GameFAQs top 10 shmups of all time

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 8:12 pm

http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/top10/163.html

They failed to mention espgaluda appeared on ARC :p

But... WTF? I cannot agree with their #1...

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 8:31 pm

A decent list, but it lacks Border Down, so it is ultimately flawed.
I am also a bit amazed at Giga Wing at the #1 spot.

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 8:33 pm

twe wrote:I am also a bit amazed at Giga Wing at the #1 spot.

likewise. not even close is my opinion...

Naiera · Post by **Naiera** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 8:41 pm

Obviously done by a shmup moron. Giga Wing's nice and all, but nowhere near #1. And there are so many omissions on that list that it's not even funny.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 8:59 pm

How come despite seeming to be big shooter fans, I've never seen the list creators either here or on Gamefaqs...? And it seems that they've never played any import title except Espgaluda since many ports were omitted from mention. I personally don't agree with any of those listings. However, the intention is still good; more shooter coverage in a positive light never hurts.

Damocles · Post by **Damocles** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 9:06 pm

Oddly enough, this list makes more sense than I expected. Odd about Gigawing though.

jp · Post by jp » Sun Jan 22, 2006 9:37 pm

I honestly don't think I would have any game on that list in my top 10... that list was retarded.

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 9:40 pm

The most interesting thing about this list is that it puts Giga Wing first. What are you guys complaining about?

I mean, you might not agree, but it's not obviously wrong. It's just surprising that a mainstream site would come up with this. Very cool, if you ask me.

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 9:43 pm

jp wrote:I honestly don't think I would have any game on that list in my top 10... that list was retarded.

There's nothing retarded about the idea that Giga Wing, Gradius V, and Shiki II are top ten games. Sorry. You're just wrong about that jp.

Post by **Shatterhand** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 9:45 pm

No top 10 lists anywhere would satisfy anyone....

Now, I find really stupid how they say , in the 10th spot, that they could not make a list of best shmups and leave the 19xx series out....... and then they list STRIKERS 1945 GODDAMN.

It's not the first time I see someone saying Strikers 1945 is part of the 19xx series.

So in the end, the top list still doesn't have a game from the 19xx series, heh.

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 9:54 pm

Wow, I don't know how I totally missed that one... I guess I just never liked either Capcom's 194x or Psikyo's Strikers series all that much..

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 10:04 pm

professor ganson wrote:The most interesting thing about this list is that it puts Giga Wing first. What are you guys complaining about? I mean, you might not agree, but it's not obviously wrong. It's just surprising that a mainstream site would come up with this. Very cool, if you ask me.

Yes. It's one thing for a review like s***rt's to be filled with obvious inaccuracies/general stupidity (DOJ is mostly luck! or whatever). This list is well thought out and doesn't immediately plop down expected games like Cave's or Ikaruga/RSG at #1, which means to me they've thought a bit for themselves. There are two Cave games. That's at least 1 more than needs to be.

Of course Takumi deserves #1.

The game's reflect shot stands out as one of the neatest shmup weapons to date.

FACT. This is the most important shooter in the last 10 years.

J-Manic · Post by **J-Manic** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 10:31 pm

That's a unique list alright. Giga Wing at #1? Yeah, I kinda agree with that choice. But I think Ikaruga should've at least been at #2, and DDP at #3.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 10:34 pm

Gradius V should've been #2. Because it's their list.

And also Gradius V is excellent.

MSZ · Post by **MSZ** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 10:34 pm

I don't see anything wrong on that list except Striker 1945 and Giga Wing.

mice · Post by **mice** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 10:44 pm

Nothing wrong? DDP isn't even in there!
I wouldn't say DP is even related to DDP.

But I agree, great to see a list of shmups there. At least they got the genre definition right.

jp · Post by jp » Sun Jan 22, 2006 11:00 pm

professor ganson wrote:
jp wrote:I honestly don't think I would have any game on that list in my top 10... that list was retarded.
There's nothing retarded about the idea that Giga Wing, Gradius V, and Shiki II are top ten games. Sorry. You're just wrong about that jp.

Far better games than those exist... i.e. Mars Matrix, Border Down, and Radiant Silvergun.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 11:01 pm

You got Mars Matrix right.

freddiebamboo · Post by **freddiebamboo** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 11:33 pm

Don't see why people are mocking this guy for having an opinion that doesn't match their own.

So the guy likes giga wing, not a crime and he backs up his selections with some knowledge and enthusiasm, and a bit of controversy is never a bad thing.

Rastan78 · Post by **Rastan78** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 11:37 pm

I would've substituted one of the Raiden Fighters games in place of the original Raiden. Raiden was the original classic, but Seibu took it so much further. I don't disagree with any of those games being good ones and all due respect to the writer, but no love whatsoever for Toaplan or Raizing shows that they don't really know shmups. You can tell they are more concious of recent PS2 and DC releases than arcade only or import titles.

Glad to see that they don't include Einhander or Silvergun. Good games that just get over-namedropped left and right by reviewers due to the Square and Treasure tags.

NTSC-J · Post by **NTSC-J** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 11:50 pm

Compared to all other similar lists, this is one of the best. Everyone else will put R-Type or Galaga at #1, but for a Takumi game to be first is pretty amazing. I don't agree, but a cool choice. And Radiant Silvergun wasn't on there but other imports were. Thumbs up.

Rob, come on now, "There are two Cave games. That's at least 1 more than needs to be," is bull. You don't even play their games, what would you know. ESPGaluda, Ketsui, DDP, DOJ and Guwange would all have been at home on there. ESPG has a fun scoring system, DDP is still a beast and the quintessential manic, DOJ is the most refined game of the genre, Ketsui overall the best game ever: graphics, music, pace, score system, challenge, all are #1, and Guwange has the best and most unique presentation ever seen. I can see how someone wouldn't care for any of the DPs being tops, but Ketsui...how any shooter fan could not think that game is incredible is beyond me. The list should have been the 5 aforementioned, GW2, MM, Battle Garegga and a couple horis to keep some folks from crying.

Nemo · Post by **Nemo** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 12:04 am

Clearly they were going for a safe, sentimental list to avoid seeming ignorant (tried to pay homage to as many different shooter series/companies as possible instead of just choosing the 10 best ITO) but even taken at face value, the list is flawed because better, similar games exist. The order is irrelevant, but GW instead of GW2 or Mars? Donpachi instead of DDP? It just doesn't make sense even if they like the games.

Neon · Post by **Neon** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 12:11 am

Donpachi instead of DDP?

Hell yeah, DP is better and cheaper too.

Post by **nZero** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 12:37 am

Hmm, reminds me, it's getting to be about time for the annual Your Top 25 Shmups list thread, isn't it?

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 12:38 am

NTSC-J wrote:Ketsui overall the best game ever: graphics, music, pace, score system, challenge, all are #1, and Guwange has the best and most unique presentation ever seen. I can see how someone wouldn't care for any of the DPs being tops, but Ketsui...how any shooter fan could not think that game is incredible is beyond me.

I feel like I should play Ketsui, but (aside from no port) Mushihimesama killed off my last bit of interest in playing any new Cave shooters. So, so "meh."

Rastan78 · Post by **Rastan78** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 12:44 am

Okay, thought I'd throw out my own top ten just for the sake of conversation. Not going to rack my brain for long over this, but here goes:

10. Blazing Star - awesome scoring based hori. I would play this game more, but I get nauseated by the constant shouting of the word "Bonus!"

9. Ray Force - Pioneered the lock on system and came up with all kinds of cool graphic effects that were really ahead of their time.

8. Dimahoo/Battle Bakraid - tied for number 8 for having equally insane and difficult to master scoring systems. For the truly insane/hardcore.

7. Giga Wing/Mars Matrix - tied in 7th. One for creating a great concept, the other for taking it even further. Okay no more ties from here on.

6. Truxton II - A lot of people might substitute Batsugun here, but I just like the Truxton games for their classic proto-cave feel. Don't overlook Dogyuun and Outzone either.

5. Gunbird 2 - Psikyo's best IMHO.

4. Dodonpachi - took the manic shmup to the next level. Just needed a better soundtrack *Cave gets on the phone to Namiki*

3. Battle Garegga - Namiki nailed the soundtrack for this game. Known for its extremely complex gameplay and ranking system.

2. G Darius - Best hori ever. Best soundtrack ever. So many levels, so many weapons. Bizarre and enormous bosses that just keep on ticking. People who are always ranting about how good Border Down is (and it is very good) need to get G Darius.

1. Raiden Fighters 2 - Don't ask me why. Just a game that does everything right and then turns up the pace to a near frantic level. Extreme bullet scraping before Psyvariar or Shikigami. Lots of different secrets and point sources make a complex scoring based game but one that's not overly tedious to learn or frustrating. *coughraizingtreasurecough*.

While none of their games are on my list, I would just have to give a nod to Irem and Konami for all of their games since most of the games listed would probably not be the same without R-Type, Gradius, Twinbee, Image Fight etc. etc.

Dylan1CC · Post by **Dylan1CC** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 12:59 am

Naiera wrote:Obviously done by a shmup moron. Giga Wing's nice and all, but nowhere near #1. And there are so many omissions on that list that it's not even funny.

Hey now, no reason to be nasty. Just their personal list. Not a bad one either although I think GW as #1 is a bit much. Yes, reflect shot is an important mechanic but by no means "revolutionary" for the genre.

I wanna know, where the heck are Garegga, Thunderforce or Gate of Thunder? Or Radiant?

Dylan1CC · Post by **Dylan1CC** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 1:22 am

Rob wrote:Of course Takumi deserves #1.

Takumi is/was a promising company which peaked with GW2 and Mars Matrix. Night Raid and GWG remind me of when Raizing was on the outs and produced 1944 The Loop Master. If they can rebound and produce a worthy sequel to MM (and show some renewed effort after their lackluster effort with GWG's presentation), then they will be a more steady company IMHO. Right now, unless they start becoming more active they are null as far as I am concerned.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 1:24 am

Methinks this definitely isn't a "seasoned" shmup player's list, but it definitely shows a greater awareness of the genre than most gamers have, if nothing else. Nothing to get too worked up about, either way.

NTSC-J · Post by **NTSC-J** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 1:29 am

Rob wrote:I feel like I should play Ketsui, but (aside from no port) Mushihimesama killed off my last bit of interest in playing any new Cave shooters. So, so "meh."

You really should. Don't let Mushi sway you, I didn't care for it much and it's definitely not Cave's best moment.

Gunbird 2 should also be on there. Psikyo's best effort for sure.