MAME ROW #91 - R-Type II
-
This is the MAME Random Of the Week #91
The three random numbers for this week are: 564 1971 1560
Click here to vote! Which game do you choose for MAME ROW #91?
The result of the poll is posted on Wednesday, so we have Monday and Tuesday for experimentation.
564
Game Name: Formation Z
Company: Jaleco
Year: 1984
ROM file name: formatz.zip1971
Game Name: Total Carnage (rev LA1 03/10/92)
Company: Midway
Year: 1992
ROM file name: totcarn.zip1560
Game Name: R-Type II
Company: Irem
Year: 1989
ROM file name: rtype2.zipWhat is the MAME ROW?
MAME ROW stands for MAME Random Of the Week. We randomly select an arcade game from the 0.78 MAME Reference Set to play on the week. The idea is to play games we've never played before, interact with other forum members, post hi-scores, share game strategies, fun facts, and (the most important) HAVE FUN!
Notes:
-
We usually post hi-scores screenshots after playing with only one credit. If you used more than one credit, please mention it on your post.
-
There's no need to use RetroPie to join the MAME ROW! You can play it on any platform you want.
-
Feel free to post your hi-score (or any content about the game) anytime you want on the previous rounds topics (link below).
Every Monday we create a topic at the "General Discussion and Gaming > MAME Random Of the Week" forum section with the 3 random games to be voted. And on Wednesday we check the result.
These "rules" are constantly being improved!
Previous Rounds
-
-
Sorry, Formation & Carnage. There's always the next time :)
-
This is a tricky one for me, I'm not familiar with Formation Z but remember both Total Carnage and R-Type II fondly.
Total Carnage has an awesome nostalgia value, and there are only a few other games I can think of (Robotron) that use that dual-joystick control mechanism to such good effect. It's much better than the alternative twist mechanic used in games such as Ikari Warriors, I think. Despite that, Total Carnage is not quite as good as it's predecessor Smash-TV in my opinion.
Likewise R-Type II is not quite as good as the original R-Type, it looks slightly better, but the gameplay isn't quite as fluid for me.
I'll have to try these out tonight.
-
Well I tried them last night, and I'm afraid I got no-where with Formation Z - on the preview video it shows the player character turning into a plane and taking to the sky, but I'm not sure how that works, as I remained firmly on the ground in the couple of games I had.
It was an okay game, but a bit boring.
I can't play Total Carnage on my PICADE as it needs two joysticks to play properly, but I can play it on my 2-player Bartop. It's a frantic game, but like it's predecessor SmashTV has been designed to swallow your credits as quickly as possible. So while it's good fun, I don't think it is a particularly good choice for a single credit high score competition.
I haven't spent much time on RType-II in the past, preferring the original R-Type or R-Type LEO if I want something which looks a bit better. I had a few games of this last night though, and while I still think it's more jumpy than the original R-Type, with enemies popping out of nowhere, not giving you much of a chance to avoid them, it's still a fun game.
I felt the power-ups on RType-II are more crucial than in the original. Both games suffer from the issue where losing all the powerups means your remaining lives don't last very long, but I think this is more noticable in RType-II. Particularly in Level 2 (which was as far as I got) where there are sort of balloon underwater enemies which float up and when they reach the top of the screen hatch into four or five small enemies which home in on your ship. Using the blue (reflecting laser) weapon, this section was very easy, attempting it without that power up though, it was practically impossible!
My vote this week goes to RType-II.
It's a bit odd that last week we had Puyo Puyo, having previously had Puyo Puyo 2 as a MAMEROW, and this week we might get RType-II, having previously had the original RType. I guess that's the nature of a random selection! Suprising we've never had Street Fighter II yet, there must be about 20 different variants of that one!
-
The R-Type MAME ROW was one of the greatest battles in here that I've participated in.
This weeks vote was a no-brainer for me.Really looking forward to getting to know this game better.
What emulator are you guys preferring? MAME2003 or FBA or something else? -
@andershp I use Mame2003 by default. The 0.78 ROMSET is pretty compatible. Ocassionally I'll get a game that doesn't work, in which case I try FBA as the first alternative, then advmame1.14 and if things get really desperate advmame0.94.
I don't like using advmame as the exit button is different on my Picade. Also I get some odd sound sync issues with advname1.14 in some games - the sound sounds okay, it's just that it seems to be about a second behind what's actually happening onscreen, which is quite off putting!
If all else fails, I go looking for an alternative ROM, or play it on my Bartop instead. (but that does involve getting off my ass and going upstairs!)
-
@gtbfilms said in MAME ROW #91:
I don't like using advmame as the exit button is different on my Picade. Also I get some odd sound sync issues with advname1.14 in some games - the sound sounds okay, it's just that it seems to be about a second behind what's actually happening onscreen, which is quite off putting!
The exit function should be fully configurable from the settings menu so long as your controls are read as being a standard joystick or keyboard keys. Also, the audio timing can be adjusted by setting
sound_latencyto a lower number. It seems like I had to do that myself at some point.I use AdvanceMAME 3 as my default for the larger 0.106 ROM set, greater flexibility for setup and its beautiful rendering of vector games. However, the learning curve is admittedly higher and of course the shader options from RetroArch are not available.
-
@mediamogul that's interesting about the vector games. I shall take a look at that as Asteroids and Star Wars, while playable on my pi, always seem a bit lacklustre.
-
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.
-
This week's winner is R-Type II
-
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.
-
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
-
124200 - uhhh...just about :P Still die on level 2 boss, though it all makes a bit more sense now.
-
You guys rock. I'm still on 1/3 of level 2 and get only 61000 something points (so no worth to picture it).
-
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 jerkyIt's actually worth persevering, because level 3 is rather awesome: you fight huge alien spaceships.
-
@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) -
@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!
-
@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. -
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 :)
-
@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.
Contributions to the project are always appreciated, so if you would like to support us with a donation you can do so here.
Hosting provided by Mythic-Beasts. See the Hosting Information page for more information.