Bullet Hell: Difference between revisions
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[[File:yukari can see you.jpg|link=Touhou|frame|[[Dodge This|Dodge]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4LiGyyHy0U this.] ]]
{{quote|''The person who had done this might as well try to dodge water particles while taking a shower or radioactive particles during a nuclear fallout.''
|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v{{=}}oGAjtr8Cujw YouTube commenter] on ''[[Touhou]]'' [[Fan Work|Ultra mode]].}}
'''Bullet Hell''' (called ''danmaku'' or "barrage" - literally "bullet curtain" - in Japanese, and sometimes called "run and gun") shooters are a subgenre of [[Shoot'Em Up
However, the genre is not always as [[Nintendo Hard]] as it seems. The player's [[Hitbox Dissonance|hitbox is often very small, sometimes only one pixel]]. In addition, [[A-Team Firing|the majority of enemy bullets are sprayed wildly and have no chance of actually hitting the player]]. Finally, the player is almost always given some variant of the [[Smart Bomb]], which will remove bullets from the screen. Most modern bullet hell games give the player another way to avoid being killed, such as hypers in ''[[Do Don Pachi]]'', ''[[Touhou]]''{{'}}s deathbombs, or ''[[Giga Wing]]''{{'}}s [[Attack Reflector]]. Though by no means easy, a bullet hell game can be cleared without memorizing patterns or continuing. In fact, Bullet Hell games tend to be just as difficult as older, less bullet-intensive games.
In addition, the bullet patterns are not the only elaborate things in these games. The [[Scoring Points|scoring systems]] often require as much dedication to master as the bullet patterns. Some common elements including "grazing" (where a bullet passes through your character sprite but not your vital hitbox), collecting items dropped by enemies, and [[No Damage Run|not dying]]. Like the bullet patterns, the scoring systems have become more complex as time went on, going from a very simple [[Combos]] based scoring system in ''[[Don Pachi]]'' to systems that take multiple pages just to describe the most basic elements like ''[[Hellsinker]]''. The scores attained have also been [[Pinball Scoring|subject to inflation]].
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{{examples|Known Bullet Hell shooters:}}
* ''[[Recca]]'', the [[Ur Example]]. On NES. And it goes even more hellish in the [[Harder Than Hard|Zanki Attack]] mode, where enemies explode into four or so [[Taking You with Me|suicide bullets]] when destroyed. But wait till they come in waves of ten to twenty...
** The main difference between Recca and most of the examples in this page, is that the bullets fill the screen ''
** You could cancel the bullets with your ship's bomb as it charges though...
* ''Batsugun'', one of [[Toaplan]]'s last games before they closed in 1994, is the [[Trope Maker]]. In fact, several members of Toaplan formed these companies after their closure: Cave (formed from the ''Batsugun'' team), [[Eighting Raizing|8ing/Raizing]], Takumi, and Gazelle.
* Almost anything ever produced by [[CAVE]], including ''[[Don Pachi]]'', ''DoDonPachi'' (the [[Trope Codifier]]) and especially later sequels, culminating in ''DoDonPachi Daifukkatsu''. Cave shooters typically have two loops. The first loop will look feasibly beatable. To get to the second, you usually have to not die and not use more than a couple bombs (or some variation on that). The second loop will be [[No One Could Survive That]]. At the end or after the end of the second loop (depending on the game), you ''finally'' go up against the [[True Final Boss]] who makes the ''entire rest of the game'' look like a cakewalk. And naturally, in most of these games, you have to beat the true boss to even see the "good" ending.
** Cave is almost infamous for creating its own niche of [[Nintendo Hard|hard games]], even by
*** Driving this point home is that shortly after ''Dai Ou Jou's'' release, the Black Label version was released (allegedly in response to some complaints from high-level players), and the notable changes were being able to keep your extra lives after the first loop and being permitted to continue on the last stage of loop 2 (both of which do NOT occur in the original release, which means running out of your initial stock of lives to Hibachi is a game over). They also added a separate 1-loop mode which ends with Hibachi (with continues permitted at any time) just so the veterans could actually get some practice against it.
** Behold a terror like nothing you have seen before. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsWhVhgEEV4&annotation_id=annotation_111728&feature=iv DoDonPachi Daifukkatsu Black Label Hibachi]. This is
*** Now Presenting: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4ca8RPBwOs&feature=watch_response ZATSUZA], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHqN_fH2S7k&feature=related And in his Arcade Difficulty].
** On special content for Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu Black Label Retail Disc, comes a return of the Ketsui boss Evacaneer DOOM now known as HIVAC for this encounter, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH3pbDY5Khk and he's not happy to see you].
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** ''Guwange'', unique in that it uses a true [[Jidai Geki]] setting (compared to series like [[Touhou]]).
** ''ESP Ra.De'' and its [[Spiritual Successor]] ''Espgaluda''.
** ''Progear no Arashi'', or its [[No Export for You|Barely Any Export For You]] localized version ''Progear'', for Capcom?s CPS-2 arcade system. It has a [[Steampunk]] setting. It is also slightly unusual for the
*** Now we have its [[Spiritual Successor]] ''[[Akai Katana]]''.
* ''[[Ketsui]]'', and its DS [[Boss Rush]] port, ''Ketsui Death Label'' have bullets that will curve, multiply, pause, and perform all sorts of other behavior, as if they're organic bullets. ''Death Label'' is perhaps notable for being one of the first danmaku games to grace a portable system, something that one [[YouTube]] user describes as "bullet hell in your pocket."
* The ''[[Touhou]]'' games are perhaps the best known example of
** Even worse in that Yukari is generally considered one of the easier bonus bosses, especially compared to the likes of Flandre or Koishi.
** There's also [http://en.touhouwiki.net/wiki/Touhou_Danmakufu Touhou Danmakufu] which allows you to create your own Touhou-style danmaku games, including bosses with custom-made spellcards.
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** The fire stage in ''Gradius III AC'', where the already plentiful large fireballs split into indestructible shrapnel when shot. Also set in [[Planet Heck]].
* While not as bullet-happy as future offerings, ''[[Radiant Silvergun]]'' has its fair share of danmaku, especially from certain bosses.
* ''[[Go Beryllium]]!'' found [https://web.archive.org/web/20141004144438/http://cokane.com/games/beryllium/ here], is a game based off the world of the very very small. Watch the video, then look closely above it for the download link.
** It inspired [http://www.kongregate.com/games/Draco18s/flash-beryllium Flash Beryllium].
* The ''Psyvariar'' series is an interesting variation in that the player is invincible, but is forced to "graze" bullet streams in order to get ''any'' substantial score.
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* The bosses of ''[[The Red Star]]'' all fit into this category, despite the fact that the game is a side-scrolling Beat'em Up.
* Some of the more.... ''[[Nintendo Hard|insane]]'' levels of the Gummi Ship sections in ''[[Kingdom Hearts]] 2'' get like this; [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEm1hsvo4vs&feature=related for example, this one], especially when the boss comes in.
** Of course, using the [[Game Breaker|Drain cannon]] turns half the bullets into ammo, letting Hunter-X feel the wrath of
* ''[http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/509592 Frantic 2]'' is basically a flash version of ''Touhou''. With bonus multipliers for grazing bullets.
** On the topic of Flash Games, if you play your cards right in [[Upgrade Complete]], you can inflict this on the opponent. Sweet, sweet, revenge...
*** [[Upgrade Complete|Upgrade Complete 2]] (yes, there is a second one)'s way of upgrading the ship makes it very easy to achieve [[More Dakka|all]] [[Beam Spam|three]] [[Macross Missile Massacre|kinds]] of projectile hell.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140613000308/http://www.funorb.com/info.ws?game=starcannon StarCannon], an online game on [[Fun Orb]], easily qualifies for this trope, with generous quantities of lasers of all shapes and sizes from all bosses and most harder enemies. Just dodging the enemies themselves as they swarm onto the screen is a challenge in the later levels. A [[True Final Boss]] awaits those who complete the game on Hard.
* ''Zanac'' could be considered an early example. If you fire too much, the adaptive AI will send everything and the kitchen sink after you, filling the screen with enemies, bullets, and missiles (every one with its own firing pattern). Also, the [[Cores and Turrets Boss|boss fights]] can get ''very'' hectic bullet-wise.
* ''Vasara'' and its prequel ''Vasara 2'' have a sci-fi take on [[Jidai Geki]]. One interesting feature is that running into most things doesn't do [[Collision Damage]], but you will definitely collide, which can work for you (obstruct a fleeing enemy's path and kill more in one stroke for extra points) or against you (when accidental, it usually knocks you right into a bullet you just dodged).
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* ''[[Knights in The Nightmare]]'' is [[Genre Busting|nominally]] a strategy RPG, but the enemies fire streams of bullets at your cursor to try and force you to end your turn early. It makes commanding your troops problematic, to say the least.
** That's actually average. Boss fights are the ones you should be worried about, since those can knock off "time"<ref>it's the game's mechanic; see the game's page</ref> very easily. Boss fights have very elaborate bullet sequences, sometimes on par with other Bullet Hell games. For example, one boss creates a swirling emblem that subsequently shatters into a rain of fragments that are nigh-impossible to avoid.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100528083433/http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258550405/?bt=0&sb=1&mt=32&gu=66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258550405&p=1&of=0 You Will Die] is an indie game shooter for the Xbox 360 that consists of nothing but killing a boss over and over [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|until you die]]. Every time you kill it, it adds more parts and weapons onto itself and becomes stronger. The game starts out fairly tame, but quickly reaches bullet hell levels of difficulty if you can survive long enough.
* In [https://web.archive.org/web/20131010015817/http://bossrushgame.com/bossrush/ Boss Rush], you [[Perspective Flip|are the main cause of this]].
* ''[[Beat Hazard]]'' mixes
* ''[[In the Hunt]]'' is normally a shooter that doesn't give the player too many bullets on screen, and [[Shoot the Bullet|most of which can be destroyed]]... until you see the [[Final Boss]]'s "[[That One Attack|Indestructible Red Mines Attack]]" (starts at 1:11 [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCc8yyVwvPU here]). Coupled with the fact that your hitbox is kind of large, and you'll see why it's [[Nintendo Hard]]...
* ''[[Prismatic Solid]]'' will literally bombard the player with ridiculous storms of bullets that really only be defended by using the [[Attack Drone]] to shield your ship from enemy fire.
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* ''[[Blue Wish Resurrection]]''
* Stages 4 and 5 from [[Genetos]] dive into danmaku territory.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140404151614/http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/571320 Blastral] is an easier danmaku game, recommended for those wanting to get their feet wet.
* Dream Trigger 3D, a launch title for the [[Nintendo 3DS]]. Not only is it Bullet Hell, it also has INSANE mechanics.
* [[Jamestown: Legend of the Lost Colony]]
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* [[Trouble Witches]] is bullet hell series with emphasis on Magic Barrier system and utilizing Magic Cards to gain Star Coins and earn points.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Yq-ThqIZAJI My Little Pegasis: Kizuna DoPonyPachi], a danmaku fangame based on [[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]]
* ''[[Enter the Gungeon]]'' is a [[Roguelike]] Bullet Hell with a topdown perspective. There's even a level called "Bullet Hell".
* ''[[Cuphead]]''
* ''[[The Binding of Isaac]]'' combines this with [[Roguelike]].
== Non-shooter examples of Bullet Hell-style projectiles ==
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* While fighting Dracula in ''[[I Wanna Be the Guy]]'', he occasionally fires a spiraling pattern of <s>fireballs</s> <s>apples</s> [[Memetic Mutation|delicious fruit]]. The fight against Mother Brain can get very hectic (and frustrating) as well. There is also an [[Unexpected Shmup Level]] near the end of the game, and considering [[Nintendo Hard|what kind]] [[Fake Difficulty|of game]] this is, it's not hard to tell how that turns out either.
** Actually, to those who play shmups often, the [[Unexpected Shmup Level]] was one of the easiest rooms in the game.
* While primarily an ARPG, ''[[
* Many of the bosses in the ''[[Ys]]'' remakes on [[Harder Than Hard|Nightmare difficulty]].
* ''[[Touhou]]'' has a few fighting game spinoffs, with quite a few characters fighting with danmaku as they normally would.
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* [[Epic Battle Fantasy]] actually did bullet hell BEFORE the actual bullet hell spinoff! One of Lance's attacks in the third game is named Bullet Hell. There are indeed a lot of bullets in the animation and it hits a number of times (not that it means much, considering there's no damage cap.) The hell part becomes more applicable once you consider the attack is fire elemental.
* ''[[Mischief Makers]]'': The first and second battles with [[That One Boss|Lunar]] (the wolf with the machine-gun). The first battle is in a snowfield, where he fights you by shooting his weapon of choice and launching bombs, too; the second battle has Lunar on his motorcycle, launching missiles, shooting fire blasts, and also firing a giant laser whenever he gets the chance.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130806164214/http://void.heteml.jp/flash/sayaka_drops/ This] ''[[Puella Magi Madoka Magica]]'' [[Doujinshi|doujin]] game is about maneuvering {{spoiler|Sayaka's}} Soul Gem away from the rain of [[Wangst|tears]]. It starts out fine, but after a while, there'll be so much of it that the difficulty hits this trope.
* [[Super Mario War]]: there is a [http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/820/bulletbillhell.png fanmade level like this].
* The Twin Val'kyr boss in ''[[World of Warcraft]]'': in a [[Shout-Out]] to ''[[Ikaruga]]'' you choose either white or black colour and have to catch the bullets of your colour so that they won't harm others. Mixed up with occasionally all raid having to switch to one colour to absorb a massive bomb or deal more damage to one of them. However, with advancement of gear and now level cap, people begun to just stand there and annihilate them with superior firepower.
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* ''[[Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2]]'' has a DLC character by the name of Cave. [[Don Pachi|Yes,]] ''[[Espgaluda|that]]'' [[CAVE]]. True to the company she represents, she has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnG9ITNgRyE an attack] called [[Shout-Out|Black Label]], in which she unleashes bullet hell on the enemy.
* ''Shinywuffles'', naturally. I mean, just look at [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLJEbxn39vU this].
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{{reflist}}
[[Category:Bullet Index]]
[[Category:Shoot'Em Up]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
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