Best Battleship Raids in Shmup History

[the1truepickaxe]

Most shmups have one. R-Type had stage 3. Battle Garegga had the end of stage 5, and the whole of stage 7. Image fight had stage 2. Even Mushihimesama, a game about insects, had one in stage 3.

What I am talking about is the part of a shmup in which you fly over (and/or under) a giant battleship and take it apart piece by piece. This usually ends in a climactic encounter with either the core of the battleship, or a boss which flies out of the battleship.

So what I am here to ask this forum is: What is YOUR favorite battleship raid in any shmup?

No limitations, it can be horizontal or vertical, as long as it is a shmup, I don't care.

(Personally, I love the final stage of Last Resort, mainly because you go inside the battleship not once, but twice, and the final boss just looks really cool)

[m.sniffles.esq]

Under Defeat
It's so good I even made special note of it the first time I played "man, that was a fucking great battleship level"

Not only did i do that, but I even remember doing it. So obviously, it made an impression.

[Deadliar]

Titanic Lance is a battleship right

[seiatsu]

Not necessarily my absolute favorite but the most epic has got to be Omega Fighter. The entire game is a giant battleship raid with each section being a level

[Stevens]

Under Defeat
It's so good I even made special note of it the first time I played "man, that was a fucking great battleship level"

Not only did i do that, but I even remember doing it. So obviously, it made an impression.

This is your answer.

I'm biased though.

[SuperDeadite]

Last Resort and Battle Mania Daiginjyou are personal faves.

[xxx1993]

How about the final boss battles of U.N. Squadron and its unofficial sequel Carrier Air Wing? Or the penultimate stages of Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga? Also, is it okay if I include the final stage of Sin and Punishment: Star Successor and L.A. Machine Guns: Rage of the Machines even though those two aren't shmups?

[the1truepickaxe]

Titanic Lance is a battleship right

Yeah, definitely

[the1truepickaxe]

How about the final boss battles of U.N. Squadron and its unofficial sequel Carrier Air Wing? Or the penultimate stages of Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga? Also, is it okay if I include the final stage of Sin and Punishment: Star Successor and L.A. Machine Guns: Rage of the Machines even though those two aren't shmups?

As long as it is a giant battleship raid, it counts.

[scrilla4rella]

I'll have to agree with others on here. Battle Garegga and Under Defeat all day long

[Vexorg]

Stage 3 in Raiden Fighters is a favorite of mine.

[BrianC]

Uridium, Hyper Sentinel, and The Dreadnaught Factor are basically Battleship Raid: The Game.

[Koa Zo]

Did 1942 have any battleship raids, or is it all just planes?
I must be thinking of 1943 as my first encounter with battleship raids.

[mainpatr5]

Cybattler- Stage 2

There was one stage in Bangai- O Spirits that was like that too.

[m.sniffles.esq]

I'm biased though

What bias is that?

[Stevens]

The 400+ hours I've put into Under Defeat

[Master O]

Omega Fighter's raid was good.

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

Can't beat the original.

[xxx1993]

How about the final boss battles of U.N. Squadron and its unofficial sequel Carrier Air Wing? Or the penultimate stages of Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga? Also, is it okay if I include the final stage of Sin and Punishment: Star Successor and L.A. Machine Guns: Rage of the Machines even though those two aren't shmups?

As long as it is a giant battleship raid, it counts.

Good. You have played L.A. Machine Guns, though, right? The final boss is a battleship raid against the terrorists' flying aircraft carrier. Here, take a look, please. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ80xX6bRSg

[m.sniffles.esq]

The 400+ hours I've put into Under Defeat

Oh, that bias...
I guess I somewhat have that bias too (though probably 300 hours less severe), and it doesn't change the fact that it's a really, really awesome battleship level. I realized that in hour one.

[ciox]

Final Mission on NES?

Misago from Ikaruga stage 4?

[Stevens]

it's a really, really awesome battleship level. I realized that in hour one.

Totally agree. It's just put together really well on all fronts. Music (don't generally love the ost, but that tune is fantastic), enemy placement, two big ships to dismantle, and it kicks off with the radio announcement which is one is the best moments in a shooter for me.

[Square_Air]

Mahou Daisakusen and Great Mahou Daisakusen. Omega fighter gets another mention because the entire game is a battleship raid.

Did 1942 have any battleship raids, or is it all just planes?
I must be thinking of 1943 as my first encounter with battleship raids.

You are thinking of 1943. 1942 is far too bare bones for anything that cool.

[xxx1993]

I should also show you guys the final stage of Sin and Punishment: Star Successor. This one is very much like Chapter 4 of Ikaruga.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxSMUQ3tf3Y