- Joined
- Jun 12, 2001
- Posts
- 4,458
I'll probably put this information on my webpage sooner or later (which would force me to *gasp* update!), but I'm posting it here first. to be edited later with screenshots when I feel like it.
Ok, there's been some questioning as to how exactly I get such high scores on Shock Troopers. So I've decided to finally post up some strategies detailing what exactly makes it possible. Consider this an analsyis of the scoring system. I hope this information is of use to at least one person, but be aware that these are intended only for players who are "pretty familiar" with the game. In my opinion, you should work towards finishing the game on one credit before trying to maximize points. Although it's true that your score is kept after you continue, having the last two digits of your score be anything other than "00" shows that you continued and to me that makes a score much less impressive. One credit is the only way to play.
The first step to getting the highest score - route selection. After selecting your characters, pick Jungle route. after completing the 3rd stage, switch to Valley route. I've analyzed all routes for the highest amount possible, and there is no doubt in my mind that this is the best. Always take this path through the game and become familiar with these levels if you haven't already done so.
So, most of the game you'll be fighting enemy soldiers. You must know the correct method of taking them out to squeeze out as many points as possible. Upon first inspection, you'll notice that attacking an enemy with a close-range attack will usually drop a 30k gem. So this would seem like the best way to get points, right? Well, that's part of the method. The best way to optimize points is by shooting an enemy multiple times to "push them back", and then when you get close to them push the A button to land a close-range attack.
Using the "pushback" method of just shooting an enemy, you can shoot an enemy up to 13 times before they "drop" to the ground. Each shot fired is worth points. So, for the absolute maximum amount of points, one must shoot the enemy 12 times, and then push A again after the 12th hit to stab them. The close-range attack is also worth double a normal gunshot is worth. So you'll at least get a little extra points from that too, even if the 30k gem isn't dropped (sorry, there's no way to guarantee it's appearance, the items that get dropped are completely random)
*IMPORTANT*: To take full advantage of the "pushback" method, you must make sure that the "Blood" setting in the Soft Dips is set to "Off". It's turned off by default, but you may have turned it on because you enjoy seeing the extra carnage that comes from blowing enemies away. With the blood on, enemies may just randomly drop before you've gotten 13 shots on in them, to show an animation of their arm getting blown off or something. That will kill any chance of getting the highest score possible. So play with blood off if you're going for score... of course, if you're playing in an arcade with it turned on, you may be SOL.
Regarding weapon pickups, the regular gun is perfect for "pushback" of course. Heavy Machinegun is great too. Vulcan works but unloads the shots very quickly, so you must get the close range kill almost immediately after you start shooting. 3-Way technically works, but it's too risky... other shots might end up hitting enemies before you want to shoot them, meaning a loss of potential points. All other weapons should be avoided unless it's a weapon you get right before a boss. (except for Flamethrower. Never, ever, ever pick up the flamethrower. It's a terrible weapon in every regard.)
Once you've got the "pushback"-into-close-range-kill technique down, you just need to start working it into regular play as often as possible. Sometimes this is easier said than done, because often enemies will come out in big groups, or there will be one enemy behind another. It's possible to start shooting an enemy and then push that enemy behind ANOTHER soldier who was walking towards you... your shots will then start hitting the second soldier, meaning the first one will drop to the ground... there go any extra points you could have gotten from a close-range kill. In instances like this, it's often better to just go for the close-range attack only. Or if you're gutsy, get a close-range attack on the first soldier, then immediately start firing at the second for the combo pushback-close range kill. That's the best way to handle things, usually.
Also note that different soldiers are worth different amounts of points. How much are we looking at? Let's see.
[note to self: screenshots for green soldiers will help explain a lot better]
The green soldiers are worth varying amounts of points. Basically it depends on how they attack you, or how they appear on the screen. Remember that a close-range attack is worth double the base value.
Green soldiers that are hanging around, talking to each other, taking a smoke break, etc. are usually worth around 5000 a shot. However, sometimes they end up running away so you must shoot them ASAP.
Green soldiers that "drop down" (to shamelessly use the Neo-Geo's scaling abilities) are generally worth 3000 a shot.
Green soldiers that are hiding behind barrels in groups of two are the most lucrative of the regular enemies - they're worth 7000 points a shot!!! Actually getting multiple shots on them is tricky.... if you can destroy the barrel without harming them, both enemies will then use completely random AI - one may try to stab you then run away, the other may try to fire at you over and over. Try practicing on the two groups behind the barrels near the beginning of Jungle Stage 1.
Most other green soldiers will be worth 500 or 1000 points per shot. This includes the ones that walk towards you, but then back up immediately... easily the most annoying of all the regular enemies. If you can't shoot them before they back off, it's best to just let them back off, then roll through the bullet that they fire immediately. It's not worth messing with 1000 a shot when you can just get the close-range attack much easier.
Soldiers with rocket launchers or bazookas are worth 2500 a shot. These are easy targets to get multiple shots into a close-range kill on, because they don't fire that often.
White soldiers are worth 3000 points a shot. That's a decent amount.
Purple soldiers are worth 5000 points a shot... after they've been hit a second time. Remember that purple soldiers take two hits to take out, after the first hit they will usually freak out, often jumping somewhere else and then firing all over the place when they hit the ground. If it's too risky to try to get close to them, just fire at them normally... land 13 shots on them and you get a sweet 65,000.
Although I've mentioned it before and on the website, I must also point out here that killing the human bosses with close-range attacks IS A NECESSITY. Remember that close-range kills are worth double points. Bosses will also drop a free first-aid kit when killed with a close-range attack, so I'd say that's worth the risk of approaching them, huh? Just shoot a boss until he turns red, then wait for a break in their shots (all bosses have easy-to-follow patterns, just pay attention to what they do), and start stabbing away until he dies. Of course, the last boss doesn't drop a first-aid kit, there's no need for that... but for killing the BSG leader with this method, you will get a cool 1,600,000 points added to your final score. Kill him with regular bullets or bombs and you'll just get a "measly" 800,000.
Now that you know the best route to take, and the best way to kill enemies, you're mostly all set... except there is one more aspect of the game that is not that obvious at first. I refer to it as "stalling". Basically, if you wait around in certain areas, you can actually make more enemies come out to attack you. Enemies that would not appear if you just run through the game at a high speed. The art of stalling involves figuring out where in each stage you should pause to make enemies come out... and of course, how long you should actually sit there. The game DOES have a timer, but practically nobody notices it because pretty much anyone who plays the game will never die from running out of time, as the timer is very generous.
So what are the best areas in each level to stall? Well, this is the most difficult part to explain. Figuring this part out involved LOTS of trial and error for me. Each playthrough I would discover somewhere else in the game that I could stall, and thus end up getting a higher score. Eventually you run the risk of actually running out of time from stalling too much, so it's then time to determine the best way to use the time you've got. If there's any demand for more explanation and a sample of how stalling will gradually increase your score, I may attempt to do a "walkthrough" for the first stage of the Jungle route at least.
To be continued....
Ok, there's been some questioning as to how exactly I get such high scores on Shock Troopers. So I've decided to finally post up some strategies detailing what exactly makes it possible. Consider this an analsyis of the scoring system. I hope this information is of use to at least one person, but be aware that these are intended only for players who are "pretty familiar" with the game. In my opinion, you should work towards finishing the game on one credit before trying to maximize points. Although it's true that your score is kept after you continue, having the last two digits of your score be anything other than "00" shows that you continued and to me that makes a score much less impressive. One credit is the only way to play.
The first step to getting the highest score - route selection. After selecting your characters, pick Jungle route. after completing the 3rd stage, switch to Valley route. I've analyzed all routes for the highest amount possible, and there is no doubt in my mind that this is the best. Always take this path through the game and become familiar with these levels if you haven't already done so.
So, most of the game you'll be fighting enemy soldiers. You must know the correct method of taking them out to squeeze out as many points as possible. Upon first inspection, you'll notice that attacking an enemy with a close-range attack will usually drop a 30k gem. So this would seem like the best way to get points, right? Well, that's part of the method. The best way to optimize points is by shooting an enemy multiple times to "push them back", and then when you get close to them push the A button to land a close-range attack.
Using the "pushback" method of just shooting an enemy, you can shoot an enemy up to 13 times before they "drop" to the ground. Each shot fired is worth points. So, for the absolute maximum amount of points, one must shoot the enemy 12 times, and then push A again after the 12th hit to stab them. The close-range attack is also worth double a normal gunshot is worth. So you'll at least get a little extra points from that too, even if the 30k gem isn't dropped (sorry, there's no way to guarantee it's appearance, the items that get dropped are completely random)
*IMPORTANT*: To take full advantage of the "pushback" method, you must make sure that the "Blood" setting in the Soft Dips is set to "Off". It's turned off by default, but you may have turned it on because you enjoy seeing the extra carnage that comes from blowing enemies away. With the blood on, enemies may just randomly drop before you've gotten 13 shots on in them, to show an animation of their arm getting blown off or something. That will kill any chance of getting the highest score possible. So play with blood off if you're going for score... of course, if you're playing in an arcade with it turned on, you may be SOL.
Regarding weapon pickups, the regular gun is perfect for "pushback" of course. Heavy Machinegun is great too. Vulcan works but unloads the shots very quickly, so you must get the close range kill almost immediately after you start shooting. 3-Way technically works, but it's too risky... other shots might end up hitting enemies before you want to shoot them, meaning a loss of potential points. All other weapons should be avoided unless it's a weapon you get right before a boss. (except for Flamethrower. Never, ever, ever pick up the flamethrower. It's a terrible weapon in every regard.)
Once you've got the "pushback"-into-close-range-kill technique down, you just need to start working it into regular play as often as possible. Sometimes this is easier said than done, because often enemies will come out in big groups, or there will be one enemy behind another. It's possible to start shooting an enemy and then push that enemy behind ANOTHER soldier who was walking towards you... your shots will then start hitting the second soldier, meaning the first one will drop to the ground... there go any extra points you could have gotten from a close-range kill. In instances like this, it's often better to just go for the close-range attack only. Or if you're gutsy, get a close-range attack on the first soldier, then immediately start firing at the second for the combo pushback-close range kill. That's the best way to handle things, usually.
Also note that different soldiers are worth different amounts of points. How much are we looking at? Let's see.
[note to self: screenshots for green soldiers will help explain a lot better]
The green soldiers are worth varying amounts of points. Basically it depends on how they attack you, or how they appear on the screen. Remember that a close-range attack is worth double the base value.
Green soldiers that are hanging around, talking to each other, taking a smoke break, etc. are usually worth around 5000 a shot. However, sometimes they end up running away so you must shoot them ASAP.
Green soldiers that "drop down" (to shamelessly use the Neo-Geo's scaling abilities) are generally worth 3000 a shot.
Green soldiers that are hiding behind barrels in groups of two are the most lucrative of the regular enemies - they're worth 7000 points a shot!!! Actually getting multiple shots on them is tricky.... if you can destroy the barrel without harming them, both enemies will then use completely random AI - one may try to stab you then run away, the other may try to fire at you over and over. Try practicing on the two groups behind the barrels near the beginning of Jungle Stage 1.
Most other green soldiers will be worth 500 or 1000 points per shot. This includes the ones that walk towards you, but then back up immediately... easily the most annoying of all the regular enemies. If you can't shoot them before they back off, it's best to just let them back off, then roll through the bullet that they fire immediately. It's not worth messing with 1000 a shot when you can just get the close-range attack much easier.
Soldiers with rocket launchers or bazookas are worth 2500 a shot. These are easy targets to get multiple shots into a close-range kill on, because they don't fire that often.
White soldiers are worth 3000 points a shot. That's a decent amount.
Purple soldiers are worth 5000 points a shot... after they've been hit a second time. Remember that purple soldiers take two hits to take out, after the first hit they will usually freak out, often jumping somewhere else and then firing all over the place when they hit the ground. If it's too risky to try to get close to them, just fire at them normally... land 13 shots on them and you get a sweet 65,000.
Although I've mentioned it before and on the website, I must also point out here that killing the human bosses with close-range attacks IS A NECESSITY. Remember that close-range kills are worth double points. Bosses will also drop a free first-aid kit when killed with a close-range attack, so I'd say that's worth the risk of approaching them, huh? Just shoot a boss until he turns red, then wait for a break in their shots (all bosses have easy-to-follow patterns, just pay attention to what they do), and start stabbing away until he dies. Of course, the last boss doesn't drop a first-aid kit, there's no need for that... but for killing the BSG leader with this method, you will get a cool 1,600,000 points added to your final score. Kill him with regular bullets or bombs and you'll just get a "measly" 800,000.
Now that you know the best route to take, and the best way to kill enemies, you're mostly all set... except there is one more aspect of the game that is not that obvious at first. I refer to it as "stalling". Basically, if you wait around in certain areas, you can actually make more enemies come out to attack you. Enemies that would not appear if you just run through the game at a high speed. The art of stalling involves figuring out where in each stage you should pause to make enemies come out... and of course, how long you should actually sit there. The game DOES have a timer, but practically nobody notices it because pretty much anyone who plays the game will never die from running out of time, as the timer is very generous.
So what are the best areas in each level to stall? Well, this is the most difficult part to explain. Figuring this part out involved LOTS of trial and error for me. Each playthrough I would discover somewhere else in the game that I could stall, and thus end up getting a higher score. Eventually you run the risk of actually running out of time from stalling too much, so it's then time to determine the best way to use the time you've got. If there's any demand for more explanation and a sample of how stalling will gradually increase your score, I may attempt to do a "walkthrough" for the first stage of the Jungle route at least.
To be continued....
. At least now I've got a sound strategy for taking out enemies at close range. I would have never guessed that turning off the blood changed the game so much...thanks for telling us.
you flatter me, I'm not THAT good, really
I have been only using Milky "Lonely Wolf" style. I should be able to make much more progress tonight, now that I know that. 
