Favorite shmups?

[Dire 51]

I decided to go ahead and revive this topic, seeing as how shooters are my favorite game genre. So tell us - what are your favorite shmups? Here's mine:

Gradius 1, 2, 3, and 4 (all arcade)
Gradius Gaiden (PSX)
Salamander and Salamander 2 (both arcade)
Life Force (both NES and arcade)
Gradius II (Famicom - it's like a remix of the arcade game)
Gradius III (SNES - ditto)
Sexy Parodius (Saturn)
Radiant Silvergun (Saturn)
Axelay (SNES)
R-Type 1 and 2 (arcade)
R-Type III: The Third Lightning (SNES)
R-Type Delta (PSX)
ThunderForce II, III, and IV (Genesis)
ThunderForce V Perfect System (PSX)
In The Hunt (Saturn)
Strikers 1945 II (PSX)
Super Darius and Super Darius II (PCE)
Darius Gaiden (Saturn)
G Darius (PSX)
U.N. Squadron (SNES)
MUSHA (Genesis)
Truxton (Genesis)
Gaiares (Genesis)
Gunbird (Saturn)
Gunbird 2 (Dreamcast)
Mars Matrix (Dreamcast)
Giga Wing 1 and 2 (Dreamcast)
Blazing Lazers (TG16)
Space Megaforce (SNES)
Super E.D.F. (SNES)

[Captain Wrong]

At the risk of repeting a lot of your list, I'm going to throw one up anyway

No Particular order, mind you.

Axelay (SNES)
Gradius Series (Various)
R-Types (PSX)
Parodus DX(Saturn)
Strikers 1945 II (Saturn)
Viewpoint (Neo Geo/Genny/PSX)
DonPatchi (Arcade)
DoDonPatchi (Arcade)
Twinkle Star Sprites (Neo Geo/DC)
Gunbird 2 (DC)
Lightening Force (Genny)
Lifeforce (NES)
Xevious (Arcade)
In the Hunt (Arcade/Saturn)
Raiden Project (PSX)
Einhander (PSX)
Robo Aleste (Sega CD)
G Darius (PSX)
Mars Matrix (DC)
River Raid (Atari 5200)
Thunderforce V (PSX)
Gain Ground (Genny)

@ Dire 51, if you're even in Indy, look me up. We need to hang out

[MankeyMan]

We should make this into a top 20 shmup list. Enough games have already been mentioned. Here are my top 5ish:

Rogue Squadron (N64)
Rogue Squadron: Rogue Leader (GC)
Isolated Warrior (NES)
Life Force Salamand (NES)
All of the Gradius

[Revolt]

Well here we go.

Gradius-nes, arcade
Gradius3-arcade, snes
Lifeforce-arcade, nes
Gyruss-arcade, nes
:evilbat:

[Cafeman]

You listed mine and more.

Perhaps 80's games aren't 'shmups' in the standard sense of the term, but you didnt mention either Defender or Robotron, 2 incredibly furious and frantic shooters that I love.

[Kid Fenris]

This would make a fine Top 20 list indeed, but I've got one question: Can we count overhead Commando-style games like Gain Ground, Pocky and Rocky, and Guwange?

Anyway, here are my fifteen favorite old-school shooters.

1. Radiant Silvergun -Saturn
2. Axelay -SNES
3. ESP Rade -Arcade
4. MUSHA -Genesis
5. Einhander -PSX
6. R-Type -Arcade/PSX
7. Galactic Attack/Layer Section -Saturn
8. R-Type III -SNES (I need a copy, by the way.)
9. Robo Aleste -Sega CD
10. Xexex -Arcade
11. R-Type Leo -Arcade
12. Gaiares -Genesis
13. Pulstar -Neo-Geo
14. Dodonpachi -Saturn/Arcade
15. Keio Flying Squadron -Sega CD

And an honorable mention goes to half of The Guardian Legend.

[Captain Wrong]

Though the Commando type games are shmup-ish, I don't really count them. My definition of a shmup is a 2d game where you're controlling some kind of ship, sub, hummingbird, 2 teenaged girls on a jet pack, etc. and traveling on a scrolling background shooting at stuff. Even then, that definition leaves out Thunder Force 2 and could concieveable add the Metal Slug Series, so it's far from perfect. I guess it's like pornography, I know it when I see it (of course, my reaction is a little different.)

PS I Count Gain Ground as a shump (see my list) but I don't count Commando. Why? Gain Ground just feels like a shmup to me and Commando doesn't. It's hard to explain, but maybe you understand?

[jaydubnb]

Favorite shumps? Now this is a topic I can sink my teeth into Out of all genres, shumps are the ones that i can -really- get into...the rush of the non stop bullets/lasers and usually rockin music gets me pumped like a mofo. My favorites are listed here in NPO:

Sylphia (PCE CD): Great fantasy shooter in the mold of Legendary Wings in which you control a fairy and blast orcs,goblins, and other uglies. Very underrated.

Gates of Thunder (Turbo/PCE CD): Some say its a ThunderForce rip (and it just may be since i've never played a TF game in my life....mostly due to me not owning a Genny until 2 weeks ago), but its grteat shump. Couldve used 1 more power up type, though.

Lords of Thunder (Turbo/ PCE CD): Great music, graphics, and action! Hard too!

R-Type Delta (PS): This game really surprised me. Wasn't expectiing much from a 3D shooter (yes, i'm biased against most polygonal games, sue me) but this oneis GREAT. Difficult and great looking.

Download II (PCE CD): This game falls just shy of greatness, IMO, but still a funride. The anime cinemas are damn nice, and the game is f'n weird...especially the last level!

Super Star Soldier (TG16/PCE): Yummy.

Sapphire (PCE CD w/ Arcade Card): I love this game! Nice powerups and the graphics are AWESOME! witht the scaling/morphing/polygon/lighting effects, it would definitely shut the mouths of those who call the PCE "just an 8 bitter".


Star Parodia: Probably the best comical shooter ever made. The ship selection (paro ceaser, bomberman, a pc engine unit!) rocks, powerups are fun, yet lethal, and the music is outstanding.

Now the real question is, which do you prefer....vertical or horizontal shumps?

[NvrMore]

gah, I hate trying to compile Top x lists. Somehow I always manage to forget one or more things which should be on the list. But i'll have a go anyway..

1. Macross: Scramble Valkyrie (SFC)
2. Axelay (SNES)
3. SWIV (Arcade)
4. Metal Slug (Arcade)
5. Super Probotector (SNES)
6. R-Type III (SNES)
7. Turrican (Various)
8. Darius Gaiden (Saturn)
9. UN Squadron (SNES)
10. Super Aleste (SNES)

[Achika]

Blazing Star - MVS
Mars Matris - DC
Dragon Spirit - NES
Gradius - NES
Gradius 3 - SNES
Sonic Wings 2 - Neo Geo CD
Sonic Wings 3 - MVS

[Lady Jaye]

I played Gyruss yesterday for the first time. Is it me, or is Gyruss a lot like a raster scan version of Tempest? Would that make Gyruss a Tempest clone?

[Captain Wrong]

@ Lady Jaye I've always thought of Gyruss as a cross between Tempest and Galaga, which probably explains why I like it so much!

[Lady Jaye]

True about the Galaga part, but it still feels more like Tempest than Galaga. Anyway, it's a cool game, and I'm glad I got it for the NES.

Oh yeah, speaking of schmups, I love Defender II/Stargate! I got it for the NES and it plays beautifully.

[NE146]

Gyruss is definitely a cross of Tempest and Galaga. It's Tempest-like in that your shooting inward into a tube and travel around the perimeter. It's Galaga-like in how the enemies come out in waves then move to formation, you have a chance to get double shots, and the challenging stages.

[Dire 51]

@cw - If I ever find myself in Indy, then I definitely will. You ever find yourself in Florida, look me up. ^_^

As far as what's a shmup and what's not, I guess that games like Commando and such could in fact be considered shmups... or at the very least "borderliners". So by that definition, games like Contra, Metal Slug, Gunstar Heroes and Alien Soldier would rate as shmups too, although Commando is probably closer to a "true" shmup than any of those.

[scooterb23]

I am horrible at shmups, but thewy are about my favorite genre of game...here are a few of my faves in no particular order

Soldier Blade - Tg-16
Einhander - PS1
Whip Rush - Genesis
Mars Matrix - Dreamcast
Xevious - Arcade
Aero Fighters - Arcade


and in the contested ground based shmups category

Iron Tank - NES
Super Smash TV - Super NES
Robotron - Arcade
Loaded - PS1
and just because of the way I play it...Grand Theft Auto III


and I nearly forgot Zero Wing, both in the Arcade and the "All Your Base Belong To Us" version on the Genesis...great game even beyond the classic opening...

[Tetsu]

Favorite Shooters:

Radiant Silvergun (as you can tell by my custom avatars that I change frequently)

Robotron

Battle Garegga

UN Squadron

Thunder Force V

ESPrade

Dodonapachi

1942

Soldier Blade

By the way, old school shooters reward quick reflexes (Robotron, Sinistar, Defender) while new school shooters reward precise bullet-dodging. Does anyone have a preference?

[Metrackle]

So many to name and I'm really tired, so I'll just name a few noteworthy ones for now.

Dangun Feveron: Interesting shooter with disco fever. Choose between three ships with different firepower and bombers. You can choose between three different weapons: a lock-on buzzsaw, a slow moving yet powerful bomb, and a charge shot that forms a ring of eight energy balls when fully charged. You can even select the speed of your ship, but once you choose your options, there's no turning back. At first, the enemies you kill present only one measly point, until you collect the little men that fall from the ship. You can earn as many points as you have dancers, but if even one flies away, you go back to one point per kill. Getting a high score is pretty hard, as not only is it one of those bullet hell shooters, but also I think the standards are too high. I only got on once, and that was when I got 5th place in the Time Trial mode.

Armed Police Batrider: Another cool bullet hell shooter with an unusual twist to ship selections. This selection is rather similar to the King of Fighters. Each ship has its own firepower, weapons, options, and bombers. There are three modes of selection (four if you cheat):
1. Team selection. You choose either the Police team, the Psychic team, or the Criminal Team.
2. Team customize. You can select a different member from each team and form different custom teams.
3. Random selection. This randomly selects your team. Not only does it have the regular nine ships, but also characters from other Raizing hits. You can also play as the Wayne brothers (Battle Garegga), the Mahou Daisakusen gang, and some character named Car-Pet (don't know that one).
4 (cheat). Manual selection. Choose any ship (even those exclusive to random selection), but you use the same ship for the entire three lives.

Xexex: Excellent graphics and sound quality for a game from the early '90s. Gameplay's excellent too, especially if you're an R-Type fan. You pilot the Flintlock which holds something called Flint. Reminiscent of the R-9 and the Force pod, but with Tentacle power. When you collect a certain powerup, you earn an extra tentacle for your flint, growing up to three. You can either keep the flint and charge your tentacles of doom up to lash them out in a powerful blast or release it, locking on enemies and protecting you from bullets. There are two different versions that I know of (both basically the same game):
World version: Has a lifebar and you can rebuild it by collecting a lifeup item, but you only get one life. You can continue where you last died. Weapon system is weaker, since you just get more powerful versions of your basic shot.
Japanese version: Lives system with return points (one hit means death). Has some cool weapons, including a shadow laser. This version is near impossible, and you'll know why when you encounter the fifth boss. Without any speed powerups, he's impossible because that spinning face goes faster than you and always manages to hit you. Unless there's a way to deflect that face, it is practically invincible.

[Dire 51]

I would so love to get my hands on a Xexex machine...

[classicb]

thought I would bring this topic back with the recent talk about Radiant Silvergun