Compile shmups: the basics

[professor ganson]

Now that Compile is history it would be nice for someone to write a short history of that venerable company. I'm not the man for the job because I know crap. I don't even know the basics. Two things I would really like to know:

1. What games did they make? (A complete list would be great!)

2. How would you rank these games?

Thanks for any and all responses.

[Zach Keene]

Shatterhand could probably do it with his eyes closed, but in the meantime there's this.

[dave4shmups]

Hey man!

The most complete listing of Compile Shmups, and the platforms they came out on can be found on this website:

http://kelesis.free.fr/hp/compile/index_eng.htm

This website was maintained until several years ago by a former member of this site; Kelesis. It goes up to Compile's last shmup, ZanacXZanc, which is an import PS1 shmup, and also the companie's last. And Kelesis still responds to emails, so feel free to send him one; his email address is on the site.

Enjoy!

[Shatterhand]

O wow, that's something I'd love to collaborate.

Are you interested only in shmups, or in the whole history of the company?

The problem in tring to make a complete list of compile games is that they used to work for other comapanies and leave no credits in their games (Not even a "Compile" logo anywhere!

Ill try to list only the shmups here:

A.E. (Not confirmed) - Cant remember why this is sometimes regarded as developed by Compile. It basically sucks, you only move left and right (like space invaders) while formations of ships enter the screen flying in all kind of different patterns. The gimmick here is that you can shoot only one shot at time, and when you RELEASE the fire button, the shot "explodes", and you can only kill enemies this way.

Damn, I have to leave now... but I think my siganture is most complete for shmups

[professor ganson]

Wow, these responses are super helpful. I would also really like to hear which of these shmups are your favs.

Zanac Neo is probably my favorite shmup ever, but I don't know Compile's earlier games all that well. Well, I know Gunhed, MUSHA, and Zanac, but the rest I haven't played.

[Bydobasher]

I haven't played Zanac Neo, but I've played most of their other stuff. My favourites, in no particular order:

MUSHA - I just find this so much fun to play; it's not overly difficult, but you have to pay attention; I really enjoy the look of the game, and I love the tunes. It all adds up to a really involving, intense experience.

Aleste (MSX) - This is intense because it never stops throwing stuff at you; it's totally mesmerizing -- I just kind of get lost amidst the seemingly endless waves of assailants. Great, great stuff.

Power Strike 2 - Totally slick, this one. A very late 8-bit shmup (1993), it looks and sounds great and plays so smoothly. Not intense like the others, but I enjoy it immensely.

I also like Space Megaforce quite a lot. Aleste 2 tends to be very highly regarded -- just ask Shatterhand -- but I can't get into it as much as some of the others. I still have a soft spot for Blazing Lazers, but that's because it was the first Compile game I ever played. Of course, The Guardian Legend is totally worthwhile simply because it's such an original.

EDIT: Hey Shatterhand, I think you forgot Robo Aleste!

[Rob]

1. MUSHA
2. Space Megaforce
3. Zanac
4. Blazing Lazers
5. Robo Aleste
6. Spriggan
7. Zanac Neo
8. Gun Nac
9. some Aleste for the SMS

I think MUSHA and SM are the clear best, MUSHA being by far the best. It doesn't feel too long, or have areas of complete boredom, or half a dozen crap weapons. And it has great style and a nice soundtrack.

Guardian Legend is also cool, as a borderliner. I'd slip it in second or third.

[Shatterhand]

Ugh, I indeed forgot Robo Aleste... It was in my mind when I was typing the signature.

I'll have to drop the "eat shit" in the ending to add it them

http://kelesis.free.fr/hp/compile/index_eng.htm -> I already know this site, but I am not 100% sure all info there is correct... for example, they list Starblazer as a Compile game, and I would like to know where did he got this information (I even reviwed starblazer here for shmups.com), athoulgh what he says make sense

If I had to put their shmups in a order, I think thats how it would go:

1 - Zanac Neo and Aleste 2 (MSX) - Cant choose which one is the best
3 - Power Strike 2 (SMS)
4 - Gunnac (NES)
5 - Zanac EX (MSX)
6 - Zanac (NES)
7 - Super Aleste (SNES)
8 - MUSHA (Mega-Drive)
9 - Aleste (MSX)
10 - Gunhed (PC-Engine)
11 - Zanac (MSX)
12 - Blaster Burn (MSX)
13 - Aleste GG 2 (Game Gear)
14 - Guardic (MSX)
15 - Aleste GG (Game Gear)
16 - Gulkave (MSX - SG3000)
17 - Aleste Gaiden (MSX)
18 - Final Justice (MSX)
19 - The Guardian Legend (NES)
20 - Exa Innova (MSX)
21 - A.E. (MSX)

If its not in the list, its because its just a port from other platform ( like R-Type SMS or the excellent msx port of Xevious (Better than the arcade one!), or I havent played it at all (Spriggan or Robo Aleste)

If you want to consider Starblazer as a Compile shmup, put it between Final Justice and Exa Innova.

Al the games in the list, except A.E., are good or excellent stuff. Exa Innova suffers from being too simple (Its from 1984 after all). Final Justice also isnt very complex, but its excellent stuff for the time.

[Herr Schatten]

4 - GunHed (NES)

I think you mean GunNac (NES).

[BrianC]

4 - GunHed (NES)

I think you mean GunNac (NES).

There is actually a NES GunHed, but it has nothing to do with Compile or the TG-16 GunHed/Blazing Lazers. The NES game is actually a strategy game, if I remember correctly.

[TVG]

the irony of your sig is having musha in it, which is developped by toaplan, which later became cave.

im not defending cave, but if you remove musha from the list it will seem less stupid (tho it wouldnt do much good)

[Herr Schatten]

the irony of your sig is having musha in it, which is developped by toaplan, which later became cave.

im not defending cave, but if you remove musha from the list it will seem less stupid (tho it wouldnt do much good)

Musha was only published by Toaplan. It was developed by Compile.

[Shatterhand]

I dont even hate Cave, its just a joke really. Guwange is always in my top 30 shmups when we make that yearly poll

And of course I meant Gunnac (NES), not Gunhed (NES)... I just corrected the list

[ROBOTRON]

Zanac Neo
Zanac
Space Megaforce
Blazing Lazers
MUSHA
Power Strike
Guardian Legend

They all rock the block.

[metallica_tyler]

I might possibly do a website devoted to Compile... i'll keep ya updated.

[highlandcattle]

don't forget Chaos Field ...

[rolins]

Been working on a COMPILE list for several for months. Haven't found all them but you guys might be surprised how many games they made. I've put most of them in order of their release date, but some are not. The ones that are holding me back are their games on DiscStation (DS). It’s becoming tedious to go thru each disk and trying to figure out each name. Mind you this list is a WIP, I'll add to this list and change them when I can learn more.

MSX1
Blaster Burn (DS vol. 7,8,10,12-17)
Randar Burn (DS vol.11)
Golvellius
Jagur5
Birdie Try
Thexder
Zanac A.I.
Gulkave
Guardic
Swing
Lode Runner
Lunar Ball
Final Justice
Choplifter
Godzilla
C-SO
A.E.
Megalopolis SOS
Hustle Chummy
Devil's Heaven
Aquapolis SOS
E.I
BEE&FLOWER

MSX2
Super Cooks (DS vol. ?)
Puyo Puyo
Warau (Laughing) Salesman
Rune Master 3
Dragon Quiz
Gorby's Pipeline
Columns
Madoh Monogatari 1-2-3
Disc Station DX2 Lalba
Disc Station DX1 Rune Master 2
Adventure of Randar 3
Disc Station DX3 Sam & Nyanpi
Aleste 2
Championship Lode Runnder
Neo Golvellius
Xevious Fardraut Saga
Girly Block
Aleste
Higemaru Makaijima
Zanac EX

PC-Engine
Puyo Puyo CD
Sylphia
Spriggan MkII
Seireisenshi Spriggan
Cyber Knight
Devil's Crash
Xevious - Fardraut Densetsu
Gunhed
Alien Crush

Famicom
Puyo Puyo
Gorby no Pipeline Dai Sakusen
Gun Nac
Tailor Made
Godzilla
Taiyou no Shinden - Asteka 2 (not sure about this yet)
Guardic Gaiden
Romancia
Lunar Pool
Zanac
City Adventure Touch - Mystery of Triangle
Lunar Ball

Super Famicom
Super Nazo Puyo 2 - Ruru no Tetsuwan Hanjyou ki
Super Puyo Puyo 2 Remix
Madou Monogatari – Hanamaru Dai Youchienji
Super Puyo Puyo 2
Super Nazo Puyo - Ruru no Ruu
Super Puyo Puyo
Super Aleste
Jaki Crush

Sega MegaDrive
Madoh Monogatari I
Shadow Run
Puyo Puyo 2
Laughing Salesman
Dennin Aleste
Musha Aleste
Ghostbusters

Sega MarkIII (SMS)
Power Strike 2 (SMS only)
Golvellius
Casino Games
Aleste
R-TYPE
Puyo Puyo
Ghostbusters

SG-1000
Championship Billards
Gulkave
C-SO
Choplifter
Championship Lode Runner
Hustle Chummy
Borderline
Safari Hunt
N-SUB

NEC PC98
Rude Breaker (DS vol. 10)

PC Windows
Daikaisen (DS vol. 15)

Nintendo64
Puyo Puyo 4 - Puyo Puyo Party
Puyo Puyo Sun 64

Gamboy (Color)
Pocket Puyo Puyo 4
Arle no Bouken - Mahou no Jewel
Puyo Puyo Gaiden - Puyo Wars
Pocket Puyo Sun
Pocket Puyo Puyo 2 Tsuu
Puyo Puyo
Godzilla

GameGear
Madoh Monogatari A
Madoh Monogatari III
Puyo Puyo 2
Nazo Puyo 2
Madoh Monogatari II
Madoh Monogatari I
GG Aleste II
Nazo Puyo
Puyo Puyo
GG Aleste

[Damocles]

The Kelesis site is interesting since it lists borderline as a Compile shooter. On my arcade cab, Borderline is listed as Sega/Gremlin. Weeeee....I have a Compile arcade game??

[Ceph]

Been working on a COMPILE list for several for months. Haven't found all them but you guys might be surprised how many games they made. I've put most of them in order of their release date, but some are not. The ones that are holding me back are their games on DiscStation (DS). It’s becoming tedious to go thru each disk and trying to figure out each name. Mind you this list is a WIP, I'll add to this list and change them when I can learn more.

Sylphia for PC Engine is missing (it is debated how much Compile was involved, they definitely did the music and probably more; it sure does play very compile-ish).

Devil's Crash and Alien Crush are not by Compile but by Naxat.

[rolins]

Sylphia has been added to the list. Damn, can't beleve forgot that one.

Compile was involved in producing Devil's Crash, Alien Crush, and Jaki Crush. Not sure how much they were involved, but if you do listen to the music of Devil's Crash you'll notice some similarites to Musha Aleste.

Also, it's on their list:

http://www.puyo.org/cache/www.compile.c ... /pc-e.html
http://www.puyo.org/cache/www.compile.c ... r/sfc.html

デビル･クラッシュ (Devil's Crash)
エイリアン･クラッシュ (Alien Crush)
ナグザットスーパーピンボール ～邪鬼破壊～ (Jaki Crush)

[Turrican]

Meh - It always surprises me how I'm in minority liking Super Aleste more than Musha. I mean, Compile games have always been about huge weapons and Musha offers just three of them. Sure, the Japanese setting is cool, but...

[Rob]

Compile games have always been about huge weapons

To their detriment.

[Ko.oS]

I know this is common knowledge, but repetitions are useful . . .

http://kelesis.free.fr/hp/compile/alest ... ex_eng.htm

Watanabe and Toyama worked on SoQ (among others), Nakashima appears on a couple raizing staff lists as well. the bornnam player on the saturn replay is WAT(anabe). Super Aleste and Space Megaforce have *completely* different endings. :shock:

BTW, isnt pnickies a compile puzzler as well? its in mame (distr. by capcom)

edit: or vice versa

[Turrican]

If its not in the list, its because its just a port from other platform ( like R-Type SMS or the excellent msx port of Xevious (Better than the arcade one!), or I havent played it at all (Spriggan or Robo Aleste)

Shatterhand you never mention the PCE Xevious - that's Compile too. And they both are new episodes in the Xevious saga: calling them ports is like saying that Treasure did a PS2 port of Gradius called Gradius V.

[RoninBuddha]

odd...

IIRC, there were some Spriggan games that werent done by Compile... namely the SNES game..

and wasnt Cotton by Compile?

[rolins]

odd...

IIRC, there were some Spriggan games that werent done by Compile... namely the SNES game..

and wasnt Cotton by Compile?

AFIK Compile was never involved with Cotton, and that game is horizontal which is not their style. The only Compile shooter I can think of in a horizontal fashion are Gulkave and Spriggan MKII, and maybe Star Blazer.

Not sure whether to add Star Blazer to the list because this game doesn't show up on their Compile Game History page. Possibly made right before they started to use the name Compile.

Edit: almost forgot Choplifter was another horz. shooter

[Turrican]

Cotton is Success guys. You know, the team behind Psyvariar / Sanvein

[rolins]

Added to the list...

MSX1 - Swing
SG1000 - Championship Billard
N64
Gamboy Color
GameGear
PC - Daikaisen

With regards to Susiwars, this game is a shooter. Haven't found copy around the internet, so if anyone has this please share. I want play this one.

[Shatterhand]

The MSX version of Choplifter was made by Compile? I didn't know that.

OH, and they also did the MSX version of Columns? I don't think so, I am nearly sure that was made by Telenet Japan for Sega....

Info about what Compile made has always been messy. I've heard they made the MSX version of Thexder too, but there's nothing to backup that.

What I find interesting about Pnickles is that the gameplay is a lot similar to Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo, I always wondered if Capcom credit any Compile staff in Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo.


And yeah, Xeviois PCE and MSX area really awesome I always forget about the PCE version

[Shatterhand]

Ok, I just checked it

MSX Columns says on the title screen "Sega 1990 - Reprogrammed by Telenet Japan".


Regarding Borderline, I didn't know it had an arcade version. Compile is usually credited only for the SG-1000 and MSX versions (Its also commonly credited as its first game ever, though some other people say it's A.E. )

Also, where did you get the info they've made Ghostbusters for the Mega-Drive and the Master System?

The Master System version is the Actvision one, which was released for the Atari 2600, Commodore 64 and MSX too. The Mega-Drive version is completely different, its a platform game, usually credited to Sega.

They also made a few PC games, which may be REAL hard to track now.