Underrated Gems: What shooters are underrated?

[gs68]

Area 88 / U.N. Squadron (ARC).

It doesn't have the nonlinearity of the SNES port, but I much prefer the arcade version's stages. Having hilarious amounts of starting weapons (one stage lets you equip 140 Phoenix or Falcon missiles for example) is fun too.

[Phellan Wolf]

Just to know your opinions there, but isn't Thunderforce IV/Lightning Force a bit overrated outside Japan. Although I love it and think it is a solid game I think there better shmups on the Megadrive, like MUSHA or Slap Fight IMO.

[BPzeBanshee]

I'd put most of the Thunder Force games above MUSHA to be honest. It's not that it's bad, but the horis and the top-down scroller seem more fine-tuned, unlike MUSHA's year-long stages.

[Furry Fox Jet Pilot]

G-Stream G2020/DeltaZeal is an underrated gem. It has a great weapon system, medal-chaining scoring, branching paths, great graphics, and great music.

[Liquid Snake]

Gynoug

[Despatche]

daisenpuu

straight up

[Oniros]

Akai Katana: I will never understand why it is so looked down by everyone in this forum. The game is fun as hell and has the best art direction in a CAVE shmup since Ketsui. None of that loli bullshit.

Jamestown: beautiful and very rewarding little shmup. One of my favorite non-danmaku shmup out there.

Danmaku Unlimited 2: both smartphone and pc versions are fucking awesome. Killer OST, gameplay, and scoring system. Simple to learn and very fun overall.

[Pretas]

Akai Katana: I will never understand why it is so looked down by everyone in this forum. The game is fun as hell and has the best art direction in a CAVE shmup since Ketsui. None of that loli bullshit.

I agree as long as you're talking about Shin. The arcade version is mediocre through and through, with an awful scoring system that makes little sense and doesn't feel satisfying. I'd say it's tied with the arcade version of DSII (which was similarly improved on 360) for Cave's worst non-mobile game.

Raycrisis seems to get overlooked in favor of the more popular Rayforce and Raystorm. It might be my favorite game of the series. The constant pressure to keep the Encroachment Meter down lends a frantic intensity to the whole experience, and the stage order select keeps it from growing stale on repeated runs. The stages are very well balanced and paced, especially compared to Raystorm, which tends to drag on. Because it was such a late PS1 release, it's arguably the most visually impressive STG on the system. My only gripe is that the same spider boss gets used in two stages with a palette swap, showing where they either hit a deadline or ran out of money.

I wish R-Gear hadn't been canceled. From the scant amount of blurry prototype footage that exists, it looks like it would have been an exceptional follow-up. But, 3D was quickly taking over (or so people thought) and they didn't want to take a risk on another 2D shooter.

[Jonst]

I agree,akai katana is severely underrated.Reasons given on this very forum state that it gets little love because it's a hori.What? What kind of reason is that? I used to think shin mode was the most enjoyable mode,but these days I love zetsu/climax mode the best...I agree,vanilla/arcade mode is a bit dull,but the other two are superb! I love all of cave's games, but this is the one I come back to more than any other,it's more fun than any of the others.I just love it!

[Shadowduel]

None of that loli bullshit.

It's all about lolis. Lolis kill each other to get themselves some red katanas, lolis go blind, prematurely old, get killed. My absolute favourite is one that looks like a guy, though.

And no, AK isn't underrated that much. Just not very popular.

[Bananamatic]

why is any anime girl a "loli" now

[Captain]

Anime with large tits-hentai
anime with tits- normal
anime with no tits- Loli crap get me out of here.
shmup with tits- awesome (unless it's Divine Sealing)
shmup with no tits-still bearable

[Ed Oscuro]

shmup with tank - Now we're talking!
Twin Hawk - WHOOOAAAAA

also xevious is boring crap, sry

[professor ganson]

also xevious is boring crap, sry

Typical. I assume you wouldn't say the same about Terra Cresta. Well, the later is really just standing on the shoulders of Xevious, which offered a completely new vision of what a shooter could be. I mean, do we say that Plato's Republic is boring crap even if its arguments are largely inadequate by contemporary standards? Yes, Xevious has a slow pace at the start, but that allows you to take in the game's aesthetic side which is also really distinctive. Not just the lush green grounds but also the base-like bosses, an idea that Zanac brought to perfection. Anyway, like I said above, I understand why the game gets so little respect around here. I just think you young folk may have a more difficult time appreciating what the game accomplished.

[Ed Oscuro]

also xevious is boring crap, sry

Typical. I assume you wouldn't say the same about Terra Cresta.

That's correct, because TC is a good game.

For me, Xevious is kind of like Space Invaders - original concept and execution, but good? Well...

[professor ganson]

Well, if Xevious is as boring to behold and play for you as Space Invaders, then there's nothing more to be said. But I find that peculiar myself, as it's a world of difference for me. Each stage of Xevious offers something different, the bombing is a terrific proximal attack-- not as satisfying as Dragon Blaze's proximal attack-- but still very satisfying and with a similar risk-reward component, and then Xevious just looks so much better than Space Invaders. Honestly, the comparison here has to be thin at best.

[Captain]

Well, if Xevious is as boring to behold and play for you as Space Invaders, then there's nothing more to be said. But I find that peculiar myself, as it's a world of difference for me. Each stage of Xevious offers something different, the bombing is a terrific proximal attack-- not as satisfying as Dragon Blaze's proximal attack-- but still very satisfying and with a similar risk-reward component, and then Xevious just looks so much better than Space Invaders. Honestly, the comparison here has to be thin at best.

You are missing his point.

[Squire Grooktook]

You can move vertically in Xevious right? That alone puts it an entire dimension above Space Invaders lol.

[professor ganson]

Well, if Xevious is as boring to behold and play for you as Space Invaders, then there's nothing more to be said. But I find that peculiar myself, as it's a world of difference for me. Each stage of Xevious offers something different, the bombing is a terrific proximal attack-- not as satisfying as Dragon Blaze's proximal attack-- but still very satisfying and with a similar risk-reward component, and then Xevious just looks so much better than Space Invaders. Honestly, the comparison here has to be thin at best.

You are missing his point.

I suppose it might look that way, but I'm directly addressing his point about how Xevious isn't good at what it does: it genuinely offers variety, implements the proximal attack well, and has an intriguing aesthetic.

[emphatic]

shmup with tank - Now we're talking!
Twin Hawk - WHOOOAAAAA

^^This man is OK.

[AntiFritz]

why is any anime girl a "loli" now

Ignorance.

[professor ganson]

You can move vertically in Xevious right? That alone puts it an entire dimension above Space Invaders lol.

Afaik, first arcade game to have vertical scrolling as we know and love it. By the way, please don't play any of the older console ports. Those are truly awful. I do like the xbox arcade port, though. That's pretty nice, actually, and it's cheap.

Given what a huge hit the game was in Japan, it's a shame that the game didn't get better sequels. Super Xevious is fine but didn't take the genre forward at all. Same with the later 3D game, which is pretty average.

[Captain]

Zero wing is underrated gameplay-wise, but well known for the engrish.
Also this.

[professor ganson]

Akai Katana

As far as Cave's games go, I'd personally say Death Smiles II is underrated. The art & Christmas theme are enough to make me go back for more.

[cubadoo23]

Dangun feveron what a beautifull looking game with super jolly music and no 11 year old jap girls in sight !

[dpful]

I really, really like Shienryu

[SapphireDensetsu]

I really, really like Shienryu

Same here...

[TheMongoose]

Dangun Feveron. I've barely been able to find any high scoring replays of this little funhouse in the west which I can't help but find strange considering how fun it is. Maybe it's because of how hard it is. I still can't reach Stage 5 Also, Esprade. I don't know how the scoring works but I can't help but find the action to be pretty damn flawless. And any Touhou game released after Double Spoiler. Especially Fairy Wars. Short bursts of action, interesting gimmick and intense patterns. Fans of those games tend to be really hard on Ten Desires and Double Dealing Character for some reason but I don't get it.

Other than that, I've got nothing. My tastes are pretty generic.

[killradio]

... and no 11 year old jap girls in sight !

Casper from Deathsmiles is german "Holy Scheiße"

[zaphod]

ESP Ra.De. scoring is pretty simple.

when enemies are destroyed by A shot while explosions from B shot are on them, you get a multiplier equal to the number of explosions.

The multiplier sticks around a bit, so you can "chain" and keep the multiplier going. also, when enemies are destroyed at max multiplier, the point items descend faster.

The multiplier applies to the point items as well as the kills.