Cave- Best to worst...rank 'em!

[evil_ash_xero]

Obviously, i've been playing a lot of Cave, and also I am bored. Rank the Cave games you have played, best to worst. Here's mine(at this moment):

EDIT: Thought I would update due to new games, and changing opinions on older ones.


Holy Trinity:
1. Do DonPachi
2. ESP Ra.De.
3. Guwange

Allah:
4. ESPGaluda II
5. Deathsmiles MBL
6. Mushihimesama Futari 1.5

Buddah:
7. Do DonPachi- DOJ
8. Progear
9. ESPGaluda

Vishnu:
10. Ibara
11. DonPachi
13. Dangun Feveron

Xenu:
14. Muishimesama

[Dale]

Dangun Feveron
EspGaluda2
EspGaluda
DodonPachi DOJ
DoDonPachi
Guwange
Progear
DonPachi
ESP Ra de

These are the only one's I've played enough to judge. ESPrade is the only one I actually dislike.

[Danbo]

Ibara
ESPGaluda
Progear
DoDonPachi : Dai-Ou-Jou
DoDonPachi
Dangun Feveron
Guwange
Mushihimesama
ESP Ra. De.

these are the ones i have played long enough to appreciate. all the games after dodonpachi are pretty equally good in my opinion to be honest, i dont actively dislike any cave games. ibara wins for being garegga 2, galuda gets 2nd place for being the most tolerable of the traditional cave games in terms of being able to make a few mistakes and also because the scoring system is fun. progear is incredibly satisfying to play well but has a few horrible flaws which have turned me off it...

[unsane]

DoDonPachi
Dangun Feveron
DonPachi
Mushihime-sama Futari (only played a few credits, liked it)
ESPRade
Progear
Guwange (only played a few credits, didn't like it)

[adversity1]

From what I've played,

Mushihimesama Futari Black Label
Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu ver 1.5
Dodonpachi Daioujou Black Label
Ketsui
Muchi Muchi Pork!
Espgaluda
Guwange
Ibara Kuro : Black Label
Dodonpachi
Deathsmiles ver 1.1
Deathsmiles Mega Black Label
Deathsmiles II
Deathsmiles
Ibara
Progear

[Dave_K.]

I'm to lazy to list them all, so lets cut to the chase...

Best Cave game = Ketsui
Worst Cave game = Uo Poko

(Note: I would have listed Steep Slope Sliders as worst, but it doesn't even work for me in Mame, so technically I haven't played it yet.)

[EPS21]

I guess if non-shmups count, its pretty easy with Cave, worst being that crappy MMO shin megami tensei online, and probably that princess simulator/dancing game for the DS too.

[Enhasa]

Yeah, I didn't know about that DS game. Their wikipedia page has some holes.

best Cave game = dunno, too many I haven't played to say
best I've played = Uo Poko (not hating on the shmups but this really is a top-tier 1p/co-op arcade puzzler)
worst = gotta be SMT: Imagine cuz it's a MMO, lol
worst I've played = Trick'n Snowboarder

People might not know this -- I know I didn't until semi-recently -- but Steep Slope Sliders is actually the first in a trilogy for Cave. SSS was the only arcade game though. Trick'n Snowboarder/Tricky Sliders was PS1, and Snowboard Heaven was PS2.

[Strider77]

these are my favorites:

Mushihime Futari BL
MMP
ESP Galuda 2
Musihimesama
Progear
DDP

Futari BL is my favorite one though

[Shocky]

Great:
Guwange <3 <3 <3
DoDonPachi
Ketsui
Death Smiles
Ketsui Death Label (DS) - Brain says it's a stupid idea, tiny tiny pixels and all, but somehow it's addictive as hell
ESP Ra.De
ESP Galuda
Muchi Muchi Pork
DonPachi
Mushihimetama

Didn't care so much about:
Progear no Arashi
Mushihimesama
Mushihimesama Futari
DoDonPachi Dai-Ou-Jou
Dangun Feveron
Ibara
Pink Sweets

I've played, but not enough to judge properly:
ESP Galuda II
DoDonPachi Dai Fukkatsu

OK, it's not Cave but still kicks ass:
DoDonPachi 2: BeeStorm

[Mero]

I've very limited experience of their back catalogue but of what i have played:

Mushihimesama
DoDonPachi
DonPachi
Espgaluda
DoDonPachi Dai Ou Jou

[emphatic]

From my own experience (thank God I get to hang out with sven666):

ESPGALUDA
Ketsui
Mushihime Futari BL
DeathSmiles MBL
DoDonpachi DOJ BL
DeathSmiles
Guwange
DoDonpachi DOJ
DDP DFK 1.5
Mushihime Sama
E.S.P. Ra.De.
ESPGALUDA II
DoDonpachi
Progear
Ibara Kuro
Donpachi
Ibara
Dangun Feveron
Mushi Mushi Pork

[jonny5]

ketsui
mushihimesama
mushihimesama futari 1.5
espgaluda
DDP DOJ
mushihimetama
uo poko
death smiles MBL
esprade
progear no arashi
ibara
guwange
DDP
donpachi
dangun feveron

all ive played/owned

i know most would rate futari higher than mushi, but i love mushi....

[TLB]

Garegga 2
Mushihimesama
DOJ
Progear, Storm of
Guwaaange
ESPRaDe
DDP
ESPgaluda
Donpachi
Dangun Feveron


I'd love to put galuda higher up there, it being so nice and polished and all, but I just don't like the game. And something tells me I'd like Futari, Ketsui, DFK, MMP, etc., a lot more than most of the other, older ones. Cave just ain't my bag so far.

[dpful]

From what I've played:

Dodonpachi DOJ
Mushihimesama
Progear
Esp Galuda
Dodonpachi
Dangun Feveron
Ibara
ESPrade
Guwange
Donpachi

[Runefaust]

Ketsui
Progear
Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu
Muchihimesama Futari
Ibara Black Label
Muchi Pork
Mushihimesama
Espgaluda
Espgaluda 2
Guwange
Death Smiles
Dodonpachi Daioujou
Ibara
Dodonpachi
Pink Sweets
Dangun Feveron
Esprade
Donpachi

I just rated the Shmups, for i have no clue about their MMORPGs and stuff.

[evil_ash_xero]

Yeah, I totally just meant shmups, guys.

[captpain]

Yeah, I totally just meant shmups, guys.

You mean people were being exasperatingly nerdy and pedantic on shmups forum? Impossible....

[clp]

best
Ibara
guwange
esprade
dangun

worst
espgaluda
mushi

[Raizen1984]

DoDonPachi - My number 1. It's pure sex as far as gameplay goes; one of the most chaotic yet balanced shooters I've ever played. Doesn't get old, no matter how many times I play.

ESPRa.De. - This is a close second. I really like the design aesthetic, though the story didn't make much sense. Seems more strategic than DDP as well, though I'm not sure why.

Progear - I've heard a lot of people compare this to Studio Ghibli movies, and I definitely agree. It's also the best hori shmup Cave has made, though that's not saying much. Sooner or later, I'll find a non-bootleg/non-conversion phoenix edition. They have to exist somewhere.

ESPGaluda - I don't know how I feel about flying around as a fairy, but the game itself is pretty fun. Less noteworthy than the others though.

Ibara - I don't care what anyone says, I think Shinobu Yagawa is a very talented guy. His shmups are different, and while they're not my favorite, I appreciate the idea of making something unique. I need to be in a certain mood to really enjoy this.

DonPachi - aka Batsugun II (j/k ) Holds up pretty well for being Cave's first effort. The music sucks and the announcer is annoying, but everything else is good.

Dangun Feveron - Game itself is fine. The disco thing is distractingly out of place.

DoDonPachi Dai-Ou-Jou - This one's ok. Never got why everyone likes it so much. It's too hard and feels unsatisfying.

Death Smiles - Played through it twice. It's fine, but I feel less inclined to replay this one.

Guwange - Will never understand all the praise this one gets. Awkward mechanics and butt ugly artwork.

Those are the only Cave games I've played.

[clp]

Guwange Awkward mechanics and butt ugly artwork.

wow calling guwange ugly wow just wow .

[Chi_Ryu]

#1) Ketsui ~Kizuna Jigoku Tachi~
Dodonpachi Dai-Ou-Jou
Espgaluda II
Ibara
DeathSmiles MegaBlack Label
Muchi Muchi Pork
Progear no arashi
Esp Ra.De
Espgaluda
DeathSmiles
Dodonpachi
Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu 1.5 (not played the original)
Mushihimesama Futari
Dangun Feveron
Mushihimesama
#16) Pink Sweets ~Ibara sorekara~ (never got the "feel" of this)

I've not played Guwange or Donpachi enough to comment, and not played any of the black labels (except DeathSmiles). I've also not played DeathSmiles II, but have no inclination to buy it.

Key notes:
1) Ketsui FTW.
2) I wasn't *that* keen on Daifukkatsu (really disliked it at first, but it's grown on me a bit), I felt it was a bit of a step back in many ways.
3) I still don't get what people see in Mushihimesama (but I guess people say the same about Ibara, which I love).
4) The only game I've genuinely not enjoyed in some way was Pink Sweets. Maybe I need to re-buy it and give it a bit more of a chance...

[Danbo]

well not everybody, but

[Momijitsuki]

From what I've played...

ESPGaluda
Mushihimesama
ESP Ra. De.
Guwange
DoDonPachi Dai-Ou-Jou DEATH LABEL
DonPachi
Progear
DoDonPachi Dai-Ou-Jou (normal)
Dangun Feveron


That's not to say I actually dislike any of them, though.

[szycag]

Cave doesn't make bad games, useless thread.

[Grinning Cat]

Guwange
Progear
Ketsui
ESP Galuda II
Dodonpachi Dai Ou Jou
ESP Galuda
Dangun Feveron
ESP Ra. De.
Muchi Muchi Pork
Dodonpachi
Mushimesama
Death Smiles
Donpachi
Ibara

[BAD]

I love 'em all! I like each one for what it is; Cave always puts out the goods. I thought Ibara was great, and I love the sequel, too. Also love the design for Muchi Muchi Pork (because the "thick" characters remind me of my girlfriend). The theme of Dangun Feveron pisses me off, though. Fuck disco.

[Davey]

Dangun Feveron - Game itself is fine. The disco thing is distractingly out of place.

Feveron is flashy, excessive, intent on overloading the senses... I think disco is a good match for the gameplay.

[BryanM]

Dangun is a flower whose beauty opens as you do.

It takes dozens of hours to realize this, but it's the best game ever made.

[MX7]

Deathsmiles
DoDonpachi Daifukkatsu
Guwange
Ketsui DS
Muchi Muchi Pork
Mushihimesama
Ketsui
Deathsmiles Mega Black Label
Ibara
ESPGaluda 2
ESPGaluda
Donpachi
Pink Sweets
DoDonpachi Daioujou
Dodonpachi
Dangun Feveron
ESPRade
Progear

IT'S A HORI SANDWICH D: