Cotton - tips?

[PhilBiker]

I tried this SuperCD game for the first time in years.  I remember it being impossible, and it lived up to that memory.  I'm not a stranger to shumps, though I've only completed a handful (Blazing Lazers/Gunhead and a couple others).  Anybody got some tips?  This is a fairly well regarded game.

[gundarN]

I'm pretty reasonable at Cotton 2 on ST-V and I'm utter shit at Cotton on the PCE. I find the controller hard to use, which makes playing the game tricker than it should be.
I need an arcade stick.

[ParanoiaDragon]

Tips?  Play it in Magic Engine, & use save states.  That's the only tip I can come up with, as that was the only way I could beat it

[Ninja Spirit]

Sit back and watch "ChangeV" beat the whole game in one life!

[sunteam_paul]

I completed it so it can't be that hard.

[SuperDeadite]

I've beaten the first loop of Cotton on PCE.  I've only made it about half-way
though the Extra loop though.  I'ts a lot easier if you turn those turbo switches
on.  The shield power can totally save you in a boss fight, but the fire one isn't
worth the effort in my opinon.

[dhowerter]

I'm curious.

I have the Playstation 1 import called "Cotton Original". I'm sure it is the same basic game as the PC Engine CD Cotton, but in case anybody has actually played both (I've never played the PCE CD one), what is different (if anything) between them?

For example, exact same music? Is the ps1 one easier? Heck is the ps1 one just emulating the PCE CD ?

I ask about the ps1 one being easier because I have both Cotton 100% SNES and Cotton 100% Ps1 and the ps1 one definitely seems easier for some reason..

.

[SuperDeadite]

Well, I haven't played the PS1 version myself.  Does the PS1 version have
actual RedBook CD audio for the music?  Based on the PS1's library I'd assume
it doesn't.  And Cotton's awesome soundtrack is one of the things that keeps me
playing it.

[ParanoiaDragon]

It's the original arcade version of Cotton, same game, but, with the original arcade music(which is the same tunes, just not redbook by T's Music).  I have a burn of it somewhere around here.  There's also a NGPC version as well.

[PunkicCyborg]

Couple questions here since I have the PCE one and only get so much from the manual.
What is the correct way to shoot the statues to release the extra faeries?? I know you shoot it once to get the head floating but sometimes the option comes out when i leave it alone and sometimes I have to shoot it.
Also the experience bar on the side. I know some of the gems make the experience increase. Is the general strategy to make the esp raise as much as possible or does that increase the rank? Also the diamond next to exp, is that significant??

[lukester]

It's been a long while since I beat it, so I don't remember any strategies. Doesn't take a terrible amount of practice though. I think it took me about a week.

Like any shooter, look for patterns, find which weapon you prefer, and practice, practice, practice!

[SuperDeadite]

Punk:

Shoot the powerup carrier to wake it up, then let it run off screen, it will return carrying something, fairy, large gem, or bomb powerup.  If you destroy it before it gets off the screen you get nothing.  They are all preset, no way to change what they bring.  Fairy carriers always bring fairys.

Experience is how you level up, everything you do gives experience, but the orange gems give the highest boost.  Personally though, I don't worry about the colors, just collect them all and not die and you should hit max level by stage 3.   This game has no rank afaik.  So yeah you want max power all the time.

The diamonds next to the experience bar is your bomb-power level indicator.

As for beating the game, the best strategy is just put shot and bomb on full auto.  Then it's just memorization really, know where to be and the first loop is quite doable.  I can clear both loops without much effort these days.  For spells, I use them in trick spots when I want some invincibility,  but the shield and fire-fairies worthless compared to the good old full-auto spam strategy.

[PunkicCyborg]

Rad super, thats exactly the info I needed
much appreciated

[ccovell]

It's the original arcade version of Cotton, same game, but, with the original arcade music...

Last time I played, Cotton Original on PSX had (MIDI-ish) synthesized music... original tunes from the arcade, but definitely not FM synth.

[PunkicCyborg]

Well got to level 4 boss on my first credit after a couple plays tonight, not bad for starters