Best Shmup on NDS

[BrianC]

In both games, stylus control is mandatory since it controls the direction of your shots while the movements of your ships are controlled by the D-pad.

Stylus control is not mandatory in Geometry Wars DS since directional firing can also be done with the face buttons ala SNES Super Smash TV or some versions of Robotron 2084. KidQuaalude was saying that XG can be played with the buttons used for directional firing as well.

[guigui]

In both games, stylus control is mandatory since it controls the direction of your shots while the movements of your ships are controlled by the D-pad.

Stylus control is not mandatory in Geometry Wars DS since directional firing can also be done with the face buttons ala SNES Super Smash TV or some versions of Robotron 2084. KidQuaalude was saying that XG can be played with the buttons used for directional firing as well.

Would I have missed that feature ? Maybe I'll plug XG again...

[Antoine]

Knights in the Nightmare. No kidding.

Ketsui DS is not just bad -- it's terrible. Fit only for OCD monkeys who just HAVE to play and love everything that's new and shiny. A disgrace to the genre and the original IP is what it is.

[doctorx0079]

Knights in the Nightmare. No kidding.

Ketsui DS is not just bad -- it's terrible. Fit only for OCD monkeys who just HAVE to play and love everything that's new and shiny. A disgrace to the genre and the original IP is what it is.

OT: Hi Antoine! Welcome to the forums!

[professor ganson]

Knights in the Nightmare is on my to-do list.

The following are all above-average for portable shmupping:
Ketsui, Nanostray 2, Space Invaders Extreme (with dial controller)

Yet another reason that the DS is the best handheld system ever and the best system this generation.

[gs68]

Ketsui DL makes me wanna play the actual Ketsui instead. So, screw that.

SIE is a nice mix of puzzle game and shooting game. Can't wait for SIE2.

[spadgy]

Knights in the Nightmare. No kidding.

So it's a bullet hell RPG? How does that work?

[t0yrobo]

Knights in the Nightmare. No kidding.

So it's a bullet hell RPG? How does that work?

It's a really odd game, you control a spirit with the stylus and move it around the battlefield to give orders, while avoiding bullet hell style patterns. I couldn't get into it myself, but it's worth checking out for being such an oddball idea.

[Xtincthed]

ketsui is nice.. but its just boss rushing (right?) and i rather have a game like r-type / gradius
gonna try this knights game next

[Hydeux]

If you're looking for a Gradius taste in your DS, you should try Nanostray 2 : it's to Gradius V what mini-golf is to golf...
(well, as you may have noticed, I don't really like Nanostray 2...)

[BrianC]

If you're looking for a Gradius taste in your DS, you should try Nanostray 2

or you could look into Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits for the DS, which has Gradius, Contra, Twinbee, and some older Konami shooters like Scramble and Time Pilot. Aside from odd resolutions, it's a nice package. However, the package has the odd western variation of Gradius with rank skyrocketing even when a few power ups are activated, power up dropping enemies after death, and continues when played in any language other than Japanese. When played in Japanese, the normal, more balanced JP version plays.

[Zweihander]

Ketsui Death Label is by far the best. Might be tough to find a copy now, though.

I also recommend Big Bang Mini, which released last year. It's entirely stylus-controlled but I thought it was very creative and well-designed. Bangai-O Spirits is great too, but some might not consider that a shmup.

Agreeing with this post.

[BrianC]

Wasn't Xevious on some compilation on the DS too?

Yes, Namco Museum DS. Less games than I would like, but solid ports with some nice bells and whistles (it actually has an option to simulate screen burn in for Xevious), and a new version of Pac-Man Vs. It also has Super Xevious. Oddly enough, it was actually done by the same company that did the Konami DS collection, M2.

[spadgy]

If you're looking for a Gradius taste in your DS, you should try Nanostray 2

or you could look into Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits for the DS, which has Gradius, Contra, Twinbee, and some older Konami shooters like Scramble and Time Pilot. Aside from odd resolutions, it's a nice package. However, the package has the odd western variation of Gradius with rank skyrocketing even when a few power ups are activated, power up dropping enemies after death, and continues when played in any language other than Japanese. When played in Japanese, the normal, more balanced JP version plays.

Also, this package, for a DS cart, has an amazing range of extras, right down to being able to access dip-switches (as well as more user friendly menus), arcade kit art, audio files and all sorts. Very much an arcade compilation for arcade nerds like us.

[Antoine]

Yet another reason that the DS is the best handheld system ever and the best system this generation.

No dude! It's the best game system ever! The best future system also! Best, best, best! Best of the very bestest!

[doctorx0079]

If you're looking for a Gradius taste in your DS, you should try Nanostray 2

or you could look into Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits for the DS, which has Gradius, Contra, Twinbee, and some older Konami shooters like Scramble and Time Pilot. Aside from odd resolutions, it's a nice package. However, the package has the odd western variation of Gradius with rank skyrocketing even when a few power ups are activated, power up dropping enemies after death, and continues when played in any language other than Japanese. When played in Japanese, the normal, more balanced JP version plays.

Hence why I always leave my DS on Japanese. My other games are not affected.

Oh yeah, it also has built-in superplays (SO helpful) and you can record your own and swap them with friends. If you happen to have any friends who would actually play anything like this. My friends around here play Shonen Jump Ultimate Superstars.

[Engineer]

There is also the Retro Game Challenge that has in it a game called Star Prince. Personally one of the better shmups I've played on the system.

[EricDaNerd]

Indeed Star Prince is the hotness. Wicked fun for score addicts.

[God]

Of the DS STGs, I have only played Nanostray 2. Found it fiercely dull.

(Off topic but if you like the Contra series at all, just get Contra 4 instead. It rocked my socks.)

[Jockel]

[Terramax]

[quote="PC Engine Fan X!"]The best NDS shmup title without question is the Cave/Arika Ketsui Death Label shmup. [quote]

Just looked that one up - £65- £115 on Ebay!?

...I'mma sticking to Nanostray 2 for the time being.

[ShmupSamurai]

I thought Knights in the Nightmare was a RTS xD.

Had no idea it was another shmup/RPG hybrid..

[spadgy]

Indeed Star Prince is the hotness. Wicked fun for score addicts.

I'll have to hunt that down then. My DS is getting unreasonably dusty...

[professor ganson]

The best NDS shmup title without question is the Cave/Arika Ketsui Death Label shmup.

Just looked that one up - £65- £115 on Ebay!?

...I'mma sticking to Nanostray 2 for the time being.

Good choice. It has a nice R-type feel to it.

[Arcatech]

Another short and easy shmup for the DS is "Metal Torrent". It was developed by Arika and published by Nintendo. I was able to 1cc the game in one try so it might be up your alley.

Here is a youtube vid of the game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3apXRYUA850

[brokenhalo]

Another short and easy shmup for the DS is "Metal Torrent". It was developed by Arika and published by Nintendo. I was able to 1cc the game in one try so it might be up your alley.

Here is a youtube vid of the game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3apXRYUA850

The "A" ship was pretty easy to play for survival. "B" type was definitely much more of a challenge. It's a pretty fun game for scoreplay as well.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=31668&hilit=metal+torrent

[Turrican]

I think that Warhawk DS is the best on the system, by quite a margin.