Shmups for Beginners?

[trap15]

what.png

Literally lol'd

[Jeneki]

Then they can "graduate" on to other things, like Psyvariar 2, or ESPGaluda!

Oddly enough, I've found newbies really like Espgaluda. Just show them the "slow motion" button. "Omg you can slow down hard parts, then bomb the super hard parts? Awesome!" Nevermind the scoring mechanics, just having multiple defensive features helps get them over the fear of playing.

[EmperorIng]

It's for those reasons alone that it's probably my favorite Cave game I've played, though I feel that the scoring system is a little bit anal and unforgiving.

[Arvandor]

I think it's one of my favorite Cave scoring systems, at least up until you get really super competative with it. But it's interesting to figure out how to get the best score possible, because there's so many different ways to go about it. It's not straightforward like chaining, or medal chaining, or whatever, it's a constant battle of "How do I eat more bullets per green gem used?" I really enjoy it. Plus, I feel it's probably the LEAST anal of Cave's scoring systems...

And yes, having bullet time as well as a neat shield bomb makes it very appealing to new players. When I was first getting into shmups, ESPgaluda was by far one of the most appealing to me, and I still really like it a lot. Plus the music (aside from the boss music) is really good. I LOVE the first stage music especially, which is nice since it crops up again in 5-2.

[Deca]

what.png

Literally lol'd

I've been sitting on that one for a while actually

[dukenukems]

One of my first shooters i played on console was gun bird 2 for dc and while i do get my butt handed to me by it i still find it fun as you start learning how to survive.

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

For once I don't feel like trolling this sort of topic. My pick for best beginner STG would be Aero Fighters. It just sits so perfectly between maniac and old school that it's really hard to be put off by it. On top of that, Aero Fighters does something so very few STGs do; it adjusts the bullet speed for each fighter.

[Obiwanshinobi]

On top of that, Aero Fighters does something so very few STGs do; it adjusts the bullet speed for each fighter.

What about co-op? Is there a specific speed for each combination?

I wonder if any person got "converted" to any genre by anyone. That is, if there's no latent crush for something, can you really teach somebody how to like it. Or how aware can we really be of our own reasons for liking things.
About shmups, the more I think about it, the more it seems to me that Star Wars are where it's at.
About bullet hell in particular, I don't get what "manic" people see in those slow patterns. There seems to be something more primordial than Star Wars to it.
The chap I played Saturn games with yesterday appeared most exhilariated by Elevator Action Returns (co-op). Didn't like Saturn Bomberman (personally I don't see anything exceptionally good about 1 and 2 player modes either). Of shmups we played, as mentioned before, Guardian Force did the trick (he bombed all the time and I can't blame him as it was a sight to behold).
Selling points, I think, were: ultra violence (set to HARD in options) of EAR and Fun Bombing™ of Guardian Force. Above all, the games (and home versions, in terms of available difficulty settings, lives and continues) were most certainly developed with co-op in mind. The developers clearly wanted you to get your buddies busy to it.

[BazookaBen]

Axelay was my intro. It was pretty easy and hit had some kickass music and graphics.

[Bu11et He11]

Arms installation is complete, good luck......