High Score Competition #20 - Terra Cresta

[DrFrag]

The competition so far:

#1 - Shinobi - Winner: Destructor
#2 - Jungle Hunt - Winner: CrazyKongFan
#3 - Zoo Keeper - Winner: DeLuSioNal29
#4 - Q*Bert - Winner: quarterstringer
#5 - Robotron 2084 - Winner: (+_+)
#6 - Joust - Winner: Shoegazer
#7 - Elevator Action - Winner: FrontyDev
#8 - Mr Do - Winner: DeLuSioNal29
#9 - Hyper Sports - Winner: drawfull
#10 - Wonder Boy - Winner: DrFrag
#11 - Bubble Bobble - Winner: mrclean
#12 - Gun.Smoke - Winner: isucamper
#13 - Ghouls 'n Ghosts - Winner: Ginsu Victim
#14 - Ms Pac-Man (with speedup hac) - Winner: CrazyKongFan
#15 - Frogger - Winner: CrazyKong Fan, Second: Jasonbar
#16 - Grobda - Winner: Mimic, Second: Cornchip
#17 - Bank Panic - Winner: ahofle, Second: jasonbar
#18 - Juno First - Winner: RayB, Second: Shoegazer
#19 - Rolling Thunder - Winner: DrFrag, Second: isucamper


I nearly went with Battle Chopper for this round, which is kind of fun but horribly frustrating.  Instead I've chosen the vertical scrolling shoot-em-up Terra Cresta.  I used to play this at my local deli after school where a bunch of us would compete.  I don't know if I can be considered good at it, but my score won't count for this competition.

"Terra Cresta is a vertically-scrolling shoot-em-up set over a constantly scrolling landscape of islands and enemy installations. The player is under constant attack from enemy spaceship waves, ground-based guns and turrets, dinosaurs and three different mothercraft ships.

The levels are littered with ground-based silos bearing numbers between 2 and 5. These can be shot to release a player ship component, which then attaches to the player's current ship, increasing both its size and firepower. Power-ups available are 2-Wide shot, 3-Rear Shot, 4-Front cannon and 5-Rear shield.

Using the "Phoenix" button splits the ship parts into a formation for limited time, giving increased fire power. The number of parts acquired determines the formation. For example, if the player has picked up two ship parts then a triangle is formed, with the player's main ship at the rear of the formation, with additional two ship components positioned at the front edge of the triangle.

When all four numbered parts have been collected, the player's ship transforms into a flaming Phoenix, and is indestructable for a limited time."


Competition Rules:

- You can only use terracre.zip, on these settings:

Lives: 3
Bonus Life: 20k then every 60k
Difficulty: Easy
1 credit, no continues
no cheats!

- Use any mame version or variant you wish.

- Last day is Monday, June 15th (11:59:59pm Pacific Daylight Time), 2009.
 
- High score wins (if tied, a tie-breaker game will be chosen at random).

- No savestates, savestate practices, etc during the round.

- MAME INP recordings are optional, but encouraged!

- A screenshot is required to enter a score (press F12 to save screenshot showing your final score) or take a photo of the screen if playing on a real machine.

- If you're a MARP competitor on this title, keep in mind this is just a friendly competition amongst forum members, so maybe you shouldn't enter. However, if you're a forum member and this is a game you're good at and nobody knows about it, this is your time to shine!


Playing tips posted below:

Enemies enter the screen in different patterns based on whether you're on the left, centre or right of the screen.  Use this to force them into pattern that are easier to kill.

Don't be afraid to use your phoenix splits, especially as you're about to collect a new power-up.

Once you have all power-ups, you can let yourself get clipped by a bullet to lose 2 or 4 of them.  This way, you can collect them again and refresh your three phoenix splits.

If you shoot a dinosaur from the front, you can then shoot its bones with reverse fire.  A bonus will fly out of its remains which is worth 1000 points when shot.


GOOD LUCK!

[Ummon]

Now I remember the reasons I don't like this game. Anyways, not a bad run.

[DrFrag]

You're winning. 

[jasonbar]

Hm, Juno First showed up on CL in Los Angeles during the last competition, & now Terra Cresta ("Presta"?) shows up: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/ele/1202582878.html

Coincidence?  I think not!   

-Jason

[jasonbar]

It's been bringed!

Played this for a few hours tonight.

My impression: Xevious rip-off, w/ some Galaga elements thrown in too.  Boy, it's hard to predict the patterns given that the baddies do indeed come out in different locations & follow different patterns based on where you are.

Gripes: too many things stop your bullets--the baddies have lots of free blocking.  This is even worse when you have just 1 bonus ship piece & do a Phoenix Split.  Your shots are so wide that some things are actually unshootable because they're next to or behind other close items!  Lots of superfast shots & ships zipping out & killing you before you can react.  And lots of ships lined up for easy shots, but your shot repeat rate isn't fast enough to blow them away before they mow you over.  Also, I often took a hit & lost my ship upgrade without even seeing what hit me. 

Recommendations: learn where everything is--the ground items are always in the same place.  Use your 3 Phoenix Splits for each piece you pick up, except the 1st pickup (one more annoyance with the 1st split is that you sometimes end up on the left & sometimes on the right--and it's weird to have your shots be offset from your ship--screwy!).  Try to concentrate on the ground targets--the air targets fly all over the place & will likely fly in front of you--knock out the ground targets.  Realize that many enemies that can't be destroyed w/ your basic ship can be destroyed w/ a Phoenix Split array.

Praise: this game kept me coming back to try to get a little farther, unlike Rolling Thunder.  Pretty slick graphics & variety.  I'll have another go at it when (not if) somebody demolishes my score...


-Jason

[DrFrag]

Yeah, the only time it's worth splitting with a single power-up is when you have otherwise indestructable enemies, like the slow missile ships and the electric barrier ships (my descriptions suck).

[Ummon]

Hnhh. I haven't even played it since then, let alone to study it much. Another thing that blows is collision detection. Definitely a lamer, in light of Xevious - which had great motion, graphics (particularly in 'depth' of objects, whereas TC largely looks flat), firing, and fairly balanced collision detection.

[Ummon]

Man, I was kicking its ASS, and then lost all my ships in about five thousand points.

[Spyridon]

Never played this game before, but I'm glad I tried it out.  Lots of fun.  Frustrating...but fun.  Best game so far is 56K so I need to practice more.

[DrFrag]

Speaking of Xevious, a funny thing happen last night.

I was at a bar and they had one of those 40-in-1 tabletop cabs.  There were 3 or 4 guys playing it and I went over to them.  Normally I'm pretty shy, but I confess I'd had a lot to drink.  So I pull out a $10 note, slap it on the table, and say "Ten bucks says I can beat any of you guys at any game".  They said okay, and while they weren't willing to put up any money they did pay for my credit.  The guy I was playing against chose Xevious, and for some reason scored 0 in his first life.  I proceeded to kick ass, and half way through my second life the game reset itself then locked up.  You know how when it starts up the screen shows a bunch of scrambled sprites?  They thought I'd reached some kind of kill screen, like I was so good the game couldn't handle it.  Their reaction was so funny.  They conceded defeat, shook my hand, and told me I should try to make a job out of it.

So these competitions aren't a waste of time after all. 

[isucamper]

Dr Frag.  Your lucky it wasn't me at the bar.  I would have picked Gun Smoke.  The only way I'll beat you is when carpal tunnel is on my side.

I might as well limp ahead here. 

105900

Another great game I've never heard of.  Kinda reminds me of Silpheed on the Sega CD.  I bet the guys that made that game were inspired by this. 

I'm getting a lot of good games on my cab because of these competitions.  Thanks guys.

[ahofle]

This is a pretty cool game and is growing on me.  I still can't get much past the 50K mark though.

[Bender]

This is a pretty cool game and is growing on me.  I still can't get much past the 50K mark though.

I concur on all points! (pun intended)

[Spyridon]

I'm improving.  Got up to 75K.  I've yet to get all the power ups and get to the invincible stage.  It seems everytime I split into the three ships, I die quickly.  Better to stay as one and take a few shots.

Fun game!

[RayB]

Out of curiosity, how many of you competing in these challenges, are using a keyboard?

[CrazyKongFan]

I've used a keyboard on the ones I've played. I haven't done the last couple either due to lack of interest or being busy with other stuff

[jasonbar]

Out of curiosity, how many of you competing in these challenges, are using a keyboard?

Control panel all the way!  I tried playing a little bit of TC this weekend on a gamepad & my laptop, but it didn't even come close to a proper control panel...

-Jason...gotta crush that Isucamper guy who just barely weaseled by my high score...         

[Spyridon]

Out of curiosity, how many of you competing in these challenges, are using a keyboard?

Control panel for me.

[geocab]

Am I this bad at playing games, or are you guys just this good?  I haven't been even close to being near the top in any of these comps!  Good choice for this round, never heard of this game before, but it's a good shooter.

[Ginsu Victim]

Out of curiosity, how many of you competing in these challenges, are using a keyboard?

I can't do it. I have to use arcade controls. I've even tried using a PS2 gamepad and that didn't work well for me, either.

ARCADE CONTROLS FTW!

[isucamper]

Out of curiosity, how many of you competing in these challenges, are using a keyboard?

-Jason...gotta crush that Isucamper guy who just barely weaseled by my high score...         

neener neener!!  I'm stuck now like I was with my Rolling Thunder high score... can't even get close to it again. 

I'm on a control panel.  When I thought I was going to win the Rolling Thunder competition, I had this big long acceptance message planned out where I was going to offer accepting sponsorship from Andy at Ultimarc.

"ISUCamper, 2 time winner of the BYOAC high score competition only play's his games with Ultimarc products.
<cut to a clip of me in a nice sweater where I turn from my cabinet and say>
For professional controls, you can't beat the Ultimarc 360!  <tooth twinkle>"

Thanks a lot Dr Frag for screwing it all up for me. 

[geocab]

That's priceless, isu.

[isucamper]

Finally feel like I broke through the plateau I was hitting.  Still lots of room for improvement though.

158300

INP recorded with .129 + highscore/no nag.  If you watch it, you might have to sit through 1 or 2 failed attempts.

[Ummon]

ARCADE CONTROLS FTW!

Indeed. Years back when I first got into Mame, I waited till my X-arcade came before I was really playing games. Of course, that wasn't good enough, so I had to go with a fuller-fleshed panel. Now and then, if I'm on a different monitor, I'll screw around with the keyboard.

[Spyridon]

I'm improving.  Got up to 75K.  I've yet to get all the power ups and get to the invincible stage. 

Okay, I finally got to see the invincible Phoenix!  46K on my first guy...and then death came swiftly.  Didn't even beat my high of 75K. 

[jasonbar]

Finally feel like I broke through the plateau I was hitting.  Still lots of room for improvement though.
158300

Ugh, & I was about to post my awesome 116k from last night.

Boooooo...   

-Jason

[padstack]

One of my all time favs.  I suck, but will submit a score anyway since I love this game!  Any tips are appreciated too!

[Spyridon]

Played last night and couldn't even hit the top five on my high score list.  It just wasn't going well.

[Bender]

isucamper, that's more than double my hi score

get that speech ready..... you bastard

[jasonbar]

I'm lookin' good for another awesome 2nd place finish!     Always a bridesmaid, never a bride...   

-Jason

[Gavica]

Is this the game that you turned into a big robot?

[isucamper]

C'mon guys.  We've got all weekend yet.  My score is completely crushable. 

[geocab]

Can I play 10 games and add my scores together? 

[isucamper]

168300

Past few nights there's been an obscene amount of swearing coming from my basement.  I need to quit this game.  Some of the bullets that come towards you are so small... it's easy to lose track of them and poof... you're dead. 

And what is with those spiky things that encircle you and block your shots?  Is there anything you can do to get those off of you?

inp recorded with .129 + hiscore/nonag

[Bender]

168300

how long do I have to wait till you impale your chin on a miniature church spire in a model village?


oh, man I just have to face the fact that I suck at this game

[geocab]

Thanks, Bender, now I know what movie I'm watching next.

[DrFrag]

And what is with those spiky things that encircle you and block your shots?  Is there anything you can do to get those off of you?

You need to split up your ship with two or more power-ups.  Otherwise, it's hard.  The spikey things only hang around for about the length of one split.

I don't usually run into trouble until I get to around 200,000.  There's a stage where if you die, you can only get one power-up before the next boss arrives.  And it's one of those crab bosses that shoot heaps of bullets and fire little enemy ships at you.  Without decent firepower it's almost impossible.

Good tactics are to save your splits for the bosses, and use splits just before picking up another power-up.  Generally, bosses are preceded by enemies that can't be killed with normal shooting (the electric ones and the missiles).  If you have the #4 power-up (my favourite one), it does a lot of damage and you can easily kill the first diamond boss without using a split.

[Bender]

I can't even get by the first Crab Boss, that's where my game always ends

any suggestions?

[DrFrag]

The easiest way to defeat it is split into 3 or 5 parts.  The split into 4 parts sucks, because the shots just go in circles and you don't hit much.  Of course, it's hard to choose how many parts you have when you get up to it.

If you're lucky enough to have all 5 parts, focus the boss between the inner diagonal shots of the upper two ship pieces.  That does a lot of damage.

Otherwise, just hold back near the bottom of the screen and dodge his bullets.  Your diagonal firing will take care of the mini ships that fly out.

Here's one I prepared earlier.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f260/doctorfrag/terracresta.gif (903 KB)
I've attached the INP.  It shows defeating that type of boss with 5, 4 and 3 components at around 50K, 100K and 200K points respectively.

Edit: recorded with MAME32 v0.129

[isucamper]

I can't even get by the first Crab Boss, that's where my game always ends

any suggestions?

Typically, I need to get to that guy as a phoenix in order to beat him.  I've done it a few times with the 3 split, but even getting to him can be a challenge if you died on your way there. 

A lot of my games end on that run, but if I can push past it, then that's when I start scoring above 100K.

PS:  Dr. Frag.  We have no need for your showing off.  This thread is about how great I am at this game.  Don't you forget it.   

[DrFrag]

Lol, I happened to get my highest score ever recording that inp. 

[isucamper]

I was looking at twin galaxies, and for some reason, there's no entries for this game (arcade or MAME). 

If you're only scoring around 200K (note:  ONLY), maybe we should take this competition to a higher court.  I think I'm within reach of 200k...

[CrazyKongFan]

Hmmm...that's weird that they don't track Terra Cresta for arcade and MAME. Maybe I'll suggest a track over on the request thread on their forums

edit: OK, done...I suggested it over on their forums. Can't guarantee they'll use the same settings, hopefully they will since they're default. If you plan on submitting any MAME scores to TG, you do need to use WolfMAME 106 and record the INP.

[padstack]

LOL!  Not bothering to post a screen shot, but came up with a robust 31800!

[jasonbar]

I've plateaued & reached my asymptote.  1-2hrs of playing last night netted me only a 1k higher score & many scores in the 11*k range...I don't think I can break past this barrier...though I *am* knowing the locations & patterns of the enemies much better, so you'd think I'd be getting more betterer...

-Jason

PS--did anybody else notice that the song played when starting a new guy (not the 1st one) is a subtle updated version of the original Moon Cresta theme?  Cute.

[Ummon]

I wonder at the deviousness of the minor-keyed piece that plays after you die a second time in the same area (and it isn't your last ship).

No scores, huh? I thought it was this game that I've heard, repeatedly, from odd corners of the arcade community, but perhaps it was Moon Cresta.

[isucamper]

210100

In case anyone was wondering, 200K tastes sweet... like maracuja.

INP recorded with .129 + high score / no nag

[jasonbar]

Closing the gap!   

...the gap between my best & isucamper's previous posted high...   

Ugh, can't kill the 4-armed fist-shooting boss.  He's a real booger!

-Jason

[isucamper]

Closing the gap!   

...the gap between my best & isucamper's previous posted high...   

Ugh, can't kill the 4-armed fist-shooting boss.  He's a real booger!

-Jason

you said you quit trying!  i'm not going to  have much time to play this weekend, so it's yours for the taking if you want it.

the 4 arm boss is actually pretty easy.  blow up his arms first, then he can't shoot as much stuff

[jasonbar]

Actually, I didn't use the word "quit"...I just whined about hitting my plateau...

Hmmm...I *was* going to try more this weekend, but I think your early mega-score convinced me to spend my time on more productive stuff instead...

...OK, maybe I'll try *a little*...

-Jason

[padstack]

check out this!

[jasonbar]

After another session, I crept up another 10k to 177,700.

Maybe I'll take 1 more stab at it tonight.  I at least want to cement my 2nd place "victory", if I can't have first!   

-Jason

[Ummon]

check out this!

Hmm. Game-play looks the same, but the music is a different arrangement.

Incidentally, another thing that blows about this game is that one hit takes away all your power-ups.

[isucamper]

Incidentally, another thing that blows about this game is that one hit takes away all your power-ups.

You only lose two or three of them. 

[jasonbar]

Yah, I can't really determine how it decides how many extra ship pieces to remove when you're hit.  I think that being hit by a flying ship takes more than being hit by a bullet.  Occasionally, when I'm fully loaded & I've used all my Phoenix Splits, I'll take a bullet hit intentionally & appear to lose 1 piece, but I usually lose 2....then I usually get hit again about 10 seconds later & am back down to my "stripped" ship & wish that I hadn't taken that intentional hit...

-Jason

[DrFrag]

I think if you get clipped you lose powerups reducing you to two.  If you've only got 1 or 2 powerups, you lose all of them.  If you take a big hit, you lose all of them regardless of how many you have.

I've also noticed that if you have all the powerups and you get clipped, you lose your rear defences.

[Spyridon]

check out this!

Boy, that video makes the game look easy.

[jasonbar]

Ugh, had a bad nite of Terra Cresta-ing, until my last game, which was my personal best, and not too far from isucamper's incredible pwnage.  Oddly, I got farther (map-wise) on one of my not-too-great scoring games tonight--I guess I must've missed *a lot* of stuff.  I also managed to survive the 4-armed boss once, which is also a personal best for me.

Now, let us never speak of Terra Cresta again.      

(did I miss any other unhappy smileys...?)

-Jason

[isucamper]

Good game Jay.   

I'll put up the new comp thread when I get home from work tonight.

[jasonbar]

Well done, isucamper.  You certainly motivated me to go farther than I would have on my own!   

-Jason

[Spyridon]

I have to say that this was the first high score competition that I took place in and it was a lot of fun.  I was no where near the top scores but I enjoyed the game.  It's on my keeper list.

Looking forward to the next one.

[Ummon]

Ah, finally.