What are the best shmups on the [US] Xbox 360?

[court]

I don't have a lot of money. And the reason why I bring it up is after reading a few of the "Cave is closing" threads that quite a few of you felt like Cave hasn't really put out anything decent in a while. So I'm interested in finding out what is worth owning since it doesn't sound like Cave isn't going to be doing anything else on the 360.

[KAI]

Pinksweets/Muchimuchi Pork!

[stryc9]

Cave hasn't really put out anything decent in a while.

Well that isn't even close to true so I wouldn't have that impression. Their later stuff seems to have gone in a bit of a different direction, as many here can attest, but all of their work is top notch stuff, even if some of it doesn't suit some shooter folk.

I'd say their weakest effort was the Deathsmiles games, or Akai Katana but plenty of people here would probably argue otherwise.

Anyway, you mentioned CAVE so you must be partial to bullet hells. I would suggest Mushi Futari which was only released in Japan but is region free IIRC. It is an obvious classic shmup that kind of epitomises the genre for me.

CAVE aside Raiden Fighters Aces is a wonderful package with the three RF games which if you dig the manic (read: non-bullet hell) type shooty. That got a US release. So did Raiden IV.

The Do Don Pachi Dai-Fukkatsu game got a US release and is excellent at what it does but it aint for everybody with the core of the scoring requiring holding a hit chain thru the level which is frustrating for some.

All depends on what sort of scoring system you like really.

[broken harbour]

I've been playing Raiden Fighters Aces this weekend, 3 games for a decent price. They are short but super fun. I prefer non-bullet hell games personally.

Raiden 4 is great. Espgaluda 2 is fun as well.

Eschatos, Muchi muchi Pork...

[Giest118]

I don't have a lot of money. And the reason why I bring it up is after reading a few of the "Cave is closing" threads that quite a few of you felt like Cave hasn't really put out anything decent in a while. So I'm interested in finding out what is worth owning since it doesn't sound like Cave isn't going to be doing anything else on the 360.

The "Cave is closing" threads aren't reflective of the quality of the games, more just the state of the genre as a whole.

[hail good sir]

a

[el chuddo]

Pinksweets/Muchimuchi Pork!

+1
Under $35 for both
Nothing better than these 2 games on there.
All day...
Hands down.
I know that is just an opinion, and I would not have believed it myself at first, but give them a chance if you really want to have a good time. Not the most polished looking Cave ports on the box, but positively the best bang for low bucks.

..and while your at it.. Mushihimesama Futari 1.5..under $40..then go get 1200 ms points and download the Black Label add-on from the US marketplace. The disc is great by itself, but the Black version really puts an extra shine on it.

Make sure to search the xbox site with the words "Mushihimesama-hutari-Black-Lavel".. That is how they wrote it.

[Schrodinger's cat]

CAVE aside Raiden Fighters Aces is a wonderful package with the three RF games which if you dig the manic (read: non-bullet hell) type shooty. That got a US release. So did Raiden IV.

I definitely recommend Raiden Fighters Aces as well, great game. But keep in mind that when it came out it was only $15 new. Since it's out of print and a little harder to find now, the vast majority of copies I've found online are in the $50+ range. Some JP copies are going over $100, which is stupid. The good news is that there are a few ~$20 US ones on ebay right now which looks to be your cheapest option.

Think of it like an investment

Good God. $2000 for a $300 box set... Holy price gouging Batman!

[BPzeBanshee]

I almost wish I had a US 360 so I could play Raiden Fighters Aces, but it's money better spent on a Japanese 360 instead.

[Lynx Winters]

The Do Don Pachi Dai-Fukkatsu game got a US release and is excellent at what it does but it aint for everybody with the core of the scoring requiring holding a hit chain thru the level which is frustrating for some.

To clarify this, it got a EU release as "DoDonPachi Ressurection" but it works on US-region Xboxes.

[DJ Incompetent]

Mushihimesama Futari
Raiden Fighters Aces
Eschatos & Ginga Force Double Pack
Deathsmiles

[EmperorIng]

Raiden IV and Strania: The Stella Machina are my favorite US-release shooters.
Raiden IV is exactly the type of shooter I'd like to see in our "HD" age of video-games.

[Skykid]

I'd say their weakest effort was the Deathsmiles games, or Akai Katana but plenty of people here would probably argue otherwise.

Wouldn't argue on Deathsmiles, I think it is their overall weakest. Akai Katana Shin (specifically) is god tier though. Just got to bend your head around the mechanics and you'll never look back.

[Special World]

Mushihimesama Futari Black Label
Eschatos
Ginga Force
Muchi Pork / Pink Sweets
Geometry Wars 2
Deathsmiles
Raiden Fighters Aces

[chempop]

I don't have a lot of money.

Deathsmiles (US), Dodonapchi:R (EU), Raiden 4 (US), Raiden Fighters Aces (US), Akai Katana (US), Guwange (XBLA)

are probably some of the better and more affordable games in the $15-30 price range.
ESPGaluda 2, Mushi Futari, Pink Sweet/Muchi Pork are closer to $40 iirc, also worthwhile is you are feeling the cave style.

[Jelloman581]

Chronoblast in the indie area! Only 80 MSP for some bullet hell goodness! There's quite a few shmups in the indie arcade actually on the cheap, and all have demos you can try.

[court]

I appreciate you guys helping out a noob. For those trying to gain traction in this genre it is very stressful because you keep second guessing yourself on what to buy. What's worse - the price of everything - not just shmups - is going up, up, up on ebay. I'm worried by time I discover what games I really enjoy they will all become unaffordable.

[soupbones]

Akai Katana Shin (specifically) is god tier though. Just got to bend your head around the mechanics and you'll never look back.

Buy that man a beer. AKS is one of 360's best shooters, and some of Cave's finest work.

Not cheap, but maybe one day for you to consider:

Ginga Force is a gem for its awesome stage design and customization.

Futari (360 mode) and DDP Resurrection Novice Mode are great entry level Cave games as well.

[iconoclast]

I might as well recommend the eternally overlooked Strania. It's $10 on XBLA with a pseudo-sequel as $5 DLC.

[hail good sir]

moved

[Reiko]

Personally so far, the ones I've played most are:

Akai Katana (disc version should be cheap, but I think it's $15 on the Games on Demand marketplace)
Mushihimesama Futari
Deathsmiles is enjoyable and not too hard
Muchi Much Pork/Pink Sweets are fun but I haven't spent much time on them yet.

Not by Cave, but Eschatos is good. Didn't play much of Ginga Force cause too much of the menus is in Japanese. Had the same problem with Stella Vanity on PC - I don't know what anything is or does.

I'm not sure if the buying from Hong Kong marketplace thing works, but I also like Bullet Soul, even though everyone says it sucks. Not much depth to it, but it's simple and fun to play for score and I like the music.

[Special World]

Didn't play much of Ginga Force cause too much of the menus is in Japanese.

Dude, play more. It's an amazing game, and the menus really aren't that difficult. You should be trying all the weapons parts you get anyhow, so it's not like it really matters that you can't read what they are.

[Danny]

Omega 5 is worth getting, same with trouble witches neo.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Even though Raiden III, Raiden IV & Trouble Witches Neo were all released on the Taito Type X arcade platform (running at 60fps in 640 x 480 hi-res format) , both developers of Moss & Siesta Studios add more value-added content to the 360 port counterpart releases of the same name. There's an unmistakable charm to playing the original Type X STGs indeed.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Kollision]

Omega 5 is worth getting

+1

[Shadowduel]

Yep, Akai Katana is your best friend and Cave's second best game imho.

[Special World]

Really wish I could get in on the Akai Katana love. The main systems for the game are fantastic and the graphics are beautiful, but good lord do I hate those bosses. Hands down the worst Cave bosses I've ever shot at.

I still like it a lot, but they really do bring down the game for me.

[Deca]

If you're relatively new to the genre I can't imagine a better spread than Futari and Raiden Fighters Aces. You can get them both pretty cheap as well.

[Skykid]

Really wish I could get in on the Akai Katana love. The main systems for the game are fantastic and the graphics are beautiful, but good lord do I hate those bosses. Hands down the worst Cave bosses I've ever shot at.

I still like it a lot, but they really do bring down the game for me.

The AKS bosses are all bastards, that's for sure. 100% pressure with some incredibly intricate attacks. It's all about timing your blades to cut through them at optimum times to survive, or to reap points and do a recharge straight after. Definitely an interesting equilibrium to figure out, there's a great deal of depth and strategy involved.

[court]

Yep, Akai Katana is your best friend and Cave's second best game imho.

If that's the second best, what is THE best?