2023 VGS NES Weekly Contest - Isolated Warrior!

[PII | 1,883]

8 hours ago, docile tapeworm said:

Lol nah low score for shooters is just not fun to play. 

Generally, I'd have to agree unless its "Back To The Future."  That would be a Super Dope low score contest !

[G-type | 2,476]

13 hours ago, PII said:

Generally, I'd have to agree unless its "Back To The Future."  That would be a Super Dope low score contest !

I would be awesome at a lowest score / fastest to die contest.

[G-type | 2,476]

participation points in this requires beating level 1. I've made it to the end level boss a couple times... I could probably get it if I keep trying.

[BeaIank | 1,617]

Adjusted the participation threshold to make it easier to get in one life.

[mbd39 | 2,017]

16 minutes ago, BeaIank said:

Adjusted the participation threshold to make it easier to get in one life.

I was going to suggest this. I think part of the reason it was that high in the previous contest is that 100k is the default high score and we were playing until game over. The score has to be at least 101k to show in the high score spot when you continue.  The one life rules negate that.

 

[mbd39 | 2,017]

I'm first to post a completed score. Two million! I doubt I can do any better so that's it for me this week.

 

[a3quit4s | 4,091]

127,000

160,700

I’m super happy to just be able to post a participation score this week lol

Im not sure why but the game was starting me as player 2 but I only used one life to get that score. 

 

Edited April 19, 2023 by a3quit4s

[mbd39 | 2,017]

On 4/17/2023 at 11:30 AM, docile tapeworm said:

You can do it! Wwwwwwooooo! Let’s go Michael!!!! C’mon baby!

It’s gonna be tight at the top. 50k probably separate 1-3 maybe 1-5 depending on who plays.

Assuming similar skill and strats among the top players it could come down to RNG. How many of those bonus points orbs enemies drop seems random and they add up.

I played it very safe and stuck with straight shot the entire game so didn't kill nearly as many enemies as I could have, but I had great luck with the boss fights.

 

[docile tapeworm | 4,194]

3 minutes ago, mbd39 said:

Assuming similar skill and strats among the top players it could come down to RNG. How many of those bonus points orbs enemies drop seems random and they add up.

I played it very safe and stuck with straight shot the entire game so didn't kill nearly as many enemies as I could have, but I had great luck with the boss fights.

 

Ya the (!) pick ups are what you want. like you said they seem random.

[G-type | 2,476]

I can't figure out how to jump over the stupid trenches. I think I've only ever done it by accident.

[PII | 1,883]

2 hours ago, G-type said:

I can't figure out how to jump over the stupid trenches. I think I've only ever done it by accident.

Make sure you're not doing a wheelie when you try to jump.

[mbd39 | 2,017]

8 hours ago, G-type said:

I can't figure out how to jump over the stupid trenches. I think I've only ever done it by accident.

Are you serious? The jumping is very floaty. Just hold the jump button to stay in the air longer and do a somersault.

 

 

[RH | 4,895]

Double jump, if you gotta.

[mbd39 | 2,017]

Just now, RH said:

Double jump, if you gotta.

Double jumping in this game throws bombs.

[RH | 4,895]

7 minutes ago, mbd39 said:

Double jumping in this game throws bombs.

I know.

8 minutes ago, RH said:

Double jump, if you gotta.

 

But it extends the jump, I think.

Edited April 19, 2023 by RH

[mbd39 | 2,017]

21 minutes ago, RH said:

I know.

But it extends the jump, I think.

I don't think so. It also wastes bombs. Just use the natural floatiness of the jumps to get over pits.

[RH | 4,895]

Well, getting your alignment right does take a bit of practice.  This is a cool game but the hit box areas are a bit wonky.  I found that paying more attention to my shadow to align myself with the isometric perspective helps a lot.

Getting 100,000 isn't difficult.  If you can get through Stage 1 to the bonus screen,  you should have more than enough points for that.  Dropping it down to 50k means all you have to do is defeat the first mini-boss and you've participated.

It is a funny game with it's quirks but it's not hard to get enough points to score participation.  Also, if you have an emulator, just save a state as the level starts.  I find quick-restarts really help me get better.  Save a state at a tricky spot and just run it over and over ad nauseum until you can get past that area 75-85% of the time and you can do just fine.

I have probably put less than 1 hour into this game and I can get past stage one usually.  I'll at least have a 125k participation score.  I hate how busy I've been, but I feel that if I can do that in about an hour, certainly you other guys with experience can get 50k.  Just pay attention to your character alignment and get a feel for how that works before pushing for better scores.

[G-type | 2,476]

Edited April 20, 2023 by G-type

[G-type | 2,476]

2 hours ago, mbd39 said:

Are you serious? The jumping is very floaty. Just hold the jump button to stay in the air longer and do a somersault.

 

 

I figured out the problem.... I got let the screen scroll down further... you try to jump when the trench is too far up, it cuts your jump off early.

[G-type | 2,476]

2 hours ago, RH said:

It is a funny game with it's quirks but it's not hard to get enough points to score participation

Well you're entitled to your opinion, but I found it to be at least 10x harder than the previous 3.

[mbd39 | 2,017]

It's easier than Mendel Palace.

 

 

[RH | 4,895]

7 minutes ago, G-type said:

Well you're entitled to your opinion, but I found it to be at least 10x harder than the previous 3.

Well, I'm not throwing shade.  Maybe this game clicks with me a bit. I was just surprised with the general complaints around here.  You guys all tend to do better with this genre with @docile tapeworm sitting at the top.  I'm ok at shmups but so far this game just kind of felt like it was of average difficulty, but maybe I'm just getting better!

[Gloves | 11,759]

Do the bonuses even really matter all that much if at all? I've only seen two instances where a bonus was actually a bonus level, with most of them just having a picture with a dude holding a dude, or another picture of a dude saying "intermission" and nothing happens (no score bonus, nothing at all).

The two bonus stages I've seen were exactly the same and underwhelming in terms of benefits provided.

Seems nigh-on pointless to bother with them.

[Richardhead | 2,813]

Just now, Gloves said:

Do the bonuses even really matter all that much if at all? I've only seen two instances where a bonus was actually a bonus level, with most of them just having a picture with a dude holding a dude, or another picture of a dude saying "intermission" and nothing happens (no score bonus, nothing at all).

The two bonus stages I've seen were exactly the same and underwhelming in terms of benefits provided.

Seems nigh-on pointless to bother with them.

Intermission=getting a full health bar

holding the dude=getting the bomb leveled up to 5 (only if you have full health)

the other ones are bonus points. I do believe there is one of each in each stage. But I don’t know for certain.

[G-type | 2,476]

2 hours ago, RH said:

But it extends the jump, I think.

no, extending the jump/ somersaulting  is done by long holding the button.