What shmups had the best art design?

[orange]

battle bakraid is a great-looking game

[Gespenst]

Ketsui. The whole perspective of everything + the color palette. Just look at the red sky reflecting in the sea port with that battleship in stage 3.

Ketsui also have awesome mechanic/vehicle design too, IMO
and Garegga

[EinhanderZwei]

Iron Clad for Neo Geo is also cool in terms of visual design. It's like 1945 + Fallout

[Obiwanshinobi]

Not sure many might agree here but Einhänder art direction is excellent. And bosses taunt you in german, can't get any better. ACHTUNG!

The main problem with Einhänder visuals, I think, is somewhat inconsistent hardware design (not everything looks quite as cool as your ship). Still, the animations of said ship and some bosses are top class. The Einhänder's insect-like movements and the agony of bosses... Like when the first stage mid-boss receives the fatal blow in its face. The idea of machines keeping up appearances of suffering is rather sick but hey, that's what games are about too.
Also, the environment looks stunningly credible, much like that of Xenogears (althgough, unlike Xenogears, Einhänder is a good game). Leaving the city of neons and flying above those chunks of concrete in the night feels pretty atmospheric.
And do not forget the coolest lighsaber (sic!) to ever grace a non-Star Wars licenced game.

[ave]

Battle Garegga, Batrider, Ketsui, Gradius II & Gaiden, Darius Gaiden, Mushihimesama Futari, Salamander, Ikaruga, Radiant Silvergun.

WÖRD!

[dan76]

Deathsmiles. I was blown away the first time I booted up the game. I don't like the packaging etc, but the in game graphics are some of the best in any shmup. There's so much creativity and character to the levels, it's old school but done brilliantly. Perversly the sequel is probably the worst looking game Cave has released - looks like a demo.

Ikaruga is OK but it reminds me of those expensive mixed white chocolates.

[EinhanderZwei]

Ikaruga is OK but it reminds me of those expensive mixed white chocolates.

Treasure could do it intentionally. These guys can

[Gespenst]

Rayforce and Raystorm also awesome (Raystorm's mechanic design reminds me of... Gundam (or Macross))