Enigma: in lagless mamep99..
1 ) you can press Tab, then go to Custom Buttons, then press 1 while highlighting P1 Custom 1(this enables the Custom Button function).
2) next, you assign the key you want to use in P1 Custom 1 in Input ( this game ), *and* set the Fire button of your choice (P1 Button 1) to accept both the current Fire button and that custom button (you may use Esc to erase the current configured keys for that setting if needed, and then reenter the fire key, then reenter the custom key)
3) now, in Autofire Setting, enable P1 Custom 1; you may alter the P1 Autofire Delay, if you wish. After all these steps, you've successfully configured a custom key that triggers the P1 Button 1 and has Autofire enabled for it.
Lumber: I think that most of us liked these games, because their gameplay was interesting. Of course, you may not like the "feel" of the gameplay (pattern outlooks, pace, scoring tricks, etc.), but their scoring mechanics do help them have their own identity. But fear not, eventually you'll change your mind and give these and other arcade shmups another try, and will be surprised (with your own progress and/or with the fun in the gameplay, past the troublesome parts that kept you from enjoying said games) :p
Also, keep in mind that, for most shmups, when you start playing them, the latter stages are usually more fun than the first ones, which are usually re-run after mistakes/restarts. When you feel yourself progress, then you'll start wanting to play more, I think :p (however, progress isn't something that's entirely in our control, so don't stress yourself about it :yukkuri: )
edit: for Enigma: about Dodonpachi's chaining system, while it encourages stage memorizing and enough practice (in order to execute and internalize the routes intended by the player), you may, in some situations, dynamically maintain your chain by having a mental timing of it. Knowing, and then (after you're experienced enough with chaining) feeling how much enemies you've taken out and if it was with lasers or shots, you may not even need to look at the chain gauge, because most of the times you'll be too busy chaining, while hoping that you got the timing right. Keep in mind, that enemies destroyed with shot gives a slight better increase in your chain gauge than lasered ones, however lasers destroy enemies faster. Also, lasers do take a time to reach enemies, so if you laser an enemy while your chain gauge is really low, how close you are to that enemy does make a difference if you can maintain the chain or not.
One thing I have to say, against DDP, though :p
The amount of memorization that it seems to require, for key enemies, is uncomfortable. Dunno if it stays that way later :p (also, the fact that one mistake at the worst possible times can really cripple your score. But at least the pursuit, the climb, is fun for me, so far)
Edit 2: still for Enigma, forgot to say that I had perhaps less difficulties to adapt myself with chaining times, because I trained that (the blind chaining timing) on PoFV, which rewarded me with massive bullet-canceling chains :p (and all those yellow BONUS!] messages :p)
