If someone could tear apart this replay and give advice on things I should do/improve, would be great
OK, sure. I hope you don't mind the delay. This is about your more recent 513m replay.
Anyway, nice start. I think the main improvement is that you need to focus more on 2.0s-- if you aren't already, use stage practice to learn how many enemies you need to defeat for a set of 60 items, and when to safely auto-collect / time your bomb. 2.0s are highly valuable for both their life parts, and the point multiplier from stage 3-4 onward.
More detailed comments:
Stage 1
- In the first two stages, point items are negligible for points, but they are valuable for resources. Try collecting items in sets of 20 for more bomb parts (keep in mind every 5th bomb part is replaced by a life part). A set of 60 for a life part is possible just before the boss, but I'm pretty sure ReimuB has to bomb for it.
Stage 2
- If you wait to collect the midboss items, you can combine them with 4 fairies' items for a 2.0. It's hard with ReimuB, though.
- Bombing isn't needed to auto-collect the stage 2 laser orbs, and actually cost you the second 2.0-- you only need 2 waves for a 2.0, or more precisely 10 of the 24 orbs' items. Start shooting the first line of orbs from the right, second from the left, and so on.
- To minimize damage with ReimuB's bomb, don't let the orbs overlap the boss for longer than you have to. (Also, don't finish off patterns with a bomb-- you'll miss the PIV from the manual cancel.)
- It's actually possible to bomb-graze the proximity bullets on Sekibanki's 2nd, for over 1000 PIV per bomb (at least as beneficial as bombing her nonspells). It's hard to explain-- check a replay?
- There was no point in bombing Sekibanki's 3rd for score-- was that a survival bomb?
Stage 3
- If you start on one side and stop shooting after the laser orbs spawn (wait until one's about to leave the screen), you can gain a 2.0 there. Applies to both sets of orbs.
- Post-midboss Kagerou enemies are
very profitable-- bomb both nonspells (don't worry about the cancel, just deal damage) to spawn as many as possible, then start building up the 2.0s. The first 2.0 comes from Kagerou's midboss items + 6 spirits' items.
Stage 4
- ReimuB's unfocused shot is better against the laser orbs than her focused shot. She's still weak enough to have trouble defeating them though.
- The first two safespottable waves' items can be combined for a 2.0 (bomb the first as late as possible, then position yourself in the safespot for the second). On the latter two, don't safespot-- you missed the orbs' items.
- Benben's lasers are fairly profitable to bomb. Also, you can bomb post-Benben orbs for 2.0s.
Stage 5
- Combining two waves of orbs gives a 2.0 each time (you'll need to bomb some sets). There are only barely enough items, though, so make sure not to collect any items too early.
- When bombing for items, remember you can shoot some enemies first-- as long as the items haven't left the screen, they count toward the same bonus.
- You can bomb midboss Seija's nonspell to defeat her faster (don't bomb the spell though, since spell bonuses are fairly high by stage 5). As with the other stages, more post-midboss enemies spawn, and this late in the game, items are worth it for the points themselves. Also, like with stage 2, 3, and 4, you can combine midboss Seija's items with some enemies' items for a 2.0.
- An effective way to clear all the pre-boss Seija orbs at once is to ram into one-- the death wave defeats them. (Best if you're out of bombs, obviously.)
Stage 6
- Every single item in stage 6's stage portion can be collected as 2.0, though again, ReimuB's low power can be a problem. (On the spirit part, auto-collect 12 spirits' items at a time, that is 3 left 3 right 3 left 3 right. Not sure I knew that at the time of my 737m replay.)
- You can trivialize Shinmyoumaru's 5th spell by alternately approaching the orbs and backing away-- they freeze in place each time they change color, so they end up barely moving at all. Works on all difficulties.