Image Fight II !!!

[rag-time4]

I finally played the first level of Image Fight II yesterday!! 

I've had it for a couple weeks but I'm moving and my Duo has been in a bag  :oops:

Anyway, I only played the first level because I got smoked by the level 1 boss (and I only spent about 20 minutes playing)

The thing that struck me about Image Fight II was that the sound effects were much different than they were in the original. Players who prefer the graphics and sound presentation of games like the Soldier series would probably be much more comfortable with Image Fight II.

The pacing of the first level of Image Fight II feels quite different than in the original as well. In the original, there are quite a few dead spots in the first level and there really aren't that many enemies to deal with. Image Fight II throws more enemies at you right off the bat, though they didn't present too much of a challenge. (I've only played level 1 though) It definitely feels like a more traditional shooter in terms of pacing but with the same interesting gameplay dynamic:

The red/blue pods return, making it a true sequel!!

In a lot of ways, Image Fight II seems a bit like what Ys II is to Ys I... it's more of the same, with new tunes (and improved sound effects) and a new set of challenges to deal with. It's interesting that it seems to have answered some of the criticisms against the first one (though I'll admit I had runinruder, nat, and keranu's comments on the original in mind when I tried Image Fight II yesterday).

The biggest problem with the game, of course, is the price tag. If you really enjoyed the first one, it's probably worth it, but if the first one really wasn't that fun then the second one isn't going to be much fun either, though it might be more colorful and have richer, fuller sound FX.

[runinruder]

Cool, thanks for the early impressions.  Keep us posted as you make more progress!   

[nat]

I'm wondering about the redbook audio. How does it compare to the music in the first game?

The first game had that unique IREM chip sound that I absolutely love.

[rag-time4]

I'm wondering about the redbook audio. How does it compare to the music in the first game?

The first game had that unique IREM chip sound that I absolutely love.

Nat, the stage 1 music was pretty cool, but it didn't catch my attention as much as the sound effects did. The sound effects, particularly the explosions, are much different than in the original.

Next time I play it I'll try to pay more attention to the music.

[ParanoiaDragon]

I played thru the whole game(thanks to save states, I know, I'm a cheater, but I originally could only get to Stage 2 for years, no matter what) & it gets better as the game progresses.  I remember enjoying the music & the graphics.  And I have the entire soundtrack ripped & labeled & ready for anyone who wants to download it(the music only, not the game, just so Aaron knows I'm not pushing games up in here)

[rag-time4]

I played thru the whole game(thanks to save states, I know, I'm a cheater, but I originally could only get to Stage 2 for years, no matter what) & it gets better as the game progresses.  I remember enjoying the music & the graphics.  And I have the entire soundtrack ripped & labeled & ready for anyone who wants to download it(the music only, not the game, just so Aaron knows I'm not pushing games up in here)

Paranoia D, any thoughts on how number 2 compares to the original?

[Tatsujin]

dont' worry. image fight II will kick your ass hard in later levels. especially if you drop into the penalty-lvl. what i like in IF II is this "exciting effect" i had the first time in r-type back in the time and the bosses are nervebreaking (BGM, movement). for me a true IREM!

also when you throw the satellites a similar sound appears as the red/blue circle laser in r-ytpe. very familiar

[rag-time4]

dont' worry. image fight II will kick your ass hard in later levels. especially if you drop into the penalty-lvl. what i like in IF II is this "exciting effect" i had the first time in r-type back in the time and the bosses are nervebreaking (BGM, movement). for me a true IREM!

also when you throw the satellites a similar sound appears as the red/blue circle laser in r-ytpe. very familiar

Believe me, I'm looking forward to getting my ass kicked!! 

[Turbo D]

Idk, ragtime seems to be an image fight pro! There is going to have to be an image fight 2 high score thread soon too.

[Keranu]

Thanks for the initial impresions, rag! I hope to hear more details about this game.

[ParanoiaDragon]

I haven't played thru the 1st one yet, only a little bit of the first level, so, it's hard for me to make a comparison, but, IF2 deffinitly seems better then what I remember people saying about it.  It's a really good shmup IMO.

[Tatsujin]

  It's a really good shmup IMO.

indeed it is.

[rag-time4]

Idk, ragtime seems to be an image fight pro! There is going to have to be an image fight 2 high score thread soon too.

HAHA I'm really not all that great at it!

The other day when I showed my new roomate my Duo (he's from Malaysia and has never heard of PC-Engine) I showed him the Image Fight games. After getting killed a few times by the level 1 boss in Image Fight II I put in the original Image Fight and told him I was a bit better at it.

Bravely, I attempted to play without auto fire or turbo, on the easiest setting (recruit class)

I really struggled! I got stuck on the level 2 checkpoint (which I love  ) for quite a while. (ok maybe like a couple minutes) I gave up and turned on Turbo, and breezed all the way through level 4 before turning it off.

I think a big key to playing without turbo or autofire must be shooting your pods and using them as weapons. It seems like the most effective way to use them is to shoot them behind big enemies and then reposition your ship so that they go through enemies on their return. They score a lot of hits this way.

[ParanoiaDragon]

I'm curious, I never saw the Pentalty Stage in IF2, how do I get there?

[rag-time4]

I'm curious, I never saw the Pentalty Stage in IF2, how do I get there?

I haven't seen it yet myself. I would suggest completing level 1 killing as few enemies as possible.

In the first one, the only time I've ever been sent to the penalty zone was after having time run out against the level 5 boss, and having him self destruct, killing my percentage.

I'm not sure if you have to complete all the training levels before being sent to the penalty zone though, you might be able to do it after the first level if your kill percentage is low enough.