MANLY shmups

[MathU]

Yeah, Xexex is pretty fruity.

[Zebra Airforce]

giga wing has monologue and dialogue

THATS NOT MANLY

we need 100% pure action

Yeah, if I wanted to read a book I'd go punch myself in the face for being a pussy.

[Rob]

Forgotten Worlds-The heroes are manly men who talk tough and fight their foes without shirts.

I'm still shivering.

[Bloodreign]

Forgotten Worlds has a cute shopkeeper.

[Triple Lei]

What about Gunbird 2? It has boobs!

[BIL]

I'm just seconding Raiden / Raiden Fighters. I'd pay big cash to install some kind of ventilation unit under my TV that'd waft the smell of burning metal and scorched earth into my face whenever I exploded the living Christ out of a monster tank. And possibly a plexiglass shield to sit behind along with an authentic shrapnel-spraying device of some sort. Seriously, Raiden DX has the SHOOTING VIOLENCE MOOD of all time.

[sfried]

What about Gunbird 2? It has boobs!

You forget it has a loli, a self-admittant pedophile, and "teh gay". Auto-disqualification there.

And Raiden's already there as "Raiden series"

hey why is xexex on there

EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

Because you're a manly pilot rescuing a chick...

...as opposed to being a loli rescuing another loli in the hopes to engage in lesbo-loli moe fun, all the while engaging in trite conversations nobody could understand unless you have some familiarity with the series or characters?

[escadrille]

I'm just seconding Raiden / Raiden Fighters. I'd pay big cash to install some kind of ventilation unit under my TV that'd waft the smell of burning metal and scorched earth into my face whenever I exploded the living Christ out of a monster tank. And possibly a plexiglass shield to sit behind along with an authentic shrapnel-spraying device of some sort. Seriously, Raiden DX has the SHOOTING VIOLENCE MOOD of all time.

I've got to agree with this philosophy. "Manly" should mean a little more than no sparkles or broomsticks. Your ship should be a big ugly war pig blowing up big ugly super-tanks, trains, clunky robots, etc. Stuff that looks like it runs on diesel.


The Raiden and Strikers series are great examples.

[BrianC]

Daisenpuu has a small plane fighting an army of boats, tanks, and other land vehicles without bombs. Instead of a bomb, you call more tiny little planes instead. What is it with fighting these @*!#% tanks with this @*!#% plane!?!?!? Edit: Doh! I was beaten to it.

Forgotten Worlds has a cute shopkeeper.

True, but she's dressed in a sexy outfit, she's not a loli, and she doesn't fight alongside you. She does give out hints, though. Also, the US arcade version is manlier than the US Genesis version since it has cheesy "tough guy" voices, harder difficulty, and cheesier dialog.

o manly for proper grammar. They also fight for GREAT justice, which is much more manly than regular justice.

What about the PC-E version?

I don't know, I kind of meant my Zero Wing comments as a joke. I would like to see the PCE intro and get more info on that version, though. I'm curious if Cats looks the same in cinemas for that version. In screens, I saw a woman who doesn't appear in the MD version.

[dpful]

I don't know about raiden fighters... ...techno music. And Ikaruga's out-- orchestral score. Don't mean to bring it up again, but I don't think manly guys like that stuff.

[The Coop]

Manly guys don't give two shits, and play the shmups they wanna play.

[BrianC]

Varth has a manly sounding name and the heroic Altered Beast style "Power Up" voice.

[ST Dragon]

So, I'm compliling a list os STGs with the least/no cutesy stuff in it for a couple of buddies. That means Parodius and Touhou (as well as 80% of most doujin shmups out there) are definately out.

I know Kamui, R-Type, and Ikaruga take their subject matter seriously. Even some "generic" shmups with little/no story seem to have that gritty tone. From what I can list off the top of my head:

Steel Empire
1942
Flying Shark
Fire Shark
Gradius series (includes Salamander games)
R-Type series
Axelay
Einhander
Kamui
Cho Ren Sha 68k
DoDonPachi (the original one, NOT DaiOuJou)
Batsugun
Ikaruga
Ketsui
Forgotten Worlds
Strikers series
Last Resort
Guardian Force
Metal Black
Mars Matrix
Armed Police Unit Gallop
Raiden series
Heavy Unit
Bio Metal
Recca
Aleste series
Battle Garegga
Battle Bakraid
Soukyugurentai/Terra Diver
Zanac
Xevious
Rayforce
Thunder Force series
Afterburner series
Gate/Wings/Lords of Thunder
Xenon 2: Megablast (The Bitmap Brothers)
SWIV series
Giga Wing Generations
Gun Frontier

More anime-influenced but still hard-boiled (i.e. not quite as gritty but still serious and still no lolis)
Space Fortress Macross and Macross: Scrambled Valkyrie
Zero Wing (PC-E version, of course)
Area 88
Radiant Silvergun
Xexex
Psyvariar series
Zero Gunner series
Under Defeat
Border Down
Space Force Harrier
Blazing Star
Iridion/Nanostray series


still more to come...

I would definitely remove the following shooters from your “manly” list:

Gradius series (includes Salamander games)
The Gradius series are not very serious imo, I mean come on now, Easter Island Heads shooting energy orbs at you?! There is an over all comico-tragic feel that ruins the “manly” theme.

Batsugun
The character pilots seem to be too childish to place them in the manly list.

Armed Police Unit Gallop
Again the character pilots are way too childish and comical!

Giga Wing Generations
Apart from being a horrible shooter, there is not a single element that describes this as being serious, tragic or manly.

Radiant Silvergun
The characters’ expressions, reactions and overall look, are way to silly and comic to place the game in the manly or serious list.

Xexex
The story line is to soft and childish, the good pilot rushing with his mighty star ship to save the intergalactic princess from the badies

Under Defeat
Those 2 women pilots are by no means manly!  The game dark toned colours and frequent mist effects do add a dark and sinister feel however.

Blazing Star
Blazing Stars is by no means manly or serious. The in-game Engrish quotes are hilarious: “Poor Player” 


Other than that, your list seems to be pretty accurate.
I would also add:

RayCrisis
RayStorm

Both are dramatic / tragic stories of war, where both opposing sides face near total destruction and the devastating ashes of the aftermath.
RayStorm especially is a futuristic and allegoric retelling of the Punic wars between Rome & Carthage.

Gynoug / Wings of Wor
Its dark and sinister theme places this shooter well ahead in the serious / manly list.

[Zebra Airforce]

Psyche Metal: The Bleeding

[sfried]

I would definitely remove the following shooters from your “manly” list:

Gradius series (includes Salamander games)
The Gradius series are not very serious imo, I mean come on now, Easter Island Heads shooting energy orbs at you?! There is an over all comico-tragic feel that ruins the “manly” theme.

Batsugun
The character pilots seem to be too childish to place them in the manly list.

Armed Police Unit Gallop
Again the character pilots are way too childish and comical!

Giga Wing Generations
Apart from being a horrible shooter, there is not a single element that describes this as being serious, tragic or manly.

Radiant Silvergun
The characters’ expressions, reactions and overall look, are way to silly and comic to place the game in the manly or serious list.

Xexex
The story line is to soft and childish, the good pilot rushing with his mighty star ship to save the intergalactic princess from the badies

Under Defeat
Those 2 women pilots are by no means manly!  The game dark toned colours and frequent mist effects do add a dark and sinister feel however.

Blazing Star
Blazing Stars is by no means manly or serious. The in-game Engrish quotes are hilarious: “Poor Player” 


Other than that, your list seems to be pretty accurate.
I would also add:

RayCrisis
RayStorm

Both are dramatic / tragic stories of war, where both opposing sides face near total destruction and the devastating ashes of the aftermath.
RayStorm especially is a futuristic and allegoric description of the Punic wars between Rome & Carthage.

Gynoug / Wings of Wor
Its dark and sinister theme places this shooter well ahead in the serious / manly list.

Done and done. I knew I had a gut instinct not to put RSG, but someone insisted. Guess other people are having a hard time telling what's manly from what isn't because of all of the moe crap out there...

I'm leaving some leeway for Under Defeat, since the stage clear screens don't look like they pander to THAT crowd...

[P_HAT]

http://www.ntsc-uk.com/review.php?platf ... me=XIIStag

[MX7]

Ikaruga is a game based on Buddist principles. Not a surplus of manliness.

And DOJ is easily as manly as a game could get. The three central lolita characters are not human, but death dealing robots, crafted by peadophile technicians for the sake of all mankind. They are then forced to strike out and wipe out an entire army of robots, their own kind. Wracked by guilt, they would rather die.

Give up now. You can never comile a comprehensive list with such fragile terminology.

[BulletMagnet]

I knew I had a gut instinct not to put RSG, but someone insisted.

For this one methinks it might make a difference whether you're playing the original arcade game or Saturn mode, as the former has all of the anime goofiness removed (or, more accurately, the latter has it all added in), IIRC.

Give up now. You can never comile a comprehensive list with such fragile terminology.

Probably correct (perhaps "painfully generic" is a more quantifiable term?), though Cho Aniki is probably a tough one to argue with (well, not if you're using the "generic" definition).

[Lawfer]

Were is G-Darius in your list?

Also add Xyanide in your list (I would say add Xyanide: Resurrection too, but it might be a little too colorfull hence will destroy all the manliness)

[sfried]

Ikaruga is a game based on Buddist principles. Not a surplus of manliness.

Despite that, it certainly isn't some walk in the Harmful Park, too, either.

And DOJ is easily as manly as a game could get. The three central lolita characters are not human, but death dealing robots, crafted by peadophile technicians for the sake of all mankind. They are then forced to strike out and wipe out an entire army of robots, their own kind. Wracked by guilt, they would rather die.

Give up now. You can never comile a comprehensive list with such fragile terminology.

There's a reason GunBird isn't even in it.

Lolis are grounds for instant un-manliness.

Explosive Breaker...now there's a manly game. Never mind the over the topness, just get on with the explosions!

[doctorx0079]

Were is G-Darius in your list?

Lutia Feen is not exactly manly (thank goodness). The ARC/PS2 version is a pretty manly challenge though. (The PS1 version is easy.)

[Ceph]

Tatsujin and Tatsujin Ou.

EDIT: Most toaplan shooters.

[P_HAT]

Warning Forever
Viper Phase 1
Last Hope

[Specineff]

Curse on whoever forgot to mention Space Megaforce and Power Strike 2. PS2 has booze in it. Booze.

[jp]

Blast Wind.


If just for the rocking soundtrack.


Also, Metal Black for sure.


Though I also agree with the Twinkle Star Sprites votes. It doesn't get much grittier than Nanja Manja. Those things never even shave.

[Zebra Airforce]

Also, Metal Black for sure.

No way. Too silly, plus that goofy cat in the final battle. That's just stupid.

[BIL]

Metal Black is more "man with serious psychological issues," I would say.

edit: Although its premise is pretty hardcore... illegal solo all-but suicide mission, iirc? For an all but dead Earth no less. The overarching feeling of desolation and last-ditch struggle is certainly no-nonsense and somber. The gritty-looking ship is a plus too. It's about the most badass "weird" shooter I know of.

[Arvandor]

I too think DOJ is quite manly, despite the loli death robots.

[MattR]

I think difficulty should be a factor. Real men like a challenge. Sometimes chasing a skirt is all part of the game. But not fairies. That is lame. The title is also important. i.e. Gunbird is good but Pink Sweets can go either way depending on how much porn you watch!

[The Coop]

Also, Metal Black for sure.

No way. Too silly, plus that goofy cat in the final battle. That's just stupid.

It's a pussy metaphor. Ya gotta get in there and attack the pussy. How much more manly could it be?