What are the Best Handheld Shooters

[AxelMill]

e: the gameboy port of r-type is a travesty

Nah, not even all that bad, considering the hardware.
I just played the first stage on both versions included in DX and, yes, the Bit flickers, yes, the R-9 on the "remake" is too big, yes, the Dobkeratops either has a weird hitbox or too much health, yes, the power ups are labeled "1", " 2" and "3", but it's a pretty decent game.

If you want to laugh a bit, try Darius R on GBA. That is a joke. Zoomed-in view (the playfield is about one screen large, but you only see a quarter of that), 13 stages removed (only 5 Zones long), shit remixes of Fake and Adam, no Great Thing.

[Pedro Lambrini]

Ooh, different borders on the Namco Gallery versions of Galaga and Galaxian. I'll have to try and pick them up at some point. Do you know if they share the same border or are there separate ones for each game? You've pushed my geek buttons!

[BrianC]

Ooh, different borders on the Namco Gallery versions of Galaga and Galaxian. I'll have to try and pick them up at some point. Do you know if they share the same border or are there separate ones for each game? You've pushed my geek buttons!

I think each game has a different border, though the in game palettes used for Galaga and Galaxian are the same ones used on the Galaga and Galaxian cart. I think each game has its own palette too. New Dig Dug's pictures are colorized.

[lilmanjs]

PSP has Flying Hamster. Need to say more?

[PowerofElsydeon]

Update I ve got Solar Striker and the Konami GBA cumpilation and they are both awesome

To be fair, the Wonderswan has like two shmups if you don't have a Witch and only one of them is good.

But to be fair to you, the list includes the fucking game.com

Im sorry was serious
I was just totally unaware what wonderswam was at the time I posted this and Silversword is indeed awesome
And I didn t knew the Game.com has no game that could redem it either
And I made this post to gain knowledge that I lack

GG has few shmups, but GG Aleste is good stuff (and heard good things about GG Aleste II, as well). Judgement Silversword is one of the better handheld shmups, but the system it's on doesn't have many other shmups.

Actualy I didn t knew the gamegear has some power with Halley Wars\\GG Aleste\\Fantasy Zone Jr. and Aerial Assault
I think submit to the Gamegear sorry
Actualy can anyone make a list of really good games on the system
Can this hated system have a top 10 games worth a buy?

Dracula Densetsu is pretty much identical to CVA. Sadly. :[ Grindingly slow and very basic, albeit with some decent precision leaps and a killer OST. Play the sequel instead. That one is significantly different between regions: JP has Cross subweapon, US has Axe. I think I'd prefer the latter but oh wellz rofl. Soundtrack is insanely, unbelievably good.

Anyway I can t see why Castlevania Adventure is so hated,
It roobed us of special weapons and slowed down the gameplay but that s for the best
Its like the twist the series needed to keep things fresh
Lets not Forget whiping in 8 directions is a really bad thing since it encourages you to button mash boss figths without giving a shit to their attack pattern or sub weapons
The game is very Unfair but I like it that way
And shity level design also has its charm if think about it
If you havent tried this fucker dont listen to the ridiculous lies flooding this game reputation
This Game was like a twist in the formula of the series to keep the Castlevania Universe fresh and I cant see why it so hated
But give it try
I found it very addicting rigth in the first stage
You can t go wrong with 10 euros on ebay either

Another topic where the title and poll don't match. Title asks for games and poll asks for systems. The b/w GB fared well as far as exclusives go with Aerostar, Konami shmups, Solar Striker, and Sagaia (a GB remix of Darius rather than a port of Darius II). Most other handhelds have a handful of shmups with one or two really good games. GG has few shmups, but GG Aleste is good stuff (and heard good things about GG Aleste II, as well). Judgement Silversword is one of the better handheld shmups, but the system it's on doesn't have many other shmups

I like making polls like this because Im curious about both questions and they re completely related like Mother and Child

Aerostar, Nemesis and Sagaia are great. Chikyuu Kaihou Gun ZAS is pure GB eye candy and is pretty fun to boot (though realistically you'll need a flash cart for that one). R-Type DX isn't bad for a portable version. Iridion 3D II, Gradius Galaxies and Steel Empire are great on the GBA. Darius R is often maligned because there's too little screen space for the big sprites but I kinda like it... the music's good if nothing else.

I was aware of Iridion II Gradius GBA and Steel Empire is there a 4th fully fledged gba stg worth a play?

Why is there no pc engine gt/turbo express in this shit poll

Because that s not the way the pc engine is meant to be played
And this discussion is about real handhelds and expanding knowledge about the topic
Plus Id Rather play the Virtual Boy

[BIL]

Anyway I can t see why Castlevania Adventure is so hated

I can! Grindingly slow with few redeeming features, some decent hops and Konami's customarily superb BGM aside. Job done.

Not a game I hate, but not a Dracula I'd rank.

It roobed us of special weapons and slowed down the gameplay but that s for the best
Its like the twist the series needed to keep things fresh

Keep fresh? :[ The series' first three consumer games (FC/MSX2/FDS) are entirely different breeds of action-platformer (pure linear/flipscreen treasure hunt/nonlinear ARPG). CVA's a return to straight action, but instead of lean n' mean it's primitive and molasses-slow. D:

Going by teh freshness, CVIII's own return a year prior contributed far more: unique characters, branching paths, and stages greater in both quantity and complexity. AND IT HAS SHAWEET BGM TOO (・｀W´・)

If you havent tried this fucker dont listen to the ridiculous lies flooding this game reputation
This Game was like a twist in the formula of the series to keep the Castlevania Universe fresh and I cant see why it so hated
But give it try
I found it very addicting rigth in the first stage
You can t go wrong with 10 euros on ebay either

I've looped CVA many times - we should swap war stories in the sidescroller thread. ;3

Have to admit, I feel a slight ripple of geek lust at Dracula Densetsu's featuring both Nobuya Nakazato and Masato Maegawa. Those gents would later oversee some of my favourite sidescrollers for Konami/Treasure. And Norio Hanzawa aka NON on BGM! JP version's too pricey for me to nab on a whim, though.

[d0s]

Because that s not the way the pc engine is meant to be played
And this discussion is about real handhelds and expanding knowledge about the topic
Plus Id Rather play the Virtual Boy

You'd rather play a virtual boy than a PC engine? Are you sure you're on the right forum?

[BrianC]

The best handheld shooters are GB, GBA, PSP, 3DS, Vita, iOS, Android, and DS.

[pegboy]

PSP, and it's not even close. Unless of course you want to count the Turbo Express as a handheld, then that would probably take it.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Update I ve got Solar Striker and the Konami GBA cumpilation and they are both awesome

Look up what Konami Code does with each game of Arcade Advanced (must be entered on their title screens every time you select particular title).

I was aware of Iridion II Gradius GBA and Steel Empire is there a 4th fully fledged gba stg worth a play?

If you have a flashcart, play Super Star Shooter Advance (a freeware Caravan shmup). Gradius Advance/Galaxies/Generation is flawed ("ship's either too slow or to fast" is a common complaint), but hardly awful (even if I need a gamepad-shaped peripheral to not suck at it played on SP; same for Kuru Kuru Kururin).
Not a shmup, but Balloon Kid is one AWESOME GB auto-scroller.

[qmish]

How about Project S-11?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8Fw0zJYXfI

[Obiwanshinobi]

Goldrunner GBA port (freeware) seemed good (not sure how I'd like the game nowadays, though).

[PowerofElsydeon]

Because that s not the way the pc engine is meant to be played
And this discussion is about real handhelds and expanding knowledge about the topic
Plus Id Rather play the Virtual Boy


You'd rather play a virtual boy than a PC engine? Are you sure you're on the right forum?

I Love the Pce
But I was talking about the pc engine gt
That crap is like compressing a real tv into a 2.6 inches screen so it s barely even playable
And let s not forget that about half of the real pce library consists of Cds(even tough I prefer the Hu Card half)
And how the hell can you carry Hu cards on your pocket without fucking them up
And how about the batteries?How do you feel about paying 6 AA batteries every 3 hours
Of corse it s still cool to play Bonk or Bomberman there but I can t imagine myself playing real shumps with a micro screen
So fuck that


Let s be honest the VirtualBoy has tons of flaws;
And Fucked up Nintendo and Gunpei Reputation
But it s unarguable that it was way ahead of it s time and that the V.R. Gimnick was exclusive to the console at least until the 3DS came out
Thinking about it nintendo would greatly benefit with Virtual Boy remix or something
Anyway the console is underated since it s gimnick never gained a second chance until the 3ds there s not a Virtual Boy remix on the system
And how can you trash Console if it s library includes a incredible Virtual reality sucessor to Punch Out that makes you feel like you re in the Game?I mean can the Saturn or the PCE do that?

I can! Image Grindingly slow with few redeeming features, some decent hops and Konami's customarily superb BGM aside. Job done.

Not a game I hate, but not a Dracula I'd rank.

You re opinion is fine
But slow pacing is not a bad thing in this case I loved the change of pace and simplicity like it s a totaly new castlevania and not one of those half baked gameboy ports
And Castlevania III is indeed my favourite in the series

How about Project S-11?

I dunno the Xenoxide files in Shumps.com say it s a disapointing game in the vein of Compile I ve heard the Graphics are fantastic for the GBC
And I ve also heard it s the only real Gameboy Color shump
But that s everything I know
Is anyone here familiar with this Game?
If so please review this one

[BrianC]

Project S-11 plays a lot like Tyrian. One of those European style shmups with inerta and a big life meter. Very impressive technically, but flawed gameplay wise.

[qmish]

So if you wasnt shmupper you probably liked the game? I'm also under impression that difficulty stays the same on all levels judging by patterns.

At least music is badass:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of5hGJ3GNWI

[CStarFlare]

Why does S-11 have letters in the middle of its score display?

[qmish]

Maybe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexadecimal ?

[MathU]

Rather surprised to hear no mention of Phalanx on the subject of GBA scrolling shooters. It's easily the best on the system.

[Pedro Lambrini]

^
That's the other one I was trying to remember! This old head ain't what it used to be. Is the GBA Phalanx the same as the SNES game?

[ACSeraph]

Isn't there a GBA port of R-Type 3 that was only released in the west? Is that one any good?

[BIL]

^ No - it's legendarily awful. Basically the devs had zero support and had to stitch together their own approximation of the game, from scratch. It didn't go well! :[

Gonna love up my SFC copy TONITE ¦3

[BrianC]

So if you wasnt shmupper you probably liked the game? I'm also under impression that difficulty stays the same on all levels judging by patterns.

I don't remember if the game gets harder, but the game is very easy. Mainly due to the overpowered weapons and huge life meter.

[hien]

Didn't the GB Nemesis games move around sprites at only 30fps? Found that to be quite disappointing if I remember correctly.

[BIL]

They're pretty chunky, yeah - they handle well though, speaking as someone who can never quite enjoy the juddering MSX games. As with stuff like Bare Knuckle (MD) the GB chop is noticeable, but small and consistent enough that I quickly absorb its timing and forget about it.

The first game in particular gets really involving in spite of the low framerate. Prior to picking it up recently, my last memory was playing it between Gradius V sessions, and feeling like I was a goddamn cyborg upon returning to the PS2. Nemesis II GB won me over with its Rayforce-esque flow, but I wasn't expecting much from the straight-up original. Was pleasantly surprised, it keeps things busy on both the zako and terrain fronts.

[d0s]

The GBA port of Phalanx is great, S-11 is euro bullshit

[Obiwanshinobi]

Little did I play of GB(C) R-Types (my left thumb still isn't much good with d-pad), but at least the monochromatic 1 seemed by no means horrible, only a bit cramped (compared to my memories of the arcade version). Lovely graphics, GB Alien 3 style, too. Shame there is no auto-fire in monochromatic games of DX bundle, but it's bearable in R-Type's case.

[hien]

They're pretty chunky, yeah - they handle well though, speaking as someone who can never quite enjoy the juddering MSX games. As with stuff like Bare Knuckle (MD) the GB chop is noticeable, but small and consistent enough that I quickly absorb its timing and forget about it.

The first game in particular gets really involving in spite of the low framerate. Prior to picking it up recently, my last memory was playing it between Gradius V sessions, and feeling like I was a goddamn cyborg upon returning to the PS2. Nemesis II GB won me over with its Rayforce-esque flow, but I wasn't expecting much from the straight-up original. Was pleasantly surprised, it keeps things busy on both the zako and terrain fronts.

MSX scrolling ist exactly what came to my mind back then. It's quite some years ago though, that I played them. Guess I have to take another look at them at some point. =)

[Obiwanshinobi]

If you want to laugh a bit, try Darius R on GBA. That is a joke. Zoomed-in view (the playfield is about one screen large, but you only see a quarter of that), 13 stages removed (only 5 Zones long), shit remixes of Fake and Adam, no Great Thing.

Isn't GBA Phalanx also cropped? If so, aren't there some tweaks to compensate, like a smaler hitbox to it?
Not sure what it is, but whenever there are hostile bullets on screen in Phalanx (not even that many of 'em), I'm getting some awkward "SNES shmup" feeling. Weird, as the port is all around playable and the GBA itself can't be blamed for it (at least I'm not getting it from Gradius Advance/Galaxies when it gets busier).

[Xyga]

Why is there no pc engine gt/turbo express in this shit poll

bitch please: why no LT ?

[PowerofElsydeon]

My Game Boy games are worrying me
When I ve bought Battletoads it worked perfectly but now it refuses to let get into level 3 because it glitches out and frezes before I have the chance I ve tried to blow into the cart and restart the game frequently but it always frezes before stage 2 boss
I tried to that thing with the Q tip but it didn t work
If I somehow fucked up the cartbridge how should I fix it
Or maybe the Q tip cleaning is supposed to be used on Games that refuse to start up and the problem lies inside the cartbridge?
Or maybe is there a problem with my gba sp?
And Super Rc Pro Arm; Operation C ;Turtles Back to the Sewers and Solar Striker are also hard to convince to let me play from start to finish
So how can my Marios and Tetris work perfectly well?
Help me