Underrated Gems: What shooters are underrated?

[Doctor Butler]

Mamorukun Curse
Heavenly Guardian

And there's a few excellent shooters on Xbox Live - Game Type and Snops Attack, in particular.

[copy-paster]

Xexex

Nobody discussed about this game, even on this forum.

[Tatsuya79]

I keep coming back to Sylphia on Pc-Engine CD in a strange nostalgic way, even if I didn't know this game at the time.
Blue weapon is overpowered.

[Cee]

Gradius iv is underated, few people ever get beyond the bubble stage and adapt to it's much fairer balance towards recovery before drawing conclusions. It really isn't the if you die you're finished type of it's previous incarnations as the rank really accommodates if you lose a couple lives in succession. It is a tough game but also very rewarding if you stick with it imo.

[Skykid]

I keep coming back to Sylphia on Pc-Engine CD in a strange nostalgic way, even if I didn't know this game at the time.
Blue weapon is overpowered.

Possibly the easiest shmup of all time.

[EmperorIng]

Namco shooters; I'm thinking here specifically Ordyne, Dragon Spirit/Saber, and Phelios.

Ordyne is quirky but has fantastic level design (the great gimmicky rotating wheel in st2 coming to mind). Dragon Spirit may be a competent fantasy reskin of Xevious (with a hitbox that's too big), but has its moments. Dragon Saber improves upon it in every way and is excellent fun with really unique-looking stages. Phelios, though it relies a bit much on the charge shot, has fun ideas and at least mixes things up in each stage (the high-speed griffon chase, the rock-throwers at the river, the weird death crystals in the last stage...).

I really, really like Shienryu

I do too though like other Warashi games I've played it feels a little undercooked (octopus boss is sooooo boring). And the rank is just too mean.

On the topic of STV:

Cotton 2 and Guardian Force. The former is kinda clunky with HUGE hitbox and lifebar shenanigans, but it can be solid fun. Guardian Force is easily top-tier Saturn material with the weapons, bosses, and stage design. I think these are less talked about because of price/availability though.

[Despatche]

anything not cave/raizing/psikyo Kappa

Xexex

Nobody discussed about this game, even on this forum.

they tried to play it in one of the tournaments a few years back and failed miserably. now everyone's terrified of the game and will claim it sucks.

Gradius iv is underated, few people ever get beyond the bubble stage and adapt to it's much fairer balance towards recovery before drawing conclusions. It really isn't the if you die you're finished type of it's previous incarnations as the rank really accommodates if you lose a couple lives in succession. It is a tough game but also very rewarding if you stick with it imo.

people generally like gradius iv, it's just kinda hard to access. you can't just boot up mame and play it.

game still gets impossible eventually though, lol cell stage

[Tarma]

Harmful Park
Star Parodier
Hyper Duel
Air Gallet

[Cee]

people generally like gradius iv, it's just kinda hard to access. you can't just boot up mame and play it.

Tbf it's fairly easy to access now using psp emulator and gradius collection.

[mamboFoxtrot]

Gradius IV is hard to access? Is there something critically wrong with the Gradius 3 & 4 pack on the PS2?

[Cee]

Nothing wrong with it i own the ps2 port also, it has become overpriced recently though.

[amdiggywhut]

I've been enjoying Armed Seven on Steam. Pretty fun and straightforward shooter. Don't see it talked about much here.

[2dvertical]

I would say Silpheed: The Lost Planet by Treasure on PS2. Don't get where all the hate for it comes from. No in-depth scoring?, too easy? , I dunno. I have a blast playing it and once you get further in the game I wouldn't call it easy or anything. It is not bullet hell but the game looks great. At least worthy of a good beginner shmup, and you can probably pick up a copy for the cost of a pack of smokes or somethin...

[Shatterhand]

Apidya on Amiga.

Best euroshmup ever... barely feels like it was made on Europe at all, it has a brilliant level design (if a little too R-Type inspired at parts - but it's a german shmup, and germans love R-Type) and it has the soundtrack ever.

[drunkninja24]

I would say Silpheed: The Lost Planet by Treasure on PS2. Don't get where all the hate for it comes from. No in-depth scoring?, too easy? , I dunno. I have a blast playing it and once you get further in the game I wouldn't call it easy or anything. It is not bullet hell but the game looks great. At least worthy of a good beginner shmup, and you can probably pick up a copy for the cost of a pack of smokes or somethin...

My problem with that game is that there's just so many sections with absolutely nothing going on at all. I don't think it's the horrendous abomination some make it out to be, but so often I put in the game to give it another go and just wind up being bored.

[The Armchair General]

Banshiryuu, but I like to call it Seihou 3

The game is one of the better doujins I've played. I recommend anyone who is a fan of bullet hell to at least try it out.

[Doctor Butler]

Cotton 2

Yes. The whole series is pretty awesome, with it's unique grappling-mechanic.

Banshiryuu, but I like to call it Seihou 3

I can vouch for this too.

The Suguri trilogy,unconventional as it is, is still pretty hype.