Best NES Shmup

[tony_good]

I would say Contra, but I consider that more of a platform side-scroller.

I say The Punisher. Though it's also got the side scrolling action, I'd say it falls more into the "shoot 'em up" category.

[Gapporin]

Gun.Nac, hands down.

[NeoZeedeater]

Gun*Nac for me too.

Recca and Crisis Force are really good too. I'm also quite fond of Donkey Kong 3. I guess it's not a "shmup"(I hate that term) but it's a shooter of sorts.

[Crush Crawfish]

Gun-Nac is easily the best NES shmup...I really gotta track down a copy someday. I'm also quite fond of Terra Cresta.

[imanerd0011]

Life Force is a pretty sick shooter, but the game is too hard for my taste. I personally really liked S.C.A.T. , and Abadox isn't bad either.

[ubersaurus]

Zanac, with Recca coming in a close second, and Sky Kid after that. I LOVES THE SKY KID.

[StealthLurker]

Konami's Crisis Force.

[ae.tc]

Life Force is a pretty sick shooter, ....

2-Player Co-op on Life Force! .. Salamander (Gradius Side-Story)

[Dire 51]

I say The Punisher. Though it's also got the side scrolling action, I'd say it falls more into the "shoot 'em up" category.

The Punisher? That's no SHMUP. That's like calling Doom a SHMUP.

I cast my vote for Life Force, followed by Gradius II and Crisis Force.

[pookninja]

i also would say life force,but dont forget tiger heli.i used to(and still do at times)play tiger heli like crazy.its a great shooter.

[blissfulnoise]

Despite the fact that Gun*Nac is a technically better game, I second Zanac for best on the NES.

Played it over the weekend and it reminded me what a fierce little shmup it is! Once you get used to the power up system, it begins to go down a lot more smoothly. Half twitch and half memorization; you can see Compile (and later Raizing) stacking the building blocks that went on to create some of the finest shooters ever made.

The AI adapts to what weapon your using instead of just making you memorize the whens and wheres of blowing up enemy crafts. This technique was so far ahead of it's time, it's hard NOT to give Zanac the nod here.

But maybe it's because I perfer fighting futuristic sci-fi battle stations over wierd killer rabbits.

[Cirrus]

Gun*Nac for me too.

Recca and Crisis Force are really good too. I'm also quite fond of Donkey Kong 3. I guess it's not a "shmup"(I hate that term) but it's a shooter of sorts.

I hate that term, too! I thought I was the only one.

Anyway, my vote goes to Life Force. I love the idea of a fighter versus living space organisms.

[junglehunter]

Abadox would have to be my favorite.

[Sotenga]

Ima gonna say Life Force. Abadox, Gradius II, and Crisis Force are also rather awesome.

[gamergary]

Crisis force hands down. Graphics compete with the 16 bit systems of the time and the gameplay can not be beat.

[Darth Vader]

Well, I'd consider contra a winner here, I can't remember how many hours I spent playing that game over and over.

Danny

[DDCecil]

Hope it counts, but The Guardian Legend for me.

[daynum]

I'd also say GunNac, but one that hasn't already been mentioned which I find fun is Parodius.

[NESaholic]

I like Abadox most,then Gun*Nac and last but not least Mag Max.

[Tatsu]

Life Force for sure, no doubt about this one!!!! Contra comes close but Life Force is THE BEST game on the NES for me.