2 Player Shmups on Genesis, SNES, NES

[Blackbird]

A friend of mine was thinking about streaming some 2 player shmups on any of these platforms. Any good recommendations? It seems like a lot of the titles I would ordinarily recommend are single player only =P.

Raiden Trad isn't all that great compared to the arcade version, but I know that's at least one with 2 player.

[Ebbo]

Life Force/Salamander (NES) is all kinds of rad in co-op and besides few difficulty spikes isn't too overwhelming to complete.

[toaplan_shmupfan]

Note: not all Raiden Trad games are the same. Raiden Trad Sega Genesis is one player only and with checkpoints instead of instant respawn.

I'd recommend Biohazard Battle for the Sega Genesis is two player cooperative.

[Blackbird]

Cool, I'll see if we can acquire them. Thanks guys!

[richter3456]

There's also Air Buster for the Genesis that's two player. I would also say the Parodius series and Twinbee for the SNES, but they're Japanese only releases.

[moh]

Legendary wings for NES is totally rad.

2 player co-op ack-shun!

[renardqueenston]

I'd recommend Biohazard Battle for the Sega Genesis is two player cooperative.

bar none my choice when reeling somebody in for some two player shooting. this game rules. nutty atmosphere and killer weird audio! i can't get enough of it.

[BrianC]

I would also say the Parodius series and Twinbee for the SNES, but they're Japanese only releases.

As far as I know, the SFC versions of Parodius are missing 2p co-op, as well. Pop 'n Twinbee is 2p, though. That one also came out in Europe. The second Twinbee for NES, aka Stinger, came to the US and has 2p. It gets mixed ratings, but I found it to be an underrated gem.

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

Aero Fighters and Pocky & Rocky are both essential for the SNES. For the latter, you can milk those enemy spawning wells if you stand at the right spot to level up both players right away!

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Aero Blasters (aka Air Buster) on the PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 supports simultaneous two-player capability (with a sliky smooth 60fps presentation compared to the slower fps version on the MD/Genesis platform). Gotta thank Interstate for pulling off that slick job indeed. Of course, requires a obligatory Multi-Tap/Turbo Tap & extra controller to do so.

Delving into the 4-player shmup realm, nets these two examples console-wise:

The crazy four-player co-op game featured in the DC GD-Rom release of Gigawing 2 comes to mind as well.

And let's not forget the 4-player co-op mode in the JPN 360 import shmup game of Shooting Love 200X also.

Granted, it's only Video System's Turbo Force PCB (which I've seen released under the "Hyper Force" variant title screen) with it's innovative simultaneous 3-player co-op mode + full auto-fire capability from the start of a serious shmup session.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[TransatlanticFoe]

Super/Mega SWIV too, though one player is forced to use the naff jeep. I don't know if Mega SWIV got a Genesis release or has region lockout, but Super SWIV was released in the US as Firepower 2000.

Two player Super Strike Gunner on the SNES might make it less tedious.

[Kiken]

Delving into the 4-player shmup realm, nets these two examples console-wise:

The crazy four-player co-op game featured in the DC GD-Rom release of Gigawing 2 comes to mind as well.

And let's not forget the 4-player co-op mode in the JPN 360 import shmup game of Shooting Love 200X also.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

You forgot the free XBLA game Aegis Wing. Also, Shooting Love 200X does not have a 4-player co-op mode. The 4-player mode is vs only (co-op in Trizeal and Exzeal is 2-player only).

[BrianC]

Legendary wings for NES is totally rad.

No, this is Totally Rad.

[MathU]

Delving into the 4-player shmup realm, nets these two examples console-wise:

The crazy four-player co-op game featured in the DC GD-Rom release of Gigawing 2 comes to mind as well.

And let's not forget the 4-player co-op mode in the JPN 360 import shmup game of Shooting Love 200X also.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

You forgot the free XBLA game Aegis Wing. Also, Shooting Love 200X does not have a 4-player co-op mode. The 4-player mode is vs only (co-op in Trizeal and Exzeal is 2-player only).

You forgot Blast Works too.

[Obiwanshinobi]

According to the menus, some games on Taito Legends 2 have 3 player modes, including Metal Black and Darius Gaiden if I remember correctly. Don't quote me on that, though (I coldn't have tried it out anyways).

[Estebang]

How's the Genesis version of Forgotten Worlds (I assume it retains 2-player)? The arcade uses a dial, which makes emulation annoying. Was the game rebalanced at all to accomodate button aiming?

Also, doesn't Shmups Skill Test in Shooting Love 20XX have 4-player co-op?

[BrianC]

How's the Genesis version of Forgotten Worlds (I assume it retains 2-player)? The arcade uses a dial, which makes emulation annoying. Was the game rebalanced at all to accomodate button aiming?

It has 2 player. It's not bad. I don't know if it was due to rebalancing, but it's definitely much easier compared to the arcade. The auto fire option with A and C as rotate works well. I heard that it's missing a couple levels. The odd thing is that I actually found the arcade version itself to be slightly awkward to control due to using a dial that has to be pressed down to fire.

[Mortificator]

The version of Forgotten Worlds on Capcom Classics Collection lets you use the right analog stick to aim Robotron-style.

I still don't love the game, though. Or Legendary Wings.

I would also recommend that anyone who plays Pop'n TwinBee do so in NTSC; the PAL conversion has the usual gameplay speed reduction.

[SuperGrafx]

Legendary wings for NES is totally rad.

2 player co-op ack-shun!

Provided both players share power ups equally...otherwise, you're in for a rough ride later on.
What a tough game!