How to Get Good at Shoot 'Em Ups and Make it look EASY!

[@thegreathadoken6808]

Hey, you know I don't think I've ever come across a channel quite like yours. You come across like you're my pal, y'know? My pal who wants me to succeed wildly. Like you're speaking directly to me. I bet the other viewers all see it the same way. I'm glad I found your little channel. I have a feeling it won't be little for all that long. I hope you can keep that same feeling of being my pal, no matter how big your channel might grow.

[@ShmupJunkie]

LOL, that's good to know man thanks. Honestly, I'm just having fun and my number one goal was always to build a fun community around Shmups and our shared nostalgia. So I guess that comes through. I really enjoy when people tell me that a video brought back good memories, or made them try a new game or system they never thought about and loved it. The Caravan event I plan to do is a big part of that. Where many of us can actually interact, have a good time and build connections and community.

[@thegreathadoken6808]

@@ShmupJunkie Well I think you're building an empire here, a brick at a time. One day, I'll be glad to be able to say that I was in the first 1,000.

[@ShmupJunkie]

@@thegreathadoken6808 not just the first 1000 but the best 1000 👌.

[@thegreathadoken6808]

@@ShmupJunkie You be racking up subs like points in a shmup tourney!

[@jenscee7679]

I posted something similar on Electric Underground but your analogy about rhythm games made me think more. I do driving sims online racing. Schmups have a lot of similar things to learn (but done in a different way of course) as sims. Position, timing inputs, learning how others drive, patience, increasing skills so you aren’t surprised. No wonder I’m getting into schmups now, it’s so close in the discipline.

[@tubbiele2]

Junkie, you were the best three years ago, you still are now. God bless ya, man

[@strzxgvnuvwvfld3597]

It's funny you used DDPDOJ as an example of routes, as that was the game where it clicked with me. I was stuck on the later part of stage 3, believing I'd never have the precision skills to get past the waves of bullets, until I realised while watching other players that everything seemed far less chaotic for them. In less than an hour I was losing all my lives on the stage 3 boss instead. Progress!

[@ShmupJunkie]

One of the many reasons Cave games are so well regarded. As difficult as they can be there are always routes to discover that they intended not only for survival but scoring as well. It’s a bit beyond me but it feels great to find that perfect path through what initially seems impossible. Watching expert plays on KZbin helps a lot, but sometimes they don’t work for you or your playstyle. I found this one on stage 4 myself which always feels good. You’ll be right there in no time after figuring out the boss. Routing on stage 3 is super important too I picked up a lot from watching Mark’s playthrough of it.

[@naddydatty]

As someone who plays rhythm games extensively, and also has a passion for shmups (but sucks), the comparison was definitely helpful.

[@ShmupJunkie]

At first I thought I was crazy for connecting the two, but it just makes a lot of sense to me in terms of incoming patterns and ship placement.

[@nickelshark8163]

As an avid rhythm gamer who is getting into shmups I loved your comparison between the two genres. They both have a lot in common! Realizing that has helped me out a lot.

[@ShmupJunkie]

That’s cool to hear! I didn’t know how many would take to that comparison but it makes perfect sense to me. Timing is everything and people don’t realize the complexity of making a good shoot ‘em up that flows well and is interesting to play versus just throwing things onto the screen.

[@hearnet5643]

I've always liked shmups even as a kid, but have never been good. Oddly enough, as much as I suck and fail at them, I still find them fun and amusing to no end. The best part is experimenting with so many combinations and finding what works for you. The most important part is to enjoy yourself and have fun, but being actually good at them and 1CCing them is just the frosting and cherry on top of the cake. Good video, good advice.

[@ShmupJunkie]

Thanks I appreciate it. And fully agree. I’ve been playing them for fun all my life without worrying about 1cc’s. Especially with console games. I paid for it I’m going to enjoy it fully. And over time the games I loved and played the most, I eventually got to that point making it that much sweeter like you said.

[@JamesTaylorMain]

One day, you said you were dreading playing Recca if you were to make a 5 Hardest NES Shmups video. I've played Recca yesterday, and some of the advice you gave in the Shooter 101 series was prior knowledge to me (like using save states, picking up the right weapons, speed-killing, and other strategies, I also guess bombing is encouraged (especially on bosses) since your bomb is essentially an energy field you can charge up before you can release with the press of the B button) and I was able to finish the normal game. I haven't tried playing it yet on Hard mode (or worst case scenario, Zanki Attack mode) because they require special methods to access them and I wouldn't bother because the normal game is brutal enough for me. Hence, since I got into shmups late last year on with making an attempt to get to stage 200 on Galaga, completing the first loop of Xevious, and finishing Star Force, Gradius, Gradius II, and Zanac, my idea for the five most brutal NES shmups would include Gradius II (Most brutal moments include the suns' rays on stage 1, the crystal stage, and fighting the Tetran on the boss rush stage), Zanac (Due to its artificial intelligence that determines the difficulty according to your skill, it might end up becoming a pseudo-bullet hell if you do not choose the right weapon or fire too many times, I guess), Recca (because it is one of the earlier examples of the quintessential bullet hell shmup, it is also speed-kill driven), Star Force (starts to become a pseudo-bullet hell at certain times with certain enemies, also another speed-kill driven game), and Xevious (the most brutal moment is those sneaky black ball enemies that turn into bullets, the most dangerous one being the one that shoots a full circle of bullets as well as homing ones that kill you if you are not careful). Well, consider me the shmup survivor.

[@Bobanderic]

A) Capcom arcade stadium’s shmup’s with its rewind feature and speed selftion helped me practice a lot B) thanks to you and Electric Underground I got hooked and spent the past two weeks just playing apx 45 shmups

[@ShmupJunkie]

That's awesome to hear. And yes, one of the great features on that Capcom collection. Which reminds me, my first Capcom Stadium video performed really well so I gotta get going on doing a feature for the second one coming soon!

[@Bobanderic]

@@ShmupJunkie it’s be great to see what ya are looking forward to. Yeah when Cotton Fantasy came out I just had become hooked and next thing I knew: my eyes were bleeding, I had 51 bucks worth of Nintendo purchase points, and a refreshed knowledge of shooter gaming history. I hadn’t played a shmup since G-Darius had come out on the psx in day so thanks for reviving my arcade love. Are there any non-shmup games you’d love to see remade AS one? One I always want is Xenogears as a shmup!

[@digitalfracture2938]

it's great how you are literally taking my youth labs and putting them into video format lol. I did this at gas stations and gift shops where they had Raiden Jet and 2 and thats exactly how we learned, we would play for quarters to earn back those labs. I use to be able to turn this on one coin, now, my old ass is relearning this. Thanks for bringing back my child hood

[@reagandow850]

Hey man...thanks for adding the caravan scores for Soldier Blade (in the video from last year) I’m actually working on a 1cc of that game on my Vita at night in bed for practice. I think having some target scores to work towards will help me a whole lot. You rock my brother. 🤟

[@ShmupJunkie]

No problem man. Yeah the first goal in SB is breaking that 600K barrier. Once you figure out what that takes the rest is just more practice and getting faster. FYI an old video I did called The Shooter Crackpipe at the end, has a similar run through of soldier blade and how to score high. It’ll be helpful when you are working on that.

[@ChairmanMeow1]

the little section where you're showing your point in dodon pachi is the most valuable shmup help Ive ever gotten

[@ShmupJunkie]

It helps to see the same section of a game look so much easier by simply playing it differently. Glad you found this video and it was helpful.

[@ChairmanMeow1]

@@ShmupJunkie the idea of experimenting is really what hit home. I find myself trying to get past a section the exact same way over and over and getting frustrated, instead of just trying new things to see what happens.

[@retroheed6226]

Great video buddy. Nice tips and tricks and a Caravan Shooter competition makes a great video. Omega Blast I'm IN! (as long as I get the time)

[@ShmupJunkie]

Thanks man, and I know how it goes on timing. At least it's casual so we put in what we can. At least you have quite a head start over most who are just learning the game. If anything, I think many of us who played it already are helpful providing tips for others struggling in the early goings. While we are busy struggling in the later goings, haha.

[@GiodyneSTG]

Agreed, muscle memory is very important for improving in rhythm games, fighting games, and shmups alike. Great analogy

[@ShmupJunkie]

Thanks. And with Shmups (unlike fighting games), you aren't dealing with a live, random opponent. So you can make it predictable by learning it. I've often thought about there being a PvP type of shmup but they are so rare. Something like that could be a lot of fun if approached properly. I used to play Star Control 2 PvP with friends back in the day, and it was so simple, yet surprisingly addicting. We played it for hours. And it was just a side mode from the main game. I often wonder if done with far more depth and a modern flair, if something like that would do well.

[@canticledrawl]

I'm definitely interested in the caravan event! This'll give me the confidence boost in shmups!

[@ShmupJunkie]

Great! I’ll make a note thx for letting me know. It’s such a great learning experience many don’t recognize until they’ve been part of one.

[@ShmupJunkie]

discord.gg/UuaKzb7nJq That is the link to our discord that's open now if you still want to. There's a good 30-40 already in there and everyone is very welcoming

[@GavalasShootingKing]

Thank you for the omega blast rom link one of the best caravans i played in a long time

[@D-A-K]

Well this is funny. Just yesterday I was thinking that someone needed to start like a book club for shmups, where everyone plays a game and then gets together to talk about it and share tips and such. Lo and behold, it’s already a thing and the Junkie is doing one! Sign me up, please! I’m not 100% sure how much play time I’ll be able to squeeze in over the holiday week but I mean to try.

[@ShmupJunkie]

Lol that’s actually a good analogy. It is kind of like a book club only one that makes you read the same difficult chapter over and over until you can understand it properly. Then help explain it to others. I’ve made a note thank you. It’s usually how it goes people play as often as they can. Some get addicted and just can’t stop playing 😅.

[@thegreathadoken6808]

A Shmup Club

[@ShmupJunkie]

@@thegreathadoken6808 not a bad name for a discord community 🤔

[@ShmupJunkie]

FYI if you haven't seen the community post, here is the link to the discord server to play. discord.gg/UuaKzb7nJq

[@digitalworms]

Hell that's a pretty good idea! And the great thing with emulators can pretty much game any classics! Be hard to do it with PS4 games for example never know if someone has 60 to dish out that week!

[@ForlanceAbice]

Well, well, well. The KZbin algorithm got me something good from a relatively unknown channel for once. Lucky me. Not a shoot em up player, since FPS style games are my more speed. But you provide a categorical breakdown in good order of how to get good at your genre of choice. I'll be keeping watch, considering how pleasant you made it in such succinct and concise detail. It definitely lines up with my own limited experiences with these games, and some of it is even universal for some of the single player games that have similar rhythm mechanics and predictable AI. In any case, some of the advice you have on here can be applied to a variety of genres to some extent at least.

[@ShmupJunkie]

I gotta love it when the algorithm helps the right people see my vids. Thanks for the good feedback and you’re absolutely right. Some of the advice is accurate to other genres as well. This was the second of my shooter 101 series. The first one has even more basics on how to practice, although some will transfer to FPS games while some may not (like using save states to practice specific areas). I’m guessing the algo got you here because I use the term shooter a lot which now gets associated with FPS games, but used to be the main term for shmups before shmups was a term. Like way back before FPS existed aside from Wolf3D (which I played a lot cause killing nazis was cool). Anyway glad you found me and hope you like my other stuff. Just hope you don’t love Fortnite cause I do dog on it here and there for a goof. 😅

[@xcidgafhamas]

Excellent advice, thank you. All this time I've been trying to dodge and shoot and trying to not get hit. Never finding my rhythm and getting caught up in not dying.

[@ShmupJunkie]

Thanks, it's cool you found this one. It was the second Shooter 101 video I did, and the last before the new one I just put out a couple weeks ago. I was originally hesitant to make advice videos but after the first, many were telling me it helped them a good bit so I've tried to make more from time to time.

[@jeffgoodnough9704]

Your channel is awesome; I recently discovered Gunhed/Blazing Lazers and, along with it, an interest in shooters. When you broke down Caravan modes, I thought of a Master System homebrew that I've had fun with, called Flight of Pigarus. It features signature Master System colors and smooth, tight controls, and I don't know what other appeal because I've always been terrible at shooters. Cheers!

[@ezeepeezy]

Always incredible! Thanks for doing this, I'm looking forward to the event and excited to practice like hell and learn from the pros!

[@ShmupJunkie]

You’ve got the right attitude there buddy that’s how you’re guaranteed to make some real gains. Everyone helping each other out is the best part of these.

[@RANDYSAVAGE1412]

Damn bro i dont even care about 1cc i just want to be able to beat some hard shmups in my collection and this advice immediately helped me. Like im blown away and feel like ive been playing these games wrong my whole life lmao. This video and part 1 especially.

[@ShmupJunkie]

That’s awesome man so glad to hear it! I made these a long time ago but the concepts are solid. But the best one I put together was the most recent called Learn to Shmup in 7 Days. You probably saw that one too but in case you didn’t. It has stuff from these two videos too but a whole lot more and pretty comprehensive. I got a lot of good feedback on that one.

[@Chinopolis]

Excellent video as always! I see you've upped your editing skills along with your shmup skills! And the lesson is dead on, I just finished doing this exact thing for my latest clear, Touhou 12 Hard 1cc. Don't let the cutesy exterior fool you, this game is out for blood. I thought I was hot stuff going into it, I have 1ccs for all 6 shot types on normal, so I figured I was ready to step up to hard and knock one out...WRONG. I was getting walled in STAGE 1!!! Normally stage 1 bosses I can clear in my sleep, this one took 60 attempts until I found a method to the madness. I had to go back to basics and break down every single section of the game and just experiment until I could find a way through. One week and one raw thumb later though, I managed to slay the beast and get my 1cc. I think applying this method you lay out will make even the hardest challenges manageable.

[@ShmupJunkie]

Thanks I do appreciate that. I've been trying to slowly improve small things editing wise in the videos bit by bit as I learn. I wish I could say the same for my shmup skills but I fear they only degrade as I get older. We never thought strategically as kids playing them, at least I didn't, I simply beat so many of them on raw skill alone and experience. Now I find myself really needing to approach them differently which is a lot of where some of these ideas come from. I gear them more for entry level players, these aren't advanced strats, and mostly because I am not an advanced scorer. So I am always glad to hear when some of it applies to those more skilled. I always preferred fast paced games, so bullet hell is where I have the least amount of practice. Only a few years ago did I discover some I really liked, like Ketsui and Futari and some others that play faster that way. So Touhou isn't something I've even begun to explore yet. I grew up reflex dodging, so super dense, methodical pattern dodging is definitely a weak area for me. But as I improve at them I'm sure I'll start to wade into those waters as well. Now I know to stay away from Touhou 12 Hard for the forseeable future haha. I saw you just posted some of that gameplay so I added it to my list to check out

[@Chinopolis]

@@ShmupJunkie I totally get the worry about skills degrading, it's something I think about too. However I feel until it gets to the points where my joints just don't let me move like I want, strategic play, experience, and practice can make up for a slower reaction. Kinda like the old kung-fu masters who put the young upstarts on the ground with the smallest movements. As I move into harder and harder clears, I find the fundamentals becoming more important as reflex dodging can only me so far. In many cases such as TH12, it's these entry level strats that become so important: knowing how to break down a level, positioning, and my personal bane - USING THE BOMBS. If I had a nickel for every bomb I took the the grave while trying to reflex dodge... I think Touhou has that perfect middle ground between crazy bullet hell and memorization, except for 12 which takes both to the extreme. It always keeps things fresh and I actually prefer it to a lot of Caves titles which I know is heresy to some. That being said I do lean more towards the memorization based games as my preference, Taito and G.Revs offerings are second to none in that regard in addition to having some of the best production values in the genre.

[@morolo6665]

(Translated by Google translator) Cool !! I did not know Omega Blast, I already downloaded it and I am playing it. Subscribed to the channel from now on. Thanks Greetings from Argentina.

[@ShmupJunkie]

I'm glad you are trying it! It's a surprisingly fun score mode for being made by one person. We had a lot of fun playing it for competition. Greetings and I'm glad you found my channel.

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Awesome stuff! Fun fact, there are actually some rhythm game/shmup hybrids, Iike IKUSAAAAAAAN! :-)

[@ShmupJunkie]

I hadn't ever heard of that game so just had to look it up. At first I thought it was a Touhou variant it kind of looked it, but I see what you mean now.

[@Randhrick]

Our brain is wired to not die in games so we always try to succeed the first time and die in the process, but we all learn from our mistakes weither it's in life or video games so your tip makes a lot of sense but I never thought about doing this haha. Thanks, I have been wanting to get back into the shooters genre and those tips from your previous video and this one are really helpful

[@ShmupJunkie]

Thanks. I really tried to make these first videos for those looking to get into the genre or improve, but not for pros. It's more about approaching them the right way and building a foundation, before getting into practicing nitty gritty details like micro dodging and bombing strats. Trying to show how the genre can be more accessible to anyone in that way. I'm glad it was helpful.

[@ZakkHung]

Your tips have really helped me with GigaWing 2 on the DC. Keep up the good work!!

[@ShmupJunkie]

That’s a really tough series too that’s cool to hear. I’ll likely be playing either the first or second when I do my Dreamcast brutal video. It’s been a while so I don’t recall which one was harder.

[@TyroneJester]

First of all I would like to say Great video's. They really help alot. I love playing shooters since I was a kid and I have just got back into them. I'm playing trigon at the moment on the switch. Your tip of going against your natural instinct and trying new things has really helped my game. Normally I would get disheartened about dieing all the time but now every mistake is something else I've learned about the game. Its the same mentality you have when you were a kid and the joy is there aswell when you learn something new. Keep up the good work

[@ShmupJunkie]

I'm always glad to hear when my couple vids like this are helping others. I wasn't sure if they'd be useful when I made the first, but I tried taking a different approach and offering up a few ideas on how to practice. It's at least worked for me so it's good to hear it's helping you and others too. My very first video on it was well received so I made this second. You're correct people get discouraged easily because it seems impossible at times, but sometimes it's the smallest change or bit of experimentation that makes a break through. It's a good feeling to discover a trick that makes a section much easier to get through.

[@TyroneJester]

@@ShmupJunkie they have helped, I've been playing caravan mode on trigon on the switch and my score has tripled in the last couple of days. Nearly breaking into the top 100 on the online rankings. It has brought the old feeling of the arcade back which has been missing from my gaming experience. It is very refreshing. Looking forward to future video. Thanks again

[@kumrogames]

Super cool tips! I totally need to add a Caravan mode to my upcoming shmup!

[@ShmupJunkie]

Score attack modes are a lot of fun. If you do end up doing that, games like Omega Blast and the Soldier Blade are excellent examples of how to do it right with enough depth to make it appealing to continually try to improve. Simply playing either one, to the point where you can achieve a really good score, would give you a very good foundation in what makes a good caravan mode. If you aren't already familiar. They are very hard to explain until you've slaved away at getting good at one... then you just kind of know what makes them unique.

[@jszekerj]

We've got big balls! I'm not missing this years caravan! Can't wait dude, can't believe I missed out last year and it was Solder Blade!! Loveee me some sb😍🗿💥

[@ShmupJunkie]

I think last year we hadn’t even met yet at the time but not long afterward. If this one goes well I’m sure SB will happen sooner or later. It’s a more grueling one to practice so I wanted to start more reasonable. This one mainly requires big balls 😅. Going to be fun!

[@MattMcCarthy81]

The Grinch rhyme was amazing!

[@ShmupJunkie]

I had just a bit too much fun with that segment 🤣

[@KingLizzardsGameLounge]

Awesome video and tips mate. These days I get through shmups just trying to beat the game but am generally SURVIVING, whilst definitely letting the game bully me a lot or define how I play, you hit the nail on the head in your video. Since your first video I am working on dominating the middle of the screen and not sitting back like I have become used to in modern years (not how I used to play, I was very upfront but the lack of new shooters to capture my imagination made me lazy I think, over the years). Back in the days of Xenon, Xenon II, Axelay, and Einhander my mind worked very differently and I would pretty much experiment a lot, which is how I eventually beat AREA 88 several times and Aero Fighters II but both those games just clicked with me and I had big passion to play them. I always had to work hard at other shmup series where I was less motivated by the game. Seriosly excellent video and if I can get a space I look forward to competing. If not, maybe next time!

[@ShmupJunkie]

Thank you my friend, glad you enjoyed it. I find the older I get, the more I have to approach games this way as my reflexes aren't what they used to be. The competition is open to you, feel free to join if you are able to get an emu working. We are all there to help

[@geekconnoisseur]

Great video! The analogy with rhythm games like Guitar Heroes is actually perfect! ~very entertaining content!

[@bobbus_74]

Great video and some really useful tips too. I'm looking forward to getting stuck into Omega Blast all over again. My aim is to beat my best from last time. I'm in.

[@ShmupJunkie]

I would be shocked if you don’t blow your last score out of the water. Just watching others struggle and picking up tips, plus the extra seat time makes a big difference. Just have a nice relaxing game and a drink ready for when it’s all over 😅

[@bobbus_74]

@@ShmupJunkie I think I just made 800k last time, so there's a lot of scope to improve!

[@benfoster6715]

This is a great series. Keep it up!

[@ShmupJunkie]

Thanks! Will do. I enjoy making them and people really seem to dig them, so any time I have something unique to add or talk about, I try to make a fun video out of it.

[@dr_ubo]

Great video again Junkie, really liked the video and the improvements to your overlay while playing. Keep up the good work! I seriously think we should set up biweekly caravan tournaments and make them live within the subset of communities around. Make sure to make a "Shmups 101" playlist (and have it share metatags, also add it as an info card/ending card on the vid). Smoke 'em if you got em!

[@ShmupJunkie]

Thanks buddy! And I am absolutely working toward something like that. First building more awareness around what Caravans are and why they are so fun. As very few even know what it is. And also getting more people skilled and enjoying them. Sometimes the best part of a caravan group isn't even about the competition, but everyone just working together to reach personal bests and helping each other. It builds community and comraderie in the shmup world. But I also feel if you do it too often, people get burned out. As it's a ton of work practicing to compete. So maybe start small with an initial event and see how it goes. Then build on that. Maybe include it in the next Shmup Slam or similar?

[@dr_ubo]

@@ShmupJunkie Perhaps, I think there are spaces for more shmup events. From Nov2020-January2021 We'd have gone through Shmup Slam 3, STG Relay, a-cho Game Stream, Mikado commemorative special edition astro mini streams, GDQ Game Masters Gradius' runs, Muchi Muchi Pork GDQ run by Aquas, Shoot la Baguette by the french guys in a week and last night's Kamui Garegga event. I haven't even mentioned STG Cult's Soldier Blade Caravan or SGDQ's Ketsui/touhou and Dangun runs or January's Futari run on GDQ or STG Relay 1 a few months ago. We're growing! We only need to be made aware of each others efforts and there's definitely a space for you to run Caravan events. Looking forward to the future man, count on my help if needed.

[@dangunheadachron1603]

I never knew about Omega Blast. I gotta try it

[@ShmupJunkie]

Most haven't and it's crazy fun. You won't regret it. It will make the Carvan event a good time.

[@ShmupJunkie]

fyi in case you want to join us for the game starting Sunday, here is the discord link. discord.gg/UuaKzb7nJq Already have a lot of good people signed and chatting

[@zanychelly]

Mate, your channel is the best. I recently found it, and I’m glad I did. Would like some recommendations for the PS4, physical media and digital. Keep rocking !

[@ShmupJunkie]

Thanks and I'm glad you found me. What kind of shmups do you prefer? More modern and bullet hell? Or older retro style games. It's mostly newer games on PS4, the Switch has most of the retro releases. But the PS4 does have the Aleste Collection plus Cotton and the new Darius releases for the older stuff and remakes. For newer games, Natsuki Chronicles just came out on PS4 though it's download only for now, physical still coming. It's a good mix of old and new and accessible to most if you like horizontal shmups, check that one out. I did a video on it recently too. And if you are more of a bullet hell guy, the Ketsui port on PS4 is amazing.

[@zanychelly]

@@ShmupJunkie i am kind of getting back to it, the ones i played a lot was Raider Series, Raycrisis, Raystorm and Truxton. More recents I tried Raider V, Resogun, Jamestown and Sine Mora. Whenever you have time for a video, I would appreciate. Thanks for the tips by the way.

[@Renegaiden_]

I'm thoroughly impressed with how you written and structured this video. Your tips are sensei worthy and encouraging. They come with gameplay examples and helps to drive it home. I also saw the prequel to this video on how to dominate 101 and felt the same about that as well. All in all, excellent video. I play shmups on a moderately low basis now tbh. I still love em, but mainly for the OSTs. I'm like an enthusiast if you will. Nonetheless, thank you for the content. I'll be sure to keep supporting 👍

[@ShmupJunkie]

Thank you that's very thoughtful of you to say. I put a lot of effort into them so it does mean a lot. I think my perspectives likely speak the most to enthusiasts as I am in the same boat. Playing so many of these games to make the videos has forced me to evaluate how I go about it and the strategies I've started using to play so many condensed into such short periods of time. As otherwise, my natural tendency is to play them casually for fun, for the music like you said, and the nostalgia of the ones I already know. I never really thought about it that way, but much of what's in these two videos is insight I've gained while going through the process of playing all the other games for the videos prior. I'm learning as much as anyone as I make every video.

[@digitalworms]

Thanks for this advice! Great way to practice these games! Bought R-type dimensions and currently playing R-type 2 using this and it's working out great!

[@ShmupJunkie]

The arcade original of Rtype 2 is a real beast. It's like the original only suped up and taken to the next extreme. Really is the ultimate OG RType game and it's awesome it's on that collection. Of all games RType especially is all about deciphering the puzzles and it's tough when you have to keep starting over. Does the dimensions release add any ways to practice levels, create saves, or anything else like that?

[@digitalworms]

It has two modes. Classic which is 3 lives and start over the respawn at a check point. Or when you die a ship just show up where you died and you continue from where you died! It's got r type 1 and 2 arcade and can switch from arcade graphics to the new graphics on the fly pressing the Y button ( it's the Xbox 360 version ) You can also switch it to a 3D mode also! It's on the Xbox market place for 10 bucks and well worth the money if your an r type fan!

[@ShmupJunkie]

@@digitalworms Dang 10 bucks? I’m IN! Thx for the heads up. Just to play the original part two arcade is worth it for me

[@digitalworms]

Oh and it's got a weekly top score list and believe it or not there are still a number of players competing so that's sweet!

[@digitalworms]

No problem man! Next week I'm gonna jump on raiden IV its on there for 20! I never played it in your opinion do you think it's worth paying that much for it?

[@perryblanchard8353]

Thanks for these videos they were very informative. I do not have as many Shmups like these. but thank you so much for this content that you have created it is very well done.

[@ShmupJunkie]

You're welcome. Glad it was helpful in some ways and helps. Most important, just enjoy the games and you'll simply improve by playing them more often. Sticking with one or two games at a time instead of jumping around makes it easier to learn them and improve.

[@Coin_Tengoku]

Thanks again sensei! Appreciate all your hard work.

[@ShmupJunkie]

Sensei Junkie hmm... that has a ring to it haha. Thanks and I appreciate your support. It's hard work but it is fun.

[@darkridearts]

Bless your vids. You’re going to bring back shooters into the mainstream with your astute analogies and explanations.

[@ShmupJunkie]

I am or I'm going to die trying! I'm just happy it's at least having some effect and people are getting back into them as well as new players giving them a go.

[@KnjazNazrath]

"Raw skill alone" *immediately drops bomb at end of sentence* Great timing there. Subtle laughs are the best.

[@ShmupJunkie]

Haha, sometimes I forget what went through my head in an older video while I was editing. But I do try that often and make the video always be relevant to the script, or throw in subtle funny stuff and see who notices.

[@noobfl]

basicly every game is a rythmgame, if you break it down to "press the right button in the right time". for me, shmups have a lot in common with arcade racers (to be specific: wipeout and F-Zero X). its all about learning the route and do the right inputs on the right time and push yourself to the limit - this feeling of "no way, he can do this" - and then you can do this. oh, with one exeption.. im darn good at racing games, but im sucking on shmups xD

[@MOXIEchannel]

Wow, most people probably have difficulties also in slowmo :D Great video! thanks!

[@ShmupJunkie]

haha, you know more games should have a slo-mo mode for practicing some areas. That's not a bad idea.

[@MOXIEchannel]

@@ShmupJunkie yes, something with increasing speed. 0.5X, 0.7X, 1X :)

[@BamdTheBamd]

cave's reaction to you getting into the 2nd loop of dodonpachi daioujou white label 1:30

[@ShmupJunkie]

Would probably be my reaction too if I could ever get anywhere in the white label second loop 😂

[@GilesFAhrun]

Longhena was right: "Dying is good."

[@NCC-0000]

That's why he loves to make suffer pilots, armies and Elemental Dolls/Daughters..... Just for fun? 😆

[@maxzavalaiii2866]

Hi Shmup Junkie, just discovered your channel and absolutely love it. As a casual fan of Shmups and someone wanting to get better at them, your channel is helpful, informative, and entertaining! Thank you and look forward to seeing future videos.

[@ShmupJunkie]

Really glad you found me! And through one of my older videos too which is cool to see they are still being recommended. I did a very recent one called Learn to Shmup in 7 Days you might really like if you enjoyed this one. But of course I’ve got lots of other type videos too. Hope you enjoy what I have so far and really glad you found me. 👍🏻

[@viewtifulmike]

It's always better to make a thousand mistakes once than one mistake a thousand times. That's what finding a route is all about! SHMUPs are action games so it's always easy to think that you just need to improve your movement to get through a section or your reflexes just need to be a bit faster which can be true but it's also true that every batter can potentially hit a homerun every pitch. Do batters ALWAYS try to hit homeruns? NO! Some sections will be that cannon arm pitcher you just can't get a homer on so you gotta figure out if you can by with making contact or even just bunting it.

[@ShmupJunkie]

And to add to that, most early action games all pretty much required routing not just shmups. Just about any old arcade platformer or even on console like Contra, Vania, or arcade Bionic Commando, was all about routing the levels in the best way. They are just much memory games as most shooters were. The best ones require both, so you have the aspect of learning stages, but also feeling like a bad ass pulling off some things. I think my favorite shooters incorporate an aspect of both, where memory is a key part, but you can also improvise and it's not overly rigid where there's only one way to complete a level.

[@carl.wunsche]

Hey man! Didn't knew it was you, I was just casually watching your videos, impressed at how good this "guide" is! And the I saw that you are going to make an Omega Blast encounter next week, can I join in? I was at the soldier blade one :)

[@ShmupJunkie]

Hey dude! What’s up. Of course you can join in. We need someone that will kick everyone’s ass and show how it’s done 😂. I’m going to make a community post today with the link to the server. But I’ll shoot you a private DM on IG too with it in case you don’t see it. It was great having you last time.

[@carl.wunsche]

@@ShmupJunkie It was great times! And you are an awesome community guys. We all sweated our hands like crazy lol

[@krissymarklewis1793]

You need to get hold of that Zero Ranger I was on about before, best shmup of recent times.

[@BalsticMaker12]

4:59 SEGA: How about we make you dodge bullets while playing the rhythm game?

[@ShmupJunkie]

I just recently learned of a game that is a hybrid of rhythm and shmup called Ikusan!

[@rockhyde7775]

Me though, I prefer vertical shooters over horizontal ones. Why do I? Because you don’t have to worry about hitting a wall or ceiling (none of that, please! as it increases my enjoyment more knowing I have that safety) which is my pet peeve with mainly horizontal shmups, I’m looking at you R-Type and Gradius. At least Cotton doesn’t do that. The only thing I want to be worrying about are the enemies/bosses and their bullets, not crashing into a wall/ceiling and losing a life. That’s just me though. You may feel different from what I think, you may think walls/ceilings add more challenge/variety to the stages, I find it an annoyance and detracts from the experience for me.

[@unlimitedretrogaming]

Great video, congrats again!! 👍👍 Looking forward to participating in the next caravan opportunity, think I might not have the time nor dedication at the moment for this one but sounds amazing given the fact that I've never been in one before. Also, now I want so badly to give it a round to Rayxanber and Undeadline 👌👌

[@ShmupJunkie]

No worries dude, if you ever free up time you'll be welcome to join. Although I can tell you that both Rayxanber 2 and Undeadline will certainly take far more time and dedication than the carvan haha. They are both absolutely brutal overall, especially Rayxanber. It is THE hardest game on the pc engine if that tells you anything.

[@unlimitedretrogaming]

@@ShmupJunkie hahaha you got a point there!! I need to try for myself those brutal shmups, just for the pleasure of it...I don’t own a cooy of those titles so hope they are already in one of emulators otherwise gotta download them anytime soon!!

[@ShmupJunkie]

If you have any time open up, feel free to join here discord.gg/UuaKzb7nJq Already lots of friends from IG signed in and chatting.

[@unlimitedretrogaming]

@@ShmupJunkie many thanks!

[@freddyr8318]

The Rhythm part is crucial in almost every old game, especially Old School Action Games like Castlevania, Contra and Ghosts n Goblin. I guess the difference between these games and Shooters is that the space and the time to correct your movement is minimal in Shooters.

[@ShmupJunkie]

You definitely can't stop or move backwards that's for sure. But in many platformers like you said stopping or messing up the rhythm often screws you up too, even though it lets you. Ninja Gaiden is a perfect example of that. If you aren't constantly pushing forward it punishes you with respawning enemies. Ghosts n Goblins is the one that was always the most brutal for me, it seemed random in a lot of what it did. That was probably the hardest game I had to beat back then on NES it was so frustrating. I remember sections of Castlevania and then Dracula's Curse, if you got the timing just right you could waltz right through certain section just by jumping and whipping at the perfect times. And I see it now in speed runs where people found the perfect way to clear a section without stopping.

[@freddyr8318]

@@ShmupJunkie Ninja Gaiden is so brutal because of the respawning enemies and Ghost n Goblins because of the randomness. I guess in contrast to Shooters its the autoscrolling which makes them extremely difficult. But I always had the feeling of Dancing in Castlevania and Ninja gaiden.

[@ShmupJunkie]

@@freddyr8318 Totally NG especially. Maybe that’s why it’s my fav NES game and series. I just love running through it now that I know it’s timing. I even made a short video on it way back before I even really had a channel. Just for fun. Always loved that game.

[@freddyr8318]

@@ShmupJunkie you are good guy. I wish you fun with your Videos and keep up the interesting Content. I know you do this besides of your Mainjob, but youre Videos are better than these from so called Professional KZbinrs. Greetings from Germany and never forget All bases belong to us 🥳

[@ShinuRealArts]

Another cool video, keep it up!

[@ShmupJunkie]

Thank you my friend. Appreciate your support. I am due for an update on WoB myself to see all the new changes you made.

[@whatamalike]

Man, i'm REAAAALLLYYY enjoying your channel so far; getting into a SHMUP rabbit hole here! BTW have you played any of the Atomiswave ports to the Dreamcast yet?

[@ShmupJunkie]

Thanks! Really cool to hear. I’ve only been at it for several months but have had a lot of fun making them. I haven’t played any of those ports yet no, just been reading about them and seeing lots of online posts. I’m definitely wanting to check them out as I didn’t even know what an Atomiswave was until last year!

[@BalsticMaker12]

Caravan event? Huh. Count me in. I'm interested in the Caravan culture.

[@ShmupJunkie]

Cool! I'll make a note. It's a fun way to play with a group and get better. With Discord, it should make it even easier to share video and help each other out.

[@ShmupJunkie]

Here is the link if you want to join, already a good amount of people in there discord.gg/UuaKzb7nJq

[@RinMariiiii]

"Die on purpose" Why do I get the feeling you had the Sparta Training mode in the M2 ShotTrigger ports in mind, lol

[@ShmupJunkie]

It really is only feasible in newer games with better training modes or stage selects. Or these days with emulation which I found great for practice. It was brutal back playing something like Tatsujin on the pc engine. Hard as hell and limited continues to keep starting back from the beginning. I do love the m2 ports for that reason. I’m gonna need it when they release Tatsujin Ou 😂

[@ms.ilovecotton9778]

keep playing and playing till you own it. memorize the level layout and make it yours. and last thing..take a deep breathe. you will always have another chance. timing in the Soldier Blade caravan is everything, certain patterns open and close and if you shoot at the right time you'll get more points

[@ShmupJunkie]

pretty much. And timing and rhythm especially in the caravan games is so important. That's why I thought it was a good choice for practice. I think anyone who plays with us will come out even better at figuring out hard sections of a game. Like you said, the more you practice the skill, the better you get at it.

[@headman82]

Practice makes perfect. But the best I can do is normal difficulty in all of these games. I’ve been playing Crimzon clover on Switch allot and I got to the top 100, which I feel pretty proud of. It’s probably the best shmup since Rolling Gunner. On Switch anyway

[@ShmupJunkie]

I rarely play past normal on most of the games too unless it's one I've been playing forever and just know too well. Most are hard enough on normal. I've really been jonesing to finally play CC and have just been swamped. I keep saying hopefully this week, but I have it ready to go. Everyone who is playing it loves it.

[@braikingboss9137]

Awesome as usual 💯

[@ShmupJunkie]

Thanks dude. Glad you enjoyed the vid. They are always fun to make.

[@braikingboss9137]

Great to hear 💯 that way we get much muchhh more content from you!

[@Surkk2960]

Randomly ran into this channel and I will be thinking about shmups more like a rhythm game now... Well, back to trying to fight Gigantic Bite without getting hit over 30 times...

[@ShmupJunkie]

Lol, it’s kind of a weird analogy but it works. Not sure if you saw it but this was part 2 to my first shooter 101 video I made. It had some really good initial tips and how to practice better that a lot of people found very useful. But now that you mention it, a video focused on bosses wouldn’t be a bad idea. Though I never got far enough into Chronicles CS mode to see gigantic bite and mostly played the arcade mode.

[@Surkk2960]

@@ShmupJunkie I guess I'll watch that vid too. Bite is technically the toughest boss in CS next to GTB, but its really the second part of its initial volley that can ruin the fight. Thankfully there is a stage in CS mode that is just the GB fight, but it takes a bit to get there.

[@ShmupJunkie]

@@Surkk2960 I was going to explore the modes more with the new Revelations release but they didn’t include the CS mode unfortunately. I do have it on PS4 though so I’ve got options. I’m always afraid to dive into that content because there’s so much of it. I know I won’t have the free time yet to really dig through it.

[@Surkk2960]

@@ShmupJunkie Makes sense.

[@Reluctant_Hero]

Already checked in with you on Instagram, but I’ll post here too: I am in!

[@ShmupJunkie]

Yessir. And I’ll send you a link soon to the discord so you can login there 🤟

[@Reluctant_Hero]

@@ShmupJunkie No worries my dude. All in good time. I just wish my triple bypassed nomad w/ screen mod was ready for the event. Oh well, it’s CRT time!

[@ShmupJunkie]

@@Reluctant_Hero Ha you’d be the second to play on a portable then. One person plans to use their PSP Go

[@kbxthegamemaster06]

Nice video dude! I got Omega Blast on my SNES Classic and it works perfectly. I'll definitely use your tips to get through it. 💪😎 By the remember when you said the Genesis Truxton was easier than the arcade? Well if you play the Japanese version or set your console region to Japan, you now have a greater challenge.

[@ShmupJunkie]

Oh cool! I guess that makes sense you can play it on a hacked classic. I’m sure knowing the bonus locations will definitely up your score. There is a lot more nuance as well I can’t impart in a single video, but if you ever enjoy it enough to want to really master it, the caravan event will be a great way to do that.

[@ShmupJunkie]

I found that out about truxton on the MD later. Japan region the bullets move faster. It’s still not nearly as crazy tough as the arcade but it definitely ups the challenge. I’d never tested that until after I made the video.

[@kbxthegamemaster06]

@@ShmupJunkie Are you hosting the caravan on Discord or something?

[@ShmupJunkie]

@@kbxthegamemaster06 yep that was the plan. So the chat will be open the entire week for anyone to pop in and out, share tips and have fun. It worked well the last time I did it that way.

[@Pixilshooter]

What do you mean ... "back when they were called shooters" ;-)

[@ShmupJunkie]

We are bringing Shooters back dangit! lol Maybe someday we will reach the promised land again. 😁

[@Axel_Kei]

I know, right?

[@NintenDub]

@@ShmupJunkie not "bringing it back". It never went away. The posers like metal jesus came up with the term at some point and it stuck and they used it but their shooters.even today's 'shooters', aka call of duty, are Basicly called first person shooter

[@paulunetourtel9601]

540k without your tips, but i died and died to make it! Thanks for your tips

[@Spartan77]

Ohhh, break down the game. I wish I would have listened better and understood sooner, before I took a mallet to my copy of Eliminate Down. Just kidding, still watching and enjoying the videos, wish I would have discovered your channel sooner.

[@ShmupJunkie]

Don't scare me like that! I'm still rocking a repro of that game and it'll likely stay that way 😅 I had that one in my Top 5 brutal Mega Drive Shooters video and it's one of my favorite on the system.

[@Spartan77]

@@ShmupJunkie Sadly mine is a repro as well, regardless I would never intentionally harm that cartridge, or any of my games. I was being sarcastic when I made the comment and I knew that Eliminate Down is a rare and very expensive Sega Genesis cart. As always, thank you for your videos and your cordial replies to comments.

[@jorenreed]

Dope video bro!!!

[@ShmupJunkie]

Thx dude. And I haven’t forgotten doing a short podcast I’ve just been buried. I’ve got you and one other cool dude I want to do one with.

[@jorenreed]

@@ShmupJunkie No worries bro! You're doing your thing and and I really appreciate your content and collaboration!

[@Camdavis11]

0:44 is that the Panzer Dragoon Saga Resurrection soundtrack on vinyl? Your taste is impeccable!!! Fingers crossed for a Panzer Dragoon vid someday! 🤞

[@ShmupJunkie]

I didn't see any music at 44, but I didn't actually have any Panzer music in this one. That's not to say I don't like to play the originals sometimes and wouldn't do a video. I just wish the remake wasn't a bit of a letdown.

[@Camdavis11]

@@ShmupJunkie it's behind you on the right, on the table next to a gradius vinyl!! I really hope you do a video someday! Love panzer with all my heart, but yes the remake was utterly awful. I wish it didn't exist, frankly.

[@ShmupJunkie]

@@Camdavis11 Ah! Oh yeah I didn’t even notice in my own video lol. Yea that’s exactly what it is and it’s signed. Now if I could only get the actual Saturn game 😂

[@Camdavis11]

@@ShmupJunkie I can send you a Japanese copy! It's not so rare over here LOL

[@lunaticgate]

Great videos. I’ve been trying to play mega drive games lately and started getting into shooters. I only really had experience with gynoug and empire of steel so I’m not really very good at the genre. Lately I’ve discovered whip rush and really enjoying it and trying to get better gradually without cheating. Have you ever considered doing game specific guides and tips for some of these older games. Like you did with omega blast. Games like hellfire seem so out of reach haha. Anyway thanks for the interesting content. Still watching many other videos

[@ShmupJunkie]

Thanks! Really glad you found it helpful. I did a much more recent one like this called Learn to Shmup in 7 Days you might like too along with one called Best Shmups for Beginners with good suggestions for games. Which btw included Steel Empire that you mentioned that’s a good one. Another is Arrow Flash and Battlemania series. All mega drive and great to start. Whip Rush is good too. Lots of great options when it comes to the mega drive. I’ll keep your idea in mind for game guides. Sure would never run out of content that way! Haha

[@lunaticgate]

@@ShmupJunkie yeah. I was just searching around KZbin yesterday for guides on how to play these kinds of games and only your channel on mayne one or two others seemed to come up. I watched those videos you mentioned thanks. It was nice to break the illusion that it’s too difficult to do. whip rush so far was hard until I realised which weapons work best. Also I failed to even understand all the controls too haha. Watched some gameplay videos but they are silent and also assume a no damage perfect run so max weapons constantly. I also didn’t notice until yesteday whip rush Changes difficulty based on if you have power ups or not. Thanks for the reply.

[@duhmez]

Hey there, I remember a vidoe of yours giving strategies for caravan modes but I cannot find it, if u see this oculd you link your video that has the tips and tricks for tg16 caravan modes I rememeber seeing a long time ago??!

[@ShmupJunkie]

Did you mean this one? kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2LWo36vrs2SqLs It's the only I can think of that I focused on caravan modes on the pc engine mini. Oldie but a good one.

[@arcadedbeast]

Have you played Silkworm on Amiga or in the Arcades? My absolute favorite game as a kid

[@ShmupJunkie]

Silkworm is awesome I loved it too. I did get to play it in the arcades and also the NES port two players with friends. It was one of those fun coop games like Jackal that were so fun back then.

[@Xx_Henry_xX]

I'm definitely gonna join that caravan and show some Korean skills

[@ShmupJunkie]

Awesome! I’ll be posting the discord link very soon in a new community post for everyone. It’s going to be a blast 🤟

[@ShmupJunkie]

FYI if you haven't joined yet, here is the link discord.gg/UuaKzb7nJq It's already open with a good amount of people chatting. It will officially start Sunday

[@cosmosofinfinity]

You are a mad scientist

[@ShmupJunkie]

Probably a bit more nutty professor 😅 but I'll take it!

[@mk_games_official]

I'm working atm on Project X sequel from Amiga. It's still shmup :)😊 Proj3ct X - Light Years

[@kynmasters8670]

Do the gold score blocks in Soldier Blade caravan mode work the same way as in Omega Blast? They keep increasing in value the more you collect?

[@ShmupJunkie]

Exactly right. You can’t miss a single one to get the max bonus.

[@WilsonCQB1911]

Wish I had those skillz!!!

[@ShmupJunkie]

You too can have those skills for the low price of $29.99, order my journal of secrets now on my website... shmupjunkieslushfund.com 😅

[@ShmupJunkie]

JOIN the Omega Blast Caravan Event coming later this month! Leave me a comment and let me know so I can keep count. And look for my Community post next week with details. Download Omega Blast for FREE here: nendo16.jimdofree.com/omega-blast/ It can be played on any Genesis/Mega Drive via Flashcart, Analogue console, and also works on emulators through Retroarch and others. Many ways to play. ✅ Subscribe To My Channel ➡️ Support me on PATREON www.patreon.com/shmupjunkieslushfund 00:00 - How Pros Make it look Easy 01:09 - Break the Game 02:34 - What bullet hell? Ketsui Stage 4 Made Easy (Xbox 360) 04:35 - Are Shmups just fancy Rhythm Games? (PC Engine Rayxanber / Blazing Lazers) 06:27 - Shooter 101 Dominate the Screen with Timing and Position 06:49 - Bosses like a Boss: Undeadline Mega Drive Example 07:55 - Caravan Modes: The Ultimate Practice Method (PC Engine Soldier Blade Special) 09:36 - Omega Blast Boot Camp (Mega Drive) 11:28 - Omega Blast How to Score over 900K! All Bonuses and Playthrough 14:18 - How BIG are your BALLS? 15:38 - Omega Blast Practice Tips 16:51 - JOIN the Omega Blast Caravan Event! 17:16 - Memories of Soldier Blade Special PC Engine Caravan 18:29 - Join the FUN. Details on joining the Omega Blast Caravan

[@bryanchong3746]

I have one question in mind. When I practice. Should I start off with easy mode then went up as you gets better and better? Thank you

[@ShmupJunkie]

The best answer is start on the mode that seems a fair challenge and not overwhelming. As the initial purpose is to enjoy the game and see if it’s something you want to play more. If it’s too easy you may not enjoy it. While other games have really good novice modes. I like to start on normal and if it’s too crazy then try easy. The mode isn’t as important as how you approach learning it. You may have seen it already, but in case not I did a much more recent and comprehensive video called Learn to Shmup in 7 Days. It came out really well and you may find some useful tips in there too.

[@bryanchong3746]

@@ShmupJunkie thanks for the advise.

[@brandonwalker9066]

There is some weird coloration/contrast on your Blazing Lazers footage. How are you recording your video of it?

[@ShmupJunkie]

This particular blazing I was playing on my pc engine mini. And that goes into my capture card. So it’s possible it looks different vs recording it from a real turbo. I also recorded it quite long ago so maybe my OBS contrast settings were a bit wonky at the time too. I’ve been slowly adjusting them to look better as I’ve made more.

[@brandonwalker9066]

@@ShmupJunkie Thanks for that. I'm thinking about streaming some PC Engine Mini footage for friends via Discord at some point and I'd like to make sure I get the look mostly correct, so this might help me get that right.

[@BalsticMaker12]

Speaking of the Omega Blast game, do you have any plans to review it? This is the first game I tried to Caravan, but the process of improving my scores is more annoying than I thought for the wrong reasons. For example, some enemies that are supposed to spawn from the top of the screen get to spawn at the bottom of the screen instead if your position is too high.

[@ShmupJunkie]

I didn't think about a full review, but depending on how the Caravan goes, I may come out of it with tons of great material and something I can make a video out of. What you're noticing is perfectly normal. Some of the Omega Blast enemies don't spawn in the same place every time, but based on your current ship position. So they'll come out on the opposite top side of the screen from where you are etc. Once you see how your position effects that, you'll know where to expect them. The rear enemies are a pain, but they only really happen when you miss killing certain enemies. Once you start destroying every single one of those chain waves of enemies that come streaming down, they won't spawn into the rear enemies any more and you will rarely get them. They are kind of a punishment for missing them haha. The ones that come down really fast in a chain, and circle around, shooting out a ton of bullets. Those are the ones that spawn into the rear enemies usually when you miss them. They are good to kill fast anyway because they shoot so many bullets it interferes with you picking up bonuses.

[@BalsticMaker12]

@@ShmupJunkie Interesting. Just a quick ask: are those kind of design quirks normal for Caravan stages in the old days?

[@ShmupJunkie]

@@BalsticMaker12 not too common no. Most of the soldier series are the same every time. They have other features that make it tricky instead. Getting a super high score is even harder in soldier blade and super star soldier imo, so I picked this one first. It’s not as brutal on perfect timing as the others. But it does have more bullets making it trickier to stay alive.

[@litonazad]

This is great content 🤟

[@ShmupJunkie]

Thanks! This was the second I made like this. And a most recent one where I really upped the production value called Learn to Shmup in 7 days. But I really like these older vids too and had a lot of fun making them. I hope they’re helpful.

[@JuanRoosterbeard]

I love you Man, made me laugh singing acdc

[@ShmupJunkie]

And I paid the price. I was singing that song for the rest of the day 😂

[@benjismith593]

Damn! I need to build a pc, but these graphics cards are crazy right now. What's a decent one I can get away with for these steam shmups, and retro emulation?

[@ShmupJunkie]

You don’t need a powerful graphics card for most Steam games or retro. Most will even run fine on a standard laptop. Even an old card like the 600-800 series is more than you’ll need unless it’s very modern games.

[@Faxtron]

The best trick is play, play and play to master the game you want to beat.

[@Fattydeposit]

Wasn't expecting the AC/DC reference lol

[@ShmupJunkie]

The only KZbin video with both AC/DC and Dr. Seuss within moments of each other 😆

[@bl85gamer]

Always watch the videos and forget to like and comment...lol...my bad!

[@ShmupJunkie]

Lol dude no worries. I know where it's at. At least this video gave you some early pointers. And you did amazing by the way your score was exceptional!

[@bl85gamer]

@@ShmupJunkie but...I want to beat Bobbus 😅😭

[@ShmupJunkie]

@@bl85gamer His score is sky high dude. And he did it without rapid fire. I’m still in shock and plan to congratulate him personally. You’re just sore you won’t get away with the old fart jokes so easily anymore 🤣

[@bl85gamer]

@@ShmupJunkie lmao...tell me about it. I still got time. I improved my score. I'm not giving up without a fight.

[@Xonatron]

I remember my first question to my friend who had just got an Xbox 360: “Where are the shooters?” There were none (basically)! It was so sad. And then they were labelled along with FPS shooters. No respect!

[@ShmupJunkie]

There was a total of 5 on the 360 I believe released in the US. Japan got way more and all the great Cave ports... too bad they never made it over.

[@jorenreed]

Dodonpachi is my shit!!!!🙌🏾

[@ShmupJunkie]

I wish I could say it was mine, but I'm only so good at them. Just barely enough to finish them but not loop or get any true last boss. But I've been playing bullet hell types more and more lately so I am improving.

[@khlothostonney5760]

why dont you do playthroughs on various games?

[@ShmupJunkie]

Because there are plenty of other playthroughs already online better than mine and I don't see a reason to. I did post one of GG Aleste 3 recently because it was new and there were no other longplays yet. That's the only one I've posted so far.

[@iainpendreich1760]

Yeah, positioning, 😂 that fucking volcano in gradius

[@LordShmup]

Awww yeah!

[@ShmupJunkie]

Go time! 😁 Hope you enjoy this one.

[@LordShmup]

Awesome video!

[@chrisgardiner2215]

is it "BULLET HELL" or "BULLLET HAIL" ?

[@ShmupJunkie]

Depends how you are pronouncing “hail”. Like Hey-all or Hi-all? Bullet Hi-all sound like a goose stepping nazi shmup 🤣

[@riaairgarcia]

hell yeah

[@AnywayHeresMyCleanTone]

I'll embarrass me'sen at this caravan, count me in

[@ShmupJunkie]

There will be no embarrassment there that I can almost guarantee. If anything, people will be surprised how well they manage to do and improve simply by practicing enough and having the group help them out. Unless you forget to unplug your webcam while you're playing across the room in your tighty whities. That could be embarrassing. 😂

[@AnywayHeresMyCleanTone]

@@ShmupJunkie if I can’t bloody beat 500,000, tighty whities it is 😂

[@thegreathadoken6808]

@@AnywayHeresMyCleanTone S'all relative. I can't even survive the 2 minutes, personally.

[@ShmupJunkie]

If you aren't in already, here is the link if you still want to join discord.gg/UuaKzb7nJq

[@overkill1473]

Remember kids, Schnaps is the best!

[@ShmupJunkie]

Schnapps and a bowl of juicy fruit when you really want the game to slow down for you.

[@digitalfracture2938]

Naa you won't get flamed, at least by me that is. Yea I remember I use to play to the beat of these soundtracks, hell if you have music that use the same BPM you can have ear buds in XD Sorry I will be commenting based on how far make it through and replying to certain points.

[@HammerHeadBubba]

Awesome