Once the act's theme starts to be heard from the Yamaha YM-2151, the screen will start scrolling inward as you come to eight ICBM Launch Pads; once you have fired a shot at each of them to kill them, you will come to three buildings as the double doors of the second one open, and the screen goes into it. The screen will then scroll downward, then start scrolling inward as two Ceiling Guns come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you - and once you've fired off a shot at both of these to kill them, a Zaku will come running into view from that left side of the screen, while firing shots at you. Once you've fired off a shot at him to kill him, two more Ceiling Guns will come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you; once you have fired a shot at both of them to kill them another Zaku will come running into view from the right side of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at him to kill him, three more Ceiling Guns will come down into view from the top of the screen, while firing shots at you - and once you have fired a shot at each of these to kill them, a third Zaku will come running into view from that left side of the screen, while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at him to kill him you will come to a pair of "vertical" double doors; once they have opened, a Tarantula will come running into view directly in front of you from the left side of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you've fired enough shots at him to kill him, the screen will start scrolling to the right as two Kurage come running into view from its left and right sides while firing shots at you - and once you've fired one shot at both of them to kill them, two more Ceiling Guns will come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at both of them to kill them a third Kurage will drop down to the ground from the top of the screen and start running directly towards you while firing shots at you; once you have fired a shot at him to kill him, two more Zaku and a fourth Kurage will come leaping and running into view on the right and left sides of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at each of them to kill them, another Tarantula will come running into view from the right side of the screen while firing shots at you - and once you fire enough shots at him to kill him a tenth Ceiling Gun will come down into view from the top of the screen, while firing shots at you. Once you fire a shot at it to kill it, four more Zaku will come running and leaping into view from the left and right sides of the screen while firing shots at you; once you've fired a shot at each of them, to kill them, an eleventh Ceiling Gun will come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at it to kill it, two more Zaku will jump out of two manholes and start firing shots at you - and once you have fired a shot at both of these, to kill them, a third Tarantula will come running into view directly in front of you from the left side of the screen, while firing shots at you. Once you fire enough shots at him to kill him, a twelfth Ceiling Gun will come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you; once you have fired a shot at this one, to kill it, three more Zaku will come running into view from the right side of the screen (in the background) while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at each of them to kill them, two more Kurage will come running into view from the left and right sides of the screen, while firing shots at you - and once you've fired a shot at both of these, to kill them, three more Zaku will leap into view from the left and right sides of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired off a shot at each of them to kill them an Innocent Bystander will run into view on the right side of the screen, as that text "DON'T SHOOT" appears above him; an eighteenth Zaku will then run into view on the left side of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at him to kill him a thirteenth Ceiling Gun will come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you - and once you have fired a shot at it to kill it two more Zaku will jump out of two more manholes and start firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at both of them to kill them, a seventh Kurage will drop down to the ground from the top of the screen and start running directly towards you while firing shots at you; once you have fired a shot at him to kill him, two more Ceiling Guns will come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired off a shot at both of them to kill them the screen will start scrolling inward again as a Shutter emerges from its left side and starts firing shots at you - and once you've fired a shot at it to kill it, two more Ceiling Guns will come down into view from the top of the screen, while firing shots at you. Once you fire off a shot at both of these to kill them, two more Zaku will come sliding into view on the left and right sides of the screen while firing shots at you; once you fire off a shot at both of them to kill them an eighteenth Ceiling Gun will come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you fire a shot at it to kill it, four more Shutters will emerge from the right and left sides of the screen and start firing shots at you - and once you've fired a shot at each of them to kill them, you will come to another pair of vertical double doors. Once they have opened you will come to twenty-one Atmospheric Airships; like the first thirty-two you encountered in the fourth act, they will not attack.
Once you've fired enough shots at each of them to kill them, a rope will lower a twenty-third Zaku down into view from the top of the screen, as he starts firing shots at you; once you've fired off a shot at him to kill him, a twenty-fourth Zaku will come leaping into view from that right side of the screen, while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at him to kill him, another rope will lower a twenty-fifth Zaku down into view from the top of the screen, as he starts firing shots at you - and once you have fired off a shot at him to kill him, a twenty-sixth Zaku will come leaping into view from the left side of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you've fired a shot at him to kill him, a nineteenth Ceiling Gun will come down into view from the top of the screen and start firing shots at you; once you've fired a shot at it to kill it, two more Zaku will jump out of two more manholes, and start firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at both of them to kill them, four more ropes will lower four more Zaku down into view from the top of the screen as they start firing shots at you - and once you have fired a shot at each of them to kill them, a thirty-second Zaku will jump out of a seventh manhole, and start firing shots at you. Once you've fired a shot at him to kill him, the screen will start scrolling to the right (again) as three more ropes lower three more Zaku down into view from the top of the screen, while firing shots at you; once you've fired a shot at each of these to kill them, two more Atmospheric Airships will come flying into view from behind you, while firing missiles at you. Once you have fired enough shots at both of these, to kill them, two more Kurage will come running into view from the right and left sides of the screen while firing shots at you - and once you have fired a shot at both of them to kill them a thirty-eighth Zaku and a Mosquito will come running and flying into view from the left and right sides of the screen while firing shots and missiles at you. Once you fire off enough shots at each of these to kill them, a fourth Tarantula will come running into view directly in front of you on the left side of the screen, while firing shots at you; once you've fired enough shots at him to kill him, three more Atmospheric Airships will come flying down into view from the top of the screen, while firing missiles at you. Once you have fired enough shots at each of them to kill them, three more Zaku will drop down to the ground from the top of the screen and start firing shots at you - and once you have fired a shot at each of them to kill them, Aggai (who must have been rebuilt for a third time after his defeat on the previous act) will come hovering directly towards you while firing missiles at you. Once you've fired enough shots at him to defeat him for a third (or fourth, if you count his initial appearance in 1990) time, he will explode and fall to the ground once again; two Airship Zaku, two more Kurage and a forty-second Zaku will then come flying and running into view from the left and right sides of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired enough shots at each of them to kill them two more Zaku will come leaping into view from the right side of the screen while firing shots at you - and once you fire one shot at both of them to kill them two Domu will come up from behind a stack of four crates in the background and start firing missiles at you. Once you've fired enough shots at both of them to kill them, four more Kurage will come running into view from the right side of the screen while firing shots at you; once you have fired a shot at each of them to kill them four more ropes will lower four more Zaku down into view from the top of the screen as they start firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at each of them to kill them, two more Zaku will jump out of two more manholes and start firing shots at you - and once you fire off a shot at both of them to kill them, another Mosquito and two more Atmospheric Airships will come flying (down, in the case of the Atmospheric Airships), into view from the right side and top of the screen, while firing missiles at you. Once you've fired enough shots at each of these to kill them, four more Kurage will come running into view from that left side of the screen, while firing shots at you; once you fire off a shot at each of them to kill them, two more Atmospheric Airships will come flying into view from behind you while firing missiles at you. Once you fire enough shots at both of these, to kill them, four more ropes will lower four more Zaku down into view from the top of the screen as they start firing shots at you - and once you've fired a shot at each of them to kill them, a fifty-fifth Zaku will jump out of a tenth manhole and start firing shots at you. Once you've fired a shot at him to kill him, a fifth Tarantula will come running into view directly in front of you on the left side of the screen, while firing shots at you; once you have fired off enough shots at him to kill him, one of those two identical clones of Aggai (who must have been rebuilt after his defeat in the previous act) will come hovering directly towards you, while firing missiles at you. Once you've fired enough shots at him to defeat him for a second time, he will explode, then fall to the ground again - and two more Zaku will then leap into view from the right side of the screen, while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at both of these, to kill them, four more Domu will come running into view from the left and right sides of the screen, while firing missiles at you; once you fire enough shots at all of these, to kill them, two more Ceiling Guns will come down into view from the top of the screen, while firing shots at you. Once you fire a shot at both of these, to kill them, two more Airship Zaku and a third Mosquito will come flying into view on the left and right sides of the screen, while firing shots and missiles at you - and once you've fired enough shots at each of them to kill them, four more Zaku will drop down to the ground from the top of the screen and start firing shots at you. Once you have fired off a shot at each of these to kill them, three more ropes will lower three more Zaku down into view from the top of the screen, as they start firing shots at you - and once you have fired a shot at all of these to kill them, three more Atmospheric Airships will come flying down into view from the top of the screen, while firing missiles at you. Once you have fired enough shots at each of these, to kill them, four more Zaku will come leaping and running into view from the right and left sides of the screen, while firing shots at you; once you have fired a shot at each of them to kill them, eight more Kurage will come running into view from the right side of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired off a shot at each of these to kill them, three more Atmospheric Airships will come flying down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you - and once you have fired a shot at each of them to kill them four more Airship Zaku will come flying into view from the left side of the screen, while firing shots at you. Once you have fired enough shots at each of them to kill them, a sixth Tarantula will come running into view directly in front of you from the left side of the screen, while firing shots at you; once you have fired off enough shots at him to kill him, a twenty-second Ceiling Gun will come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at it to kill it, two more Zaku will come running into view from the right side of the screen while firing shots at you - and once you have fired one shot at both of them to kill them two more Ceiling Guns will come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at both of these, to kill them, two more Zaku will come running into view from the left side of the screen, while firing shots at you; once you've fired a shot at all of these, to kill them, the screen will start scrolling inward once again as two more Zaku drop down into view from its top and start firing shots at you. Once you've fired a shot at both of these, to kill them, two more Shutters will emerge from the right and left sides of the screen and start firing shots at you - and once you have fired a shot at both of these, to kill them, two more Ceiling Guns will come down into view from the top of the screen, while firing shots at you. Once you've fired a shot at both of these, to kill them, two more Zaku will come sliding into view from the left and right sides of the screen, while firing shots at you; once you've fired a shot at both of these, to kill them, a twenty-seventh Ceiling Gun will come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired off a shot at it to kill it, the screen will start scrolling to the left as another Innocent Bystander comes running into view on its left side and the text "DON'T SHOOT" appears above him - and a twenty-eighth Ceiling Gun will then come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at it to kill it a third Innocent Bystander will come running into view on the left side of the screen, as the text "DON'T SHOOT" appears above him; three more Zaku will then leap into view from the left and right sides of the screen, while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at each of these, to kill them, a twenty-ninth Ceiling Gun will come down into view from the top of the screen, while firing shots at you - and once you've fired a shot at it to kill it, a seventh Tarantula will come running into view from the left side of the screen, while firing shots at you. Once you've fired enough shots at him, to kill him, two more Kurage will come running into view from the left and right sides of the screen, while firing shots at you; once you have fired a shot at both of them to kill them, two more Zaku will jump out of two more manholes, and start firing shots at you. Once you've fired a shot at both of them to kill them, two more Ceiling Guns will come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you - and once you have fired a shot at both of them to kill them, a thirtieth Kurage will come running into view from the right side of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you fire off a shot at him to kill him three more Zaku will come running into view from the left and right sides of the screen, while firing shots at you; once you have fired a shot at each of them to kill them, an eighth Tarantula will come running into view directly in front of you from the left side of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired off enough shots at him to kill him a thirty-second Ceiling Gun will come down into view from the top of the screen, while firing shots at you - and once you fire a shot at it to kill it, three more Zaku will come leaping into view from the left side of the screen, while firing shots at you. Once you have fired off a shot at each of these to kill them, the screen will start scrolling inwards yet again as an eighty-sixth Zaku comes sliding into view from the left side of the screen while firing shots at you; once you have fired off a shot at him to kill him, two more Ceiling Guns will come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at both of them to kill them, three more Zaku will drop down to the ground from the top of the screen, then start firing shots at you - and once you have fired a shot at each of these to kill them, a thirty-fifth Ceiling Gun will come down into view from the top of the screen, while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at it to kill it, four more Shutters will emerge from the left and right sides of the screen then start firing shots at you; once you have fired a shot at each of them to kill them, you'll come to a third pair of vertical double doors much like the two you encountered earlier in the act.
Once they have opened, the screen will start scrolling to the right once again, as two more ropes lower two more Zaku down into view from the top of the screen and they start firing shots at you; once you have fired a shot at each of them to kill them, four more Zaku will jump up into view from the bottom of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at each of them to kill them a thirty-seventh Atmospheric Airship and a ninth Airship Zaku will come flying into view on the left and right sides of the screen, while firing missiles and shots at you - and once you have fired enough shots at both of them to kill them, three more Zaku will jump up into view from the bottom of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you've fired a shot at each of them to kill them, a thirty-sixth Ceiling Gun will come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you; once you've fired a shot at it to kill it, a ninth Tarantula will come running into view from the right side of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired enough shots at him to kill him, a thirty-first Kurage and a fourth Mosquito will come running and flying into view from the left and right sides of the screen, while firing shots and missiles at you - and once you have fired off enough shots at both of them to kill them three more Zaku will come running into view from the left and right sides of the screen, while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at each of these, to kill them, a twenty-third rope will lower a 102nd Zaku down into view from the top of the screen as he starts firing shots at you; once you've fired a shot at him to kill him a thirty-seventh Ceiling Gun will come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at it to kill it, three more Zaku will jump up into view from the bottom of the screen, while firing shots at you - and once you fire a shot at each of these, to kill them, a thirty-eighth Ceiling Gun will come down into view from the top of the screen, while firing shots at you. Once you've fired a shot at it to kill it, a tenth Tarantula will come running into view directly in front of you from the left side of the screen while firing shots at you; once you have fired off enough shots at him to kill him, a thirty-ninth Ceiling Gun will come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at it to kill it, four more Airship Zaku will come flying into view from the left side of the screen while firing shots at you - and once you have fired off enough shots at each of them to kill them a twenty-fourth rope will lower a 106th Zaku down into view from the top of the screen (as he starts firing shots at you). Once you have fired a shot at him to kill him, three more Zaku will come running into view from the right and left sides of the screen while firing shots at you; once you have fired a shot at each of them to kill them a twenty-fifth rope will lower a 110th Zaku down into view from the top of the screen as he starts firing shots at you. Once you have fired off a shot at him to kill him, a fourteenth Airship Zaku will come flying down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you - and once you fire enough shots at him to kill him, two more Atmospheric Airships and two more Kurage will come flying (and running) into view from the left and right sides of the screen, while firing missiles and shots at you. Once you have fired enough shots at each of these to kill them, four more Airship Zaku will come flying into view from the left side of the screen, while firing shots at you; once you've fired enough shots at each of them to kill them, two more ropes will lower two more Zaku down into view from the top of the screen as they start firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at both of them to kill them, four more Zaku will jump up into view from the bottom of the screen, while firing shots at you - and once you fire a shot at each of these to kill them, four more Atmospheric Airships and a fifth Mosquito will come flying into view from the left and right sides of the screen while firing shots and missiles at you. Once you've fired enough shots at each of these to kill them, a 117th Zaku will run into view on the right side of the screen, while firing shots at you; once you have fired a shot at him to kill him, a fortieth Ceiling Gun will come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at it to kill it, a thirty-second Kurage and a forty-fourth Atmospheric Airship will come running and flying into view from the left side of the screen, while firing shots and missiles at you - and once you've fired enough shots at both of them to kill them, a 118th Zaku will jump up into view from the bottom of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at him to kill him, a forty-first Ceiling Gun will come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you; once you have fired a shot at it to kill it, a twenty-eighth rope will lower a 119th Zaku down into view from the top of the screen as he starts firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at him to kill him, the text "SHOOT" will appear over the window in the background as debris starts falling down from the top of the screen - and it will then scroll upward as you come to a sixth Mosquito who is firing missiles at you. Once you have fired enough shots at him to kill him the screen will start scrolling outwards as five more Airship Zaku come flying into view from the right and left sides of the screen while firing shots at you; once you have fired enough shots at each of them to kill them the screen will start scrolling to the right yet again as two more Ceiling Guns come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at both of them to kill them, two more Innocent Bystanders will run into view on the right side of the screen as the text "DON'T SHOOT" appears above them - and three more Zaku will then come leaping into view from the right and left sides of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you've fired one shot at both of them to kill them a thirty-third Kurage will come running into view from the left side of the screen, while firing shots at you; once you have fired a shot at him to kill him, two more Ceiling Guns will come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at both of them to kill them, an eleventh Tarantula and two more Zaku will come running into view from the right and left sides of the screen while firing shots at you - and once you have fired enough shots at each of them to kill them a 125th Zaku will jump out of a thirteenth manhole and start firing shots at you. Once you've fired a shot at him to kill him two more Ceiling Guns will come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you; once you have fired a shot at both of these to kill them, two more Zaku will leap and run into view from the right (and left) sides of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at both of them to kill them, a 128th Zaku will jump out of a fourteenth manhole and start firing shots at you - and once you have fired a shot at him to kill him, four more Zaku will drop down into view from the top of the screen, and start firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at each of them to kill them a twelfth Tarantula will come running into view directly in front of you from the left side of the screen while firing shots at you; once you have fired enough shots at him to kill him two more Ceiling Guns will come down into view from the top of the screen while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at both of them to kill them two more Kurage will drop down to the ground from the top of the screen and start running directly towards you while firing shots at you - and once you have fired a shot at both of them to kill them, four more Kurage will come running into view from the left and right sides of the screen, while firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at each of them to kill them, the screen will start scrolling upward again as it comes to Great Leader Danbain and the text "WELCOME TO YOUR GRAVES!" appears below him; he will then start hovering around the room while firing "energy bombs" at you. Once you've fired enough shots at him to defeat him, he will explode - and the screen will then start scrolling inwards for a fifth time, as it comes to another pair of regular double doors. Once they have opened, you will come to Vanguard; the screen will then go black as "IT'S UP TO ME NOW. I'VE SET THE SELF DESTRUCT DEVICE. I'M GONNA TAKE YOU WITH ME." (in red) and "30 SECONDS LEFT! I CAN'T MAKE IT! WHERE IS THE SELF DESTRUCT DEVICE? GOOD!" (in green) appears at the bottom of it, and a fourth and final map appears upon that left side of it:
Once the screen returns to the shot of Vanguard, it will start scrolling downward again, as the 30-second timer at its top starts counting down; it will then scroll to the right for a fifth time, then inwards for a sixth time, as you come to a seventh Mosquito who is firing missiles at you. Once you fire a missile at him to kill him, three more Shutters will emerge from the left and right sides of the screen, and start firing shots at you - and once you fire off a missile at these to kill them, four Ball-Shaped Shutters will come flying into view from the left and right sides of the screen, and generate an electrical force-field in front of you. Once you fire a missile at them to kill them, six more Shutters will emerge from the left and right sides of the screen, and start firing shots at you; once you fire a missile at them to kill them, four more Ball-Shaped Shutters will come flying into view from the left and right sides of the screen, and generate an electrical force-field in front of you. Once you fire a missile at them to kill them, you will come to four more pairs of vertical double doors that are closing in front of you just before you crash through them; you will then come to the self-destruct device itself as the text "SHOOT" appears above it. Once you have fired a missile at it, to destroy it, that text "THE SELF DESTRUCT DEVICE HAS STOPPED. NOW, GET OUT!" will appear at the bottom of the screen (however, if that timer runs out, the game will immediately be over) - and it is also worth noting that the self-destruct device looked like this:
The act's second theme will then start to be heard from the Yamaha YM-2151 as the screen scrolls upwards once again, then to the right for a sixth time as more debris starts falling down from its top, then upward yet again, then inward for a sixth time as a twenty-first Shutter emerges from its left side and starts firing shots at you; once you fire a shot at it to kill it, two more Ceiling Guns will come down from the top of the screen, and start firing shots at you. Once you have fired a shot at both of them to kill them, two more Shutters will emerge from the left and right sides of the screen, and start firing shots at you - and once you've fired a shot at both of them to kill them, the screen will scroll upward for a fifth time, then inward for a seventh time as the big blue aeroplane from the end of the four previous acts comes in to land. However, just before the screen can go into it, Great Leader Danbain will burst out of the ground in his second form and start firing more "energy bombs" at you as his own theme starts to be heard from the Yamaha YM-2151, causing it to take off again; once you fire enough shots at him to defeat him for a second time, he'll explode (again) and recede back into the ground. The screen will then scroll to the right for a seventh time, and inward for an eighth time as the aforementioned big blue aeroplane from the end of the four previous acts comes in to land for a second time and it goes into it - and both players' scores (which were, for a final time, not displayed during gameplay) will then be displayed at the top of the screen under the text "1UP" and "2UP", and their hit/miss ratios upon either side of the text "HIT RATE" above the shot of the unnamed Neo Arc female operative as the text "LET'S TAKE OFF." appears below it. The screen will then cut to a real-time shot of the shocked-looking operative as the screen scrolls to the left again; Great Leader Danbain will then burst into the aeroplane in his third, last form as his own theme starts to be heard from the Yamaha YM-2151 again. Once you've fired enough shots at him to defeat him for a third and last time, he will fly out of the plane and explode as the screen goes white - and the game's ending theme will then start to be heard from the Yamaha YM-2151, as the screen fades into a shot of Vanguard's ship about to crash into an ocean, and the text "THANKS GARCIA AND CLIFF. VANGUARD HAS BEEN DEFEATED." appears below it:
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The text "CONGRATULATIONS!" will then be displayed in the centre of the screen, as both players' scores (which were not displayed during gameplay) are displayed upon either side of the text "SCORE", their hit/miss ratios on either side of the text "HIT RATE", their end-of-game bonuses (which will be their hit/miss ratios multiplied by 100) on either side of the text "BONUS", and their number of continues on either side of the text "CONTINUE" below it, as their end-of-game bonuses are added to their scores; both players' scores will then be displayed up at the top of the screen under the text "1UP" and "2UP", with their hit/miss ratios again displayed on either side of the text "HIT RATE" and their number of continues again displayed on either side of the text "CONTINUE" above a shot of Garcia and Cliff with the new Neo Arc Police Chief and the aforementioned unnamed Neo Arc female operative. If the first player (Garcia) had finished with the higher score after his end-of-game bonus, the shot will look like this (note that he's smiling and Cliff's frowning):
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But if second player (Cliff) finished with the higher score after his end-of-game bonus, it will look like this (note that he is smiling and Garcia is frowning):
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After the credits have finished, the game will go into high-score mode; your scores will most likely be the two highest ones on the cabinet to date, so you should use the lightguns to enter your initials at the top of the table with pride, regardless of which way around they are positioned. Once you have done so, the game will go back into attract mode - but unlike in the original, this one does not have that table of missed-shot rankings ("TODAY'S WORST 5").