pc shmups

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PurpBullets
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pc shmups

Post by PurpBullets »

I got my first pc and since shootthecore database is down
I was wondering what the most raw shmups on pc are?
(I just beat blue wish resurrection plus 1st try on original... :roll: )
I am wondering about cute em ups, but any recommendations are welcome.
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rancor
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Re: pc shmups

Post by rancor »

Check out my site in my sig. Lots of freeware shmups in the "free software" section.
Not sure what you mean by "raw".. as in unfinished? perhaps "ring^27"? Check out the titles in red on my list - Those are my recommendations.
For "cute 'em ups" I would recommend "Flying Red Barrel", "Prizhm", or perhaps "Ake-bre" if my memory serves correctly. :wink:
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Re: pc shmups

Post by PurpBullets »

Cooool, thanks, and by raw I just meant well done.
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Drum
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Re: pc shmups

Post by Drum »

Monty Python's Flying Circus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV7r-p3W0nA
IGMO - Poorly emulated, never beaten.

Hi-score thread: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=34327
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Re: pc shmups

Post by Observer »

Here is the (in)famous Top 20 doujin shmups (vertical)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJEr4d7BsdQ

Some have already been mentioned but some neat stuff is there.

Of course, try to check Crimzon Clover. It's pretty much one of the best around.
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DocHauser
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Re: pc shmups

Post by DocHauser »

Some more that don't feature in the youtube link above...

7 Servant's Blade
Airrade/Airrade Summer
Alltynex 2nd
Barrage Tribe
Bike Banditz
Cloudphobia
Eden's Edge/Eden's Aegis
ex-Extra
Genetos
Gundemonium/Gundemonium Recollection
Hydorah
Irukandji
Marsh
Tails Gear
Trouble Witches

That lot should keep you going for a while...
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Re: pc shmups

Post by TrevHead (TVR) »

You should of played Blue Wish Resurrection instead of Plus (its abit harder since slowdown isnt used so much as in Plus), If normal is too easy for you, play it in Hard mode which will allow you to fight a true last boss (ala hibachi)

also try Zen Ichi and Zillion Beatz plus Samidare (the extra mode is very hard) and Hellsinker
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Re: pc shmups

Post by BIL »

Kamui. Immaculately designed shooter - don't be fooled by the slightly dog-eared graphics. Fast pacing, massive weapons, deep but not overly punishing scoring, and gorgeous techno-destructive+ethereal styling. Easily comparable with its professional inspirations Rayforce and Soukyugurentai, playing like a less punishing, more flexible iteration of the lock-on shooter.

Samidare is a great score attack shooter, being short and intense with lots of room for optimising your run. Nice style too - dark backdrops, vivid bullets and some floor-shaking explosions (and thumping backbeats).

Those are the only two I can extensively comment on - other favourites are Cloudphobia (interesting take on the "racing shooter," killer art and soundtrack) Alltynex Second (by Siter Skain, Kamui's devs - quality) and Zen-Ichi, a Batsugun Special (patterns)+Raiden Fighters (scoring)+DOJ (hypers) doujin which looks pretty clunky, but plays like a fucking dream. Apparently a higher-res version is being worked on, which would be a godsend and place this firmly in Kamui territory - it's honestly a bit hard to keep track of the immense amount of stuff onscreen at times. Still, brilliantly designed shooter once you acclimate to the chunky graphics.
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Re: pc shmups

Post by Observer »

Seconding Genetos (this one is a must!), Hellsinker, Samidare and Cloudphobia. All awesome as fuck.

In fact, the PC is quite crammed with this kind of crazy shooters. Add MAME to the mix (now with 100% more Ketsui, Espgaluda and DOJ) and you have more than enough for several lives.

I forgot to mention the wtfantastic Diadra Empty (it's inspired by Fantasy Zone but takes the whole thing to another level, using a high resolution mixed with gigantic clusters of bullets and enemies that are 2x/3x bigger than the screen) but, like Hellsinker (which is crammed with secrets and twists), it's an acquired taste.

They are far from Crimzon Clover's "I grab you by the balls and if you let go I'll rip you apart" nonstop action and lock-on carnage that breaks everything. If anything, they are my "triad of awesome" (Hellsinker, Diadra Empty and Crimzon Clover, 2 verticals and 1 hori).

Sora (from the same creator of Suguri) is pretty neat but it has some annoying mechanics at times. The graphics are gorgeous though.
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Re: pc shmups

Post by Treasurance »

HELLSINKER.

also, KIWAMI SHOOTING
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Re: pc shmups

Post by Obiwanshinobi »

Raiden III (I&II got ported to the PC as well, but those might be tricky to fire up on modern systems), Shikigami no Shiro 1, 2, 3, emulators (such as this lovely MAME hack; make sure to disable bilinear filtering and enable scanlines for each and every game as they look ugly otherwise).
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Re: pc shmups

Post by Shogun »

TrevHead (TVR) wrote:You should of played Blue Wish Resurrection instead of Plus (its abit harder since slowdown isnt used so much as in Plus), If normal is too easy for you, play it in Hard mode which will allow you to fight a true last boss (ala hibachi)
Thanks for mentioning this. I checked out Plus and its a great game but I was surprised the slowdown had me scratching my head.
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Re: pc shmups

Post by MathU »

Cho Ren Sha 68K is not just one of the best freeware shooters around, it's one of the best PC shooters period.
Of course, that's just an opinion.
Always seeking netplay fans to play emulated arcade games with.
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Re: pc shmups

Post by RNGmaster »

CRIMZON CLOVER.
Don't try hellsinker, that game can actually cause seizures.
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Re: pc shmups

Post by Treasurance »

RNGmaster wrote:CRIMZON CLOVER.
Don't try hellsinker, that game can actually cause seizures.
Have you even played HS? CC is far more seizure-tastic...for most of the time

And if seizures really are your thing...
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Re: pc shmups

Post by RNGmaster »

Treasurance wrote: Have you even played HS? CC is far more seizure-tastic...for most of the time
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My problem with Hellsinker lies in the unintuitive control scheme and scoring system. Shmups should be easy to learn and hard to master, but with Hellsinker's seven FUCKING buttons (not counting movement), ten FUCKING item types, and impossible-to-explain scoring, frankly I'm scared to play it. This guy is looking for a good introductory title, and Hellsinker is anything but - it borders on ass-rape to the casual player.

Crimzon Clover also has an annoying scoring system, but it doesn't look quite as intimidating as Hellsinker, nor does it require hours of play to understand even basic scoring. I have no problems with Hellsinker as a game (though it is totally not for me), but I just don't think it's right to start with.
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Re: pc shmups

Post by Bananamatic »

RNGmaster wrote:Hellsinker's seven FUCKING buttons (not counting movement), ten FUCKING item types, and impossible-to-explain scoring, frankly I'm scared to play it.
I wanted to try it and then I read this post

How exactly does one play this on a keyboard?
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Re: pc shmups

Post by RNGmaster »

Bananamatic wrote:
RNGmaster wrote:Hellsinker's seven FUCKING buttons (not counting movement), ten FUCKING item types, and impossible-to-explain scoring, frankly I'm scared to play it.
I wanted to try it and then I read this post

How exactly does one play this on a keyboard?
Well, there are only 4 buttons in regular use (as well as a pause button and a menu button), but... I don't know how you would, no.
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Re: pc shmups

Post by TrevHead (TVR) »

RNGmaster wrote:
Bananamatic wrote:
RNGmaster wrote:Hellsinker's seven FUCKING buttons (not counting movement), ten FUCKING item types, and impossible-to-explain scoring, frankly I'm scared to play it.
I wanted to try it and then I read this post

How exactly does one play this on a keyboard?
Well, there are only 4 buttons in regular use (as well as a pause button and a menu button), but... I don't know how you would, no.
Thats a bit of a cop out isnt it then? If we were to count non essential buttons then every game on Mame would be crap due to nearly every button on the keyboard having an use
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Re: pc shmups

Post by RNGmaster »

You're right, that was an exaggeration. My point about the item types (and all the gauges along the sides of the screen) still stands, though. Hellsinker is the definition of "overly complex", and for that reason, I don't feel interest in it.
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Re: pc shmups

Post by rancid3000 »

What is the best way to keep track of all the new doujin shmups that come out for the PC? Obviously shoot the core isn't around anymore and there is no "chronology of shooting" thread for pc shmups on the forum.
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Re: pc shmups

Post by Treasurance »

Overwhelming? Yes, at first. Overly complex? Not so much. Well, maybe the scoring system.

The important thing is to 1CC past stage 4. Doing so unlocks Kagura and the alternative versions of the first 3 stages.
One of Kagura's four shot types, Variable Gun, is quite powerful and really simple to use...
And most of the awesomeness lies in the second half anyways
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Re: pc shmups

Post by TrevHead (TVR) »

rancid3000 wrote:What is the best way to keep track of all the new doujin shmups that come out for the PC? Obviously shoot the core isn't around anymore and there is no "chronology of shooting" thread for pc shmups on the forum.
98% of doujin games are initially released at comiket of which there is 2 per year, one mid August and the other at 30th of December. The best way to keep abrest of new releases is to visit a Japanese doujin site thats made for those who are going to the event and want to know what to expect. This is an example from the last comiket aka C79 http://www.7-iro.org/c79.htm. The good ones will tell which title is a trial, new release or a re-run.

As for english sites due to DoujinSuki going quiet for the past couple of months there isnt any decent news site to keep fully abreast of whats happening. So you only other alternative is to visit doujin game forums or image boards but those sites are populated by kids, touhou fans and weeaboos so you might not have the stomach to bother with them. Most of these denizens arent really into shmups that arnt Touhou and more into other genres and the non gaming side of their fandom

Another way of getting info is to visit doujin shop sites like Rancor's site, Eurotaku and Messe Sanoh and PalletWeb or even those dodgy rapidshare / torrent link sites which are usefull even if you dont pirate. Since anyone who can google and wants to pirate will do so eventually I might aswell give you a word of warning. Just like other non doujin dodgy (or porn) sites, some of them use advertising pop ups that dont vet their adverts and so drive by download viruses, trojans and rogue software that automatically DL onto your PC are quite common.

Also its worth noting that unlike other doujin genres, many new non touhou doujin shmups never get uploaded to the net meaning you'll have to import if you wish to play them anyway (i put this down to many shmup fans been collectors and anti pirate) which even though I personally pirate non localised doujin games (aswell as old roms) but getting games for free cheapens the whole exprience
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Re: pc shmups

Post by rancor »

^^ What he said. No updates from me lately because honestly the scene has been awfully quiet since CC was released. Lots of fighting games and hentai titles have been released but for recent shmups, it's been Crimzon Clover, Hayabusa, and Aclla. Seems more things are going out of print than are being released. Alltynex Second soundtrack is gone, Hellsinker is gone, Gigantic Army and Prizhm are both on their last legs... Not sure where this is all going. :?
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Re: pc shmups

Post by Observer »

I get the feeling we've reached a "plateau" (well, dunno if it's even the right term in english, we call it "meseta"), a situation where nothing is being released or most developments are halted/delayed or just too early in development. The only "big" project I'm looking forward to is RefRain. It's pretty much the only one that looks finished enough to be released in the next Comiket.

But RebRank is really damn slow so I don't know. Stella Vanity (the other one that looked potentially complete) was dumped, revived and now is being reworked thoroughly.

No signs of the interesting Project RepLiser either, which even has co-op via network and in the same computer.

ring^-27 is another one to watch out for. Pretty damn impressive.

And that's it for now. I hope some stuff will pop out of the blue during these months.
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Re: pc shmups

Post by Zaarock »

RNGmaster wrote:You're right, that was an exaggeration. My point about the item types (and all the gauges along the sides of the screen) still stands, though. Hellsinker is the definition of "overly complex", and for that reason, I don't feel interest in it.
I think the HUD (with all the gauges you could ever need) turns off a lot of people, it makes the game look more complex than it is. The weapon recharges have sound effects and tokens don't affect anything apart from their own counter, etc.. having a visible counter for rank is nice at least. Playing for survival the game is simple. I don't like the scoring system much either (too much milking), but the game does all the other things right for me.
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Re: pc shmups

Post by CptRansom »

I was scared of Hellsinker for a pretty long time, but I'm just going to echo what Zaarock said: the gauges aren't that scary once you realize about half of them are irrelevant if you're not playing for score.

Super-simple Hellsinker gauge breakdown:

SOL gauge = Bombs. If it's over 3, you're fine.
LUNA gauge = Lay off the damned primary fire button and use your subweapons occasionally and you're fine.
SUBWEAPON gauge = It has two levels. Different characters have different subweapons.
STELLA gauge = Rank. Real men keep it as high as possible at all times.
TERRA counter = When you're just starting, ignore this. When it drops to zero, your next stage is the Shrine of Farewell. If you care about score, you want to get it as late as possible. If you don't care about score, then getting it after stage 4 or 5 is a nice way to restock on lives, honestly.
SPIRIT counter = GUESS WHAT THIS DOES
KILL counter = GUESS WHAT THIS DOES
TERRA = Nobody cares about this.

tl;dr: There are sounds to let you know when your subweapon is ready. Learn them. Otherwise you should only be glancing over at the SOL gauge (and maybe LUNA if you play a character that actually shoots things [read: not Minogame]) to make sure you have a bomb ready if you need it. Ignore everything else.

Playing Hellsinker for score is obnoxious, IMO; there's too much grazing and point-blanking and boss milking. Just play it for survival and it's still a VERY VERY enjoyable game. Once you can 1CC it, then figure out if you want to take it a step farther and play for score (PROTIP: You don't).

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Re: pc shmups

Post by TrevHead (TVR) »

Observer wrote:I get the feeling we've reached a "plateau" (well, dunno if it's even the right term in english, we call it "meseta"), a situation where nothing is being released or most developments are halted/delayed or just too early in development. The only "big" project I'm looking forward to is RefRain. It's pretty much the only one that looks finished enough to be released in the next Comiket.

But RebRank is really damn slow so I don't know. Stella Vanity (the other one that looked potentially complete) was dumped, revived and now is being reworked thoroughly.

No signs of the interesting Project RepLiser either, which even has co-op via network and in the same computer.

ring^-27 is another one to watch out for. Pretty damn impressive.

And that's it for now. I hope some stuff will pop out of the blue during these months.
Plateau is the correct word, allthough there does seem to be a couple of couple of C and D grade doujin shmups that still gets released at comiket which are low key and never get sold at retail. Things have gone quiet where doujin shmups is concerned. My guess is that theyve all played Crimson Clover and thrown in the towel :)
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Re: pc shmups

Post by rancid3000 »

TrevHead (TVR) wrote:
rancid3000 wrote:What is the best way to keep track of all the new doujin shmups that come out for the PC? Obviously shoot the core isn't around anymore and there is no "chronology of shooting" thread for pc shmups on the forum.
98% of doujin games are initially released at comiket of which there is 2 per year, one mid August and the other at 30th of December. The best way to keep abrest of new releases is to visit a Japanese doujin site thats made for those who are going to the event and want to know what to expect. This is an example from the last comiket aka C79 http://www.7-iro.org/c79.htm. The good ones will tell which title is a trial, new release or a re-run.

As for english sites due to DoujinSuki going quiet for the past couple of months there isnt any decent news site to keep fully abreast of whats happening. So you only other alternative is to visit doujin game forums or image boards but those sites are populated by kids, touhou fans and weeaboos so you might not have the stomach to bother with them. Most of these denizens arent really into shmups that arnt Touhou and more into other genres and the non gaming side of their fandom

Another way of getting info is to visit doujin shop sites like Rancor's site, Eurotaku and Messe Sanoh and PalletWeb or even those dodgy rapidshare / torrent link sites which are usefull even if you dont pirate. Since anyone who can google and wants to pirate will do so eventually I might aswell give you a word of warning. Just like other non doujin dodgy (or porn) sites, some of them use advertising pop ups that dont vet their adverts and so drive by download viruses, trojans and rogue software that automatically DL onto your PC are quite common.

Also its worth noting that unlike other doujin genres, many new non touhou doujin shmups never get uploaded to the net meaning you'll have to import if you wish to play them anyway (i put this down to many shmup fans been collectors and anti pirate) which even though I personally pirate non localised doujin games (aswell as old roms) but getting games for free cheapens the whole exprience
Thanks for the info. I've been trying to look at sites in English about the various Comiket conventions but I haven't had much luck. I used to keep up with it just by visiting this forum but I slacked off for a while and now I'm behind!

I've also been to Rancors site and that's been a pretty big help too. Lately I've been downloading games but I plan on buying the few that I love like Crimzon Clover. It's just too good to not buy the real deal!
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Re: pc shmups

Post by Hair »

Any of the Kenta Cho / ABA Games are great. Especially rRootage, Noiza2sa, and Parsec47. All free.
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~cs8k-cyu/index_e.html

XOP Black and End Effector are also great and free. I don't have a link handy, but they are easy to find in search engines.

If you are going to play shmups on a PC, I highly recommend you get a good arcade stick or at least a controller with a good d-pad, if you haven't already.
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