Which of these 3 Compile shmups is the best?

[Squire Grooktook]

Although I normally do play games on default settings only (and haven't played Super Aleste on hard yet), I doubt my reference to Super Aleste being bland would be any different with more strategic bullets and power-ups.

Naw, really, every stage has something unique going for it. First stage is basic, but has destructable walls that spawn suicide bullets, giant orbs docked that jump out at you, and those arrays of little destructible cubes. Stage 2 is a battle ship raid with each arm of the ship having a different weapon system (ranging from homing rockets, pulsing energy spirals, rockets that rain from the sky, enemies with shields, and traditional bullet sprays). Stage 3 and 4 having destructable moons that pulse and increase in size periodically, enemies that leave flaming trails behind them that need to be cleared out, and flame throwers that sweep the stage in giant arcs. Later on levels include a high speed zone, a grave yard where every shot causes the walls to splinter to pieces, an asteroid field with drilling enemies, etc.

Super Aleste has a lot of variety. And that's not even counting the massive variety in your own weapon system! Or the bosses.

[BulletMagnet]

Cranking up Space Megaforce's difficulty does change things up a fair bit; the stronger enemies and more plentiful bullets means you'll have to rethink your weapon choices for particular areas (i.e. on "Normal" you can basically go through the whole game with the Laser, but that won't work too well anywhere above that).

[MrOldSchoolCool]

You know, I think it's the music and sound in Super Aleste that makes it seem really tame/calm or something. Anybody else get that sense?

[Squire Grooktook]

Maybe. It's kinda like Rayforce in that it's one of those ost's that's really good but wouldn't strike you as such if you just sat down and listened to it on an mp3 for a few minutes. It just really fits the mood a lot of the time and goes a long way to developing the atmosphere in the game, not to mention it grows on you the longer you listen (again like Rayforce).

[evil_ash_xero]

Probably Musha and then Spriggan. I have never been able to get into Robo Aleste. It always struck me as odd that the graphics look as bland as they do. Especially when compared to the first Musha, which is from 89 and a cart game.