game with the best graphics

kengou · Post by **kengou** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 12:42 am

Let me preface by saying I know graphics aren't important, I wouldn't be a shmup player if I was obsessed with graphics. That being said, what shmup do you think has the best graphics out now? Ikaruga? Raiden 3/IV? Gradius V? Keep in mind I'm completely disregarding gameplay here.

Asherdude · Post by **Asherdude** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 1:39 am

Ummm... I'm drawing a blank.

malcolm · Post by **malcolm** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 1:46 am

You just said it-Gradius V

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 1:52 am

It's hard to say, because for me good graphics does not mean graphics capability, but rather beautiful design and style.

Some that come to mind:

2D: Rayforce, Pulstar, Soukyuugurentai, Guwange, Mushihimesama

3D: Under Defeat, Radiant Silvergun, Einhänder, R-Type Delta, Raystorm

Oddly I think most early 3D shooters look better than the current ones, even with lower polygon count and whatnot. It's just that they had better designs and nicer ambience.

Also, my nomination for best graphics in little-known game:

Rayxanber III, PCE

Absolutely amazing and beautiful detail in the sprite design!

ROBOTRON · Post by **ROBOTRON** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 2:00 am

Um.......

R-Type Final
Gradius V
Viewpoint
Radiant Silvergun
Ikaruga (even though I didn't like it)
Border Down
Layer Section
Pulstar
Einhander
Axelay

KNTain · Post by **KNTain** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 2:08 am

Let me preface by saying I know graphics aren't important

I actually really disagree with this. The looks of a game can be hugely important.

Oddly I think most early 3D shooters look better than the current ones, even with lower polygon count and whatnot. It's just that they had better designs and nicer ambience.

I definitely agree with this, though. It's bizarre, but one of the games that came to my mind was Thunder Force V. There are some ugly designs in it here and there, and I could see how some would consider it bland-looking overall, but I like a lot of the enemies and stages.

Einhander might be my top pick.

thesuperkillerxxx · Post by **thesuperkillerxxx** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 3:35 am

Battle Garegga....

Armed Ploice Batrider....

I prefer Pixel Art.

gunbird18 · Post by **gunbird18** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 3:57 am

thesuperkillerxxx wrote:Battle Garegga....

Armed Ploice Batrider....

I prefer Pixel Art.

Exactly!

Dale · Post by **Dale** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 4:04 am

ROBOTRON wrote:Um.......

R-Type Final
Gradius V
Viewpoint
Radiant Silvergun
Ikaruga (even though I didn't like it)
Border Down
Layer Section
Pulstar
Einhander
Axelay

No Under Defeat Robo?

Espgaluda
GunBird2
Progear

I'm a polygonal image based 2-D sprite whore.

neoalphazero · Post by **neoalphazero** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:11 am

CIT wrote:

Also, my nomination for best graphics in little-known game:

Rayxanber III, PCE

Absolutely amazing and beautiful detail in the sprite design!

I was always put off from this game due to the idea that backgrounds generally stay as caverns, but damn once I started playing it, beautiful. Honestly, the graphics style reminds me of Thunderforce 4's colors and design, some nice enemy animation too. *-neo

Twiddle · Post by **Twiddle** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:22 am

everything recap doesn't like

Frederik · Post by **Frederik** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 6:10 am

Considering the system, I choose Iridion 2 for the GBA:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOtHxCnQ ... ed&search=

The art direction is so-so, but the graphics are even more fluid than in this little clip. It´s one of the very few examples what you can actually do with the GBA if you know what you´re doing.

Dangun Feveron looks great too, with lots of sprite rotation and bullets as colourful as a christmas tree.

ED-057 · Post by **ED-057** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 6:34 am

Blazing Star has some pretty flashy and elaborate gfx (just look at the size of the ROMs!)

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 7:49 am

Sagaia has some of the best graphics I have seen on a SMS shmup. The fire from the arcade is still in stage one and the game even has multiple layers of parallax in some stages. Wow!

For GB b/w, Twinbee Da!! looks very good for a 1990 game. It looks almost like a b/w SNES game. Very detailed graphics and bosses even show damage.

The Coop · Post by **The Coop** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 8:32 am

For the Genesis shmups, it would definitely be Thunder Force IV for me. The backgrounds, enemies, enemy designs... it's wonderful stuff with lots of detail and color, despite the 64 on-screen color limit.

A few runner ups would be Steel Empire (a very nice sense of art direction for the ships and stages in that game, and the color usage back up that style well), M.U.S.H.A. (while the color usage is lower thanks to the 4Mb cart size and game's length, the enemy and stage designs are interesting, and the generous use of parallax in this vertical shmup really stood out to me), Bio Hazard Battle (nice use of the insect theme, and really impressive animation for the time), and Wings of Wor (good use of color, grotesque designs, and detailed).

PROMETHEUS · Post by **PROMETHEUS** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:37 am

Out of all the shmups I've played, definitely Guwange.

moonblood · Post by **moonblood** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:47 am

viper phase 1 is a beauty

Asherdude · Post by **Asherdude** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 12:09 pm

I still can't come up with one. There's just too damn many that look great.

tviks · Post by **tviks** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 12:32 pm

Gradius V.

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 1:22 pm

Ibara is pretty stunning I think, though Garegga & Batrider have a place in my heart too. In fact any Raizing game apart from Brave Blade

Soukyugurentai was visually stunning for its time & still is.

Gradius V's first couple of levels are amazing, but later levels don't seem to be so impressive for me (for instance the bio-organic 'Salamander' level) I think I prefer R-Type Final's beautiful luminescent old-school style, amazing pyrotechnic show in that.

Salamander 2 & Gradius Gaiden are the 2D-showcases for me out of the Konami games. And Xexex

Honourable mentions - 19XX, ESPGaluda, Mushihime-sama, Guwange, ESPrade, Cyvern, Raiden II, Raiden Fighters 1-3 & Viper Phase, Under Defeat, Ikaruga, Axelay, Dragon Blaze, Pulstar, Truxton/Tatsujin II, Outzone, Sengoku Blade.

skink · Post by **skink** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 3:23 pm

Progear
Espgaluda 2

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 4:07 pm

oops, forgot progear

Not played EPSgaluda 2 but if it's anything as nice-looking as it's predecessor then I bet its fab.

skink · Post by **skink** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 4:11 pm

MikeB wrote: Not played EPSgaluda 2 but if it's anything as nice-looking as it's predecessor then I bet its fab.

It's gorgeous.

szycag · Post by **szycag** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 4:24 pm

Geometry Wars:RE

P_HAT · Post by **P_HAT** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 4:25 pm

PC
Imperishable Night
Shoot the bullet
All Kent Cho games

DC
S++)Zero Gunner 2
AAA)Ikaruga
A)Under Defeat

Arcade
Too many...

ROBOTRON · Post by **ROBOTRON** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 4:33 pm

Dale wrote:
ROBOTRON wrote:Um.......

R-Type Final
Gradius V
Viewpoint
Radiant Silvergun
Ikaruga (even though I didn't like it)
Border Down
Layer Section
Pulstar
Einhander
Axelay
No Under Defeat Robo?

Espgaluda
GunBird2
Progear

I'm a polygonal image based 2-D sprite whore.

ZOMG!!!

UNDER DEFEAT!!!!!! YES!!!!!