Best shmups on the Xbox Live Arcade?

[Xeros606]

What would you recommend? I downloaded demos for both Galaga Legions and Ikaruga, and I would say both are enjoyable.

[TodayIsForgotten]

Trigger Heart
Omega 5 for an original release. Nothing special but pretty enjoyable.
Gyruss
Space Invaders Extreme

[heavy liquid]

1942 Joint Strike is also good. It's a top down vertical shooter, but done in HD with a widescreen aspect ratio.

[MADEIRA STEVE88]

Would say -
Gyruss
Ikaruga
Galaga
Galaga Legions
Geometry Wars series
1942 joint strike

[nZero]

Galaga and Xevious have been my favorites Omega Five and Rez HD are also pretty shooty. Triggerheart Exelica and Ikaruga should be picked up if you don't already have one of the other versions.

[Elixir]

R-Type Dimensions is by far the best XBLA title out there (for shmups).

[E. Randy Dupre]

Joint Strike is average at best and Galaga Legions is rubbish (or 'controversial', I suppose).

[Davey]

Galaga Legions is rubbish (or 'controversial', I suppose).

It's an alright little game, but there's nothing Galaga-like about it except for the blocky sprites, and even those aren't in the default skin. There isn't much dodging; the game is mostly about figuring out how to best use your option shots.

It's not terrible, but a simple Galaga clone with some modernized score mechanics would probably have been much better, like what Pac-Man CE was to Pac-Man.

XBLA has some great games, but not much to offer in the shmup department unless you count Geometry Wars 2 as a shmup. And maybe Space Giraffe, although that one's still over my head.

I only played the demo of Space Invaders Extreme, but it didn't seem too exciting. I never played the portable version, so I have no frame of reference.

[TodayIsForgotten]

Galaga Legions is rubbish (or 'controversial', I suppose).

It's an alright little game, but there's nothing Galaga-like about it except for the blocky sprites, and even those aren't in the default skin. There isn't much dodging; the game is mostly about figuring out how to best use your option shots.

It's not terrible, but a simple Galaga clone with some modernized score mechanics would probably have been much better, like what Pac-Man CE was to Pac-Man.

XBLA has some great games, but not much to offer in the shmup department unless you count Geometry Wars 2 as a shmup. And maybe Space Giraffe, although that one's still over my head.

I only played the demo of Space Invaders Extreme, but it didn't seem too exciting. I never played the portable version, so I have no frame of reference.

That would have been cool if they remade deluxe galaga off of amiga.

I totally forgot about r-type.

[yosai]

If you like twin stick arena shooters give Mutant Storm Reloaded a try.

Some of the Black belt levels are crazy hard.

[Kaspal]

i've been expending some cash lately on the XBLA, and i can tell you that, you will have a fun time with :

Ikaruga
1942 JS
Trigger Heart Exelica
Omega Five
GW2
Mutant Storm Reloaded
R-Type

i've bought some more... but those are the ones that you'll really enjoy ... still waiting for Duality ZF to come out... thats one that looks pretty darn good.

[professor ganson]

I really have to get off my ass and download R-Type Dimensions.

The one I've played the most is Xevious, though I prefer the PS1 version in Xevious 3D/G+ because of the tate and the controller options.

[Xeros606]

Thanks for all the recommendations everyone. I've decided to get the following:

Galaga Legions
Ikaruga
1942 JS
Geo Wars 2
Raiden Fighter Aces (on DVD, not XBLA)

And while these aren't shmups, I'm also getting:

Battlefield 1943
Pac-Man CE
Braid

What do you guys think?

[Davey]

I'd add Outrun to the list of non-shmups to get. Awesome game. And of course I love, love, love Virtual On, but only pick up that one if you're willing to invest some time into it.

Rocket Riot came out a few weeks ago. It's not a shmup, but it sort of plays like Bangai-O. I played the demo and it seems really fun, but I haven't got around to buying the complete game yet. Has anybody else? I'm surprised there isn't a thread about it yet...

[Kaspal]

Castle Crashers!!!.... thats one that cant be out of an all around list of XBLA games ... trust me, you'll enjoy that game... if you like brawlers.

Outrun is good, but since its lacking half of the original game, you'll have it lyin there for quite some time ... i know, i bought it, now i regret it.

[Malc74]

Rocket Riot came out a few weeks ago. It's not a shmup, but it sort of plays like Bangai-O. I played the demo and it seems really fun, but I haven't got around to buying the complete game yet. Has anybody else? I'm surprised there isn't a thread about it yet...

It's fun for a while, but I started to get bored after about level 30 (there are 80 in total). There's really not that much variety and it all gets very samey and repetetive.
It's very well put together, but they spent a little too much time on the look and not quite enough on the gameplay IMO.

[qatmix]

Geometry Wars Retro evolved 2 is the mightiest shooter on XBLA. Its so pure and the high score intergration makes it maddenly addictive.

Other than that the best shooter is teh r-type dimensions game.

I dont bother with Ikaruga as i have it on the DC, otherwise if I didnt have the game then I would recommend that.

But if you only get on, get Geometry Wars

[Xeros606]

Geometry Wars Retro evolved 2 is the mightiest shooter on XBLA. Its so pure and the high score intergration makes it maddenly addictive.

Other than that the best shooter is teh r-type dimensions game.

I dont bother with Ikaruga as i have it on the DC, otherwise if I didnt have the game then I would recommend that.

But if you only get on, get Geometry Wars

Would you still recommend I get Geo Wars 2 if I already have the first? How have they improved the game?

[nZero]

Galaga Legions
1942 JS

What do you guys think?

Replace with Triggerheart Exelica and Outrun or something

[TodayIsForgotten]

Rocket Riot came out a few weeks ago. It's not a shmup, but it sort of plays like Bangai-O. I played the demo and it seems really fun, but I haven't got around to buying the complete game yet. Has anybody else? I'm surprised there isn't a thread about it yet...

It's fun for a while, but I started to get bored after about level 30 (there are 80 in total). There's really not that much variety and it all gets very samey and repetetive.
It's very well put together, but they spent a little too much time on the look and not quite enough on the gameplay IMO.

Game is a lot of fun in multiplayer. Single player i thought was a blast. I try to play online as much as possible but people either don't know how to make games or they are waiting for a game.

Also check out biology battle on the community games its 400 msp now. Good look arena shooter.

Geometry Wars Retro evolved 2 is the mightiest shooter on XBLA. Its so pure and the high score intergration makes it maddenly addictive.

Other than that the best shooter is teh r-type dimensions game.

I dont bother with Ikaruga as i have it on the DC, otherwise if I didnt have the game then I would recommend that.

But if you only get on, get Geometry Wars

I don't know about this. I'd much rather play biology battle or mutant storm reloaded. Geometry wars is cool but i don't understand the hype behind it. 2 is an improvement over 1 but you have a few things that you may not like. The gun is nerfed and there is over-exposure of neon tingle on every enemy. Couple this with explosions and you have an even harder time seeing whats on the screen than in the first.

Other than that you get 6 new games modes and enemies drop geoms (which increase your multiplier).

[ZOM]

IMO 1942 JS is just rubbish; the sound effects are meh, the graphics are nothing special, the bullet patterns just feel weird(for lack of a better word) with that aspect ratio... compare this to let's say 1944: the loop master, and JS looks laughable.

Also YAY at outsourcing "old-skool" videogames to "fresh, new & dynamic" dev-teams to deliver a HD remake of classic gaming. IT'S TRENDY!

/bitching

[Xeros606]

Galaga Legions
1942 JS

What do you guys think?

Replace with Triggerheart Exelica and Outrun or something

I would get Triggerheart, but the infinite continues thing just ruins it. Plus the visual style and music bug the hell out of me.

As for Outrun, I'd say the demo was okay, but it didn't really seem like anything too special. Also it seems to be light on content. For $10 I can probably get PGR3 or some other racing game that's been out for a while.

[MADEIRA STEVE88]

Geometry Wars Retro evolved 2 is the mightiest shooter on XBLA. Its so pure and the high score intergration makes it maddenly addictive.

Other than that the best shooter is teh r-type dimensions game.

I dont bother with Ikaruga as i have it on the DC, otherwise if I didnt have the game then I would recommend that.

But if you only get on, get Geometry Wars

Would you still recommend I get Geo Wars 2 if I already have the first? How have they improved the game?

I have both and they are distinctly different, geo wars 2 offers local multiplyaer, more game modes, better visuals and audio. Its a true sequel my only gripe is that there isn't a variety of weapons, the first geo wars has 2 types of firepower whereas geo wars 2 has only 1.

[E. Randy Dupre]

I would get Triggerheart, but the infinite continues thing just ruins it.

The game forces you to use them?

No.

[Xeros606]

I would get Triggerheart, but the infinite continues thing just ruins it.

The game forces you to use them?

No.

Of course not, but I find it unpleasant to restart a game on my own when I die just to add challenge. I'd just be too tempted to use it all the time.

[evil_ash_xero]

Well, everyone is going to have their opinions, but Ikaruga is easily..EASILY the best shmup on there.

Other than that, Geometry Wars 2 is a really good arena/for points shooter.

Omega Five is OK, but nothing really special. But it's one of the only good ones on there.

Trigger Heart...well, it's really ugly and plain. It's OK gameplay-wise. I wouldn't recommend it.

s/m

[Daika110]

I'm still hoping some of the Cave shooters make their way to XBLA at some point.

[ZOM]

I'm still hoping some of the Cave shooters make their way to XBLA at some point.

Apparently Microsoft won't let them. You know, looks like the "A" in XBLA doesn't stand for "Arcade" anymore

[MADEIRA STEVE88]

I'm still hoping some of the Cave shooters make their way to XBLA at some point.

Apparently Microsoft won't let them. You know, looks like the "A" in XBLA doesn't stand for "Arcade" anymore

It should be called XBLAG " Xbox Live Ass Games "

[TodayIsForgotten]

I'm still hoping some of the Cave shooters make their way to XBLA at some point.

Apparently Microsoft won't let them. You know, looks like the "A" in XBLA doesn't stand for "Arcade" anymore

I wish they'd change the name. XBLA was arcade ports for about 2 weeks. And whats up with so many games using what appears to be poor 3d graphics and no hand drawn stuff? (minus a few games such as the developer behemoth). Oh well, in a perfect world i suppose.