Underrated Gems: What shooters are underrated?

[Skykid]

Homura is rather underappreciated too

Definitely.

With that said, I think Magical Chase, while quite freaking awesome, is still ever-so-slightly overrated... Pinnacle of TG-16/PC Engine shmupping? Not really...

Definitely, x2.

Magical Chase is okay, as is its expensive GameBoy color iteration (which is actually a bit drawn out and boring.)

Vattle Giuce ftw!

[Ruldra]

Vasara series are awfully ignored in this forum for some reason. They're great games.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I've found Magical Chase to be a surprisingly enjoyable game. Moreso than 95% of the PC Engine's shooters, partly because it has potential for score play which was a tragic rarity for that system.

With that said, I think Magical Chase, while quite freaking awesome, is still ever-so-slightly overrated... mostly due to its often-absurd price for the US TG-16 version. Holy grail? Maybe, depending where you're looking. Pinnacle of TG-16/PC Engine shmupping? Not really...

You have to take into consideration the amount of work that TTI put into it's very last Hu-Card release of Magical Chase. It does have some differences compared to the original PCE version of MC indeed. Sure, it's possible to get a complete TTI set of MC in the three to four figure range if you want it badly enough (with the overall condition of the entire set that determines the actual worth). Just gotta be at the right place at the right time score one though. I know one fellow shmupper whom is willing to pay upwards of $1,500+ USD for one in super mint condition but alas, no takers with that tantalizing monetary offer.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Master O]

Gigandes.

http://shmups.com/reviews/gigandes/index.html

[Fervent Fovea]

The title Gekioh: Shooting King was abbreviated for the EU/US release from the original Geki-Oh Shooting King: Shienryu. Shienryu is well regarded though the PS1 ports are at the bottom of the list mainly due to the lack of a tate display mode. Generally the Saturn (Shienryu[JP]) or PS2 (SIMPLE2000 series Vol. 37 THE Shooting "Double Shienryu" [JP]/Steel Dragon EX[PAL]) ports are preferred.

When you say "abbreviated", that indicates to me that there is a lot of excellent features missing from the PS1 version. I may really be missing out. Thank you for bringing this to the forefront. It sounds like your quite an astute shoot-em-up connoisseur. Do you know if the bonus modes, like NO MERCY mode, Pocket Mode, etc., are also incorporated in the Saturn and PS2 version?

[nasty_wolverine]

has no one mentioned soldier blade yet?

[Mortificator]

The title Gekioh: Shooting King was abbreviated for the EU/US release from the original Geki-Oh Shooting King: Shienryu. Shienryu is well regarded though the PS1 ports are at the bottom of the list mainly due to the lack of a tate display mode. Generally the Saturn (Shienryu[JP]) or PS2 (SIMPLE2000 series Vol. 37 THE Shooting "Double Shienryu" [JP]/Steel Dragon EX[PAL]) ports are preferred.

When you say "abbreviated", that indicates to me that there is a lot of excellent features missing from the PS1 version. I may really be missing out. Thank you for bringing this to the forefront. It sounds like your quite an astute shoot-em-up connoisseur. Do you know if the bonus modes, like NO MERCY mode, Pocket Mode, etc., are also incorporated in the Saturn and PS2 version?

He means the title of the English PS1 version of the game (Gekioh: Shooting King) is abbreviated from the title of the Japanese PS1 version of the game (Geki-oh: Shienryu).

The Saturn version is a straight port of the arcade version and doesn't have any of the bonus modes that were added for PS1. But like Hydrog said, the Saturn version has a tate display mode, as well as slightly better A/V. That stuff's probably more important than the bonus modes, as interesting as the idea of them is.

I don't know what the version of Shienryu on the PS2 compilation's like.

[Domino]

I just realize another title: Daisenpu/Twin Hawk.

[CStarFlare]

I've found Magical Chase to be a surprisingly enjoyable game. Moreso than 95% of the PC Engine's shooters, partly because it has potential for score play which was a tragic rarity for that system.

With that said, I think Magical Chase, while quite freaking awesome, is still ever-so-slightly overrated... mostly due to its often-absurd price for the US TG-16 version. Holy grail? Maybe, depending where you're looking. Pinnacle of TG-16/PC Engine shmupping? Not really...

I've heard a lot about Magical Chase as a collector's item and very little about it as a game (especially within the community). Pinnacle of PCE shmupping? Probably not, but it has more going for it than anything Naxat released for the system.

[Some-Mist]

I'd probably say out of the ones I've played, psyvariar 2 and radirgy. kingdom grandprix doesn't seem to get a lot of love despite it being a raizing game.

[Biesendorf]

Shippu Mahou Daisakusen seconded.

[Kobayashi]

gekirindan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gekirindan

When I stumbled upon it a few years ago on a mame machine I had never heard of it. Was happy to see it on Taito Legends 2 so that now I can legitimately own it.

I Agree.

[Hal1]

INheritage: Boundary of Existence deserves a special spot. Why super underrated almost a month after the game's release? Very likely because it is made in Indonesia, too long even for a bullet hell game (likely because of the lengthy visual novel-style dialogue), and it seems to be still no gameplay videos aside from the "Universal Gameplay Trailer" uploaded on YouTube.

Also everything bullet hell made for iOS/Android not by Cave/Treasure.

Same too with any Summer Carnival game that is not Recca.

[Gespenst]

Souky seems needs moar love too IMHO.

My list: Fire Barrel (?), BlazeOn, Wangan Sensou (also known as Desert War...looks like Choplifter done in top down for me), Storm Blade, Skull Fang (especially if you can get on with that graphic), and Sengeki Striker.

Not sure if underrated = hidden gem, but a few more not mentioned:
Macross II
Black Heart
Strahl
Hacha Mecha Fighter
Thunder Dragon 2
Cybattler

Totally agree with this list.

[emphatic]

Let's hope Hacha Mecha Fighter can be faithfully emulated soon, as not everyone has the PCB. It truly is a gem.

[Skykid]

Let's hope Hacha Mecha Fighter can be faithfully emulated soon, as not everyone has the PCB. It truly is a gem.

Bollocks to that, it's nice that there are a few sacred boards left in the wild.

[BPzeBanshee]

Let's hope Hacha Mecha Fighter can be faithfully emulated soon, as not everyone has the PCB. It truly is a gem.

Bollocks to that, it's nice that there are a few sacred boards left in the wild.

Just out of curiosity: what's actually wrong with it at the moment? Something minor or complicated shit like Raiden II?

[emphatic]

Let's hope Hacha Mecha Fighter can be faithfully emulated soon, as not everyone has the PCB. It truly is a gem.

Bollocks to that, it's nice that there are a few sacred boards left in the wild.

Just out of curiosity: what's actually wrong with it at the moment? Something minor or complicated shit like Raiden II?

Enemies spawn and behave incorrectly.

[stryc9]

Keio Flying Squadron, the Parodius of the Mega-CD, at least within the context of peoples talking about 16-Bit shmups.

[Tigershark]

Project X on the Amiga.

[trap15]

Let's hope Hacha Mecha Fighter can be faithfully emulated soon, as not everyone has the PCB. It truly is a gem.

Bollocks to that, it's nice that there are a few sacred boards left in the wild.

Just out of curiosity: what's actually wrong with it at the moment? Something minor or complicated shit like Raiden II?

It's complicated, but I've not looked into it so I don't know the extent of it.

[DocHauser]

Change Air Blade!

[Jonst]

Any love for fast striker?

[OdiousTrident]

Nostradamus
Metal Stoker (if it counts)
Boogie Wings (if it counts)

[Zosite]

Vasara series are awfully ignored in this forum for some reason. They're great games.

I know my participation here is as poor as it can get and I tend to write only when I think I have something actually useful to say (either that or I have someone to bother for him to do something I want ) but THAT post kinda *needed* to be quoted.

I honestly think Vasara series are pure art, yet a little bit out of what we're used to with its particular 'hand-to-hand' combat approach, and it's quite odd to see those two gems mentioned here. Definitely worth yer check, ladies and gentlemen.

Besides, I'd also recommend:

Nostradamus (AC) seconded too
Harmful Park (PSX) seconded too
Last Resort (Neo-Geo)
Pulstar (Neo-Geo) <--- OVER its sequel Blazing Star IMHO
Gynoug/Wings of Wor (Genesis)
Jamestown (PC) <--- I think it's worth more attention than it got
R-Type Leo (AC) <--- yes, LEO! I put it over Delta and no, I won't post on 'shmup confessions'. Beat it.
SideLine (PC) <--- This obscure jewel will be hard as nuts to obtain to start with...

[Captain]

Steel empire.

Simple polished shmup for genesis/megadrive that no one ever plays.

[Pretas]

Steel Empire is, sadly, overlong with too many recycled boss battles.

[Gespenst]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BpmPC_kyUM

Geppy-X? Geppy-X. It's basically 'what if Getter Robo is a shmup: The Game edition'

[Skykid]

Steel Empire is, sadly, overlong with too many recycled boss battles.

And weird.

Pulstar (Neo-Geo) <--- OVER its sequel Blazing Star IMHO

I'm with you. Much prefer Pulstar. BS is overrated, not under rated.

[BIL]

Steel Empire's real problem is the weak-feeling player firepower, at least on Hard where everything has more HP. I'm very fond of it overall (enough to own the JP MD ver), but it never quite manages that essential feeling of tearing through enemies. You have to work a bit too hard for even popcorn kills. Not surprised it isn't a community darling.

Such a cool production overall, though. It's one of the few sidescrollers to make me feel like I'm playing a horizontal Gun Frontier with all the bullets, rockets and grenades whizzing past the craft. I also respect it for having tight, well-designed patterns and using the lifebar as a crutch for poor players, not poor game design. It'd be pretty hard but entirely no-missable with one-hit kills.