"Manic-est" shmup you've ever played

[copy-paster]

IDK if this has been posted before or not, I checked via search menu and didn't found it.

Note that "Manic" in shmup term (for me) isn't only related to "Hardest shmup" or 'bullet hell' or 'crazy bullet dodging' or whatever, also it can be like toughest obstacles in shmup, unfair rank system, cheapest moment, etc depending what your definitons about the term "Manic".

Here's some Manic-est shooter i've ever played ( so far ) :
AP Batrider
Gradius III arcade
Gunbird 2
Sexy Parodius
R-Type 2 arcade Japan ver
Mushihimesama Ultra mode
Ikaruga
DDP DOJ white label

[Bananamatic]

touhou

[Plasmo]

Note that "Manic" in shmup term (for me) isn't related to "Hardest shmup" and not only about 'bullet hell' or 'crazy bullet dodging' or whatever, also it can be like toughest obstacles in shmup, unfair rank system, cheapest moment, etc depending what your definitons about the term "Manic".

So basically we're supposed to name random shmup titles in this topic?

Here we go:

Gradius
R-Type
Dodonpachi

[Skykid]

I usually rely on Webster's for my definition of 'manic' since that tends to be universally accepted in the English-speaking world as correct, but since the OP stipulates it can literally be any personal interpretation of the word, no matter how far removed, and therefore incorporate practically any shmup, my list is as follows


Ganbare Goemon
Marble Madness
Paperboy
Pac Land
Pit Fighter

[DoomsDave]

Why didn't you just say "hardest shmup you've ever played" instead of changing the definition of a word?

[MintyTheCat]

Hardest would be most likely R-Type 2 but I have not as yet played Gradius 3 Arcade

Manic that springs to mind would be RECCA and ibara.

[Immryr]

this is the most manic topic i've ever posted in.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Raiden Fighters and Dangun Feveron seemed above average manic to me.

[blackoak]

If "manic" means making the player move around and react a lot, then I would say mid-level play of Batrider, Bakraid, or Garegga. It's actually what makes them my favorites. The medalling forces a certain degree of improvisation and impromptu heroics that I've never experienced in any other shmup, although fun, less-manic variations exist (Cyvern, Air Gallet, Guardian Force).

[ptoing]

All Yagawa stuff apart from Akai Katana.
Raiden Fighters games
Cho Ren Sha is pretty manic, fast bullets and all that.

[MintyTheCat]

I suppose manic should be considered in itself and all the while considering denmaku.

For me personally manic would refer to 'a lot going on at any one time' and not experiencing too many lulls in the action. If it feels like me, the player, against ridiculously silly odds then it would feel 'manic' in my book.

RECCA would be manic and so would ibara as Ptoing raised earlier.

denmaku feels congested and claustraphobic to me and plays quite differently.

There is less interest in bullet-cancellation in a manic and it often feels as if they are literally throwing the proverbial 'kitchen sink' at you. Call me a masochist or someone with a deathwish but that's what I look for - too easy and I have no interest. It is kind of like chasing the ladies I suppose

Cheers,

Minty.

[Perikles]

If we're going by such broad (or colloquial, really) definitions of the term "manic", then there can be only one clear winner: Ai Cho Aniki. It doesn't get any more "manic" than that.

[Zaarock]

Radio Zonde
Ginga Force (hard difficulty, score attack)

[Doctor Butler]

Unbelievable Mode in Zillion Beats.

[Kollision]

Zorgabaaaa

[BIL]

Perfectly nailing Recca's first minute or so makes me cry erry time So good. Feels like you obliterate an entire lesser shooter's worth of zako.

It feels a lot stabler once you're fully equipped and your weapons are doing most of the work, but even then, the sheer vitriol with which stuff comes screaming downscreen straight into your shearing laser death is remarkable.

[Squire Grooktook]

If "manic" means making the player move around and react a lot, then I would say mid-level play of Batrider, Bakraid, or Garegga. It's actually what makes them my favorites. The medalling forces a certain degree of improvisation and impromptu heroics that I've never experienced in any other shmup, although fun, less-manic variations exist (Cyvern, Air Gallet, Guardian Force).

Cho Ren Sha 68k's hard mode has a similar appeal to me. On top of often being difficult to react to or sight read, the purple suicide laser streams also cut off your routes out of danger and force you to make heroic runs across the screen to survive. Totally unpredictable and intense.

[Acid King]

Time was manic referred to games with fast bullets and not a lot of dense patterns i.e. all of Psikyo's games, so I'd have to go with all of Psikyo's games and Raiden Fighters Jet.

[o.pwuaioc]

I usually rely on Webster's for my definition of 'manic' since that tends to be universally accepted in the English-speaking world as correct, but since the OP stipulates it can literally be any personal interpretation of the word, no matter how far removed, and therefore incorporate practically any shmup, my list is as follows


Ganbare Goemon
Marble Madness
Paperboy
Pac Land
Pit Fighter

I laughed way too hard at this. Thanks.

I'll second Psikyo or Recca.

[Shepardus]

By what seems to be the usual definition (what Acid King said), Recca, Psikyo games, Dangun Feveron. Maybe Raiden Fighters though I haven't played or seen much of that.

[copy-paster]

Ah I forgot RECCA didn't appear in the list yeah it's a "manic" shooter on NES, until now I never get pass stage 4.

[MintyTheCat]

Ah I forgot RECCA didn't appear in the list yeah it's a "manic" shooter on NES, until now I never get pass stage 4.

RECCA is a wonder. It does many things to try to take the player out

However, there is a system to it and I'd urge you to soldier on an try to complete it. It is a great game that I truely regard as being a treasure.

[ArmoredCore]

Psiko's "Dragon Blaze" makes my head hurt after stage 3 lol. Is this still in the top 10 of hardest shmup ever made?

[Imhotep]

Dodonpachi DFK BL, if most manic is interpreted as most ridiculous bullet count counterweighted with most absurd fire power.

[KAI]

Pantsueets

[Xyga]

Pantsueets

+1 for wet Pantsueets.

[trap15]

If PS and DFK count as manic, what is Raiden and Psikyo?

[BrianC]

I found the AC version of Fantasy Zone to be manic. I also found this guy to be Mannix.

[ProjectAKo]

Time was manic referred to games with fast bullets and not a lot of dense patterns i.e. all of Psikyo's games, so I'd have to go with all of Psikyo's games and Raiden Fighters Jet.

This is the only useful definition of manic, because danmaku and bullet hell already mean danmaku and bullet hell

[Xyga]

Can't beat the Manix Intense, patterns for the ladies ftw.