What are the best space shooters you've ever played?

[SuperEliteGamer]

Any era before this one,as many games as you want,.

[Bloodreign]

Gradius
Gradius II
Gradius III
Gradius IV
Gradius Gaiden
Salamander/Life Force
Salamander II
Raiden
Raiden II
Raiden DX
Xexex
Thunder Corss 1 and 2
Thunder Force 2-4
the entire Parodius series from the MSX beginning to the Sexy Parodius end
the MSX Gradius games
Space Manbox MSX2
The entire Twinbee series
Air Buster/Aero Blasters
Axelay
Aero Fighters/Sonic Wings series
Shienryu
the entire Darius series
Game Tengokou/Game Paradise
Star Parodier

Seriously I could go on, would be a longer list.

[bigbacon]

X-wing
Tie Fighter
Descent 1,2,3
Freespace 1 and 2.

I have a huge liking for Life force and gradius 3 for some reason also.

[SuperEliteGamer]

Seriously I could go on, would be a longer list.

Pls do go on?

[tom]

The Tail of Beta Lyrae on A8
Star Raiders on A8

Two of the best shmups

[Alpha2099]

Darius series
Aero Fighters/Sonic Wings
Strikers 1945 (if that counts)
Descent 1 and 2 (never played 3)

[BricatSegaFan]

Gate of thunder
Galactic attack
Batsugun
Truxton
Hotdog storm
Super star Soldier series
Dodonpachi
Gley lancer
Verytex
Grind stormer

There are a few more but they aren't space ships per se.

Air zonk
Elemental master
Fire shark
Wings of wor
Coryun
Lords of thunder

[SpaceHarrier]

Raiden II
Gley Lancer
Darius Gaiden
Gun Nac
Lightening Force (Thunderforce IV)
Verytex
Strikers 1945 III (Strikers 1999)
Gigawing 2
Raystorm
Gekirindan

There are other greats, I'm sure, but I haven't personally played them yet! Looking forward to the TG-16's Soldier series, for example.

Also, to follow Bricat's example (and add yet one more title she already mentioned):

--non-spaceship/non-space shooters that are awesome--
Lords of Thunder
Undead Line

[Gameguy]

I'll just name a few.

Space Invaders
Space Invaders '91
Defender
Galaxian
Galaga
Gorf
Yar's Revenge

[BricatSegaFan]

Raiden II
Gley Lancer
Darius Gaiden
Gun Nac
Lightening Force (Thunderforce IV)
Verytex
Strikers 1945 III (Strikers 1999)
Gigawing 2
Raystorm
Gekirindan

There are other greats, I'm sure, but I haven't personally played them yet! Looking forward to the TG-16's Soldier series, for example.

Also, to follow Bricat's example (and add yet one more title she already mentioned):

--non-spaceship/non-space shooters that are awesome--
Lords of Thunder
Undead Line

Tg Soldier series is great. The only real weak link in my opinion is final Soldier, but it's still a great game.

[Flam]

Why are not many people naming Life Force? I thought this was suppose to be one of the top space shooters on the NES? I ordered a copy not too long ago, but haven't played it yet as I am giving it to myself for my birthday.

[Atarileaf]

I'll just name a few.

Space Invaders
Space Invaders '91
Defender
Galaxian
Galaga
Gorf
Yar's Revenge

Wow it took 9 posts to come up with some of the most obvious answers, I'd also include Asteroids, not sure if it qualifies to some but it does to me. Anyway I agree totally and would add my favorite TG-16 game - Blazing Lazers.

[sloan]

I grew up a Galaga addict, then this came along:



Best space shooter ever, and did I mention that the soundtrack is out of this world?

[blue lander]

Pretty much anything by compile, and the whole thunderforce series.

[Bloodreign]

Pls do go on?

Others would like to list their games. I'll list some more.

Castle Shikigami/Shikigami no Shiro II
Castle Shikigami III
Gekirindan
Mega Blast
Varth
1942
1943
1943 Kai
19XX
Gunbird 1 and 2
Galaga
Galaga 88
Galaga Arrangement
Cosmo Gang the Video
Gaiares
Eliminate Down
Rayforce
Raystorm
Raycrisis
Hyper Duel

[A Black Falcon]

So does "any era before this one" mean no 7th gen games, or nothing PS2 or newer, or what? I listed a few games for those platforms anyway, but I noted them.

Hmm... in no order.

Scrolling shmups:
Gradius
Gradius III (SNES version)
Gradius: The Interstellar Assault
Gradius V (PS2)
Blazing Lazers
Robo Aleste
Ikaruga (DC)
Raptor: Call of the Shadows
Nexzr (or Summer Carnival '93: Nexzr Special)
Blazing Star
Under Defeat (DC)
R-Type
Lightening Force
Truxton (Genesis)
Defender (Arcade)
Gate of Thunder
Keio Flying Squadron

Some honorable mentions: Giga Wing 2, Space Megaforce, BlaZeon, Summer Carnival '92: Alzadick, Summer Carnival '92: Recca, Strikers 1945 II, Sonic Wings Special, Galactic Attack (RayForce), Gradius Gaiden, Gradius II, Viewpoint, Shienryu, Silpheed, Truxton II, Eliminate Down, Abadox, Fire Shark, W-Ring: The Double Rings, Aero Blasters/Air Buster, etc etc.

Single-screen shooters:
Megamania
Space Invaders (Arcade)
Space Invaders (2600)
Space Invaders Extreme (probably too recent)
Galaga

Arena shooters:
UFO! (O2)
Robotron 2084
Llamatron 2112
Geometry Wars (too recent?)

Rail shooters:
Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom! (2600; has no height component, unlike most rail shooters)
Space Harrier
Panzer Dragoon
Panzer Dragoon Orta (too recent?)
Sin & Punishment: Successor to the Earth
Sin & Punishment 2: Star Successor (too recent)

[SuperEliteGamer]

Awesome lists guys,thank you!
Can't wait for more.

[sloan]

When it comes to Galaga, there are many flavors:







I think I favor Galaga 3/Gaplus over the others.

[sloan]

In my list of favorite space shooters, original arcade Darius gets honorable mention:



3 screens wide, no home port could ever do it justice.

[bb_hood]

Hyper Duel - Saturn
Darius Gaiden - Saturn
Rayxanber II - Pc engine - probably the coolest one, but its mega hard
Kingdom Grandprix - Saturn
Lords of Thunder - Turbo Grafx