What are the non-Japanese Shmups for the 16-bit era?

[mouser]

I'm trying to make a list of shmups to hunt for when I go to retro game stores/pawn shops/flea markets, but I would like to filter out non-Japanese games. No offense intended, but on 16-bit consoles, I preferred the style of Japanese games (on PC it's reversed )

Anything that's remotely shmup related, like Run & Gun games, are fine to list too.

===Current List===

The Chaos Engine/Soldiers of Fortune (GEN/SNES)
Battle Squadron (GEN)
Desert Strike (GEN)
Hunt for Red October (SNES)
Mega Turrican (GEN)
Mega SWIV/Super SWIV/Firepower 2000 (GEN/SNES)
Rendering Ranger (Super Famicom)
Sub-Terrania (GEN)
Smash TV (Genesis/SNES)
Super Turrican I (SNES)
Super Turrican II (SNES)
Turrican I (GEN)
Xenon 2 (GEN)

[Naglfar]

Wait, do you want Japanese games, or non-Japanese games?

[mouser]

lol, guess it I worded the post a bit strangely (it's late).

I want Japanese games. I usually can tell from the publishers of the games and titles which ones are Japanese, but sometimes I do make mistaken purchases. I figure it will be easier to point out which games to avoid.



Yes, I know.

[xbl0x180]

I thought they were all Japanese

[jochen]

On the Sega-Genesis/ Mega-Drive games like

Battle Squadron, Xenon2 are not from japanese companies -
you will surely find a great variety of better japanese shmups.


Turrican I and Mega Turrican on the Genesis and Super Turrican I and II
and also Rendering Ranger on the SNES might have japanese publishers,
but were programmed in Europe ( you might miss some good games
if you are not interested in those titles ).

[mouser]

On the Sega-Genesis/ Mega-Drive games like

Battle Squadron, Xenon2 are not from japanese companies -
you will surely find a great variety of better japanese shmups.


Turrican I and Mega Turrican on the Genesis and Super Turrican I and II
and also Rendering Ranger on the SNES might have japanese publishers,
but were programmed in Europe ( you might miss some good games
if you are not interested in those titles ).

Good catch with Turrican!

Just had a deja vu typing this, axed what I was about to say

[Blackbird]

Why would you want to avoid getting Turrican? Turrican is awesome!

[BulletMagnet]

Super SWIV (aka Firepower 2000) is non-Japanese if memory serves.

[mouser]

Wow, never even heard of SWIV before, added.

Why would you want to avoid getting Turrican? Turrican is awesome!

I played Super Turrican as a kid, and didn't really like it. Something about the graphics, gameplay, music & sound just put me off. I didn't know it was non-Japanese until today though

The closest analogy I can make is, it's kind of like how I feel about the next gen Street Fighter games. Better graphic engine, better sound, more refined gameplay.....but I find the overall presentation just completely vulgar compared to the Alpha series.

Another analogy I just thought of, Ninja Gaiden (NES) to Revenge of Shinobi (GEN)...something about Revenge of Shinobi just rubs me the wrong way. Shinobi III was awesome though.

*shrug*

[RNGmaster]

OP is pathetic. Why do you want to avoid non-Japanese games? That's taking weeaboo-ism to a whole new level.

While we're at it, how about we give you little booties so you don't have to touch dirt that isn't superior Japanese dirt?

also turrican rocks

[stryc9]

OP is pathetic. Why do you want to avoid non-Japanese games? That's taking weeaboo-ism to a whole new level.

While we're at it, how about we give you little booties so you don't have to touch dirt that isn't superior Japanese dirt?

also turrican rocks

You gotta have your opinion on everything, don't you. I've noticed you taking a definite slide towards uptight nitpickyness lately, and considering I used to enjoy reading your posts I can only assume you are struggling with a particularly irksome 1CC, or have something going on in your private life or some shit.

I only take Japanese titles - and I do mean only the NTSCJ originals of Japanese programmed games, does that make me a weeaboo, or a Japanophile or whatever the fuck you clowns call it?
Of course not, I'm a grown man with the good taste enough to only want the best and I resent individuals such as yourself bitching away at every little thing that you don't agree with or don't understand.

OP wants Japan only games, and with the possible exception of some of the Turricans his desire is probably well justified. There's nothing pathetic about it.

[mouser]

OP is pathetic. Why do you want to avoid non-Japanese games? That's taking weeaboo-ism to a whole new level.

While we're at it, how about we give you little booties so you don't have to touch dirt that isn't superior Japanese dirt?

also turrican rocks

I LUUUUUUUUUUUUVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV Japanese games LUVLUVLUVLUVLUVLUVLUVLUVLUVLUVLUVLUV
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

And I also love Seattle. And penguins. And Boba Fett.

The only thing that would be pathetic is someone telling me what I should/shouldn't like, and actually following it.

猫大好き!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[louisg]

This topic is confusing .. and I think you've already listed almost all the western-devved SNES and Genesis shooters. Most of those are ports of better Amiga versions, btw, so I *would* probably recommend avoiding the Genesis/SNES versions of those (especially the early EA ports!).

Onto run n guns.. is this the wrong place to recommend Mega Turrican? It's really pretty decent, and the music is excellent.. I'd also recommend The Chaos Engine (Soldiers of Fortune) as a good western-developed run n gun (Genesis ver). It's a 2 player Gauntlet-inspired game, but it's a little more focused on action. It always reminds me of a top view Doom. Again, I recall the Amiga version being better. If you don't like western-developed 16-bit games *at all*, I don't know how much you'll enjoy them, but I feel those are worth a shot.

SubTerrania is one that wasn't listed. It's pretty decent, but it's more of a Thrust/Gravitar style game.

[Despatche]

with the good taste enough to only want the best

Completely self-defeating!

OP wants Japan only games, and with the possible exception of some of the Turricans his desire is probably well justified. There's nothing pathetic about it.

It's as much "well justified" as anyone thinking this is "pathetic" to them.

Let's all be a little reasonable here, please?

[mouser]

Onto run n guns.. is this the wrong place to recommend Mega Turrican? It's really pretty decent, and the music is excellent.. I'd also recommend The Chaos Engine (Soldiers of Fortune) as a good western-developed run n gun (Genesis ver). It's a 2 player Gauntlet-inspired game, but it's a little more focused on action. It always reminds me of a top view Doom. Again, I recall the Amiga version being better. If you don't like western-developed 16-bit games *at all*, I don't know how much you'll enjoy them, but I feel those are worth a shot.

I don't see how different Mega Turrican could be from Super Turrican, but I can check it out. I dimly recall Soldiers of Fortune; I like co-op games like Gauntlet/Dungeon Explorers, but they're the last thing that comes to mind when thinking of shmups, though

with the good taste enough to only want the best

Completely self-defeating!

OP wants Japan only games, and with the possible exception of some of the Turricans his desire is probably well justified. There's nothing pathetic about it.

It's as much "well justified" as anyone thinking this is "pathetic" to them.

Let's all be a little reasonable here, please?

OK, let's.

In short, during the 16-bit era: non-Japanese games usually sucked.

[xbl0x180]

Just out of curiosity, which ones sucked

[mouser]

Just out of curiosity, which ones sucked

Just to be clear, I'm referring only to 16-bit consoles, Super Nintendo, Genesis.

It wasn't just pure suckage either; often non-Japanese games were poorly made for consoles. Anyway, some examples:

• LJN games - suck
• Electronic Arts games - suck
• The Doom games on GEN/SNES - crappy ports that sucked
• Mortal Kombat games on GEN/SNES - crappy ports that sucked
• Sports games - Retro game stores are filled with these for a reason
• Lucasarts games - On PC, fun, on consoles, blew
• Did you like Squaresoft's "Secret of Mana" so bought "Secret of Evermore?" Secret of Evermore sucked compared Secret of Mana, and guess what, Secret of Evermore was made by Squaresoft's North American branch.
• Google "top ten genesis games" or "top ten SNES games" and I guarantee you it will mostly be filled with Japanese games.

They only good games that stand out at the top of my head are some of the Disney games, like Aladdin on Genesis.

[dieKatze88]

the 16 bit era was when Interplay was doing some really awesome things, and publishing some really awesome people. Like the startup that became Blizzard Entertainment.

[mouser]

Interplay....Earthworm Jim was good, so props there.

But Clayfighter was terrible. MDK was the other notable game of theirs for 16-bit, but I don't think I played that one.

Concerning Blizzard, that's the thing. When it came to PC games, Western makers were king. On console, they were...peasant.

[dieKatze88]

Interplay....Earthworm Jim was good, so props there.

But Clayfighter was terrible. MDK was the other notable game of theirs for 16-bit, but I don't think I played that one.

Namedropped Blizzard for a reason, don't forget about The Lost Vikings.

[BIL]

MDK was the other notable game of theirs for 16-bit, but I don't think I played that one.

Cool game, but it was on the PS1. 16-bit MDK wouldn't have been a pretty sight!

[Skykid]

OP is pathetic. Why do you want to avoid non-Japanese games? That's taking weeaboo-ism to a whole new level.

While we're at it, how about we give you little booties so you don't have to touch dirt that isn't superior Japanese dirt?

also turrican rocks

^ I'm with this. There's nothing wrong with the topic, but the reason for compiling the list is dumb.

Smash TV rocks too.

[mouser]

Namedropped Blizzard for a reason, don't forget about The Lost Vikings.

Oh yeah, but games like that were kind of a rarity.

MDK was the other notable game of theirs for 16-bit, but I don't think I played that one.

Cool game, but it was on the PS1. 16-bit MDK wouldn't have been a pretty sight!

Whoops, guess it caught me during the 16-bit/Playstation transitional phase.

OP is pathetic. Why do you want to avoid non-Japanese games? That's taking weeaboo-ism to a whole new level.

While we're at it, how about we give you little booties so you don't have to touch dirt that isn't superior Japanese dirt?

also turrican rocks

^ I'm with this. There's nothing wrong with the topic, but the reason for compiling the list is dumb.

Smash TV rocks too.

Speaking of compiling....

Compile and Technosoft games rocks both Turrican and Smash TV.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Cool game, but it was on the PS1. 16-bit MDK wouldn't have been a pretty sight!

It was a PC game first and foremost, and most likely a 16-bit application indeed.

Lucasarts games - On PC, fun, on consoles, blew

LucasArts made Metal Warriors for the SNES.
ToeJam & Earl is still playable and I doubt there's much wrong with console ports of Flashback. Also, Prince of Persia for the SNES is arguably the ultimate version (personally I never liked any version, but it is something of a seminal classic).
Apparently Desert Strike was originally a MD/Genesis game, but I've no idea whether it's any good.

[BIL]

It was a PC game first and foremost, and most likely a 16-bit application indeed.

For real homie, but in this context the reference was to 16-bit consoles as opposed to 32-bit ones. I can just imagine MDK spluttering along on the Genesis, having grown up with the 32X Doom port.

edit: I only ever played the PC version of MDK, come to think of it. Loved the box. ON A GOOD DAY ONLY 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE WILL DIE.

[RNGmaster]

You gotta have your opinion on everything, don't you. I've noticed you taking a definite slide towards uptight nitpickyness lately, and considering I used to enjoy reading your posts I can only assume you are struggling with a particularly irksome 1CC, or have something going on in your private life or some shit.

It's the latter. Sorry for taking my problems out on Shmups Forum.

Good to hear that someone honestly enjoys reading my posts, though. I do try!

[stryc9]

You gotta have your opinion on everything, don't you. I've noticed you taking a definite slide towards uptight nitpickyness lately, and considering I used to enjoy reading your posts I can only assume you are struggling with a particularly irksome 1CC, or have something going on in your private life or some shit.

It's the latter. Sorry for taking my problems out on Shmups Forum.

Good to hear that someone honestly enjoys reading my posts, though. I do try!

All good mate still love ya
P.S. It's not a woman is it?

[RNGmaster]

All good mate still love ya

And Strikers 2 is proving a bit of a bitch to 1-ALL.

[mouser]

Lucasarts games - On PC, fun, on consoles, blew

LucasArts made Metal Warriors for the SNES.
ToeJam & Earl is still playable and I doubt there's much wrong with console ports of Flashback. Also, Prince of Persia for the SNES is arguably the ultimate version (personally I never liked any version, but it is something of a seminal classic).
Apparently Desert Strike was originally a MD/Genesis game, but I've no idea whether it's any good.

Metal Warriors looks pretty cool, I'll probably pick that one up. Toe Jam and Earl was pretty good too. But Flashback...IIRC, it was plagued with laggy controls...might've been Out of this World...can't remember. Prince of Persia was never my thing either. I'll add Desert Strike.

I added Hunt for Red October too. I think that about covers all of the standard scrolling shmups, probably gonna call it done for now