One thing I should point out now is that our art budget is low. Therefore, these ideas might not make it far beyond prototyping.
Still, I thought I would join the SHMUPS party and let you know about our thoughts.There were two ideas that resonated well with us, but they would be tricky to implement (but maybe fun!). I imagined both game ideas having a bottom-to-top shooting style, but left-to-right could work for them as well.
1. You have a somewhat large, 3-part ship that can move its conjoined parts separately. Use it to avoid tight spaces, or shape yourself for certain attack patterns (esp bosses). Swapping between conjoined parts lets it shoot different weapon types, shapes, and/or directions. A small boost will exist to help you get out of the way of larger threats. This game moves slowly at points to assure that you're making the correct movements when you need it.
2. You are a small drone/repair ship protecting a much larger "mothership" object throughout a level (i.e.; you're the bad guy protecting your sort of "final boss"). This objective may vary between an actual huge vessel with weaponry; its fuel-line/space-bridge which dangles towards a planet to steal its resources; other, larger attack drones that can help you fight, etc. Another objective might involve destroying a large, terrestrial weapon (read: ion cannon) poised to destroy your orbiting mothership. Bosses are typically giant robots that will tear the crap out of your mothership. In any case, leaving the ship to fend for itself is typically a poor choice in this game.
As you destroy enemies, their pickups allow you to salvage parts or weaponry. These can power you up or let you repair your objective if its hull is damaged. This game might be lenient on lives, since said mothership could hypothetically just make more of you. This game is usually fast-paced, but there are almost always places on-screen for you to move and repair your objective (usually the bottom or sides of the screen) unless its hull is perfect.
Each idea has its weaknesses, but both of them are fairly unique. Beyond constructive criticism, are there any SHMUPS out there that share some sort of link with a larger, slower vessel?
Thanks guys! Keep mashing those buttons.
In my case, the mothership/mark was going to be in several different places to make the game varied. One level might have it on the bottom of the screen, taking up a portion as if it were a landscape. Another might have a long tendril reaching through the center of the screen, which might move around as you progress. The "attack drones" idea might have marks swoop in and attack while waiting to be repaired.