9th Annual Top 25 Shmups of All Time - Results

[incognoscente]

Top 25 Shmups of All Time (through 2010ish)

Code: Select all

Game                                               Score '02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09
01  Battle Garegga (ARC/SAT)                        6.76   +  +  *  +  +  +  .  .
02  Armed Police Batrider (ARC)                     6.08   *  *  +  *  +  +  +  +
03  Dodonpachi daioujou Black/White (ARC/360/PS2)   5.85   *  +  +  +  +  .  .  +
04  Ketsui kizuna jigoku tachi (ARC/360)            5.61   *  *  *  *  *  *  .  -  
05  Dodonpachi (ARC/SAT/PS1)                        5.56   -  -  -  -  -  .  -  -
06  ESPGaluda (ARC/PS2)                             4.17   *  *  +  +  +  .  .  +
07  Mushihimesama Futari 1.5 (ARC/360)              4.03   *  *  *  *  *  *  +  +
08  Ikaruga (ARC/DC/GC/XBLA)                        3.80   -  -  -  -  -  -  .  -
09  Raiden Fighters Jet (ARC/360)                   3.71   *  *  *  *  *  *  +  -
10  Muchi Muchi Pork! (ARC/360)                     3.47   *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
11  Deathsmiles (ARC/360)                           3.40   *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
12  Gunbird 2 (ARC/DC)                              3.34   +  +  -  +  +  *  *  +
13  Raiden DX (ARC/PS1)                             3.26   *  *  +  +  -  *  +  *
14  Gradius V (PS2)                                 3.11   *  *  -  -  -  -  -  -
15  ESPGaluda II (ARC/360)                          3.04   *  *  *  *  *  *  *  -
16  Dragon Blaze (ARC/PS2)                          3.02   *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
17  Batsugun/Batsugun Special (ARC/SAT)             2.92   *  .  -  *  +  -  -  +
18  Strikers 1945 II (ARC/PS2/SAT/PS1)              2.88   -  -  -  -  *  +  +  +
19  R-Type (ARC/PCE/PS1/etc.)                       2.84   -  -  -  -  *  -  +  -
20  Mushihimesama Futari Black Label (ARC/360)      2.81   *  *  *  *  *  *  +  +
21  Mars Matrix: Hyper Solid Shooting (ARC/DC)      2.76   -  +  -  -  -  -  -  -
22  Guwange (ARC/360)                               2.73   -  -  *  -  *  -  -  -
23  Darius Gaiden (ARC/SAT/PS1/PS2/PC)              2.72   *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
24  Ibara (ARC/PS2)                                 2.593  *  *  *  *  *  .  -  -
25  Giga Wing (ARC/DC)                              2.592  *  -  -  -  -  -  -  .

• . denotes the game holds the same position now as the year indicated.
• + denotes the game holds an improved standing compared to the year indicated.
• - denotes the game holds a reduced standing compared to the year indicated.
• * denotes the game was not on the list for the year indicated.

Honourable Mention

Code: Select all

Game                                                   '02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09
Battle Bakraid (ARC)                                    +  .  .  .  .  .  .  .
Blazing Star (ARC/NG)                                   .  +  .  .  .  .  .  .
Cho Ren Sha 68K (PC)                                    +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +
Crimzon Clover (PC)                                     +  +  +  +  +  +  +  + 
Dangun Feveron (ARC)                                    +  .  .  .  .  .  -  -
Dimahoo / Great Mahou Daisakusen (ARC)                  +  .  .  .  +  +  +  +
Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu 1.5 (ARC/360)                    +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +
Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu Black Label (ARC/360)            +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +
Donpachi (ARC/SAT/PS1)                                  -  -  -  .  .  .  .  .
Einhänder (PS1)                                         .  .  -  -  -  .  .  .
ESP ra.de. (ARC)                                        -  -  -  -  -  -  -  .
G-Darius (ARC/PS2/PS1)                                  +  .  .  .  .  .  .  .
Gokujou Parodius (ARC/SAT/PS1/etc.)                     +  .  +  +  +  +  +  +
Gradius (ARC/NES/etc.)                                  .  .  .  +  +  +  +  .
Gradius II: Gofer no Yabou (ARC/SAT/FC/etc.)            +  .  .  .  +  .  +  +
Gradius Gaiden (PS1)                                    -  -  -  -  -  -  .  -
Imperishable Night (PC)                                 +  +  .  +  +  +  +  +
Mushihimesama (ARC/PS2)                                 +  +  +  -  -  -  -  -
Perfect Cherry Blossom (PC)                             +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +
Pink Sweets ~ Ibara Sorekara (ARC/360)                  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +
Progear no Arashi (ARC)                                 +  +  +  .  .  -  -  .
R-Type Delta (PS1)                                      .  .  -  -  -  .  +  .
Radiant Silvergun (SAT/ARC)                             -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -
Raiden IV (ARC/360)                                     +  +  +  +  +  +  +  .
Raiden Fighters 2: Operation Hell Dive (ARC/360)        +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +
Rayforce/Layer Section/Galactic Attack (ARC/PS2/SAT)    +  -  -  -  -  -  -  .
Shikigami no Shiro II (ARC/DC/PC/GC/etc.)               +  .  -  -  -  -  .  .
Soukyugurentai / Terra Diver (SAT/ARC/PS1)              -  -  -  -  -  -  .  -
Strikers 1999 / Strikers 1945 III (ARC)                 +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +
Thunder Force III (MD/GEN/SAT)                          -  -  -  -  -  -  .  .
Thunder Force IV (MD/GEN/SAT)                           -  -  -  -  -  -  .  +
Under Defeat (ARC/DC)                                   +  +  +  +  -  .  .  .
Zero Gunner 2 (ARC/DC)                                  +  -  .  .  +  +  .  .

• . denotes the game was also on the HM list for the year indicated.
• + denotes the game was on neither the HM list nor the top 25 for the year indicated.
• - denotes the game was in the top 25 for the year indicated.

What Dropped from the Top 25:

• Dangun Feveron (ARC)
• Gradius Gaiden (PS1)
• Mushihimesama (ARC/PS2)
• Radiant Silvergun (ARC/SAT)
• Soukyugurentai (ARC/SAT)

What Dropped from the Honourably Mentioned:

• Border Down (ARC/DC)
• Psyvariar 2: the Will to Fabricate (ARC/DC/PS2/XBOX)
• Summer Carnival '92: Recca (FC)
• Triggerheart Exelica (ARC/DC/360)

Breakdown by Developer

Code: Select all

                   Top 25         Hon.M.          Overall
Cave                 11               8             19
Psikyo                3               2              5
Raizing               2               3              5
Konami                -               4              4
Seibu Kaihatsu        2               1              3
Treasure              2               1              3
Taito                 1               2              3
Takumi                2               -              2
Irem                  1               1              2
Team Shanghai Alice   -               2              2
Technosoft            -               2              2
Toaplan               1               -              1
Alfa System           -               1              1
Famibe no Yosshin     -               1              1
G.rev                 -               1              1
MOSS                  -               1              1
Square                -               1              1
Yotsubane             -               1              1
Yumekobo              -               1              1

Breakdown by Original Platform

Code: Select all

System             Top 25         Hon.M.          Overall
Arcade                24             24              48
PC/Windows             -              3               3
Playstation            -              3               3
Megadrive/Genesis      -              2               2
Playstation 2          1              -               1
X68000                 -              1               1

Miscellaneous Stats:

• Number of Actual Voters: 99 (no scaled voters this year)
• Number of Games Receiving Votes: 425
• Games Supported by at least half of voters: 3
• Games Supported by at least 1/4 of voters: 21
• Number of Honourable Mentions: 33
• Top 25 Score Spread: 2.592 - 6.767
• Honourable Mention Score Spread: 1.311 - 2.511
• Total Score Spread: 0.070-6.767

Random Comments:

• ROCKING THE PORK GOLD: Muchi Muchi Pork! rockets from not even Honourable Mention last year all the way to 10th place.
• INVESTORS WORRIED: Shares of Gradius V continue to drop, despite austerity measures in the graphics department. When asked for comment, Gradius V replied that we needed more practice.
• COMEBACK KID: Raiden DX, refreshed from last year's vacation, is back in the ring and aiming for the pendant. Let's hope he remembers to check his blind spots this time.
• CHANGING OF THE GUARD: After being stuck in the Honourable Mention list for 6 consecutive years, Dragon Blaze and Darius Gaiden both make their way into the Top 25.
• END OF AN ERA: For the first year ever, Radiant Silvergun is not on the Top 25 list. Top 25 stalwarts Dodonpachi, Ikaruga, and Mars Matrix issued a joint statement: "Neener, neener."
• DECLINE AND FALL: Last year Border Down dropped from the Top 25 list to the Honourable Mention list. This year, it has effectively dropped off the face of the earth. Border Down's PR staff categorically deny allegations of "hookers and blow," so we can only assume that this is a temporary measure that will catapult BD's future score.
• BREAKING NEWS: Votes for Dodonpachi daioujou Black Label and Dodonpachi daioujou have been merged to form Dodonpachi daioujou Grey Voltron Megamix Ultra Label Extreme. Giga Wing is now on the Top 25 list, after all.
  Full changes as follows:
  • Dodonpachi daioujou Black Label (originally position 12) and Dodonpachi daioujou [White Label] (originally position 18) are now merged and take position 3.
  • All games between Ketsui and Gunbird 2 (inclusive) retained their relative standings but moved down one position.
  • All games between Strikers 1945 II and Ibara (inclusive) moved up one position to fill the vacancy left by the former daioujou white label.
  • Giga Wing moved up from the Honourable Mention list to fill the vacancy left in the bottom slot.
  • No new games scored high enough (>1.296) to enter the Honourable Mention, so it shrunk by one due to the promotion of Giga Wing.
• The discussion thread for this year's poll is here.
• The votes for this year's poll can be found here.
• Full results are available here.

[BIL]

Nice, Dragon Blaze finally made it in. Great to see Garegga up there at #1 again too, and Raiden DX back on board. That's all my top three in there.

[DMC]

I must say, it is a good list! Maybe should have a couple of 80's shooters to be fair.

Which two games were on more than half of the voters' lists?

What is it Strikers 1945 II has that 1999 hasn't?

Top two is marvelous!! Soukyugurentai campaign next year!

[cools]

Raizing > Cave. Fact.

[AeroCityMayor]

What is it Strikers 1945 II has that 1999 hasn't?

Flying Pancake!

[incognoscente]

Which [three] games were on more than half of the voters' lists?

Battle Garegga (51 of 99 ballots), Dodonpachi daioujou (51 of 99 ballots), and Ketsui (50 of 99 ballots).

[Casper<3]

damn, I knew I wanted to vote. stupid work schedule.

Hate that DFK isn't on the main list and Psyvariar 2 dropped completely. Though I am happy with Garegga taking the win.

[Sapz]

Nice to see S1999 and Pink Sweets on the HM list.

What is it Strikers 1945 II has that 1999 hasn't?

Seconding this question, curious of what people think about this. As much as I like S1945II, S1999 seems superior to me in a lot of respects - maybe the final boss is a little less climatic, but pacing is even faster and the tech bonuses are awesome fun.

[louisg]

Nice to see S1999 and Pink Sweets on the HM list.

What is it Strikers 1945 II has that 1999 hasn't?

Seconding this question, curious of what people think about this. As much as I like S1945II, S1999 seems superior to me in a lot of respects - maybe the final boss is a little less climatic, but pacing is even faster and the tech bonuses are awesome fun.

I put 1945 II on my list for two reasons: I own a copy so I can play it more often, and it does not immediately destroy me the way Strikers III does In general, I do enjoy it more (but maybe that's because I'm more familiar with it).

[Drum]

Nothing I voted for made it >:(

[brentsg]

I doubt I could come up with 25 so I didn't vote.

I can't believe people put Mars Matrix and Gunbird 2 in the top 25 though. That's just crazy talk.

[xris]

Odd list in the end. Batrider jumped on number two! Booo to no Radiant Sivergun! Boooo to no Shikigami! Booo to no Bakraid! What's with EspGaluda being so high as well? That's just strange.. It's a good game, but not that good.
Thank you for taking care of this years list incognoscente! We really do appreciate it!

[Rob]

What is it Strikers 1945 II has that 1999 hasn't?

It has mud, but let's not pit the classic Psikyo games against each other.

[moozooh]

What got me genuinely surprised is seeing DOJ WL and BL separated from each other (considering that every copy of BL, be it PCB or the port, has also has WL packed in), and at the same time seeing Batsugun packed with Special when those are separate releases with considerable differences in gameplay. Not saying Batsu shouldn't be packed, but DOJ is just splitting votes for no good reason. Odd choice.

Otherwise, interesting list. Good to see Perfect Cherry Blossom in the honorables. Batrider so high up is unexpected, but welcome. Espgaluda I and II should switch places: now that I've played both games, I can confidently say the sequel is in every possible way better than the original. Psyvariar 2 dropping off HM is a crime. Dangun should have probably stayed in top-25, it totally deserves it imo.

[Aliquantic]

Agreed for DOJWL and BL, and don't forget Crimzon Clover making it into the honorable mentions too! (And IN I guess) Deathsmiles entering the top 25 at #10 is another good surprise for me... my only regrets are not having DFK 1.5 in the top 25, and Deathsmiles II not even making the HN cut, that game needs some love I was hoping for Eschatos or JSS to make an appearance too, but better luck next year I guess!

[moozooh]

Imperishable Night has been there before, fwiw. I still consider PCB to be the more underrated game. :)

[Ghegs]

Good to see R-Type holding on to a well-deserved place in the list.

[Twiddle]

team 3993 would like to celebrate their hand in removing radiant silvergun and mushihime-sama from the top 25 with a generous heaping of watching some guy play demon's souls for 15 hours

[DMC]

team 3993 would like to celebrate their hand in removing radiant silvergun and mushihime-sama from the top 25 with a generous heaping of watching some guy play demon's souls for 15 hours

With the XBLA release upcoming, RS will rise again.

[Twiddle]

warranted only if boss rush mode included

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

Good to see R-Type holding on to a well-deserved place in the list.

Amen. It may never get the #1 spot, but it's legacy will live on a helluva lot longer than most the other picks.

[DMC]

A boss rush mode of Radiant Silvergun would be very interesting, I agree.

Edit: Off-topic:

It's not cheating, I swear! this is totally the way they intended you to play it!

What was originally intended and what is the contemporary rule agreed upon by a community is not always the same thing. Ergo, playing a game in another way than it was originally intended to is not by definition cheating (c.f. various olympic games). Second, you may want to consider play the game for score, such as destroying boss parts before going for the core (rhyme unintened).

[moozooh]

Seconded. Anybody knows Treasure's public email? :D

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

playing a game in another way than it was originally intended to is not by definition cheating (c.f. various olympic games).

I'm aware of that, and I'm not trying to use my sig as a banner for a crusade to change the minds of those who disagree with me. I just can't get over how absurd it is that people try and justify autofire by exaggeratedly stating bosses will last >10 minutes without it in spite of the fact they don't even get to fight back otherwise. (I can mash fast enough to end the fights quickly myself, for the most part.) Also, MathU, Kollision and this guy have already proved that you can still score well with manual fire. It's not going to break your arm if you know when and when not to mash. Conversely, (and I swear I'm not trying to stir up more controversy here) most runs with autofire I've seen have been disastrous in comparison. Rank control is understandable for capturing captains, but the performance is still sloppy, even with the instantly disappearing bosses... >_>;

[Kollision]

I
don't
like
this
list

[DMC]

ChainsawGuitarSP,
Just drop the cheating comments and it's fine. You can still argue it's more fun the way you play. I can agree to some extent that it looks funny destroying the last boss without any enemy bullet firing. But it is simply not cheating when people agree it's allowed. Darius Gaiden bosses have a number of tails and other features that you can destroy for score that makes the boss fights more lasting and it provides the more exciting risk-reward tension. Have you tried them out? maybe they will increase your enjoyment of DG with rapid-fire.
Look at Smraedis V-boss for instance, where he milks the different parts for score. You could finnish that one faster by mashing fire-button, but I think it is more funny and rewarding to play as Smraedis does here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVvLVFWB ... re=related

[incognoscente]

Not saying Batsu shouldn't be packed, but DOJ is just splitting votes for no good reason. Odd choice.

The daioujous were split last year as well, so I just kept the ball rolling. (More accurately: I didn't review my entire merge table, just the entries for newly appearing games, misspellings, and variants.)

I've amended the few ballots containing votes for both Labels and altered the table. DOJ now claims third place. Should have an update for the top post within the next few hours (top posts are re/written manually).

[moozooh]

Cool, everything else seems fine. Thank you for your work on the list!

[emphatic]

Very nice list.

[cools]

DOJ ahead of Kets?