Must-have Megadrive/Genesis shmups

[chempop]

Started collecting again for my good old model 1 launch genesis (also have a MD converter), and I was hoping to get a few suggestions.

Already have:

MUSHA
Thunderforce 4
Elemental Master
Trouble Shooter
Gaiares
Truxton
Ranger X (borderline)
Sub Terrania (borderline)
Contra HC (run and gun)

I've done a bit of research and come up with a list of ones I'm interested in.

Aero Blaster
Steel Empire
Zero Wing
Whip Rush
Gynoug aka Wing of Wor
Crying aka Bio-Hazard Battle
Gomora
Darius 2
Fireshark
V-V aka Grindstorer
Undead Line
Vapor Trail
Slap Fight
Task Force Harrier EX
Dangerous Seed
Battle Squadron

Anything I should definitely get right away, or am I forgetting any other stand out games (yes, I know about Gley Lancer and Eliminate Down... sadly they are too expensive atm)?
Thanks!

[dannnnn]

Gynoug and Bio-Hazard Battle are separate games; Gynoug is also known as Wings of Wor and Bio-Hazard Battle is also known as Crying.

Hellfire is worth getting IMO and I'd highly recommend Granada although you might not consider it a shmup.

[monkeyman]

Here's my 2 cents

Aero Blaster - Pretty standard shooter and gets really annoying about half way through when it gets hard to control your ship (you can't stay still)
Steel Empire - Not the best out there but the steempunk style means it stands out.
Zero Wing - It's alright but don't go out your way for it.
Gynoug - (not the same as bio hazard battle!) - I liked this game - the greek / gothic stylings worked well and it has some great screen filling bosses (steampunk mecha fat giant with a heart that rotated about him stands out)
Bio-Hazard Battle - Absolutely love this game. Beautiful enemy design / music and some nice weaponry. Takes a few stages to hit it's stride however.
Slap Fight - Surprisingly addictive for such a simple game - also has an arrange mode in the genesis version.

I haven't played the others on your list so won't comment.

Where's thunder force 3 though - that game is amazing (I prefer it to 4 but may be in the minority)
And if you're including run and gun put gunstar heroes on that wishlist!!

[toaplan_shmupfan]

Twin Cobra for the Genesis is missing from the list. Reviews on this one vary, but if you have Truxton and are considering Fireshark this is the third non-import Toaplan vertical shmup for the Genesis. Just be aware that since it's actually a port of Kyukyoku Tiger it means one player only and checkpoints. I don't actually find the stretched/cropped aspect ratio to be much of problem in the game except for two parts that require an alternate strategy from the arcade version: 1) Stage 5 boss popup guns seems to require well-timed well placed use of bombs; 2) Stage 8 first of two boss tanks requires using bombs all the way up screen so they land off-screen before the tank actually fully appears on-screen. The green weapon also fires differently in that it's fixed length bursts that are fired.

Another one missing from the list is the Sega CD game Robo Aleste. The difficulty of Robo Aleste is a bit tougher than M.U.S.H.A. due to only one hit needed to lose a turn even if equipped with a special weapon (compare vs. M.U.S.H.A. where is only meant loss of the special weapon). Disregard if no Sega CD is also present with the Genesis 1.

Also be aware that Darius II for the Megadrive will have a name of Sagaia for the Genesis.

[mesh control]

Granada, Thunderforce II, and Raiden Trad are my picks.

Granada is free scrolling and so is TFII, but mixed with horizontal scrolling level in between.

Both feature "search and destroy" sort of levels.

Bio Hazard Battle is also pretty slick.

Avoid Toaplan ports.

[chempop]

Thanks guys, I'll take everything in consideration.
Don't know why I screwed up the Crying/BHB and Gynoug/Wings of Wor names, my bad. They both are high up on my want list.

Huh, didn't know Thunderforce 2 was so different than 3+4.

I do have Sega CD: Robo Alesta + Silpheed already. Looking to get Lords of Thunder, Android Assaault aka Bai Arm, and Kieo Flying Squadron (holy shit @ eBay prices...)

I just got Gaiares and I'm having too much fun (frustration bliss). Music, backgrounds, and weapon system are all amazing. Just got to stage 4 midboss, good grief this game is tuff, are there really eight levels?! That's huge!

[TrevHead (TVR)]

+1 for Gynoug a damn fine hori

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Aero Blasters was released under it's proper original name of Air Buster on the MD & Genesis based on the original arcade PCB of the same name. It was the PCE & TG-16 ports of Aero Blasters that was released due to copyright name infringement (but same game/gameplay/game mechanics) and with a different re-worded main game title.

The Tengen release of Grindstormer does have the hidden V-V game included for completeness, just have to do a special command input to gain access to it though. Press the Reset button 100 times to unlock it & it's selectable from the Option screen.

There is the Genesis port of Sol Deace to consider adding to your Genny shmup collection as well.

The Genesis port of Vapor Trail is an alright shmup title, it really doesn't compared to the definitive Data East produced arcade PCB version of the same name which is the one to play/own.

The EA produced Battle Squadron port on the Genesis is not bad...although it's a better shmup experience on the Amiga any ol' day.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Phellan Wolf]

I'll recommend Gleylancer. It is a very good hori and if you like Thunderforce series this one it is a must. Really fun and ejoyable. Also if you have any emulaor try out Eliminate Down, since the real one it is really expensive, it is ahead of his time.

[mesh control]

The Tengen release of Grindstormer does have the hidden V-V game included for completeness, just have to do a special command input to gain access to it though. Press the Reset button 100 times to unlock it & it's selectable from the Option screen.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

I wasn't aware you had to unlock it, as it came unlocked in the options when I received the game. Then again, I did buy it used.

Is there also a problem with most of the Grindstormer carts not functioning?

[jochen]

If you already know Troubleshooter maybe Troubleshooter 2 / Battlemania might be interesting for you.
If you have the money for it.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The Tengen release of Grindstormer does have the hidden V-V game included for completeness, just have to do a special command input to gain access to it though. Press the Reset button 100 times to unlock it & it's selectable from the Option screen.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

I wasn't aware you had to unlock it, as it came unlocked in the options when I received the game. Then again, I did buy it used.

Is there also a problem with most of the Grindstormer carts not functioning?

I bought my Tengen copy of Grindstormer brand new back in the day. Oops, my bad -- it's by pressing the Reset button 100x that "unlocks" Free Play mode & not the hidden V-V mode. Yep, you're right about V-V being selectable "on the fly" in Options screen. My apologies for causing any confusion.

My copy of GS works just fine on my 1st-gen Genny & on the Majesco 3rd-party produced Genesis 3 console as well.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[chempop]

I also heard that many copies of Grindstormer were faulty, but if a seller says it's tested I'll take the chance. Seems to me it might be the first game with the "focussed" shot system that is so common these days.

If I can find a Korean Battle Mania 2 it might be affordable, but then again, it might not work with my MD converter (my copy of Yu Yu Hakusho doesn't work, yeah, the copy I imported as a kid for $70+...)

Pressing reset 100 times, that's insanity! What kind of code is that?!

As much as I'd like a TurboDuo and MSX, it ain't happening anytime soon, so Genesis/MD ports it is.

[Drum]

I support any initiative to get Bio-Hazard Battle, Gynoug and Lords of Thunder.

Also, consider picking up Chelnov (Japan only). It's a run-n-gun strictly speaking, but the forced scrolling makes it feel very shmuppy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I81C1z95HaA

There's also Kolibri if you're considering 32x stuff: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T1-dbHkLP8 Kolibri doesn't have forced scrolling but the shmupping makes it feel very shmuppy.

[professor ganson]

I didn't see Twinkle Tale on your list. I bought a Jap Megadrive to play that game and wasn't the least disappointed. Very nice game.

[chempop]

Damn, Twinkle Tale. There's another that is probably going to have to wait unless an affordable copy somehow emerges. Thanks for reminding me though.

No love for Undead Line? Looks like it has Cult Classic written all over it, probably the most pricey out of my "affordable" wants at around $50-60.

What a hoot rediscovering 16-bit shmups, especially with the music cranked on my DJ headphones!

[mesh control]

I didn't see Twinkle Tale on your list. I bought a Jap Megadrive to play that game and wasn't the least disappointed. Very nice game.

Is there someway to play it on a US Genny?

[Drum]

There's also a version of Bio-Ship Paladin. I dunno if the port is any good, but it looks ok on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5ZA7v6-QKA
I really like the arcade original, but then I'm a UPL fantard.

[Xexyz]

Also, consider picking up Chelnov (Japan only). It's a run-n-gun strictly speaking, but the forced scrolling makes it feel very shmuppy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I81C1z95HaA

He could just go with the localized version "Atomic Runner" which was published by Data East themselves. I highly recommend it, more shmup than run 'n gun thanks to the forced scrolling.

[Drum]

WHAT

EDIT: holy shit

EDIT2: Weird, they seem to be the same but the default controls are better in the Japanese version (just C to change direction instead of C +direction)

[Obiwanshinobi]

If I remember correctly, Bio-ship Paladin (or was it Black Heart?) Mega Drive port runs at 30 fps (think Ex-Ranza). Granada runs at 30 fps AT BEST and gets choppy rather a lot (I hope it's better on X68000). Wolf's Team own Final Zone on Mega Drive performs better (it's more "atmospheric" too, if you ask me). (Heh, I just read those character descriptions - Engrish gold!).
P.S. Hey! It's some other Final Zone on that vid. Could it be that Final Zone is the name of that computer game as well as the Mega Drive port (?) of FZ Senki Axis? Anyway, I mean this Final Zone. Controls better than the choppy animations might lead you to believe (not quite unlike Assault - few frames of animations, but it's pretty responsive). Your mech feels heavy but up to the task. Pretty great continue screen and tune as well.
P.P.S. Just checked and apparently Final Zone on the MD runs at 30 fps at best too. No idea why I remembered otherwise. One of these days I should check out the X68000 version then. Still, the MD version is playable to say the least.
P.P.P.S. So I figured it out. You see, Granada has twice as long input lag as Final Zone, which at 30 fps makes for particulary sub-arcade experience. Both are good games, make no mistake, but all things considered Final Zone tops Granada in my book.

[Kollision]

Must-haves?
These are some of the reasons why the MD is still regarded by some as one of the best shmup consoles of all time:

Bio-hazard Battle (aka Crying in Japan)
Elemental Master
Eliminate Down
Gaiares
Gleylancer
Hellfire
Raiden Trad (best 16-bit port IMO)
Sagaia (aka Darius II in Japan)
Sol-Deace
Thunder Force III
Thunder Force IV (aka Lightening Force in US)
Undeadline
Wings of Wor (aka Gynoug in Japan)
Zero Wing

You can't go wrong with any of these

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I recall seeing an ad for the Genesis Raiden Trad that said that it had an extra exclusive stage not found on other ports of Raiden. Still on topic with Raiden, there's the 6 megabit endowed Hu-Card version of Raiden to play/own on the PCE/TG-16 platform as well.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Kollision]

Here's the full extra stage of Raiden Trad for the Genesis/MD.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxN3HD4uxJU

This stage is exclusive to the Mega Drive version, and is played after the credits roll (the game doesn't loop).
It's outrageously difficult, I'd say nearly impossible.
The guy in the video cheats his way through (emulator + savestates) in order to show it. Be sure to see it till the end, there's a fine surprise for MD beat-em up fans .

[Blue_Ray]

I didn't see Twinkle Tale on your list. I bought a Jap Megadrive to play that game and wasn't the least disappointed. Very nice game.

Is there someway to play it on a US Genny?

I use a Game Genie to play my import MegaDrive games, even the aforementioned Treasure Yu Yu Hakushou game chempop! (To play YYH you have to input a code, but it works much to my surprise a few months back!)

As for Twinkle Tale, it didn't have a region lock on it going by emulation, so it should play just fine on your converter of choice!

Some good recs. here. Although this is dangerous for my wallet. I once sought Panarama Cotton after playing it via emulation and was amazed the Genny Drive could do that.

[Drum]

I didn't see Twinkle Tale on your list. I bought a Jap Megadrive to play that game and wasn't the least disappointed. Very nice game.

Is there someway to play it on a US Genny?

I use a Game Genie to play my import MegaDrive games, even the aforementioned Treasure Yu Yu Hakushou game chempop! (To play YYH you have to input a code, but it works much to my surprise a few months back!)

As for Twinkle Tale, it didn't have a region lock on it going by emulation, so it should play just fine on your converter of choice!

Some good recs. here. Although this is dangerous for my wallet. I once sought Panarama Cotton after playing it via emulation and was amazed the Genny Drive could do that.

Getting off topic here, but maybe the biggest Megadrive tech showpiece was Star Cruiser (1990):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yND5V85iPHc

It's a port of the 1988 PC-88 game. It's a FPS (two years before Hovertank 3D), RPG and space-dogfighting genre mixup. Pretty staggering really. Great music too!

[Ganelon]

An Action Replay bypasses all region protection. As for MD Star Cruiser, it's not a shooter but the biggest disappointment was that the localization was at least partially finished before being canned.

[Herr Schatten]

From the list of games you're interested in, get Gynoug and Bio Hazard Battle. Both are excellent shooters for the system.

Gleylancer is nice, but it's really nothing special, plus you'll have to crank up the difficulty to make it even remotely challenging. I'm not that great a player, but I cleared it on my first try on default settings. I think this is one of the games which got hyped beyond their merits due to their rarity. That said, it's definitely worth the VC download, if you have a Wii. Buying the real cart I can only recommend to collectors, not to people who are primarily interested in playing the game.

[Drum]

Gynoug (and Chelnov) are also available on VC ... but only in Japan. Kind of bums me out that these people don't want my money. Kolibri was on Gametap, but apparently Sega has taken all their stuff off.

[louisg]

Thunderforce III is excellent if you liked TF4 at all.. Aero Blaster is good but I didn't quite click with it. On the other hand, I like Fire Shark a lot, though it's pretty easy once you get used to it. Stay away from Battle Squadron -- it's a very poor port of the Amiga game (which is quite decent and is balanced very differently). And Sagaia is OK also if you enjoy Darius, but it's nowhere close to the arcade Darius 2 or later entries. I'd recommend Bio Hazard Battle: it's a fairly tight and challenging game. It's kind of like a speedier R-Type.

Gomora is NOT good, if it's the one I'm thinking of (pilot a battleship with an independent cursor?).. it's very sluggish. But I also didn't care for Gynoug.

I agree about Granada. I played that thing for hours! It's not the tightest game ever, but it is a lot of fun. I can also recommend Midnight Resistance and Mercs for run n guns.