What do you think have been the most consitent series?

[evil_ash_xero]

And I'm kind of thinking of more long running series(3 or more entries). Stuff like ESPGaluda and Mushi don't really count here. Neither does my much beloved Radiant Silvergun, and it's spiritual sequel Ikaruga.

I always think R-Type. R-Type 1 and 2 are both arcade classics. Although, I think 2 is WAY too hard. III is probably my favorite(despite being a bit of a slow starter). Delta is great too. I don't really like Leo, due to it not really playing like R-Type(but it's OK). Final is the one that sinks my heart. So, that's 4 out of six. And those 4 are all top notch(or flat out classics). For being so ancient, the first one really holds up, due to it's wonderful level design.

Gradius is another series I like, but I don't think it's terribly consistent. However, it does have II, Gaiden, and V. And that's gotta count for something. 1 is a little old for me, and III and IV aren't much, in my eyes. There's all kinds of others, but that's about all I'm looking at.

I think the first 3 DonPachi games are quality. 1 is OK, but good. 2 is unbelievable. DOJ took a long time to grow on me, but I really like it. I just don't like the boss designs(except for the last one). Daifukkatsu left me ice cold though.

That's all that's coming to mind, that fits my criteria. What series do you guys like? Parodius? Star Soldier? Thunder Force? Darius? 194x? Raiden?

[Vexorg]

There seems to be a lot of consistency between the first three Raiden games (1, 2 and DX) and then separately between the three Raiden Fighters games. For that matter, Viper Phase 1 fits in there pretty well too.

[Moniker]

All the Raiden games are great, whether it be the main series or Raiden Fighters. Not a bad game among them.

Same goes for Darius, although I haven't played some of the console games. I hear Twin is lousy.

Edit:

If you consider Garegga, Bakraid & Batrider a series, then it's the best trilogy in gaming.

The Strikers 1945 trilogy is amazing too.

[Captain]

Read my name.

Now read it backwards.

[shmuppyLove]

Yeah R-Type and R-Type II are very very solid.

I just fired up "R-Types" on the PS1, they are excellent ports of both.

[Ed Oscuro]

All three episodes of Major Stryker.

The Mahou series, and the Psikyo games are some other picks. I suppose the old Toaplan Fire / Flying type games too. Of course, the Raiden Fighters games seem the most consistently good (although I have trouble medaling in RF1).

[dannnnn]

Gradius would be my personal favourite. All the arcade games are excellent - with III being one of the greatest STGs of all time IMO - and even those which I consider the weakest entries (Gaiden and ReBirth) are still good games.

Obviously the (Do)Donpachi series stands out amongst modern shooters and probably deserves recognition as the most consistent (not counting Bee Storm).

[xbl0x180]

Yeah R-Type and R-Type II are very very solid.

I just fired up "R-Types" on the PS1, they are excellent ports of both.

Hell, I'd consider Pulstar as an unofficial R-Type and that game rocked my face off - that game was CLONED from R-Type!

Major props to the Gate of Thunder and Lords of Thunder games

[Vamos]

Gradius would be my personal favourite. All the arcade games are excellent - with III being one of the greatest STGs of all time IMO - and even those which I consider the weakest entries (Gaiden and ReBirth) are still good games.

Obviously the (Do)Donpachi series stands out amongst modern shooters and probably deserves recognition as the most consistent (not counting Bee Storm).

How on earth is gaiden a weakest entry ?

[Captain]

It's the greatest one for me.

[dannnnn]

Well it's only my opinion, but it doesn't feel like a proper Gradius game, certainly not an arcade game anyway. It's too forgiving and makes too many concessions to console players. A couple of examples are the fact that you can customise your power-up bar and that there are far too many power-up capsules everywhere, to the point that if you are trying to store a force field, you'll spend as much time dodging the capsules as you do bullets. I also think it's too long and too easy for much of the way. A decent portion of the game becomes virtually redundant on seemingly any loop after a little practice. Length itself isn't neccessarily a flaw, but when it takes two loops just to get going it becomes a chore.

Also, it's purely personal taste, but the arcade games have a very clean, clear aesthetic style where as Gaiden is completely over the top. When I first started playing, I actually thought it was a mess, visually, and that feeling still hasn't totally gone away. It can be pretty annoying when you destroy that 'core' spaceship near the start of stage 3 and the screen turns really bright for a few seconds, causing you to ram the little crystal which was completely obscured by the silly visual effect.

Other annoyances off the top of my head are that the force field hitbox is massive (presumably to make up for that fact that you can have it placed anywhere on your power-up bar), and that enemies release suicide bullets at pretty much point blank range which feels cheap, especially in tight areas such as the 'walker' part at the end of stage 9.

It is a good game, but it seems to me to be more suited to people who aren't that keen on Gradius in the first place. If you find the arcade games to be a bit sterile and boring, then Gaiden will probably be for you.

[Ed Oscuro]

Gradius would be my personal favourite. All the arcade games are excellent - with III being one of the greatest STGs of all time IMO - and even those which I consider the weakest entries (Gaiden and ReBirth) are still good games.

Obviously the (Do)Donpachi series stands out amongst modern shooters and probably deserves recognition as the most consistent (not counting Bee Storm).

How on earth is gaiden a weakest entry ?

HG101 calls Gaiden and V the greatest entries...

[BulletMagnet]

How on earth is gaiden a weakest entry ?

HG101 calls Gaiden and V the greatest entries...

As with most everything else it's a matter of personal taste: Gaiden and V take different departures from most of the rest of the series, which some people think makes the games better while others prefer the "feel" of the arcade titles.

[Zorator]

ESP Ra. De. doesn't count as the first game in the ESPGauluda series?

[evil_ash_xero]

ESP Ra. De. doesn't count as the first game in the ESPGauluda series?

That's a bit of a debate. If so, then that would be another of the most solid...as all of them are good/great.

[Ed Oscuro]

How on earth is gaiden a weakest entry ?

HG101 calls Gaiden and V the greatest entries...

As with most everything else it's a matter of personal taste: Gaiden and V take different departures from most of the rest of the series, which some people think makes the games better while others prefer the "feel" of the arcade titles.

Yes, exactly. HG101: "It's flash, it's good!"

Actually, I'm a fine one to talk - I am most interested in getting Gaiden, V, and even Axelay for chrissakes...the arcade titles aren't exactly my cup of tea but I enjoy Salamander and II / III.

Speaking vaguely on-topic, do a search in MAME for "striker."

Almost everything is either a soccer game or a first-rate action game. (Dunno about the unemulated "Striker" from Gottlieb in 1982, and there appears to be a pin too.)

[Mordecai Walfish]

Read my name.

Now read it backwards.

Agreed. Gradius and Darius have without a doubt been the most consistent shooters IMO. In Gradius' case it's so consistent they regularly re-use the same fucking parts lol.

[JBC]

The Thunderforce series doesn't have perfectly consistent design, especially since the newer entries (thankfully) lack the top down stages but it does have consistent quality. I only recently got to experience part VI and greatly enjoyed it, though it is abit on the easy side. I love how they've linked the storylines from I-IV & V together.

[Bee Cool]

Touhou tied with Ketsui.

[ED-057]

No mention of Psikyo yet? Their games are pretty consistent, even between series (I heard Strikers 1945 II and Sengoku Bla(e)de use the same game engine for instance)

[Drum]

Gradius consistent my bottom. III and IV are completely mediocre (at best).

Parodius, otoh, is pretty consistently good.

[mesh control]

Psikyo & (post 1999)Takumi are solid.
The ray(force, storm, crisis) series is also very good.

[Mordecai Walfish]

Gradius consistent my bottom. III and IV are completely mediocre (at best).

Parodius, otoh, is pretty consistently good.

Aah I was confused by the topic. While Gradius is very consistent, I would agree it is not consistently good. IV was bumfights but III was quite good I thought. Maybe it's the just the SNES version nostalgia.. lol

[Skykid]

[AntiFritz]

snip

That is some pretty consistent swimming.

[Randorama]

Darius.

People queueing at the arcade to play the game, when arcades are supposed to be dead, are the eternal proof of fish glory.

And, I wonder if the girl in Skykid's image is Tamayo Kawamoto.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The Psyvariar series (Psyvariar Medium Unit / Psyvariar Revision / Psyvariar 2: The Will to Fabricate) is pretty good with it's "buzzing" mechanic wrinkle. Only if Success were to do a proper third sequel after Psyvariar 2. It was a jaw-dropping experience to be able to play Psy MU properly at a game center back in late March of 2000 running on the Taito G-Net arcade platform.

What's interesting about each Psiko PCB release is, they would add a new game mechanic to spice up the gameplay. Now if they had decided to do a proper Gunbird 3 PCB sequel (instead of going along with an all new arcade IP with Dragon Blaze as their final arcade shmup PCB swan song), expect a new game mechanic + more crazier arching stories between single player characters along with a second character (during a two player gaming session) + sharp & witty one liners with the usual Psikyo infused flavor between newly introduced & returning character favorites. It's a given/expectation with the Gunbird franchise alrighty.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Jeneki]

Aleste. And it's many offshoots.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

If that is Tamayo Kawamoto in Skykid's pic post, she was in the original "Shall We Dance" flick. The Amercianized version with actor Richard Gere version of SWD doesn't count either.

Back to the current shmup topic at hand.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[TransatlanticFoe]

+1 for Aleste.