/vr/ - Retro Games

>>7166924
>the scoring requirements get tighter and the early stages will remain hard
> But the broader point is that using strategies you're bad at when you can't handle the frustration is an idiotic choice
You're assuming shmups have smooth difficulty curves and smooth scoring systems, they don't. They have difficulty spikes that ruin runs even for great players -- Gradius 3 cube rush or many TLBs, and they have scoring systems all over the map with mid-stage or late-stage milks that give a ton of points etc.
Players cope with early stage filler when they're chasing goals but it can't be denied that it exists and is boring trash you have to put up with when doing full runs.