Fast Shmups? (either in scrolling speed or maneuverability)

[Battlesmurf]

Alright- I love the shooter genre (have to say that first) but sometimes it bugs me how slow a solid portion of these games can be. Basically- if I have an F14, or better yet- a super power space fighter jet (with thrusters bigger than the body of the ship)-I would expect either maneuverability or speed to be a bit higher.

Exceptions:
Air Buster (has some fast(er) tunnel portions that are pretty neat
Cyvern
Dangun Feveron (may not be fast scrolling- but the gameplay is pretty quick)
Gallop
Thunder Force(s) (there are some really fast paced sections in some of these games- the 'missiles popping out while blazing across the water' section in 5 comes to mind)

Anybody else know of any 'faster paced'/'faster scrolling' games?

[MathU]

I love Cosmic Cop. I wish there were more games like it.

[Observer]

Torus Trooper Pure. 15.000 km/h.

Batsugun would fit the bill? While I'm not sure it's the fastest around, I feel it's just so damn rabid when it comes to showering death upon thee.

Psyvariar 2 is filled with fast sections, fast scrolling stuff and colourful barrages.

Maybe Ketsui too. From what I saw in videos and superplays it's EVAC, choppers, tanks and Rambo-ing on the enemy nonstop.

[emphatic]

Halley's Comet (once you've picked up some speed ups). It's really cool as the backgrounds scroll faster with every "speed up" you pick up.

Slap Fight (once you've picked up some speed ups).

[nZero]

Raiden
Fighters
Jet

[MathU]

Oh yeah Recca is really fast.

[Gespenst]

Are Border Down, Shienryu, Strikers 1945 series, Garegga, Batrider & Bakraid should be included in the list?

[sunburstbasser]

Psikyo games, including Strikers, have the most speed in enemy bullets rather than scrolling or player movement. The Raizing games get very busy and Batrider and Garegga offer speed-up choices for your character.

[ZOM]

The Soldier series on the PCE; while the ship's speed is adjustable, even the lowest level is fast compared to some "slower" shmups.
Also, there are very fast scrolling sections in those games.

Oh and let's not forget NEXZR.

[BIL]

The Soldier series on the PCE; while the ship's speed is adjustable, even the lowest level is fast compared to some "slower" shmups.
Also, there are very fast scrolling sections in those games.

Oh and let's not forget NEXZR.

Also Compile's Spriggan, which has similar speed / speed controls and some blistering scrolling (chapter 1 boss comes to mind).

[null1024]

Oh yeah Recca is really fast.

Understatement of the year. When enemies aren't even on the screen for a whole second...

[dnbiola]

R-Type Final...




Couldn't resist.

[chempop]

Mushihimesama's Original mode is ridiculously fast (whereas the more often played Maniac and Ultra modes are not). I actually think there are parts when the bullets are faster than most Psikyo games (this comment will probably be shot down).

[captpain]

Mushihimesama's Original mode is ridiculously fast (whereas the more often played Maniac and Ultra modes are not). I actually think there are parts when the bullets are faster than most Psikyo games (this comment will probably be shot down).

It definitely gets faster sooner, I can say that.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Data East's OverRide for the PC Engine console is another blazing fast scrolling shmup title not to be missed. A good arcade-quality joystick is necessary when playing this particular PCE shmup. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[toaplan_shmupfan]

Just to name a few...

Afterburner (Sega) - 3-D rail shmup, scroll speed.
Defender/Stargate (Williams) - scroll speed when thrusting, enemy speed and enemy shot speed.
Fire Shark (Toaplan) - plane speed with all speedups.
M.U.S.H.A. (Compile) - scroll speed for many of the stages and can select maximum player speed too.
Outzone (Toaplan) - man speed with all speedups.
Robo Aleste (Compile) - same as M.U.S.H.A.
Space Harrier (Sega) - similar to Afterburner.
Truxton (Toaplan) - ship speed with all speedups.

[sunburstbasser]

There are parts of Gate of Thunder that get fairly fast as well. Not blazing fast mind you, but a good few clicks faster than R-Type or Gradius. It can't go TOO fast; you'll actually be running into the walls rather than flying past them.

Speaking of Gradius, how about those speed-up sections?

Striker Gunner: STG has a speed up section as well (SNES version, anyway). Haven't played the arcade version.

[lgb]

Dogyuun with the blue armor and hold B/Subterranean Animism with Reimu.C and stop shooting

MAGIC

[D]

Data East: Skull Fang

[Runefaust]

V-V with some speedups.

[croikle]

Dogyuun with the blue armor and hold B

I'd forgotten that one. Ridiculously fast ship movement.

[Andi]

Truxton (Toaplan) - ship speed with all speedups.

What's great about Truxton is that serious score benefits are gained from collecting speed power-ups, so you are required to play a at full speed all the time.

[BrianC]

Just to name a few...

Afterburner (Sega) - 3-D rail shmup, scroll speed.

especially Afterburner II with the afterburners to make the scroll speed even faster.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

- Speed up level in Gradius games.
- Certain sections of Einhander (especially the part you're attacking the missile.)

[spadgy]

The hard-to-access 'Speed of Light' hidden level in classic Amiga shooter Apidya starts slow, but get's pretty damn quick towards the end (at least it feels super fast the first few times you try it).

Video!

EDIT: Little site on the great story behind the discovery of the Speed of Light level!

[Ed Oscuro]

- Speed up level in Gradius games.

Somebody finally said it.

Also, Truxton I / II = fastness, either by speed powerups (that you shouldn't get, heh) or by the SPEED OF THOUGHT (BUT IT HURTS SCORING WTF) button.

[Ruldra]

Max speed in Truxton II is fast but bearable. In Truxton I it's just ridiculous.

[moozooh]

NES Gradius.

[Gespenst]

Raystorm - Stage 3 (Palmyra Valley)

[BIL]

^YES. How'd I forget that, RS' Stage 3 intro is one of my favourite scenes in the whole genre. You get a real sense of rushing over the water at low altitude, and chaining those speeding gunboats is intense. I love how the ship slows down and ascends once you reach the dam area, too.