Image Fight II !!!

rag-time4 · 12/20/2007, 01:35 PM

I finally played the first level of Image Fight II yesterday!!

I've had it for a couple weeks but I'm moving and my Duo has been in a bag

Anyway, I only played the first level because I got smoked by the level 1 boss (and I only spent about 20 minutes playing)

The thing that struck me about Image Fight II was that the sound effects were much different than they were in the original. Players who prefer the graphics and sound presentation of games like the Soldier series would probably be much more comfortable with Image Fight II.

The pacing of the first level of Image Fight II feels quite different than in the original as well. In the original, there are quite a few dead spots in the first level and there really aren't that many enemies to deal with. Image Fight II throws more enemies at you right off the bat, though they didn't present too much of a challenge. (I've only played level 1 though) It definitely feels like a more traditional shooter in terms of pacing but with the same interesting gameplay dynamic:

The red/blue pods return, making it a true sequel!!

In a lot of ways, Image Fight II seems a bit like what Ys II is to Ys I... it's more of the same, with new tunes (and improved sound effects) and a new set of challenges to deal with. It's interesting that it seems to have answered some of the criticisms against the first one (though I'll admit I had runinruder, nat, and keranu's comments on the original in mind when I tried Image Fight II yesterday).

The biggest problem with the game, of course, is the price tag. If you really enjoyed the first one, it's probably worth it, but if the first one really wasn't that fun then the second one isn't going to be much fun either, though it might be more colorful and have richer, fuller sound FX.

runinruder · 12/20/2007, 01:42 PM

Cool, thanks for the early impressions. Keep us posted as you make more progress!

nat · 12/20/2007, 01:48 PM

I'm wondering about the redbook audio. How does it compare to the music in the first game?

The first game had that unique IREM chip sound that I absolutely love.

rag-time4 · 12/20/2007, 01:53 PM

Quote from: nat on 12/20/2007, 01:48 PMI'm wondering about the redbook audio. How does it compare to the music in the first game?

The first game had that unique IREM chip sound that I absolutely love.

Nat, the stage 1 music was pretty cool, but it didn't catch my attention as much as the sound effects did. The sound effects, particularly the explosions, are much different than in the original.

Next time I play it I'll try to pay more attention to the music.

ParanoiaDragon · 12/20/2007, 04:53 PM

I played thru the whole game(thanks to save states, I know, I'm a cheater, but I originally could only get to Stage 2 for years, no matter what) & it gets better as the game progresses. I remember enjoying the music & the graphics. And I have the entire soundtrack ripped & labeled & ready for anyone who wants to download it(the music only, not the game, just so Aaron knows I'm not pushing games up in here)

rag-time4 · 12/20/2007, 04:59 PM

Quote from: ParanoiaDragon on 12/20/2007, 04:53 PMI played thru the whole game(thanks to save states, I know, I'm a cheater, but I originally could only get to Stage 2 for years, no matter what) & it gets better as the game progresses. I remember enjoying the music & the graphics. And I have the entire soundtrack ripped & labeled & ready for anyone who wants to download it(the music only, not the game, just so Aaron knows I'm not pushing games up in here)

Paranoia D, any thoughts on how number 2 compares to the original?

Tatsujin · 12/20/2007, 08:15 PM

dont' worry. image fight II will kick your ass hard in later levels. especially if you drop into the penalty-lvl. what i like in IF II is this "exciting effect" i had the first time in r-type back in the time and the bosses are nervebreaking (BGM, movement). for me a true IREM!

also when you throw the satellites a similar sound appears as the red/blue circle laser in r-ytpe. very familiar

rag-time4 · 12/20/2007, 08:57 PM

Quote from: Tatsujin on 12/20/2007, 08:15 PMdont' worry. image fight II will kick your ass hard in later levels. especially if you drop into the penalty-lvl. what i like in IF II is this "exciting effect" i had the first time in r-type back in the time and the bosses are nervebreaking (BGM, movement). for me a true IREM!

also when you throw the satellites a similar sound appears as the red/blue circle laser in r-ytpe. very familiar

Believe me, I'm looking forward to getting my ass kicked!!

Turbo D · 12/20/2007, 09:04 PM

Idk, ragtime seems to be an image fight pro! There is going to have to be an image fight 2 high score thread soon too.

Keranu · 12/20/2007, 09:35 PM

Thanks for the initial impresions, rag! I hope to hear more details about this game.

ParanoiaDragon · 12/21/2007, 01:11 AM

I haven't played thru the 1st one yet, only a little bit of the first level, so, it's hard for me to make a comparison, but, IF2 deffinitly seems better then what I remember people saying about it. It's a really good shmup IMO.

Tatsujin · 12/21/2007, 02:41 AM

Quote from: ParanoiaDragon on 12/21/2007, 01:11 AMIt's a really good shmup IMO.

indeed it is.

rag-time4 · 12/21/2007, 12:31 PM

Quote from: turbo D on 12/20/2007, 09:04 PMIdk, ragtime seems to be an image fight pro! There is going to have to be an image fight 2 high score thread soon too.

HAHA I'm really not all that great at it!

The other day when I showed my new roomate my Duo (he's from Malaysia and has never heard of PC-Engine) I showed him the Image Fight games. After getting killed a few times by the level 1 boss in Image Fight II I put in the original Image Fight and told him I was a bit better at it.

Bravely, I attempted to play without auto fire or turbo, on the easiest setting (recruit class)

I really struggled! I got stuck on the level 2 checkpoint (which I love

) for quite a while. (ok maybe like a couple minutes) I gave up and turned on Turbo, and breezed all the way through level 4 before turning it off.

I think a big key to playing without turbo or autofire must be shooting your pods and using them as weapons. It seems like the most effective way to use them is to shoot them behind big enemies and then reposition your ship so that they go through enemies on their return. They score a lot of hits this way.

ParanoiaDragon · 12/21/2007, 06:12 PM

I'm curious, I never saw the Pentalty Stage in IF2, how do I get there?

rag-time4 · 12/21/2007, 07:14 PM

Quote from: ParanoiaDragon on 12/21/2007, 06:12 PMI'm curious, I never saw the Pentalty Stage in IF2, how do I get there?

I haven't seen it yet myself. I would suggest completing level 1 killing as few enemies as possible.

In the first one, the only time I've ever been sent to the penalty zone was after having time run out against the level 5 boss, and having him self destruct, killing my percentage.

I'm not sure if you have to complete all the training levels before being sent to the penalty zone though, you might be able to do it after the first level if your kill percentage is low enough.

Tatsujin · 12/21/2007, 11:45 PM

you have to reach an average of 90% or higher to not drop into the penalty level over the first 5 "simulator" stages (if i remember well), then you are able to battle in the real deal or drop into the penalty "simulator" stage, from which you probably never will return to real life

be mariko with you!!

ParanoiaDragon · 12/22/2007, 03:46 AM

Are you talking about IF2, or IF1?

rag-time4 · 12/22/2007, 03:19 PM

Quote from: ParanoiaDragon on 12/22/2007, 03:46 AMAre you talking about IF2, or IF1?

Paranoia D, it should be the same for both games. The only thing I'm not sure about is whether you have to clear the first 5 levels before entering the penalty zone.

Try clearing the first level of Image Fight II with a kill percentage of less than 90%

ParanoiaDragon · 12/22/2007, 05:15 PM

Well, I passed the level while avoiding as many enemies as possible, but, I don't know what my percentage was, unless I missed it. It does show a percetage doesn't? I usually don't pay attention to those kind of things, but, I did this time, & ...I didn't see anything. I want to play that level!

rag-time4 · 12/22/2007, 11:49 PM

Quote from: ParanoiaDragon on 12/22/2007, 05:15 PMWell, I passed the level while avoiding as many enemies as possible, but, I don't know what my percentage was, unless I missed it. It does show a percetage doesn't? I usually don't pay attention to those kind of things, but, I did this time, & ...I didn't see anything. I want to play that level!

I haven't cleared the first level of Image Fight II yet, so I can't comment too much, but the penalty should be triggered if you have an average kill ratio under 90%.

If you have less than 90% after level 1 and aren't sent to the penalty zone you might have to clear all the training levels (the first 5 levels in the original Image Fight)

ParanoiaDragon · 12/23/2007, 01:49 AM

Ok, after what you said, & looking at the manual, it looks like Stage's 2-5 are what are called Image Fight with Stage 1, & 6-10 being called Real Fight. So, it looks like 2-5 are the levels that you need to get under 90%. Then the Penalty Level is called Bearknuckle Fight.

rag-time4 · 12/23/2007, 01:59 AM

Quote from: ParanoiaDragon on 12/23/2007, 01:49 AMOk, after what you said, & looking at the manual, it looks like Stage's 2-5 are what are called Image Fight with Stage 1, & 6-10 being called Real Fight. So, it looks like 2-5 are the levels that you need to get under 90%. Then the Penalty Level is called Bearknuckle Fight.

You may only have to do one of the "Image Fight" or training levels and finish under 90%.... I'm not really sure. If you finish level 2 under 90% and aren't sent to the penalty zone then you'll probably have to clear all the training areas.

rag-time4 · 02/13/2008, 03:46 PM

A good samaritan has posted videos of Image Fight II on youtube. Thought I would share!

part 1
part 2
part 3

I've played up to about the level 4 boss....

Haven't been doing much gaming at all lately. I've noticed that the first few training stages (stages 2-4 so far) have remixed CD versions of original Image Fight tunes.

The more I've played Image Fight II, the more it feels like the first one. There are definitely slow parts, just as in the original, but getting a 100% score on any of the levels has been a pretty tough challenge. There are a few new weapons too.

(I edited this last night to try to avoid a double post but noticed that the thread didn't get bumped)

NecroPhile · 02/13/2008, 04:03 PM

Linky no worky, but you've peeked my interest enough to make me chase 'em down.

part 1
part 2
part 3

Dammit! Another game added to the looong list of games to buy.

rag-time4 · 02/13/2008, 05:06 PM

Quote from: guest on 02/13/2008, 04:03 PMLinky no worky, but you've peeked my interest enough to make me chase 'em down.

part 1
part 2
part 3

Dammit! Another game added to the looong list of games to buy.

LOL thanks for the assist Necro!

Looks like I copied the text of my edit but forgot about the links!!

O:)

nat · 02/13/2008, 05:23 PM

WTF? You fly R-9 in this game?

rag-time4 · 02/13/2008, 05:40 PM

Quote from: nat on 02/13/2008, 05:23 PMWTF? You fly R-9 in this game?

There must be a code. The ship I've used is the same one for the first one....

In the original Image Fight there is a code that lets you play as Mr. Heli, so I imagine it's something like that.

TR0N · 02/13/2008, 11:42 PM

Quote from: rag-time4 on 02/13/2008, 05:06 PM
Quote from: guest on 02/13/2008, 04:03 PMLinky no worky, but you've peeked my interest enough to make me chase 'em down.

part 1
part 2
part 3

Dammit! Another game added to the looong list of games to buy.
LOL thanks for the assist Necro!

Looks like I copied the text of my edit but forgot about the links!! O:)

Nice videos of,IFII still rag-time4 the video does seem rather choppy.

I all most forgot you can put the a code in to use the ship from r-type.

shubibiman · 02/14/2008, 02:53 AM

Image Fight II is a very nice game and not so hard, thanks to the backup system.

rag-time4 · 05/11/2008, 08:53 PM

Does anyone know the code to use the R-type ship in Image Fight II? Sinistron and I are dying to know!