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)