Top 10 Console Exclusive Shmups of All Time - Voting

[Estebang]

All Gleylancer's Maniac mode really does is speed up the game to ridiculous levels.

[ebarrett]

1. Bayonetta

[TrevHead (TVR)]

Fixed spelling

Ill make sure to give it a go the next time im having an emulator session. Its by Mayasa and im a bit of a fan of their games. All their games have great music

[AntiFritz]

I think rtype 3 is the only console shmup Ive played that wasn't an arcade port...

[saucykobold]

1. R-Type Delta (PS)
2. Thunder Force IV (MD)
3. Einhänder (PS)
4. Gradius Gaiden (PS)
5. Jikkyou Oshaberi Parodius (PS/SAT)
6. BioMetal (SFC)
7. Zanac (FC)
8. Slap Fight (MD)
9. Gradius V (PS2)
10. R-Type III (SFC)

Edit: Kiki Kaikai, Twinkle Tale, and Granada don't seem to be eligible so I swapped them with Slap Fight, Gradius V, and R-Type III.

[No_not_like_Quake]

Hmm...

1. Gradius Gaiden
2. SoldierBlade
3. R-type Delta
4. Choujikuu Yousai Macross - Scrambled Valkyrie
5. Eliminate Down
6. Blazing Lazers/Gunhed
7. Crisis Force
8. Thunderforce IV
9. Space Megaforce/Super Aleste
10. Elemental Master

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

1. R-Type III: The Third Lightning
2. Darius Burst
3. Gradius Gaiden
4. R-Type Delta
5. Eliminate Down
6. Sonic Wings Special
7. Darius Force
8. Bio-Hazard Battle
9. Image Fight II
10. Gley Lancer

Someone please tell me if Hellfire MD is different enough from its arcade counterpart so I can replace one of these games.

[tinotormed]

1) Gradius Gaiden (PSX/PSP under Gradius Collection)
2) Blazing Lazers / Gunhed (TG-16/PCE/Wii)
3) Marchen Adventure Cotton 100% (SFC)
4) Super Aleste / Space Megaforce (SFC/SNES)
5) Ginga Fukei Densetsu: Sapphire (PCE-CD)
6) Star Soldier (PSP)
7) Nemesis (Gameboy)
8 ) Super Star Soldier (PCE/TG-16/Wii)
9) Crisis Force (Famicom)
10) Flying Hero (SFC)

[Kiken]

TSS:LPP getting no love in this thread.

1. R-Type Delta (PS)
2. Summer Carnival 92' Recca (FC)
3. Gradius Gaiden (PS)
4. Twinkle Star Sprites: La Petite Princess (PS2)
5. Thunder Force IV (MD)
6. Thunder Force III (MD)
7. Winds of Thunder (PCE-CD)
8. Eliminate Down (MD)
9. PC Denjin: Punkic Cyborgs (PCE)
10. Axelay (SFC)

It's alright, Axelay... someone still likes you.

[MathU]

Phalanx for the SNES is my favorite version of the game (vs. X68000 and GBA), but I haven't had the chance to try the WiiWare remake since those dopes won't release it outside of Japan. Blast Works is a Wii exclusive too (it's almost a totally different game from Takumi Fighters) along with Star Soldier R and Gradius Rebirth. Finally, don't forget the Cotton series.

[BulletMagnet]

Finally, don't forget the Cotton series.

Several of those started as arcade games though - I think Cotton 100% on the SFC/PS1 is the only "console exclusive" Cotton unless you count the borderliners (Panorama and Rainbow).

[MathU]

I believe only Cotton 1 and 2 started as arcade games. Boomerang was never an arcade game, was it?

Regardless, yeah Cotton 100% is quite a bit different from the original game. Should Super R-Type count as well? It's quite a bit different from R-Type II, with only a few of the stages and bosses in common.

[Estebang]

The only Cotton arcade games are the original and 2 (Boomerang was a Saturn-exclusive upgrade).

EDIT: Beat me to it.

[MommysBestGames]

This is a fun, very specific request!
I love exclusive versions and original games--good stuff.

1. Lightening Force (Genesis)
2. Space Megaforce (SNES)
3. R-Type Delta (PS1)
4. R-Type III (SNES)
5. Gaiares (Genesis)
6. Einhander (PS1)
7. Lords of Thunder (TG-CD/Virtual Console)
8. Thunder Force 2 (Genesis)
9. Biohazard Battle (Genesis)
10. Robo Aleste (Sega CD)

Edit: Removed Granada as my number 3. since I've learned it was a port from the Sharp x6800!

I never got to own Lords of Thunder when it was first out. Once I got it on the VC though, it quickly won a place in my heart with the heavy metal noodling, solid art, and overall design and feel.

[Mortificator]

Phalanx for the SNES is my favorite version of the game (vs. X68000 and GBA), but I haven't had the chance to try the WiiWare remake since those dopes won't release it outside of Japan. Blast Works is a Wii exclusive too (it's almost a totally different game from Takumi Fighters) along with Star Soldier R and Gradius Rebirth.

I didn't even know Phalanx had a Wii remake until now. It seems stupid for the game not to have been released to the rest of the world.

Speaking of, Gradius ReBirth is actually a remake of the first Game Boy game. Japanese Wikipedia cites the liner notes on its soundtrack for this.

[MathU]

Gradius Rebirth is a tribute to the MSX games, but it's not exactly a remake. It's its own little Gradius.

[louisg]

I like this thread. Too many of these games get left in the dust by the general voting, and they're fantastic games in their own way.

1. ThunderForce III
2. Gate of Thunder
3. Nexzr
4. Lords of Thunder
5. Elemental Master
6. ThunderForce IV
7. Soldier Blade
8. Space Megaforce, presented by toho
9. Axelay
10. River Raid
Seriously, there's not more love for Nexzr? That game is amazing. BTW if we're considering 360 shooters, I might have to replace one of my picks with Metal Stoker or Granada

(also, KiKi KaiKai is an arcade port, afaik)

9. River Raid

I'm super happy to see this mentioned. It's not my favorite Atari game, but so often the 2600 is totally overlooked.

Home computer games DO NOT count

You realize that games like Phalanx, Granada and Sol Deace are computer ports, right? Maybe we should allow console-ish computer games to be nominated. That is, 8-bit and 16-bit era home computers which, more often than not, functioned as expensive consoles. I'd love to be able to vote for Uridium.


(EDIT: OK OK, Section Z is pretty damn different from the arcade ver)

[saucykobold]

Someone please tell me if Hellfire MD is different enough from its arcade counterpart so I can replace one of these games.

Both versions have similar play mechanics, level layouts and enemy placements. While the MD port has some notable changes here and there, they probably aren't drastic or numerous enough to warrant a split à la Gradius III.

(also, KiKi KaiKai is an arcade port, afaik)

The SFC/SNES Kiki Kaikai is actually a proper sequel to the 1986 arcade game, not a port.

[Nifty]

1. Einhänder
2. Harmful Park
3. Blast Wind
4. Gradius V
5. Nexzr
6. Sol-Deace
7. Super Star Soldier
8. Eliminate Down
9. Gley Lancer
10. Silver Surfer

9. Blade Buster
9. Solar Jetman: Hunt for the Golden Warpship

I'm still not terribly familiar with some of these games so I took a couple of liberties when making this

Where are the Blast Wind votes

EDIT: Late change to fit in another game nobody else is voting for If Sol-Deace ends up not-being applicable (was mentioned as a home computer port but is still listed on the first page), you can remove it and stick Blade Buster back in at 9.

[mjclark]

Seriously, there's not more love for Nexzr? That game is amazing.

Yes,yes,yes- it's my number one here and on another level altogether, the very zen of shmups!

Maybe we should allow console-ish computer games to be nominated. That is, 8-bit and 16-bit era home computers which, more often than not, functioned as expensive consoles. I'd love to be able to vote for Uridium.

Or mayb e a seperate retro computer table inc Atari, Commmodore, Spectrum, PC-98 and x68k cos then I could vote for Flame Zapper Kotsujin, Alltynex and Otaku Dama too.

[Ghegs]

10. Silver Surfer

Nice. I was seriously contemplating putting this on my list, but I had so many to choose from that I had to cut the Surfer. It's a decent game with an awesome soundtrack.

[evil_ash_xero]

1. Gradius V
2. Thunder Force IV
3. Gradius Gaiden
4. R-Type III
5. R-Type Delta
6. Einhander
7. Bangai-O (DC)
8. Musha Aleste
9. Gate Of Thunder
10. Seirei Senshi Spriggan

10. Silver Surfer

Nice. I was seriously contemplating putting this on my list, but I had so many to choose from that I had to cut the Surfer. It's a decent game with an awesome soundtrack.

Really? I've never played it, but the AVGN really seemed....put off by it.

[Ghegs]

10. Silver Surfer

Nice. I was seriously contemplating putting this on my list, but I had so many to choose from that I had to cut the Surfer. It's a decent game with an awesome soundtrack.

Really? I've never played it, but the AVGN really seemed....put off by it.

Yeah, I've had to defend the game against the AVGN episode a few times. The game's not a masterpiece, no, but quite playable. The only real problem I see with the game is the lack of autofire, it'll kill your fingers and controller pretty fast. But go give it a shot with autofire and you might find it enjoyable.

[Mero]

Cotton Boomerang got an arcade release

1. Musha Aleste
2. Verytex
3. Super Fantasy Zone
4. Bokan to Ippatsu! Doronboo Kanpekiban
5. Curse
6. Twinkle Star Sprites: La Petite Princess
7. Gradius V
8. Tsukai!! Slot Shooting
9. Jikkyou Oshaberi Parodius
10. Sonic Wings Special

Massively hard to compile this list, it was a struggle to think of titles that aren't arcade ports. The Megadrive games (apart from SFZ) I havent played for well over a decade, the rest are various titles I've played in the last few years (Gradius V not played since about '05).

Take away arcade games and ports and I've basically played jack shit really.

[e_tank]

1. judgement silversword
2. eschatos
3. gradius v
4. gradius gaiden
5. nexzr
6. super aleste
7. gunhed
8. spriggan (pcecd)
9. the guardian legend
10. fantasy zone 2 (sms)

ugh, so tough to choose. i really wanted to include gg aleste but i just couldn't ignore the guardian legend or fantasy zone 2. also, i would have listed aleste 2 and the sega ages fantasy zone 2 remake but i don't think they're allowed, the former due to it being on the msx2 and the latter since it's technically an arcade game.

[Kollision]

1. Gradius V (PS2)
2. Axelay (SNES)
3. R-Type Delta (PS1)
4. Thunderforce V (SAT/PS1)
5. Einhänder (PS1)
6. Eliminate Down (MD)
7. Macross - Scrambled Valkyrie (SNES)
8. Wings of Wor (MD)
9. Robo Aleste (SCD)
10. Astro Warrior (SMS)

tough call, many titles were left out and many of them are still unplayed

[AntiFritz]

Yeah, I've had to defend the game against the AVGN episode a few times. The game's not a masterpiece, no, but quite playable. The only real problem I see with the game is the lack of autofire, it'll kill your fingers and controller pretty fast. But go give it a shot with autofire and you might find it enjoyable.

Some games that avgn hates on in the show aren't even representative of james rolfe (such has him liking mischief makers, even though it appears the shows intro a few times).

[Ghegs]

Yeah, I've had to defend the game against the AVGN episode a few times. The game's not a masterpiece, no, but quite playable. The only real problem I see with the game is the lack of autofire, it'll kill your fingers and controller pretty fast. But go give it a shot with autofire and you might find it enjoyable.

Some games that avgn hates on in the show aren't even representative of james rolfe (such has him liking mischief makers, even though it appears the shows intro a few times).

Oh, I know, AVGN is just a character and all that. Still, some of the points he makes against Silver Surfer are actually fairly common non-shmuppers complaints about the genre that would apply to any Gradius or R-Type, while he completely misses some stuff that, when pointed out, would negate other complaints. As a review the episode is not a very good one, but then, they're not supposed to be reviews, after all. More like entertainment-curse-a-thons.

[louisg]

(also, KiKi KaiKai is an arcade port, afaik)

The SFC/SNES Kiki Kaikai is actually a proper sequel to the 1986 arcade game, not a port.

Ahhh I'm stupid, I didn't see the "SFC" and was thinking of the PCE version for some reason.

[DJ Incompetent]

Fun fact! Space Invaders Extreme 2 exists.