February 2024 SotM -- Dragon Breed

[gusmoney]

Shooter of the Month, February, 2024
Irem's Dragon Breed, 1989
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Please post a picture of your high score along with the following information formatted thusly:

N-G.com username - Score - Stage - Platform (PCB, Multi, MAME, MiSter, etc.)

Please make certain that you are playing the M72 version as the M81 version is reportedly easier.

HIGH SCORES​

1. Dogg - 373,700 - Stage 5 - M72 multi
2. gusmoney - 317,200 - Stage 4 - MiSTer (with AF)
3. opt2not - 315,600 - Stage 4 - M72 Multi
4. daskrabs - 212,400 - Stage 3 - Mister
5. ShootTheCore - 162,900 - Stage 3 - MiSTer
6. The Chief - 114,700 - Stage 2 - MAME

 

[daskrabs]

This game is tough. No chill whatsofuckingever.

daskrabs - 140,500 - Stage 2 - Mister

 

[gusmoney]

No, I hate it already.

 

[daskrabs]

Slight improvement.

daskrabs - 212,400 - Stage 3 - Mister

 

[Neodogg]

Dogg - 135,400 - Stage 2 - M72 multi

This game is…unforgiving. There has to be something with which weapon you need for which stage, granted I’ve only made it to the 2nd stage a couple times.

 

[sirlynxalot]

I think you figure this out pretty quick but in case anyone's totally new to the game, your dragon can destroy stuff or absorb bullets just by running into things, so there's some strategy around hitting popcorn enemies with the dragon or using the dragons body to protect the pilot from bullets. That makes it a little different from your typical bullet dodging shmups as it can be helpful to intentionally run into the bullets sometimes to clear them off the screen. Almost like a giga wing mechanic where you might find yourself aggressively running into bullets, except it's your joystick movements rather than a button press that will curl the dragon up and give you your "shield".

 

[Neodogg]

Thank you Capt. Obvious…

 

[Neodogg]

Dogg - 172,500 - Stage 2 - M72 multi

Can make it to the boss on 2 but I think I’m done. Just not very fun and seems like a chore to play. I think part of it is the hit box is on top of the dragon and I keep on controlling the dragon to avoid shots and the rider gets nailed…

 

[JoeAwesome]

I messed around with it last night. It’s certainly a different challenge with the hitbox- something is really unsatisfying in dying here.

 

[Ajax]

Apparently the M72 version is harder than the M81 version on account of the enemies having more HP. I agree that this is a brutal game. I played a cred last night on Mister (only has M72 version), and it was not pretty.

 

[gusmoney]

gusmoney - 144,300 - Stage 2 - MiSTer (with AF)

Autofire works wonders.

Some strat.: https://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=38613

 

[Neodogg]

Doesn’t the auto fire negate the blast shot?

 

[gusmoney]

Doesn’t the auto fire negate the blast shot?

Yes, that is the trade-off.

 

[opt2not]

Love me some Irem shooties.

opt2not - 266,900 - Stage 3 - M72 Multi

 

[promking]

I fucking suck at this game

 

[ShootTheCore]

Here’s my first pass at it. Stage 3 is definitely going to take some practice.

ShootTheCore - 162,900 - Stage 3 - MiSTer

 

[Neodogg]

Is there something with the vertical size? When I play it on the supergun I don’t have any of the bottom stuff (score/time) and when I put it in the cab I have to mash the hori size all the way?

 

[gusmoney]

Is there something with the vertical size? When I play it on the superfund I don’t have any of the bottom stuff (score/time) and when I put it in the can I have to mash the hori size all the way?

There is. I have adjusted my screen position on the MiSTer to compensate.

gusmoney - 234,100 - Stage 3 - MiSTer (with AF)

 

[opt2not]

Is there something with the vertical size? When I play it on the superfund I don’t have any of the bottom stuff (score/time) and when I put it in the can I have to mash the hori size all the way?

Yeah most of the Irem M72/82/92 games all have a higher vertical resolution than most games. Whenever I put those boards into my cabs, I always have to shrink the vert size.
Fun fact: the RetroTINK 5x does not like these games because of the vertical size. If you’re upscaling, best to use the OSSC or GBS.

 

[Neodogg]

May have to see how the xrgb-mini handles it or I have some Extron something that can adjust size.

 

[Neodogg]

Well…
Extron - I can change the H/V size and position but still no score/level
xRGB mini - produces a nice picture but no bottom stuff. Granted, I’m not well versed in the adjustments
Cocktail w WG4900 - great picture, can see everything without having to adj anything
Zback w WG7k - great picture but have to max out V size to see bottom.

Guess I’ll be playing in the cocktail…

 

[gusmoney]

Well…
Extron - I can change the H/V size and position but still no score/level
xRGB mini - produces a nice picture but no bottom stuff. Granted, I’m not well versed in the adjustments
Cocktail w WG4900 - great picture, can see everything without having to adj anything
Zback w WG7k - great picture but have to max out V size to see bottom.

Guess I’ll be playing in the cocktail…

Sounds like you are complaining, how about you post a big score?

 

[gusmoney]

gusmoney - 263,300 - Stage 3 - MiSTer (with AF)

 

[wataru330]

Is anyone sending me the Jaguar version, so I can actually play this jawn?

 

[wataru330]