High Score Competition #202: R-Type Leo

[j.fitzenr]

High Score Competition Rules and Scoreboard

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Game Name : R-Type Leo (World)
ROM Name  = "rtypeleo"
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Settings:
   default : Lives 3, difficulty Normal

Controls:
    Joystick: 8-way joystick
   Buttons: 2 (Fire, Fire/Retrieve Bits) (Arcade museum says only one button for some reason!)






IREM, 1992

'Set before the events of the first game, R-Type Leo deviates from the normal series style by removing the use of both the Force and the Wave Cannon. The new weapons are Force Bits (later identified in R-Type Final as 'Psy Bits') which carry similar firepower to the main ship.'

Pretty standard shooter with interesting weapon choices (I think!) and typical R-Type fare: slightly slower paced than some shooters, occasional memorization needed for level progressions.

I think I've been drawn to this game because I tend to like shooters and this is one I (naturally) didn't discover until years after its release.  That said I still know very little about it, so chances are I'm going to get my arse kicked on this one... c'est la vie!

I wanted to go slightly more modern and frantic after a week of jumping around with that Bongo fella!


Current as of Oct 14th 2016:

1st: jfitzenr - 492,800
2nd: lettuce - 488,100
3rd: Yamatetsu - 466,400
4th: acvieluf - 301,600
5th: titchgamer - 183,700
6th: Mike A - 183,200

Last Day: Sunday, October 23rd 2016 IS TOTALLY WHAT I MEANT



- Quest for the Bronze Joystick! The most successful competitor of each calendar year will possess & display the BYOAC Bronze Joystick Trophy. See this thread for details: The BYOAC Bronze Joystick.
Happy Gaming!

[yamatetsu]

Last Day: Sunday, October 16th 2016

Last Day: Sunday, October 23rd 2016

[j.fitzenr]

Last Day: Sunday, October 16th 2016

Last Day: Sunday, October 23rd 2016

Got it.  Thanks, I suck at things. 

[j.fitzenr]

Startin' it off.

400800

Got into level 4.

For those just starting out: 

You've got three weapon choices.  Red, Green, Blue. 

Blue- Spazzy diagonal screen-filly laser
Green- Shooty, homing-ish laser
Red- Straight up powerful laser muh-fugga.


I've had best luck with red. 

Important tho:  Toss those Bits!  Seriously, trickier parts of the game and bosses end up being almost an accidental bullet-hell: like, if you keep dodging, and keep firing those bits, you'll get it done!  Just remember that when your bits are out, you're back to square one with your fired weapons.  Seems like those bits should probably be your primary offense.

My prediction is that we toss high scores back and forth until somebody 1CCs it and blows us out of the water.  I don't think I'm going to be that guy!

[Titchgamer]

Well ime gana need some practice fo sure!
Ive always sucked at these kinda games but ime enjoying this one.
Its a bit different to the usual space shooters!



Good shout OP

[acvieluf]

Oh man, imma play the crap out of this one.  Its been on my list of stuff i haven't played much of, but looks awesome.  Nice pick!

[j.fitzenr]

Been playin' some more and not making huge progress!

All I've noted so far is to be aggressive "af" with those bits, and use all those powerups to change your weapons during levels.  The red straight-up laser will tear through bosses but the other tend to be more helpful for levels.

Dang, this game gets hard, fast, starting around level 4.  Ow!

[Titchgamer]

Been playin' some more and not making huge progress!

All I've noted so far is to be aggressive "af" with those bits, and use all those powerups to change your weapons during levels.  The red straight-up laser will tear through bosses but the other tend to be more helpful for levels.

Dang, this game gets hard, fast, starting around level 4.  Ow!

Ime having trouble getting past level 2 never mind 4 lol

Ive tried the aggressive 2nd button thing but I die every time i use them so decided to stick with just shooting except for the boss lol

[yamatetsu]

416,500. That third boss is annoying.




466,400. Exploring level 4.

[j.fitzenr]

This game's difficulty curve is like... a diagonal line straight up toward "you lose"

I hadn't played in a few days and I'm goin back to it now and... those stupid little barriers in level 3 should have a huge troll face on them. 

Every time you blow them up they shoot out the 8 directions of crap at you, which means when you're directly to their left to kill them... wham.  I need to take a break!

[acvieluf]

I hear you. Starts elementary easy, gets hard quick. 236,900 for me.

 

Sent from my Atari 2600

[j.fitzenr]

474,200 YAAAASS Slightly better.  lol.  I gotta get better at that third boss to actually make some progress through level 4.

I'm wondering if I should make a switch to a different weapon around level 4, those ground turrets keep throwing me off (well, and the damned R-Type level memorization!)

Also ran into a pretty awesome little tidbit on my last playthrough: the first boss can just totally go Dikembe Mutombo on you and slap your bits back toward you.  Damned troll!

[lettuce]

Level 4 boss is an arse!!

[j.fitzenr]

All experiments with weapons other than red have failed... switching back to red!

Damn this is a tight race so far!  Level 4 is my sticking point as well.  Blerg!

[Titchgamer]

Slight improvements today...
Tho still cant get past level 2

[j.fitzenr]

Score hasn't gone up but I FINALLY GOT A STRATEGY FOR BOSS 3. 

Anybody that's playing this got any insight on weapon use, strats, etc?

I've found my biggest issue with the bits as an offensive weapon was not calling them back frequently and quickly enough.  They need to be recalled the instant they start floating back... you can go by the little meter at the bottom but I'm finding I'm getting used to the timing solely on sound cues and repetition. 

I cannot have much success with any weapon other than red... many enemies establish themselves in the field of play a bit before they launch their offense and wiping them out quickly has been the only way I can consistently navigate some of the trickier sections without taking a stray bullet. 

[Titchgamer]

I have not been able to use the parts. I seem to cop a bullet every time I try so just been rocking the red as much as poss.

[acvieluf]

301,600

My challenge with Boss 3 was simply my eyes not picking out the "fire arm" or whatever from the background easily. Especially since the other bullets are BRIGHT. Ill get 'em next time.



Sent from my Atari 2600

[yamatetsu]

Anybody that's playing this got any insight on weapon use, strats, etc?

I do not collect more than 3 speedups. I found that the ship is much too twitchy for me at max speed. I crash significantly less often into things when I have more control.

Weapons wise I use the red beam until I blast the two thingies that cage you in with energy beams in level 2, then I go green for the rest of the trip.
The blue weapon *might* be a good choice for the beginning and midsection of level 4, but I don't like that I have no control over where the shots go.

[Mike A]

Here is my first try.

[Mike A]

Do I get an award for posting the exact same score twice in a row? That has to count for something.

[Titchgamer]

Anybody that's playing this got any insight on weapon use, strats, etc?

I do not collect more than 3 speedups. I found that the ship is much too twitchy for me at max speed. I crash significantly less often into things when I have more control.

Weapons wise I use the red beam until I blast the two thingies that cage you in with energy beams in level 2, then I go green for the rest of the trip.
The blue weapon *might* be a good choice for the beginning and midsection of level 4, but I don't like that I have no control over where the shots go.

Ile try the speed thing tonight as thats usually why I croak it in level 2 lol

[Titchgamer]

Well I can confirm slower works better for me.
Managed to make it to the level 2 boss then cocked up i reckon pretty close to killing him.

But ive hurt my wrist today and it been killing me to mash the fire button

Strangely though even though i got further than the other day I dont have any higher score!

Think the wrist is to blame for that...

[j.fitzenr]

Very slightly higher score: 492,800

Sorry to hear that Titch...  use turbo, we won't tell ;P  Naw but seriously that sucks.

Y'all are crazy tho.  I need all the speed I can get!

I've put in another hour or so and I hit that wall where my concentration is waning.  I'm pretty sure I can knock out that 4th boss without dying regularly with a few more tries now but I keep getting smashered by the 3rd boss which hasn't left me with more than zero extra lives.  Blerg.  I bet level 5 will become a big sticking point too.  BTW: early on level 4, Blue OWNS!  I don't think it's hugely easier than with red or green but it seems more consistent to me.

More futzing though makes me realize that the bits ARE the weapon.  Your ship is just kinda along for the ride.  They damage enemies and block shots even when they're attached to you (!) and with some careful maneuvering the direction they're fired off in and return in can make a big diff.  Lurv it!

[j.fitzenr]

Do I get an award for posting the exact same score twice in a row? That has to count for something.

That's probably more impressive than any of my runs tbh!

[Titchgamer]

Dont think turbo would help much on this tbh as I just mash the button constant anyways lol

I am really enjoying it though even though I suck at these type of games! Its on my fave list now

Even the Ms wants to play it lol

[yamatetsu]

602,500. Got to the level 4 boss on the first life and beat him first try, lost all but one lives, though. Surprise, surprise : Level 5 sucks even more.

[pbj]

Kinda fun, here's a new last place...

[yamatetsu]

The scoreboard.



lettuce, it's your turn to pick the next one.

[lettuce]

Ok, ill have a look through whats been picked in the past.

EDIT: Wheres the list of past games??

[acvieluf]

Ok, ill have a look through whats been picked in the past.

EDIT: Wheres the list of past games??

That can be found here: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,143138.0.html  : )

[yamatetsu]

Final scores.

1st: Yamatetsu - 602,500
2nd: jfitzenr - 492,800
3rd: lettuce - 488,100
4th: acvieluf - 301,600
5th: titchgamer - 183,700
6th: Mike A - 183,200
7th: pbj - 155,700