11th Annual Top 25 Shmups of All Time - Discussion Thread

[professor ganson]

Maybe the voting thread ought to get a sticky to promote awareness of the voting event.

[Krooze L-Roy]

I'll be putting in my vote soon, but it'll be a pretty boring one. My criteria is pretty much this: what do I want to play right now. Thus, new-to-me stuff will probably be pretty dominant, and that includes lots of Cave, since only recently did the company finally *click* for me. Probably was a mini-stroke.

[To Far Away Times]

I'll be putting in my vote soon, but it'll be a pretty boring one. My criteria is pretty much this: what do I want to play right now. Thus, new-to-me stuff will probably be pretty dominant, and that includes lots of Cave, since only recently did the company finally *click* for me. Probably was a mini-stroke.

Yeah, totally. Whenever I compile a best of list, I try to look at things through a "2014 lens." Many retro games will still rate highly for me, but if something has been eclipsed by it's peers I generally won't vote for it over something I'd rather play today.

[soupbones]

Maybe the voting thread ought to get a sticky to promote awareness of the voting event.

This 1000x

[Oniros]

Sadly, I don't think I'm experienced enough to vote in this. Still, my only hope is to see Akai Katana rank a bit higher in this poll. The original arcade release might have been a bit uninspired but Shin totally blew me away, so damn good.

Maybe the voting thread ought to get a sticky to promote awareness of the voting event.

Agreed, it is kind of a big deal.

[BulletMagnet]

Maybe the voting thread ought to get a sticky to promote awareness of the voting event.

Done!

[jasoncslaughter]

Just a suggestion, but it seems like if all the versions of Futari, Deathsmiles, and Espgaluda II count as a single game, Daifukkatsu 1.5 and Black Label should also count as a single game. Just my two cents.

[Nifty]

There was discussion about that last year (and presumably prior to that as well) and the conclusion reached was that they were different enough to be considered separate. When it comes to some of the more obscure arranges and labels I'm willing to reevaluate them if they crop up but that hasn't happened yet.

[Tyranix95]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYWT4uYOPvs

[Nifty]

Reminder that there's now one week remaining before voting closes. Don't forget!

[R-Gray 1]

bump?

I had to left some games out of my list:
R-type III, twin bee, Mystic square, Perfect cherry blossom, Darius Gaiden, some aero fighters.
---

Few days to vote guys!

[EmperorIng]

Leaving out Gaiden? For shame! Still, more people should vote RayForce!

My list this year contains some notable drops:

-Battle Garegga: I may realize it's a great game, but I don't like it.
-Darius II: ha, love ya little guy, but I've played a lot of shmups between this year and last.
-Tatsujin Oh: what did I ever see in this game???
-DoDonPachi: there's only one DDP game I've played that's the best of the best, and that's DaiOuJou.

Notable additions:
-ESPRa.De.: The scoring system is total arcane bullshit, but I can't help but love the game's levels, bosses, mechanics, atmosphere, etc. I think it's one of the best settings of any Cave game with its sorta cyberpunk flair.
-RayCrisis: I think I might be one of the only people on the forum that enjoys this game, for all of its many flaws.
-Salamander 2: Konami is the bomb and so is Salamander.
-Twin Cobra: for as bare-bones as the game is, its 'purity' has grown on me, as well as its super-tight level design.
-Guwange: Another game I suck at, but it's one of the most interesting and fun Cave games around.

[Nifty]

One day/24 hours left as of now; I've updated the voting thread title to reflect this.

[spadgy]

Obviously a disorganised idiot like me has left voting until today.

A quick question... is my vote for Shock Troopers OK? I figured it counts under the allowed 'Manually advancing multi-directional shooters (Granada, Kiki Kaikai, Bangai-O)' category.

[blackoak]

Not too much change in my list this year, added a bit more Psikyo, Ketsui, and Rayforce. And despite hating the last boss of Esprade, I decided to give it a low-ranking spot. I just love the aesthetic so much and everything before that final boss is really fun.

Its sad to see Jamestown neglected again. As a 1P game it doesn't match the greats, but I've never played a more enjoyable multiplayer game. Hanging with friends, some into shmups and some not, a constant sighing refrain is: "I wish there was another Jamestown." As usual I encourage people to try it with some friends.

[Tyranix95]

Looks like we just may--MAY--just break 100 votes this year.

Have to wait and see.

Clock 's Ticking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be7iNHw8QoQ&feature=kp

[Nifty]

A quick question... is my vote for Shock Troopers OK? I figured it counts under the allowed 'Manually advancing multi-directional shooters (Granada, Kiki Kaikai, Bangai-O)' category.

Yes I believe it is, it's been voted in before since that ruling was added as well.

[Nifty]

Time's up and also I'm going to bed now. The calculation of results might take a bit longer this time as I'm busier nowadays, but I think I can manage to have them up within a week.

[spadgy]

Not too much change in my list this year, added a bit more Psikyo, Ketsui, and Rayforce. And despite hating the last boss of Esprade, I decided to give it a low-ranking spot. I just love the aesthetic so much and everything before that final boss is really fun.

Its sad to see Jamestown neglected again. As a 1P game it doesn't match the greats, but I've never played a more enjoyable multiplayer game. Hanging with friends, some into shmups and some not, a constant sighing refrain is: "I wish there was another Jamestown." As usual I encourage people to try it with some friends.

I came very close to putting it fairly high up my list, but as I only started playing around late-December 2013, I felt it a bit soon to list among my all timers. Maybe if I still feel as enthused by it next year...

And good luck with the calculation Nifty. Thanks for your effort on this one, yet again!

[CKR]

Time's up and also I'm going to bed now. The calculation of results might take a bit longer this time as I'm busier nowadays, but I think I can manage to have them up within a week.

Thanks for doing this. The top 25 list was the original reason I started lurking on the forums over a year ago.

[EmperorIng]

Time's up and also I'm going to bed now. The calculation of results might take a bit longer this time as I'm busier nowadays, but I think I can manage to have them up within a week.

Thanks for doing this. The top 25 list was the original reason I started lurking on the forums over a year ago.

Yeah, this list is always a plus and Nifty should be rightly thanked!

While I don't expect any significant changes over last year's results, it will be interesting to see if Battle Garegga remains #1, or some other top contender takes its spot.

I am still hoping for either RayForce or Darius Gaiden to make it back, though I am doubtful.

The lack of horizontal shooters in last year's list is shameful. I doubt a 'best 25' list can seriously list only one horizontal out of every shmup ever made! If that is indeed the case, people need to play more different games instead of funneling all of their time into 6 Cave titles + 1 Raizing for variety!

[royalfan84]

Time's up and also I'm going to bed now. The calculation of results might take a bit longer this time as I'm busier nowadays, but I think I can manage to have them up within a week.

Thanks for doing this. The top 25 list was the original reason I started lurking on the forums over a year ago.

Yeah, this list is always a plus and Nifty should be rightly thanked!

While I don't expect any significant changes over last year's results, it will be interesting to see if Battle Garegga remains #1, or some other top contender takes its spot.

I am still hoping for either RayForce or Darius Gaiden to make it back, though I am doubtful.

The lack of horizontal shooters in last year's list is shameful. I doubt a 'best 25' list can seriously list only one horizontal out of every shmup ever made! If that is indeed the case, people need to play more different games instead of funneling all of their time into 6 Cave titles + 1 Raizing for variety!

Yeah I'm hoping Gradius V returns to the top 25 as well as Darius Gaiden. I think both of those and Rayforce have a solid chance....I think you're right there won't be big changes on the list; but I think there will be 5 to 7 new games added to the middle to bottom of the list. By "new" I mean games that didn't make it last year. I don't see a big change in the top 6 or 7 though...

[Tyranix95]

All Atlus/CAVE games should be quarantined to their own Top 25 list.

That way I can watch all the A/C fanatics fight with each other to get their favorite game to #1 spot. /

[R-Gray 1]

The lack of horizontal shooters in last year's list is shameful. I doubt a 'best 25' list can seriously list only one horizontal out of every shmup ever made! If that is indeed the case, people need to play more different games instead of funneling all of their time into 6 Cave titles + 1 Raizing for variety!

I didn´t vote last year but after i saw that top i had good reason to vote again.

Sorry for didn´t vote Darius Gaiden. I had other games that I enjoyed when i was a kid-teenager and I can still play them until now. And I though I should vote for 2 games that i think deserve earn votes and ofc I liked them: Donpachi and R-Type.

But this week i was having fun with D gaiden

[BIL]

All you newcomers to the Rayforce Defense Force are welcome to borrow the official icon. ^_~



(You can also use it to express support for Bendy Taito Homing Lasers)

With Kamui, RF and Souky (in that order) I hope I've done the lockon shooter subgenre proud this year. Oh wait I vote for them every year.

[chempop]

Any early predictions? Will Garegga, Batrider, Futari, DOJ, and Ketsui take the top 6 again? More importantly, how many places will Dimahoo climb!?

[EmperorIng]

All you newcomers to the Rayforce Defense Force are welcome to borrow the official icon. ^_~



(You can also use it to express support for Bendy Taito Homing Lasers)

With Kamui, RF and Souky (in that order) I hope I've done the lockon shooter subgenre proud this year. Oh wait I vote for them every year.

It's interesting how those bendy lasers are such a Taito trademark, and how they don't really appear in other shooters. They're the best.

[Pteriforever]

Over half of the games I voted for were underrated indie games. I don't think any of them picked up enough votes to get anywhere, though.

I agree with chempop that DOJ and Ketsui are just a teensy bit overrated, so i voted for Espgaluda and DFK instead :3

[Squire Grooktook]

All you newcomers to the Rayforce Defense Force are welcome to borrow the official icon. ^_~



(You can also use it to express support for Bendy Taito Homing Lasers)

With Kamui, RF and Souky (in that order) I hope I've done the lockon shooter subgenre proud this year. Oh wait I vote for them every year.

It's interesting how those bendy lasers are such a Taito trademark, and how they don't really appear in other shooters. They're the best.

Qute picked them up also and uses them a fair bit in Eschatos and the JSS games.

[Tyranix95]

Dimahoo will take the top spot one day.

Games a hidden gem often over looked for more hyped up games.

Let's see if a Raizing game can hold on to the top spot, again, this year.

Any early predictions? Will Garegga, Batrider, Futari, DOJ, and Ketsui take the top 6 again? More importantly, how many places will Dimahoo climb!?