Recommend some PS2 shmups for me

[Oddysee]

I would be very grateful if someone would recommend some shmups for the PS2 that got a European release. Just so you know, I have: Gradius V, R-Type Final, Homura and I have pre-ordered Raiden III.

I'm thinking of getting: Castle Shikigami II, GigaWing Generations, Psyvariar Complete Edition and Dragon Blaze. So would anyone give me their opinions on those four and tell me if they are good or not. Thanks.

[Turrican]

I second Psyvariar - a very nice game and a great PAL version too.

More random stats on PS2 PAL games here:

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... 381#133381

[freddiebamboo]

All good games there.

Giga Wing Generations has no tate option for full screen goodness though.

Gunbird special is also well worth hunting down.

[Daigohji]

The European release of Castle Shikigami II doesn't have 60Hz support and all the story sequences have been hacked out. If you can't import the US version then it's just about worth getting, but drop it to the bottom of your list.

Psyvariar should be your first port of call, followed by Dragon Blaze. If you're in the UK, I've seen Psyvariar going for 99p new in places like Gamestation and Virgin Megastores. You'll need to order Dragon Blaze online, as I don't think any of the brick and mortar stores bothered stocking it.

[professor ganson]

I'm thinking of getting: Castle Shikigami II, GigaWing Generations, Psyvariar Complete Edition and Dragon Blaze. So would anyone give me their opinions on those four and tell me if they are good or not. Thanks.

Can't go wrong with these. Dragon Blaze and Shiki II are my favorite games, period. GWG and Psyvariar Complete are eventually must-haves for the shmup fan, but not essential at the start.

[Oddysee]

Thanks for all of your help so far guys. I see Gunbird Special Edition was mentioned, would everyone say its good?

Edit: I just read that the graphics flicker in yoko? Is that a big problem?

[Turrican]

Thanks for all of your help so far guys. I see Gunbird Special Edition was mentioned, would everyone say its good?

Edit: I just read that the graphics flicker in yoko? Is that a big problem?

Well, since you are new around here - do you know what "yoko" means?

anyway, Gunbird S.E. it's a nice package overall and it includes the "vertical" (aka "tate") option to play both games in their original aspect ratio, how they were meant to be played. (you should turn your tv set on its side to do so).

The flickering is a bit annoying while playing the games with a regular tv set, but it completely disappears if you turn your tv set, because graphics are not compressed anymore.

I'm not sure I explained myself as clear as I would've. Please check Bulletmagnet's Glossary or this page:

http://turn.to/vertical

[Sword]

Thanks for all of your help so far guys. I see Gunbird Special Edition was mentioned, would everyone say its good?

Edit: I just read that the graphics flicker in yoko? Is that a big problem?

The only problem with Gunbird SE is that it doesn't save scores (or pad configurations IIRC). Annoying, but it's still a pretty good buy.
Psyvariar Complete is great. Very good PAL version.
Shiki 2 PAL is a shit version of a fantastic game. (50 HZ only, some weird extra slowdown, story removed, and changed music for the first 3 stages) Get it only if you can't get a better version.

[Oddysee]

Nope, I don't know what yoko means. Well thanks to the info I have received from the helpful people here, I have ordered the four I mentioned in my first post and also Gunbird Special Edition too. Unfortunately, I don't have the means to get a better version of Shiki 2, so I'm getting the PAL version. Hopefully I can overlook it's shortcomings.

Heh, those five, plus I only got Homura today and with Raiden III pre-ordered, I think I'll be busy for quite awhile.