Looking for recommendations for future shmupping

PFG 9000 · Post by **PFG 9000** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 5:48 pm

A big thanks to anyone willing to read all this.

So now that I've been getting into shooters for awhile, I'm getting to know exactly which kind I like the most. I think Shikigami no Shiro II on extreme mode is exactly the kind of shmup I enjoy - tons of bullets to weave into and out of, sprayed in interesting patterns with bosses that don't take too much strategy to beat. I don't care much for Ikaruga with its constant polarity shifting (too much thinking for me), and while I like what I've played of the Thunder Force series (2, AC, 4, 5), I would rather dodge lots of bullets than shoot lots of enemies. I also like what I've played of R-Type (Super, 3, Delta, Final), but it tends to be a little too slow and memorization-based for my preferences. I like faster games like Gradius Gaiden and G-Darius. I have no preference between horis and verts.

So knowing this, which shooters should I seek out in the future? For now I can only play games with Western releases, except for PS1 (I can play any PS1 game). I've got Lynx, NES, Genesis, SNES, Jaguar, N64, PS1, and PS2. Eventually I'll get a computer, and I'd also like to know which MAME roms to look for at that point. Here's what I currently own:

Atari 2600
Galaxian
Defender
Centipede
Space Invaders
River Raid

NES
Gradius
Life Force

Gameboy
Nemesis
Gradius: The Interstellar Assault

Genesis/MD
Raiden Trad
Thunder Force II
Lightening Force/TF4
Sol Deace

Atari Lynx
Gates of Zendocon
Raiden
Robotron

SNES
Axelay
Gradius III
Super R-Type
Thunder Spirits/TF3

Atari Jaguar
Raiden
Trevor McFur in the Crescent Galaxy
Tempest 2000

Playstation
G-Darius
Mobile Light Force/Gunbird
R-Type Delta
Raystorm
Thunderforce V

Gameboy Advance
Gradius Galaxies

Playstation 2
Gradius III/IV
Gradius V
R-Type Final
Mobile Light Force II/SnS
Shikigami no Shiro II
Silpheed: The Lost Planet

Gamecube
Ikaruga

I also have burned copies of Gradius Gaiden, the Gradius Deluxe Pack, and the Salamander Deluxe pack. I'll be doing a major video game hunt this weekend, and I'd like to know which shooters are best to watch for. THANKS!

sven666 · Post by **sven666** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 5:59 pm

well if you like fast gameplay and lots of bullets youve completeley missed all of caves games for PSX/PS2!!
psx-
donpachi
dodonpachi

ps2-
dodonpachi dai ou jou
ESPgaluda
mushimesama

Accutron · Post by **Accutron** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 6:00 pm

Invest $20, get a Dreamcast. Giga Wing, Mars Matrix, Gunbird 2 and Psyvariar 2 await.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 6:13 pm

Indeed, if you want lots o' bullets you definitely ought to try Cave's stuff...the PSX ports of the DonPachi games are supposed to be very good, though they're thougher to find and more expensive than their saturn counterparts. And if you ever get an import-ready (or just plain import) PS2, snag the other Cave ports; I'd also recommend the Psyvariar games and Giga Wing Generations if you can find 'em cheap. The Dreamcast titles mentioned ought to be up your alley as well, if you score a DC; boot discs are readily available to allow you to play imports for it.

Offhand I might also mention Zanac for the NES; that thing is pretty darn manic for its time. You might also want to try the demos for the "Shanghai Alice" doujin games on the PC (Embodiment of Scarlet Devil, Perfect Cherry Blossom, Imperishable Night, Phantasmagoria of Flower View); if you like them the full versions are pretty inexpensive. Bike Banditz might also be to your liking.

Hope those help a bit.

Tomtom · Post by **Tomtom** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 7:17 pm

Hitogata Happa!

PFG 9000 · Post by **PFG 9000** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 7:28 pm

BulletMagnet wrote:Indeed, if you want lots o' bullets you definitely ought to try Cave's stuff...the PSX ports of the DonPachi games are supposed to be very good, though they're thougher to find and more expensive than their saturn counterparts. And if you ever get an import-ready (or just plain import) PS2, snag the other Cave ports;

Wait, so there are US releases of Cave games on the PSX? I thought they were all Japan-exclusive!

For the record, I have to do my interneting through a work computer, which blocks 99% of gaming sites...so researching this stuff is a royal pain. Thanks for the suggestions, gang. Keep 'em coming!

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 7:39 pm

PFG 9000 wrote:Wait, so there are US releases of Cave games on the PSX? I thought they were all Japan-exclusive!

The games are Japan exclusives, but I think you said that you could play PSX imports, so I figured I ought to mention them.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 7:40 pm

Err, you said you could play any PS1 game so he listed some JP PS1 games for you...

visuatrox · Post by **visuatrox** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 7:46 pm

Well considering you like SNS2 on extreme, you would probably like all of Caves games, Psyvariar 1&2, Gigawing Series and Mars Matrix. You really should consider getting a DC, and modifying your PS2 or getting a Japanese PS2.

PFG 9000 · Post by **PFG 9000** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:21 pm

Ganelon wrote:Err, you said you could play any PS1 game so he listed some JP PS1 games for you...

Good lord, you're right. I'm really, really dumb. XD

...actually, I think it's just that I'm still trying to get used to having the whole world of Japanese Playstation games available to me. At least, I'll keep telling myself that.

ROBOTRON · Post by **ROBOTRON** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 3:28 am

Get a TG16/PCEngine also.