What do you want to see in a modern WW2 military shup?

[320x240]

Hi,

I am part of a group that has started the development of a new WW2-themed vertical shmup (blog and website to follow) and now we would like to hear what you want us to include in the game.

We are inspired by the faster and more direct military shumps like Raiden Fighters, especially the emphasis on ground-based and multi-part enemies. There is nothing like seeing a large enemy go down after shooting off it's different parts.

[Drum]

Laser guns and giants mechs.

[Treasurance]

Something like this of course

[mesh control]

Something like this of course

None of that.

Laser guns and giants mechs.

More of this.

[mjclark]

Lock on lasers, lotsof different ship types and deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep scoring mechanics

[Subterranean Sun]

Helicopters that files in the space.

[Treasurance]

Something like this of course

None of that.

It'd be a major selling point though

[Goge Vandire]

A stage set in a creepy laboratory where some Mengele-type mad scientist is conducting grisly experiments on humans, and you get to fight the abominations he has created.

[dan76]

Akai katana without ninjas.

[BeruBeru]

even though it's kinda far from the concept, I would kill for a vertical shooter like the original progear concept

[emphatic]

even though it's kinda far from the concept, I would kill for a vertical shooter like the original progear concept

This.

[Obiwanshinobi]

The Night Witches. That out of the way, I'd be more interested in older military aircraft:

[Jeneki]

Beyond the obvious universal wants (60 frames per second, no input lag, weapons that don't feel weak, interesting scoring, etc) ...

In "military" shoothers I love destructable turrets everywhere! Big ass tanks with 5+ turrets, planes with turrets on the wings, blimps with more weapons than could possible be supported by a balloon. Don't turn enemies into bullet spawn zones that magically spew bullets out of nowhere, I love watching bullets spray of out actual cannons. For example, if Enemy A shoots a couple pot shots while Enemy B covers half the screen in flak diarrhea, give Enemy B a bunch of extra weapons so those extra bullets have a reason to exist. Bonus points for cool recoil animation when they fire.

[Observer]

Get german voice actors or add taunts in german, japanese, spanish, italian or whatever language other than english and you are set.

Agreed on the big tanks with infinite turrets and enough firepower to seize a country. Panzerfreukschnerwezerstrujenbajenawesome. It's true, a setting like this would allow for more cannons actually spawning bullets and less "insert bullet emitter and paste pre-rendered thing/shape on top of it".

For example, having a tank firing a big cannon, with turrets providing sequential and distinctive attack patterns.

I hope you don't go for the realistic approach... Don't forget to add gunboats, aircraft carriers and stuff like that.

Also, remember the formations. Nothing worse like seeing line after line of sheep heading towards the slaughterhouse. In that regard, Crimzon Clover stage 4 probably portrays a pretty dynamic aerial battle (big ships come rotating, small popcorn stuff comes in spread formations, etc.)

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

FM synth music. Why bother trying to experiment with genres people may not agree on when you could just use this classic sound font instead? also, make the bullets really, really fast.

[xris]

I like the ideal of including the appropraite languages!
Dark and gritty, was is not coloured like an easter egg.
Fast paced with lots of enemies at every turn, I want to try and struggle to kill everything in the level, even the first. Mushihime Futari does this really well, so much happens so quick, you don't notice at first that sometimes enemies escape off screen. Down time can kill it, easy games get tossed aside quickly.
Just remake Bakraid and we'll love you!

[Xexyz]

My suggestion would be to just follow Raizing's Battle Garegga aesthetic as closely as possible. Just don't copy the rank system

[Drum]

This is the best plane ever.

Make sure you put in lots of nazi UFOs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_UFOs

[RNGmaster]

Copy RFJ's weapons but make sure the scoring system ain't shite.

[psy]

Themed bullet patterns like Swastikas and SS emblems.

[howmuchkeefe]

Mecha Hitler

[psy]

Mecha Hitler

If they could get permission, I think the various phases from Hilter's appearance in Wolfenstein 3D could be perfectly implemented into a shmup boss battle.

[howmuchkeefe]

I'm sure they could do their own original transforming mecha Hitler well enough! Tank, walker, plane mode, etc. I don't think they'd have to get permission for that.

I'd make sure the train stage wasn't too offensive if I were them, tho.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Forget Garegga, man, Persona 2: Innocent Sin HAS THE BEST LOOKING NAZI CYBERWAFFE OUT THERE. Check out sprites from that game if you doubt.
Also, don't make your shmup "modern" the "small hitbox, slow bullets" way.

[BIL]

1. BIG GUNS
2. BIG MEDALS
3. BIG TITS

[emphatic]

Would be cool with huge animated aliens crawling the battle scorched earth, picking up burning tanks and other debris then throwing them towards you. This way, a chain of thrown objects could be kept by not shooting the alien, just the stuff it's unloading on your ass. Make an alien appear at the start of the end, then have it follow you for the entire stage. If you kill it, the chain drops, but another alien shows up. Sure, just shooting at tanks, planes etc is cool, but throw in stuff with a face once in a while, and do it in a weird enough way (no lolis).

[TrevHead (TVR)]

I wouldnt mind a modern vertical shmup in the vein of the 1945 or Striker games. Maybe with a gunbird vibe mixed in.

Maybe something with a wolfenstein vibe, Nazis with crazy Tesla weapons and those big half man half machine Nazis like in the single player campaign that enemy territory was born from

EDIT a WW2 themed STG with pixel artwork similar to Jamestown would be very nice

[mjclark]

Sure, just shooting at tanks, planes etc is cool, but throw in stuff with a face once in a while, and do it in a weird enough way (no lolis).

For some reason this has really made me want to see the characters from Guilty Gear involved in a shmup- GGXX Sky Stage or something....

[chempop]

Idea for epic boss fight approaching!!!!

Small ~fast~ airplain boss which decends and disappears into clouds and appears by flying out of other random clouds... When you think you've destroyed him the clouds thicken and booming sounds of thunder begin, followed by lightening which must be dodged and avoided... Suddenly the airship appears behind you with additional weapons attached to it and your ship turns around now flying towards the bottom of the screen!!! The enemy attempts to retreat downward but its attempts are futile! As you keep shooting parts of the boss gradually fall off and must be avoided until it finally crashes into the ground - exposing an under ground tunnel, which of course leads to the next stage....

Greatest shooting game moment ever, make it happen.

[Bee Cool]

I would really like a bombed out look to the game, with lots of steampunk stuff thrown in. Just make sure that the bullets are good and visible despite the detailed backgrounds.