I agree, an update just got put out, if some people want to post their thoughts on it, great, but let's not use this time to argue about it. Well, this is just my humble opinion. You say really good, that is a tough question, I was expecting for this game to be in the top echelon of shmups like I think Bug Princess 2 Black Label, Dariusburst, Deathsmiles, Plasma Sky, Phoenix HD, and possibly Space Tripper (though it is not a true shmup). So I think I was expecting too much, and it is a port, many people here and elsewhere were expecting a perfect match from the pc version or others, of course, this ain't ever gonna happen with the lower horsepower of ios devices and lack of joysticks. So there are a whole issues that people have brought up whether it is touch controls, no cut scene skipping, using ony 1/2 of the screen, degrading powerups, difficulty issues for some, could use moveable buttons, facebook not gamecenter, and many more issues. HOWEVER, there are some great aspects to this game too. The bosses are just awesome! This has to be one of the best games in ios in terms of animation and boss smoothness. Also, this is a bullet hell, yes, I love bullet hells. I am a very avid shmup player have almost every shmup out on the market that is good including all cave shumps. The graphics, boss animation, storyline, very close console resemblance are second to none. However, in my humble opinion, there are many flaws too. So I am torn on this one, when I first bought it I was a little disappointed. But, an update came out two days ago, in the update many things were improved, there are many more control options including such things as relative touch (not instantaneous touch which I prefer), graphic framerate improvements, floating joystick which is nice, refinements to the vstick controls (the are looser now, dev, maybe tighten them slightly, probably better than the first slower one, but maybe a touch slider sensitivity would be nice), and many more improvements. I have learned to play this game in many ways. On HDMI TV, I play with a stylus in my right hand and play with relative touch mirrored. I do prefer the new slow relative touch option over the vstick. Both on HDMI and for ipad 3 and older devices, I highly recommend turning the screen shake option off, the framerates improve dramatically. That is a point to this game, this game plays totally different on all devices, especially old! This maybe the FIRST GAME EVER THAT I REGRETTED HAVING AN IPAD 3 OVER AN IPAD 4. Now that can be a good thing, but bad too if you know what I mean. I would think on an ipad 4 this game must be gorgeous and smooth. After update, I would definitely recommend this game for purchase. While I do hope the developer can keep upgrading it in the future, I think for the most part, that this is a good game, however, if any of the flaws above seem to eat at you, well, wait for a sale and buy it, then you will be really happy. Please I didn't spend the time to write this long post for anyone to attack me on it, please don't bother quoting my post unless you honestly have a question about something, cause I could care less if you like vsticks better. But bottom line, I recommend this game, mostly for the boss animations and near console like smoothness. I look forward to the day when we can have a full screen, instantaneous touch, icade joystick console game like this on ios. That day will be the day, I will smile, and say yeah, reading all the garbage in this thread was worth it. Hehe Highly recommended, some flaws yeah, but some great aspects too.
Since others are throwing out opinions for new buyers, just thought I'd throw out that I really haven't felt the game was flawed from the beginning. And as a shmup lover myself, I would easily put this on par with the Cave games, Darius Burst SP, Phoenix HD, Plasma Sky, Danmaku Unlimited 2, Space Tripper and others that are considered shump classics on iOS. Guess, controls aside, I never minded the half screen approach as it gives it a cinematic feel. And the visuals are still fantastic if not up to par with console counterparts. I've just been in love with this game from the beginning. So, yes, there are those that think it's flawed or even a failed port, and I respect their opinion. But I would IMO wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone. (Can't take responsibility if you don't like it though ).
Here's an earlier post from the developer that should give a clear idea of their thinking. Note it is a pre update post and that they did listen to the feed back from here on RT but in relation to instantaneous RT and full screen, I think its pretty clear. As to icade, don't recall any developer comment on it.
Please direct me to anything I wrote in any of these three posts that claims it is impossible to beat a board without losing power-ups. More specifically, point me to where in any of these three posts that I ever used the actual word 'impossible.' I've said myself that I have beaten levels and barely gotten hit. This does not negate the fact that IF AND WHEN you get hit, YOU WILL LOSE YOUR POWER-UPS, unless you are otherwise shielded. You insist on taking the points I made and turning them into an issue of ability, that it is my 'lack of ability' in playing the game that makes me lose power ups, when my only argument this entire time is that I strongly dislike losing power-ups due to taking damage. Of course it is POSSIBLE to NOT take damage, but it IS impossible to avoid the FACT that when you EVENTUALLY DO take damage that you will be put in a position of having to go BACKWARDS in terms of your ship's output. You very well MAY recover all your power-ups, but that does not negate the RISK that you are always put under. This risk is there REGARDLESS of how well you play. It is the fact that it EXISTS, not how well you can avoid it. I don't think this is a design flaw. I never asked the developer to change this aspect of the game. I do think that there are plenty of people that don't care about it, or even like it. However, I'm not one of them. To take my opinion about this type of mechanic and then claim it is my ability is not only inaccurate, it just doesn't make sense. Moreover, it seems that my unfavorable opinions of this title has affected you personally in a way that you feel the need to defend it, and that is the reason why you need to make it personal and claim it has to do with my ability. Let's use some hypothetical examples so I may even further clarify: Let's say I play every single board in this game from beginning to end. I don't get hit at all. I take no damage. I lose no power-ups. I am still not going to like the fact that if I were to get hit that I would lose my power-ups. Let's say I played Sine Mora my entire LIFE and NEVER got hit once and never lost a power-up. I am still not going to like the fact that if I were to get hit that I would lose my power-ups. Let's say that I play my whole life and never get hit and never lose a power-up and my coveted online iOS compadres Connector or Metalcasket or Royce or Gabrien or Syntheticvoid or Sapphireneo or Bytebrain were to get hit and lose power-ups. I am still not going to like the fact that they got hit and lost their power-ups. You can also use this type of an analogy... My house is built on sand. However, if my house never sinks, then there is no problem. But the principle of the matter is that my house is built on sand! Same concept here, where the principle is that even if I were to play perfectly from now until the end of time, I will never like losing power-ups from taking damage. Here is another analogy... I play pool (billiards) and I play very well. I've been playing since I was 12. When I go to play at this bar I frequent, the other people always want to play 8-Ball. I despise 8-Ball. However, I play anyway, I run out the racks and beat everyone. I don't miss shots, the same way it's possible to not get hit in Sine Mora. Am I enjoying playing the game of 8-Ball even though I am winning? No, because the mechanics of the game prevent me from doing so. I'd rather play straight pool or 9-Ball, similar to how I'd rather play a shooter where the forward progression of my ship's output in not in jeopardy simply for taking damage. I have also mentioned that the controls are not helping this plight, and that using a console controller would probably lessen the impact of having to deal with this. Still, it would not negate it, because that is not possible. For the love of God, or even the love of the Devil, PLEASE tell me this is starting to sink in. I don't know how much more I can possibly repeat this and still escape this overwhelming veil of futility. I sincerely hope this isn't directed at me, because my intent on these forums is never to 'break the heart' of any developer. If that is how I am perceived then I do apologize. My feedback has always been based on honesty, whether it's in the form of praise or criticism. If I were a developer, I wouldn't want any less.
Thanks for digging up this old post, it was very helpful. Reading that helps alot to explain alot of discussion here. The developer has taken alot of input here from TA, and it is good to have seen alot of the improvements. Now dev, please put in icade joystick support cause the apple joystick is coming out anyway, what the heck, make all these non joystick users hear cry with jealousy, when some of us are playing this game with a joystick on a huge 60" screen. I have a dream...
Oh wow. This is the first time I've ever seen MC rate a game from the TA app. This really must be a good game!
Another post from the dev that's worth reading. Again, its a pre update post but all the posts from the dev (viewable in the users post history) are worth reading as they do give an understanding and very legitimate reasons for the design choices made in the game. And very much shows that they are open to suggestions. As long as they don't break the game. They have just gotten lost in the thread overall despite being the most relevant points.
Snooker yes. You should try billiards. That is if you can find a table Notice the suspicious lack of pockets.
That one we call Karambola here. I believe it's called Karom or something like that internationally. And man, does it feel really hot in here.
I think it feels rather comfortable Yeah, it's actually called three cushion billiards. Large table, no pockets. There are three balls on the table, two white and one red (with one of the white balls having a dot on it to separate it from the other white ball). You have one white ball and your opponent has the other. You have to hit three rails, then hit the other two balls. Or hit one of the balls, hit three rails, then hit the other ball. Or hit two rails, hit the one ball, hit another rail and then hit the other ball It is actually much more straightforward than that description. Anywho, back on topic. Who wants to argue?
Relative to the typical iOS game it is, but it's a console title originally, so you will usually pay more for those.
Haha!!! You got me!!! Maybe, if you all pitch in and get me a Bugatti Veyron. Nah, that was yesterday. Today, we are just all gabbing and telling people what we think of this cool game. @rip73, thanks again for reading the last 60 pages of a lot of garbage and finding those dev posts, hopefully now that things seem in order, he will come and join us here again.
can someone here provide a screenshot comparison between old and new version on ipad 4, please? i know its asking too much but since i already have the vita version an i will double dip if the graphics update is good enough. ps. a video would be even nicer. thank you guys.
