I beat the game today. Special thanks to Sini for sending this one my way.
I didn't keep up with my high score on this run,and had to continue once at the end due to it being the first time I made it to the last stage. If someone wants to list high scores or clears I will add them if you take pics. I'm going to offer some tips in case Sini didn't discuss them in shout already:
1. Set your thrusters switch to turbo fire high setting and hold it. The thrusters kill small enemies coming from behind. The only time you need to let off of them is when you need to charge up for a shot.
2. Charge up power shots after beating each boss on the last stage (yes,last stage makes you fight all bosses again), and try to keep it powered as long as possible then unload. It really helps clear the first wave of enemies after each boss.
3. Red power ups are the best.
4. On last stage try to build up at least 4-5 spare lives,and when you get to last boss open up with a big blast,then ignore all else and go straight for it,at the center. Get as close to the f*cker as possible and ignore all else. Do slight dodges if you can,but otherwise take hits and keep your eye on the prize and kill the bastard. Just keep firing away. You will die,but if you have 4-5 lives it wont matter,the last boss will before you do.
Anyway,I set out to beat this game,and I did. Unlike the Challenger crew,I didn't experience space fail. I met my goal.
MSH 6-26-08
UPDATE ! ! !
I went through again and beat the snot out of the f*cker going all out.
I have a high score that hopefully no one here will ever beat,and I do mean ever.
I beat the game twice in a row,no continues,after credits roll so that means that yes,I played through the second harder run (3x harder???) and still managed to beat it,but the second time not as well,with only 3 men in spare.
First run score 1,213,640 with 9 lives to spare:
Second run with a final score of 2,355,030 with 3 lives in spare:
Yea I could have played even further probably,but after this mega run I let the credits play and turned it off. Im burned out completely now,using all of my evil soul up on this run to beat all runs,and I made it well past the 2 million mark.
Michael Helgeson HIGH SCORE:2,355,030