Recommended SHMUPS for PS1 and PS2

Erik · Post by **Erik** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 9:25 pm

Hi all,

I own both a PS1 and PS2 and collected the following shmups.
Einhander, Gradius V, R-Types, R-Type Delta, R-Type Final, Thunderforce V, X2. Also some more "unconvential shmups" like Nuclear Strike and Soviet Strike and Viewpoint (erhm.. the last one sucks). I am planning to purchase Gradius Gaiden, Gradius III & IV and maybe In the Hunt. The Metal Slug series (Anthology) also got my attention.
Any more recommendations for these old consoles?

Thanks in advance.

Seelen · Post by **Seelen** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 10:03 pm

Metal Slug games are always awesome...I don't really have much to add to this thread, but I'll definitely be watching the replies, PSX/PS2 are 2 of my favorite systems <3

I actually have a game called thunder strike II I'm going to have to test out. I often get lots of games without manuals or boxes, and they often get shoved under a bed somewhere...I'll see if maybe I have some other games to test out, I'll let you know.

And yeah, I'm betting thunder strike II sucks, but hey, maybe I'll find something else that's cool.

nimitz · Post by **nimitz** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 10:10 pm

Dodonpachi.

Erik · Post by **Erik** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 10:33 pm

Thanks for your input, appreciate it. I noticed that a lot of other titles can be found in the sticky threads as well (apoligies).
Like said I am now on a quest to collect as many as shmups for PS1 and PS2 as possible. Unfortunately, shmups seem to be a dying breed on the current generation of consoles. One of the reasons that I am not interested in a X-Box 360 or PS3. At all. And choose to keep my PS1 and buy a PS2 instead. I also have an X-Box and a Wii, but forget about any decent shooters for thos. I have not found a single game.
Actually I am very sorry that I got rid of my Amiga in the past, as there were a lot of good shooters on that system as well. Apidya, Banshee, SWIV and the Turrican series were really ass-kicking. Unfortunately none of these have ported to the PS and I miss them. I looked into possibilities to purchase an Amiga again to revive them. Unfortunately, the Amiga goes back to the floppy disc days. As there is a lot of technical stuff involved (which is not my hobby) today to get that sorted again I opted for the "simple" PS2. Put in disc. Play. Plain simple and just great!
Cheers!

ROBOTRON · Post by **ROBOTRON** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 12:17 am

Get Zanac X Zanac (Zanac Neo) for Compile love. The rest of your collection is pretty well done.

asrgames · Post by **asrgames** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 5:41 am

Philasoma, it's ok but kinda on the hard side because of the level length and no checkpoints, it's also a multi-shmup

ZacharyB · Post by **ZacharyB** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 8:57 am

Taito Legends 2 on the PS2 has a smattering of nice shmups. G Darius, RayStorm, Darius Gaiden, Metal Black (with a gameplay bug) among a few others.

dcharlie · Post by **dcharlie** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 9:27 am

Actually I am very sorry that I got rid of my Amiga in the past, as there were a lot of good shooters on that system as well. Apidya, Banshee, SWIV and the Turrican series were really ass-kicking

not that i recommend you shell out for it at the crazy price it is on the web, but Gaiaseed was, for me at least, a very Amiga-style game on ps1.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYbQ7vlnlco

Erik · Post by **Erik** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 11:43 am

dcharlie wrote:
Actually I am very sorry that I got rid of my Amiga in the past, as there were a lot of good shooters on that system as well. Apidya, Banshee, SWIV and the Turrican series were really ass-kicking
not that i recommend you shell out for it at the crazy price it is on the web, but Gaiaseed was, for me at least, a very Amiga-style game on ps1.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYbQ7vlnlco

Video looks awesome! That would be another one on my "must-have"! Let me see if I can find it for a decent price...

Thanks all.

sven666 · Post by **sven666** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 11:47 am

mobile lightforce 1 & 2, steel dragon ex, silpheed, X2, strikeforce hydra.. oh man the list just goes on and on!!

Dragoforce · Post by **Dragoforce** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 11:54 am

sven666 wrote:strike force hydra

Game of the century.

Post by **Ghegs** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 12:45 pm

Erik wrote:
dcharlie wrote:not that i recommend you shell out for it at the crazy price it is on the web, but Gaiaseed was, for me at least, a very Amiga-style game on ps1.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYbQ7vlnlco
Video looks awesome! That would be another one on my "must-have"! Let me see if I can find it for a decent price...

Yes, that's an awesome video indeed.

I could part with my copy of Gaia Seed if you're interested, no spine card, but in great shape otherwise.

Post by **spadgy** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 1:58 pm

Raiden DX is essential, but with both the PS1 and PS2 you'v got dozens to choose from...

Awesome article here rounding up the PS1 shooter line-up, and by our very own BulletMagnet...

Edit:

Dragoforce wrote:
sven666 wrote:strike force hydra
Game of the century.

Surely that's sarcasm?

Erik · Post by **Erik** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 2:07 pm

Awesome link! I did not realise there were so many out there. Now the next challenge is to try to focus on one title... Is there also such a link for the PS2?

Post by **spadgy** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 2:54 pm

I don't have one that springs to mind immediately, but one of us will be able to help you!

Oh - and welcome to the forum Erik! Nice to have you onboard!

The Coop · Post by **The Coop** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 4:06 pm

PS1

Strikers 1945 (it's actually part II of the series... confusing, I know)
The Raiden Project (Raiden I and II)
Philosoma (a weird shmup with some five different angles of play)
Raiden DX (Japanese import)
In The Hunt (as close to playing a Metal Slug shmup as you'll likely get)
Geki-Oh: Shooting King (basically Shienryu ported to the US)
G-Darius (big fish, lots of slow down, but great game)
RayStorm (very nicely done port of the arcade game, with a Playstation mode on top of the original arcade one)
RayCrisis (sequel to the above, and almost as good)
Xevious 3D/G+ (a nice compilation with four games from the series)
The 6 Namco Museum games (each one has a shmup or two on it of varying quality)

I'm also going to push the need for Gradius Gaiden. Great entry in the series.

PS2

Silpheed: The Lost Planet (it gets bashed a lot, but I enjoyed it)
Galaxy Force II: Extended Edition (Master System, Genesis, Arcade, and "Neo" on one disc... Japanese Import)
Sega Ages Fantasy Zone Complete Collection (virtually every entry of the Fantasy Zone shmup series... Japanese import)
Thunder Force VI (a short shmup, but pretty good and fun... Japanese import)
Capcom Classics Collection Vol 1 and 2 (compilations that each have several shmups on them from the well known game maker)
SNK Arcade Classics Vol 1 (it's only got one shmup on it, Last Resort, but it's a good one)
Taito Legends (compilation with a few old shmups on it like Tokio and Space Invaders)
Taito Legends 2 (compilation with several newer shmups on it like G-Darius and Raystorm)
Raiden III (a good entry in the series)

Like with "Gaiden", I'll push the need for Gradius III & IV. IV isn't the best game in the series, but III makes up for it.

Edit: GAH! How could I have forgotten Raiden III. Added it.

TodayIsForgotten · Post by **TodayIsForgotten** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 4:40 pm

PS2

Gunbird
Psyvariar games
Raiden 3
Sol Divide
Dragon Blaze
Star Soldier
Sengoku age and blade
XII
Mushihimesama
Gigawings Generations

Maybe not all games are the greatest but i enjoy most stgs.

BIL · Post by **BIL** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 4:41 pm

The Coop wrote:PS1

Strikers 1945 (it's actually part II of the series... confusing, I know)

There's also the Japanese version (simply titled Strikers 1945 II), which includes TATE (rotateable, full-screen vertical display) and can be gotten cheap thanks to a budget reprint.

kengou · Post by **kengou** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 4:49 pm

The PS1 and PS2 seem to have been covered adequately. However you mentioned you haven't found any good shmups for the Wii and I'm just wondering if you've looked. In terms of commercial releases, there's: the Milestone Shooting Collection which has 3 great games (Karous, Radirgy, Chaos Field), and Shikigami no Shiro III which is also great. You also have the Gamecube backwards compatibility, which includes Ikaruga, and possibly others I'm forgetting. And the virtual console has loads of awesome shmups. This includes Zanac, Gradius (the console ports of 1, 2 and 3), Soldier Blade, and Blazing Lazers. There's lots of others, but those are just my personal favorites. Finally, Wiiware has some good ones: Gradius Rebirth and Star Soldier R are probably the best.

I know I'm forgetting a lot, but there's really lots of good shmups you can play on the Wii. I know they aren't advertised at all, but they exist.

Super Laydock · Post by **Super Laydock** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 5:30 pm

I can't believe nobody even mentioned Harmful Park.

Easily 1 of the best games for the Playstations, and top 10 material for all time.

cj iwakura · Post by **cj iwakura** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 5:53 pm

Castle Shikigami 2.

And Taito Legends 2 is a must-have.

Erik · Post by **Erik** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 5:55 pm

Damn, there's still a lot to learn for me. Call me stupid, but I really did not know that the Wii was backwards compatible with the Game Cube! Basically I got the chance to purchase the Wii cheap, without being interested in the console itself. I bought it for my girlfriend, because she liked it a lot for the fitness stuff (with the balance board). I already gave up on the chance that any shooters were available for it. But now it is interesting in looking into Ikaruga as well. The virtual console stuff also looks interesting.

indutrial · Post by **indutrial** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 6:03 pm

I too am planning on picking up Gradius Gaiden for the PS. Can someone verify whether the Gameshark trick works for booting up imports on a US PS1? I have the older model and the Gameshark plugs into the back right-hand corner.