Best shmup that you DIDN'T like/enjoy

[Shepardus]

From shmuplations (emphasis my own):

Since just clearing a game is easy, we wanted a system where you would have to use the elements to get a high score and it would therefore become more difficult. At the time, Treasure was developing Ikaruga, which also featured a black/white element system, and since our development periods overlapped, I sensed we were both paying close attention to any pre-release news of each others’ games. Our approaches to an element system were different, but I think Ikaruga was better received by players.

And yes, Dimahoo is pretty much the definition of esoteric and arbitrary scoring systems. It's really pretty though and I've liked what I've played of it, not focused on scoring.

[MrChiggins]

that maybe paved the way for things like Ikaruga

Ikaruga was in development at the same time, so no

Fair enough haha I knew they were released pretty close to each other but wasn't 100% sure and whatnot.

[Smokey]

Is HellSinker considered a good shmup? I was recommended it by more than one person, which never happens so of course I had to check it out. I was told it had great mechanics, interesting story, and nice music. In a way, they were all true, especially the music.

The problem I have is that despite all of this, the actual stages and bosses themselves just weren't fun, nor did they have interesting patterns. It was also memo as shit. Simple as that. Of course, I just get told it's toodeepforyou and that I probably didn't even make it past stage 1 when I bring it up that I don't like it lol

Maybe I should try it again, but I'd have to think the time would be better spent in a memotrash shmup I enjoy.

[Squire Grooktook]

Hellsinker is regarded as incredible. Keep at it, it took me a while to appreciate it as well.

Not seeing the "memo as shit" thing though. It's a pretty forgiving game, at least early on, and I beat a lot of bosses and stages blind. However there's quite a bit of depth to the gameplay, and I do think some of the patterns (both early and late) are amazing.

It's a bit "different" though, on every level. Not just the mechanics or the presentation, but the fundamental dodging and patterns. So don't expect generic danmaku shooter #48276. I'd recommend reading a guide (Xaerock's is pretty great) because every character plays completely differently (another advantage of the game) and it can be hard to understand how to play them at first.

[Smokey]

Thanks for the good reply. By memo as shit, I mean the mechanics not being straightforward. It felt like I had to learn how, where, and when to abuse them. Due to the shots all being different, it ends up being more to learn. That's not a bad thing obviously, since lots of shmups are like that.

It was a long time ago, when I was younger and dumber, and I was told to specifically not look at a guide. I'll definitely try it again, and take your advice to try a guide, since everyone who told me otherwise just gave me a git gud response, not even trying to articulate. Again, thanks.

[Squire Grooktook]

Thanks for the good reply. By memo as shit, I mean the mechanics not being straightforward. It felt like I had to learn how, where, and when to abuse them. Due to the shots all being different, it ends up being more to learn. That's not a bad thing obviously, since lots of shmups are like that.

It was a long time ago, when I was younger and dumber, and I was told to specifically not look at a guide. I'll definitely try it again, and take your advice to try a guide, since everyone who told me otherwise just gave me a git gud response, not even trying to articulate. Again, thanks.

You're welcome

Not sure why anyone would say not to read a guide? I guess there's something to be said for deciphering a game yourself, but telling people not to look up basic stuff that can significantly improve enjoyment of the game seems pretty backwards to me.

[finisherr]

I did not enjoy:

Akai Katana
DDP Resurrection
Raiden 4

[Cee]

Thanks for the good reply. By memo as shit, I mean the mechanics not being straightforward. It felt like I had to learn how, where, and when to abuse them. Due to the shots all being different, it ends up being more to learn. That's not a bad thing obviously, since lots of shmups are like that.

This honestly does just read like you're opposed to strategic depth in a game for some reason even still it really doesn't take much effort to get a grasp of what does what in certain situations. Try looking up a few plays on youtube and watching for visual tips.

[Tarma]

Dangun Feveron.

Great music. Great presentation. Cool scoring system, but the game just felt like a chore to play. Shame, I usually really like Cave's early stuff.

[juonryu2nd]

I was a sucker for most of the popular Touhou games, but I never enjoyed Impossible Spellcard despite its popularity. Both the intended way and the non-item playstyle weren't fun to me. But I think that I lost interest in the series altogether.

[Shepardus]

I was under the impression that ISC wasn't all that popular as far as Touhou goes. I've barely seen anyone talking about it since the initial launch hype.

[Squire Grooktook]

Dangun Feveron.

Great music. Great presentation. Cool scoring system, but the game just felt like a chore to play. Shame, I usually really like Cave's early stuff.

I felt that way for a long time, but I'm finally starting to warm up to it lately.

TBH I think it does all the things I like about Psyiko games (macro dodging during boss fights, agressive playstyle) with none of the shit I hate from them (near unreactable late game patterns, ultra bland stage designs, etc.).

[Tarma]

Dangun Feveron.

Great music. Great presentation. Cool scoring system, but the game just felt like a chore to play. Shame, I usually really like Cave's early stuff.

I felt that way for a long time, but I'm finally starting to warm up to it lately.

TBH I think it does all the things I like about Psyiko games (macro dodging during boss fights, agressive playstyle) with none of the shit I hate from them (near unreactable late game patterns, ultra bland stage designs, etc.).

I wanted to get into it, really did, but it just wouldn't gel with me. If the pcb was worth peanuts maybe I'd have kept it, as it was I sold it when I finally decided it just wasn't gonna be for me. Oh well...

[bikingjahuty]

Gigawing and Gigawing 2: I found both games to be poorly designed and boring for the most part. I've tried over and over again to try and get into them, but it never happens.

Gunbird 2: Like Gigawing, I have a hard time getting into this one and typically find it boring. IDK, with a few exceptions I think I'm just not that biggest Psikyo fan now that I think about it...

Phalanx: I doubt many regard this game as incredible, but it has never been my cup of tea

[Pixel_Outlaw]

Space Invaders (It's like loading and firing a black powder musket through a picket fence at Mexican jumping beans)
Xevious (An eyesore even for it's time. A VERY rare case for me where the graphics suck the soul out of the game)
Tempest (I just feel trapped)

I think those are the only ones.
It isn't about being old either I enjoy many shmups from that time. I love Galaga, Gyruss, Bosconian, Time Pilot, Scramble etc.
I've enjoyed most shmups I've played.

This reminds me that I need to go play Robotron to see if I like it.
Yeah yeah, not a *true* shmup I realize.

EDIT:
OH OH! OH! One more. One more!
Sinistar. How I hate Sinistar.
What a piece of garbage that game is. Most uncontrollable mess ever.
I HATE SINISTAR.
My primary reason for being a good person is so I don't up in Hell with all those Sinistar machines.

[Shepardus]

Space Invaders (It's like loading and firing a black powder musket through a picket fence at Mexican jumping beans)

And that's not totally awesome?

[G-Darius]

Quite possibly one of the early Darius games ,I love the whole space fish theme and love G-Darius but some of the early titles really are difficult but look and sound fine. Maybe I need to keep chipping away at them I am not sure.

[Aldnox]

It would be DoDonPachi. I don't really dislike it, but it's not 10/10 in my opinion.

[PooshhMao]

Going out on a limb here by saying I'm not a fan of Radiant Silvergun, and I'm usually a big fan of Treasure games, just not this one.

It's probably the most technically accomplished title on the Saturn, and the music's great, I'll give it that. But otherwise, meh.

Meh.

[Special World]

Not the greatest shmup of all time, but I feel as if Bullet Soul is the shmup with the most devastatingly unrealized scoring potential. I think, really, that the scoring mechanism should have been absolutely obvious: give players points or multiplier based on the *number of bullets they cancel*, and then award additional candy points if they fly through the bullet souls and disperse them. That would allow for very large differences in score, allow seasoned players to push difficult patterns for all they're worth, and allow for edging that last little bit of scoring potential out of each encounter.

Instead we have a pretty junky proximity system, that doesn't play to any of the strengths of the game and trivializes large portions of it. I wish I could shake the developers at 5pb. They were poised to have one of the best shmups on 360, and instead they have one I can hardly play through sheer disappointment. The graphics are very good, the ships are very cool, but the game just trips over itself in the worst way. A shame.

[Sumez]

Thunder Force IV

I just can't.
Supposedly a relatively easy shooter, and I'll believe that. It just seems so ridiculously dependent on knowing what's gonna happen ahead of time that I don't feel like even trying to get into it at all. With its needlessly enormous amount of vertical panning and very little in the sense of landmarks to give you a visual cue to where you even are on the stage, trying to memorize the game just feels like so much of a bother than I could never get any fun out of it.

It does look amazing though, and I love the soundtrack.

[leadwing85]

Dangun, and I really tried to like it, but between the theme and bouncing disco guys, just couldn't. And isn't it getting a release like garegga did, I was sure hoping for batrider

[trap15]

The guys are engineers, not disco guys. The only thing disco about the game is the music and intermission screen.

[Sumez]

Disco engineers

[Squire Grooktook]

I think they're referred to as "cyborgs" somewhere? But they're definitely not spinning and flashing for a lack of fever.

[M.Knight]

World of arcades calls them cyborgs indeed, but I can't say for sure that designation is canon.

I like to think of them as disco men even though there aren't supposed to. Makes the game even cooler and more funky this way.

[Sumez]

The canon name is "discomen", even in singular.

[CloudyMusic]

OK, let's look at the Japanese web site, which luckily is still up: http://www.cave.co.jp/gameonline/feveron/play.html

In the Items section they're called CYBORG, and in the scoring section:

敵を素早く倒すとサイボーグ兵士が出現し、画面外に逃さず取り続けると、敵機のスコアポイントがどんどん上がって行きます。ボンバーを使えば兵士を静止させることができますので、逃しそうなった時は躊躇せず使用する事がハイスコアへの近道になるかも知れません。

Full name seems like "cyborg soldier" (サイボーグ兵士) to me.

[Sumez]

It's like you're not even listening.