Vertical or Horizontal shmups?

[Magnalon]

I can't help but call myself a vertical man (get your mind out the gutter!).

Other than your typical horizontal shooter fair (R-Type, Gradius), I'm just not that excited by them. For one, danmaku (bullet hell) tend to be vertically based - so it just happens that I end up buying all those. For the GUNDEMONIUM Collection, I actually only bought Hitogata Happa because it was vertical. Also, Touhou, Ikaruga, and Radiant Silvergun - 'nuff said.

Does anyone else feel this way? Despite my love for all things up and down, it would be awesome to see more shooters have a full horizontal aspect ratio, however.

[burgerkingdiamond]

I can't help but call myself a vertical man (get your mind out the gutter!).

Other than your typical horizontal shooter fair (R-Type, Gradius), I'm just not that excited by them. For one, danmaku (bullet hell) tend to be vertically based - so it just happens that I end up buying all those. For the GUNDEMONIUM Collection, I actually only bought Hitogata Happa because it was vertical. Also, Touhou, Ikaruga, and Radiant Silvergun - 'nuff said.

Does anyone else feel this way? Despite my love for all things up and down, it would be awesome to see more shooters have a full horizontal aspect ratio, however.

I would expect the vast majority of people on this forum to agree that vert's generally are better. However, Gradius V, if you don't already know, is a great game. There are a couple level design things that really bug the shit out of me (in particular the pink walls that try to eat you halfway through level 4) that keep me from playing regularly anymore. I can no miss up to that point pretty much %100 of the time, so dying there regularly just makes me want to break things.

[mrsmiley381]

I end up playing verts more often because I hate walls.

But then I realize I love Gradius V for how much it hates me, walls included. I've also noticed a lot of newer horis end up being Euroshmups, which I just don't enjoy.

Each screen orientation has its gems, though. Playing both never hurts.

[Annoyboy]

I like both in general, but I've found a lot more verticals to have long-term appeal.

[dunpeal2064]

I like both in general, but I've found a lot more verticals to have long-term appeal.

I think thats because in general, horis are played for survival, and have more of a console feel (even the arcade ports)

Most verts that people love are played for score, so you keep coming back for more

Even the great Gradius V (imo that wall is nothing compared to stage 7, where things seem impossible, or the green gas in stage 6) deson't have any kind of complex score system

I think for me it depends on the mood. I really do love Thunder Force and its weapon system. Some of the Darius games appeal to me as well. Deathsmiles is decent, but it just hasnt hit the right spot for me

Other than those, pretty much all vert for me. Better control imo, and my deaths seem to be more my fault, whereas I just die in horis for no reason.

[burgerkingdiamond]

I like both in general, but I've found a lot more verticals to have long-term appeal.

I think thats because in general, horis are played for survival, and have more of a console feel (even the arcade ports)

Most verts that people love are played for score, so you keep coming back for more

Even the great Gradius V (imo that wall is nothing compared to stage 7, where things seem impossible, or the green gas in stage 6) deson't have any kind of complex score system

I think for me it depends on the mood. I really do love Thunder Force and its weapon system. Some of the Darius games appeal to me as well. Deathsmiles is decent, but it just hasnt hit the right spot for me

Other than those, pretty much all vert for me. Better control imo, and my deaths seem to be more my fault, whereas I just die in horis for no reason.

Yeah, I didn't mention the Green Gas. That shit is hard too. I like it better though because at least you can try to dodge it. With the pink walls they just swallow your ass up.

[dunpeal2064]

I like both in general, but I've found a lot more verticals to have long-term appeal.

I think thats because in general, horis are played for survival, and have more of a console feel (even the arcade ports)

Most verts that people love are played for score, so you keep coming back for more

Even the great Gradius V (imo that wall is nothing compared to stage 7, where things seem impossible, or the green gas in stage 6) deson't have any kind of complex score system

I think for me it depends on the mood. I really do love Thunder Force and its weapon system. Some of the Darius games appeal to me as well. Deathsmiles is decent, but it just hasnt hit the right spot for me

Other than those, pretty much all vert for me. Better control imo, and my deaths seem to be more my fault, whereas I just die in horis for no reason.

Yeah, I didn't mention the Green Gas. That shit is hard too. I like it better though because at least you can try to dodge it. With the pink walls they just swallow your ass up.

Very true. The only way I can see doing it is riding the left wall as soon as you get into that 2nd pocket. I don't really like the way they did it either, there's no swave or cool way of doing it. I'll agree, the gas seems do-able. I just stil die at least 3 times in there, and usually lose my 1cc. Stage 7-8 just blew me away. I only credit fed through it to finally get them flamethrowers.

All in all, its a great game. But there are some spots that just plain suck.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

Even though 95% of the shmups I play are verts I do like horizontals. While verts are great for scoreplay and playing in an OCD fashion, A good hori are more fun any ways that most verts arnt and thats the fantastical journey through unique stages that makes for more immersive and fun in a more casual sense. I suppose thats why most western retro gamers prefer their old horis to verts.

For me who tends to spend a long time on a single vert, horis make a great choice as a standby shmup when I get abit sick of my main shmup and just want a relaxing fun game

[Drum]

Konami needs to make Gradius Gaiden 2 with a fun, creative scoring system that doesn't interfere with the basic strategy of the game. This will start a revival of the subgenre that extracts the best things from modern verts, making them completely redundant - then I will never have to play another vert ever again, yay! This is what Gradius V should have been.

[burgerkingdiamond]

Konami needs to make Gradius Gaiden 2 with a fun, creative scoring system that doesn't interfere with the basic strategy of the game. This will start a revival of the subgenre that extracts the best things from modern verts, making them completely redundant - then I will never have to play another vert ever again, yay! This is what Gradius V should have been.

How about Treasure makes Gradius VI for the PS3? I wish.

[Drum]

If they made it for the PS3 it'd be 2.5d and even more graphically bland than grey-em-ups like Gradius V/Border Down/Ikaruga etc. Put it on a capable handheld and use sprites pls. PSP2 or 3DS, I don't care.

[RNGmaster]

Don't be dissin' my Progear!

[Drum]

Progear is a horizontal shooter?

[burgerkingdiamond]

If they made it for the PS3 it'd be 2.5d and even more graphically bland than grey-em-ups like Gradius V/Border Down/Ikaruga etc. Put it on a capable handheld and use sprites pls. PSP2 or 3DS, I don't care.

I thought that Gradius V was beautiful. If they did it on the PS3 with the same style graphics I wouldn't have a problem. As for handhelds, whatever. I personally have no interest in them.

[NzzpNzzp]

How about Treasure makes Gradius VI for the PS3? I wish.

Don't get Treasure to do it, they'd just make another slow motion bullet hell. Get the team from Konami who made Otomedius and get someone to design levels that are actually good and we'd get a much better Gradius game.

[Drum]

If they made it for the PS3 it'd be 2.5d and even more graphically bland than grey-em-ups like Gradius V/Border Down/Ikaruga etc. Put it on a capable handheld and use sprites pls. PSP2 or 3DS, I don't care.

I thought that Gradius V was beautiful. If they did it on the PS3 with the same style graphics I wouldn't have a problem. As for handhelds, whatever. I personally have no interest in them.

Gradius V looks good, but it's no Gradius Gaiden. Didn't play as well either.

Who developed Gradius Gaiden? Reassemble them and get them to do the next Gradius.

[Marurun]

Progear is a horizontal shooter?

Cave's first one if I'm not mistaken. I wish Cave would port that bugger.

I prefer either depending on my mood. Most of the console shooters I liked as a kid were horizontal, such as Gradius and Thunder Force. For arcade style shooters that require massive scoring though I prefer vertical. Full screen horizontal(Or vertizontal. Whatever they call it.) drives me crazy though(M.U.S.H.A. excluded).

[Dave_K.]

The Progear that should have been...

[joeboto]

The Progear that should have been...

thats awesome..

[Kollision]

Progear is a horizontal shooter?

Cave's first one if I'm not mistaken. I wish Cave would port that bugger.

It was a much better choice than Guwange IMO.

[Drum]

Does Cave have a choice when it comes to Progear? Or is that all up to Capcom?

[Thjodbjorn]

As far as I understand, that's Capcom's decision.

[njiska]

As far as I understand, that's Capcom's decision.

It's entirely Capcom. Cave has made it clear on numerous occasions that the only way we're getting a port is if it's part of a Capcom CPS compliation.

[jonny5]

The Progear that should have been...

What is that pic from? Is that actual concept art from Progear?

[Button Maaasher]

Yeah I think vertical shmups are better. I just find it easier to see the bullets

[Dave_K.]

The Progear that should have been...

What is that pic from? Is that actual concept art from Progear?

Yes it is. Progear was originally planned to be a vertical shooter. That pic is from the old click-stick website, I have no idea where he got it from.

[PurpBullets]

I love cave but I hate progear.
If progear was only like that^

[TarkanX]

Most verts that people love are played for score, so you keep coming back for more

Take a look at the high score boards, there are plenty of horizontal shmups there. Gradius V being one of the biggest ones.

[toaplan_shmupfan]

Definitely vertical shmups for me.

Something about the overhead view I think plays a lot more straightforward than the side view of horizontal shmups--like when I want to go forward I just push up/forward in verticals rather than pushing right with horizontals. Verticals are also more about enemies charging in and shooting (with only a few verticals having frequent behind the back attacks. such as Truxton) and generally lacking wall/environmental hazards that cannot be shot down.

[Shogun]

I like both which is a pain because I have to keep flipping my tv to tate and back. I'm spoiled now because I really can't stand non-tated vertical shooters. I try to avoid buying games that lack the option to flip the screen.