The GNamer High Score Challenge - Now Playing... Gradius

Alright folks.

With the launch of NES Switch Online, I figured this would be a perfect opportunity to rustle up a bit of forum fun.

I can't imagine I'm alone in thinking that I wouldn't be getting a lot of mileage out of the score attack focused NES game like Balloon Fight or Donkey Kong, so I had an idea to have a bit of league table of sorts for the forum for different games on the service.

The idea is that we'll have a scoring period of around a week or so where we're each battling to reach the top of the high score tables for a particular game or mode before moving on to another game. We'll keep track of the results as we go though to see who's consistently smashing everybody's scores and whatnot.

The hope is that'll drum up a bit of chat about the games in question too and should hopefully feel like we're getting our money's worth from the service too!

Over the course of us working our way through each arcade classic, we'll have an overall league table. Let's say we'll award three points to 1st place each week, and two and one to our second and third placers respectively.

Now playing...

Gradius!

The scores on the doors:

1st: JayMoyles - 76800
2nd: Jimbob - 64600

Overall rankings:


1st: Jimbob - 8 points
2nd: = NintenDUCK and The_Jaster and Treesmurf - 4 points
5th: JayMoyles - 3 points

Balloon Trip:

 

1: The_Jaster - 126080
2: JayMoyles - 57610
3: NintenDUCK - 36610
4: Treesmurf - 30630
5: Jimbob - 26670

Ice Climber:

 

1: Jimbob - 86510
2: Treesmurf - 66470
3: JayMoyles - 55470
4: The_Jaster - 28600

Mario Bros.:

 

1) NintenDUCK - 129260
2) Jimbob - 114890
3) The_Jaster - 95120
4) Treesmurf - 82230
5) JayMoyles - 73700

Donkey Kong:

 

1st: Jimbob - 90900
2nd: Treesmurf - 54600

Yeah I'm up for this and here's my score.

Good idea, this.  I won't be getting involved for a couple of reasons, but I will be supporting the cause.

Now, who's the underdog?  I like supporting the underdog.

The_Jaster wrote:

Yeah I'm up for this and here's my score.

Damn it. Didn't think my score would fall that quickly!

My problem is that when I get close to beating my high score, I fall out of that zen state of mind you need for games like this and end up thinking about the game too much, which results in me cocking up. It happened with the SMO skipping rope game too.

Balladeer wrote:

Now, who's the underdog?  I like supporting the underdog.

It'll likely forever and always be me as I'm gash at NES games.

My closing statement there is correct - tried for what felt likes ages and never even broke 25,000 points, let alone beat my own score or get close to Jas's. Any tips, Jas?

Anybody else taking a crack at the bearded wonder's score?

Patience is a big thing to have, I try not to concentrate on collecting the balloons too much as after the starting bit they seem randomly placed so only get ones you are 100 percent sure you can get. Same sort of goes for those pause bubbles never rush to get those as you can often throw off your momentum by getting them at the wrong time.

I think that's my problem - I'm trying to get nearly every balloon so I'm playing a riskier game, and I'm not good enough at the game to succeed at my method. The pause bubbles seem to give you more points than the balloons, so I do try to make a point of going for them.

It does seem weird, Balloon Trip - it starts off mega-organised and then seems a bit procedurally-generated. But it was programmed by a genius, so that's fine!

So far, not above 20000, although I have "finished" the main game (in that I got to the point where the stages loop). To try again!

I was thinking this would be a good idea especially with the Switch screenshot feature. I actually saved a high score from my game of Yoshi before even seeing this thread, will have a go on Balloon Fight next though I think.

Sent from Topic'it App

Looking forward to seeing your score, Smurf!

Jimbob wrote:

It does seem weird, Balloon Trip - it starts off mega-organised and then seems a bit procedurally-generated. But it was programmed by a genius, so that's fine!

So far, not above 20000, although I have "finished" the main game (in that I got to the point where the stages loop). To try again!

Aye, does seem odd, but I suppose that level of random chance does lend itself to an arcade style score attack mode. Post up a screenshot of your score and I'll pop your name into our leaderboard, Jimmers.

I took on board Jas's advice, went back to the drawing board and delivered this whopper of a score:



Your move, gents.

Embarrassingly, the reason I failed on that run was because I collected a time freeze bubble and got too greedy trying to squeeze between two lightning bolts to collect a balloon. Silliness, really.

Here's my best attempt so far, I'm struggling go get close to it again though.



Sent from Topic'it App

I said as much to Cappa on Twitter - the only two runs in which I broke 25K were my two high score runs I've posted in the thread so far. I can't explain why there's this wall stopping me from scoring highly consistently. I wonder if there's a certain pattern of sparks that the game throws at you around that point that's trickier than normal to pass?

I swear I'm not trying to put folk off but.....I am quite good at Balloon trip.

I'm gutted to be missing out on this but i am enjoying watching the highscores on twitter.

JAS IS RUINING IT FOR EVERYONE

If it was easy then it wouldn't be a challenge.

Quite right. One day somebody's going to bring you down and it'll be all the sweeter.

Using my actuarial prediction skills I predict that day will be... (bleep bloop) ...March 22nd 2035.

It'll be interesting to see where I end up on the other NES games for the high score challenge as Balloon fight is the only one I've put in any real time into over the years.

...well. I think I'll pack Balloon Trip in for now then! There's no way I'm breaking 100K anytime soon.

When do you guys fancy cycling games? I was thinking every week or so depending if folks are getting into a certain game.

And how's this going to be recorded? Three points for first, two points for second, one for third, add them up over the course of... how long?

Tell you what, I'll throw in some eShop credit for the winner of the 'league', if people can decide on a timescale. Give m'self a reason to follow it.

Aw, you don't have to do that Balla - had only intended it as a bit of fun. Having said that, if it ramps up the competition then...

I'd planned to keep this running cycling through different games until the well of score attack NES games runs dry. By my counts, we've got at least 6 more score attack arcade style games in the current offering with more to come no doubt in future. I'm hoping each game will last us one or two weeks each for this thread, so no clue on a timescale! By Christmas, maybe?

I like your scoring idea, though.

I smelt an exciting thread and my nose was right! 100k is not a milestone I ever beat but I'll give it my best shot
I look forward to beating the snot out of you all come Ghosts n Goblins week. I've been practising...

Yeah well you wait until you see

Oh. As said on the Twitters, I'm only the third-placed James...

Here's hoping a future week includes a game I've been playing for longer than you scrubs have been born... (*still fails miersably*)

Nice one Duck! Shall I hold off on cycling to the next game until you fire up your Balloon Trip score?

And hey, good to see an effort nonetheless from you Jimmers.
I'm sure you'll absolutely smash it in DK week or something.

JayMoyles wrote:

Aw, you don't have to do that Balla - had only intended it as a bit of fun. Having said that, if it ramps up the competition then...

I'm happy to pay up if somebody else is willing to pay the costs of Gintendo.