@CarrieZ had the idea that we should each focus on one game in the garage to try to improve upon. The idea is to play one particular game every day for 10-15 minutes. It's a great idea as it's an excuse to get us out there more frequently and (hopefully) actually get better at whatever game we're focused on. Right now, she's working on Shadow Dancer and I'm getting into Circus. After tuning the game up a bit (new spinner POT, nicer bezel, readjusted monitor, tweaked sounds) the game is dialed in reeeeeaaal niiiiice and I'm enjoying the hell out of it.
Since there doesn't appear to be any world record on Twin Galaxies, I'm going by the Aurcade settings, which is pretty much the default. 3 lives and bonus on single rows.
It's been a slow, steady progression with scores gradually climbing. I started with a best at around 18,900 a couple weeks ago, and currently just under 70k. I'd love to hit 100k one day.
I'm definitely learning some strategies and a few of the game's nuances.
One major one is in regards to bonus jumps. Despite what the game says, you CANNOT stack bonus jumps. You only get one bonus jump at a time. For example, if you have two jumps remaining and you pop all of the blue balloons, you earn one bonus jump. So in theory, you now have 2+1 (3) jumps remaining. If you proceed to do it again, the game will tell you that you earned another bonus jump, implying that you now have 2+2 (4) jumps remaining, when in reality you still only have 2+1 jumps. So while you can't stack bonus jumps, you can continue to earn one bonus jump as long as your current jump isn't a bonus jump.
Learning about the lack of stacking bonus jumps really changed how I play the game. My strategy now is that if I've earned a bonus jump, I'll do my best to pop all but just a few blue balloons, while still going after the green and yellow balloons. I'll keep doing that until I die and am using the bonus jump I earned. Then I'll try to pop the last blue balloons and earn a new bonus jump. That way I capitalize on earning points while not wasting potential bonus jumps. For example, if I have 2 remaining jumps, and earn a bonus jump after popping all blue balloons, I'll do my best to pop all but just a few blue balloons (and go after the green & yellow ballons.) Then once I die and am using the bonus jump (with just the 2 jumps left), I can go after those last few blue balloons, thus earning a new bonus jump (with less effort), and making it 2+1 jumps remaining again. Hopefully that makes sense.
Anyways, that's where I'm currently at right now. What are your scores? Anyone have other tips & tricks?
This game is hella fun and addicting. A perfect game for the collection and masses.
Cheers!