under its center; you just have to fend off the bombs it throws (left / right strafing).
I didn't manage to get over L2 without using save states, sadly, due to lack of time and - of course - skill. But it was a fun challenge.

[youxia]

The bosses are actually rather easy when you compare them to some of the nastier stuff that goes on in the levels themselves. The first boss can be sometimes taken out with one charged shot :)

[GtBFilms]

@youxia Yeah I noticed that with the first boss. Wait until the walls behind you have closed, then immediately charge up a shot - the boss weak point becomes visible just after your super (orange bar) shot becomes available and it takes him out completely.

Apart from right at the start, that was the only part of the game that I had time to charge up the power bar to orange!

If you don't wait until the walls have closed on that level 1 boss though, then by the time his weak spot appears your shot has reverted back to a blue bar.

The original R-Type level bosses were a lot like this too - fiendishly difficulty, until you learn the trick/safe-spot.

[obsidianspider]

Sorry for being late. I’m traveling this week. MAME ROW #92 is live!