SotM Jan 2020: Castle Shikigami 2

[ShootTheCore]

The first SotM for 2020 is Castle Shikigami 2. Utilize the Tension Bullet System for high scores and defeat the New World Order.

This game is available for the Naomi arcade platform, Dreamcast, PS2, GameCube, original XBox and PC. AFAIK, the scoring and gameplay is identical across all the platforms, so any platform is valid unless I'm informed otherwise.
I'll track the Normal Game - Normal Mode and the Extreme Mode as well for the masochists in the audience.

Good luck and as always, Don't Get Eliminated.

Normal Game - Normal Mode
Name | Score | Level | Platform
-----------------------------------------
1) Dogg | 1,620,474,240 | 3-2 | GC
2) ShootTheCore | 1,033,962,840 | 2-2 | PS2
3) NERDtendo | 964,911,980 | 2-2 | Naomi
4) egg_sanwich | 956,717,980 | 3-1 | Naomi
5) Ralfakick | 849,601,340 |2-2 | PS2
6) Jeneki | 681,400,650 | 3-1 | PS2
7) tangemo | 680,233,810 | 2-2 | PS2
8) Azra113 | 630,104,330 | 2-2 | DC
9) daskrabs | 605,345,890 |2-2 | PS2
10) gusmoney | 486,144,000 | 2-1 | Dreamcast
11)

Extreme Mode
Name | Score | Level | Platform
-----------------------------------------
1)
2)
3)
4)

 

[Neodogg]

well lets get the baseline going...never played this before, so I'm not sure how this will do. I'm not used to grazing bullets but this is interesting...

Dogg | 496,666,810 | 2-2 | Naomi

 

[ShootTheCore]

Here's my first attempt. I bought this game when it first came out on the PS2, but haven't played it for many years. It's been fun to dig into again. I definitely need to move my PS2 over to my tate display though...



ShootTheCore | 550,088,530 | 2-1 | PS2

 

[ChopstickSamurai]

I remember the voice acting in the PS2 version being atrocious. I’ll have to see if I still have my copy.

 

[gusmoney]

gusmoney | 216,269,570 | 2-1 | Dreamcast

First few runs. Not fully understanding the "Tension Bullet System" as of yet.

 

[daskrabs]

I remember the voice acting in the PS2 version being atrocious. I’ll have to see if I still have my copy.

Holy shit is the dialogue amazing. I had no idea. Worth playing the PS2 US version for that alone.

 

[ChopstickSamurai]

Holy shit is the dialogue amazing. I had no idea. Worth playing the PS2 US version for that alone.

I remember it being pretty insane, but it’s been awhile since I’ve revisited it. I forgot all about this site too:

https://www.audioatrocities.com/games/castleshikigami2/index.html

Now where did I put my copy?

 

[NERDtendo]

Daniel Sampsel - 163,106,490 - 2-1 - NAOMI

 

[egg_sanwich]

ABG: Always Be Grazing

Grazing gets your tension meter up
Kill things at high tension = multipliers
Use Shikigami attack (hold shot) for higher coins and coin vacuum

That’s what I’ve gathered so far.

egg_sanwich - 633,334,050 - 2-2 - Naomi

 

[ShootTheCore]

Great score - that puts you in the lead! And great advice as well.

 

[Neodogg]

Any advantage to holding onto bombs, score wise?

 

[egg_sanwich]

Any advantage to holding onto bombs, score wise?

Not really, you're better off bombing for survival and for speed killing bosses for time bonus (although don't kill the boss with the bomb)

This thread on Shmups is full of info on the (complex) scoring system:
https://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=350

Also, Kim and Kuga are considered to be the highest scoring characters fyi.

 

[NERDtendo]

NERDtendo - 395,583,420 - 2-1 - NAOMI

 

[Ralfakick]

Ralfakick - 380,577,090 - 2-1 - PS2 on PS3 Normal Mode

 

[gusmoney]

gusmoney | 486,144,000 | 2-1 | Dreamcast

 

[Ralfakick]

Ralfakick 445,642,400 2-1 PS2

 

[Ralfakick]

Ralfakick 473,895,980 2-1 PS2

 

[Ralfakick]

Ralfakick 564,073,990 PS2

 

[ShootTheCore]

Great job Ralfakick- you knocked me down to third place. I’d better step up my game!

 

[Ralfakick]

Great job Ralfakick- you knocked me down to third place. I’d better step up my game!

Thanks man! I played a few times yesterday and made no headway, then I decided to have one more run before bed last night and it turned out to be a good one!

 

[Ralfakick]

Ralfakick 637,892,810 2-1 PS2

 

[ShootTheCore]

And now Ralfakick has taken the top spot! Kicking ass and taking all our names....

 

[Neodogg]

What a dick...must have taken the day off...

 

[Ralfakick]

Lol nah just a couple of runs after work/dinner and had some luck with grazing last night and tonight . Plenty of time for everyone else to progress, let’s see some more updates and good luck fellas!

 

[gusmoney]

Ralfakick 637,892,810 2-1 PS2

Hot, hot, HEAT!

Nice score, brother!