7th Annual Top 25 Shmups of All Time! - Comments thread
Just name 25 random one's you like, placing them all at almost the same value. Everyone should vote. If anyone can't decide just put Dangun Feveron as your number 1.Shumps4Free wrote:I guess I'll pitch my hat in next year. I was going to attempt a list for this years, but cramming enough shmups into the remaining hours to come up with a proper top 25 doesn't seem very safe for my sanity, nor the rules for the whole deal.
I did great so much water and milk that I threw up when I was little.
Time for me to express my feelings:
[Ketsui]
How can the greatest game ever not be tops?
[Summer Carnival '92: Recca]
When I have discover this gem back in 2002 via emulation, I cannot believe that this was the way this Famicom game was - I thought emulation overclock/enhance it. So I set out to get a proper cart and upon finally getting one, I was sold. This game is a phenom! Recca is the pinnacle of 8-bit shooting!
[The Guardian Legend]
This game is a hybrid of two great genre. The shooting game itself is Compile gold on its own. Adding quest adventure only enhances the whole game playing experience and is a marvel to behold…
[Gun-Nac]
Fine offering from Compile, I am an addict to play this game as it gives me great enjoyment, 15 years strong.
[Power Strike]
The finest shooting game on the SMS, another Compile treasure, I just get a kick out of this game that I cannot get over! Its like Zanac on the NES… (of note, I have not experienced Power Strike II - If I ever become it, then it may take precedence over Power Strike)
[Zanac]
The game that made me addict of shooting games, and the gateway to why I am here among these forums 20 years later… I loved to punish myself as a child by playing this game, struggling and finding myself get better and further the more I played. Many different weapons to experiment with and variable difficulty always made the game a fun time everytime I popped it into my NES. The music was also great and had me going even when frustration set in…
[MUSHA]
Awesome Music, awesome graphics, great game play. It may be of consideration of being easier, but I still get a kick to blast out and jam to MUSHA musics. I feel redemption when I can conquer this game after struggles with many other games. MUSHA is a good old friend I like to hang out with and just reminisce and have a good time.
[Space Megaforce]
The most amazing shooter on the SNES, great music, solid gameplaying. SNES shooting games always feel slow, choppy, what ever, but Space Megaforce defied logic and played seamlessly without a hitch.
[Zanac Neo]
Zanac of the next generation. A fitting sequal and fine (and sorrowful) conclusion to Compile
[Thunder Force III]
Amazing graphics, and amazing music, this is the prime Thunder Force game for me. I cannot get enough of this game, good times and good fun everytime I power up this cartridge.
[Gleylancer]
I discovered this late, but it had won me over the first time I play it. Music is tops, gameplay is great, level design is amazing… wow. My regret is that I never had a chance to grow up with this game.
[Magical Chase]
Awesome shooting game that has awesome turbochip musics and great graphics. Its a feel good game for me and I feel good everytime I play. I paid a hefty $160 USD for it back about 5 years ago and it was worth every penny.
[R-Type]
I bought this for my Turbo Grafx 16 at Toys R Us in the spring of 1991… for a whopping $69.99 plus 4% sales tax. was the most I paid for a game at that time, and I was sure to make sure I got my money worth. There is a code for 21 credits and I would play using all 21 of them and as I learned the game, I got better where I didn't have to use credits early on. The thing is I hit the wall at stage 7 and got to a point where even 21 credits did me no good
I still love it though and has a special place in my heart.
[Soldier Blade]
The peek of this series on the Turbo Grafx 16. This game also got me into playing the score attack mode. SSS had it but I couldn't be bothered with it back in 1991, and on the whole, I find Soldier Blade far much more refined than Super Star Soldier.
[Keio Flying Squadron]
Awesome shooting game on Sega CD, and the best - most people I knew were hype for Silpheed and I like it too but Keio was so much better, good music and great game playing, and this game was the first I ever knew of hitboxes (which was adjustable)
[Lords of Thunder]
The soundtrack is of infamy and the game play is great. I like this for all the right reasons. I fell for the adverts, but LoT delivered.
[Blazing Lazers]
Spent countless hours playing this amazing shooter back in the fall of 1990 back in 7th grade. The music was gravitating… Many complain of the length, but I used to just loose myself in this game. Just felt like an epic game and I felt accomplishment to complete the stage and advance to the next. For years however, I could never beat the game, but time came and I finally am able to conquer this.
[Elemental Master]
Unique shooter, great music, great gameplay and I just have a great time playing this… 15+ years and its still good as the day I rented it back in 1992.
[Thunder Force II]
This was a game I played AFTER TFIII and at first, those overhead levels didn't do it for me, but then it all came together, and I "got it" and this game became a favorite on its own merits for me, AND it added TFIII action on top of it. TFIII horizontals are better but TFII could be a good game on overhead stages alone.
[G Darius]
My absolute favorite Darius game. I like the capture ball feature and the stage layouts. Solid shooter on the PSX at a time when shooters were on the outs.
[Raiden Fighters Jet]
I really fell for this game last year, and I still cannot put it down. I just have a fun time trying to do the tasks of this game to get good score… Yeah, this is one game I try to play proper for score and actually enjoy it. A good feeling when it comes together.
[Battle Garegga]
I first discovered this game on the demo of Souky, and was really impressed with it. I had actually spent alot of time on that one stage demo, and then a friend had the game a little later and let me borrow it. I became hooked on it and really liked the style. Now I have my own copy and I find it a solid game and a game with variable styles of play that keep it fresh.
[Border Down]
This is a very pretty game and the feel and presentation are something to behold. I was very amazed that shooter games were still coming out when I got this back in 2004 and it had me from the moment I pressed start. Challenging but I get a kick to play this game, and I really like the musics.
[DoDonPachi Dai-ou-jou Black Lable Extra]
I had play DOJ on the PS2 and…hated it. Then I get this game on my Xbox 360 and played alot of black label and found the game to be far more enjoyable than white vanilla could ever dream to be, then I played the Xbox 360 Xmode, and that was that. X mode would suck up most of my game playing time for the past months and I still feel great everytime to play it. X mode makes DOJ a treat to play. Amazing what a few refinements can do to a game that I once despised, and turn it into something of solid gold bliss.
[Zero Gunner 2]
ZG2 edged out Under Defeat for me list. I really enjoy this game on all levels today as much as I did years ago when I first played it. Also, ZG2 is by far the BEST Psikyo game made for my enjoyment and its not even close.
[Ketsui]
How can the greatest game ever not be tops?
[Summer Carnival '92: Recca]
When I have discover this gem back in 2002 via emulation, I cannot believe that this was the way this Famicom game was - I thought emulation overclock/enhance it. So I set out to get a proper cart and upon finally getting one, I was sold. This game is a phenom! Recca is the pinnacle of 8-bit shooting!
[The Guardian Legend]
This game is a hybrid of two great genre. The shooting game itself is Compile gold on its own. Adding quest adventure only enhances the whole game playing experience and is a marvel to behold…
[Gun-Nac]
Fine offering from Compile, I am an addict to play this game as it gives me great enjoyment, 15 years strong.
[Power Strike]
The finest shooting game on the SMS, another Compile treasure, I just get a kick out of this game that I cannot get over! Its like Zanac on the NES… (of note, I have not experienced Power Strike II - If I ever become it, then it may take precedence over Power Strike)
[Zanac]
The game that made me addict of shooting games, and the gateway to why I am here among these forums 20 years later… I loved to punish myself as a child by playing this game, struggling and finding myself get better and further the more I played. Many different weapons to experiment with and variable difficulty always made the game a fun time everytime I popped it into my NES. The music was also great and had me going even when frustration set in…
[MUSHA]
Awesome Music, awesome graphics, great game play. It may be of consideration of being easier, but I still get a kick to blast out and jam to MUSHA musics. I feel redemption when I can conquer this game after struggles with many other games. MUSHA is a good old friend I like to hang out with and just reminisce and have a good time.
[Space Megaforce]
The most amazing shooter on the SNES, great music, solid gameplaying. SNES shooting games always feel slow, choppy, what ever, but Space Megaforce defied logic and played seamlessly without a hitch.
[Zanac Neo]
Zanac of the next generation. A fitting sequal and fine (and sorrowful) conclusion to Compile
[Thunder Force III]
Amazing graphics, and amazing music, this is the prime Thunder Force game for me. I cannot get enough of this game, good times and good fun everytime I power up this cartridge.
[Gleylancer]
I discovered this late, but it had won me over the first time I play it. Music is tops, gameplay is great, level design is amazing… wow. My regret is that I never had a chance to grow up with this game.
[Magical Chase]
Awesome shooting game that has awesome turbochip musics and great graphics. Its a feel good game for me and I feel good everytime I play. I paid a hefty $160 USD for it back about 5 years ago and it was worth every penny.
[R-Type]
I bought this for my Turbo Grafx 16 at Toys R Us in the spring of 1991… for a whopping $69.99 plus 4% sales tax. was the most I paid for a game at that time, and I was sure to make sure I got my money worth. There is a code for 21 credits and I would play using all 21 of them and as I learned the game, I got better where I didn't have to use credits early on. The thing is I hit the wall at stage 7 and got to a point where even 21 credits did me no good
I still love it though and has a special place in my heart.[Soldier Blade]
The peek of this series on the Turbo Grafx 16. This game also got me into playing the score attack mode. SSS had it but I couldn't be bothered with it back in 1991, and on the whole, I find Soldier Blade far much more refined than Super Star Soldier.
[Keio Flying Squadron]
Awesome shooting game on Sega CD, and the best - most people I knew were hype for Silpheed and I like it too but Keio was so much better, good music and great game playing, and this game was the first I ever knew of hitboxes (which was adjustable)
[Lords of Thunder]
The soundtrack is of infamy and the game play is great. I like this for all the right reasons. I fell for the adverts, but LoT delivered.
[Blazing Lazers]
Spent countless hours playing this amazing shooter back in the fall of 1990 back in 7th grade. The music was gravitating… Many complain of the length, but I used to just loose myself in this game. Just felt like an epic game and I felt accomplishment to complete the stage and advance to the next. For years however, I could never beat the game, but time came and I finally am able to conquer this.
[Elemental Master]
Unique shooter, great music, great gameplay and I just have a great time playing this… 15+ years and its still good as the day I rented it back in 1992.
[Thunder Force II]
This was a game I played AFTER TFIII and at first, those overhead levels didn't do it for me, but then it all came together, and I "got it" and this game became a favorite on its own merits for me, AND it added TFIII action on top of it. TFIII horizontals are better but TFII could be a good game on overhead stages alone.
[G Darius]
My absolute favorite Darius game. I like the capture ball feature and the stage layouts. Solid shooter on the PSX at a time when shooters were on the outs.
[Raiden Fighters Jet]
I really fell for this game last year, and I still cannot put it down. I just have a fun time trying to do the tasks of this game to get good score… Yeah, this is one game I try to play proper for score and actually enjoy it. A good feeling when it comes together.
[Battle Garegga]
I first discovered this game on the demo of Souky, and was really impressed with it. I had actually spent alot of time on that one stage demo, and then a friend had the game a little later and let me borrow it. I became hooked on it and really liked the style. Now I have my own copy and I find it a solid game and a game with variable styles of play that keep it fresh.
[Border Down]
This is a very pretty game and the feel and presentation are something to behold. I was very amazed that shooter games were still coming out when I got this back in 2004 and it had me from the moment I pressed start. Challenging but I get a kick to play this game, and I really like the musics.
[DoDonPachi Dai-ou-jou Black Lable Extra]
I had play DOJ on the PS2 and…hated it. Then I get this game on my Xbox 360 and played alot of black label and found the game to be far more enjoyable than white vanilla could ever dream to be, then I played the Xbox 360 Xmode, and that was that. X mode would suck up most of my game playing time for the past months and I still feel great everytime to play it. X mode makes DOJ a treat to play. Amazing what a few refinements can do to a game that I once despised, and turn it into something of solid gold bliss.
[Zero Gunner 2]
ZG2 edged out Under Defeat for me list. I really enjoy this game on all levels today as much as I did years ago when I first played it. Also, ZG2 is by far the BEST Psikyo game made for my enjoyment and its not even close.
-
Shumps4Free
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Mon May 11, 2009 11:20 pm
Is that still going on, or did it just fade away?Rob wrote:Try this one: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=24605
http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=24915Shumps4Free wrote:Is that still going on, or did it just fade away?Rob wrote:Try this one: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=24605
There's the results.
My list, explained.
First off, there is a lot of truly awesome stuff, and "better designed" games aplenty that I just can't dig yet. This is the reason why so little Psikyo stuff made it in my list this year; I've never been good at them (although my coin chain in Gunbird 2 is now up to five! Hooray!)
[5] [Raiden Fighters Jet]
I can deal with most ships being pretty worthless because the actual game design is great fun. As Twiddle says, the best of Seibu's "stuntman shmups." I'm also impressed by the medal system - waving that giant medal around in everybody's face is an experience I don't find anywhere else.
[5] [Mahou Daisakusen]
Epic. First stage drags but I love most everything else about this game. Actually makes good use of the old Compile powerup system.
[5] [Armed Police Batrider]
Besides having the visuals down perfectly, and a wide range of great player ships to choose from, playing for scoring doesn't cause me psychic distress.
[5] [Kyuukyoku Tiger / Twin Cobra]
Does this game need an introduction?
[5] [Soldier Blade]
Perhaps some other caravan shooter should belong here, but I chose it as a representative of them all. The rest of the game is decent too.
[5] [OutZone]
Great fun if you remember to let the enemies shoot back by selecting the right ROMset / difficulty setting.
[5] [Kiki Kaikai: Tsukiyo Soushi / Pocky & Rocky 2 (Super Famicom / SNES)]
Despite the complexity introduced in this outing of the franchise, it doesn't feel like it's become top-heavy.
[5] [Flying Shark / Hishou Zame / Sky Shark]
Things that are bad for me but awesome: Beer, pr0n, Forums, and button mashing. Aside from the button mashing, the feel of the stage designs is excellent.
[5] [Battle Garegga]
I tried not to be a herd follower but this one got the better of me. I'm not much good at it, but I've been playing it intermittently the last few days and I'm starting to enjoy and respect it.
[5] [R-Type]
I only started playing this game seriously recently - I enjoyed the Game Boy Color port, R-Type DX, when I discovered it during my trip to Berlin. Fun and imaginative stage design and challenges.
[5] [Air Gallet]
Aside from the visuals, I like this one's scoring system. Not nearly as tricky as coin chaining in Gunbird 2, and still borderline OCD, but I like it all the same. Probably would like it more if I didn't play so much for score.
[5] [Vasara]
The way I play it, far different from any other shmup on this list.
[4] [Ninja Emaki / Youma Ninpou Cho]
The US version is danged easy, but enjoyable. Good variety here, and sports some systems not seen elsewhere. A single-stick top-down runner shooter that actually works without a button dedicated to shooting upwards all the time.
[4] [Dragon Breed]
It looks like a shooter, but it can be a Gunforce-alike too!
[4] [Jackal / Top Gunner]
I went with the arcade version even though the NES version is more beloved by many (as Bill points out, no noticable aiming lag in that one). Although it's not as pure an experience as Ninja Princess / Sega Ninja (same game) and the many ports of that game coming years before, it's got some interesting scoring mechanics and feels more like a complete game.
[4] [Sengoku Ace]
I think this is my sole Psikyo shooter. I guess I added it because I ordered the board recently. Actually, I just enjoy the stages, and while I know the coins must be just like the coins or gold bars (something I just discovered today), I prefer just to shoot to kill the bosses.
[4] [Kiki Kaikai: Nazo no Kuro Mantle / Pocky and Rocky (Super Famicom / SNES)]
A more streamlined and straightforward update to the arcade classic, but it still has a lot going on. I don't think the horizontal orientation puts it at a disadvantage.
[4] [Space Manbow (MSX2+)]
A game I played a significant amount some months ago. It's been replaced by Nemesis III in my MSX2+ since then, but there's no doubt in my mind this is the more tightly controlled experience.
[4] [Raiden Fighters]
I might even enjoy it more than Jet at times.
[4] [Raiden Fighters 2]
Ditto, except the stages feel wonky to me for some reason.
[4] [Fire Shark (Mega Drive / Genesis)]
I can't really get into the arcade version so much. I don't ruin the game with autofire; I just get the (probably underpowered) flame shot and tap the button as needed.
[4] [Battle Mania 2]
It's been a while since I played this but I recall it being pretty good for a Section Z inspired game. More variety than Side Arms (too many underground stages)
[4] [Cho Ren Sha 68K (Windows)]
When Harry and Sally Met, They Shot Each Other And The Player Ship Laughed.
[4] [Aleste II (MSX2+)]
Actually, I imagine I enjoy this more than Space Manbow. It's certainly more graphically impressive. I'm embarrassed to say that right now I can't remember whether this game suffers from the curse of needing to hold down two buttons at once (a condition afflicting MUSHA Aleste, for example) for no discernable reason, but it's still great.
[4] [Assault] - if allowed otherwise delete & add next entry
I finally decided I needed to find out about the game behind the music. Wow. It ramps up difficulty reasonably quickly, and it's an excellent tank game. Not sure what I think about the ability to tilt your gun up to drop a bomb, but the flip maneuver is genius. Really deserves a higher spot on this list, and someday I hope to look into getting a dedicated.
[4] [Mars Matrix]
Actually, I guess this is another herd-follower Go play Mars Matrix. I like the idea behind the scoring system, but Go play Mars Matrix. I'll have to keep working Go Play Mars Matrix.
[4] [Shienryu]
Originally this was arbitrarily tossed much higher in my list. Doesn't have Daioh's charm but it also doesn't have disappearing bullets (if MAME is correct).
MUSHA Aleste / M.U.S.H.A. (Mega Drive / Genesis)
Ugh, holding down two buttons at once. Also ugh the tunnel section that will indeed strip away all your options if you don't tuck them behind your tale. The intro is epic though (well, hilarious; mostly it's the music and the awesome glass cockpit simulations), and the stages are pretty nifty too.
Nexzr
I liked this mainly for the caravan mode and the EVERYBODY DIES mentality of the game. I admitted to my mom this game makes me weepy. True story.
Juno First
A bit slow most of the time but it's got some classic elements. I have the sneaking suspicion it needs SOMETHING, though.
Ninja Princess
Forerunner to every good top-down running shooter made.
Jackal (NES)
Probably better than arcade. Much better than the FDS version, which itself is probably better than the Japanese arcade version which has a game-killing design flaw (the gun doesn't always shoot up, what the hell).
Crisis Force (Famicom)
I didn't play this very carefully until today, and found out that it's basically a pretty face with sad scrolling speed but a rather complicated seeming powerup system. I'm still not sure how to trigger the big Terra Cresta phoenix-type ship, but it just happens. I enjoy that you can hold onto the ship longer by collecting powerups; unfortunately, I think Konami blew it big time by not making it really feasible to carefully chain powerups. There desperately needs to be a game made around that conceit.
Power Strike II (PAL SMS)
A lot less fun than I had remembered or anticipated. I don't think NTSC speed (if Fusion361 is any indication, and you can switch speeds mid-emulation) kills it, and it gives the music a bit more zip. Still, reminds me more of the mess in the original SMS / MSX2 Aleste than it does of Aleste II.
Guxt
Underappreciated. The only complaint I have with this game is that, like MAJOR STRYKER, suiciding extra lives seems to be the way to get highscores.
Gradius Galaxies (GBA)
The good parts are good, and the bad parts are the stages that drag on forever and a day. Same reason nothing with Truxton or Tatsujin made my list.
Elemental Master
I want to get to know this game better.
Undead Line (all versions)
Ditto.
Twinkle Tale
Demolished by Rob's review, but ditto.
Biometal
I don't like horis enough to have cared until recently. I recall being demolished by this game some years ago; I'll have to try it again. Missed the deadline.
Axelay
Uh, ditto.
Thunder Force games
Yep.
Anything by Tiaot / Zunpapa that isn't Kaikai Kiki by Murakashi Tatami is BOWCOYTED because they only playtested the games for like two minutes. Lots of genre-defining things in such games as Darius II, RayForce, Gun & Frontier, and Metal Black, but jesus christ get your shit together.
This doesn't mean I don't enjoy playing those games upon occasion. But mostly I just fix googly eyes on the graphics and buy the OSTs.
First off, there is a lot of truly awesome stuff, and "better designed" games aplenty that I just can't dig yet. This is the reason why so little Psikyo stuff made it in my list this year; I've never been good at them (although my coin chain in Gunbird 2 is now up to five! Hooray!)
[5] [Raiden Fighters Jet]
I can deal with most ships being pretty worthless because the actual game design is great fun. As Twiddle says, the best of Seibu's "stuntman shmups." I'm also impressed by the medal system - waving that giant medal around in everybody's face is an experience I don't find anywhere else.
[5] [Mahou Daisakusen]
Epic. First stage drags but I love most everything else about this game. Actually makes good use of the old Compile powerup system.
[5] [Armed Police Batrider]
Besides having the visuals down perfectly, and a wide range of great player ships to choose from, playing for scoring doesn't cause me psychic distress.
[5] [Kyuukyoku Tiger / Twin Cobra]
Does this game need an introduction?
[5] [Soldier Blade]
Perhaps some other caravan shooter should belong here, but I chose it as a representative of them all. The rest of the game is decent too.
[5] [OutZone]
Great fun if you remember to let the enemies shoot back by selecting the right ROMset / difficulty setting.
[5] [Kiki Kaikai: Tsukiyo Soushi / Pocky & Rocky 2 (Super Famicom / SNES)]
Despite the complexity introduced in this outing of the franchise, it doesn't feel like it's become top-heavy.
[5] [Flying Shark / Hishou Zame / Sky Shark]
Things that are bad for me but awesome: Beer, pr0n, Forums, and button mashing. Aside from the button mashing, the feel of the stage designs is excellent.
[5] [Battle Garegga]
I tried not to be a herd follower but this one got the better of me. I'm not much good at it, but I've been playing it intermittently the last few days and I'm starting to enjoy and respect it.
[5] [R-Type]
I only started playing this game seriously recently - I enjoyed the Game Boy Color port, R-Type DX, when I discovered it during my trip to Berlin. Fun and imaginative stage design and challenges.
[5] [Air Gallet]
Aside from the visuals, I like this one's scoring system. Not nearly as tricky as coin chaining in Gunbird 2, and still borderline OCD, but I like it all the same. Probably would like it more if I didn't play so much for score.
[5] [Vasara]
The way I play it, far different from any other shmup on this list.
[4] [Ninja Emaki / Youma Ninpou Cho]
The US version is danged easy, but enjoyable. Good variety here, and sports some systems not seen elsewhere. A single-stick top-down runner shooter that actually works without a button dedicated to shooting upwards all the time.
[4] [Dragon Breed]
It looks like a shooter, but it can be a Gunforce-alike too!
[4] [Jackal / Top Gunner]
I went with the arcade version even though the NES version is more beloved by many (as Bill points out, no noticable aiming lag in that one). Although it's not as pure an experience as Ninja Princess / Sega Ninja (same game) and the many ports of that game coming years before, it's got some interesting scoring mechanics and feels more like a complete game.
[4] [Sengoku Ace]
I think this is my sole Psikyo shooter. I guess I added it because I ordered the board recently. Actually, I just enjoy the stages, and while I know the coins must be just like the coins or gold bars (something I just discovered today), I prefer just to shoot to kill the bosses.
[4] [Kiki Kaikai: Nazo no Kuro Mantle / Pocky and Rocky (Super Famicom / SNES)]
A more streamlined and straightforward update to the arcade classic, but it still has a lot going on. I don't think the horizontal orientation puts it at a disadvantage.
[4] [Space Manbow (MSX2+)]
A game I played a significant amount some months ago. It's been replaced by Nemesis III in my MSX2+ since then, but there's no doubt in my mind this is the more tightly controlled experience.
[4] [Raiden Fighters]
I might even enjoy it more than Jet at times.
[4] [Raiden Fighters 2]
Ditto, except the stages feel wonky to me for some reason.
[4] [Fire Shark (Mega Drive / Genesis)]
I can't really get into the arcade version so much. I don't ruin the game with autofire; I just get the (probably underpowered) flame shot and tap the button as needed.
[4] [Battle Mania 2]
It's been a while since I played this but I recall it being pretty good for a Section Z inspired game. More variety than Side Arms (too many underground stages)
[4] [Cho Ren Sha 68K (Windows)]
When Harry and Sally Met, They Shot Each Other And The Player Ship Laughed.
[4] [Aleste II (MSX2+)]
Actually, I imagine I enjoy this more than Space Manbow. It's certainly more graphically impressive. I'm embarrassed to say that right now I can't remember whether this game suffers from the curse of needing to hold down two buttons at once (a condition afflicting MUSHA Aleste, for example) for no discernable reason, but it's still great.
[4] [Assault] - if allowed otherwise delete & add next entry
I finally decided I needed to find out about the game behind the music. Wow. It ramps up difficulty reasonably quickly, and it's an excellent tank game. Not sure what I think about the ability to tilt your gun up to drop a bomb, but the flip maneuver is genius. Really deserves a higher spot on this list, and someday I hope to look into getting a dedicated.
[4] [Mars Matrix]
Actually, I guess this is another herd-follower Go play Mars Matrix. I like the idea behind the scoring system, but Go play Mars Matrix. I'll have to keep working Go Play Mars Matrix.
[4] [Shienryu]
Originally this was arbitrarily tossed much higher in my list. Doesn't have Daioh's charm but it also doesn't have disappearing bullets (if MAME is correct).
MUSHA Aleste / M.U.S.H.A. (Mega Drive / Genesis)
Ugh, holding down two buttons at once. Also ugh the tunnel section that will indeed strip away all your options if you don't tuck them behind your tale. The intro is epic though (well, hilarious; mostly it's the music and the awesome glass cockpit simulations), and the stages are pretty nifty too.
Nexzr
I liked this mainly for the caravan mode and the EVERYBODY DIES mentality of the game. I admitted to my mom this game makes me weepy. True story.
Juno First
A bit slow most of the time but it's got some classic elements. I have the sneaking suspicion it needs SOMETHING, though.
Ninja Princess
Forerunner to every good top-down running shooter made.
Jackal (NES)
Probably better than arcade. Much better than the FDS version, which itself is probably better than the Japanese arcade version which has a game-killing design flaw (the gun doesn't always shoot up, what the hell).
Crisis Force (Famicom)
I didn't play this very carefully until today, and found out that it's basically a pretty face with sad scrolling speed but a rather complicated seeming powerup system. I'm still not sure how to trigger the big Terra Cresta phoenix-type ship, but it just happens. I enjoy that you can hold onto the ship longer by collecting powerups; unfortunately, I think Konami blew it big time by not making it really feasible to carefully chain powerups. There desperately needs to be a game made around that conceit.
Power Strike II (PAL SMS)
A lot less fun than I had remembered or anticipated. I don't think NTSC speed (if Fusion361 is any indication, and you can switch speeds mid-emulation) kills it, and it gives the music a bit more zip. Still, reminds me more of the mess in the original SMS / MSX2 Aleste than it does of Aleste II.
Guxt
Underappreciated. The only complaint I have with this game is that, like MAJOR STRYKER, suiciding extra lives seems to be the way to get highscores.
Gradius Galaxies (GBA)
The good parts are good, and the bad parts are the stages that drag on forever and a day. Same reason nothing with Truxton or Tatsujin made my list.
Elemental Master
I want to get to know this game better.
Undead Line (all versions)
Ditto.
Twinkle Tale
Demolished by Rob's review, but ditto.
Biometal
I don't like horis enough to have cared until recently. I recall being demolished by this game some years ago; I'll have to try it again. Missed the deadline.
Axelay
Uh, ditto.
Thunder Force games
Yep.
Anything by Tiaot / Zunpapa that isn't Kaikai Kiki by Murakashi Tatami is BOWCOYTED because they only playtested the games for like two minutes. Lots of genre-defining things in such games as Darius II, RayForce, Gun & Frontier, and Metal Black, but jesus christ get your shit together.
This doesn't mean I don't enjoy playing those games upon occasion. But mostly I just fix googly eyes on the graphics and buy the OSTs.
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Shumps4Free
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Mon May 11, 2009 11:20 pm
Dodonpachineist wrote:http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=24915Shumps4Free wrote:Is that still going on, or did it just fade away?Rob wrote:Try this one: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=24605
There's the results.
Yeah. Can't say I'm huge on the games, but I have strange tastes.Shumps4Free wrote:Dodonpachineist wrote:http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=24915Shumps4Free wrote: Is that still going on, or did it just fade away?
There's the results.
Plus, as it's a lesser experienced poll, it's only natural that some of the more popular games end up being at the top. DDP is pretty dang popular. Heck, all of the games in the top 10 are pretty dang popular. Only an hardcore enthusiast would probably put a lot of the more obscure things on their lists.
The coins are basically nothing. You get far more points from surplus power-ups and bombs, but that really doesn't matter either. Nice and plain.Ed Oscuro wrote:[4] [Sengoku Ace]
I think this is my sole Psikyo shooter. I guess I added it because I ordered the board recently. Actually, I just enjoy the stages, and while I know the coins must be just like the coins or gold bars (something I just discovered today), I prefer just to shoot to kill the bosses.
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professor ganson
- Posts: 5163
- Joined: Mon Feb 21, 2005 3:59 am
- Location: OHIO
One of these days I'm going to go back and try to beat that game. I'm too busy with Gunbird 2 atm.Rob wrote:The coins are basically nothing. You get far more points from surplus power-ups and bombs, but that really doesn't matter either. Nice and plain.Ed Oscuro wrote:[4] [Sengoku Ace]
I think this is my sole Psikyo shooter. I guess I added it because I ordered the board recently. Actually, I just enjoy the stages, and while I know the coins must be just like the coins or gold bars (something I just discovered today), I prefer just to shoot to kill the bosses.
True words are spoken!Rob wrote:The coins are basically nothing. You get far more points from surplus power-ups and bombs, but that really doesn't matter either. Nice and plain.Ed Oscuro wrote:[4] [Sengoku Ace]
I think this is my sole Psikyo shooter. I guess I added it because I ordered the board recently. Actually, I just enjoy the stages, and while I know the coins must be just like the coins or gold bars (something I just discovered today), I prefer just to shoot to kill the bosses.
The thing that made me shy away from other Psikyo games (although I played them a bunch lately) is that A. I'm no good at them and B. the scoring mechanics are CRAZEY B. I don't really like the aesthetics of them, so I can't even do a Taito-style pity vote.
That said, I've made a promise to myself that I'll spend more time with these to get to know them better, because holy crap bullet patterns are cool!
In an unrelated note, I forgot to mention the story for Power Strike II (SMS).
Game would've been much better if it was about somebody fighting Reefer Madness.
So, some comments.
Garegga and Raiden DX
Two of the deepest, most enjoyable and best-designed games I've played. If I was doing a "Desert Island Games" thing and could only take one... well, I couldn't choose. I'd have to smuggle the other with me somehow.
Garegga's the love of my life, Raiden DX is my kinky bit-on-the-side.
Every Extend Extra
The most addictive score attack game I've ever played gets the perfect update, and is now portable too. It's the distillation of the "high risk, high reward" kind of game style I enjoy, with bags of challenge to boot. The reason I bought a PSP.
Ibara and Muchi Muchi Pork!
I have to give a slight preference to Ibara since it is basically Garegga on steroids, but MMP! is just as good. Both are extremely good fun to play, and will last score attackers ages.
Raiden Fighters Jet
So you take RF2, pump it full of speed, amphetamines and Red Bull, then add multipliers, and you have RFJ. Aside from the medaling technique, the chaining system can be made as hard or as easy as you like it, with the rewards varying in parallel. Extremely hard, but entirely compulsive.
Batrider and Soukyugurentai
Batrider just edges out Soukyu in my Raizing top three due to the great level of customisation of strategy, the depth of the scoring system and the faster pace, but Soukyu still gets props for taking the Rayforce lock-on system and making it more fun. Great stage design in both games, both games highly challenging.
Border Down
The closest thing you'll get to a Raizing horizontal scroller. Looks pretty simple, but the scoring system is one of the deepest you'll find in a hori, and the Border System is pretty fun to exploit.
Batsugun Special
Mmmmm... all of Toaplan's good traits distilled into one great game, then beefed up further with a high-scoring special edition. Great fun to score attack, and a little perverse thrill watching your screen-filling firepower decimate everything in sight.
Pink Sweets
An interesting one this, ranking just outside my top ten. A bit of an interesting direction for Yagawa, and radically different to almost anything else out there. Very difficult to get into, but quite compulsive, and enjoyable to play either in traditional "rank control" mode or going for the infinite lives trigger.
Gokujyou and Sexy Parodius
Gokyjyou ranks just a bit higher than Sexy as Gokujyou plays more like a traditional Gradius with the stage design and is also very bloody hard, but Sexy is just as good as it's a scoreattacker's Parodius - fast-paced, lots of scoring techniques to use, and not as difficult (LOL).
Shikigami 3
Highest-ranking Shikigami in the series, due to the addition of the Hi-Tension MAX System that adds an extra layer of risk and reward to an already well-balanced scoring system. The stage and attack pattern design is a little lacking compared to Shikigami 2, however.
Raiden Fighters 2
I would have picked the slightly slower-paced and more challenging RF1, but RF2 gets the nod for being better paced with more scoring opportunities and better longevity. Both are equally good fun to play, though.
Ketsui
Probably Cave's best traditional-styled bullet-hell shooting game, with excellent stage design that compliments a great open-ended chaining system that rewards aggressive play. Incredibly hard, extremely fast-paced (on a par with RFJ) and relentless, but very good fun.
Espgaluda
The Cave game that everyone likes. One of my favourites as it's not quite as insane as most of their other games, but still retains enough to make it challenging to score attack. Scoring system is well designed, with good stage design to compliment it.
R-Type and XEXEX
Both games utilise the user controlled weapon system, but I'll take R-Type over XEXEX both because of the nostalgia, and because R-Type is better designed stage-wise. XEXEX is great fun though, as later levels do force you to learn to use the Flint as a short-range shield.
Space Invaders Extreme 2
I didn't think much of the first SIE when it came out, but this one takes everything that was decent about it and makes it so much better. The colour-coded bonus stage system is back and now requires real planning to get the best gains from, which in turn makes you play controlled and precise, and take a lot of risks. Surprisingly good fun.
Guwange
Cave-style hit chaining with a difference - now you can rescue your chains via clever use of your shikigami. Scoring is surprisingly open, allowing for a good amount of strategy customisation. Probably the best of Cave's pre-DOJ era games, and the last great (non Yagawa) experiment they'll ever have.
Battle Bakraid
It has a pretty obscure chaining system that will scare away a lot of players, but the fun that is derived from the system is in creating your own methods of starting and keeping a chain going. Acquired taste for most, but I love it.
Rayforce
Quite ahead of its time in terms of audiovisual design, but with an old-school "ground bombing" system similar to Twinbee and Xevious, married to a multiplier to create risk-for-reward. Very challenging, good fun, but marred by a few minor niggles (sliding bullets...).
Brave Blade
A fun game that many probably will skip over, but it has its own merits. Medal-juggling is quite challenging and obviously adds to the risk, but part of the fun is in learning when to do it. Challenging, fast-paced and nicely designed, but very acquired taste for many.
Tatsujin Ou
One of Toaplan's more enjoyable games, nicely designed both audiovisually and gameplay-wise, and with good pacing throughout, but marred by extra-long stage lengths.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It was quite difficult compiling and ordering the list, and quite a lot of stuff didn't make the list. Games like Chorensha, Cloudphobia, Nexzr, Recca, R-Type Delta, Gradius Gaiden, Dogyuun, Outzone, Space Invaders '91... but this top 25 is pretty much correct for me at the time of writing.
Garegga and Raiden DX
Two of the deepest, most enjoyable and best-designed games I've played. If I was doing a "Desert Island Games" thing and could only take one... well, I couldn't choose. I'd have to smuggle the other with me somehow.
Garegga's the love of my life, Raiden DX is my kinky bit-on-the-side.
Every Extend Extra
The most addictive score attack game I've ever played gets the perfect update, and is now portable too. It's the distillation of the "high risk, high reward" kind of game style I enjoy, with bags of challenge to boot. The reason I bought a PSP.
Ibara and Muchi Muchi Pork!
I have to give a slight preference to Ibara since it is basically Garegga on steroids, but MMP! is just as good. Both are extremely good fun to play, and will last score attackers ages.
Raiden Fighters Jet
So you take RF2, pump it full of speed, amphetamines and Red Bull, then add multipliers, and you have RFJ. Aside from the medaling technique, the chaining system can be made as hard or as easy as you like it, with the rewards varying in parallel. Extremely hard, but entirely compulsive.
Batrider and Soukyugurentai
Batrider just edges out Soukyu in my Raizing top three due to the great level of customisation of strategy, the depth of the scoring system and the faster pace, but Soukyu still gets props for taking the Rayforce lock-on system and making it more fun. Great stage design in both games, both games highly challenging.
Border Down
The closest thing you'll get to a Raizing horizontal scroller. Looks pretty simple, but the scoring system is one of the deepest you'll find in a hori, and the Border System is pretty fun to exploit.
Batsugun Special
Mmmmm... all of Toaplan's good traits distilled into one great game, then beefed up further with a high-scoring special edition. Great fun to score attack, and a little perverse thrill watching your screen-filling firepower decimate everything in sight.
Pink Sweets
An interesting one this, ranking just outside my top ten. A bit of an interesting direction for Yagawa, and radically different to almost anything else out there. Very difficult to get into, but quite compulsive, and enjoyable to play either in traditional "rank control" mode or going for the infinite lives trigger.
Gokujyou and Sexy Parodius
Gokyjyou ranks just a bit higher than Sexy as Gokujyou plays more like a traditional Gradius with the stage design and is also very bloody hard, but Sexy is just as good as it's a scoreattacker's Parodius - fast-paced, lots of scoring techniques to use, and not as difficult (LOL).
Shikigami 3
Highest-ranking Shikigami in the series, due to the addition of the Hi-Tension MAX System that adds an extra layer of risk and reward to an already well-balanced scoring system. The stage and attack pattern design is a little lacking compared to Shikigami 2, however.
Raiden Fighters 2
I would have picked the slightly slower-paced and more challenging RF1, but RF2 gets the nod for being better paced with more scoring opportunities and better longevity. Both are equally good fun to play, though.
Ketsui
Probably Cave's best traditional-styled bullet-hell shooting game, with excellent stage design that compliments a great open-ended chaining system that rewards aggressive play. Incredibly hard, extremely fast-paced (on a par with RFJ) and relentless, but very good fun.
Espgaluda
The Cave game that everyone likes. One of my favourites as it's not quite as insane as most of their other games, but still retains enough to make it challenging to score attack. Scoring system is well designed, with good stage design to compliment it.
R-Type and XEXEX
Both games utilise the user controlled weapon system, but I'll take R-Type over XEXEX both because of the nostalgia, and because R-Type is better designed stage-wise. XEXEX is great fun though, as later levels do force you to learn to use the Flint as a short-range shield.
Space Invaders Extreme 2
I didn't think much of the first SIE when it came out, but this one takes everything that was decent about it and makes it so much better. The colour-coded bonus stage system is back and now requires real planning to get the best gains from, which in turn makes you play controlled and precise, and take a lot of risks. Surprisingly good fun.
Guwange
Cave-style hit chaining with a difference - now you can rescue your chains via clever use of your shikigami. Scoring is surprisingly open, allowing for a good amount of strategy customisation. Probably the best of Cave's pre-DOJ era games, and the last great (non Yagawa) experiment they'll ever have.
Battle Bakraid
It has a pretty obscure chaining system that will scare away a lot of players, but the fun that is derived from the system is in creating your own methods of starting and keeping a chain going. Acquired taste for most, but I love it.
Rayforce
Quite ahead of its time in terms of audiovisual design, but with an old-school "ground bombing" system similar to Twinbee and Xevious, married to a multiplier to create risk-for-reward. Very challenging, good fun, but marred by a few minor niggles (sliding bullets...).
Brave Blade
A fun game that many probably will skip over, but it has its own merits. Medal-juggling is quite challenging and obviously adds to the risk, but part of the fun is in learning when to do it. Challenging, fast-paced and nicely designed, but very acquired taste for many.
Tatsujin Ou
One of Toaplan's more enjoyable games, nicely designed both audiovisually and gameplay-wise, and with good pacing throughout, but marred by extra-long stage lengths.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It was quite difficult compiling and ordering the list, and quite a lot of stuff didn't make the list. Games like Chorensha, Cloudphobia, Nexzr, Recca, R-Type Delta, Gradius Gaiden, Dogyuun, Outzone, Space Invaders '91... but this top 25 is pretty much correct for me at the time of writing.
Last edited by Icarus on Fri May 15, 2009 3:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
If the bombs would just protect me I'd like them a lot better. There games only have the fastest bullets and biggest hitboxes of any manic shmup company you'd think an instant panic bomb would be a given. Still a great company though. I even tried Turbo Force today, it has a lot of cheap deaths but gets an A+++ in the originality department. Donpachi also has a lot of cheap deaths.
Edit:I also generally suck ass at them too. I'm just not good at fast bullet patterns.
Edit:I also generally suck ass at them too. I'm just not good at fast bullet patterns.
I did great so much water and milk that I threw up when I was little.
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charlie chong
- Posts: 1526
- Joined: Fri Dec 08, 2006 12:19 pm
- Location: borders
top 10 comments.. 10-20 will mebbes follow if your lucky 
obviously there is cave and raizing leanings in this list cos thats what i like
to play.i aint making no apologies i just haven't clicked very much with psikyo or takumi games ever. i should also note there are caves i didn't
click with as well such as ibara , dangun feveron,progear (score system,difficulty blah blah). i have also tried a lot of the pcengine stuff
on my psp but they just don't seem as good as the arcade stuff altho all the hudson and compile games are good just
a different feel to what i like. one game i NEED to try is recca.
i pretty much like all the top 5 equal.these are my bread and butter games that i live with every day or have played for years
dodonpachi
nostalgia reasons and the fact that itis my favourite of the earlier less hard danmakus
armed police batrider
awesome setting ,artstyle ,characters.. multiple paths ,hidden bosses and is just fun fun fun!
batsugun special
i wish there were more games with a feel like this(raiden fighters series
is the nearest i feel) a mixture of toaplan aimed bullets in your face with some of the first sighted clouds of bullets.fearsome screen filling weaponry is always nice too!
ketsui
my favourite of the harder cave games. perfectly pitched difficulty curve
and score system.awesome art ,helicropters ,bugger all slowdown and somehow for a modern cave game it still keeps that toaplan fast paced feel that i love.this places high also
because it is the most recent game that i dedicated a LOT of time to
so it is fresh in my memory at the moment
battle garegga
batriders older harsher brother that laughs and bullys you even tho you've been playing since 2003. a tad hard by the 6th level this game is one i still need to grow into even tho it was my first danmaku love
shock troopers
the controls are as tight
as a gnats chuff .i don't play for score leeching just fun.
robotron
again controls mayke the game. the sounds and
graphics and difficulty all hold up to this very
day.THIS AINT NOSTALGIA THIS IS ROBOTRONG BITCH!
Twin cobra
no nostalgia needed here either! even tho this is
one of the first arcade shooters i played as a kid down the newsagent. those aimed bullets are still fun to dodge.the only ting i don't like is recovering from death. first life is fun! give up after losing
it even with 8 lives in stock or whatever..RECOVERY IS FUTILE
zanac neo
a game to relax with.easy but the mellow soundtrack and hectic gameplay mean you don't mind anyway.just sit back and enjoy and keep pushing up the rank!!
muchi pork
takes the ibara formula adds a slower button (not a
real cave one tho) and adds more fun and less brutality. this will be a favourite with many players
if they ever get the chance to sample it.plus theres more shiny gold than mister ts neck.makes me feel rich .music makes you feel sick tho.. i wish you could just have the noise of the bullets and add your own soundtrack to these games sometimes
obviously there is cave and raizing leanings in this list cos thats what i like
to play.i aint making no apologies i just haven't clicked very much with psikyo or takumi games ever. i should also note there are caves i didn't
click with as well such as ibara , dangun feveron,progear (score system,difficulty blah blah). i have also tried a lot of the pcengine stuff
on my psp but they just don't seem as good as the arcade stuff altho all the hudson and compile games are good just
a different feel to what i like. one game i NEED to try is recca.
i pretty much like all the top 5 equal.these are my bread and butter games that i live with every day or have played for years
dodonpachi
nostalgia reasons and the fact that itis my favourite of the earlier less hard danmakus
armed police batrider
awesome setting ,artstyle ,characters.. multiple paths ,hidden bosses and is just fun fun fun!
batsugun special
i wish there were more games with a feel like this(raiden fighters series
is the nearest i feel) a mixture of toaplan aimed bullets in your face with some of the first sighted clouds of bullets.fearsome screen filling weaponry is always nice too!
ketsui
my favourite of the harder cave games. perfectly pitched difficulty curve
and score system.awesome art ,helicropters ,bugger all slowdown and somehow for a modern cave game it still keeps that toaplan fast paced feel that i love.this places high also
because it is the most recent game that i dedicated a LOT of time to
so it is fresh in my memory at the moment
battle garegga
batriders older harsher brother that laughs and bullys you even tho you've been playing since 2003. a tad hard by the 6th level this game is one i still need to grow into even tho it was my first danmaku love
shock troopers
the controls are as tight
as a gnats chuff .i don't play for score leeching just fun.
robotron
again controls mayke the game. the sounds and
graphics and difficulty all hold up to this very
day.THIS AINT NOSTALGIA THIS IS ROBOTRONG BITCH!
Twin cobra
no nostalgia needed here either! even tho this is
one of the first arcade shooters i played as a kid down the newsagent. those aimed bullets are still fun to dodge.the only ting i don't like is recovering from death. first life is fun! give up after losing
it even with 8 lives in stock or whatever..RECOVERY IS FUTILE
zanac neo
a game to relax with.easy but the mellow soundtrack and hectic gameplay mean you don't mind anyway.just sit back and enjoy and keep pushing up the rank!!
muchi pork
takes the ibara formula adds a slower button (not a
real cave one tho) and adds more fun and less brutality. this will be a favourite with many players
if they ever get the chance to sample it.plus theres more shiny gold than mister ts neck.makes me feel rich .music makes you feel sick tho.. i wish you could just have the noise of the bullets and add your own soundtrack to these games sometimes
SLAG OFF KETSUI I SLAG OFF YOR MUM
https://soundcloud.com/vapor-teh-apparition
https://soundcloud.com/don-pachi-aka-bling-laden
https://soundcloud.com/vapor-teh-apparition
https://soundcloud.com/don-pachi-aka-bling-laden
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freddiebamboo
- Posts: 1366
- Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2005 9:17 pm
- Location: UK
Seeing as others are going through the comments here are mine. Not a full list, but most are on there.
Guwange
For my money, this is Caves best game. The graphics are still jaw dropping by todays standards, the detail and Muromachi period artwork is stunning. For a score system that uses a game-long chain it is remarkably lenient, far more so than the other chain systems cave have used. It also has the most beautiful scoreboard in the history of arcade games, all done in intricate stylized kanji with random bits of information to be deciphered littered around the screen.
DOJ
Cave at their most extreme and yet it remains one of their most popular. Its far too hard obviously and requires an insane amount of practice to even score badly at it, but it is a genuinely exciting experience. Everyone remembers the first time they chained stage 1 and the immense sense of satisfaction it gave. Try and remember that, as you'll soon grow to loathe seeing that cursed stage and its whiny music when you restart for the millionth time.
Dragon Blaze
You gotta love those work shy wastrels at Psikyo, they've been churning out the same game for years and then by some miracle they finally make a game with an actual change to the formula. That change was to stop shooting and use a close attack almost exclusively, but it works and late on it has some of the most ludicrously annoying boss battles ever devised. Also has a stupidly hard loop.
Dangun Feveron
Old school Toaplany stuff from Cave, possibly made as an elaborate joke. The disco theme makes no sense and the difficulty curve is equally baffling, but it all speeds by with a smile on its face and is a whole lot of fun.
Batrider
A mega mix of Raizing goodness with a level of depth rarely seen in the genre. The amount of strategy and planning that are needed in the game to trigger bosses and score well is astounding, if only more companies put as much effort and thought into their games as Raizing do.
Strikers 1945 II
My favourite of the Strikers series. It has all the usual faults of a Psikyo game (wild screen filling bullet patterns that are dodged by simply not moving, useless ships to select, the annoying random first 4 levels etc...) but plays like a charm with some nice patterns to dodge through and some good boss fights. Difficulty level is also nicely balanced making it one of the few modern Psikyo games that doesn't get totally brutal late on.
Raiden Fighters 2/Jet
Both games are very similar, with Jet being the harder while 2 is arguably the more enjoyable. Awesome crazy soundtrack and ultra fast bullets are the highlights here. The sheer multitude of useless ships that can be played puts those idlers at Psikyo to shame also.
Battle Bakraid
A Raizing experiment on score systems which kinda half works. Takes the Raizing suicide fixation to new, unnecessary levels with full stage chaining bombing and of course dying. A lot. Loads of fun aside from Axebeak and is the best looking of Raizings output, although many will disagree here.
Dodonpachi
The game that got me into shooters and it still holds a place in my heart. A friend made me try it on mame as I used to love arcades when I was a kid and I've been hooked ever since. It was also the first game I saw a superplay of and I couldn't believe it when the player chained stage 2 from start to finish, it had never even crossed my mind that it was possible.
Darius Gaiden
The first Darius game I played and it was during the STGT. Turned out to be a pleasant surprise, ie. not shit, unlike the rest of the dross that we have to play every year.
P-47 Aces
No one has perfected the art of making a mediocre shooter better than NMK, but P-47 Aces is where they slipped up and accidentally made a good game. Wildly difficult (it plays like progear in its second loop) and has one of the silliest score systems ever thought up, although I hope it was a programming error.
Ibara
I actually hate the game at the moment and have vowed never to play it again, so I'm regretting putting this in my top 25. I said the same about DOJ though ages ago, so I'll probably come crawling back to it eventually. To its credit, it has one of the best first stages of any game I can think of.
Guwange
For my money, this is Caves best game. The graphics are still jaw dropping by todays standards, the detail and Muromachi period artwork is stunning. For a score system that uses a game-long chain it is remarkably lenient, far more so than the other chain systems cave have used. It also has the most beautiful scoreboard in the history of arcade games, all done in intricate stylized kanji with random bits of information to be deciphered littered around the screen.
DOJ
Cave at their most extreme and yet it remains one of their most popular. Its far too hard obviously and requires an insane amount of practice to even score badly at it, but it is a genuinely exciting experience. Everyone remembers the first time they chained stage 1 and the immense sense of satisfaction it gave. Try and remember that, as you'll soon grow to loathe seeing that cursed stage and its whiny music when you restart for the millionth time.
Dragon Blaze
You gotta love those work shy wastrels at Psikyo, they've been churning out the same game for years and then by some miracle they finally make a game with an actual change to the formula. That change was to stop shooting and use a close attack almost exclusively, but it works and late on it has some of the most ludicrously annoying boss battles ever devised. Also has a stupidly hard loop.
Dangun Feveron
Old school Toaplany stuff from Cave, possibly made as an elaborate joke. The disco theme makes no sense and the difficulty curve is equally baffling, but it all speeds by with a smile on its face and is a whole lot of fun.
Batrider
A mega mix of Raizing goodness with a level of depth rarely seen in the genre. The amount of strategy and planning that are needed in the game to trigger bosses and score well is astounding, if only more companies put as much effort and thought into their games as Raizing do.
Strikers 1945 II
My favourite of the Strikers series. It has all the usual faults of a Psikyo game (wild screen filling bullet patterns that are dodged by simply not moving, useless ships to select, the annoying random first 4 levels etc...) but plays like a charm with some nice patterns to dodge through and some good boss fights. Difficulty level is also nicely balanced making it one of the few modern Psikyo games that doesn't get totally brutal late on.
Raiden Fighters 2/Jet
Both games are very similar, with Jet being the harder while 2 is arguably the more enjoyable. Awesome crazy soundtrack and ultra fast bullets are the highlights here. The sheer multitude of useless ships that can be played puts those idlers at Psikyo to shame also.
Battle Bakraid
A Raizing experiment on score systems which kinda half works. Takes the Raizing suicide fixation to new, unnecessary levels with full stage chaining bombing and of course dying. A lot. Loads of fun aside from Axebeak and is the best looking of Raizings output, although many will disagree here.
Dodonpachi
The game that got me into shooters and it still holds a place in my heart. A friend made me try it on mame as I used to love arcades when I was a kid and I've been hooked ever since. It was also the first game I saw a superplay of and I couldn't believe it when the player chained stage 2 from start to finish, it had never even crossed my mind that it was possible.
Darius Gaiden
The first Darius game I played and it was during the STGT. Turned out to be a pleasant surprise, ie. not shit, unlike the rest of the dross that we have to play every year.
P-47 Aces
No one has perfected the art of making a mediocre shooter better than NMK, but P-47 Aces is where they slipped up and accidentally made a good game. Wildly difficult (it plays like progear in its second loop) and has one of the silliest score systems ever thought up, although I hope it was a programming error.
Ibara
I actually hate the game at the moment and have vowed never to play it again, so I'm regretting putting this in my top 25. I said the same about DOJ though ages ago, so I'll probably come crawling back to it eventually. To its credit, it has one of the best first stages of any game I can think of.
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Shatterhand
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God, you need to get an MSX emulator right now. Why the heck are you playing the crap port of Aleste on the SMS when you can play the utterlly better original game on MSX?Sonic R wrote:
[Power Strike]
The finest shooting game on the SMS, another Compile treasure, I just get a kick out of this game that I cannot get over! Its like Zanac on the NES… (of note, I have not experienced Power Strike II - If I ever become it, then it may take precedence over Power Strike)
And while at it, go play Aleste 2. You will feel silly for liking the 1st game so much.
Everyone remembers the first time they chained stage 1 and the immense sense of satisfaction it gave
I still haven't done it.
I suck badly at it, and I miss the extends 
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Shatterhand
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Even on MSX, Aleste 1 feels like a crawlfest compared to Aleste 2. Stage 6 is like in permanent slowdown.
Edit: But yeah, on the SMS is 10 times worse, levels missing, etc etc.
Edit: But yeah, on the SMS is 10 times worse, levels missing, etc etc.
Last edited by Shatterhand on Sat May 16, 2009 2:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Shatterhand
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I regret that the MSX is something I have yet to experienceShatterhand wrote:God, you need to get an MSX emulator right now. Why the heck are you playing the crap port of Aleste on the SMS when you can play the utterlly better original game on MSX?Sonic R wrote:
[Power Strike]
The finest shooting game on the SMS, another Compile treasure, I just get a kick out of this game that I cannot get over! Its like Zanac on the NES… (of note, I have not experienced Power Strike II - If I ever become it, then it may take precedence over Power Strike)
And while at it, go play Aleste 2. You will feel silly for liking the 1st game so much.
I dream to play the Aleste games though, and I have heard how much better Power Strike II is to the first one, but have not had the time to spend with it. I was seeking a cart for the SMS but either none to be found, or the price had got too ridiculous…I imagine that if I do get to play Aleste on the MSX I will indeed be pleased with it and place it above the SMS version.
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Herr Schatten
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You remember correctly. The initial city stage is missing.Shatterhand wrote:The SMS version is indeed a lot worse, and with levels missing... doesn't the SMS version starts at level TWO ?
I do like the slightly rebalanced weapons of the SMS port, though, so I don't have a real preference of one version over the other.
Does the MSX original have the SUPER SECRET STAGE 0?
Shatterhand wrote:The SMS version is indeed a lot worse, and with levels missing... doesn't the SMS version starts at level TWO ?
The level progression seems to be different, actually. The first stage of Aleste on the MSX is still in the SMS version, just later in.Herr Schatten wrote:The initial city stage is missing.