Rank consoles by shmups

[foxyg]

1. Xbox 360 - don't think any one can dispute this one
2. Dreamcast - majorly carried over PS2 by the indie shmups
3. PS2 - a lot exclusives
4. PS1 or Saturn, can't decide which one is better

[Giest118]

PC - has most things and will go on to have everything

[HydrogLox]

Strongly influenced by BulletMagnet's racketboy articles I would actually rank them this way:

1. Sega Saturn
2. Sony PlayStation 1
3. Sega Dreamcast
4. Sony PlayStation 2
5. Microsoft Xbox 360 (NTSC-J)

Also PC Engine and Sega Megadrive need to be in there - possibly before position 3 but definitely before 5 and PC Engine before Megadrive.

The Sega Saturn’s Explosive Shmups Library
The Phenomenal Playstation (PS1) Shmups Library
The Sega Dreamcast Shmups Library
The Playstation 2 (PS2) Shmups Library

[HydrogLox]

PC - has most things and will go on to have everything

Not exactly a console. Varying games have varying system requirements = no standardized experience.

[KAI]

#1 - PC (emulates everything except #2)
#2 - 360
#3 - PS2 (emulates #4)
#4 - DC
#5 - PSX

[Ed Oscuro]

#1 SNES
#2 PSP
#3 TRS-80
#4 GC

[Spyke]

Xbox 360 - are we talking region locks here? PAL users might argue that NTSC-J users could expect to be higher up the table...

For myself:

Sega Saturn
Sega Megadrive
Xbox 360 (PAL)
PS2 (PAL and/or NTSC-J)
PS1

Ant

[Hibachi]

#1 SNES
#2 PSP
#3 TRS-80
#4 GC

I'm guessing you mean Game Cube for no4. I only ask as i'm pretty sure most titles of the shmup variety were also on others consoles.

As I write this I actually think you're being sarcastic. If only because SNES is no1.

Edit for being bad at spelling today.

[louisg]

I've gotten the most shmup playtime off of my Sega consoles (except for the Master System, which-- let's face it-- kind of sucks), and off the PC Engine + CD. I have other consoles, but I tend to play other genres on those. I'd probably play shooters a lot on a 360 since it has a good selection of the kinds of shmups I like, but I don't own one.

[Mortificator]

R-Type Delta, Gradius Gaiden, Zanac Neo, and Einhänder - four of the shooters I consider truly great were developed for PS1, which is more than for any other console.

[Nasirosuchus]

1) PC - As has been stated, it emulates nearly everything.
2) Saturn
3) PS2\Dreamcast
4) PS1
5) Xbox 360

[DMC]

My opinion:
Saturn
PS2
XBox 360 in that order.

Saturn has perhaps the strongest mid-90s era of shooters with Toaplan, Cave, Psikyo, Taito, and Raizing on the front but also a pretty huge catalogue beyond ththe bigger names. PSX has strong library too, but Battle Garegga, Batsugun, and Radiant Silvergun break the tie.

PS2 has perhaps the widest selection of them all? Even a decent amount of 80's shooters if one includes all those compilations. Naturally, it has a good selection of more modern manic games, such as 2000-Cave. Lacks Raizing though, serious flaw.

Same goes for Xbox 360 which obviously has the strongest Cave-catalogue, and because of that, the strongest bullet hell library. Decent variety with some G-Rev, Treasure, and some classic HD remakes. Leaderboards and replay share a big plus. Achievements, not so much.

[soupbones]

1. Xbox 360
2. Sega Genesis/MegaDrive (c'mon guys!)
3. Saturn
4. Dreamcast

[Crazy Climber]

1 - XBOX 360 (one word - achievements, they make the replay value sooo much higher)
2 - Dreamcast (mainly because I like the neo geo dev team homebrew scene)
3 - Sega Megadrive (has to be japan though, love how those import boxes look!)
4 - Saturn (although I have played very little to zero that bad ass Astro City controller makes it rankable on looks alone...I WANT ONE!)

[EmperorIng]

In my opinion:

1) Saturn

Strong showing of "classic" shmups, Taito's best shmups are on the system, as well as Raizing's best, and a good variety of other things like excellent Konami compilations and the STV games.

2) Dreamcast

NAOMI shmups are probably some of the more interesting games to play, as well as the CPS stuff by Takumi; together these make it probably second-best in terms of longevity.

3) PS1

If it had gotten the same vast amount of attention as the Saturn, the exclusives of the PS1 (G-Darius, R-Type Delta, RayCrisis, Einhander, etc.) would have bumped it up past the Saturn. It's very close with the DC and Saturn, and definitely has its share of 'must-own' titles.

4) PS2

Mainly for Dragon Blaze, Gradius III and IV, and the ability to play PS1 games (though not especially well at times).

5) XBOX 360

Cave and G.REV's turf.

lol at "no one arguing with the 360" bit in the OP. I guess if you like Cave games, the 360's alright!

[Rex Cavalier]

PC - has most things and will go on to have everything

[Temia Eszteri]

My ranking is as follows:

1. Personal Computer, for emulating the arcade releases that are so hard to get otherwise
2. XBox 360, which is still stunning to be in the lineup at all
3. Dreamcast, which attracted many shmups for its short life

Up until the recent bout of releases, the Dreamcast was up in #2 instead, but time marches ever onward.

[Kollision]

To this day the PS2 is unbeatable in the matter of diversity.
Despite a good number of dedicated titles from several developers, collections such as those released by Capcom, Taito and a few others are nothing short of awesome.

[lettuce]

Jesus not a single mention of the SNES but a few for the Megadrive!?. With the likes of, Axelay, UN Squadron, R-Type 3, Space MegaForce, Gradius 3 to name a few what does the MD have to trump those 5?

[Skykid]

Disbelief to see people ranking the 360 above the Saturn. Get an education.

[gatsu25]

I'm amazed how few are talking about the PC-Engine....

Saturn
PC Engine
Xbox 360
Dreamcast

I think these consoles are essential for shmup fans. I've also been really into the X68000 but it's not explicitly a "console" so I didn't put it in there.

[NTSC-J]

Disbelief to see people ranking the 360 above the Saturn. Get an education.

Seen, played, and/or owned every Saturn STG I know of, the 360 still smashes it. EmperorIng is right, though: that really only applies if you're a Caveman. But my god if you are. Ports of nearly every game, complete with all-new modes and rare ones only seen in location tests or at Matsuri events, replays, and HD visuals for some. The fact that there was a Muchi Pork/Pink Sweets double-pack is bananas enough.

I do think that the Saturn has perhaps the best variety of STGs, but the 360 has done far better with this genre than I ever would have imagined.

[psoslayer]

1) Dreamcast: Less shumps than on 360 but the quality is there: Border Down, Zero Gunner 2, Fast Striker and lots of indie shmup goodness

2) 360: Almost complete collection of CAVE games + Raiden Fighters, Raiden 4 releases and some new releases popping out quite frequently

3) Saturn: Hated Thunder Force 5 but Terra Driver makes up for it. Some other great games too such as Darius.

4) Mega Drive: So many classic shmups; Thunder Force, Aleste, Gynoug etc.

5) Super Famicom: Not many shmups here but the quality is there: Axelay, R-Type 3, Space Megaforce

Honorable mention: PC-Engine was a great shmup console but most shmups never appealed to me but Soldier Blade.

[louisg]

I'm amazed how few are talking about the PC-Engine....

PC Engine is a fantastic system for a certain style of shooter. I like the Genesis, but I think if you throw in the CD add-on, that the PCE might even be a bit better. Anyone who likes 16-bit era shooters should look into getting one IMO.

2) 360: Almost complete collection of CAVE games + Raiden Fighters, Raiden 4 releases and some new releases popping out quite frequently

Don't forget Eschatos! And, I haven't played it, but I hear good things about Under Defeat HD. There's some neat stuff outside of the cave realm on that system.

I do think that the Saturn has perhaps the best variety of STGs, but the 360 has done far better with this genre than I ever would have imagined.

Saturn is the system you get if you want to play really nice pre-manic arcade ports on a CRT. For that, it's bliss. PS1 may be a little underrated for this as well-- IIRC, it had a nice selection too.

[MagicT]

1 - DREAMCAST
Ikaruga, Border Down, Under Defeat, Zero Gunner 2

2 - JP X360
CAVE shmups !

3 - PS2
Gradius V !

4 - SEGA SATURN & PS1

5 - NEO-GEO
Blazing Star, Pulstar ! and Andro Dunos, Strikers 1945 Plus

6 - PC ENGINE

7 - PC
MAME Shmups

[trap15]

I don't understand why people are saying PC, when MAME does not make games into PC games. Also a PC is not a console.

Obviously the superior platform is arcade PCBs, but considering this is consoles:

[1] Saturn
If you don't know why this is #1, I recommend you pick up a modded Saturn and look around ISO sites

[2] XBOX360
Basically every CAVE game in the past ~12 years, a lot from Triangle Service, Raiden Fighters Aces, Raiden IV, and more.

[3] Dreamcast
Gigawing, Mars Matrix, Gunbird 2, etc. etc. etc.

[4] PS2
[4] PS1
Couldn't decide between the two, really. PS2 has a fair amount of CAVE ports and XII Stag; PS1 has R-Type Delta, Cho Aniki, and more that aren't coming to mind right now.

[foxyg]

Jesus not a single mention of the SNES but a few for the Megadrive!?. With the likes of, Axelay, UN Squadron, R-Type 3, Space MegaForce, Gradius 3 to name a few what does the MD have to trump those 5?

Megadrive definitely has better shmups than SNES, Bio Ship Paladin, Aero Blasters, and a good port of Vapor Trail, and some Treasure support with Gunstar Heroes and Alien Soldier, don't forget the godly Thunder Force 3, 4

[Skykid]

Disbelief to see people ranking the 360 above the Saturn. Get an education.

Seen, played, and/or owned every Saturn STG I know of, the 360 still smashes it.

Smashes it?

You'd have to be rock hard only for Cave shmups and nothing else to make that assertion. I prefer variety to be honest.

I love Cave games, don't get me wrong, but I don't think the 360 has the Saturn licked.

Battle Garegga
Layer Section
Darius II
Darius Gaiden
Metal Black
Hyper Duel
Batsugun
Cotton II / Boomerang
Dodonpachi
Donpachi
Twinkle Star Sprites
Strikers 1945
Sengoku Blade
Gunbird
Game Tengoku
Parodius DX
Gradius DX
Twinbee DX
Salamander DX
Kingdom Grandprix
Blast Wind
Thunderforce V
Gekirindan
Gun Frontier
Radiant Silvergun
Image Fight & X Multiply
Sonic Wings Special
Shienryu
Strikers 1945 II
Cho Aniki

To name a few. That's an incredible arcade history right there.

I might be biased because I play most Cave games on PCB, but there's only so much bullet hell you can take before you need to whet your palette with something new (or classic.)

[louisg]

Jesus not a single mention of the SNES but a few for the Megadrive!?. With the likes of, Axelay, UN Squadron, R-Type 3, Space MegaForce, Gradius 3 to name a few what does the MD have to trump those 5?

Megadrive definitely has better shmups than SNES, Bio Ship Paladin, Aero Blasters, and a good port of Vapor Trail, and some Treasure support with Gunstar Heroes and Alien Soldier, don't forget the godly Thunder Force 3, 4

I have to agree. I *do* like the SNES, but back when that was the only console I owned, I was digging really deep trying to find good shmups. Though, IMO, Space Megaforce slaughters MUSHA ;D

[CptRansom]

Xbox 360 is my #1.

DOJBL (with arrange)
DFK (with arranges)
DFKBL (and arrange)
Ketsui (and arrange)
MMP/PS (and arranges)
Futari (with arrange and BL)
Deathsmiles (with MBL and 1.1 arrange of both)
Deathsmiles IIX (not sure about extras with this, but the game's there)
Mushi (with arranges)
Galuda II (with BL and arrange)
Akai Katana (with arranges)
SDOJ (incoming with arrange)
Guwange (with arrange)

...and that's just Cave's shit.

Eschatos (along with JSS/CS)
Ginga Force
Bullet Soul
Caladrius (incoming with region-locked asshattery)
Under Defeat HD
Raiden IV
Raiden Fighters Aces
Mamoru-kun
Shooting Love 200X
Shikigami III
Ikaruga
Radiant Silvergun (with Ikaruga-mode arrange)
Triggerheart Exelica
1942 Joint Strike
KOF Sky Stage
R-Type Dimensions
Omega Five
Strania
Raystorm HD
Sine Mora
...and that doesn't even touch XBLIG titles or XBLA/Retail games I might have left out.

Please tell me more about how the 360 is nothing but a Cave box without any variety. I'm not saying that every game on this list is good (or even decent... fuck you Sine Mora), but you can't deny that there is enough variety for anyone to find something they enjoy.

Does Saturn have better quality overall? I think that depends on the tastes of the person playing. But please stop with this Xbox 360 = LOLCAVEBOX nonsense.