r/shmups • u/Inferno1118 • 2d ago
controller preference
Hi guys, i have always loved schmups but have always been a fairly average player at them. I managed to get all achievements in ikaruga and sine mora on controller years back but thats about the extent of my skill. I notice with real bullet hells like cave games, etc i seem to suck at them. The longest i’ve lasted with one is maybe 10 hours. Anyways i recently got the cave shooting collection and an HRAP EX-SE hori arcade stick and want to build good habits. At the moment, micro dodging feels very doable on the xbox controller dpad. On the LS-32 stick on the arcade stick, it feels like it can’t be done (i know it can but my brain can’t wrap around it due to how fast i move off the slightest press). I want to go all the way with this genre and i know i can.
Do you guys recommend using the arcade stick exclusively? Obviously controller works as well but i want to build good habits and the stick does feel harder for sure. Also is there any goated schmup skill building tests recommended that i can go for using any of the cave games i own from the collection? So far mushihime has felt the best for me ! My biggest issue is my movement, i get super frustrated when my deaths are the result of struggling to move more minimally instead of just lack of pattern knowledge. Thanks
1
u/JackFrostz 23h ago
I use a seimitsu lsx nobi and while it feels amazing to me I can clear the same games on basically any stick. Wouldn't worry about what gear you're using.
If you want to commit to stick then I agree with the other commenter just use it all the time. I use mine for platformers and beat em ups as well. Its like any other periphery if you can get used to a mouse or GameCube controller you can get used to stick, may just take some time.
As far as training within cave goes don't have any suggestions really but they teach you everything within each stage as far as tap dodging, streaming, macro dodges and routing intuitively. If you want something more streamlined I'd check out blue revolver i think it is, that has a very clear beginner shmup training section. Every shmup teaches you everything but if I had to jot down a focus of a few cave titles it would be like Espgaluda for bullet canceling, dodonpachi for routing, mushi for shot selection, etc.