PCE shooters have lost their magic for me...

[Necromancer]

and no you can't imagine that, because the game TELLS you what the game is about.  It's called Asteroids, not Egyptoroids.

So they are asteroids and not "jagged circles".  The artwork clearly shows it's a ship in space blasting away at asteroids and not a triangle in a square room, but who's counting?

They could, but then they wouldn't be bullet hell pattern extravaganzas.

Ummm, okay.  That makes zero sense.

[spenoza]

Wow, this is great! We can't even have a reasonable discussion about shooter preferences without Arkhan turning it into an uncomfortable situation, because our opinions have to meet his standards for validity. Woo!

I'm gonna take a break and not feed the troll for a bit.

[Starfighter]

If what Arkhan has posted in this thread is trolling then I don't know what isn't. OK, I have not actively participated in your discussion but it seems a bit like you guys go out of your way to misunderstand him. Should we try and get back to the subject without any further pointless arguments? Or maybe it's just too fun to let it be?

As I said regarding to the question at hand, I like variety and find that I appreciate games in a whole new way if I know about more kinds of games. Someone once told me, when I asked him how he had the patience to play (and beat) countless old arcade games, most of which he really didn't like (he reviewed them all afterwards), that the more you learn and experience in games - the more you appreciate the good aspects of games you try later. It's almost like... you know, that saying, "you can't appreciate the good without the bad".
This together with my fascination for games no matter if they are technically impressive or just addicting in their own simple way makes me play and enjoy PC Engine-shooters.

[spenoza]

Starfighter, Arkhan is a polarizing figure here in most aspects. I'm just short of patience today and not in the mood to deal with his argumentative bullshit. He's also not performing at his peak level of annoyance.

I do agree that when you spend more time with a single game you can often enjoy it more. When I first had my Turbo and Keith Courage was the only game I had, I played the hell out of it and I enjoyed it. Now I'm not especially fond of the game, because there's other stuff I like a lot more, but at the time, it was certainly fun enough, though even then I was really itching for something better.

[dq333]

Are there any shooters on the PCE that the AI improves the better you do (points, power ups, no deaths etc)?  I know Battle Garegga and Layer Section do this.  

[Starfighter]

Good question. While I don't have a clue, I do remember that I played a shooter, kind of on the abstract side visually, on PC that was basically just a long boss rush that even adapted itself to how the player destroyed the previous boss. So on paper the next boss would be prepared for you if you went about killing it the same way. I didn't really feel any difference when I changed my tactic but at least it was an interesting concept!

[bust3dstr8]

Are there any shooters on the PCE that the AI improves the better you do (points, power ups, no deaths etc)?  I know Battle Garegga and Layer Section do this. 

Final Blaster is the only game I can think of with rank.

[Arkhan]

They're asteroids because you've been told they are.  But, it's up to you to imagine the epic battle taking place.

There was this article about imaginations + games, that I wish I could find.   It was basically about young kids playing Atari 2600 and not giving a f*ck that it looks retarded.

Ummm, okay.  That makes zero sense.

yeah it does!  Wild sprays of bullets != bullet pattern doom. 

Spenoza, it's not about validity.  Your opinion is fine, I don't really give a f*ck about validity.  Everyone's opinion is fine. 

I have a tendency to argue my point in an abrasive, "f*ck this shit" manner that makes it seem like I'm basically trying to denounce everyone else's opinion as wrong.

My point is, I don't see the point in griping about the key aspect of a genre.  It'd be like saying you hate fighting games because you have to punch and kick and do combos.  It's like a generalized, blanket statement that screams out "uhhhh, duhhhhh?". 

I'm sure the OTHER reasons you don't like bullet hells are far more important in deciding whether or not you like them.  The ONLY thing I am flailing about is whining about the bullet patterns in all of their unrealisticness.

[Tatsujin]

Are there any shooters on the PCE that the AI improves the better you do (points, power ups, no deaths etc)?  I know Battle Garegga and Layer Section do this. 

X.E.V.I.O.U.S does.

[dq333]

I better check Final Blaster & Xevious out, thanks! 

[nectarsis]

Are there any shooters on the PCE that the AI improves the better you do (points, power ups, no deaths etc)?  I know Battle Garegga and Layer Section do this. 

X.E.V.I.O.U.S does.

What MORE sheets of drywall, and doughnuts??   DENY X.E.V.I.O.U.S

[Tatsujin]

What MORE sheets of drywall, and doughnuts??   DENY X.E.V.I.O.U.S

You never can have nuff of teh doughnuts

[dq333]

Is it me or has this topic brought out the magic in shooters that gamers love.  Man, OK... ahem I've had a few who wants to do a top ten shooters of all time list?  it will be our secret.

[spenoza]

Of all time? Not just PCE?

I can betcha a lot of us will have very different-looking lists.

[Arkhan]

Top 10 of all time?
------------------
Tempest
Defender
Starship Hector
Final Soldier
Psychosis
this is hard f*ck it