good 80s mame shmups

lilmanjs · Post by **lilmanjs** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:19 pm

so I'm looking for some good shmups to get from the 80s for mame. I only have a couple and I'd like to get more. any suggestions?

antron · Post by **antron** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:48 pm

Twin Cobra

Chi_Ryu · Post by **Chi_Ryu** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:51 pm

Flying Shark/Hishou Same

mr_m0nks · Post by **mr_m0nks** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:54 pm

R-Type

emphatic · Post by **emphatic** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:55 pm

Best ones already mentioned, but:
Argus (Use your ground fire/laser to collect the power up letters)
Darwin 4078 (Awesome power up system)
Twin Hawk (Best two player game ever)
Out Zone (Toaplan's finest game)
Time Pilot (It's really fun actually)
XX Mission (Kinda hard to get into, use your ground fire to find hidden power ups)

Ruldra · Post by **Ruldra** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 12:37 am

Area 88
Gemini Wing

Davey · Post by **Davey** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 2:21 am

Juno First

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:38 am

The all-time classic of Konami's Gyruss (circa 1983) that was licensed to Centuri for distribution in the USA is another cool arcade cabinet to play/own considering that it does output in stereo. Give it a spin on Mame/Mame32. ^_~

The 1986 release of Capcom's HyperDyne Sidearms/Zettai Gattai Sidearms for the USA and Japan respectively, was one of those yoko arcade shmups. It is endowed with a pair of 8-way digitial joystick and three button layout per player. There are some slight differences between both the USA Romstar released & JPN versions of Sidearms PCB but still is regarded as pure solid shooting with the core gaming engine. It plays just fine in Mame/Mame32 if you want to check it out. Sidearms never got a proper sequel and remains as the only yoko arcade shmup that delves into the kick-ass Japanese mecha suit genre that runs at a silky smooth 60 frames-per-second framerate. There are some subtle nods towards Miyazaki's 1984 "Nasuicaa In the Valley of the Winds" anime film featured in the background scenery of Sidearms...look for them! ^_~

Konami's A-Jax PCB that was released in both JPN and the USA (back in 1987) was also given a proper UK release under the name of Typhoon. The arcade operator has the cool option of using either the default mono sound option via standard Jamma interface or stereo output by using an optional Konami stereo harness cable setup. Plus, the game engine features excellent sprite scaling/rotation -- this pre-dates the Super Famicom/SNES console's "Mode 7" feature by a mere four years earlier. Another fine Konami produced arcade shmup title from the late 1980s to take out for a spin on Mame/Mame32. A-Jax/Typhoon PCBs have support for both the traditional upright cabinet or sitdown cocktail type cabinet that two players sit on opposite ends with the game screen flipping 180 degrees during his or her turn to play. This is all done via dip switch settings. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

freddiebamboo · Post by **freddiebamboo** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:50 pm

Truxton - Toaplan 1988
Saint Dragon - Jaleco (NMK) 1989

Both are rock hard, but massively good fun.

The Coop · Post by **The Coop** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 5:21 pm

Darius
Darius II
Galaga
Gaplus
Assault
Phelios
Xevious
R-Type II

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 5:33 pm

emphatic wrote:Best ones already mentioned, but:
Argus (Use your ground fire/laser to collect the power up letters)
Darwin 4078 (Awesome power up system)
Twin Hawk (Best two player game ever)
Out Zone (Toaplan's finest game)
Time Pilot (It's really fun actually)
XX Mission (Kinda hard to get into, use your ground fire to find hidden power ups)

The actual Data East produced Darwin 4078 PCB has lackluster audio for the BGM tunes. Even Capcom's Sidearms that came out a year earlier before Darwin did, sounds better in the sound effects/BGM tunes department compared to what passes for music heard coming from Darwin 4078 PCB. Why is that? Could it be better hardware and/or sound chips setup perhaps? Nowdays, a barebones Darwin 4078 PCB commands some serious yen upfront in some Japanese arcade PCB shops. ^_~

And let's not forget that Konami did a proper arcade game sequel to Time Pilot called Time Pilot '84 with the tagline: Further into the unknown world..." Ace arcade shmup title indeed. Time Pilot '84 got a proper Stateside arcade release courtesy of the USA arcade distribution side of Konami back in the day. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 8:39 pm

You can filter the lists in MAME if you use a frontend, like MAMEui or MAME+ or what-have-you.

Davey wrote:Juno First

PC Engine Fan X! wrote:The all-time classic of Konami's Gyruss (circa 1983)

Juno First pees all over Gyruss, even though it's older.

I suggest NINJA EMAKI / YOUMA NINPOU CHOH (differences in romanization there)

lilmanjs · Post by **lilmanjs** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 9:26 pm

thanks for all of the suggestions. now its time to get some of these games. twin cobra was fun last night. I kept dying but that game was so fun I kept playing.

Afterbirth · Post by **Afterbirth** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 10:13 pm

XX Mission - UPL
Starforce - Tehkan
Terra Force - Nichibitsu
ThunderCross - Konami
Hellfire - Toaplan
Tatsujin - Toaplan

Davey · Post by **Davey** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 11:25 pm

Ed Oscuro wrote:Juno First pees all over Gyruss, even though it's older.

The only problem with Juno First is that it's too easy once you get the hang of it. That might be because I only played it on easy, but easy is the default setting.

God · Post by **God** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 3:16 am

---R-Type Series---
R-Type 1 and 2
Dragon Breed
X-Multiply

---Gradius Series---
Gradius 1, 2 and 3.
Salamander
ThunderCross

---Gods & Monsters---
Dragon Spirit
Legendary Wings
Phelios

Dale · Post by **Dale** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 3:59 am

Raffle Asia
4-D Warriors
Pleidas
Carnival(sega game might be 70's but still sweet)
Phoenix
Exizuis
Radical Radial
The End
Gorf
Astro Invader
Satan's Hollow
Tokio
Thunder Cade/?Twin Formation?/
Vulgus
Exed Eyes
Gunsmoke
Phoenix2(it has another title)

I also would strongly recommend Juno First.

Dale · Post by **Dale** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:01 am

Davey wrote:
Ed Oscuro wrote:Juno First pees all over Gyruss, even though it's older.
The only problem with Juno First is that it's too easy once you get the hang of it. That might be because I only played it on easy, but easy is the default setting.

At Funspot in New Hampshire it's free to play. Most likely for the reason stated above.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:45 am

You gotta play Juno First right for it to be challenging...of course, waiting for the bonus sphere / guy to show up can get boring. Not a perfect design, but it's a shame it wasn't followed up on directly.

Davey · Post by **Davey** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:17 am

The comments at MARP mention giving up after stockpiling a boatload of extra lives. I haven't played the game in like two years, but I think I remember running into the same situation.

I never bothered playing on the harder settings. Perhaps that would fix it, but that would violate the sacred ALL DEFAULTS rule that this place has ingrained in my brain. It's a shame because I remember it being a lot of fun.

I forget the details of the scoring system to be honest... you had to wait for the bonus ship (not shooting anything, or shooting as little as possible) and then everything escalated in value for a short period of time, right?

quoth09 · Post by **quoth09** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 6:58 am

Didn't see these mentioned:

Ajax by Konami
Plus Alpha by Jaleco
Last Duel by Capcom

Lloyd Mangram · Post by **Lloyd Mangram** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 1:35 pm

I've always had a bit of a thing for Terra Cresta and Slap Fight.

And if you're open to multi-directional top-down run'n'gunning, Alien Syndrome is good fun.

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 3:09 pm

What's so great about Twin Hawk 2P mode?

emphatic · Post by **emphatic** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:01 pm

Turrican wrote:What's so great about Twin Hawk 2P mode?

I just think it's a lot of fun. Not many shmups pull that off. Ever tried playing ESPGALUDA in 2p mode? *throws up in mouth a bit*

The gameplay is very nicely balanced and the enemies focus their fire mostly on the player that plays better. Also, the screen never scrolls to the sides like Twin Cobra, so you can't get the other guy by going into the sides.

lgb · Post by **lgb** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:10 pm

"MX5000" also known as "Flak Attack". 1987, Konami.

If you can get used to it, it's not half bad.

The Eidolon · Post by **The Eidolon** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 12:52 am

Sky Soldiers is pretty good.

Pistol Daimyo no Bouken is a few months too late
for your time range (1990) but is well worth
checking out. It's a weird cut 'em up set in Edo
era Japan where the main character has a gun
mounted on his head...

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 1:37 am

Davey wrote:The comments at MARP mention giving up after stockpiling a boatload of extra lives. I haven't played the game in like two years, but I think I remember running into the same situation.

I never bothered playing on the harder settings. Perhaps that would fix it, but that would violate the sacred ALL DEFAULTS rule that this place has ingrained in my brain. It's a shame because I remember it being a lot of fun.

I forget the details of the scoring system to be honest... you had to wait for the bonus ship (not shooting anything, or shooting as little as possible) and then everything escalated in value for a short period of time, right?

Correcto, lotsa fun rushing about the place sweeping up points. I'm sure you're much better at it than I am!

The Eidolon wrote:Pistol Daimyo no Bouken is a few months too late
for your time range (1990) but is well worth
checking out. It's a weird cut 'em up set in Edo
era Japan where the main character has a gun
mounted on his head...

And fans for feet. And butts, somewhere.