Rob's NES shooter countdown.

Post by **Shatterhand** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 3:53 am

I think there will be another #3

and among the top 3 are Zanac and Recca, obviosuly. They are the top 2 shmups on NES anyway.

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 3:59 am

Shatterhand wrote:I think there will be another #3

a tie? Why?

The Coop · Post by **The Coop** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 4:02 am

VOTE XEVIOUS OF FOR #1! IT PLAY GO KICKY FAST!

shinsage · Post by **shinsage** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 4:08 am

Those screens of Gradius II look fantastic.

Post by **Icarus** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 4:08 am

The Coop wrote:VOTE XEVIOUS OF FOR #1! IT PLAY GO KICKY FAST!

This post is brought to you by Babelfish.

Twiddle · Post by **Twiddle** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 4:09 am

finally someone else in the world that's played battle formula

though it's in an emulator so it doesn't count i guess

louisg · Post by **louisg** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 4:17 am

Twiddle wrote:finally someone else in the world that's played battle formula

though it's in an emulator so it doesn't count i guess

Oh, I played that one on emulator too. I was a little disappointed at the time that it wasn't much like the (more enjoyable, Rob) Spy Hunter

It did have a kick ass effect for the curves though.

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 4:30 am

Reading Rob's threads: officially bad for my wallet.

DJ Incompetent · Post by **DJ Incompetent** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 4:30 am

Twiddle wrote:finally someone else in the world that's played battle formula

though it's in an emulator so it doesn't count i guess

You have it too? Sweet! Nobody ever talks about the damn game so I thought Super Spy Hunter didn't count as anything cool. I like the music transitions mid-stage and how every part in every stage just never makes the game feel stale anywhere. Good stuff. High five 'n all that.

Twiddle · Post by **Twiddle** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 4:42 am

i don't have it, it was part of an nes game collection at one of my cousins' houses some 14 years ago

i didn't remember exactly what it was named but it stuck to my mind because it was pretty cool

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 5:01 am

#2 Exed Eyes!

#1 Magic Dragon!!

Danny · Post by **Danny** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 8:42 am

I am glad that Abodox made the top ten. Played that game quite a lot recently!

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 11:38 am

Danny wrote:the top ten

Surely you mean "Rob's top ten", not "the top ten". Significant difference.

If I remember correctly, Over Horizon and Gun Nac are among "the" top ten.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 12:26 pm

This was a tough choice. Both share some strong similarities.

2!Recca

I thought Recca was a mess the first time I played it (years ago). I have a feeling the game was originally designed slower. The scrolling, animations, etc. all feel "hurried" and unnatural, exactly the way fullthrottle makes things look in MAME. I don't know. Ignoring the speed, a lot of it seems pretty standard aside from the number of sprites (lots of enemies swarming around just to be shot at). Most of the harsher attacks can be prevented, the key is obviously to not lose the upperhand of having a fully powered up weapon. The bosses, though, have some impressive attacks. Problem is most of them can/should be blocked and the boss destroyed within 1-2 bombs. Still, a fast paced game with lots of bosses, a few modes, swarms and swarms of enemies. It's still a mess, but I like it.

8/10

1!ZANAC

When Zanac X Zanac was released I spent most of my time playing the various versions of the original instead of Neo. Took until now to be reminded of why I liked it so much. This game is hectic, simple, has a relatively tiny hitbox for '86/'88 and lots of seemingly randomized action. Hold on rapidfire, let rank max out. How they could start with Zanac and go you know where. It's sick.

9/10

Sonic R · Post by **Sonic R** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 12:57 pm

Good choices Rob

So you are put Zanac above Recca

I think one knock against Zanac is the bosses. Pretty much just a bunch of bases really. I feel Recca is have more exciting bosses.

It is hard to believe that Recca does move that fast! When I play on emulator I don't believe it so I spend $200 to get a real cart and it really does move that fast!

I have nostolgia for Zanac though - that is the game (and Gradius) that is bring me here to this day.

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:00 pm

So nostalgia wins? How sad.

I'd like to add that you have to play Recca on the original hardware to fully appreciate it, it just doesn't look as good emulated.

PS.
Rob, is your rating Recca only 8/10 a stab at my second post? Nah, you wouldn't do that, would you?

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:06 pm

Rob, it's time for me to part from that copy of Biometal (japanese, complete). Surely you'll put it to better use than I did.

If you want it, free of any charge, pm me your address.

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:08 pm

If Rob doesn't want it (what are the chances) then I'll take it. I'd even pay for it

Sonic R · Post by **Sonic R** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:09 pm

Ceph wrote: I'd like to add that you have to play Recca on the original hardware to fully appreciate it, it just doesn't look as good emulated.

I am agree with this statement 100%

I find true appreciate for Recca when I played my cartridge.

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:18 pm

Sorry I wasn't clear - this isn't a sale, it's a gift since I've been entertainted by his thread.

And hey, Zanac wins on its own merits, keep the nostalgia out of this

I'd like to add that you have to play [any game] on the original hardware to fully appreciate it, it just doesn't look as good emulated.

Fixed.

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:22 pm

It's especially true for Recca though, the graphical effects simply don't look as good using an emulator and playing it on a PC screen.

Turrican wrote:I've been entertainted by his thread.

So was I, thank you Rob.

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:25 pm

Ceph wrote:It's especially true for Recca though, the graphical effects simply don't look as good using an emulator and playing it on a PC screen.

I'm sure of it, as with all the technical wonders, it's always a joy to see them run on the proper stuff. I wish I could agree by direct experience. Recca has been on my wishlist for years.

Danny · Post by **Danny** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:35 pm

Ceph wrote:
Danny wrote:the top ten
Surely you mean "Rob's top ten", not "the top ten". Significant difference.

If I remember correctly, Over Horizon and Gun Nac are among "the" top ten.

Yeah ok good point there!

FRO · Post by **FRO** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 2:31 pm

1943 isn't even on the list, & yet it belongs in the top 10 NES shmups of all time. Bah humbug, I say. I feel cheated after all that waiting.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 2:44 pm

I was disappointed with the lack of 1943 too, but Zanac made it. Yes!

Post by **Shatterhand** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 3:14 pm

Just one small nitpick, because I am that annoying.

Compile didn't "start" with Zanac. Before Zanac they had Guardic, Gulkave, Final Justice, Exa Innova and A.E. A.E. was released in 1982, it's a single-screen shooter and horribly modest. Gulkave is an horizontal shmup but it has some of the trademarks of Compile, and Guardic is the prequel to the very known "The Guardian Legend", which in Japan is known by its original name, "Guardic Gaiden"

Both Final Justice and Exa Innova have some similarities with Zanac, and if you play all of them in their order of releasing, and then play Aleste and Aleste 2 in the ending, you'll clearly see an evolution happening.

Sonic R · Post by **Sonic R** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 4:27 pm

I never imply that Zanac was the first - it was just the first shootie I play that (along with Gradius) on the NES and introduce me to shoot them ups.

I would love to play the older Compile stuff (I am HUGE Compile fan). Compile and Tecno Soft are my all time favorites of shootie developers.

Gulkave is an horizontal shmup but it has some of the trademarks of Compile...

How many horizontal games did Compile do? I only knew of Spriggan on the PC Engine and now this Gulkave title.

Post by **Shatterhand** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 6:29 pm

I actually was replying to this:

How they could start with Zanac and go you know where. It's sick.

How many horizontal games did Compile do? I only knew of Spriggan on the PC Engine and now this Gulkave title.

Well, they did the SMS version of R-Type. It's also said they made the MSX version of Thexder, though this is a multi-directional shooter. And.. erm, that's it, as far as I can remember.

Gulkave is the longest shmup ever. People complaing about Gunhed and Gunnac being long... they never played Gulkave... I think it may take up to 3 hours to finish it. It has 32 stages, some of the of typical Compile lenght... it's really insane.

http://www.ngy.1st.ne.jp/~momochi/untiku/u_comp.htm

this site has some screenshots of some of the older Compile shmups

Sonic R · Post by **Sonic R** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 7:41 pm

Shatterhand wrote:I actually was replying to this:

How they could start with Zanac and go you know where. It's sick.

I am sorry

Shatterhand wrote:
Well, they did the SMS version of R-Type. It's also said they made the MSX version of Thexder, though this is a multi-directional shooter. And.. erm, that's it, as far as I can remember.

Gulkave is the longest shmup ever. People complaing about Gunhed and Gunnac being long... they never played Gulkave... I think it may take up to 3 hours to finish it. It has 32 stages, some of the of typical Compile lenght... it's really insane.

http://www.ngy.1st.ne.jp/~momochi/untiku/u_comp.htm

this site has some screenshots of some of the older Compile shmups

And thank you Shatterhand for the link on Compile info

shiftace · Post by **shiftace** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 7:46 pm

Entertaining list, especially Zanac at #1 given the horrible things you've said about it. I basically agree with everything I recognize... except Silver Surfer. A lot of memorization, yeah, but I thought it's less painful than, say, Abadox, and it can't all be nostalgia.

Also, for maximum fun in Zanac, grab 4 or 5 Red Landers in stage 1. Seems like all the extends start to annoy the game even if you don't use your now ludicrous rapid fire.