Need Help new to shumps..

[skieday]

I normally play RTS. But I started to play Vulcan Venture (gradius 2?). I'mpretty lame at it, I can get up to the
"flying rocks" level. Loved the part with the fire dragons, and the screen seems to scroll 8 ways..any more games like this?

Got Dodonpachi too, fun too, but I can't keep the scoring chain going on for too long.

Anyway, I need a list of games more like Vulcan Venture/Gradius, sort of old skool , more emphasis on strategy than bullet dodging.

thx!

[RNGmaster]

I suggest Xexex or R-Type. Maybe Darius, but don't trust me on that because I'm more focused on bullet hell than horis.

[dpful]

Try:
Other gradius's
Salamander 2
Xexes
Darius gaiden
X-multiply
R-types
Metal black
Border down
Pustar
Blazing star
Last resort

I love horizontal shmups

[saucykobold]

The Parodius series is excellent, as is Dragon Breed. Gallop: Armed Police Unit (aka Cosmic Cop) is worth a try. Most people hate it, but I think it's really fun and unique. The Japanese version of Xexex is amazing (avoid the butchered international release).

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

Hellfire is the obvious answer. It's the only Toaplan game specifically designed to be like Gradius, but with an extra puzzle element added: the ability to change the direction of your shots. It's harder to master than it sounds too. And since you've played a little bit of DoDonPachi, try V-Five. The shmup that started this bullet hell nonsense to begin with! also has a power-up bar and multiple shot types on a single ship, like Gradius.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Eliminate Down
Hyper Duel
Life Force (arcade, Japanese version)
Gate of Thunder
Winds of Thunder

[Deca]

Going to have to second Xexex, the option mechanic is very strategic in nature.

[ZOM]

X-multiply, Salamander and Xexex seem to be prefectly fitting picks.
Also, I recommend to take a look at Dragon Spirit & Dragon Saber if you're interested in not too difficult verts with minor obstacles - there's also somewhat of strategy involved with the (apparently hated)ground-bombing mechanic if you want to make it through the game unscathed.

As for more challenging obstacle-filled vert: Image Fight 2 hands down.

[Special World]

Gate of Thunder

[BIL]

R-Type Delta (PS1) might work for you. Less unforgiving than the earlier games (walls don't kill you, speed is fully adjustable, and there's a bomb), but the level designs are still tricky and reward good strategy. Bydo aka Hard difficulty is a really good challenge as well.

[cj iwakura]

You'd love Gleylancer, if you've got a Genesis/MD and $$ or a Wii for the virtual console version.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

Check out that new(ish) freeware PC hori called Hydorah its a gradius homage
G-type is a freeware PC hori thats a hybrid of gradius & r-type

The Thunderforce series is well loved here especially 3 & 4.
Gynoug is a old personal favorite
Also check out the classic cute em up sub genre as there are many decent horis like Parodius (gradius clone cute em up) & Harmfull Park
Einhander is a 2.5d capcom classic

As for modern horis many of them are mixed with the bullet hell style.
Check out Gradius 5 on the PS2, its another forum favorite (Ive yet to play this myself )
Deathsmiles & Progear

Also check out these doujin Horis, Bike Bandits, Sora & Acceleration of Suguri, PriZhm, Touble Witches (got an arcade port plus is coming to XBLA)

[Obiwanshinobi]

Macross: Scrambled Valkyrie
Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams
Gun Hohki (a.k.a. Mystic Riders)

[Special World]

Yeah, Hydorah is pretty awesome.

[BPzeBanshee]

You'd love Gleylancer, if you've got a Genesis/MD and $$ or a Wii for the virtual console version.

Or install Homebrew on the Wii and just run it off a *free* Megadrive emulator instead. If you get the right ROM it'll actually be translated to proper English for the intro so you know what's actually happening.

Personally, I recommend the Thunder Force games, and I thoroughly enjoy Deathsmiles contary to its provokative appearance.

[skieday]

thx guys for all the suggestions! gonna check out as much of them as I can!


loving, xexex, V-Five,hellfire, X-multiply so far!


soo many awesome games *head explodes*

[RNGmaster]

thx guys for all the suggestions! gonna check out as much of them as I can!

loving, xexex, V-Five,hellfire, X-multiply so far!

soo many awesome games *head explodes*

post your scores

Seriously though, don't just up and leave the forum now that you have the games you want. We'll miss you!

[mice]

And everyone should play Gunbird 2. if I were you, I'd start with that.

[skieday]

thx guys for all the suggestions! gonna check out as much of them as I can!

loving, xexex, V-Five,hellfire, X-multiply so far!

soo many awesome games *head explodes*

post your scores

Seriously though, don't just up and leave the forum now that you have the games you want. We'll miss you!

haha my scores are sucking atm lol.

It's nice here.

BTW I rage quit on hellfire and played some dodonpachi, it was strangely therapeutic. Oh ya LOVE LOVe LOVE.. paradious
@mice will checkout Gunbird 2.

hmm ok....now I need a list of good vertical stuff. The craziest bullet stuff you guys can think of and also, someone in this thread posted a pretty good vertical with like obstacles and stuff, and more in that vein?

[BIL]

For arcade, Guwange (by Cave) has a fair bit of obstacles in its level designs (your character is on foot), and chances are you'll at least enjoy it if you like the way DDP feels. Worth a look for the atmosphere, beautiful feudal Japan settings with creepy occult themes. Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga are two other verts with lots of complex terrain, but neither are very approachable games.

There's also Guardian Force, an overhead view shooter where you control an eight-way firing tank on the ground - lots of obstacles to negotiate around there, and it's an excellent game too. And Gun.Smoke, an on-foot cowboy-themed vert which will give you all the terrain you can handle and then some. Give Out Zone a go too, it's yet another on-foot shooter with very interesting level designs - it's by Toaplan, of V-V and Hellfire.

Guwange is on XBLA, RS and GF are on Saturn, Ikaruga got DC and Gamecube ports, G.S is on PS1, Saturn and PS2/Xbox. Out Zone never got ported, sadly.

On console there's Elemental Master (Gen/MD) and Blast Wind (SAT), by the developers of Thunder Force. Again both involve heavy terrain - the former is on-foot with a front/rear firing system, the latter plays like a vertical TF, with the exception walls don't kill you. Twinkle Tale (Gen/MD) might be worth a look too, only played the first couple levels but it seemed fun.

I'll second Salamander - it's half Gradius-style horizontal levels, half verticals with lots of obstacles and walls. If the AC version feels too unforgiving, there's a NES port which is very good in its own right (US title "Life Force").

soo many awesome games *head explodes*

I still feel this way about shooters. Arcade games / obscure imports in general, but especially shooters.

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

BTW I rage quit on hellfire and played some dodonpachi, it was strangely therapeutic.

In DoDonPachi, you need to clear the 2nd loop in order to fight the true last boss. But in Hellfire, the 2nd loop is the true last boss! dohohoho~

... Okay that joke was bad, but I'm glad to hear you're having fun with the good ol' Toaplan shmups regardless.

Give Out Zone a go too, it's yet another on-foot shooter with very interesting level designs - it's by Toaplan, of V-V and Hellfire.

If we're listing overhead run 'n guns, we can't go without mentioning Pocky & Rocky. That ranks up there with the best cute 'em ups easily.

[harrihaffi]

Psyvaria! The game rewards you for getting as close to the bullets!

MVHH

[BPzeBanshee]

For arcade, Guwange (by Cave) has a fair bit of obstacles in its level designs (your character is on foot), and chances are you'll at least enjoy it if you like the way DDP feels. Worth a look for the atmosphere, beautiful feudal Japan settings with creepy occult themes. Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga are two other verts with lots of complex terrain, but neither are very approachable games.

There's also Guardian Force, an overhead view shooter where you control an eight-way firing tank on the ground - lots of obstacles to negotiate around there, and it's an excellent game too. And Gun.Smoke, an on-foot cowboy-themed vert which will give you all the terrain you can handle and then some. Give Out Zone a go too, it's yet another on-foot shooter with very interesting level designs - it's by Toaplan, of V-V and Hellfire.

Guwange is on XBLA, RS and GF are on Saturn, Ikaruga got DC and Gamecube ports, G.S is on PS1, Saturn and PS2/Xbox. Out Zone never got ported, sadly.

On console there's Elemental Master (Gen/MD) and Blast Wind (SAT), by the developers of Thunder Force. Again both involve heavy terrain - the former is on-foot with a front/rear firing system, the latter plays like a vertical TF, with the exception walls don't kill you. Twinkle Tale (Gen/MD) might be worth a look too, only played the first couple levels but it seemed fun.

I'll second Salamander - it's half Gradius-style horizontal levels, half verticals with lots of obstacles and walls. If the AC version feels too unforgiving, there's a NES port which is very good in its own right (US title "Life Force").

soo many awesome games *head explodes*

I still feel this way about shooters. Arcade games / obscure imports in general, but especially shooters.

Radiant Silvergun will be coming to XBLA soon and Ikaruga is also on XBLA though I imagine the GameCube ports would be better (then again I'm a Wii owner and a fan of the original GameCube controller).

For the Megadrive there's also MUSHA, developed by Compile and distributed in Japan by Toaplan if memory serves. Good game but the levels are too long IMO, worth a try.

As for the arcade, I prefer ESPRade as opposed to the Donpachis. There are some similarities in style but ESPRade is a lot more approachable in some regards and very fun. Best played in Shmupmame if possible. Away from the Cave stuff there's Armed Police Batrider, which is a very rewarding game if you can get used to the idea of dynamic rank early. It's approachable with stuff like Training and Normal Course and when you get really good you can have a crack at Advanced Course. It also looks better than Battle Bakraid which is not a friendly game at all but that's just my opinion.

But yeah, for verticals with obstacles you can't go past Guwange. I bought it from XBLA as soon as it came out worldwide and have never looked back. Just maybe set the autofire button to something other than X on the 360 Controller otherwise you're going to get semi-RSI injuries like I did.

[Obiwanshinobi]

hmm ok....now I need a list of good vertical stuff. The craziest bullet stuff you guys can think of and also, someone in this thread posted a pretty good vertical with like obstacles and stuff, and more in that vein?

The original Image Fight, Super Aleste (a.k.a. Space Megaforce, but you want the Japanese version with extra modes really), Ninja Commando.