Download

[arromdee]

I didn't think I sucked at shmups that badly, but I can't even get all the way to the end of level 1 in this game.  Is it just insanely difficult or am I missing something important?

(Is that why it has unlimited continues and password saves, because they only expect people to make it all the way through very rarely?)

[esteban]

It's you .

I don't think this is an "insanely difficult" game, but for the average shooter fan I'd say Download provides a decent  challenge. Download is not a walk in the park.

I know it will sound corny, but I suggest you experiment with different weapons to see which one works best for you (consider the enemies!).

How do you feel maneuvering the ship? Is the ship too sluggish, or is it about right?

There are many moments when things get crazy in the game (swirling graphics may induce vertigo!), and you have to concentrate and focus on shooting the enemies/bosses, despite the urge to get distracted by swirling madness.

[grahf]

Download is all about memorization. Like esteban suggested, try out the different weapons. If you get them powered up, the right weapon will make each stage a breeze. Since you're only on the first level, it shouldn't take much time to try them all.  Some of the later levels can be a bit cheap, but again, once you memorize where the enemies pop in, it's easy.

I really enjoyed this game, and will probably play through it again. That's kinda rare for me, because I tend to not touch shooters again after I "conquer" them

[Starfighter]

Download is all about memorization.

Like most of the shoot 'em ups out there. I wonder why I haven't heard of it before, it seems quite nice (looked it up on youtube) and sounds really good. Is it a rare and expensive game perhaps?

[bartre]

i don't think it's all that rare or expensive, i paid $20 for my CIB copy about a month and a half ago.

and back on topic, the game is a little difficult, and the scrolling can mess you up, but it's not all that bad, just practice.

[Senshi]

Plus even if you die, it has awesome "Fail" screens 

[jperryss]

I suck at shooters but I love this game because I find the difficulty perfect for me (above LoT, below GoT).

Plus even if you die, it has awesome "Fail" screens 

Yes! I haven't played in a year or two but the failscreen engrish is top notch.

[arromdee]

I only just started playing this game.

I made it to the end of the level but kept getting killed by the last boss (the torpedo in the wall).  The stuff is just coming at me too fast and it's too hard to dodge.  Now, I'm sure that if I kept trying I'd eventually get past it--there are unlimited continues and this is only level 1--but I find it hard to imagine getting past it reliably.

And having continue passwords for a shooting game screams out "we expect you to finish the levels so rarely that if you don't save your progress you'll never get anywhere".

[esteban]

And having continue passwords for a shooting game screams out "we expect you to finish the levels so rarely that if you don't save your progress you'll never get anywhere".

Don't lose faith, my friend, you'll get the hang of it.

Follow my suggestions and practice. You'll be amazed at what you can do (like dodging stuff) even when it seems like your opponents are lightning and you are a sloth. Lots of shoot-em-ups have crazy segments where you'll die if your  "reaction time" exceeds 0.1 second (OK, I made up the 0.1--I don't actually measure reaction times--but you get the idea!).

Download is a great game, I promise it is worth some more of your time.

[grahf]

Besides the infamous game over screens, Download actually has some really nice cut scenes - you don't even get that with a lot of CD based shooters. It's a pretty ambitious game considering it's on a Hu-Card.  It has a cyber punk story with just the right amount of cheese factory to make it cool. Even if you can't read the Japanese, it's easy to see what's going on.

[Digi.k]

I completed it.. got a vid up somewhere ..

[nat]

Yeah, I finished this game.

It's no Rayxanber II or R-Type, that's for sure.

[moonwhistle]

I find Download much harder than the average side scroller. I've tried it a few times and never got past the second level.

[soop]

I really like the look of this.  I might well pick it up if and when I see it cheap.

[moonwhistle]

I've been looking for a cheap card only Down Load for ages but can only find complete ones. The same goes for Soldier Blade.