
Well, anyway. Shmups do not have such a huge number of female characters to boast comparing to fighting games or RPGs, but still there are some girls so hot that they're definitely worth saving/playing as/fighting against. Here are my faves:
- Miria from The Guardian Legend. 80s anime-looking goddess wearing metal bikini and having an ability to transform into Zanac-on-steroids. It's like Samus Aran that has BALLS. That special kind of balls that only Compile and Irem can provide
- Koyori from... well, y'know. That leatherclad kunoichi is neat too
- Green-haired girl from Pulstar and Blazing Star. That blonde from the latter is also cute. And of course who can forget THAT legendary 'Continue' screen from the former

- Those two girls from Burning Angels
- Those two girls from Battle Mania
- All the girls from Steam Heart's (PCE CD shmup with catgirls - for me it's like Elvis meets The Beatles

Honorable mentions:
- All the girls from Sigma Star Saga. I wish they'd star in Steam Heart's 2...
- *sigh* Cenes (if I remember correctly) from Thunder Force V... She looks like Ivy from Soul Calibur, and this is pretty awesome