13th Annual Top 25 Shmups of All Time - Discussion Thread

[Nifty]

Discussion Thread

Talk about your own list, other lists, or others talking about other lists here, in order to keep the vote thread pristine. Voting queries can be brought up here or sent to me personally.

Past results:
12th Annual Top 25 Results: through 2014
11th Annual Top 25 Results: through 2013
10th Annual Top 25 Results: through 2012
9th Annual Top 25 Results: through 2010ish
8th Annual Top 25 Results: through 2009
7th Annual Top 25 Results: through 2008
6th Annual Top 25 Results: through 2007
5th Annual Top 25 Results: through 2006
4th Annual Top 25 Results: through 2005
3rd Annual Top 25 Results: through 2004
2nd Annual Top 25 Results: through 2003
Inaugural Top 25 Results: through 2002

To link directly to your ballot (or any other post):

1. On the post in question, look at the upper right where the date stamp is. (I hope this is consistent across all themes.)
2. Right-click on the little sheet of paper to the left of the Posted: text and copy the link address.
3. Make a link in your commentary post using that destination.

[trap15]

Thanks for changing the weighting. Still not as strong towards weight as I'd like, but a nice compromise.

Nifty, your lists always intrigue me. I'm especially curious why you'd rank Explosive Breaker so high up? It's an insanely silly game in terms of visual design (which gives it kudos in my book), but otherwise pretty by-the-books imo. Certainly not something I understand putting in top 5.

[Nifty]

It's got a surprising amount of technical/scoring elements, I've been meaning to write a guide on it someday. Also a great ship selection, respectable stage design for the time and, as you say, whackiness NMK would be proud of.

*salute*

[trap15]

See, I didn't know it had anything like that You should write up that info, I'm interested in enjoying it more than just an occasional surrealist romp.

[Despatche]

Gauntlet is clearly an arena shooter with a Centipede-like firing system. I don't know how you can compare it to Zelda of all things.

Why isn't Crimzon Clover being split when eXceed 3rd is? The original version of CC is very different from Nesica/WI. Is Dariusburst treated as a separate game from Another Chronicle?

Haven't people been calling Rez a shmup for a while now? Wasn't StarFox finally added to the definition a few years ago? Or are you afraid people will try to attach lightgun and crosshair games to that?

[Nifty]

Gauntlet is clearly an arena shooter with a Centipede-like firing system. I don't know how you can compare it to Zelda of all things.

I didn't write the list, I haven't even changed anything there aside from adding in a proper category for isoscrollers

Why is Crimzon Clover being split and eXceed 3rd isn't?

I'll let you fix that before I touch it

Is Dariusburst treated as a separate game from Another Chronicle?

Yes

Haven't people been calling Rez a shmup for a while now? Wasn't StarFox finally added to the definition a few years ago? Or are you afraid people will try to attach lightgun and crosshair games to that?

Not that I know of

[Zaarock]

Thanks to nifty for reminding me about assault android cactus, best arena/field shooter in years imo with a good scoring system.

If StarFox & Rez are STGs I'm voting for Afterburner Climax (it's a pretty good dodonpachi doj clone)

[Doctor Butler]

These scoring mechanics are confusing. Did Cave design this poll?

[Despatche]

I didn't write the list, I haven't even changed anything there aside from adding in a proper category for isoscrollers

Oh. This is probably ancient. Oh well.

I'll let you fix that before I touch it

Huh? Original thread is here, if that's what you mean.

[Shepardus]

I'll let you fix that before I touch it

Huh? Original thread is here, if that's what you mean.

I think he means that Crimzon Clover isn't being split while eXceed 3rd is, not the other way around.

[Despatche]

Oh, I see. What he actually means is that he's decided to be needlessly rude because he thought I was being needlessly rude, as if the top 25 isn't eternally sketchy and as if there isn't an entire thread of people completely bewildered by the scoring.

[Kollision]

Are gravity multidirectional shooters accepted?
I need to make justice to Subterrania.

[Nifty]

^They should be fine, go ahead

[Mero]

Same games as last year, almost the same order.

I just haven't really played anything that I haven't played before for ages, my mission for 2016 can be to play some new games.

[Illyrian]

Very happy to see all the love that Futari ball is getting this year so far

Also a relative lack of Touhou love!

[Perikles]

Same games as last year, almost the same order.

I'm surprised to see Sky Kid on your list, I'm currently forced to play this dinosaur (thanks a lot, Kollision ) and am not overly enjoying it. I'm not fond of the heavy memorization in conjunction with identically looking stages, it's such a pain to get further.


I still need to think about Sapphire's placement, I also would love to add a few more arcade titles (Gradius III, Gun Hohki, Mr. Heli no Daibouken, Twin Cobra, V-V, Xexex; perhaps Daioh, Parodius Da! and R-Type Leo) but I don't incorporate games on my list that I haven't cleared yet, I want to make sure I enjoy them from start to finish. Perhaps I can clear one or two before the deadline, we'll see.

[Mero]

I'm surprised to see Sky Kid on your list, I'm currently forced to play this dinosaur (thanks a lot, Kollision ) and am not overly enjoying it. I'm not fond of the heavy memorization in conjunction with identically looking stages, it's such a pain to get further.

I think I was playing it quite a lot a few years ago and it's just stayed on my list since then. I seem to remember you should use the evasive manouevre to save yourself, if enemy planes get behind you.

[Shepardus]

Friendly reminder that you have about 2 1/2 weeks left to vote for Cho Ren Sha.

I'm surprised to see Every Extend Extra so high up in your list, Icarus. I've only played the freeware Every Extend - it was kind of fun, but I didn't think there was that much to it beyond being a short timekiller. Is there more to it that I'm not aware of (quite likely, considering I was always horrible at the game), or did the Extra version add a bunch to the gameplay?

[TransatlanticFoe]

Unchanged list for me this year... not a lot that's new, nor have I really delved into trying out obscurities in search of hidden gems. Of the "new to me" games, Exzeal came closest to inclusion but it was only really going to be fighting it out for bottom spot. Time with Mushihimesame PC was hampered by it taking ages to fix local high score saving and then my PC started to die, maybe more of that next year.

[Mero]

Looks like there's going to be significantly less voters this year, which could effect the rankings quite drastically (or not).

[Icarus]

I'm surprised to see Every Extend Extra so high up in your list, Icarus. I've only played the freeware Every Extend - it was kind of fun, but I didn't think there was that much to it beyond being a short timekiller. Is there more to it that I'm not aware of (quite likely, considering I was always horrible at the game), or did the Extra version add a bunch to the gameplay?

Extra is significantly better than the original in every respect. Extra Extreme is also pretty good, but nowhere near as polished.

[EmperorIng]

I agree it's been a little quiet with the voting this time around (though I seem to recall the same thing happening last year until before the deadline). I've been a little busy so I haven't had time to focus my thoughts into a ballot... yet. I think there needs to be a little bit more hype!

Also, is this type of garbage allowed? I doubt it.

I've played and 1CC'd a lot more shmups this year, which I think is going to heavily affect how I do some of my rankings. I notice at least a third of my vote changes from year to year, as I get more experience, change preferences, and in some cases snap to my senses (voting for Tatsujin Oh; what changed? Now I can barely stand the game despite the nice graphics).

[trap15]

Surprised to see the love for Sonic Wings 2 but none at all for SW3.

[Mero]

Surprised to see the love for Sonic Wings 2 but none at all for SW3.

SW2 is on my list because it was the first MVS shooter I owned and I played it every day until I cleared the first loop, enjoying myself in the process. I like SW3 too but I'd had my fill of it much more quickly, the first loop is a bit of a pushover.

[royalfan84]

I do like the fact that I've seen Einhander and Gunhed/Blazing Lazers on more lists than the previous couple of years. At least from what I can tell.

[Strikers1945guy]

Surprised to see the love for Sonic Wings 2 but none at all for SW3.

SW2 is on my list because it was the first MVS shooter I owned and I played it every day until I cleared the first loop, enjoying myself in the process. I like SW3 too but I'd had my fill of it much more quickly, the first loop is a bit of a pushover.

SW2 was the first one I played as well because I got the MVS cart for cheap back in the day. I do wish held onto my sonic wings special pcb.

[STGAlmond]

Surprised to see the love for Sonic Wings 2 but none at all for SW3.

I don't feel the desire to vote, but I would also prefer Sonic Wings 2 over 3. I can't give a series of good reasons, but I have played both. I got both at the same time for MVS and put a few hours into each for a couple days in a row. After a few sessions I just didn't want to play SW3 anymore. I never put much thought into it, but I just liked SW2 more.

[Jeneki]

Scoring in Sonic Wings 3 is hilarious. Get to the line-of-tanks bonus stage, hang out at the top of the screen and LOL at what your score was before this part.

[EmperorIng]

Surprised to see the love for Sonic Wings 2 but none at all for SW3.

Those people should be voting Turbo Force anyhow. Best V-System game I've played. And I've played 3!

I wonder if the ubiquitous availability of Darius Burst is going to translate into votes this year. New releases tend to jump to at least Honorable Mentions (if not onto the top 25 - even if they don't always deserve it lol).

[Squire Grooktook]

As much as I enjoy Darius Burst, I feel I prefer Gaiden and G ultimately. Longer and more tense then AC, faster and tighter then CS. Picking just 25 was tough for me, this year.