Strong aesthetic, weak gameplay

[Squire Grooktook]

Does anybody have some examples of shmups that are, in your opinion, forgettable on a pure gameplay basis, but are almost carried by notably strong aesthetics?

We all know that DOJ has a great aesthetic and great gameplay, but if a game can stick in peoples minds despite average at best gameplay, then there must be really something notable about its audiovisuals.

For example, the obvious reference point that comes to me is Musha. Typically furious and flashy 16-bit Compile weaponry, designs, presentation, and audio. Not that much actually going on as a shooter though.

Hoping not to see arguments about "THAT'S NOT REALLY A BAD GAME YOU'RE PLAYING IT WRONG". Just looking for some interesting, maybe slightly obscure, aesthetic suggestions.

[Durandal]

A lot of euroSHMUPs fit that bill, thanks to the demoscene.
The demoscene: where programmers display amazing feats of skill by making the impossible come true on limited hardware, but almost none of them could design games worth shit.

[Squire Grooktook]

Any specific examples :3 I just wanna see some neat explosions and stuff

[Durandal]

3D? On the GBA?

[Squire Grooktook]

Was hoping for some "true" shmups. Iridion remains impressive, but it's not quite what I had in mind.

[Durandal]

In any case, searching for 'amiga shmup' should net you enough results

[Ruldra]

Iridion reminded me of Galaxy Force 2. Awesome graphics but rather weak gameplay and a super unforgiving timer.

[CStarFlare]

Obligatory Sine Mora mention.

[BIL]

Verytex (MD). Artistically, much like its game design, it's solidly unremarkable at best. Space dogfighting interspersed with a bleak moon, a ruined technopolis and a generic biocavern. I think the story has the player descending to the core of a mysteriously ruined colony world, or something, but in-game nothing really stands out.

The Sakimoto/Iwata OST, however, galvanises the whole experience. Massive sound, monster hooks, totally elevating of the little space adventure. I half-seriously consider my copy a soundtrack release with a free game included; honestly, it's not meant as an insult. Competent Compile-esque with a world-beating soundtrack.

[Mortificator]

Watch, but don't play...

Söldner-X (archetypal flashy euroshmup)
Ai Cho Aniki (muscle men with an amazing soundtrack)
Steel Empire (Victorian view of space)
Rayxamber III (competes with R-Type on visuals, but on gameplay, hell no)
Sol Divide (Harryhausen shmup)

[BIL]

Sol Divide (Harryhausen shmup)

Ah yes... When Harry Met Nacky~

[Bananamatic]

eschatos, einhander, pink sweets, ibara

[Xyga]

banana

[Oniros]

Radirgy.

[TransatlanticFoe]

Empire of Steel/Steel Empire
It's playable but is far too easy, has some tedious boss fights and isn't all that inspired in the gameplay department. However the steampunk art design is carried off wonderfully and goes down well with the typically drab Mega Drive colour palette.

Zero Wing
Honestly I think the colourful, chunky sprites and awesome music does a great job at obscuring an otherwise average game.

[tomwhite2004]

r-type final

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Does Undertale count? Great music, its story and graphics are ok I guess, but I've seen it praised for its 'bullet hell' mechanics, but frankly the gameplay's shmup/dodging mechanics (as well as its RPG battle mechanics) are really basic. Some bosses have certain gimmicks, but I think of it as more of a visual novel, rather than a game focused on gameplay.

Obligatory Sine Mora mention.

Yup.

eschatos

You shut your dirty whore mouth. I have honestly sunk a lot more time in Judgement Silversword and Cardinal Sins, cause I like them better but Eschatos is still pretty good...

3D? On the GBA?

Iridion 3D was one of my first GBA games so I'm ashamed to say I'm rather fond of it... but yeah, the gameplay isn't great. Your hitbox sometimes feels mystifyingly large. It really was more interesting in terms of showing off the graphics and music the GBA could handle.

I feel Bullet Soul also deserves a mention.

[Tregard]

Disposable Hero on the Amiga commits every cardinal sin of Euroshmup design (the worst being that enemies take way too many hits to put down and often just need to be avoided), but damn if they didn't nail that bio-mechanical art style! The aesthetic feels convincingly alien throughout and I found it fascinating when I was younger, but it's not enough to salvage the game, and the whole style has been explored with greater success in many other shmups.

[Sumez]

R-Type III
The Games Paradise
Layer Section
...

Guwange :3




Parodius series is pretty good gameplay wise (maybe even better than Gradius) but I gotta admit I always play them mostly for the A E S T H E T I C's

[Stevens]

Sturmwind if you can get it.

[Ex_Mosquito]

Xenon 2 on the Amiga.. Awful game! I seriously don't understand why people enjoyed this. If it didn't have 'that' soundtrack then I'm pretty sure it would have passed under the radar.

[Perikles]

My personal picks (games with an asterisk are better than average and come recommended, the aesthetics are nonetheless even more unique/compelling than the gameplay):

Atomic Robo-Kid
Bouken Danshaku Don: The Lost Sun-Heart
Coryoon
Curse
Dead Moon
Fire Barrel
Insector X (MD)
Kaitei Daisensou*
Metamor Jupiter (atmosphere in general in this one)
Paranoia*
Rezon
Uchuu Senkan Gomora (sort of; I actually like the concept and probably enjoyed it more than most people, but its strongest aspect are definitely the visuals)
Sylphia*
Terra Forming
W-Ring: The Double Rings* (aside from that godawful flicker! )


Good games with astounding/interesting visuals that are perhaps not as well-known as your typical candidates:
Bari-Arm
Battle Mania (Daiginjou)
Crying
Cyber Core
Dangerous Seed
Dragon Breed
Dragon Saber
Dragon Spirit
Flying Hero: Bugyuru no Daibouken
Hana Tahka Daka!?
Keio Yuugekitai
L-Dis
Magical Chase
Mahou Keibitai Gun Hohki
Mr. Heli no Daibouken
Phelios
Psycho Chaser
Section Z
Violent Soldier

[BIL]

Oh damn, how'd I forget Battle Mania Daiginjou. Solid if somewhat easy multidirectional shooter (I like enabling the 8-way strafe mode), but for anyone who appreciates Bubblegum Crisis-esque tough anime chicks solving crimes with overwhelming firepower, it'll very likely entertain on its personality alone.

Great OST too; the fat synth-metal sound and deftly layered compositions (check out the cute sound test) rival TFIV at times, imo.

[PowerofElsydeon]

R-Type III
The Games Paradise
Layer Section

Layer Section are you serious dude?
Game Tengoku isn't excelent gameplay-wise but it's not weak at all
And Im aware the R-Types are memorisers but that's not bad either

The Japanese Developed Games I pick are

the Cho Aninki series
Karous
Darius Twin
M.U.S.H.A
Soldier Blade
Thunder Force IV
Steel Empire
Divine Sealing

[BulletMagnet]

I don't think anyone mentioned Metal Black yet...though personally I'd suggest pretty much the entire Darius series before being dog-piled on and bludgeoned to death.

[trap15]

Except that would be saying Metal Black and the Darius series have weak gameplay, which they certainly do not.

Great OST too; the fat synth-metal sound and deftly layered compositions (check out the cute sound test) rival TFIV at times, imo.

And if you like that, the sound team for Battle Mania Daiginjou also did the music for the epic masterpiece Hotdog Storm. The style is unmistakable

[CIT]

Gun Frontier and Nebulasray instantly came to mind.

The former is so stylish and atmospheric Battle Garegga had to pick up where it left off rather then let its ideas go to waste. The latter has a similarly sleek style as Viper Phase 1, but is basically an unplayable mess.

[maximo310]

Lol Layer Section and Guwange have weak gameplay? Both of those have very deep gameplay systems for score, especially Layer Section for its time.

My personal picks would be:
Air Assault/ Fire Barrel
F/A ( love the OST tho)
NebulasRay
Ghost Pilots

[KAI]

Radirgy and Karous? weak gameplay? u drunk?

[Aliquantic]

Nominating Hellsinker, if it can clear the "strong aesthetic" hurdle

Honorary Amiga mentions for Battle Squadron and Super Stardust