SHMUPS on PSX: some tips to get started

[Antiriad]

Hi
I'm new to the SHMUPS genre, so I'd like some advice about the best titles (even little known Japanese hidden gems) to start playing on PSX/PS1.
I know PSX is criticized because of small RAM and consequent cuts in arcade ports, but it seems there are also valid conversions on this console (as Street Fighter Collection port for fighting games, rivaling even today with the modern ports in terms of lack of lag).
I think I'll start with In the Hunt/Kaitei Daisensou, but I'd like to hear about other titles (Salamander Deluxe Pack?).

Other questions: SHMUPS are usually played with arcade stick (and my Namco Stick is good to start)?
If I play Japanese (original) games on modded PSX or PS2, will it correctly switch to 60hz?

Thank you!

[Ghegs]

Welcome!

I think I'll start with In the Hunt/Kaitei Daisensou, but I'd like to hear about other titles (Salamander Deluxe Pack?).

Did you check the Board FAQ? It has a list of games commonly considered excellent for many systems, including the PS1. It's a good place to start.

Other questions: SHMUPS are usually played with arcade stick (and my Namco Stick is good to start)?

Play with whatever controller you prefer. You get better by playing, there is no magical controller that instantly makes you good at a game. We have plenty of great players using sticks, and we have great players using pads, and we even have great players who use keyboards.

If I play Japanese (original) games on modded PSX or PS2, will it correctly switch to 60hz?

Yes, it will. Just make you have an RGB Scart cable for your system, otherwise the game might show up in black 'n white. And your TV has to support RGB as well, but that's probably not a problem in this day and age.

[Tarma]

The PSX has a great library of shmups, which is sadly often overlooked due to its contemporary rival the Saturn.

I use the Namco stick myself with my PS2/PSX setup, and while it is good, I don't feel that it is quite precise enough, but then it may just be the age of the controller...

Games that I'd highly recommend from experience:

Einhander
Harmful Park
R-Types
R-Type Delta
DoDonPachi

[BulletMagnet]

I'll offer the obligatory link to this writeup from a little ways back - it's not QUITE a complete list, but should cover most of the essentials.

[professor ganson]

The strength of the PS1 is its outstanding exclusive titles, titles not found on any other system and not released in the arcades but specifically made for the PS1. In this regard it is a stronger system for shmups than the Saturn. Plus, some of its ports are better than the Saturn ports, like the port of Dodonpachi.

[Kollision]

some of its ports are better than the Saturn ports, like the port of Dodonpachi.

That's debatable.
I heard it's botched if you want to have high-tier play because it won't let you bridge some chains.....
Now DonPachi, that's clearly superior if you can TATE.

[professor ganson]

Could be. I've played both DDP ports, and the PS1 was much better looking. I guess I'm a pretty superficial guy.

[eatdogs]

I've been going crazy collecting all the ps1 shmups. I don't have too many left to collect and they've been the hardest to acquire.

Harmful park
Gaia seed
Toaplan shooting battle
Salamander deluxe pack plus
Gradius deluxe pack
Raiden dx
Image fight x multiply
Sonic wings special
Cotton original
Cotton 100%

There also some really awesome non shmups I'm trying to get like

The adventures of little Ralph
Lsd dream emulator
Pop n' tanks
Panzer bandit
Rakugaki showtime


My advice would be to make a list of wanted games on Amazon and constantly check everyday and compare to eBay. The imports are hard to find locally unless you have an awesome game shop that sells imports.

For standout titles you can't go wrong with

Gradius gaiden
Darius gaiden
DoDonPachi
Zanac X Zanac
R-Type delta
G-darius
Einhander


Have fun and good luck!

[Captain]

Thunder force 5 is the best in the series, but don't use the free range weapon.

[Teufel_in_Blau]

The PSX has a great library of shmups, which is sadly often overlooked due to its contemporary rival the Saturn.

The PS1 got overlooked by the Saturn? Ok, now I've read everything.

[BIL]

In the present-day context he meant, confined to shooters - sure! The casual myth of the PS1 being a weenie "can't do 2D" shooter wasteland compared to the Saturn's cornucopia of perfect arcade ports and RSG spinecards was definitely still lingering when I got down to serious collecting in 2009.

Of course we hardcore schumpers know the situation is more nuanced than that, with the PS1 being stronger in original shooters (R-Type Delta vs Planet Joker), having a few superior ports (Strikers II, Gradius/Salamander Deluxe) and plenty of great exclusive ones besides (Toaplan SBV1, Raiden DX, R-Types, Namco Museums), compared to the Saturn's formidable combo of exclusive heavy hitters (Garegga, Batsugun, Rayforce) and arcade-exact STV ports (Shienryu, Cotton 2, Cotton Boomerang, Guardian Force, Soukyugurentai, RSG spinecard).

Thunder force 5 is the best in the series

Oh hell no mon Capitan! Everyone knows Hyper Duel Saturn Mode (with spinecard) is the best TF.

[Captain]

It really is, but I don't go as far as to count it as one.

[GrantWindsor]

My favorite five off the top of my head:

Gradius Gaiden
Harmful Park
RayStorm
X2
Zanac X Zanac

Yeah, X2. I love the game; nobody else does, it seems. There is just something satisfying to me about the way you can power up your ship. Then again, I'm the type of moron who gets excited when Darius games flash points at me when I destroy enemies.

Though I have a perfectly serviceable copy of Einhander on the shelf, I really don't like the game. A lot of people used to say that was the best shmup of all time, kind of the same way people go nuts over Sine Mora nowadays. Whatever.

[Captain]

I honestly think Raycrisis is far better than Raystorm.

Ofc Rayforce beats both.

[Antiriad]

Thank you for all your (very interesting) tips.

Actually I have two PS2, one modded PAL, and one NTSC-J.
Aside from the fact that I will receive a good Scart (true) RGB cable soon (ordered from Ebay, handmade, with sync-on-luma etc.) if I run Metal Slug X on the PAL modded console (Matrix Infinity) the game is slow and image is vertically shifted almost at half screen. I've tried also to change some options in the Matrix Infinity boot menu (y-fix etc.) without success.
The game run perfectly on the Japanese unmodded PS2, so I think sometimes modchip can't run some import titles perfectly.
By the way, I don't know if Metal Slug X is a shmup, but it is very playable on PSX (I have also the MVS, I know that there are some cuts but they are not noticeable and I start to believe that all the matters about "arcade perfect or not" conversion usually are exaggerated).

What title would you suggest, about playability and difficulty for a beginner, to start playing shmups on PSX?

[BIL]

Since you mentioned Salamander Deluxe Pack* in your opening post - for classic hori shooting Gradius Gaiden and R-Type Delta are both good introductions to their respective series, being much less punishing than some of the arcade entries but by no means watered down. Both can put up a mean fight on higher difficulty settings too, if defaults are too mild for you. Most importantly both are thoroughly excellent shooters with arcade-calibre no nonsense pace and challenging, varied and novel stage+ship designs. They epitomise consolised arcade game design. Killer soundtracks too, with classic colourful 2D in Gaiden and, if you can dig the rough-edged PS1 polygons, absorbingly cinematic presentation in Delta.

Both have budget reprints (on PSOne Books and R's Best, respectively) that'll cost much less than the original NTSCJ prints, and Delta got US/EU releases as well (no idea if the PAL version is any good or not though; NTSCU is sound).

*excellent compilation - like Gradius Deluxe Pack, it's rarer and costlier on PS1 than Saturn, but worth it for the more accurate resolution in Gradius, Gradius II, Salamander and Life Force.

edit: PSOne Books, not PS1 Books, sorry.

[Captain]

Don't forget R-types.

Yes, it is literally called R-types.

Edit: someone mentioned it already. Guess I instantly finished it off with delta as soon as I saw R-type.

[To Far Away Times]

R-Type Delta
R-Types
G-Darius
Darius Gaiden
Thunderforce V

[mehguy]

Let's not forget about mobile light force (gun bird). It probably has the worst box art for a shmup.

[shmuppyLove]

Let's not forget about mobile light force (gun bird). It probably has the worst box art for a shmup.

Hmm I dunno ... at least it has leather-clad women?



Phalanx is just ... why the fuck is there an old man playing a banjo?

[BIL]

Even in unmolested NTSCJ format Gunbird PS1 is inferior BTW. No TATE, unlike the Saturn port.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The PSX port of G-Darius is impressive in that Taito managed to cram the entire Taito FX-1B PCB powered game onto a single PSX CD-Rom disc (albeit with some minor concessions/trade-offs like no 2nd player capability, both the opening and ending scenes all presented in FMV compared to the PCB's glorious real-time polygonal opening/endings in 60fps framerate presentation & no less than that, some key parts of certain stages suffer a bit of slowdown/chugginess -- all those issues are minor though, in hindsight).

Of course, Taito went the extra mile it's G-Darius Version 2 PCB upgrade...again, that wasn't ported as a PSX game either -- talk about arcade PCB exclusivity right there.

Same could be said with the Taito PSX port of RayCrisis: has no 2nd player capability (whereas the original arcade Taito G-Net version of the same name has two player functionality from the get-go). The PSX port of RC has the cool mini Pocketstation game of Pocket Ray (found on both the JPN and USA PSX ports, indeed). The only minor issue is that a single CR-2032 coin-type battery lasts about two weeks to two & half weeks tops to power up a Pocketstation setup. SCEA was thinking about distributing Pocketstations in North America during the 2000 year timeline but decided it wasn't worth their time to do so (despite a handful of NTSC U/C region PSX titles having Pocketstation support from the get-go during that point in time). Yep, Working Designs' release of RayCrisis has Pocketstation support as a bonus.

The Agetech port of Strikers 1945 (aka Strikers 1945 II for the JPN PSX courtesy of Psikyo themselves) skimped out with no Tate option (even though the JPN PSX port of S-1945 II has both tate & yoko support).

And let's not forget the four disc extravaganza with "70's Robot Anime - Geppy X" -- this zany & slick JPN PSX shmup title never was picked up & localized for the American PSX either.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[nosorrow]

The PSX port of G-Darius is impressive

Which is truly the best way to enjoy G Darius: US PS1 port, Japanese PS1 port or PS2 port on the Taito Legends 2 disc?

I've read the game has brutal slowdown on the PS1, but part of me prefers having a stand alone disc instead of a compilation. I have the same dilemma with RayStorm, haha.

[Despatche]

I dare say that the best way to enjoy G-Darius is to find a Ver.2 PCB. I don't think there are any big differences between the regional versions of the PS port. TL2 is cool if you like a (mostly) slowdown-free game.

The PS1 got overlooked by the Saturn? Ok, now I've read everything.

There are quite a few contexts where this is true. One is as BIL mentioned, where the Saturn will probably be considered to be the god shmup platform of that era forever. Two others are that some developers felt that 2D on the Saturn made more sense than 2D on the PS*, and that some developers went with the Saturn because they could get better native sound out of it.

Please remember that the Saturn was a huge success in Japan. As far as raw numbers go, there are almost as many Saturn games (1200~) as there are SFC ones (1400~).

*I never really got the "console strengths" thing because the PS is actually slightly better with 2D than the Saturn and the Saturn is actually slightly better with 3D than the PS. There are a lot of supposed reasons against it, but none of them really hold up, especially not in practice!

[nosorrow]

PCBs are out of the question for me: my console game collecting is already out of control, I don't need a new obsession.

I used to have the US G Darius PS1 port as I purchased it brand new in 1999 or something - I hardly played it as it was a disapointment for me on the heels of Darius Gaiden which I was enthralled with back in the day. I have grown to appreciate G Darius over the years - have it on the Taito PS2 Collection - and thus I am considering acquiring the standalone version. I don't mind some slowdown, it's relaxing sometimes. However, some slowdown is worst than others, i.e. Layer Section II on the Saturn. That is game breaking slowdown as far as I'm concerned. Is the PS1 port G Darius slowdown akin to that of Saturn Layer Section II?

P.S. I drank the Saturn Kool Aid for a while, but I'm just realizing now how strong and fun the PlayStation is as an STG platform. I have already replaced my Saturn Strikers 1945 II by the PS1 version, same for my Salamander Deluxe Pack and I am trying to do the same with Donpachi and X-Multiply (only reason I want the PS version of that one is to have both X-Multiply and R-Types on the same system - that's my OCD talking, X-Multiply is damn fine on the Saturn). I have no problem with DDP Saturn (in tate) however, as I enjoy the bonus first stage quite a bit.

[Despatche]

The port has more slowdown than the arcade version, but I don't think it's gamebreaking.

[nosorrow]

Do you know if there is less slowdown when playing G Darius on the PS2 (e.g. when putting the disc speed option on "fast" mode)?

[Despatche]

The disc speed and texture mapping options are for PS games only.

The version of G-Darius within TL2 naturally has almost no slowdown compared to any other version of the game.

[nosorrow]

I should have been more clear: has the disc speed option of the PS2 been proven to help out in any way the PS1 G Darius port re: slowdown?

[BIL]

On a real PS1, G-Darius doesn't so much slow down as occasionally resume arcade speed when the screen is near-empty. Much easier as a result. Both the PCB and PS2 versions will flatten anyone expecting a similar experience. Emulation can get rid of the PS1 port's slowdown, and the PC port is apparently better too, but for console-only versions PS2 is your best bet. It's interlaced and lacks what slowdown the arcade version does have, but neither's a game killer.

Raystorm's PS1 port fared much better in comparison to its AC/PS2 versions.

(edit: LOLOLOL I didn't read, you already have the PS2 comp/s, pls skip below two paragraphs)

About comps, Taito Memories Gekan is probably better thought of as "Taito Shooting Collection: The G-Darius & Raystorm (We Couldn't Be Arsed With Raycrisis)". That's how I approach it anyway! Both are ports made specifically for that disc, since the devs couldn't get the PS2 to emulate FX1-B hardware acceptably. Both were later included in Taito Legends 2 (PS2) reputedly without issue, but I can't vouch myself (don't own it).

Everything else on TMG is emulated decently enough, AFAIK, but there's no TATE. Shame as the Saturn ports of Gun Frontier and Gekirindan are both significantly flawed. The "Eternal Hits" reprint should still be pretty common and cheap even new.

I don't think I've ever heard of the PS2's BC improving the performance of bogged-down PS1 ports (though the world of BC does continue to throw up interesting anomalies). It is known to jam up a number of perfectly fine ones though! (Gradius II on GDP, Kyuukyoku Tiger & Twin Cobra on TSBv1, Rolling Thunder on NM Encore, plus Gradius Gaiden's seventh stage)