new to the genre

[Zengeku3]

Go play some touhou...

I will second this. If you are interested in Cave games then there are actually things that Touhou can teach you. I find it that Touhou has more randomized attacks than most other shooters that seems to be more about semi-fixed patterns or aimed patterns. This might just be me though. Regardless, its a series worth checking out as they are excellent beginner shmups at Normal difficulty. The stages aren't very demanding and the visible hitbox will help you develop a sense of the hitbox location which can be transferred to other shooters that utilize a small hitbox like DoDonPachi and Mushihimesama.

Also. It's thanks to Touhou that I'm into shmups today. As for individual titles I recommend; Imperishable Night is fine but its a bit on the easy side and the forgiving death-bombing mechanic might spoil you. Subterranean Animism and Undefined Fantastic Object are both much harder and have more advanced patterns that you can learn from. And once you get tough enough for it, have awesome Lunatic difficulties.

Note of caution though. The stages in these games can be brutally repetitive however they are short. The focus is the bosses that are much better made.
-----------------------

Cave games!

Play DoDonPachi and Mushihimesama Futari. They are pretty beginner friendly. After you have toughened up I suggest heading straight on to Dai Ou Jou and Ketsui + some of the higher difficulties in Mushi. Also, get Death smiles. Its horizontal but its still good.

My favorite part about DDP: having a butt rock soundtrack that loops every 3 stages, every 20 seconds.

It's not that bad. It's lazy but it still has that 90's charm to it.

[Hagane]

Armed Police Batrider (Raizing)
Gunbird 2 (Psikyo)

As much as I love those games, I don't think they are good starting points for a beginner. Gunbird 2 especially, its first loop is harder than some Psikyo second loops.

Espgaluda, Gigawing, Imperishable Night, Strikers 1945 II, Shippu Mahou Daisakusen would be my picks for good entry level shooters.

[Deca]

As much as I love those games, I don't think they are good starting points for a beginner. Gunbird 2 especially, its first loop is harder than some Psikyo second loops.

Batrider Normal Course is very approachable and was one of the first things I played seriously. You're probably right about GB2 though, I sort of had second thoughts about that one after posting.

[Kollision]

If the beginner in question has a PS2, one of the best ways to get to know the genre is by trying Shienryu Explosion.
It's easy, has a basic scoring system and is flashy enough to not be labeled as an old school shmup in regards to graphics.

[Estebang]

Have we mentioned Crimzon Clover?

It's got the same style and feel as an Ikeda Cave shmup, and the same kinds of muscle memories are used, but the scoring system is much more natural and self-explanatory. Being a PC game with low system reqs helps too.

[Acid_Rain]

list on page 1 updated.

and thanks for all your tips!
I don't own a ps2 atm… but that could change, if necessary

[chum]

I would recommend trying Truxton and Darius Gaiden.

[beatsgo]

Have we mentioned Crimzon Clover?

It's got the same style and feel as an Ikeda Cave shmup, and the same kinds of muscle memories are used, but the scoring system is much more natural and self-explanatory. Being a PC game with low system reqs helps too.

Unrelated to topic: I don't know about Crimzon Clover with the system requirements. That game lags like hell both on my P4 base PCs with crap graphics cards.

[Estebang]

Okay, RELATIVELY low reqs. It won't run on a toaster.

[shadowbringer]

- Imperishable Night (for the Last Word Spell Cards, in the Spell Card Practice Room. Aiming to unlock them -- unlock requirements here -- made me replay the game quite a lot)
- Twinkle Star Sprites (after you read Akemi and Mikwuyma's guides on GameFAQs), may get you used to progressively fast enemies, at least teaches to not spam charge shots (most of the times) and may help you if you improve to a point where you can see the opponent's screen
- Dangun Feveron, in order to try to feel comfortable with the ship's speed (preferably the cat's). The game may feel fun enough for new players, as well.
- Eden's Aegis' Heaven difficulty, since there are some common attack patterns used in this game that may help you in other bullet hells
- ESP Ra De, has a noticeable scoring system (which feels rewarding too) with multipliers and fast falling point items, may help one find fun in scoring systems. (if you disregard boss milking until you're consistent enough without it)
- Battle Garegga (most of the initial difficulty may be getting used to the option shot formations, the idea with this recommendation is to further emphasize the importance of choosing what to destroy -- if Dodonpachi hasn't done so, already --, and to help make a new player, such as yourself, see lives and bombs as resources. Armed Police Batrider gives bomb invincibility and could help better to teach risk and reward in scoring and survival, but the goal with this recommendation is to help you use bombs more.)
- Thunder Dragon 2 (has mostly aimed shots, even though they're said to not be much visible or quite fast; may teach you how to handle aimed shots, though Dodonpachi does this better, see the 2nd boss for example)

I'll stop for now, haven't played shmups for a while so my memory is worse than usual..

[Estebang]

I think the Sonic Wings/Aero Fighters series and Psikyo's early catalog are perfectly suited for easing beginners into dodging advanced patterns, and aside from the changing score item values they're pure blast-em-ups.

[t0yrobo]

Just cause no one else has I'll second Battle Bakraid. Ignore any scoring beyond medaling and it's a really fun game to get started with. Plus it has a couple difficulty levels to go through.

[Illyrian]

- Imperishable Night (for the Last Word Spell Cards, in the Spell Card Practice Room. Aiming to unlock them -- unlock requirements here -- made me replay the game quite a lot)
- Twinkle Star Sprites (after you read Akemi and Mikwuyma's guides on GameFAQs), may get you used to progressively fast enemies, at least teaches to not spam charge shots (most of the times) and may help you if you improve to a point where you can see the opponent's screen
- Dangun Feveron, in order to try to feel comfortable with the ship's speed (preferably the cat's). The game may feel fun enough for new players, as well.
- Eden's Aegis' Heaven difficulty, since there are some common attack patterns used in this game that may help you in other bullet hells
- ESP Ra De, has a noticeable scoring system (which feels rewarding too) with multipliers and fast falling point items, may help one find fun in scoring systems. (if you disregard boss milking until you're consistent enough without it)
- Battle Garegga (most of the initial difficulty may be getting used to the option shot formations, the idea with this recommendation is to further emphasize the importance of choosing what to destroy -- if Dodonpachi hasn't done so, already --, and to help make a new player, such as yourself, see lives and bombs as resources. Armed Police Batrider gives bomb invincibility and could help better to teach risk and reward in scoring and survival, but the goal with this recommendation is to help you use bombs more.)
- Thunder Dragon 2 (has mostly aimed shots, even though they're said to not be much visible or quite fast; may teach you how to handle aimed shots, though Dodonpachi does this better, see the 2nd boss for example)

I'll stop for now, haven't played shmups for a while so my memory is worse than usual..

I agree with everything you say apart from Batrider. I even agree that Garegga is a good idea as it will teach new players to spot low visability bullets. But I reckon Batrider will be an effort in frustration for a new player.

++kudos for suggesting Eden's Aegis, definitely a good idea.

The 3 shmups I started with were Imperishible Night, Eden's Aegis/Blue Wish Resurrection and Progear. I've never looked back.

[BPzeBanshee]

If Twin Cobra's on the list, then by damn the Raiden games should be on there, especially the Raiden Fighters games.

[Deca]

I agree with everything you say apart from Batrider. I even agree that Garegga is a good idea as it will teach new players to spot low visability bullets. But I reckon Batrider will be an effort in frustration for a new player.

As long as you turn on Player Select and set your stages so you never fight Envy, Batrider is MUCH more beginner friendly than Garegga and will get you your first 1CC much faster.

[Vamos]

I agree with everything you say apart from Batrider. I even agree that Garegga is a good idea as it will teach new players to spot low visability bullets. But I reckon Batrider will be an effort in frustration for a new player.

As long as you turn on Player Select and set your stages so you never fight Envy, Batrider is MUCH more beginner friendly than Garegga and will get you your first 1CC much faster.

Envy is only activated by collecting special power up or special option i forget.

[Deca]

I agree with everything you say apart from Batrider. I even agree that Garegga is a good idea as it will teach new players to spot low visability bullets. But I reckon Batrider will be an effort in frustration for a new player.

As long as you turn on Player Select and set your stages so you never fight Envy, Batrider is MUCH more beginner friendly than Garegga and will get you your first 1CC much faster.

Envy is only activated by collecting special power up or special option i forget.

The stage 5 boss you fight is determined by what your second stage is. Blunt is associated with Sky High, Sobut with Sewer and Envy with Airport. If you get the shot special level up it adds the stage 3 boss on and if you get the option special level up it adds the stage 4 boss. I may have some of that switched around but I think that's right.

[Acid_Rain]

@Deca: Thanks for those tips!

So many options

I need more time

[Rex Cavalier]

Going to suggest Hellsinker because:

1: It's awesomest game ever
2: It's first shmup that i ever 1cc'ed

(It's on PC tho, and i hope you have nice hardware)

[burgerkingdiamond]

Just quit

[Estebang]

Going to suggest Hellsinker

Absolutely not. Showing that game to a squirrel or other small rodent would probably make its head explode.

[Rex Cavalier]

[RNGmaster]

Whoever said GB2 wasn't a good option because it's too hard:

Come on, you're missing the point. GB2 isn't so hard that it would scare a newcomer off completely, and it's a great game for skill-grinding, as it rewards aggressive play, teaches players how to avoid fast and slow patterns, and has some great bosses. Unlike some other titles people have suggested GB2 can be appreciated on many levels by all sorts of players. I'd highly suggest it as your first game, Acid King.

[NTSC-J]

I agree. GB2 was one of my first (along with Batsugun and DDP), and I'm still here, ten years later. The challenge was one of the things that first drew me to the genre.

[Hagane]

Well, I just think an easier game that doesn't absolutely destroy you from the very start is better for someone new to the genre. Play something easier of the same style to get accustomed and then go for the toughest titles. That's what I'm doing with Blade actually, I've just started playing STGs this year. Liked Psikyo games a lot and fell in love with GB2 and DB but they destroyed me, so I sticked to an easier game. Now I can do better in DB and GB2 thanks to learning Psikyo basics from SB, but I think I would have made slower progress if I just sticked to those other games. Most friends that tried to play STGs and started with hard titles just quit and never looked back.

[Acid_Rain]

how many stages does space bomber have? or how does this 1-2 stuff work within this game? normally the first number indicates the loop, right?

appreciate all your tips!

[mesh control]

Two more questions:

1) Is there a complete list for xbox360 shumps anywhere on the forum?

2) Is Instant Brain region locked?

I didn't see anyone answer these questions.
1. http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... 01&start=0
Region free games are highlighted in green.

2. Yes, you don't want to play it anyways.

[Acid_Rain]

I'm not a fan of 14 year old girls in short skirts…

Only interested in Instant Brain for playing DoDonPachi on my xbox360.

[Estebang]

If you insist on playing DDP unemulated, you'd be better served by tracking down the Saturn/PS1 version. Instant Brain DDP has non-configurable controls and other deficiencies.

[Acid_Rain]

one more question:
Is there any place in Europe where you can get the "Shooting Gameside" and how many releases of this magazine are there until now?