|
eriph's Gradius (NES)
|
| [January 26, 2007 11:57:52 PM]
|
Second time's...well, not really a charm.
I even decided to cheat. Konami code, you've never done me wrong. Except in Gradius you can only use it once, and I would like my shield back right now please. So I got further, way further than before. But still, once I got to the place with the Moai statues spewing bubbles at me, I just kinda got bored and gave up.
Are there...different levels? It just seems like the scenery changes a little and/or the music changes as you go along, but you just keep fighting things. And that's it. You'll fight a big thing, and then the stream of enemies from the very beginning of the game come back and I say, "DIDN'T I DO THIS ALREADY?"
The level design doesn't seem all that inspired. The Moai statues cracked me up a little (Moai love showing up in video games!), but other than that I wasn't really intrigued or excited to be exploring this weird area of space that has volcanoes and...I dunno, that other stuff that was there.
Where am I even GOING? Why is everything attacking me? I know NES games aren't known for their plot development, but can't I have a little motivation for fighting these streams of nameless faceless enemies? The only reason I know the ship in Gradius is called the Vic Viper is because I looked it up on Wikipedia.
Part of this I'll blame on the NES's lack of colors, but man, when you have two options and all your weapons shooting all over the screen, it's friggin hard to pay attention to those and all the enemy fire coming at you. I can't dodge it! There's too much going on.
Another realization: I think I prefer vertical scrolling shmups rather than horizontal. Not really sure why, actually. I guess I should play more to figure it out. Should.
Gradius, I am sad to say that you and I must part ways. You are not my shmup boyfriend-to-be.
add a comment 
|
| [January 24, 2007 02:56:18 AM]
|
Teehee on me, trying to play a game in a genre I know for a fact I suck at. Let me say this about shmups: I love watching other people play them (especially if they're crazy good), but I apparently do not have the skills necessary to get even ten minutes into Gradius. I am pretty awful at shoot 'em up games.
I think one reason shmups get me so frustrated is the fact that because many of them started as arcade games...well, they play like arcade games. One hit? You're dead. Die three times? Game over. Okay, I get it. I suck. But I don't want to start the whole game over every time I mess up. It's not like I'm putting quarters into it. Games that have you die after one hit drive me crazy. Why couldn't they do something a little more player-friendly for the console versions? Give me at least two hits, platformer-style. Or health bars, like in Pop'n Twinbee or Star Fox. Those are even better.
Simply put, Gradius is very frustrating to me. After starting over at least five times, I started trying to develop strategies, such as "use the speed powerup first, then go for the shield." But it never seemed to get me too far.
Part of me just wants to go play a shmup that I suck less at (Star Fox 64) or at least have more fun playing (Twinbee), but I'll tough it out. I'll play for another...well, however long it takes me to think of something more insightful to say about dying over and over again.
add a comment
|
|
|
 |
eriph's Gradius (NES)
|
|
Current Status: Stopped playing - Got frustrated
GameLog started on: Wednesday 24 January, 2007
GameLog closed on: Friday 26 January, 2007 |
 |
|
eriph's opinion and rating for this game |
|
Evidentially I suck at shmups. A lot.
Rating (out of 5): |
|
