Been playing R-Type quite a bit lately. The first one, that is. Both on R-Types for PS1 and Dimensions on XBLA. At first I alternated between the two but then came to the decision that it might be better to focus on only one for now. Settled on Dimensions for two reasons: Firstly, R-Types has a far better (=more rapid) autofire so in playing Dimensions I can’t get dependant on it and hopefully will learn better tactics and routes.

Secondly, the main reason I bought Dimensions (a whooping -day- before it became deal of the week for a cheaper price, how’s that for timing?) in the first place was for co-op. I have delusions of grandeur plans to make a co-op superplay of at least the first game. Why? Because co-op superplays are pretty cool and there really aren’t that many of those out there. Hardest part here, it seems, is finding a suitable co-op partner. I tried it with szycag but the lag was quite insufferable for the one who wasn’t hosting. This could be due to us having quite a bit of distance between us, so I’m hoping to find one of the many, MANY finnish shmup players to partner up with.

That’s not going so well. Put up a notice at the biggest finnish gaming forum, promising glory and fame (as much as participating in a  superplay video gives it) but I haven’t got a single reply yet. The other way would be to get someone to play the game with me locally, which would also be nice for discussing tactics, but that’s even harder to accomplish. Only one guy I know plays shmups and he’s not one for R-Type. Either I need to learn brainwashing or cloning techniques.

As for how I’m doing in the game itself…I have good days and bad days. On a good day I can get to Stage 6. On a bad day, like today was, I can’t get past Stage 4. The boss is such a wild card. Even though I have his pattern down now he still kills me way too often. And on occasion he even breaks his pattern which messes me up. Stage 5, assuming I get there fully powered up, is basically a push-over, no problems there.

Also, I’ve tried R-Type II few times. So much harder than the first game from the very start and I’ve only made it to Stage 2. The stages feel so much more inventive and devious. Almost makes me want to switch to that…