What type of theme for a Shmup would you like to see next?

elvis · Post by **elvis** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 12:34 pm

I want horrible evil devil-spawn shmups to come back. Gynoug of the modern era.

JBC · Post by **JBC** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 12:35 pm

Gorecki wrote:How about a Treasure shooter that unfolds backwards through time, scrolling backwards from the boss to the start of the level, so that your own bullets are sucked out of the enemies and down the screen, where you must maneuver into their path to prevent a destructive paradox, all whilst dodging enemy bullets that suck upwards from the bottom of the screen?

That would take the R-Type memorization gameplay to a whole new level of ARGH!

elvis wrote:I want horrible evil devil-spawn shmups to come back. Gynoug of the modern era.

Seconded - raging dick man included.

Klatrymadon · Post by **Klatrymadon** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 12:39 pm

That would take the R-Type memorization gameplay to a whole new level of ARGH!

Aye, it sounds like a great idea, but the backward-scrolling section in R-Type III was a total bastard. Took me quite a while to nail that bit. The annoying thing was that it wasn't even that difficult in terms of what was actually going on...

Shocky · Post by **Shocky** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:25 pm

HeLGeN-X wrote: I was thinking something inside a human body would be unique, but maybe not so cool.

Unique? I don't think so.. Fantastic Voyage, X-Multiply, Abadox, Blast Factor, Microcosm.. ok, not all pure shmups but it's been done again and again.

tuoma wrote: I want an "over the top egyptian myth outer-space-book of the dead" kind of thing. Last boss, a goodly faraoh, true last boss? Illuminatis demon-head lizard leader.

Crisis Force and Myth involve shooting at amazing egyptian space gear.

Some really satanic lovecraftian shmup would be welcome. I think there have been all sorts of dark-themed shmups involving devils or fallen angels like Gynoug, but not enough. I want more of those.

What the world really needs is a totally psychedelic lsd-trip migraine-simulation shmup with psy-trance music and loads of mushrooms, fractals, space humanoids, buddhas and maximum weirdness.

I have a couple of more shmup ideas but I'm keeping them secret for now. One has to do with mythology and would resemble the ESPrade/galuda games.

UnscathedFlyingObject · Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:37 pm

Cave should make a shmup with a hell theme. The term "bullet-hell" would make a lot more sense. Since different religions have different hells, they could make each level a different hell: Buddhist hell, Christian hell, etc. You could play as different angels or some renegade devils trying to take over.

edit: gee, too late.

shoe-sama · Post by **shoe-sama** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:49 pm

An army of n00bz, trolls, spambots etc. is attacking and you're a forum mod omfg kill them all.

And random ghey internet fads are thrown into the mix.

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:16 pm

Food.

The Four Horsemen of Apocalypse VS Auto-Theocratic military power.

SFKhoa · Post by **SFKhoa** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 3:21 am

shoe-sama wrote:An army of n00bz, trolls, spambots etc. is attacking and you're a forum mod omfg kill them all.

And random ghey internet fads are thrown into the mix.

QFE.

Gungriffon Geona · Post by **Gungriffon Geona** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 4:14 am

SFKhoa wrote:
shoe-sama wrote:An army of n00bz, trolls, spambots etc. is attacking and you're a forum mod omfg kill them all.

And random ghey internet fads are thrown into the mix.
QFE.

that's like my dream project. think a side-scrolling Batrider with lots of hilarious ships and bosses, not to mention fad music all around. final boss: Pedobear.

icepick · Post by **icepick** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:07 am

I was thinking just the other night that a theme like Rez would be very nice; Not necessarily in visual style (although that'd be fine), but one where enemies and their shots and destruction are all linked closely to the music, and the stages feature a method for accessing different level paths via a powerup (like Rez) or some other criteria, basically in the form of rank.

Of course, having a sort of "MusicSync" for shots could throw the game into borderline territory, but perhaps, shots from the player could behave as usual, possibly simply attenuated both visually and aurally. Enemies could become inactive at the point of usual destruction (in line with other games), but their destruction/explosion could be "delayed" to provide a complimentary effect in time with the music. To reduce confusion between active and inactive enemies, the latter could become "dark" after a brief visual confirmation that they're essentially destroyed.

Visual evolution of the player's avatar (a la Rez, Psyvariar 2) would coincide with any increase in firepower, although I'm not sure of how this would behave in a miss condition. Perhaps if lives (or perhaps bombs) weren't factored into the rank system, additional lives could work as they do in Rez, with a greater number of lives/bombs causing more powerful variations in the shots style (with different visual effects). This means that an error wouldn't set the player back as much as your typical powerup system, but it could also be an easy downward spiral.

The branching stage paths would follow what I see as the template in Rez; Fixed scripted enemy formations with breaks in between (for stage branching), but with varying behavior and difficulty depending on which stage path has been taken. If by the means of a simple powerup, players could manipulate the branching system to access particular branches of stages, for scoring or other reasons (such as survival). It could be similar to Border Down's borders in this sense.

The music would of course change based on the current branch and place in the stage, either in a Rez-style "higher branch means higher ecstasy" or in a NiGHTS-style "all variations are nice, but you might like some more than others." Bosses could have different versions based on the branch(es) taken to reach them, perhaps with a total of two or three different versions.

Actually, Border Down kind of takes care of most of these stage branching concepts pretty well, although I imagined it in a vert, plus the enemy and sound effects synchronization with the music is all Rez. Anyway, toss in some unlockable extras for a console port (prototype levels, random/endless modes), and I would be very pleased. It should also be very colorful with distinct locales.

If no one's made it in 20 years, I'll take care of it.

In a separate idea, I'd like to see more natural environments; not like flying through a living intestinal planet dressed up as a blind salamander, and not like a cutesy world of make-believe (although that's nice)... but pleasant environments like forests, oceans with islands and lagoons and waterfalls, snowy mountains and the like. It's probably bad to be blowing the snot out of stuff in peaceful, pleasant settings, but it could be adjusted to seem less disruptive.

Pixel_Outlaw · Post by **Pixel_Outlaw** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:59 am

Psychedelic not really pushing drugs just really trippy and profound in a nonsensical way.

gameoverDude · Post by **gameoverDude** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 1:05 am

[quote=Shocky]What the world really needs is a totally psychedelic lsd-trip migraine-simulation shmup with psy-trance music and loads of mushrooms, fractals, space humanoids, buddhas and maximum weirdness. [/quote]

I like this idea. Throw in some Darius Gaiden style warping backgrounds like those used in zones G-J. Let's not have the R-Type final style wavering effects on the ships and foreground stuff though, that was a pain in the ass.

Jeff "YaK" Minter will probably beat everyone else to actually executing this sort of thing. Defender 2000 does come close in some ways.

DBH87 · Post by **DBH87** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:42 pm

the human body.

each level is fighting off a different type of disease. Instead of multiples (ie gradius) you could have antibodies fighting alongside you

Fenrir · Post by **Fenrir** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 12:29 am

I'd really want a graphically intense HORIZONTAL shmup with a heavy heroic fantasy theme. A sort fresh, new hori Dragon Blaze, but not as tacky as Sol Divide.
Something like a Tower of Doom shmup with a 2007 style (yes I'm a graphic whore, so what ;b ) Oh, and of course it must sport a pompous orchestral soundtrack.
I'd love it on the arcades, and THEN on the DC

And for all you molecular-biological freakos: you should've been there on the Amiga and Fantastic Voyage. And as far as rail shmups with FMV backgrounds go (Novastorm, Rebel Assault II and so on), whom I love them big big BIG time, Microcosm is there to be played

Ayanami · Post by **Ayanami** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:11 am

A shmup heavily tied to music like Rez would be the shmup ever.

the2bears · Post by **the2bears** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 12:47 am

I'd like to see a shmup inspired by music, such as a classic rock song, something along the likes of Come Together by The Beatles. Each verse could be the inspiration for a boss... maybe I just think it'd be cool, "Hold you in his arms yeah you can feel his disease."

Bill

Pixel_Outlaw · Post by **Pixel_Outlaw** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 2:24 am

the2bears wrote:I'd like to see a shmup inspired by music, such as a classic rock song, something along the likes of Come Together by The Beatles. Each verse could be the inspiration for a boss... maybe I just think it'd be cool, "Hold you in his arms yeah you can feel his disease."

Bill

Hmmm I would like to shoot the rocking horse people that have bullet curtains of marshmallow pies. Or a shmup where you "Turn off your mind and float downstream" because of course "it is not dying" as long as you can avoid the shots of "yellow matter custard". Of course to dodge the shots you would have to move very quickly much like "pigs from a gun". This you might have to take care to keep this game in a safe location to prevent damage or "Hide it in your pantry with your cupcakes". Why not take it to show your chums when you "go to the cabinet's debate". You could literally play it "Sitting on your sofa on a Sunday afternoon". You would have a new game and stories when you "laugh about it shout about it when you have to choose". It would have drug use so you would have to "hide it from the kids".

OK I'm done for now....sorry the2bears has excellent taste in music. The gun would go ko ko kachoo rather than ratatat. I would like a character shmup where you choose and fly one of the 4 beatles. I'd play as McCartney.

Serously Bill if the law would permit you and I should make a beatles tribute Danmaku.

Never_Scurred · Post by **Never_Scurred** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 2:44 am

math and shmups people.

Most of these premises are really good, but I can't help feeling like we'd be doing the same thing just with a different look. I would love to see a game in which the play mechanics were rooted in mathematical concepts. NOthing too hard but enough so that if you knew your shit, you'd have a fighting chance. It would be a nightmare for some but imagine the possiblities.

Pixel_Outlaw · Post by **Pixel_Outlaw** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 2:47 am

Warning! Warning!
A large polynomial is approaching fast.

jp · Post by jp » Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:26 am

Never_Scurred wrote:math and shmups people.

Most of these premises are really good, but I can't help feeling like we'd be doing the same thing just with a different look. I would love to see a game in which the play mechanics were rooted in mathematical concepts. NOthing too hard but enough so that if you knew your shit, you'd have a fighting chance. It would be a nightmare for some but imagine the possiblities.

FRO · Post by **FRO** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 2:44 pm

Steampunk Parodius

Randorama · Post by **Randorama** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 3:55 pm

Never_Scurred wrote:math and shmups people.

Most of these premises are really good, but I can't help feeling like we'd be doing the same thing just with a different look. I would love to see a game in which the play mechanics were rooted in mathematical concepts. NOthing too hard but enough so that if you knew your shit, you'd have a fighting chance. It would be a nightmare for some but imagine the possiblities.

Well, you play computer programs with fancy interfaces, after all. What is the difference?

HeLGeN-X · Post by **HeLGeN-X** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:56 pm

UnscathedFlyingObject wrote:Cave should make a shmup with a hell theme. The term "bullet-hell" would make a lot more sense. Since different religions have different hells, they could make each level a different hell: Buddhist hell, Christian hell, etc. You could play as different angels or some renegade devils trying to take over.

edit: gee, too late.

That would be awesome, like it'd be Bhuddist Monks trying to escape like Hell or something similar, that would be awesome, and they should make the difficulty harder than Mushi, Ketsui and DDPD

SPACE HARRIER · Post by **SPACE HARRIER** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 6:20 pm

A new souped up version of a classic jeff minter game "ATTACK OF THE MUTANT CAMELS"

A 16 people X-box live shmupgame..

-16 different ships to choose from each with his own powerups
-free to fly everywhere
-loads of powerups
-team matches
-new maps each month
-attack from all directions
-solo deathmatches

-big BIGGER HUGE bosses

ohhh,you can't have it all....

PFG 9000 · Post by **PFG 9000** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 10:55 pm

circuitface wrote:Anyone remember Slime World? How about a gel themed shmup... Just picture that level in Gradius V where you are in some sort of waste disposal area of a Bacterion vessel that keeps rotating around you. That concept could be taken to many more levels.

Yeah, Slime World is fantastic, and a Slime World themed shmup would rock. It could make for a decent sequel, Slime World: Eradication or something cheesily delicious like that.

Pixel_Outlaw · Post by **Pixel_Outlaw** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 11:17 pm

PFG 9000 wrote:
circuitface wrote:Anyone remember Slime World? How about a gel themed shmup... Just picture that level in Gradius V where you are in some sort of waste disposal area of a Bacterion vessel that keeps rotating around you. That concept could be taken to many more levels.
Yeah, Slime World is fantastic, and a Slime World themed shmup would rock. It could make for a decent sequel, Slime World: Eradication or something cheesily delicious like that.

Wasn't it more a space marine type platofrmer? I don't want to dust it off and play....

BlackSunRa · Post by **BlackSunRa** » Tue May 22, 2007 12:05 pm

Shocky wrote: Some really satanic lovecraftian shmup would be welcome. I think there have been all sorts of dark-themed shmups involving devils or fallen angels like Gynoug, but not enough. I want more of those.

What the world really needs is a totally psychedelic lsd-trip migraine-simulation shmup with psy-trance music and loads of mushrooms, fractals, space humanoids, buddhas and maximum weirdness.

Some time ago I had an idea about Gunsmoke-type of game which takes place in the 20's with eerie and blurry black&white graphics like in silent era movies (Fall of the House of Usher, Nosferatu... but not so much of that overused twisted perspectives stuff of Caligari). Criminal mastermind occultist as hero with firearms, psychic attacks and limited ability to levitate. Opposition would consist of weird secret society agents (like in Les Vampires), insomniacs, yogis with mandala-like psychedelic psychic attack patterns (like that Crying Freeman villain) etc. After the long journey to Himalayas (=few levels of Gunsmoke-type of action) our hero reaches the gates to Agartha and gameplay is changed to sidescrolling shmup as the occultist reaches the next level of enlightment, get's enchanced levitation abilities and starts to see everyting in colour. After some serious esoteric underworld weirdness and bossfights against Shamballa's council of elders the hero reaches Earth's core and game enters some astral/etheric plane with vertical shmup gameplay and even more fantastic/psychedelic opponents and attacks.

dmauro · Post by **dmauro** » Tue May 22, 2007 2:49 pm

I want to see a Shoot the Gore zombie shmup. For maximum points you have to destroy all of a bosses limbs off before killing them.

-Slayer- · Post by **-Slayer-** » Wed May 23, 2007 2:40 am

Some of you have mentioned a Rez-Esq game, with a music-gameplay sort of thing going on, Everyday Shooter might fit this description.

Shocky · Post by **Shocky** » Tue May 29, 2007 11:06 am

Welcome to the forum, BlackSunRa _o/

BlackSunRa wrote:
Some time ago I had an idea about Gunsmoke-type of game which takes place in the 20's with eerie and blurry black&white graphics like in silent era movies (Fall of the House of Usher, Nosferatu... but not so much of that overused twisted perspectives stuff of Caligari). Criminal mastermind occultist as hero with firearms, psychic attacks and limited ability to levitate. Opposition would consist of weird secret society agents (like in Les Vampires), insomniacs, yogis with mandala-like psychedelic psychic attack patterns (like that Crying Freeman villain) etc.

Whoah... man you should definitely apply for an art director/concept designer/creative leader job in some video gaming company. I think this approach might be completely novel.

After the long journey to Himalayas (=few levels of Gunsmoke-type of action) our hero reaches the gates to Agartha and gameplay is changed to sidescrolling shmup as the occultist reaches the next level of enlightment, get's enchanced levitation abilities and starts to see everyting in colour. After some serious esoteric underworld weirdness and bossfights against Shamballa's council of elders the hero reaches Earth's core and game enters some astral/etheric plane with vertical shmup gameplay and even more fantastic/psychedelic opponents and attacks.

Sounds excellent... the tibetan buddhists have concepts for future Buddhas and many other things that would make this one a very epic shmup. They have numerous secrets hidden in their stupas in the high Himalayas, images that are forbidden to be reproduced by the means of photography...

Speaking of enlightenment, in the later shmup stages of the platformer "MYTH - History in the Making" the player levitates and glides through egyptian nightmare settings in a lotus posture, battling gods

shmups.system11.org

What type of theme for a Shmup would you like to see next?

Shmupz: Rhythmic Scroll-Shooting