Are there any other shmups with rank systems like Battle Gar

[Seahawk]

Most of them also make the game more difficult if you manage not to die for a while.

Only Gradius IV (and maybe V) do that, the rest have no time based factor.

Gradius III rank system explained

The information in the link above can be applied somewhat to Gradius I, II, and Gaiden as well, although the numbers probably aren't the same.

[ebarrett]

Rank in Bakraid and MuchiPork is negligible

Uh, no. Rank isn't really trivial to control in Bakraid (you need to do at least some basic chaining to allow yourself enough deaths/suicides, and if you go for 100k medals rank goes completely nuts) and impossible to control in MMP when scoring seriously (that you can earn enough extends and use enough partial bombs to get through everything doesn't make the rank less crazy).

[BIL]

Gradius III rank system explained

Excellent guide, thanks for that!

[zaphod]

Rank in Bakraid and MuchiPork is negligible

Uh, no. Rank isn't really trivial to control in Bakraid (you need to do at least some basic chaining to allow yourself enough deaths/suicides, and if you go for 100k medals rank goes completely nuts) and impossible to control in MMP when scoring seriously (that you can earn enough extends and use enough partial bombs to get through everything doesn't make the rank less crazy).

You don't really have to die in bakraid if you aren't trying to score, at least with normal course. you can actually just try to medal and play for survival and actually beat it that way.

I'm told advanced course does require management to clear, though.

[zaphod]

Actually many raizing games punish you severely for playing them wrong.

For example, Soukyugurentai ties it's rank to the power of your main gun. If you max it out the game becomes very difficult. instead you are supposed to use the "laser web" weapon extensively, which gives you a much lower rank, and doesn'tneed the main gun powerd up to be effective.

[bombman]

Thanks everyone, been looking for more challenging games like Garegga to play. Pink Sweets looks pretty cool, I've been looking at replays on Nico Douga, at the later levels and it looks like you can beat it on max rank (?) if you use the rose cracker the right way.
Speaking of Garegga, here is a play by SDD Kaede I've been using for reference. where he milks the bosses for millions of points each.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq0qIjMzaK4

[Vamos]

Thanks everyone, been looking for more challenging games like Garegga to play. Pink Sweets looks pretty cool, I've been looking at replays on Nico Douga, at the later levels and it looks like you can beat it on max rank (?) if you use the rose cracker the right way.
Speaking of Garegga, here is a play by SDD Kaede I've been using for reference. where he milks the bosses for millions of points each.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq0qIjMzaK4

Just watched that replay , its damn incredible .

[Obiwanshinobi]

Thanks everyone, been looking for more challenging games like Garegga to play.

Check out Compile shmups (Raizing is something of a Compile off-shot). While usually not coin-op-hard, they have quite prominent rank and some of them can be quite challenging: Zanac Special Version, GunHed/Blazing Lazers on the hidden difficulty setting (default difficulty is a joke), Super Aleste/Space Megaforce in both suicide bullets modes...