So, who of you actually cares about the story in your shmups

[Specineff]

Einhander's story wasn't cliched. You weren't a hot pilot flying the most powerful fighter ever assembled for the survival of the human race. Instead, you are another trooper, on a prototype, flying a solo suicidal mission. And the twist at the end is pretty cool.

G-Darius had a different story too, though not that revolutionary. However, Skyline's fanfic serves as icing on the cake.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

Einhander's story was awesome because it was set in future Germany! Really cool stuff.

When does the plot twist happen? I haven't beat the whole game yet.

Around the end.

[5parrowhawk]

Here I must make the obligatory mention of the Touhou series (Shanghai Alice's games). The stories are a bit flat, but some of the dialogue is really funny and the characters are great.

[BrianC]

Here I must make the obligatory mention of the Touhou series (Shanghai Alice's games). The stories are a bit flat, but some of the dialogue is really funny and the characters are great.

I wish I could read the dialog. I would like to know what the characters say in Twinbee Yahho too, though that's spoken and not written.

[BulletMagnet]

Einhander's story was awesome because it was set in future Germany! Really cool stuff.

When does the plot twist happen? I haven't beat the whole game yet.

Around the end.

When else do plot twists ever happen, I'd like to know!

I wish I could read the dialog.

The Project Shrine Maiden site has partial dialog translations for some of the games...I think that's about the best there is for us English-speaking Shanghai Alice players.

[TWITCHDOCTOR]

I usually like stories in games, shmups included. However, I'll only watch em the first time I play the game, or when I'm showing off the game to a friend or something. Pretty much after that, its bypass button presses.

[Zhon]

I like a decent story, although if it's not there I don't mind either.

What little I know about the Cave game stories make me go "who cares?" but Treasure stuff, and many games with older roots (R-type, Gradius), they do intrigue me.

[captain ahar]

not necessary, and not really something a look for. but a good story is that much more immersing.

[Frogacuda]

If a dev puts the effort in and gives their shmup a cool story and characters I will smile and acknowledge the extra effort, but I still find it totally peripheral, and if it's not there, I really don't care.

[nZero]

Honestly, I would like to see more story synopses of shmup series. When it comes to individual games, it's less important for me. When a series carrying a common theme come along, I get curious.

G-Darius had a different story too, though not that revolutionary. However, Skyline's fanfic serves as icing on the cake.

Skyknight.

[gs68]

Normally I don't care about storylines in shmups, but occasionally a good storyline will interest me.

I mean, Ikaruga, for example, has a lot of background story behind it. It would make a good anime or manga.

And then there's Tyrian 2000, whose storyline makes you feel like you're in the midst of a galactic war. I mean, as the main character, [spoilers] your parents get killed, your best friend is revealed to be a traitor, mysterious figures and said best friend death-threaten you, you get tangled up in rumors and draw hatred from other planets, and and there's the occasional advertisement for a fictitious product to make it seem realistic.

[visuatrox]

I want shooters to have cool opening animation, and I think some shooters are better because they have a decent story (The R-Type games comes to mind).

Although Dimahoo's intro is the best thing ever.

Yea the earth is hollow and out jumps the monsters!, I agree best thing ever

[uwfan]

i really dont care about the story in most video games, especially shmups. If i want to read a good story, i read a book!

[JBC]

You guys are definetly right about Gradius V's story. Sudden time-jump ability!!! Man, if only that where possible during gameplay (like cheating by using instant save states in emulators). Though i did like how Treasure brought back that Venom guy from MS-X Gradius (i think). Still, that doesn't make up for them taking away my Moai heads!!! Gimme back them Moai, varmints!!!

Though, really - if they just completley dropped the story and made a new Gradius without a Vic Viper, without a Bacterion empire, and without those super cool Core ships then i'd be totally devastated.

Same goes for R-Type... No big space/rat thingy? No Cyst boss? Shame! And we all know the R9 is the coolest looking ship ever (at least i think so).

[postman]

Article written on this very topic:

http://www.shootthecore.com/Plots.html

[Ghegs]

You guys are definetly right about Gradius V's story. Sudden time-jump ability!!!

Me and a buddy credit-fed through the game once in two-player mode and the second ship's "other self" never appears in the cinematics time warp-cinematics, so there's only three ships on the screen which I thought was kinda funny. Though if there were two ships in the first place there, Vic wouldn't have needed to do the time warp (Let's do the time warp again!) and the game would've been over after Stage 2.

[ST Dragon]

It depends on the shmup.
Some mindless blasters like 1945 Strikers Series, DoDonPacni, Battle Garrega, Raiden Fighters, etc... just dont need a story.

But others like Thunder Force V, RayStorm, Silpheed, Gaiares have awesome & very dramatic stories, perfect for a shmup. They feel like completly different games.
TF5 story is one of the best I've seen in any game. It should be made into a movie or anime.

Parodius Series & Cotton on the other hand have some of the funniest & coolest stories around. Perfect example of Japanses humor, I love them!

Gunbird, Progear, stories are nice the way they're shown from both the view of the boss characters, before you fight them & the player's view, once you complete the level.


While others like Einhander have very boring RPG style stories not suitable for shumps.