Info about SUGURI:

Official game description:
Experience the rush of battle with the fan acclaimed videogame "SUGURI" - one of the most unique side-scrolling shooter titles ever created by doujin game developer Orange\_Juice. Showcasing beautifully rendered designs and backgrounds, innovative weaponry, captivating gameplay action, and a cool techno-trance soundtrack, "SUGURI" is a must-have, must-play doujin game.  
SUGURI is equipped with an automatic lock-on targeting system and equipped with a unique arsenal of hyper weapons, power shields, and more. Sure, she may look cute, but when it's time to fight, it's all business. So, get ready to focus and concentrate like never before, because you're about to fight your way through seven insanely challenging stages, all while going up against overwhelming bosses with deceptive and distracting weapons that fill up the entire screen. You're outnumbered and outgunned, but use your target-locking control system and fire-power wisely and you might just dodge the hundreds of missiles, laser spears and beams coming at you from every direction. Inflict as much damage as you can and you'll have a fighting chance, but get careless for just one split-second and that's all it takes between exhilarating victory and brutal defeat!  
**Suguri Features:**  
*   Side-scrolling shoot-’em-up with fighting-game-like boss battles  
*   Mix and match multiple unlockable weapons  
*   Charming story with endearing characters  
*   Steam Cards

Release date: Jul 1, 2014

Categories: Bullet-hell, Side-scrolling Shooter, Shoot 'em up, Arcade, High Score Chasing, Boss Rush, Single-player


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: 9.5h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: Four separate reviews report story-completion playtime between 8 and 10 hours across normal and easy difficulties, yielding an estimated average of 9.5 hours. No explicit quotes support game completion (100%), session length, or endgame playtime.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a steep learning curve and lacks a tutorial, causing initial confusion and frustration. However, as players learn the mechanics and experiment with loadouts, the game becomes rewarding and enjoyable.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: lack of tutorial; steep learning curve; confusing mechanics
  - Unlock drivers: understanding game mechanics; experimenting with loadouts; progression through stages
  - Conditions: player persists through early confusion; player learns dashing and hyper attacks; player adapts to boss patterns; player experiments with loadouts; player completes repeated runs
- Player Archetypes:
  - Hardcore Bullet Hell Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Mastering extreme difficulty and achieving high skill
    - Playstyle: High-speed dodging, weapon management, seeking challenge
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: danmaku veteran; veteran
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Persistent Difficulty-Crusher (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Overcoming personal skill barriers through persistence
    - Playstyle: Pattern building on easy mode, slow progression, learning enemy patterns
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Achievement Completionist (sale)
    - Motivation: Completing all achievements and unlocking all content
    - Playstyle: Systematic replay for achievements, weapon unlocking, multiple playthroughs
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Shmup Genre Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Experiencing a unique bullet hell game with its own flavor
    - Playstyle: Appreciates unique genre mechanics, compares to other shmups, enjoys horizontal bullet hell
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Touhou; Cotton; CAVE; Sora


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Overall game is fun (weight 0.2): Players consistently describe the game as fun, enjoyable, and addictive, with several mentioning it as great or good. This is the most common positive sentiment, indicating broad appeal.
- Soundtrack is well received (weight 0.19): The soundtrack and music are frequently praised as good, great, energetic, and fitting well with the game. This underscores the audio quality as a positive feature.
- Appealing character designs (weight 0.17): Multiple reviews praise the character design as appealing, cute, and well-crafted, often linking it to the art style and story. This highlights a key visual strength.
- Story is engaging (weight 0.16): Reviews describe the story as captivating, engaging, and good, with some noting it as simple yet effective. This indicates the narrative contributes positively to the experience.
- High replayability (weight 0.14): The game offers significant replayability through unlockables, rankings, and a fun improvement loop. This extends the game's longevity.
- Good value for money (weight 0.07): The game is considered a standout among inexpensive games, offering great value for its price. Affordability is a significant plus.

Common complaints:
- Difficulty is extremely high (weight 0.7): Players consistently report the game as brutally hard even on Easy mode, with steep spikes and merciless bosses. Some took 9-10 hours and over 100 attempts to beat it, while others couldn't finish at all.
- Input and dash mechanics problematic (weight 0.35): Dashing and attacking inputs suffer from unresponsiveness and unintended actions, such as drifting, auto-direction, or ignoring repeated presses. This makes movement and combat feel clumsy and unreliable.
- Controls and keybindings poor (weight 0.34): Default keyboard bindings are uncomfortable and unintuitive, requiring remapping. Keybinding configuration is limited, unclear, and has issues like direct input not saving, ESC exiting the game without remap, and gamepad diagonal issues.
- Graphics and visuals dated (weight 0.28): Players find the graphics dated, low-resolution, and less appealing compared to later games in the series. Visual clarity issues include small pale player characters, simple models, and a bland setting.
- Weapon balance and usability poor (weight 0.25): Weapons are unbalanced, with some being useless in later stages, lacking upgrades (just alternatives), and having poor accuracy or long attack intervals. This complicates combat and strategic choices.
- Achievements are bugged (weight 0.24): Multiple achievements fail to unlock due to glitches, with some requiring replay watching or becoming permanently unobtainable. This prevents players from reaching 100% completion and is a source of frustration.
- Steam Cloud and overlay issues (weight 0.22): Steam Cloud does not sync save files or unlocks, leading to progress loss on reinstall. Additionally, the Steam Overlay does not function, making screenshots unavailable via F12.
- No continues or healing (weight 0.2): The game offers no continues or means of healing, forcing flawless play and one-life runs. This makes the game exceptionally punishing and reduces accessibility for casual players.
- Lack of tutorial and explanations (weight 0.19): The game provides no tutorial and fails to explain advanced mechanics, leaving players confused about gameplay systems. This steepens the learning curve and frustrates newcomers.
- No language support for non-English (weight 0.18): The game lacks Chinese and Japanese language support in the Steam version, and the opening/story are untranslated. Players must seek external fan sites or videos to understand the narrative.
- Levels and stages not engaging (weight 0.17): The levels are considered boring and not fun to practice, with forced replays of stages to face bosses again. The game's design discourages experimentation and replayability.
- Bosses unfair and unpredictable (weight 0.17): Bosses have super-fast attacks with little telegraphing, and some are nearly undodgeable. Players cite specific bosses like Jae, Kae, and Sifu as major difficulty walls that feel unfair.
- Hitboxes and collision janky (weight 0.15): Weapon hitboxes can be janky, and it's hard to differentiate phasable objects from non-phasable ones. Enemies' bullets curve unpredictably, making dodging decisions difficult.
- Learning curve steep and demanding (weight 0.14): New players face a steep learning curve and are required to memorize patterns. The game does not hold your hand, which can be off-putting to newcomers to the genre.
- Compatibility with modern systems poor (weight 0.11): Alt-tabbing can change Windows resolution to 640x480, the game may stay on top of other windows, and fullscreen can flash white. These issues indicate poor port quality for modern setups.
- Save data and stability issues (weight 0.07): Players report save data corruption and crashes, particularly at stage ends with lengthy character names. These technical issues undermine the game's reliability.

Gameplay feedback:
- Bullet hell shooter hybrid (weight 0.41): Multiple reviews describe the game as a high-speed side-scrolling bullet hell shoot 'em up with danmaku elements and horizontal scrolling. This genre classification is the most common theme.
- Game is difficult (weight 0.28): Players consistently note that the game is hard, even on easy mode, and some mention it being harder than another game called Sora. Difficulty is a major point of feedback.
- Two weapons laser and bazooka (weight 0.17): Players can select two weapons from an arsenal, with examples like laser and bazooka, which affect gameplay and strategy.
- Dash mechanic for dodging (weight 0.16): The game features a dash mechanic that allows players to dodge bullets, with a gameplay loop involving dash, shoot, and dodge. This is a core gameplay element mentioned repeatedly.
- Dash dodges normal bullets (weight 0.16): The dash can pass through normal bullets and beam-type enemy bullets, but not missiles, providing invulnerability to certain attacks. This specificity shows detailed player understanding.
- Hyper attacks provide invincibility (weight 0.13): Hyper attacks consume the hyper gauge and grant substantial invincibility frames, making them powerful tools for survival and offense.
- Auto-targeting system (weight 0.12): The game features auto-targeting attacks that fire at the enemy's position, and a lock-on system that selects targets, simplifying aiming.
- Dashing charges hyper gauge (weight 0.11): Dashing through bullets, especially beams, fills a hyper gauge, which is used for powerful attacks. This mechanic adds strategic depth to dodging.
- Dashing increases heat damage (weight 0.11): Dashing increases heat, which raises damage taken, creating a risk-reward tradeoff for players. This mechanic is noted as a unique twist.
- Bosses and mini-bosses present (weight 0.1): Players note the presence of bosses and mini-bosses, which are typical for the genre and are a key part of level progression.
- Weapons unlock via retrying (weight 0.1): Players mention that weapons unlock by achieving certain ratings or by retrying stages, incentivizing repeated play. This progression system is noted as a feature.
- Multiple difficulty levels (weight 0.1): The game offers multiple difficulty levels, with some mentioning three (Easy, Normal, Hard) and others four (including Special). This variety is appreciated by players.
- Only one life no continues (weight 0.08): The game allows only one life with no continues, intensifying the challenge and making each run high-stakes.
- Unique shooting mechanics (weight 0.07): Some players note that the game's system differs from typical shooters, offering a unique take on the STG or bullet hell genre.
- Effective boss strategies use weapons (weight 0.07): Each boss has effective strategies using specific weapon combinations, rewarding players who experiment with loadouts.
- Seven campaign stages (weight 0.07): The campaign consists of seven stages, providing a clear structure for the game's length.
- Weapon-specific hyper mechanics (weight 0.07): The hyper mechanic changes based on the selected weapon, and weapon variants alter gameplay, adding variety.
- Physical bullets can be shot down (weight 0.07): Some bullets are physical-type and can be intercepted or shot down, adding a defensive layer to shooting.

Performance notes:
- Graphics and performance issues (weight 0.11): The game has a low frame rate counter showing around 61 FPS, alt-tabbing reduces resolution to 640x480, and fullscreen mode flashes white. These issues affect visual stability and overall performance.
- Controller support is problematic (weight 0.08): Non-XInput controllers have compatibility issues, and even on some systems, controllers do not work correctly. This limits accessibility for players using various gamepads.
- Game crashes on startup (weight 0.05): The game crashes immediately when launched, preventing players from accessing the game at all. This is a critical issue that blocks gameplay entirely.
- Sound cuts out completely (weight 0.04): At some point during gameplay, all audio stops working, leaving the game silent. This disrupts the experience and may require restarting the game to fix.
- General lack of fluidity (weight 0.04): The game feels unresponsive and not smooth, which may be tied to the technical issues mentioned above. This degrades the overall gameplay quality.
- Steam overlay does not work (weight 0.04): The Steam overlay is non-functional, preventing players from using Steam features like messaging or screenshots while in-game. This is an inconvenience for users who rely on overlay features.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for difficulty seekers (weight 0.19): Multiple reviewers recommend the game to players who enjoy challenging experiences, noting that the difficulty is a core part of the appeal. They specifically mention that the game is suited for those looking for something hard.
- Recommended for bullet hell fans (weight 0.17): The game is repeatedly recommended to enthusiasts of the bullet hell genre, with reviewers stating that it may be for those who enjoy such gameplay. It is also suggested for fans of fast-paced levels and hard bosses.
- Worth playing overall (weight 0.16): Several reviews affirm that the game is worth playing and is an interesting experience, with one even calling it the best kind of bullet hell game. These positive recommendations suggest high overall value.
- Not for casual players (weight 0.13): The game is deemed not suitable for casual players or newcomers, with reviewers warning against purchasing for those who prefer less demanding experiences. This aligns with the general sentiment of high difficulty.
- Advises against buying (weight 0.1): Some reviewers explicitly advise against purchasing the game, with one stating they cannot recommend playing it and another advising against buying it. This negative feedback may stem from the game's flaws or steep difficulty.
- Start with other series games (weight 0.07): Reviewers suggest skipping this game in favor of other entries like Sora or Acceleration of Suguri 2, which offer similar gameplay without the issues. This indicates that the game may have problems that other titles avoid.
- Only for hardcore fans (weight 0.07): The game is only recommended for those desperate to experience the origins of Suguri and Hime, and even for them, watching a cutscene video may suffice unless they are hardcore. This limits the audience significantly.
- Encourages buying the game (weight 0.04): A single review encourages buying the game, likely reflecting a positive overall experience. This is a direct recommendation to purchase, contrasting with some negative feedback.
- Great for STG variety (weight 0.04): Recommended for players tired of traditional STG or bullet hell games, the game offers a different experience. This positions it as a refreshing option for genre veterans.
- Try if played Sora (weight 0.04): The game is recommended to players who have already played Sora, suggesting that familiarity with the series may enhance appreciation. This implies a connection to the broader franchise.
- Use weapon switching and practice (weight 0.04): A tip advises using weapon switching in arcade mode and practicing in boss match mode to clear the game. This practical advice can help players overcome the difficulty.
- Tolerate inconveniences required (weight 0.04): The game might be worth trying if you can tolerate the inconveniences, implying that there are notable annoyances or flaws. This is a conditional recommendation.
- May frustrate beginners (weight 0.04): While recommended to try, the game may be frustrating for beginners due to its difficulty. This warns newcomers of potential frustration.
- Persevere despite difficulty (weight 0.04): Encourages players to persevere despite the difficulty, suggesting that the challenge is part of the game's appeal. This motivational advice frames difficulty as rewarding.
- Loved high-speed dodging (weight 0.04): Recommended for players who enjoy high-speed dodging and using two weapons, emphasizing the core gameplay elements. This targets a specific action-oriented audience.
- Listen to music appeal (weight 0.03): One review asks others to try the game and listen to the music, highlighting the soundtrack as a positive feature. This encourages experiencing the audio aspect of the game.
- Watch skilled gameplay videos (weight 0.03): A reviewer advises watching gameplay videos of skilled players before buying, which can help set expectations. This is a cautious recommendation for potential buyers.
- Game is inexpensive (weight 0.03): The game is noted as inexpensive, making it a low-risk purchase for interested players. This pricing aspect may offset some drawbacks.
- Combo system becomes fun (weight 0.03): The combo system becomes fun as you play, indicating that the gameplay mechanics deepen over time. This highlights a positive progression aspect.
- Only if cheap or bundled (weight 0.03): The game is only recommended if very cheap or part of a bundle, suggesting that its value is limited at full price. This is a conditional purchase advice.

Other player notes:
- Soundtrack composed by DEKU (weight 0.19): The BGM, composed by DEKU, is frequently praised for fitting the stage atmosphere and composition perfectly. The soundtrack is a standout feature, with a cool techno vibe that some compare to Snowboard Kids on N64.
- Aged but charming game (weight 0.16): The game is nearly 20 years old, and reviewers acknowledge its age. Despite dated graphics, the character-drawn style and overall charm are still appreciated.
- Missing tutorial is a flaw (weight 0.16): The game lacks any proper tutorial, which is a major issue for new players. Reviewers note this lack of guidance as a significant drawback, especially for players unfamiliar with shoot 'em ups.
- Bugged achievements are frustrating (weight 0.16): Multiple achievements are bugged or unobtainable, with some not triggering properly and one weapon permanently unobtainable. This is a significant issue for completionists and has been noted in several reviews.
- Early Orange Juice title (weight 0.15): This is the debut game from Japanese developer Orange_Juice, marking the beginning of the Suguri and Hime series. Reviewers recognize its importance as the origin of the franchise, despite its flaws compared to later entries.
- Short but mechanical depth (weight 0.15): The story is short but balanced by mechanical depth, though some find the game boring despite high playtimes. The game can be completed in about one to three hours depending on the player's skill.
- Dated but acceptable graphics (weight 0.13): Reviewers find the graphics dated but not necessarily bad, with hand-drawn sprites on 3D backgrounds evoking a 2.5 PS1 era look. The character sprites in dialogues look good, though the visual style is older compared to later games.
- Strong debut among sequels (weight 0.13): Compared to its sequel Sora, the game has a strong identity and the best OST and atmosphere, though Sora has more polished controls and game design. It's an uncut diamond that stands out from many bullet hells of its time with faster and fewer projectiles.
- Not for beginners to shmups (weight 0.13): The game is not a one-hour experience for players without experience in shoot 'em ups, and it is hard even on easy. It is not recommended for those seeking a casual experience, as it is brutally difficult.
- Game is in Japanese (weight 0.12): The game is in Japanese, with the opening remaining in Japanese, and the Steam version is English only. The lack of official Japanese localization is surprising for a Japanese doujin game.
- Sequel Successor Announced (weight 0.12): A sequel titled Acceleration of SUGURI 2 was announced, and reviewers were eager for its localization. The sequel is seen as an improvement over the original, though some mechanics in the original feel gimmicky by comparison.
- Distinct identity among classics (weight 0.12): Compared to classic arcade shooters, this game has a distinctive identity, blending elements from Touhou and other shmups while offering a unique flavor. It does not feel like a clone.
- Lack of Japanese language support (weight 0.11): Multiple reviews point out the absence of Japanese language support despite the game being a Japanese doujin title. This is a notable localization shortcoming for a Japanese-developed game.
- Steam overlay and cloud issues (weight 0.1): The Steam overlay does not work in this game, and there are issues with Steam Cloud only saving high scores, not actual unlock progress. This creates inconvenience for players and can lead to lost progress.
- Includes Steam achievements and cards (weight 0.1): The game includes Steam achievements and trading cards, though the cards are not noted on the Steam store page. Achievements have glitches, which can hinder completionists.
- Multiple difficulty options available (weight 0.09): The game offers three difficulty levels: easy, normal, and hard, providing some choice. However, even the easy difficulty is considered hard, which may be a deterrent for casual players.
- Lack of in-game guidance (weight 0.07): The game provides very little in-game information to help players figure things out, and there is also little information available outside the game. This leaves players to rely on trial and error or external resources.
- Hime boss simpler than Sora (weight 0.04): The Hime boss difficulty is simpler when compared to the Hime boss in Sora, making it less challenging. This comparison highlights the variation in difficulty between the games in the series.
- Different gameplay from newer titles (weight 0.04): The game plays differently compared to newer Suguri games, with unique mechanics that some find gimmicky. It is considered an early work with a different style.
- Bosses are unique characters (weight 0.04): Bosses are other girls rather than large monsters, which is a distinctive approach. This adds to the charm and identity of the game.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.31): Players are overwhelmed by the steep difficulty and lack of tutorials, which makes understanding and mastering the game's unique mechanics challenging. Control issues, such as awkward keyboard bindings, crashes, and input bugs, compound the frustration, especially during demanding boss fights.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.11): Despite the difficulty, players find the dash-based gameplay, music, and art style enjoyable, leading to a fun and challenging experience. The game's mechanics encourage pattern learning and replayability, making it rewarding for those who persist.
- Disappointment (weight 0.08): Players are disappointed by the low-res visuals, awkward gameplay, and numerous bugs, feeling that the quality is lacking. The lack of continues and unlockable content, along with missing features like Japanese language support, further detract from the experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.07): Achieving victory after multiple attempts, especially against tough bosses like Hime, provides a strong sense of accomplishment. Mastering the game's mechanics and completing stages and the entire game lead to rewarding feelings of satisfaction.
- Excitement (weight 0.07): The fast-paced combat, dash-based dodging, and high-heat mechanics create thrilling encounters that keep players engaged. Discovering patterns and overcoming challenges, alongside epic music, contributes to an exciting and addictive experience.
- Admiration (weight 0.05): Players express admiration for the game's excellent music, unique art style, and overall design, considering it one of the best shmups. Even with control and graphics issues, the game's quality shines through.
- Appreciation (weight 0.04): Players appreciate the game's rich content, challenging gameplay, and captivating music, with a unique system that is friendly to those struggling with difficulty. The game's charm and presentation are valued despite minor graphical shortcomings.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.02): Memories of playing the game in childhood and memorable tracks like the first stage theme evoke nostalgia. The similarity to other classic games and old-school music style further enhance these feelings.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Completing levels and experiencing the sense of flying bring joy, as does the excellent soundtrack and engaging gameplay. The music is particularly enjoyable, contributing to an overall positive experience.
- Affection (weight 0.02): Players feel affection for the cute characters and their designs, especially Suguri. The game's soundtrack and atmosphere are beloved, making it a favorite even after years.
- Annoyance (weight 0.02): Annoyance arises from having to replay boring stages for another boss attempt and from technical issues like crashes with certain names, delayed achievements, and save data corruption.
- Confusion (weight 0.02): Players are confused by the difficulty in differentiating phasable and non-phasable attacks, and by the game not clearly explaining mechanics. The small, pale-colored ship and long attack intervals further add to the confusion.
- Relief (weight 0.01): Finally overcoming Hime's boss fight brings relief, especially for players who struggled with the difficulty, such as those with disabilities.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Players eagerly anticipate the developer's return to action games, having high expectations for future projects.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Players find amusement in discovering the game doesn't require a high-end PC after acquiring one, and in comical deaths from accidental dashes into bullets.
- Despair (weight 0.01): The overwhelming difficulty, exemplified by the fourth stage boss Jae, causes feelings of despair, with many players giving up.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): The game's uninteresting audiovisual presentation and unengaging gameplay lead to boredom, with players finding it dull and lacking in entertainment value.
- Determination (weight 0.01): Despite the difficulty and some inconveniences compared to Sora, players feel determined to overcome the challenges, finding the game addictive and rewarding to complete.
- Pain (weight 0.01): The annoying on-screen colors cause eye pain, detracting from the gaming experience.
- Impressed (weight 0.01): Players are impressed by the game's resemblance to Gundam, particularly in its weapons and flight mechanics, which add to the appeal.}