Oppressive Shmups?

[Fenrir]

Two stages of Apidya are really oppressive, mainly due to the harsh environment and the moody, thrilling music (sewers + pond/swamp stages). When the bass boss approaches it does indeed feel like a horror movie.
Einhander too has a gloomy feeling, but of course nothing feels oppressive and grim like Philosoma expecially later on, when the story starts going crazy, collapses and people start dying.

[neojma]

Surprised to see no mention of Einhander yet. The desolate future neo-fascist revolution vibe in the first level is just perfect. And the cold metallic look throughout fits my image of "oppressive". That and Metal Black are my top picks. Thunder Force V sort of works too, especially the unfinished steel construction in the city level.

What is it with all these horis?

edit: Yes, I'm an idiot for not reading the post directly above mine. But I still throw in a vote for Einhander.

[Gungriffon Geona]

Surprised to see no mention of Einhander yet. The desolate future neo-fascist revolution vibe in the first level is just perfect. And the cold metallic look throughout fits my image of "oppressive".

How did I forget this one? I been playing it whenever I have some free time these days.
Anyway, yes, it was very oppressive. though the final battle had a totally different feel from the rest of the game. but that was in good reason I suppose.

[R_Typist]

I think Last Resort could seem a tad oppressive. The first level appears like a sleeping metropolis with a broken, spine-protruding Terminator-boss at the end. The rest of the stages seem more like a raviged Earth with techno-spook mutations.

Also the graphic and color schemes are on the darker side.

[FatCobra]

Cyvern seemed as oppressive to me. The music, and I think that the dragons were bio-engineered and had no choice but to fight the enemy army.