____ ___ .___ ________ _____ __
| | \____ __| _/___________ \______ \ _____/ ____\____ _____ _/ |_
| | / \ / __ |/ __ \_ __ \ | | \_/ __ \ __\/ __ \\__ \\ __\
| | / | \/ /_/ \ ___/| | \/ | ` \ ___/| | \ ___/ / __ \| |
|______/|___| /\____ |\___ >__| /_______ /\___ >__| \___ >____ /__|
\/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/
|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
| Author: David Patricola |
| Email : dpatricola(at)mail(dot)com |
|____________________________________________________________________________|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
O============================================================================O
| Table of Contents |
O============================================================================O
1. Introduction........................................................(0001)
2. Basics..............................................................(0002)
3. Weapon System.......................................................(0003)
I - Default Weapons...............................................(0004)
II - Optional Weapons.............................................(0005)
4. Full Walkthrough....................................................(0006)
I - Stage 1.......................................................(0007)
II - Stage 2......................................................(0008)
III - Stage 3.....................................................(0009)
IV - Stage 4......................................................(0010)
V - Stage 5.......................................................(0011)
VI - Alternate 2-1 World..........................................(0012)
5. Points and Multipliers..............................................(0013)
6. Version History.....................................................(0014)
7. Legal...............................................................(0015)
8. Disclaimer..........................................................(0016)
============================================================
Introduction
==========================(0001)===========================
Under Defeat was created by G.Rev and released in Japanese arcades 2005, then
ported to the SEGA Dreamcast (JP) 2006, one of the last games ever released for
the system, 5 years after it's official end in the console race.
The game is a vertical shooter with 4 resolution modes (hitting L will rotate
between them), with the last one rotating the entire viewable screen 90 degrees
so that the actual game (and not the optional sidebar graphics) takes up the
whole screen. Your television must be able to swivel the 90 degrees or rest it
on its side (not recommended for CRTs).
The game takes place in an alternate reality based on World War II, and, in a
controversial twist, players control German-speaking characters with uniforms
that resemble those of the Nazi SS. Whether you are on the "Empire" or Allies"
team is unclear (translation, please), but it seems all of Europe has been
taken over by the Empire.
============================================================
Basics
==========================(0002)============================
Difficulty: Still working on what differences the difficulty levels have
* Easy -
* Normal -
* Hard -
Controls:
* Joypad - Move your heli around the screen
Your helicopter can move it eight directions, up, up-right, right, down-right,
down, down-left, left, up-left, up. Your actual movement speed is fixed, unlike
other shooters where you can increase/decrease your agility during play. You
also choose whether you wish to invert the horizontal controls of your heli.
Normal is move left, shoot left, for example. If you invert, move left is
shoot right.
* A button - Fire your heli's primary weapon. Hold down the button for
continuous firing.
* B button - Launch bomb, which covers entire screen. You are also invincible
from all damage during this time.
* L button - Switch between 4 resolution modes.
Damage and Lives:
You start out with 5 lives and 3 credits. You do not earn extra lives in the
game, though you do increase the amount of credits the more you play,
eventually reaching Free Play after a certain number of hours (unknown
currently).
Your helicopter is destroyed after either hitting an enemy or getting hit by
enemy fire. The actual surface area that your helicopter is vulnverable to is
a small portion of the entire craft; in and around the cockpit area only.
Enemy fire can go through your tail and you won't be destroyed.
Boss Timer:
Each boss battle is accompanied by a timer that counts down to 0. The unique
aspect of this game is that you don't have to destroy the boss if it proves too
tough to vanquish, you can merely wait out the timer. The boss will
self-descruct
at zero. While you will accumulate less points you will progress regardless.
============================================================
Weapon System
==========================(0003)============================
There are two sets of weapons used throughout the game: those equipped with the
helicopter and those that you can modify with certain "dropped" on-screen items
by enemies. They are available at the beginning of the game. Everyone can
collect them so the playing field is neutral. It comes down more to a matter
of _when_, not _how_, you use the weapons provided.
------------------------------------------------------------
Default Weapons
--------------------------(0004)----------------------------
These are the weapons that you have at all times during the game.
* Machine Gun - Your helicopter a stream of bullets when you hold down
the A button.
* Bomb - Screen-encompassing explosion. Wipes out all small enemies
and heavily damages larger ones. Each life starts with 4 bombs. You are able
to store up to 6 at once.
Certain enemies will drop bombs, a red glowing object in the shape of a classic
hydrogen/atom bomb.
------------------------------------------------------------
Optional Weapons
--------------------------(0005)----------------------------
These options, dropped by certain enemies or when you are killed, provide you
with 3 possible additional attacks. Any that appear on screen stay on screen
until you touch it. Each option icon is color-coded, and change every 5 seconds
allowing you to wait for the one you wish to employ.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
| Weapon | Color of Item | Strength | Attack | Recharge |
=======================================================================
| Machine Gun | Yellow | Minimum | Rapid Fire | Fastest |
| > Fires in direction your heli is facing only, though it will target|
| subsequent enemies on occassion; |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
| Cannon | Green | Moderate | 8 missles | Medium |
| > Aims at specific target before firing in any forward facing |
| direction (unlike Machine Gun) |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rocket Grenade | Blue | Powerful | 1 attack | Slowest |
| > Targets specific object before firing# |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
#Note - The Rocket Grenade can actually miss hitting the first stage boss
during its phase where it flies back and forth across the screen, as it
moves quicker than the Rocket Grenade travels.
After each option exhausts its attack stock, it has to recharge. While the bar
is green the option attacks, until it turns entirely red (as the option is
attacking). First, you have to wait for the bar to fade to black. Then, so long
as you're not firing your primary weapon, the option bar will turn green again,
but if you fire before it fully becomes green again, it resets to black. You
can use your selected option as many times as you want, but must allow for the
reload time if you want to use it again.
NOTE: If the option itself (not the weapon it fires) makes contact with an
enemy it'll be destroyed and you'll have to wait to recharge before using
again.
============================================================
Full Walkthrough
==========================(0006)============================
The following will provide a brief description of each boss, general tactics
and best weapons to use. Your mileage may vary with the boss fights, though I
will provide what to expect. While the Bomb is a great rescue attack for all
the boss battles, they're more useful against certain bosses than others due
to multiple factors.
------------------------------------------------------------
Stage 1-1 - Bridgehead
-------------------------(0007)-----------------------------
-Stage description to come-
*Boss - Large, twin-blade helicopter (2 phases)
------------------------------------
It enters the screen coming all the way forward before retreating back to the
top half of the screen. It's second pattern, when facing away from you, is the
more difficult to maneuver around.
*Time - 90 seconds
------------------------------------
*Damage areas
------------------------------------
Front Propeller weapons, 2 engines in its tailfin
*Best weapon - Rocket Grenade
------------------------------------
The boss is small enough that a well-placed rocket grenade can take out multiple
parts at once, though you do have a chance of missing him entirely during the
1st
phase attack as his back and forth weave is rather quick.
His second phase has him facing away from you, firing two attacks from his
tailfin.
One is a 45 degree angle of bullets, and the other is missles fired more
directly
south in timed intervals. The tailfin does swivel so the arc position does
change,
making your ability to stay in one area very difficult.
------------------------------------------------------------
Stage 1-2 - Battleship
-------------------------(0008)-----------------------------
-Stage description to come-
*Boss - Massive battleship (4 phases)
------------------------------------
A significantly larger battleship than the ones you squared off against earlier
in the stage, you battle both sides, its front turrets and lastly the control
tower. Small helicopters will join occassionally, adding to the attacks you
must avoid.
*Time - 120 seconds
------------------------------------
*Damage areas
------------------------------------
Anything firing at you as well as some non-threating pieces that are only for
points.
*Best weapon - Cannon
------------------------------------
This battle can easily become bullet hell, so saving a few bombs to clear the
screen are of high importance. Also, the Cannon option is best here since it
can take out the smaller firing turrets in one attack. While the Rocket
Grenade can wipe out a multitude at once, the recharge time here is a heavy
liability when you have plenty of other turrets trying to take you out, but
that's your call. Just do your best to not stand in one place for too long.
The last part of the battle has you squaring off against the ship's main
command center. It will first fire a stready stream of bullets which have gaps
to doge though, then it'll fire a wide stream in timed fashion that you can
easily doge in betwen. Then it starts over again.
------------------------------------------------------------
Stage 1-3
-------------------------(0009)-----------------------------
-Stage description to come-
*Boss - Large, two-prop airplane (3 phases)
------------------------------------
Now the boss battles really get difficult. A swivel gun turret in the middle
of the plane is your first target, making sure to avoid the missle that come
from behind. The second phase has you being in front of the plane avoiding
both missles and gunfire. The missles can be knocked into the plane for damage
if you hit them at the right time. The last phase has you avoiding 2 timed
bursts of fire that explode in 4 directions.
*Time - 120 seconds
------------------------------------
*Damage areas
------------------------------------
Both engines, swivel gun turret, tail fin
*Best weapon - Rocket Grenade
------------------------------------
Launch that sucker into its tailfin and gun turret first, as getting rid of
this part of the boss is first and foremost. This elminates a homing gun turret
on you. Two missles will appear from behind, following you. Avoid them and let
them attack the plane, which does damage, but they launch shrapnel in an outward
arc.
The plane them moves to the bottom of screen, forcing you above. Avoid the twin
guns' continual stream and try to attack the two additional missles so they
crash
into the plane. The bomb is primarily good here for saving your bacon if you
have
trouble weaving through the constant fire in front of the plane, or if an
exploded
missle's shrapnel leaves you no room to avoid.
Lastly, the plane will move up again, and you'll have your change to take out
the
last of its engines. This time, though, it will launch drones that randomly
fire
4-way bullet streams across the screen, looking like a weave pattern.
------------------------------------------------------------
Stage 1-4
-------------------------(0010)-----------------------------
-Stage description to come-
*Boss - Twin-gun turrent with multiple smaller turrets (2 phases)
------------------------------------
The main turrent has a spotlight that will blind you from anyting on screen, so
that's your first priority. After that's destroyed, it fires steady streams at
you, which can be evaded. While you can destroy all the smaller turrets around
you, they come back eventually so don't focus too much on them.
*Time - 150 seconds
------------------------------------
*Damage areas
------------------------------------
Center of main turrent, between twin gatling guns
*Best weapon - Cannon
------------------------------------
Let this puppy do its work taking out the annoying secondary turrets while you
focus your fire on the main one. The Rocket Grenade _could_ work here, but
sometimes a secondary turret will pop up in front of the main and will decoy
your attack, thus rendering it futile. Do all you can to remove the search
light quickly as getting directly into its path blinds you from all screen
attacks.
------------------------------------------------------------
Stage 1-5
-------------------------(0011)-----------------------------
-Stage description to come-
*Boss - City-sized tank with far too many turrents and cannons (3 phases)
------------------------------------
*Time - 180 seconds
------------------------------------
*Damage areas
------------------------------------
Anything that fires, though in final phase only the main turret
is vulnerable, either via Rocket Grenade or by firing directly into the main
canon.
*Best weapon (only weapon in this case) - Rocket Grenade
------------------------------------
All your dodge and weave abilities will come into play here.
The first phase is the most chaotic with 9 separate guns firing at you. Do not
stop weaving back and forth or else you will get caught in a hail or bullets.
Watch out for the occassional tank that appears in the bottom middle, as it
could sneak attack you from the rear.
The second phase has 5 larger guns, with 4 working as pairs.
-The middle one is one big cannon that fires straight and spreads bullets out
in left and right arcs. Take this one out first as it is the hardest to avoid.
-The outermost two fire 4 bursts that explode and spread in different areas.
Take
them out next.
-The middle two are chain guns that fire back and forth across the screen twice.
If you watch the spread pattern you can weave between rounds easily. Take them
out last.
The final phase is a grand poobah canon that follows you, cocking once before
firing. It fires off screen, having a massive stream of bullets come back in 2
attacks. You can get inbetween these rows of bullets to avoid easily in the
first
attack. The second one, though, has a plume of dirt and wind push you to the
top of
the screen, making it harder to see your craft and to swerve out of the bullets'
path. Rocket grendades damage it about 8% at a time, though firing your main
guns
into the turrent directly does damage, too, but you risk getting a direct shell
if
you wait too long after it cocks. It is best to have the turrent point directly
south because the bullet streams return vertically, which is easier to maneuver
through
than from some acute angle.
============================================================
Alternate 2-1 World
==========================(0012)============================
Welcome to bizarro world, where all the stages you just completed are now
flipped 180 horizontally. So long as you now attack right instead of left with
the areas you memorized you'll be good to go. But there's more than that.
1. Enemies fire quicker, longer streams of bullets
2. Certain structures or pieces of bosses, when destroyed, release a starburst
of bullets
3. More small helicopters appear during the stage and some boss battles to add
to your misery.
4. Each stage looks very familiar in color (except stage 2). No more snow or
desert distinctions.
You do get alternate between-stage shots of the female pilots, this time in
cheesecake poses and outfits.
I have yet to beat this version, however.
============================================================
Points and Multipliers
==========================(0013)============================
The weapon options' secondary benefit is multiplying your score. Any
destructible item that the option destroys doubles the points earned. This can
be as little as 100 (represented as x100) and as large as 80,000 (reserved for
bosses). Points in and of themselves do not contribute anything other than
trying to top your previous hi-score.
So long as the option attack deals the final blow you earn the multiplied
points. The exception to this are when fighting the 3-shot tanks. With these,
the option attack has to disable the tank, not destroy the charred remains.
You also earn bonus points at the end of each stage. The categories are:
* Percent of enemies destroyed on stage x 100
--100% destroyed doubles multiplier
* Bombs remaining; 10,000 each
* Time left after fighting stage boss X 10
============================================================
Version History
==========================(0014)============================
1.0 - 07/10/2008 - Basic draft. Will fill in minutae later
1.1 - 08/28/2008 - Added details to boss fights
============================================================
Legal
==========================(0015)============================
This document is copyright (c) 2008 David Patricola
If you need to contact me for some reason that is not covered above,
then you can reach me at dpatricola[at]mail[dot]com.
============================================================
Disclaimer
==========================(0016)===========================
Thanks, Stefan, for introducing me to this game. 30+ hours and counting
Link to FAQ:
http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/dreamcast/file/931286/53447
ASCII title is care of:
http://www.rootsecure.net/?p=ascii_generator
