Almost a month ago I 2-ALL cleared the Arcade mode of Raiden IV.   I said I would also try to 2-ALL the X360 mode which has 2 more levels.  I’ve been working at it the past few weeks and have realized a few things.

First, that after about 6 or 7 attempts at clearing the 360 mode, I found I was barely scraping by to reach the TLB.  This was no good because I need at least a stock of 5 bombs to successfully quick kill the 2-7 boss as well as the TLB boss.  Not having the bombs simply means my doom because I can’t safely dodge the bullet sprays that occur when I don’t bomb.   Inexplicably fast “fuck you” bullet sprays.

Then in my failed attempts: getting nervous and tense causing my body to heat up (plus it’s Summer) and consequentially affecting my herding dodges, dodging too much.  That screws everything up.   In the more difficult passages of the 2nd loop I have to pace myself with my tap-dodges so I don’t overshoot my positioning.  If I overshoot, in the worst case scenario, it means being trapped by bullets.

The worst of these passages are in the latter halves of stages 2-5 and 2-6, and the ones I’ve been paying most attention to.

Since I’ve been getting nervous more than a few times, I think I’ve made a step towards forming a better calm mentality while I play.  And this will be key for when I do get the clear.  Though, the calmness ultimately stems from the safety of the knowledge of how to act through out the stages.

Raiden IV demands you to familiarize and memorize what the bosses do.  This means having pre-planned dodge routes and methods of attack.  More often than not, if you don’t know what’s going to happen next in the boss fight — you’re toast.  Very unforgiving in this manner.  New players to the game feel this at the boss of stage 3, who has multiple phases and bullet patterns.  In the 2nd loop, this scenario occurs during the stages themselves.  Bringing the challenge and level of dedication required up to snuff.  Raiden snuff.

I thought the X360 mode clear would be easier to get after I did Arcade mode, but I was wrong.  Stages 5 and 6 don’t mess around.  The 2nd loop is a lot of fun though, if you make it past the first, do keep pressing on.  Micrododging the doubly fast bullets is very satisfying.  At first the speed is intimidating, but you grow to love it.  Anyhow I can’t wait to clear the X360 mode as it will make me one of four people who have submitted a 2-all score on the XBL leaderboards.  This fact has been part of my motivation to do it, coupled with the fact it will upload my replay.  No MAME .inp shenanigans, no way to cheat, this is for real.

I’m DJ Aquazition on XBL if you’d like to see my replays.  Second page of Arcade mode, first page of x360 mode.  Anyway I’m getting more confident in my skills, so I think I’ll have the 2-ALL within 2 weeks for sure.

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