Recommendations for SNES shmups?

[drunkninja24]

Looking at expanding my collection a bit, the only shmups I own on SNES are Gradius III and Super R-Type. I picked up U.N. Squadron and Axelay, and am looking at tracking down R-Type III soon, any other recommendations?

[undamned]

If you're down for some Super Famicom stuff, I thought Flying Hero was cool.
-ud

[gs68]

R-Type III is miles above the SNES port of R-Type II, both in quality and difficulty.

[Kubrick]

Super Aleste / Space Megaforce is well worth a look.

[Obiwanshinobi]

(...) Macross: Scrambled Valkyrie for the Super Famicom.

[orange]

just play axelay a bunch of times

[njiska]

Well done with U.N. Squadron. Great fun to play and awesome, awesome music.

[Leader Bee]

I think Darius was released on the SNES, please do correct me if i'm wrong.

EDIT:

Just checked, both Darius Force and Daris Twin are on the Snes.

[Klatrymadon]

Neither of them are particularly interesting, though. Worst games in the series, IMHOtep. Twin's worth picking up if you can find it for a few dollars (you'll squeeze some enjoyment out of it), but don't go out of your way.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Jikkyou Oshaberi Parodius? PSX and Saturn versions are supposed to be improved, but it was originally a Super Famicom exclusive.

[Kiken]

What? Nine replies and Rob still hasn't shown up to recommend BioMetal?

[MathU]

Aside from R-Type III, Phalanx is one of my favorite SNES shooters. I prefer the changes they made in the SNES port over the X68000 version.

[E. Randy Dupre]

Jikkyou Oshaberi Parodius? PSX and Saturn versions are supposed to be improved, but it was originally a Super Famicom exclusive.

Yeah, the 32bit releases are slightly better - some bosses are altered/replaced to make the difficulty a little more balanced. The SuFami version is still great, though, and essential if you don't have access to those other versions.

All three available Parodius games are worth getting, if you don't already own them on other consoles.

[Klatrymadon]

Aye, the SNES version of Parodius Da! is worth having just for the omake/lollipop mode. It's fantastic.

[Skykid]

Both Parodius games = Great (but the Saturn versions are better overall.)
Super Aleste = Great, especially if you like Compile shmups.
Macross: Scrabled Valkyrie = Painfully, painfully, frustratingly difficult. Got some interesting features tho.
Super R-Type = Pretty but don't bother. Too difficult and too frustrating.
R-Type III = One of the best R-Type's ever. Tough, but great.
Flying Hero = Really pretty but kind of a novelty cute-em-up. Fun but by no means perfect.
Darius = Only if you like Darius, otherwise avoid.
Axelay = Decent side scrolling sections marred by shit 3D stages that don't work properly. Average.
U.N. Squadron = One of the best on the machine, buy it.
Kikikaikai = A shmup of sorts. Challenging but superb. Better than the sequel.
Gradius 3 = Gradius great.
Pop n' Twinbee = Looks good enough to eat and plays well (can get a tad boring at times.)
100% Cotton = Really nice game, lots of fun. Better than the Saturn versions (IMO).

[drunkninja24]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys, and keep 'em coming if you got more! Ideally, I'd like to get a PC-Engine Duo eventually, but considering the price, I think I'd rather expand my collection on systems I already own for now.

[ROBOTRON]

SPACE MEGAFORCE

If you don't have the Genesis/Megadrive version...pick up Thunder Spirits. EDF and Darius ain't bad.

[Kollision]

100% Cotton = Really nice game, lots of fun. Better than the Saturn versions (IMO).

Why?

[Dragoforce]

Darius = Only if you like Darius, otherwise avoid.

I love the Darius series, but I cant honestly recomend the SNES games.

[Specineff]

^^ I really got into Darius Force/SuperNova, don't understand why the dislike for it. (Ghegs' Law, maybe?)

Also, you are all heathens for not mentioning Super Earth Defense Force.

[ROBOTRON]

^^ I really got into Darius Force/SuperNova, don't understand why the dislike for it. (Ghegs' Law, maybe?)

Also, you are all heathens for not mentioning Super Earth Defense Force.

my earlier poast mention EDF in a positive tone.

[mesh control]

Bio Metal, definitely.

[Dale]

Bio Metal, definitely.

Yes, If you liked Wings Of Wor on Mega Drive you'll love the manic feel of this. Very fluent movement and enough challenge to keep you coming back for awhile. The final boss is a monster.

[Kollision]

Biometal is fun, but comparing it to Wings of Wor is a bit of a stretch.
It might feel manic at times, but this is countered by the GAM system (the shield that you can use to protect the ship and attack enemies). It's there to help you and you'll definitely need it to make progress, whereas Wings of Wor is kind of more manic because it doesn't have this regenerating shield.

[Dale]

Yes that's true but Biometal and Wings Of Wor are closer to manicdom then anything else on those two systems hence the comparison. I suppose all things considered it's probably more like R-Type or Exizuis with a really great defense mechanism but if you found Gynoug thrilling you'll probably find BM thrilling as well in that regard.

[saucykobold]

U.N. Squadron is the only shooter I can think of that features grinding. While it's tolerable in Zsnes (you can make liberal use of the fast forward key), I don't think I could play it on a console.

[Specineff]

^^ I really got into Darius Force/SuperNova, don't understand why the dislike for it. (Ghegs' Law, maybe?)

Also, you are all heathens for not mentioning Super Earth Defense Force.

my earlier poast mention EDF in a positive tone.

Dammit, I somehow misread that. Thou shalt be spared the wrath, then.

[Leader Bee]

Darius = Only if you like Darius, otherwise avoid.

I love the Darius series, but I cant honestly recomend the SNES games.

I liked Darius too, but what exactly is wrong with the SNES port?

[Klatrymadon]

The SNES games aren't ports, mate - they're completely original titles. They just happen to be rather ho-hum. The stage designs are, for the most part, even more pedestrian and by-the-numbers than those of the first two games (which I actually do enjoy today, but I can definitely see why most people feel they haven't aged well), the bosses are almost uniformly ineffectual and clumsy, and the music is at best forgettable bollocks and at worst a hateful, migraine-inducing Hell-ringtone. I did develop quite a fondness for Twin's "Stage H" theme, though...

Force probably has the more varied level designs of the two, but Twin's the one that approaches anything near likeability.

[iatneH]

It is not a shooter, but I cannot let this thread go without a mention of Wild Guns. Quite easily my favourite game of the system. Infinitely milkable miniboss aside, it's a very polished and stylish game which should belong in every SNES/SFC collection. But do play it in Hard mode...

The other two games I play a lot are Kikikaikai and Pop'n Twinbee.