Hey, thanks for the breakdown! Seems I play a LITTLE differently... here's my 1 player experience.
First level - I can get between 98%-100% on each level, can't guarantee those 100%s by myself though. If I was going for a monster score, I would probably do the get-through-the-first-area-without-killing-anything-or-dying trick; Providing you don't die in subsequent levels, it pays off. Usually have 10 or more lives by the end of the first stage, hopefully still with my points doubler ready to score big points at the start of level 2!
Second level - so you don't shoot the crates in the second minefield? If you can get the hang of this, you can come out of the minefield with points doubler and weapon pods (as you can see me doing in one of the demos) , and clean up in area 4, getting 100%. Incidentally, it should be technically possible to get 100% scores most of the way through the game, though unlikely! I've managed to score them unexpectedly in even high levels, but rarely! There is a way through the minefield that you can take every time for minimum hassles - the trouble is, in 2 player, if you can't both do it, you're both screwed! I should really have done something about that, but as I say, 2 player really was under-tested.
2nd level boss - I can get through perfectly about half the time. The trick with the homing missiles is to move to the right, get them to come after you, then go left and they'll wander straight into your line of fire. But the main thing on the level 2 boss is to destroy those 2 side-engine-thingies early. Destroy the engine part as soon as you can see them (before they start firing). Then destroy the main (ship) section. Don't destroy the next ship section until those side bits are both dead, or you'll have to face homing missiles AND bullet sprays at once.
3rd level - I agree, the hardest, and also my favourite (I find those fast little red ships really add to the excitement quite nicely; I was well pleased with them). I agree the eruption part is pure evil. I hate that part, and usually lose a couple of lives here. Still, it looks pretty :o)
The 3rd area, all big ships, is kind of a bonus area. Do it right and you'll get heaps and heaps of points, and be all powered up, which should let you cream through area 4. The structure of this level is basically, get all weaponed up, kil a bunch of harmless ships, face something nasty, repeat. If you can get through the nasties without dying, you can rack up big points and get another 100%
Interestingly, I always take out the ships in the docks. If I've still got the weapon pods and lots of rockets it's fine; since you can hit them as soon as they arrive on screen they often don't even get a chance to fire.
Level 3 boss - surely the nastiest part of the game. I've beaten it without dying ONCE. I think you really have to not rush in when it's in submarine form, take your time, don't get too greedy scoring hits. Concentrate on not dying. The big bullets coming off the top are evil, but doable with practice, if you know the right time to run through. Also get a few hits in when you first see the periscope; this actually does count! Getting through the first part without dying is crucial - you need those weapon pods in the second phase! If you can keep them, even for a while, you can cause big damage on the flying part.
The 4th stage - TBH, I didn't spend as much time on it as the other 3; I was impatient to get the game finished and I think it does show a little. Still you get to have some fun with the lightning guns :o) - I have a feeling this level would be much easier in 2 player mode; in single player I still find it reasonably tough.
First level - I can get between 98%-100% on each level, can't guarantee those 100%s by myself though. If I was going for a monster score, I would probably do the get-through-the-first-area-without-killing-anything-or-dying trick; Providing you don't die in subsequent levels, it pays off. Usually have 10 or more lives by the end of the first stage, hopefully still with my points doubler ready to score big points at the start of level 2!
Second level - so you don't shoot the crates in the second minefield? If you can get the hang of this, you can come out of the minefield with points doubler and weapon pods (as you can see me doing in one of the demos) , and clean up in area 4, getting 100%. Incidentally, it should be technically possible to get 100% scores most of the way through the game, though unlikely! I've managed to score them unexpectedly in even high levels, but rarely! There is a way through the minefield that you can take every time for minimum hassles - the trouble is, in 2 player, if you can't both do it, you're both screwed! I should really have done something about that, but as I say, 2 player really was under-tested.
2nd level boss - I can get through perfectly about half the time. The trick with the homing missiles is to move to the right, get them to come after you, then go left and they'll wander straight into your line of fire. But the main thing on the level 2 boss is to destroy those 2 side-engine-thingies early. Destroy the engine part as soon as you can see them (before they start firing). Then destroy the main (ship) section. Don't destroy the next ship section until those side bits are both dead, or you'll have to face homing missiles AND bullet sprays at once.
3rd level - I agree, the hardest, and also my favourite (I find those fast little red ships really add to the excitement quite nicely; I was well pleased with them). I agree the eruption part is pure evil. I hate that part, and usually lose a couple of lives here. Still, it looks pretty :o)
The 3rd area, all big ships, is kind of a bonus area. Do it right and you'll get heaps and heaps of points, and be all powered up, which should let you cream through area 4. The structure of this level is basically, get all weaponed up, kil a bunch of harmless ships, face something nasty, repeat. If you can get through the nasties without dying, you can rack up big points and get another 100%
Interestingly, I always take out the ships in the docks. If I've still got the weapon pods and lots of rockets it's fine; since you can hit them as soon as they arrive on screen they often don't even get a chance to fire.
Level 3 boss - surely the nastiest part of the game. I've beaten it without dying ONCE. I think you really have to not rush in when it's in submarine form, take your time, don't get too greedy scoring hits. Concentrate on not dying. The big bullets coming off the top are evil, but doable with practice, if you know the right time to run through. Also get a few hits in when you first see the periscope; this actually does count! Getting through the first part without dying is crucial - you need those weapon pods in the second phase! If you can keep them, even for a while, you can cause big damage on the flying part.
The 4th stage - TBH, I didn't spend as much time on it as the other 3; I was impatient to get the game finished and I think it does show a little. Still you get to have some fun with the lightning guns :o) - I have a feeling this level would be much easier in 2 player mode; in single player I still find it reasonably tough.