This is the only game I've seriously been playing at the moment. To be honest, I don't usually play many 2D shooters, but after hearing many great things about Silvergun, I decided to pick it up and get my Saturn modded.
A good decision, because this game is seriously hot.
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It's got:
- A Deep, multi-layered weapons system
- Complex level structures
- A large variety of bosses
- An utterly imaginative and diverse aesthetic
- Incredible use of technology on the Saturn
- Brilliant immense over the top of action
- A vast number of different enemies
- Huge tactical depth, due to the fact the game rewards risk in powering up your radiant sword, and in trying to get longer and longer chains
- Great replay system through the fact the game 'remembers' your weapon abilities each time you play and lets you slowly level them up accordingly. Not only that, the more you play, the more the game unlocks, i.e. stage select, continues game speed, etc.
- There's also choice in choosing which parts to strengthen your ship, depending on which weapons you use, and which chains you want to focus on for obtaining a higher score. So although the game itself is linear, how you go about achieving various aims is up to the user.
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The fact it's Sakimoto Hitoshi (Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story) that composes the music is only the icing on the cake. Actually, RSG kind of reminds me of Rez, and it's easy to see where the later title has drawn quite an amount of inspiration from. stage 2, for example, has a computerised/retro wireframe feel, and stage 6 with its large running man...
I hope it's not just me, but I am finding it rock hard though. I first tried the game on Saturn mode, but found it too difficult on Normal. I couldn't even get to the third level.
So, lambast me for being **** all you want, but I've had to stick it on Easy and on seven lives per credit in order to get anywhere. Arcade mode however is a different story because it allows infinite continues, and yes, in order to fully complete the game I had to rely on them.
However, having said that, I don't feel overwhelmed. I feel that if I put the practice in this game then I can steadily get better. I just wish like the GC version of Ikaruga, that there was a reply mode allowing you to watch and study how the pros go about each level.
In fact, it's almost a little unfair in comparing Ikaruga to RSG - The later title is such a better game. I'd even go as far to say RSG even beats its brother graphically, despite being five years old. The sheer amount of effects in terms of multi-layered transparencies, scaling, generous amounts of parallax scrolling, mode-7 style effects, OTT bitmaps, and overlayed complex polygon elements, make it perhaps look even better than the best of what I've seen the PSone offer.
Where RSG nails everything on the head is in terms of imagination. The sheer diversity and thought which has gone into every element of design, from the stylistic look of the game, to the music, to the control... All I can say is wow.
For me, the standout level of the game is by far Stage 4... Not only is it very challenging, but it's also extremely epic in terms of scope. There's a huge flying ship boss you fight spinning and rotating over the terrain at one point, which quite simply just had my jaw on the floor. In fact, all of the stages each have their own particular standout moments like that.
Now, I've got some questions:
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1) When the game flashes "Weapon x10000", I'm assuming that this means I've levelled up my current weapon?"
2) Sometimes "Secret Chain" flashes up. Is this the same as an ordinary chain, or does it require certain conditions, such as shooting certain enemies in a certain order, as opposed to just colours?
3) Before each boss fight there's strange use of English in three lined short sentences. Do these mean anything? Are they cryptic hints of some kind?
4) I've heard you can find hidden dogs (
) in the game, but I've yet to find any. How do you go about locating them?
5) I've found all the weapons, bar the X button (multiple lock on), to be useful. What's the use of this weapon, because in the heat of the battle, I found it impratical and uncomfortable to use.
6) Since the story is in Japanese I've not managed to really follow it, but I've heard there are several translations on the net. Does understanding the narrative in RSG add anything to the experience?
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Of course, what I would really like in this thread is to hear not only some other views on the game, but also share information on tactics so hopefully I can become a better player in due course. Do any of you use any specific techniques that are useful when it comes to the later sections of the game, when life becomes almost impossibly hard?
What are your favourite levels? What are your favourite weapon combinations? What are your favourite bosses? What's your highest scores? What are the highest chains you've got?
Have you ever completed the game on one credit?
etc.
Please, do tell.
A good decision, because this game is seriously hot.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's got:
- A Deep, multi-layered weapons system
- Complex level structures
- A large variety of bosses
- An utterly imaginative and diverse aesthetic
- Incredible use of technology on the Saturn
- Brilliant immense over the top of action
- A vast number of different enemies
- Huge tactical depth, due to the fact the game rewards risk in powering up your radiant sword, and in trying to get longer and longer chains
- Great replay system through the fact the game 'remembers' your weapon abilities each time you play and lets you slowly level them up accordingly. Not only that, the more you play, the more the game unlocks, i.e. stage select, continues game speed, etc.
- There's also choice in choosing which parts to strengthen your ship, depending on which weapons you use, and which chains you want to focus on for obtaining a higher score. So although the game itself is linear, how you go about achieving various aims is up to the user.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The fact it's Sakimoto Hitoshi (Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story) that composes the music is only the icing on the cake. Actually, RSG kind of reminds me of Rez, and it's easy to see where the later title has drawn quite an amount of inspiration from. stage 2, for example, has a computerised/retro wireframe feel, and stage 6 with its large running man...
I hope it's not just me, but I am finding it rock hard though. I first tried the game on Saturn mode, but found it too difficult on Normal. I couldn't even get to the third level.
So, lambast me for being **** all you want, but I've had to stick it on Easy and on seven lives per credit in order to get anywhere. Arcade mode however is a different story because it allows infinite continues, and yes, in order to fully complete the game I had to rely on them.
Originally posted by spoiler
In fact, it's almost a little unfair in comparing Ikaruga to RSG - The later title is such a better game. I'd even go as far to say RSG even beats its brother graphically, despite being five years old. The sheer amount of effects in terms of multi-layered transparencies, scaling, generous amounts of parallax scrolling, mode-7 style effects, OTT bitmaps, and overlayed complex polygon elements, make it perhaps look even better than the best of what I've seen the PSone offer.
Where RSG nails everything on the head is in terms of imagination. The sheer diversity and thought which has gone into every element of design, from the stylistic look of the game, to the music, to the control... All I can say is wow.
For me, the standout level of the game is by far Stage 4... Not only is it very challenging, but it's also extremely epic in terms of scope. There's a huge flying ship boss you fight spinning and rotating over the terrain at one point, which quite simply just had my jaw on the floor. In fact, all of the stages each have their own particular standout moments like that.
Now, I've got some questions:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) When the game flashes "Weapon x10000", I'm assuming that this means I've levelled up my current weapon?"
2) Sometimes "Secret Chain" flashes up. Is this the same as an ordinary chain, or does it require certain conditions, such as shooting certain enemies in a certain order, as opposed to just colours?
3) Before each boss fight there's strange use of English in three lined short sentences. Do these mean anything? Are they cryptic hints of some kind?
4) I've heard you can find hidden dogs (
) in the game, but I've yet to find any. How do you go about locating them?5) I've found all the weapons, bar the X button (multiple lock on), to be useful. What's the use of this weapon, because in the heat of the battle, I found it impratical and uncomfortable to use.
6) Since the story is in Japanese I've not managed to really follow it, but I've heard there are several translations on the net. Does understanding the narrative in RSG add anything to the experience?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Of course, what I would really like in this thread is to hear not only some other views on the game, but also share information on tactics so hopefully I can become a better player in due course. Do any of you use any specific techniques that are useful when it comes to the later sections of the game, when life becomes almost impossibly hard?
What are your favourite levels? What are your favourite weapon combinations? What are your favourite bosses? What's your highest scores? What are the highest chains you've got?
Have you ever completed the game on one credit?
etc.
Please, do tell.
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