RefRain ~Prism Memories~ - Re:Extreme ALL Clear

FantasyJared has RefRain - prism memories - 23 Jan, 2021 @ 8:09pm

Re:Extreme Mode needs a nerf.
Allow me to provide some context. I am a Touhou player with all Lunatic 1CCs, four LNB 1CCs, and nearly all Extra Perfect runs. I also play other shmups and have never had any major problems with their difficulties before.

However, that all changed when I played RefRain.

I fell in love with this game almost instantly, and went on the grind. I quickly got 1CCs of Normal, Re:Normal, Advanced, Re:Advanced, and Extreme. And then...I got to Re:Extreme.

Now, allow me to make this clear. I think Re:Normal and even Re:Advanced are totally fine. I don't think the suicide bullets add that much to the game, but whatever; I had no major issues there. The problem is exclusive to Re:Extreme.

The problem I have with Re:Extreme difficulty is that the suicide bullets are so abundant and problematic that it completely breaks the player's ability to route the game. All of my routes that worked perfectly fine on Re:Advanced and even Extreme mode just do not work on Re:Extreme, and it makes playing the game incredibly punishing and borderline against the player.

This is the only difficulty with this problem, and combined with the significantly upgraded enemy patterns and boss health, it makes even the simple act of getting past Stage 2 on a run nearly impossible.

I know it's easy to look at posts like this and go "Oh, just get good mate!" But the thing is, I am good. I have lots of experience with the shmup genre; I have an Exceed 1CC Clear in eXceed 3rd JPBP. I have a Hard (Rule Mode Strict) 1CC in StellaVanity. I know shmups intimately well and Touhou is my area of experience. I genuinely feel like RefRain's Re:Extreme mode is the most unfairly balanced, frustrating difficulty mode in any shmup game that I've ever played.

The suicide bullets are the major culprit. I understand that they are a fundamental part of what makes the "Re:" difficulties unique, so without asking for any major changes, I think a few small tweaks would fix a whole lot wrong with this system.

#1 - Nerf the suicide bullets.

There is way too many of them, and they influence your movement to the point where it can be impossible to avoid taking damage. Make it so that you can still sufficiently route the game while still having the suicide bullets; I think Re:Advanced is a great example of how you can make this work. They add a lot to the challenge there, but they don't make it insurmountable. As it is right now, the suicide bullets make patterns like the first boss's final attack downright ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, as there is no way you can possibly dodge everything while also accounting for again - those damn suicide bullets. This is by far the biggest issue I have with the mode and a sizable nerf to them alone would make this difficulty far more tolerable.

#2 - Slight nerf to Boss HP.

Even with full MEFA-2 combos, bosses last forever in Re:Extreme mode. Speedkilling is nearly impossible, and since your gauge runs out so quickly, you're given little opportunity to regain your footing and make a comeback.

#3 - Slight buffs to the MEFA-2 for Re:Extreme only.

I feel like this would be necessary to make the mode even playable. Your MEFA-2 and even your Concept Reactors just aren't enough to keep up with the onslaught of suicide bullets and infuriatingly high health bars. Thus, I think the MEFA-2 gauge could be tweaked a bit to be slightly stronger for this mode only - something like faster charge time or more damage.