Gleylancer

[uzernaem]

Should I get it? How does it compares to other horis of that era? Thanks!

[ACSeraph]

It's decent. Graphics are pretty nice, and it's a solid adventure the first time through. A few of the option types are really unbalanced and make the game a very easy 1cc (homing), and at least for me I wasn't really drawn to play it more after my first clear. But for what it was I don't have any real complaints. It's cheap on the Wii VC anyhow so why not? The actual cart though is probably not worth your money.

[uzernaem]

Well, I was planning to get an actual cart. Not a fan of emulation unless it's MAME.

[ACSeraph]

Personally, I don't think the gameplay experience it offers is worth more than $15 or so. There's nothing particularly special about it, it's a straightforward hori with powerups and environmental hazards. Some of the graphical effects are nice, but for the most part it's unmemorable. It's an inoffensive game, but not something so bleeding with style it's worth seeking out and paying a lot for.

[uzernaem]

Thanks!
Are there any really good shmups for Megadrive aside TF4 and Musha?

[Pretas]

Thanks!
Are there any really good shmups for Megadrive aside TF4 and Musha?

Eliminate Down.

Don't even think about paying for the cart unless you're a Big Tyme collector, though.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Crying: Aseimei Sensou (localized as Bio Hazard Battle) is pretty fun.

[uzernaem]

Don't even think about paying for the cart unless you're a Big Tyme collector, though.

Wow. Not even Alien Soldier costs that much.

[EmperorIng]

It compares favorably to most shooters on the Genesis (which are kind of bland) and is indeed fun with great production values. However, as AC has said, it is not worth its current asking price (unless that price is the Wii VC). It might be worth picking up if there's a cheap Chinese repro cart floating around out there.

For what it's worth, the best horizontals worth your money on the Genesis are the Thunder Force games (TF2, TF3, and Lightening Force aka TF4). Forgotten Worlds is also cheap, unique, and fun!

If you can play imports, I recommend Dangerous Seed. A very fun and polished vertical shooter from Namco. Phelios gets a lot of mixed opinions, but I think it's a good but not great shooter.

[BIL]

TFIV is probably the best MD shooter on bang for buck. Better than Gley Lancer, Battle Mania 2 and Koutetsu Teikoku and as good as Eliminate Down, and costs a fraction of any of those. Crying, Hellfire, Forgotten Worlds and Thunder Force III are also cheap(ish?) and excellent.

And yes, I own all this stuff. No sour grapes here bitch. ;3 Only the finest objective grapes!

Likewise for verts, Same Same and Senjou no Okami II kill most of the more expensive stuff.

Slap Fight MD is utterly excellent though, no getting around that one. Japanese game collecting from that era is agony at the moment unfortunately. You will know if it's for you.

[Jonst]

I agree with everything said here. I was contemplating the same thing a short while ago, I thought the game looked decent enough but just couldn't square spending £245. I'm glad I didn't, I managed to score a decent repro and it confirmed my suspicions. It is good but not the best and certainly not worth the money it goes for now... Gone are the days I'll spend that kind of money on s game (unless cave or resizing resurrect!)

[BIL]

resizing

I know autocorrect can be a pain, but sometimes it produces pure gold.

Unless that was intentional, in which case you are a god

[Jonst]

Ahahaha!! I didn't even notice it change! Guess I can't claim to be a god now... (Fuckin' auto correct!)

[Squire Grooktook]

It compares favorably to most shooters on the Genesis (which are kind of bland)

Am I the only one who's never quite agreed with the "Genesis beat Super Nintendo for shmups hands down" line?

Biometal, Pocky and Rocky, Axelay, Gradius III, Super Alseste on lunatic difficulty, all are on par with the best shmups on Genesis. Maybe better.

[BIL]

I rank the two systems' shooters much the same as their general arcade content. The SFC's absolute best is certainly competent with the MD's top tier; it's in the supporting midrange that the latter gains an edge. Stuff like Crying, Gaiares, Gynoug and the majority of the Toaplan ports may not be Super Aleste or Kiki Kaikai phenomenal, but they're solid, entertaining shooters and the MD has dozens like them supporting killers like TFIV, Eliminate Down, Slap Fight MD and Undead Line. Kiki Kaikai keeps up with Twinkle Tale, Hagane is easily on par with the Super Shinobis, and Contra Spirits schools Hard Corps on its fundamentals, but those SFC games are towering, largely isolated colossi on their native console.

It's a broadly similar situation with SFC vs PCE; I think you'd be crazy to write off the former's best arcade-sourced/modeled stuff, but I find the latter's library a lot more satisfying on the whole.

[uzernaem]

SFC has R-Type 3 and Axelay so it is on par with Genesis imo.

[julencin2000]

These threads always reach the MD vs SFC mantra, people. Sooner or later it's like "hey but Supafamicom's got Mario Hori Shmup Pro, much brighter color palette than Megadrovers"

Answering the OP's question, uzernaem, my tip would be to get a flashcart and play it before purchasing it. Give it love and time.

But if you're just a collector, get the mintiest copy on eBay and be happy with it, no matter what the price is.

[BIL]

Mario Hori Shmup Pro fucken sucks bro, they really didn't know what they were doing with that one. What was with all the gore and nudity? Expensive too, I paid a fousand poundfordshires for my CIB copy. Then the dude changed his mind and I had to beat him with a rubber bat and run to my car.

Spoiler

[uzernaem]

Answering the OP's question, uzernaem, my tip would be to get a flashcart and play it before purchasing it. Give it love and time.

But if you're just a collector, get the mintiest copy on eBay and be happy with it, no matter what the price is.

Looks like it's time to invest in a flashcart finally.
I am not sure if I am a collector. If I love some game I always try to get the fullest mintest copy. But I do not collect games I don't like

[Perikles]

Are there any really good shmups for Megadrive aside TF4 and Musha?

Here is what I consider to be at least good:

Spoiler

Aero Blasters
Battle Mania
Battle Mania Daiginjou
Crying
Darius II
Elemental Master
Eliminate Down
Forgotten Worlds
Gaiares
Gleylancer
Granada
Gynoug
Hellfire
Kyuukyoku Tiger
Musha Aleste
Phelios
Raiden Densetsu
Same! Same! Same!
Senjou no Ookami II
Slap Fight
Sol-Deace
Super Fantasy Zone
Task Force Harrier EX
Tatsujin
Thunder Force III
Thunder Force IV
Twinkle Tale
Undeadline
Vapor Trail
Viewpoint
V-V
Whip Rush

For what it's worth, the best horizontals worth your money on the Genesis are the Thunder Force games (TF2, TF3, and Lightening Force aka TF4).

Am I the only one that cannot stand TFII at all? I've rarely seen such a cheap game, it's one deathtrap after another. Closing doors, insta-beam lasers, salvos of missiles, enemies that shoot from off-screen... Granted, it's really easy after the first time, but it's incredibly aggravating as a whole. TFIII is also fond of those one-trick ponies, luckily not to that degree. But I'd say there are a lot of horizontals that are equally as good if not better.

Am I the only one who's never quite agreed with the "Genesis beat Super Nintendo for shmups hands down" line?

It's closer than people like to claim, but the SFC unfortunately falls a bit short in a few areas in my opinion. First, there simply aren't as many decent games - quality is more important than quantity, of course, but it is also great to have a broad range of games to choose from. Second, this is painfully apparent regarding the vertical shooters - I can think of a grand total of five decent titles (Flying Hero, Kidou Soukou Dion, Pop'n TwinBee, Sonic Wings, Super Aleste) which is fairly meager. Third, there really aren't too many challenging games, I'd argue that only Acrobat Mission and Spriggan Powered are among the harder 16-bit shooter clears, both of them for the wrong reasons. There's no Aero Blasters, Granada, (tough) Raiden, Tatsujin or V-V that will keep you busy for a while (default settings/one loop only, I can't estimate Super Aleste's higher difficulty settings as of right now). Fourth, it would've been nice to see a few more worthwile arcade ports. The Konami ports are at least solid, Area 88 and Super E.D.F. are neat, but the other half is fairly mixed, Raiden and Strike Gunner S.T.G are downright terrible.

So overall the SFC has a great selection of console-exclusive horizontals and a few other great games like the first Kiki Kaikai, yet it does not offer as many options as the MD and the PCE. I really love it, though, and never would part with.

Edit: How could I forget about Undeadline? Shame on me!

[julencin2000]

Mario Hori Shmup Pro fucken sucks bro, they really didn't know what they were doing with that one. What was with all the gore and nudity? Expensive too, I paid a fousand poundfordshires for my CIB copy. Then the dude changed his mind and I had to beat him with a rubber bat and run to my car.

Spoiler

Yeah mate, fucken Tateru Miyamoto was probably high when developing that. Beware, when played in mirror mode, Gozer is summoned. Carry holy water.

[Strikers1945guy]

Gleylancer has awesome music but that's about it as far as I'm concerned, way too easy and the price of a real cart is insane. grab all the Thunderforce games to start and you should be golden. There's plenty more already mentioned that are light years ahead of Gleylancer (Twinkle tale, Slap Fight) but again, crazy prices.

I see people mentioning SFC games so if you've got that option as well i would get the thunderforce games to start for the MD, then grab some affordable SFC carts. R-type III, Kiki Kaikai, Un Squadron, Super Aleste, Biometal, Gradius III (still awesome I know some hate the port).

[HardcoreOtaku]

It compares favorably to most shooters on the Genesis (which are kind of bland)

Am I the only one who's never quite agreed with the "Genesis beat Super Nintendo for shmups hands down" line?

Biometal, Pocky and Rocky, Axelay, Gradius III, Super Alseste on lunatic difficulty, all are on par with the best shmups on Genesis. Maybe better.

I've been banging on about this for years, as far as I'm concerned the Super Famicom/SNES has a small but excellent selection of shoot 'em ups that I prefer to the Mega Drive's larger selection.
Some of these include:

Axelay (masterpiece)
Area 88/ UN Squadron (Capcom's finest shmup)
R-Type III: Third Lightning (best R-Type ever, simply amazing)
Super Aleste / Space Megaforce (brilliant Compile game, much better than the mediocre Musha Aleste)
Macross Scrambled Valkyrie (tons of sprites on screen with no slowdown, trounces over the average PCE & Saturn Macross games)
Flying Hero
Sonic Wings / Aero Fighters
Gokujou Parodius, jikkyou Oshaberi Parodius and Parodius Da
Cotton 100%
Pop 'n Twinbee
Gradius III
BioMetal
Kidou Soukou Dion / Imperium
Super Swiv /Firepower 2000

And if Super Famicom Kiki Kai Kai 1 & 2 are classed as shooters then it's even more so as they're two of my favourites of all time! amazing, beautiful games.

I don't think the Super Famicom beats the PC Engine though, with games like Soldier Blade, Spriggan, Hana Taka Daka, Gate of Thunder, Magical Chase etc.. it definitely wins on the shooter front.

[Kollision]

The thing that impressed me most about Gleylancer is the absolute lack of slowdown.
It's really impressive.

[blackoak]

I actually really like Gleylancer, and the amazing FM soundtrack is no doubt part of its appeal. Yeah its easy, but that makes it good for inebriated play. Cool cutscenes too. I play it on flash cart of course.

[Captain]

Gleylancer is a great overall game.

Amazing music.

Amazing mechanics.

Okay gameplay/difficulty.

Great presentation.

It could have been so much better, but it is already extremely good.

[Teufel_in_Blau]

Gleylancer has probably the best intro on the good old MD. The soundtrack always gets my head to whip with the beat. Always a good sign for a great OST. Yes, it's not the best shmup ever but certainly a lot of fun.

I don't own the original game, so I took a quick look on ebay and almost got a heart attack... People are crazy these days. Honestly, unless you are pure purist, I would go the emulation way, either Wii VC or Gens.

Also, check out this article: http://www.racketboy.com/retro/sega/gen ... up-library

[RHE]

I liked it. But after beating it I lost interest in it.... it has no good replay value imo.

[ACSeraph]

Am I the only one who thinks Axelay is fucking terrible? The first stage is absolutely atrocious, and that's a very very serious problem for a shmup. The following hori stage is also underwhelming, and then I'm usually bored and throw the credit to go play something else. Does the game get so amazing in further stages that you can forgive the beginning? Somehow I can't really see it.

[Kollision]

Am I the only one who thinks Axelay is fucking terrible?

YES?