12th Annual Top 25 Shmups of All Time - Discussion Thread

[DestroyTheCore]

Thanks for your input, Chaos Phoenixma.

[Nifty]

Top 25 voting has now ended. I'll begin processing the results ASAP; in the meantime, there is still a day left for the top developers voting.

[EmperorIng]

Speculation time! I doubt the top 6 or so shmups will move around.

Will Mars Matrix stay in the top 25?
Will Exed Exes of Vulgus get the kudos they deserve?
Will there be less Cave games on the list (as opposed to last year's 12/25 being Cave games)?

The endless anticipation can only be broken by the endless bitching!

@Nifty: I just ordered Guardian Force so I'll probably vote for that next year Same with Mars Matrix.

It looks like the prediction I made for myself last year came true.

My list changes drastically each year as I play more shmups and debate what it means to have a game be on the top 25. Last year it was a more bald-faced "top 25 shmups I like" but this year I tried to be only slightly more systematic. That means no more RayCrisis; sorry, big guy. Three Taito games is enough.

Glad to put Strikers 1945 II on the list. It's one of the good ones.
TRP-STGT gave me the gumption to put Raiden Fighters onto my vote. I guess if I played Jet I would have voted for it, but I votes for whats I know. TRP-STGT did not give me the urge to nominate Sengeki Striker in any way though.

Under Defeat finally dropped from my ballot. I like the game but the more I play the more it becomes "Hon. Mention" material.

[chempop]

I think (hope) Dimahoo makes the top 25

[EmperorIng]

Most shmuppers' Raizing-Radar doesn't blip past Battle Garage and Batrider.

[royalfan84]

I think Dimahoo misses the top25 by quite a bit.
I think Thunder Force IV makes a valiant effort to return to the top 25 but narrowly falls short.
Gonna be a close call on whether Darius and\or Gradius Gaiden makes it.
Sadly it looks like Mars Matrix could very well drop off the list.
Futari takes down Garegga.
Crimzon Clover makes the list.
More diversity this year but Cave still dominates.

[EmperorIng]

I think Dimahoo misses the top25 by quite a bit.
I think Thunder Force IV makes a valiant effort to return to the top 25 but narrowly falls short.
Gonna be a close call on whether Darius and\or Gradius Gaiden makes it.
Sadly it looks like Mars Matrix could very well drop off the list.
Futari takes down Garegga.
Crimzon Clover makes the list.
More diversity this year but Cave still dominates.

Of the 82 votes, Mars Matrix was voted 25 times, appx. 30% of the voters voted for MM. It's quite possible (unfortunately) that it could drop off.

Crimson Clover has the benefit of being a 'new' release which usually promotes a game to the top 25 (see: SaiDaiOuJou).

I'd love for a Darius (gaiden or G) to make it, but...

Darius Gaiden was voted for 23 times (many of these votes being sub-10 points)
G-Darius was voted for a discouraging 12 times. I can console myself by saying that most of these votes seemed to be of higher point value, meaning the people who enjoy G-Darius know that it's a very good game.

It's doubtful to me now that G-Darius will be an honorable mention, but I'm not sure how the vote weighing will go.

[royalfan84]

Yeah Mars Matrix may make it but it will be pretty close. It looks to me like Mushihemesama and Batsugun may be dropping a little this year....not off the list certainly but dropping somewhat.

[royalfan84]

After doing some quick estimation, I think Mars Matrix makes it after all. I think I have it in the 15-20 range....but again exact weighting could change it a bit.

[Some-Mist]

I think (hope) Dimahoo makes the top 25

I'm kinda bummed it actually won't make it tbh

[cicada88]

After a little quick number crunching I have calculated that I like the following games:

-Kyuukyoku Tiger
-Zanac
-Summer Carnival 92': Recca
-Area 88 (Super Famicom)
-Dodonpachi DaiOuJou
-Ketsui
-Armed Police Batrider
-Battle Garrega
-Musha Aleste
-Espgaluda 2
-Daisenpuu
-Solar Striker
-Judgement Silversword
-Nexzr
-ChoRenSha 68k

Honorable Mention:
Chikyuu Kaihou Gun ZAS

[nekketsu]

I think Dimahoo misses the top25 by quite a bit.
Futari takes down Garegga.

What is this? Raizing should never be Falling!

After a little quick number crunching I have calculated that I like the following games:

I very much like your taste