best Genesis shmups?

[Pshooter]

what are some of the best Genesis shmups? (i've heard Thunder Force 3 and Herzoq Zwei). Are there any shmup hybrid games with rpg elements for the Genesis?

[CIT]

I'm not sure what you mean by RPG-elements. Like, levelling up and collecting items? Or a fantasy setting?

Herzog Zwei is a realtime strategy game, btw, not a shmup.


Anyway, here's my shortlist of must-have Genesis/Megadrive shooters:

* = best of the best

Horizontal:

- Aero Blasters
- Bari-Arm (CD)
- Battlemania
- Battlemania Daiginjo *
- Darius II
- Eliminate Down *
- Gaiares
- Gleylancer *
- Gynoug
- Keio Flying Squadron (CD) *
- Steel Empire
- Super Fantasy Zone
- Thunderforce IV *
- Thunderforce III *


Vertical:

- Daisenpuu
- Dennin Aleste (CD)*
- Elemental Master *
- Fire Shark
- Musha Aleste *
- Phelios
- Tatsujin
- Twinkle Tale *
- Undeadline
- Verytex
- V-V (V Five/Grindstormer)

[Pshooter]

I remember Forgotten Worlds from the arcade, that is on the genesis. can you save your progress or get a password in Forgotten Worlds?

[DC906270]

no you have to do it all in one go *shock*

[Ghegs]

There are already fairly encompassing threads about Genesis shmups here and here.

[Pshooter]

I remember i got Thunderforce 2 when the genesis launched. It was so damn hard, especially the overhead levels!

[Alpolio]

RPG elements? Only one game comes to mind. StarFlight. Here's a link for a review of the PC version. I owned both the PC & the Genesis versions and it's more of a action RPG than a shooter. But when you get into a battle, it becomes an over head unidirectional scrolling shmup (sort of like Thunderforce 2.) You ought to check it out, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[Ganelon]

Lords of Thunder feels a bit RPG-ish, not that you can save in the middle of any MD/MCD shooter. If you're really looking for a shooter with heavy RPG elements, try Sol Divide (SS or JP PS versions only, not the PS2, arcade, and US PS versions). It has leveling, a monetary system, items, and in-game saves.