17th Annual Top 25 Shmups of All Time - Results

[Nifty]

Top 25 Shmups of All Time (through 2019)

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##. Game                                               Score  '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18
01. Mushihimesama Futari / 1.5 / Black Label (ARC/360)  7.64    .   .   .   .   *   *   +   ~   ~   +   +   =   +   +   +   +
02. Battle Garegga (ARC/SAT/PS4/XB1)                    7.30    +   +   *   +   +   +   -   -   -   -   -   =   -   =   +   =
03. Ketsui ~Kizuna Jigoku Tachi~ (ARC/360/PS3/PS4)      7.13    .   *   *   *   *   *   +   =   +   =   =   +   -   =   -   -
04. DoDonPachi (ARC/SAT/PSX)                            6.20    -   -   -   -   -   +   -   -   +   +   +   +   +   +   =   +
05. DoDonPachi Dai-Ou-Jou / Black Label (ARC/360/etc.)  5.93    *   +   +   +   +   -   -   ~   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -
06. Ikaruga (ARC/DC/GC/360/PC/SWI)                      5.58    -   -   -   -   -   -   +   =   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
07. Gradius V (PS2)                                     5.05    .   .   -   -   -   -   +   -   +   *   +   +   +   +   +   +
08. Crimzon Clover / World Ignition (PC/NESiCA)         5.04    .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   *   *   *   +   -   -   -   -
09. Armed Police Batrider (ARC)                         4.85    *   *   +   *   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -
10. Radiant Silvergun (ARC/SAT/360)                     4.43    =   -   -   -   -   -   +   +   *   +   =   +   +   -   -   +
11. Dangun Feveron / Fever SOS (ARC/PS4/XB1)            3.70    *   *   *   *   *   *   +   +   *   *   *   *   *   +   +   +
12. ESPGaluda / Arrange (ARC/PS2)                       3.59    .   *   +   -   -   -   -   =   -   -   =   +   +   *   +   +
13. Mushihimesama / 1.5 (ARC/PS2/360/PC)                3.52    .   .   *   +   +   -   -   +   *   -   -   -   -   -   =   -
14. ESP Ra.De. (ARC/PS4/SWI)                            3.27    -   -   +   +   +   +   +   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *
15. RayForce / Layer Section / etc. (ARC/PS2/SAT/etc.)  3.21    *   -   -   +   -   +   +   *   *   *   +   -   -   -   -   -
16. Eschatos (360/PC)                                   3.13    .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   *   *   *   *   +   *   *   *
17. Gradius Gaiden (PSX/PSP)                            3.09    +   +   -   -   -   -   *   =   *   +   *   *   +   +   -   -
18. Deathsmiles / Mega Black Label (ARC/360)            3.07    .   .   .   .   .   *   *   ~   -   *   +   +   *   *   *   +
19. Mars Matrix (ARC/DC)                                2.839   =   +   -   -   =   +   -   -   +   -   +   -   +   -   -   *
20. R-Type (ARC/PCE/PSX/etc.)                           2.838   -   -   -   -   *   -   +   -   -   -   =   -   -   -   +   -
21. ZeroRanger (PC)                                     2.82    .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   +
22. Batsugun / Batsugun Special (ARC/SAT)               2.77    *   -   -   *   -   -   -   +   -   -   -   -   -   =   -   -
23. Darius Gaiden (ARC/SAT/PSX/PS2/PC)                  2.71    *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   =   *   *   -   -   =   *   *
24. Thunder Dragon 2 (ARC)                              2.66    *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   +   -
25. DoDonPachi Daifukkatsu/1.5/Resurrection (ARC/etc.)  2.52    .   .   .   .   .   .   *   *   *   -   *   *   *   *   *   -

• = 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.
• . denotes the game was not released or otherwise eligible for voting for the year indicated.
• ~ denotes the game vote was classified (significantly) differently for the year indicated.

Honourable Mention

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Game                                                    '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18
Akai Katana (ARC/360)                                     .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   +   =   -   =   +   =   =   +
Battle Bakraid (ARC)                                      +   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   -   =   -   =   =   =   +
Blue Revolver (PC)                                        .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   +   +   +
Blue Wish Resurrection / Plus (PC)                        .   .   .   .   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
Cho Ren Sha 68K (PC/X68)                                  +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   =   =   =   +   =   =   +   =
Darius Burst: AC / EX / Chronicle Saviours (PC/etc.)      .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   +   +   +   +   -   -   =   +
Dimahoo / Great Mahou Daisakusen (ARC)                    +   =   =   =   +   +   +   +   =   =   =   =   =   +   +   +
DoDonPachi Saidaioujou (ARC/360)                          .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   +   -   -   =   =   =   =
Dogyuun (ARC)                                             +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
DonPachi (ARC/SAT/PSX)                                    -   -   -   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   +   =
Dragon Blaze (ARC/PS2/SWI)                                +   +   =   =   =   =   =   =   -   -   =   =   -   =   -   =
ESPGaluda II (ARC/360)                                    .   .   .   +   +   +   =   -   -   -   -   -   =   =   =   +
Fire Shark / Same! Same! Same! (ARC/GEN)                  +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   =   +   +   +   +   +   +
Flying Shark / Hishouzame / Sky Shark (ARC/NES/etc.)      +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   =   =   +   =   =   =
G-Darius (ARC/PS2/PSX)                                    +   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   +   =   =   =
Giga Wing (ARC/DC)                                        +   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   =   =   =   =   =   +
Gradius II: Gofer no Yabou (ARC/SAT/FC/etc.)              +   =   =   =   +   =   +   +   =   =   +   =   =   =   =   =
Gradius III (SNES)                                        -   =   =   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
Gun.Smoke (ARC)                                           +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
Gunbird 2 (ARC/DC)                                        -   -   -   -   -   =   =   -   -   -   -   -   =   -   -   -
Guwange (ARC/360)                                         -   -   =   -   =   -   -   -   -   =   =   =   =   =   =   =
Ibara (ARC/PS2)                                           .   .   .   =   =   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   =   =   =
Judgement Silversword (WSC/360/PC)                        .   .   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   =   =   =
Kamui (PC)                                                +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   =   =   +   +
Mahou Daisakusen / Sorcer Striker (ARC/X68/FMT/PS4)       +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
Mecha Ritz / Steel Rondo (PC/SWI)                         .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   +   +   +   +
Muchi Muchi Pork! (ARC/360)                               .   .   .   .   .   +   +   +   -   -   -   =   -   =   -   =
Out Zone (ARC)                                            +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
Perfect Cherry Blossom [Touhou 7] (PC)                    .   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   =
Progear no Arashi (ARC)                                   +   +   +   =   =   -   -   =   =   =   =   =   =   -   -   =
Raiden (ARC/PSX/etc.)                                     +   =   +   =   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
Raiden DX (ARC/PSX)                                       +   +   -   -   -   =   -   =   -   =   -   =   =   -   =   =
Raiden Fighters 2: Operation Hell Dive (ARC/360)          +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   =   =   =   =   =   =   +   +
Raiden Fighters Jet (ARC/360)                             +   =   =   +   +   =   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   =   =
R-Type Delta (PSX)                                        =   =   -   -   -   =   +   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   -
Salamander 2 (ARC/SAT/PSX)                                +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   =   +   =   =
Soldier Blade (PCE)                                       -   =   =   =   +   =   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
Soukyugurentai / Terra Diver (SAT/ARC/PSX)                -   -   -   -   -   -   =   -   =   -   =   =   =   =   =   =
Strikers 1945 II (ARC/SAT/PSX/PS2/SWI)                    -   -   -   -   =   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -
Tatsujin / Truxton (ARC/GEN/PCE)                          +   =   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
Tatsujin Oh / Truxton II (ARC/FMT)                        +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
Thunder Force IV / Lightening Force (MD/GEN/SAT)          -   -   -   -   -   -   =   +   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   =
Twin Cobra / Kyukyoku Tiger (ARC/PCE/etc.)                +   =   +   +   =   =   +   +   +   =   +   =   +   =   +   =
Under Defeat (ARC/DC/360/PS3)                             .   .   .   +   -   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   -   -   -

• = 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.
• . denotes the game was not released or otherwise eligible for voting for the year indicated.

What Dropped from 2018's Top 25:

• Gunbird 2 (ARC/DC)
• R-Type Delta (PSX)
• Strikers 1945 II (ARC/SAT/PSX/PS2/SWI)
• Under Defeat (ARC/DC/360/PS3)

What Dropped from 2018's Honourable Mentions:

• Einhänder (PSX)
• Gradius / Nemesis (ARC/NES/PCE/etc.)
• Great Fairy Wars [Touhou 12.8] (PC)
• Radirgy / Radio Allergy (ARC/DC/GC/PS2)
• Strikers 1999 / Strikers 1945 III (ARC)
• Triggerheart Exelica (ARC/DC/PS2/360)
• Zero Gunner 2 (ARC/DC/SWI)

Breakdown by Developer

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                   Top 25         Hon.M.          Overall
Cave                  10              8              18
Toaplan               1               7              8
Raizing               2               4              6
Konami                1               3              4
Seibu Kaihatsu        -               4              4
Treasure              3               -              3
Taito                 2               1              3
Psikyo                -               3              3
Irem                  1               1              2
Qute                  1               1              2
Takumi                1               1              2
NMK                   1               -              1
System Erasure        1               -              1
Yotsubane             1               -              1
G.rev                 -               1              1
Team Shanghai Alice   -               1              1
Famibe no Yosshin     -               1              1
x.x                   -               1              1
Stellar Circle        -               1              1
HEY                   -               1              1
Siter Skain           -               1              1
Technosoft            -               1              1
Hudson Soft           -               1              1
Capcom                -               1              1
Pyramid               -               1              1

Breakdown by Original Platform

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System             Top 25         Hon.M.          Overall
Arcade                20             33              53
PC/Windows             2              5               7
PlayStation            1              1               2
PlayStation 2          1              -               1
Xbox 360               1              -               1
Mega Drive/Genesis     -              1               1
X68000                 -              1               1
WonderSwan Color       -              1               1
SNES                   -              1               1
PC-Engine              -              1               1

Most Personal Honourable Mentions (no. of [0])

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Game                                                No. of appearances
Gradius II: Gofer no Yabou (ARC/SAT/FC/etc.)              6
Kamui (PC)                                                5
Blazing Star (ARC/NG)                                     4
Devil Engine (PC/SWI/PS4/Ex-A)                            4
ESPGaluda / Arrange (ARC/PS2)                             4
Sengoku Blade / Tengai (ARC/SAT/PS2/SWI)                  4

Miscellaneous Stats:

• Number of Counted Voters: 69
• Total Vote Weight: 66.75
• Number of Games Voted For: 393
• Number of Honourable Mentions: 44
• Proportion of Voters who chose to use a Shortlist: 0.13 (9/69)
• Proportion of Voters who chose to include Personal Honourable Mentions: 0.36 (25/69)
• Proportion of Personal Honourable Mentions included where eligible: 0.42 (25/60)
• Number of Games Receiving Only [0]'s: 40
• Games Supported by at least half of voters (≥33.5 combined): 3
• Games Supported by at least 1/4 of voters (≥16.75 combined): 19
• Top 25 Score Spread: 2.522 - 7.640
• Honourable Mention Score Spread: 1.265 - 2.367
• Total Score Spread: 0.037 - 7.716

Random Comments:

• The new decade has opened with the return of Mushihimesama Futari to the pulpit, noteworthily making it only the second game to regain the title after having lost it to something else. Based on there now being six winners in total, and that these still presently occupy six of the top seven positions, one can only assume further jostling is in order in years to come.
• Whilst that's going on, the Honourable Mentions have turned in an extensive binder of surprises, including a mix of long-time campaigners, distant rebounders and new-ish modern titles, as if every trend that there's been flashes of in previous years has decided to break through at once. Over time, the HMs list has tended to become both larger and slightly more volatile; even when there'll likely be a dumping of a good number again next year, there's every chance they'll be back when it's least expected.
• The discussion thread for this year's poll is here.
• The votes for this year's poll can be found here.
• The full results have been collated in a future post here.

[Square_Air]

Thanks again Nifty.

Not a single Psikyo game made the top 25 unfortunately, so this year's list is kind of poor in my opinion. While I love Treasure, the placement of their 3 shmups being so high is a little odd. You can really feel the steam influence this time around, and the well made re-releases all jumped as well. The Cave bias lives forever, but that's nothing new. Glad to see Dangun and Mars Matrix so high though, so I guess that's the silver lining.



What are you doing on the HM list Tatsujin Oh!? I think there's been a mistake...

[BIL]

Been nice seeing Kamui gradually gain footing over the years.

[AshWednesday]

I think several games that deserve it moved up in the rankings, so in that sense I like the list, but damn Psikyo and Seibu Kaihatsu got done super dirty this year lol

[CStarFlare]

Damn, was hoping this would be Harmful Park's year. Still, the lists are pretty good. Thank you for taking the time to run this Nifty!

[To Far Away Times]

I love seeing Mushi Futari in the top spot. It's the game that got me into shmups and its still my favorite to this day.

[Queen Charlene]

interesting turnout, kind of unexpected! it's a little less varied than i thought it would be. i figured CCWI would be a bit higher... seems like Ikaruga jumped way up on the list too.

[uzernaem]

Feels nice to see original DoDonPachi over DOJ for a change. I still think that the first DDP is the best one.

[EmperorIng]

As usual Nifty, I'm very appreciative of your work! I was glad that the vote count was pretty close to ~70 this year, which seems to be an average over the last few years.

Mushi Futari almost has to be on top because of Gus's run at AGDQ and the resulting popularity boost from such a spotlight. I am not sure if I noticed any uptick in posts in the high score forums regarding Futari (last post November 2019?). Is there Futari play I'm not aware of?

Likewise, I think we can really see the effect that both the hype around M2's porting jobs has had on the votes, as well as (and this is my theory) the hoopla around the DDP scoring glitch, even though its eventual discovery was weeks after the last votes were cast. I think I just mean to say that since these games were in the public eye more, they were more likely to be 'remembered' and voted on.

Of course, some real surprises are always in the Honorable Mentions list, which isn't as constrained by the general bad taste in the voting pool
Mahou Daisakusen is a surprise, though technically it has 'gained' in points each year. Is this because of the M2 port? How many people actually play that? I wonder if it is a beneficiary of Dent's Calice Cup, which had about 100+ of us struggling with the game, along with ESPGaluda, Dangun Feveron, and Same! Same! Same!... Hmmm, I think there is a connection there, at least for Mahou and Same! Too bad Sky Adventure didn't get honored the same way. I was really pulling for that one.

Not a single Psikyo game made the top 25 unfortunately, so this year's list is kind of poor in my opinion.

Partially agree; I'm pretty happy Mars Matrix is back, and that more people fall in love with Taito over time. However, it's clear to me that there needs to be a push to get people to actually play Psikyo games instead of bitching about what they think Psikyo is, imo. It's funny to see the same arguments that this own forum had like 12 years ago surface in new places, by new people just as equally-uninformed.

[clippa]

Going with your idea that the m2 ports might have had a positive effect on the cave games in the top ten, do you think it's possible that the laggy switch ports might have had a detrimental effect and pushed the psikyo games further down the leaderboard?

I'm guessing when there's any sort of port to pc or modern consoles, it's just a matter of people re/investing in these games relatively recently and having them fresh in their minds, but if there's something in that, it'd be another reason to hate on these lazy efforts.

[m.sniffles.esq]

It's funny, my psikyo bravo box came last week so I've been falling in love with a couple titles all over again. Then the poll results get posted...

Weirdly, what stings the most was Under Defeat getting dumped from the top 25 and almost dumped from HM altogether... It always seemed if we could agree on one thing around here, it was the awesomness of Under Defeat...

But, not on Steam or current consoles, matched with the nagging "pretty but shallow" criticism, equates to a fade from memory, I suppose.

PS I really tried to submit a vote this year. I thought by giving all 25 entries an identical score I could eliminate any ranking problems I would have. Yet, every time I got a list of 25, I would sleep on it, then make alterations in the morning. This went on for two weeks until voting was closed.

[blossom]

matched with the nagging "pretty but shallow" criticism

I guess tastes have changed over time and/or possibly forum members with those tastes have lost interest in the forum - the first poll, if you can believe this, had games like Thunder Force III through V, MUSHA, Soldier Blade, Axelay, Gate/Lords of Thunder, and Gunhed receive enough votes for top 25. I get the impression that inaugural poll was more informal, however the second one had many of those same games on the list. As time goes on, for better or worse people seem to have the perspective that a well-made game isn't enough, that you need a massive amount of replayability. Many players seem to be attracted to scoring systems that require outside knowledge in order to understand the finer details. And so games like the console shmups I listed above and excellent-but-too-simple arcade shmups like Under Defeat are shunted from the list, because "why spend time on a game that doesn't make me work to understand it"?

This isn't a foolproof way to examine the history of which games end up on "the list" because there is nothing complex about Eschatos or Thunder Dragon 2 yet the scoring found in both is visceral, I suppose enough people think that quality of speed killing is compelling. I'm not mad about the results or anything by the way, I have a fondness for console shmups however I'll quickly admit MUSHA, Axelay, and Gunhed probably don't belong near a top 25. It's also possible that my theory of gamers preferring more and more complex games in their top 25 is bullshit, because it's not as if Gradius V or Dangun Feveron or Rayforce are complex in design, although the latter two games do share the potential longevity inherent to shmups with more complex systems.

[m.sniffles.esq]

While I understand what you're getting at, I think you may have misinterpreted what I meant. I was merely spitballing reasons it seemed to be fading from memory, and it's nagging "shallow" caveat (which seems to be brought up on every occasion the game is brought up. Or, often enough that I'd remark on it) may be a reason people have ceased breaking it out. They "figured it out," nothing more to see here.

But for all I know, helicopters are way uncool nowadays (I noticed Zero Gunner 2 also got the deep six)

[BobbyNewmarkiii]

First time voting and I'm glad I did. Some classics on the list. A worthy winner, and great to see Mars Matrix doing well. People have obviously been listening to Xoxak. Crimzon Clover also getting a well deserved top 10.

Some pretenders in there as well of course. I'd happily have swapped RayForce for Soukyugurentai, and Daifukkatsu for Saidaioujou. The greatest injustice was of course no top 25 for Muchi Muchi Pork!! As others have said, very surprised by the lack of Psikyo love.

As for wallowing in the misfortune of others, glad to see Under Defeat knocked back down to where it belongs

Finally, I don't mind admitting that Thunder Dragon 2 is somewhat of a Donkey Punch for me. Will have to boot it up on MAME.

Thanks to Nifty for doing the hard work.

[bkk]

What Dropped from 2018's Top 25:

• Gunbird 2 (ARC/DC)

[To Far Away Times]

matched with the nagging "pretty but shallow" criticism

I guess tastes have changed over time and/or possibly forum members with those tastes have lost interest in the forum - the first poll, if you can believe this, had games like Thunder Force III through V, MUSHA, Soldier Blade, Axelay, Gate/Lords of Thunder, and Gunhed receive enough votes for top 25. I get the impression that inaugural poll was more informal, however the second one had many of those same games on the list. As time goes on, for better or worse people seem to have the perspective that a well-made game isn't enough, that you need a massive amount of replayability. Many players seem to be attracted to scoring systems that require outside knowledge in order to understand the finer details. And so games like the console shmups I listed above and excellent-but-too-simple arcade shmups like Under Defeat are shunted from the list, because "why spend time on a game that doesn't make me work to understand it"?

This isn't a foolproof way to examine the history of which games end up on "the list" because there is nothing complex about Eschatos or Thunder Dragon 2 yet the scoring found in both is visceral, I suppose enough people think that quality of speed killing is compelling. I'm not mad about the results or anything by the way, I have a fondness for console shmups however I'll quickly admit MUSHA, Axelay, and Gunhed probably don't belong near a top 25. It's also possible that my theory of gamers preferring more and more complex games in their top 25 is bullshit, because it's not as if Gradius V or Dangun Feveron or Rayforce are complex in design, although the latter two games do share the potential longevity inherent to shmups with more complex systems.

There's a time and a place for complex games but the sheer presentation, production values, and attitude of Thunderforce III feels like it belongs in a Top 25 to me. Eschatos has a little bit of that same flavor. A game that takes 10-20 hours to beat seems fine to me. I like CAVE and all, but I would love to see more of the classics celebrated.

[6t8k]

It warms my heart to see Gradius V so high up on the list

Futari and ESP Ra.De. must've gotten a popularity boost due to recent events for sure. The latter didn't even make it onto the list since '09.

Absolutely can't miss Dogyuun, Mahou Daisakusen, Outzone and Tatsujin Oh cresting the results for the first time ever (don't really know Gun.Smoke well). Quite surprising, actually!

@blossom: spruce assembly of history of popularity.


Now that the poll's over, I went through the ballots, and encourage everyone to do the same as it's a treasure trove. My takeaway points were:

• Seeing Guxt placed above heavy hitters like Gradius III (SFC) / Garegga / Tatsujin and even several times above Life Force (NES) / Recca, I definitely do need to give this game a shot. For those unaware, Guxt is a shmup by Cave Story creator Daisuke Amaya.
• Interesting to see MX5000/Flak Attack so high up. I've never even heared about King's Knight. Looks intriguing. Although the color palette seems a tad garish (mainpatr5).
• @WarpZone: Pewpew~ Yah! - Space Invaders DDR edition
• Man, does Jamestown(+) look gorgeous and fun to play! Had to smile when I saw dem DonPachi lazers n' splosions :p Ser Flash of Studio Mudprints/Bullet Heaven gave the base game a 5/5 in all categories. If only it wasn't a vert stuck in a hori orientation, that kind of gets in the way for me a bit. Noted for giving it a try on the go (Cultstorm, Stanshall & auryn).

Merely being curious here:
• For which reasons do people place Thunder Force III above Thunder Force IV? (@ShootTheCore, @To Far Away Times)
• Bakraid higher than Garegga? Now I really need to know Would you like to write two, three sentences @TransatlantigFoe, @BulletMagnet?

[BIL]

Whoa, Gun.Smoke made the HMs? Completely missed that. As chum aptly put, it's sadly no good for scoreplay (would be so trivial to fix...), but if you crave an STG whose zako palpably want to hunt you down and murder you, G.S. is your game! Meanest varmints in the biz. Rad tactical strafing mechanic too.

EDIT: for the love of God and all that is holy, this refers to the arcade version! The FDS/NES one is amiable enough and therefore missing the AC's killer edge, and it also makes you press A+B to shoot forward! Meanwhile, the AC one is so X-TREEM, it makes angry noobs think they're playing the FDS/NES one! The console port got much better tunes though!

King's Knight. Looks intriguing. Although the color palette seems a tad garish (mainpatr5).

It's a neat little curiosity with its rampant scenery-smashing, multi-levelled stages and diverse characters, though if you want to finish the game (at least the FC version), it becomes something of a memoriser. You absolutely need to find each character's hidden treasure in their respective stages to enable their special abilities in the final gauntlet, or at some point you'll get brickwalled. A charming but deceptively strict curio that's entirely better than its oft-uncharitable popular image suggests.

[To Far Away Times]

Merely being curious here:
• For which reasons do people place Thunder Force III above Thunder Force IV? (@ShootTheCore, @To Far Away Times)

While I like Thunderforce IV quite a bit, I think III edges it out.

III has, imo, one of the best videogame OSTs out there. Any genre, any era, full stop. I also like the weapon damage better than IV. You feel very powerful in III, where as in IV you'll see many bosses go through all their paterns twice. IV has the huge vertical stages which I'm never a fan of, and I generally prefer more tightly scripted levels.

IV is definately cool though, one of the very best 16 bit shmups.

[Queen Charlene]

i also agree that TF3 is a bit of a tighter experience than 4 when it comes to the overall package.

that being said -- if i rated 4 a 9.5/10, 3 would get a 9.6.

[Nifty]

Sufficient time has elapsed for the results to be presented in their entirety.

Code: Select all

###. Game Name                                          Total Score|Votes|HMs|SLs|Total Game Weight
     Top 25:

001. Mushihimesama Futari / 1.5 / Black Label            : 7.640449   31   1   5   2.250974
002. Battle Garegga                                      : 7.300653   36   2   4   1.937817
003. Ketsui ~Kizuna Jigoku Tachi~                        : 7.133556   32   2   4   1.997481
004. DoDonPachi                                          : 6.196342   30   2   2   1.693581
005. DoDonPachi Dai-Ou-Jou Black Label / White Label     : 5.925450   27   2   2   1.672794
006. Ikaruga                                             : 5.578625   26   1   3   1.541947
007. Gradius V                                           : 5.048593   26   1   0   1.379205
008. Crimzon Clover / World Ignition                     : 5.035397   26   2   3   1.280527
009. Armed Police Batrider                               : 4.851726   26   2   3   1.197840
010. Radiant Silvergun                                   : 4.107246   17   2   2   0.843265
011. Dangun Feveron / Fever SOS                          : 3.697886   16   1   0   1.108348
012. ESPGaluda / Arrange                                 : 3.591163   20   4   1   0.849537
013. Mushihimesama                                       : 3.524369   19   0   1   0.920634
014. ESP Ra.De.                                          : 3.273396   17   2   3   0.790786
015. RayForce / Layer Section / Galactic Attack          : 3.208190   18   2   1   0.778292
016. Eschatos                                            : 3.125816   11   3   3   0.909820
017. Gradius Gaiden                                      : 3.087691   17   0   0   0.816781
018. Deathsmiles / Mega Black Label                      : 3.067749   16   2   3   0.731927
019. Mars Matrix                                         : 2.838864   12   2   3   0.763774
020. R-Type                                              : 2.837952   16   2   0   0.704349
021. ZeroRanger                                          : 2.817397   17   1   1   0.652943
022. Batsugun / Batsugun Special                         : 2.768132   15   1   1   0.698209
023. Darius Gaiden / Extra                               : 2.714444   17   1   1   0.606594
024. Thunder Dragon 2                                    : 2.664052   08   1   3   0.836826
025. DoDonPachi Daifukkatsu / 1.5 / Resurrection         : 2.522345   13   3   0   0.646571


     Honorable Mention:

026. R-Type Delta                                        : 2.366736   15   0   0   0.559655
027. Dragon Blaze                                        : 2.357393   14   1   2   0.521727
028. Gunbird 2                                           : 2.355695   11   2   2   0.605268
029. Battle Bakraid                                      : 2.297325   14   2   1   0.503115
030. Guwange                                             : 2.244081   12   1   2   0.538159
031. ESPGaluda II                                        : 2.207427   11   1   2   0.555380
032. Under Defeat                                        : 2.116290   12   0   1   0.522782
033. Raiden Fighters Jet                                 : 2.076228   15   2   0   0.395148
034. Cho Ren Sha 68k                                     : 2.067357   11   2   1   0.500752
035. Darius Burst: Another Chronicle / EX / Saviours     : 1.944836   10   3   2   0.437163
036. Gradius II / Vulcan Venture (ARC/SAT/PSX/NES)       : 1.901051   10   6   1   0.392159
037. Muchi Muchi Pork!                                   : 1.791593   10   1   2   0.401896
038. Soukyugurentai / Terra Diver                        : 1.788080   09   1   1   0.459329
039. Giga Wing                                           : 1.775073   13   3   1   0.284861
040. G-Darius                                            : 1.716292   11   1   0   0.384857
041. Flying Shark / Hishouzame                           : 1.690202   05   0   2   0.541724
042. Kamui                                               : 1.689871   09   5   0   0.372963
043. Raiden DX                                           : 1.674665   10   0   0   0.416701
044. Progear no Arashi                                   : 1.667968   07   0   2   0.464269
045. Akai Katana                                         : 1.657254   09   0   2   0.392001
046. DonPachi                                            : 1.602072   09   0   2   0.367158
047. Raiden                                              : 1.587738   07   0   2   0.428151
048. Strikers 1945 II                                    : 1.573646   11   2   0   0.303778
049. Blue Revolver                                       : 1.549909   09   1   1   0.352106
050. Tatsujin Oh / Truxton II                            : 1.523070   06   0   1   0.458051
051. Gradius III (SNES)                                  : 1.522705   10   1   0   0.331428
052. DoDonPachi Saidaioujou                              : 1.513286   08   2   1   0.352480
053. Perfect Cherry Blossom [Touhou 7]                   : 1.501461   08   0   0   0.406170
054. Ibara                                               : 1.491811   09   0   0   0.368103
055. Soldier Blade                                       : 1.490176   07   1   2   0.367367
056. Judgement Silversword                               : 1.474890   07   2   1   0.368916
057. Dimahoo / Great Mahou Daisakusen                    : 1.461562   07   0   1   0.396639
058. Thunder Force IV                                    : 1.449801   09   1   2   0.281746
059. Mecha Ritz / Steel Rondo                            : 1.446498   06   3   2   0.347704
060. Mahou Daisakusen / Sorcer Striker                   : 1.422888   09   0   0   0.337075
061. Raiden Fighters 2                                   : 1.375707   09   0   0   0.315834
062. Twin Cobra / Kyukyoku Tiger (ARC/PCE)               : 1.369188   09   0   0   0.312899
063. Tatsujin / Truxton                                  : 1.329228   05   2   2   0.345493
064. Fire Shark / Same! Same! Same                       : 1.302825   06   1   2   0.316745
065. Blue Wish Resurrection / Plus                       : 1.287277   06   2   0   0.343468
066. Gun.Smoke                                           : 1.286098   06   2   1   0.317645
067. OutZone                                             : 1.277590   06   0   1   0.347538
068. Dogyuun                                             : 1.267332   05   0   1   0.376642
069. Salamander 2                                        : 1.264863   07   2   0   0.299655


     The Rest:

070. 19XX: The War Against Destiny                       : 1.258372   05   0   2   0.347317
071. DoDonPachi Daifukkatsu Black Label                  : 1.145175   05   0   1   0.321648
072. Akai Katana Shin                                    : 1.104915   06   2   0   0.261370
073. Salamander (ARC/PCE)                                : 1.096829   08   1   0   0.207146
074. Strikers 1945                                       : 1.080435   08   0   1   0.191335
075. Super Spacefortress Macross II                      : 1.073240   08   1   0   0.196526
076. Strikers 1945 III / Strikers 1999                   : 1.062873   06   1   0   0.259304
077. Border Down                                         : 1.057369   06   1   0   0.256826
078. Psyvariar Revision                                  : 1.048641   07   0   0   0.236035
079. Imperishable Night [Touhou 8]                       : 1.025268   07   1   0   0.208652
080. Gradius (ARC/NES)                                   : 1.008134   06   1   0   0.234661
081. Super Aleste / Space Megaforce                      : 0.965892   06   0   0   0.232505
082. Radirgy                                             : 0.957564   03   1   0   0.313062
083. Twinkle Star Sprites                                : 0.940189   05   2   1   0.195641
084. Zanac Neo                                           : 0.916870   06   1   0   0.193574
085. Raiden II                                           : 0.913249   04   2   1   0.217236
086. Sky Adventure                                       : 0.911467   07   0   0   0.174281
087. Blazing Star                                        : 0.902653   06   4   0   0.136590
088. Raiden Fighters                                     : 0.902143   06   0   0   0.203805
089. Hydorah / Super Hydorah                             : 0.899108   06   1   0   0.185578
090. V-V [V-Five] / Grind Stormer                        : 0.891536   04   2   1   0.207461
091. Cyvern: The Dragon Weapons                          : 0.889018   05   2   0   0.197897
092. Guardian Force                                      : 0.870239   05   0   0   0.223165
093. Monolith                                            : 0.868061   05   1   0   0.205323
094. Recca [Summer Carnival '92]                         : 0.859225   06   2   1   0.125469
095. Gun Frontier                                        : 0.847183   03   1   1   0.238077
096. Shikigami no Shiro II                               : 0.838007   05   3   0   0.158070
097. Metal Black                                         : 0.826445   06   1   0   0.152865
098. Hellsinker                                          : 0.821207   03   2   0   0.234813
099. RefleX                                              : 0.819059   04   0   0   0.233846
100. Flame Zapper Kotsujin                               : 0.784611   05   0   0   0.184615
101. Sexy Parodius                                       : 0.778462   05   0   1   0.156555
102. Seisou Kouki Strania / The Stella Machina           : 0.761992   06   0   0   0.140710
103. Parodius Da! (ARC/SFC)                              : 0.756449   05   2   0   0.138215
104. Triggerheart Exelica                                : 0.750129   04   0   1   0.177522
105. Musha Aleste / M.U.S.H.A.                           : 0.747677   05   3   0   0.117404
106. Rolling Gunner                                      : 0.737708   05   0   1   0.138208
107. Pink Sweets                                         : 0.735484   05   2   0   0.128776
108. Image Fight                                         : 0.728399   03   0   1   0.201462
109. Thunder Force III                                   : 0.699914   04   0   0   0.180208
110. Great Fairy Wars [Touhou 12.8]                      : 0.676101   03   1   0   0.186349
111. Sengoku Blade / Tengai                              : 0.659651   03   4   1   0.103067
112. Viper Phase 1                                       : 0.658917   04   0   0   0.161751
113. Raiden V / Director's Cut                           : 0.650677   04   1   0   0.141180
114. G-Stream G2020 / DeltaZeal                          : 0.640815   03   0   0   0.187324
115. Caladrius / Caladrius Blaze                         : 0.637656   05   1   0   0.101596
116. Ginga Force                                         : 0.623277   03   1   1   0.137276
117. R-Type Final                                        : 0.621974   04   0   0   0.145120
118. R-Type II                                           : 0.602236   04   1   0   0.119372
119. Illvelo                                             : 0.600900   02   0   0   0.203077
120. Cardinal Sins                                       : 0.585065   02   0   1   0.170656
121. Harmful Park                                        : 0.583762   03   0   0   0.161639
122. R-Type III: The Third Lightning                     : 0.579173   04   0   0   0.125851
123. Raiden IV                                           : 0.578085   03   1   0   0.142222
124. R-Type Leo                                          : 0.576923   02   1   1   0.150130
125. RayStorm                                            : 0.571939   03   1   0   0.139455
126. Thunder Cross                                       : 0.566534   03   1   0   0.137022
127. Alltynex Second                                     : 0.565655   03   1   0   0.136626
128. Lords of Thunder / Winds of Thunder                 : 0.562100   04   0   0   0.118165
129. Double Spoiler [Touhou 12.5]                        : 0.556612   01   1   0   0.200000
130. Danmaku Unlimited 3                                 : 0.533643   03   0   0   0.139076
131. Mamoru-kun wa Norowarete Shimatta!                  : 0.522472   03   0   0   0.134047
132. Black Bird                                          : 0.518609   02   2   0   0.132308
133. Shikigami no Shiro III                              : 0.511474   04   0   0   0.095373
134. Eden's Aegis                                        : 0.508368   01   1   2   0.127697
135. Pulstar                                             : 0.506796   03   2   0   0.093267
136. Gate of Thunder                                     : 0.499974   03   2   1   0.064904
137. Zero Gunner 2                                       : 0.485461   03   2   0   0.083662
138. Guxt                                                : 0.484517   04   0   0   0.083237
139. Robotron: 2084                                      : 0.482477   01   0   0   0.183486
140. Nex Machina                                         : 0.481955   03   1   0   0.098945
141. Embodiment of Scarlet Devil [Touhou 6]              : 0.478616   04   0   0   0.080580
142. Mountain of Faith [Touhou 10]                       : 0.474779   04   1   0   0.061992
143. Phantasmagoria of Flower View [Touhou 9]            : 0.473301   02   0   0   0.145633
144. Varth: Operation Thunderstorm                       : 0.472840   03   0   0   0.111703
145. Stella Vanity                                       : 0.464971   03   0   0   0.108160
146. Thunder Force V                                     : 0.458881   03   2   0   0.071696
147. Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream [Touhou 3]             : 0.434134   02   0   0   0.128000
148. Dragon Breed                                        : 0.432360   03   1   0   0.076618
149. Devil Engine                                        : 0.427742   02   4   0   0.057677
150. Galaga                                              : 0.418786   03   0   0   0.087368
151. GunNail                                             : 0.416364   02   0   0   0.120000
152. Vimana                                              : 0.416060   01   1   1   0.111432
153. Last Resort                                         : 0.410389   02   0   1   0.092018
154. Fast Striker                                        : 0.409774   01   0   2   0.100172
155. Zanac (NES)                                         : 0.406130   02   0   1   0.090101
156. Einhänder                                           : 0.396880   02   3   0   0.060645
157. Salamander / Life Force (NES)                       : 0.392284   03   1   0   0.058575
158. Deathsmiles II / IIX                                : 0.385228   02   0   1   0.080691
159. Vasara 2                                            : 0.383954   03   0   0   0.071687
160. Undeadline (MD)                                     : 0.375081   03   0   0   0.067692
161. Darius II                                           : 0.368186   02   0   0   0.098311
162. Trizeal                                             : 0.366381   02   0   0   0.097498
163. Area 88 / U.N. Squadron (ARC)                       : 0.355621   02   1   0   0.075793
164. Axelay                                              : 0.351002   03   2   0   0.023129
165. Cambria Sword                                       : 0.349743   02   0   0   0.090008
166. Apidya                                              : 0.347543   02   1   0   0.072156
167. Fantasy Zone II: The Tears Of Opa-Opa (System 16)   : 0.346380   02   0   0   0.088494
168. Kaikan                                              : 0.344909   02   1   0   0.070970
169. eXceed 3rd - Jade Penetrate                         : 0.341458   01   0   0   0.120000
170. X-Multiply                                          : 0.340318   03   0   0   0.052042
171. Galaga '88 / Galaga '90                             : 0.336861   02   3   0   0.033624
172. Ibara Kuro / Black Label                            : 0.334237   02   0   0   0.083027
173. Ketsui Death Label                                  : 0.331614   02   0   0   0.081846
174. Jamestown / Jamestown+                              : 0.325260   02   2   0   0.045263
175. Karous                                              : 0.324780   02   0   0   0.078769
176. Subterranean Animism [Touhou 11]                    : 0.323461   02   0   0   0.078175
177. Battle Traverse                                     : 0.321327   03   0   0   0.043492
178. P-47 Aces                                           : 0.319677   01   1   0   0.093333
179. Mr. Heli no Daibouken                               : 0.315800   02   0   0   0.074727
180. Gradius III (ARC)                                   : 0.313570   02   2   0   0.040000
181. The Guardian Legend                                 : 0.307010   02   0   0   0.070769
182. Slap Fight MD                                       : 0.301226   02   0   0   0.068165
183. Omega Fighter / Omega Fighter Special               : 0.293340   02   0   0   0.064615
184. Assault                                             : 0.290982   01   0   0   0.097276
185. Gemini Wing                                         : 0.289352   02   1   1   0.020667
186. Shoot the Bullet [Touhou 9.5]                       : 0.288147   01   0   0   0.096000
187. eXceed 3rd - Jade Penetrate Black Package           : 0.286873   01   0   1   0.070134
188. Murasaki Tsurugi                                    : 0.282224   01   0   0   0.093333
189. Exzisus                                             : 0.281606   02   0   0   0.059333
190. Gunbird                                             : 0.279206   01   0   2   0.041391
191. Assault Android Cactus                              : 0.278191   02   0   0   0.057795
192. Cybattler                                           : 0.276116   02   1   0   0.040000
193. RayCrisis                                           : 0.275735   02   0   0   0.056689
194. Power Strike II (SMS)                               : 0.270989   02   0   0   0.054553
195. Zing Zing Zip                                       : 0.270377   01   0   0   0.088000
196. Blazing Lazers                                      : 0.270326   02   0   0   0.054254
197. XII Stag / XIIZeal                                  : 0.262994   02   0   0   0.050954
198. In The Hunt                                         : 0.249704   01   1   1   0.036540
199. Viewpoint                                           : 0.248079   02   1   0   0.027378
200. F/A / Fighter & Attacker                            : 0.247767   01   0   0   0.077821
201. Strike Gunner S.T.G. (SNES)                         : 0.245773   01   0   0   0.076923
202. Gradius Rebirth                                     : 0.245498   02   0   0   0.043077
203. Power Strike / Aleste                               : 0.245248   01   0   0   0.076687
204. Tokio / Scramble Formation                          : 0.236657   00   0   1   0.081250
205. Xevious                                             : 0.236332   01   0   1   0.047381
206. Space Invaders Extreme 2                            : 0.234407   01   1   0   0.054945
207. 1943: The Battle of Midway                          : 0.233130   02   0   0   0.037509
208. King's Knight                                       : 0.232103   01   0   0   0.070769
209. Exed Exes                                           : 0.231621   01   0   0   0.070552
210. Giga Wing 2                                         : 0.227164   02   0   0   0.034823
211. Thundercade                                         : 0.225269   01   0   0   0.067692
212. Zed Blade / Operation Ragnarok                      : 0.225122   02   0   0   0.033904
213. Revolver360 Re:actor                                : 0.221838   01   0   0   0.066148
214. Thunder Force AC                                    : 0.221776   02   0   0   0.032397
215. Neko Navy                                           : 0.218864   01   0   1   0.039517
216. Ashura Blaster                                      : 0.218434   01   0   0   0.064615
217. Gokujou Parodius                                    : 0.214879   01   1   0   0.046154
218. Formation Armed F                                   : 0.211766   02   0   0   0.027891
219. Satazius                                            : 0.211599   01   0   0   0.061538
219. Aleste Gaiden                                       : 0.211599   01   0   0   0.061538
221. Detana!! TwinBee                                    : 0.211180   01   0   0   0.061350
222. Hitogata Happa                                      : 0.209122   01   0   0   0.060423
223. Darius / Darius Extra                               : 0.205629   02   0   0   0.025128
224. Geometry Wars 2                                     : 0.204765   01   0   0   0.058462
224. Laydock                                             : 0.204765   01   0   0   0.058462
226. Metal Hawk                                          : 0.204552   01   0   0   0.058366
227. Super Star Soldier                                  : 0.204490   02   0   0   0.024615
228. Space Manbow                                        : 0.203722   01   1   0   0.041131
229. Hellfire                                            : 0.198310   01   0   0   0.055556
230. Genetos                                             : 0.197930   01   0   0   0.055385
231. Space Bomber                                        : 0.194375   01   1   0   0.036923
232. Jikkyo Oshaberi Parodius (PSX/SAT)                  : 0.194238   01   2   0   0.020000
233. Gradius Galaxies / Generation / Advance             : 0.194195   01   1   0   0.036842
234. Dezatopia                                           : 0.191095   01   0   0   0.052308
235. Gratia - Second Earth                               : 0.187266   01   0   0   0.050584
236. MX5000 / Flak Attack                                : 0.184261   01   0   0   0.049231
236. Strikers 1945 Plus                                  : 0.184261   01   0   0   0.049231
238. Samidare                                            : 0.183986   02   0   0   0.015385
239. Argus                                               : 0.181126   00   0   1   0.056250
240. Aero Fighters 2                                     : 0.177112   01   0   0   0.046012
241. Wing Force                                          : 0.175998   02   0   0   0.011788
242. Impossible Spell Card [Touhou 14.3]                 : 0.175568   01   0   0   0.045317
243. Bio-Hazard Battle                                   : 0.172903   01   0   0   0.044118
243. Infinos Gaiden                                      : 0.172903   01   0   0   0.044118
243. Z-Out                                               : 0.172903   01   0   0   0.044118
246. Momoiro Underground                                 : 0.172544   01   0   0   0.043956
247. Magmax                                              : 0.170591   01   0   0   0.043077
248. Cotton Boomerang                                    : 0.167889   01   0   0   0.041860
249. Bullet Soul / Infinite Burst                        : 0.167583   01   2   0   0.008000
250. Jet Buster                                          : 0.165670   01   1   0   0.024000
251. Gun-Nac                                             : 0.165570   01   0   0   0.040816
252. Sky Wolf                                            : 0.163757   01   0   0   0.040000
252. Xeno Fighters R                                     : 0.163757   01   0   0   0.040000
252. Terra Cresta II                                     : 0.163757   01   0   0   0.040000
252. Space Invaders Infinity Gene                        : 0.163757   01   0   0   0.040000
252. Steredenn                                           : 0.163757   01   0   0   0.040000
252. Super Stardust Delta                                : 0.163757   01   0   0   0.040000
252. Sky Force Reloaded                                  : 0.163757   01   0   0   0.040000
252. Resogun                                             : 0.163757   01   0   0   0.040000
260. Shienryu                                            : 0.163482   01   2   0   0.006154
261. Shoot 1Up                                           : 0.161505   00   1   1   0.030556
262. Explosive Breaker                                   : 0.161337   01   0   0   0.038911
262. Super Spacefortress Macross                         : 0.161337   01   0   0   0.038911
262. Fixeight                                            : 0.161337   01   0   0   0.038911
262. Granada                                             : 0.161337   01   0   0   0.038911
266. Gorf                                                : 0.160559   01   0   0   0.038560
267. Psyvariar Medium Unit                               : 0.157175   01   0   0   0.037037
267. Eliminate Down                                      : 0.157175   01   0   0   0.037037
269. Last Breakers                                       : 0.156922   01   0   0   0.036923
269. Metal Stoker                                        : 0.156922   01   0   0   0.036923
271. Akkanvader / Space Invaders '95                     : 0.156671   01   0   0   0.036810
272. Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury                           : 0.155387   01   0   0   0.036232
273. Leiria ~Stargazer~                                  : 0.152845   01   0   0   0.035088
273. Zen-Ichi                                            : 0.152845   01   0   0   0.035088
275. E.D.F.: Earth Defense Force                         : 0.152694   01   0   0   0.035019
276. Beamrider                                           : 0.151126   01   0   0   0.034314
277. Brave Blade                                         : 0.150088   01   0   0   0.033846
278. Andro Dunos                                         : 0.144051   01   0   0   0.031128
278. Twin Hawk / Daisenpuu                               : 0.144051   01   0   0   0.031128
280. Score Rush / MP                                     : 0.143253   01   0   0   0.030769
280. Soldner X-2: Final Prototype                        : 0.143253   01   0   0   0.030769
282. Gekirindan                                          : 0.143043   01   0   0   0.030675
282. Radirgy Noa                                         : 0.143043   01   0   0   0.030675
284. Sonic Wings Special                                 : 0.140238   01   0   0   0.029412
285. Twinkle Tale                                        : 0.139698   01   1   0   0.012308
285. Gradius IV                                          : 0.139698   01   1   0   0.012308
287. Psyvariar 2                                         : 0.136418   01   0   0   0.027692
287. Prehistoric Isle 2                                  : 0.136418   01   0   0   0.027692
287. Burning Dragon Plus                                 : 0.136418   01   0   0   0.027692
287. Sky Force Anniversary                               : 0.136418   01   0   0   0.027692
291. Trouble Witches Neo!                                : 0.134940   01   0   0   0.027027
292. Undefined Fantastic Object [Touhou 12]              : 0.130130   01   1   0   0.008000
292. Gundemonium Recollection                            : 0.130130   01   1   0   0.008000
292. Star Force                                          : 0.130130   01   1   0   0.008000
295. Gynoug                                              : 0.129349   01   0   0   0.024510
296. Game Tengoku                                        : 0.124268   01   0   0   0.022222
297. Xexex                                               : 0.124050   01   1   0   0.005263
298. GG Aleste                                           : 0.122749   01   0   0   0.021538
298. Magical Chase                                       : 0.122749   01   0   0   0.021538
300. Dragon Spirit                                       : 0.121670   01   0   0   0.021053
301. BioMetal                                            : 0.119194   01   1   0   0.003077
302. Steel Empire                                        : 0.116041   01   0   0   0.018519
302. Elemental Master                                    : 0.116041   01   0   0   0.018519
304. Rapid Hero                                          : 0.115914   01   0   0   0.018462
305. Ordyne                                              : 0.115788   01   0   0   0.018405
306. 1941: Counter Attack                                : 0.115589   01   0   0   0.018315
306. River Raid                                          : 0.115589   01   0   0   0.018315
306. Hotdog Storm                                        : 0.115589   01   0   0   0.018315
309. Akashicverse                                        : 0.113876   01   0   0   0.017544
309. Valhellio                                           : 0.113876   01   0   0   0.017544
309. XOP Black                                           : 0.113876   01   0   0   0.017544
312. Dokingan                                            : 0.110447   01   0   0   0.016000
313. Forgotten Worlds                                    : 0.109080   01   0   0   0.015385
313. DoDonPachi II: Bee Storm                            : 0.109080   01   0   0   0.015385
313. Nexzr                                               : 0.109080   01   0   0   0.015385
316. Daioh                                               : 0.104523   01   0   0   0.013333
317. Raiden III                                          : 0.102245   01   0   0   0.012308
318. Sky Kid                                             : 0.102161   01   0   0   0.012270
319. Seaquest                                            : 0.099316   01   0   0   0.010989
320. KiKi KaiKai: Nazo no Kuro Manto / Pocky & Rocky     : 0.095410   01   0   0   0.009231
320. Blue Sabers                                         : 0.095410   01   0   0   0.009231
320. Thunder Cross II                                    : 0.095410   01   0   0   0.009231
323. Gundhara                                            : 0.095285   01   0   0   0.009174
324. The Hurricane of The Varstray                       : 0.092676   01   0   0   0.008000
324. Sqoon                                               : 0.092676   01   0   0   0.008000
324. Space Moth DX                                       : 0.092676   01   0   0   0.008000
324. Star Soldier (GC)                                   : 0.092676   01   0   0   0.008000
324. Fire Lancer                                         : 0.092676   01   0   0   0.008000
324. Graze Counter                                       : 0.092676   01   0   0   0.008000
324. Bangai-O Spirits                                    : 0.092676   01   0   0   0.008000
324. White Butterfly                                     : 0.092676   01   0   0   0.008000
324. Ten Desires [Touhou 13]                             : 0.092676   01   0   0   0.008000
324. Lotus Land Story [Touhou 4]                         : 0.092676   01   0   0   0.008000
334. Aurail                                              : 0.092192   01   0   0   0.007782
334. Bosconian                                           : 0.092192   01   0   0   0.007782
336. Otomedius G                                         : 0.091360   01   0   0   0.007407
337. Nostradamus                                         : 0.089715   01   0   0   0.006667
338. Silk Worm                                           : 0.088576   01   0   0   0.006154
339. Rabio Lepus                                         : 0.088534   01   0   0   0.006135
340. Gallop - Armed Police Unit                          : 0.086597   01   0   0   0.005263
340. Bangai-O                                            : 0.086597   01   0   0   0.005263
342. Aleste 2                                            : 0.083973   01   0   0   0.004082
342. Captain Tomaday                                     : 0.083973   01   0   0   0.004082
344. Trigon                                              : 0.083946   00   0   1   0.012500
345. Battle Mania Daiginjou                              : 0.083549   01   0   0   0.003891
345. Blazer                                              : 0.083549   01   0   0   0.003891
347. Air Gallet                                          : 0.082835   00   0   1   0.012000
348. Tails Gear                                          : 0.081741   01   0   0   0.003077
348. Air Buster                                          : 0.081741   01   0   0   0.003077
348. Download 2                                          : 0.081741   01   0   0   0.003077
351. Phoenix                                             : 0.081720   01   0   0   0.003067
352. TxK                                                 : 0.070063   00   0   1   0.006250
353. Sengoku Ace                                         : 0.069507   00   0   1   0.006000
354. Ryu Jin                                             : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Gaia Seed: Project Seed Trap                        : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. ring^-27                                            : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Flight of Pigarus                                   : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Darwin 4078                                         : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Knightmare                                          : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Sky Force                                           : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Radirgy Swag                                        : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Zero Wing                                           : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Tyrian                                              : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Thunder Force VI                                    : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Bari-Arm                                            : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire                       : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Illumination Laser                                  : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Zenohell                                            : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Aero Chimera                                        : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Mystic Square [Touhou 5]                            : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Story of Eastern Wonderland [Touhou 2]              : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Blade Buster                                        : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Change Air Blade                                    : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Seirei Senshi Spriggan                              : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Space Invaders Extreme                              : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. RefRain: Prism Memories                             : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Aka to Blue Type-R                                  : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Rival Megagun                                       : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Ether Vapor                                         : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Rym 9000                                            : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Way Too Huge Fighter Plane GIGA SHOOTER             : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Zangeki Warp                                        : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Kokuga                                              : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Tumiki Fighters                                     : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. U.N. Squadron / Area 88 (SNES)                      : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Aero Fighters / Sonic Wings (ARC/SNES)              : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Abadox                                              : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Abarenbou Tengu / Zombie Nation                     : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Macross: Scrambled Valkyrie                         : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Dangerous Seed (MD)                                 : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Gleylancer                                          : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Whip Rush                                           : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000
354. Kingdom Grandprix / Shippu Mahou Daisakusen         : 0.037453   00   1   0   0.000000

[6t8k]

BIL: I always put Gun.Smoke down as being a little too drab and repetitive for my liking, though I certainly appreciate some adrenaline-steeped, breakneck pursuits! I might indeed give it a try – I have it as part of the Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded on the PSP, I guess that'll have to suffice for a first familiarisation

Thank you two for the Thunder Force comparison! Last time I played through TFIII was too long ago, so I didn't see it as eligible and was spared from profoundly deciding which one I like better When I played through TFIV, I saw it as a siginficant improvement overall, which would've been my crude verdict when asked in passing, though I too am not really fond of those vertically very spacious stages and can see the appeal of a more streamlined experience.

Still missing a Bakraid > Garegga vindication.

[To Far Away Times]

I'm a bigger fan of Bakraid, but I've barely played more than a few hours of Garegga due to its reputation. The heavy rank management play doesn't interest me.

I don't even like rank normally, much less a whole game based around it.

Those who love it, really do love it though.

[mtn360]

@system11: Wanna make this one sticky instead of the 16th one?

[pegboy]

Another bump to try and get this stickied instead of the old one.

[Steamflogger Boss]

Been nice seeing Kamui gradually gain footing over the years.

So I'm not the only one tracking the differences over the years.

I am pm'ing staff to hopefully get this stickied.

[dmk1198]

Love these annual awards
What's people's main criteria here?
Is it mainly the chasing good high score?
For me that's not important
I'm no great shakes but enjoy playing shmups
I go for the "feel" of a game
The combination of response I guess through controller , the graphics, the setting, the music, the sound effects , all important allong with gameplay
Don't want it to hard
Give me a easy mode to see what's on offer first lol
Amazed at lack of new shmups recently
Guess make up of this top 380 be summit like
2010-20 15%%?
2000-10 15%
1990-200 35%
1975-1990 35%

Could be totally wrong but curious, almost jealous of youngsters discovering these for first time
Like discovering a good TV show or a band and being able to go thru the box set or back
Catalogue lol

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[Bydobasher]

Love these annual awards
What's people's main criteria here?

My criteria are much like yours, actually. I'm not much into score, I don't mind easy modes.... The "experience" of playing something is important: the atmosphere, the aesthetic, the music. And also, there are shmups where I get great satisfaction just from making my way to the final boss and prevailing! Irem is my #1, Konami is my #2, and everyone else is far behind those two companies where shmups are concerned.

[dmk1198]

Love these annual awards
What's people's main criteria here?

My criteria are much like yours, actually. I'm not much into score, I don't mind easy modes.... The "experience" of playing something is important: the atmosphere, the aesthetic, the music. And also, there are shmups where I get great satisfaction just from making my way to the final boss and prevailing! Irem is my #1, Konami is my #2, and everyone else is far behind those two companies where shmups are concerned.

Good to know I'm not alone, and thnx for running these annual comps nifty got me right back into shmups
It's become my Bible
Yes that konami classics collection is superb value to, oozes quality

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