Bullet blocking, rotating shield mechanics

[Squire Grooktook]

Recommend me some games with a few.

So far I got Super Aleste and MUSHA.

Biometal looks the part but doesn't count because the shields are actually an impenetrable force field, rendering the rotation moot.

*edit* list for those also interested:

Abadox
Bio-Hazard Battle / Crying
Grid Seeker
Super Aleste / Space Megaforce

[Jeneki]

NES Abadox.

[Perikles]

Biometal looks the part but doesn't count because the shields are actually an impenetrable force field, rendering the rotation moot.

Not true, actually. It's just that almost all bullets will be neutralized for the orbs spin around so fast, but every once in a while a bullet might get through the shield!

A few other games that come to mind:

Crying/Bio-Hazard Battle (the sphere doesn't rotate by itself, but it'll move around according to your own movement)
Dead Moon
E.D.F.: Earth Defense Force
Final Blaster
Formation Armed F (sort of, I suppose; the things don't rotate, but you can push them forwards provided you have those little "F" icons at your disposal)
Over Horizon
Paranoia
R-Type III (when using Hyper mode, but I think that does make you invincible against incoming projectiles)
Thunder Force games
Ultimate Ecology (the player has to rotate the contraption)
Varth

[Squire Grooktook]

Not true, actually. It's just that almost all bullets will be neutralized for the orbs spin around so fast, but every once in a while a bullet might get through the shield!

Yeah. It's happened to me a few times, though I've never been sure if I saw what I thought :3 At any rate, the chance of it is so low that it's mostly workable to consider it absolute.

Thanks for the list. BTW, doesn't Cyber Core on PCE have a weapon like this? I was wondering if you'd recommend it.

[Perikles]

BTW, doesn't Cyber Core on PCE have a weapon like this? I was wondering if you'd recommend it.

I don't recall any transformation/weapon that does something like that, considering all the possible combinations (including at least one secret form, I believe) there may very well be one!

I do recommend Cyber Core - it's a solid Dragon Spirit epigone with a pronounced focus on fast movement (which should cater to your predilection). Unsurprisingly, it's not as fundamentally strong as its model (stages usually introduce a certain setting/idea without expertly incorporating the basis as well), but that's to be expected, and Dragon Spirit is a great game after all. What's especially noteworthy is that Cyber Core is really easy until you hit the final stage which is several magnitudes harder than the rest of the game. Violent Soldier - which is another game from the same developers - works just like that, the last two stages of that game are glorious.


Also a few more games for the topic at hand:

Bouken Danshaku Don: The Lost Sun-Heart
Curse
Forgotten Worlds (granted, the protective effect is more of an auxiliary trait)
Kiaidan 00 (now that's an obscure example: you can charge up one of the weapon for a laser beams that rotates around, wiping out bullets in that manner; this is imperative for the higher difficulty settings where the screen is constantly flooded by suicide bullets)
Magical Chase
Undeadline (the three maces you can summon)

I'm not sure how exactly the one shield in Gradius Gaiden works; the one that seemingly rotates around the ship, I only used it once and found it utterly useless.

[Squire Grooktook]

Ah, the weapon used here seems to give off that situationally protective vibe, though not quite the same. Unless I'm misinterpreting the visuals lol.

[Perikles]

Ah, the weapon used here seems to give off that situationally protective vibe, though not quite the same. Unless I'm misinterpreting the visuals lol.

Nah, it's just that the final stage is infested by destructible little blobs as enemies, that's why those sickles destroy everything. They don't neutralize bullets or other projectiles. It's not like, say, most Compile games where you can negate bullets (either outright or by using a specific weapon) in one way or another.

Haven't played it myself (yet), but can't you rearrange the pod in Last Resort for protection?

[qmish]

Why do i instantly think about Dariusburst's laser which you set at certain angle? But that acts BOTH as a shield and a weapon, might be an idea for a different topic.

[Shepardus]

I think it's a shield option in Gradius III that nobody uses.

Deathsmiles has the rotating familiar that blocks suicide bullets.

[Imhotep]

yes, definitely Last Resort.

also:

X-Multiply
Dragon Breed
Mystic Riders (sort of, you can send off the bullet cancelling broom in eight directions)

[BIL]

Super Star Soldier (PCE)'s "O" powerup gives you a couple of indestructible bullet-blocking satellites, which you can switch from horizontal to vertical alignment with the second button. Tapping the button will simulate orbiting, or you can just use autofire for EZ action. ;3

They're put to good use at the game's secret ultimate difficulty, "Sugeeze." Very handy for swatting away the mode's randomly-spawning homing bullets.

[stuntman]

Triggerheart Exelica?

[ciox]

If shield "Bits" that don't stop bullets but do stop popcorn enemies count, see Final Mission on the NES, slightly notable is the fact that the "Bits" are controllable by the player in the japanese version but not in the english version where they just rotate constantly, probably to spare the player some multitasking.

[Uncle Taco]

Some of the S3 powers in Caladrius Blaze are like that, such as Layis's spinning swords, Maria's anti-bullet bullets, and Lilith's tentacles.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Phantasmagoria of Flower View - Youmu's charge attack clears bullets in front of her.

Sideline (DOS game) - Your ship has two collectable rotating gunpods that act as shields for smaller bullets, the weapon they fire depends on your main weapon and their position can be toggled with a button through various presets (similar to Battle Garegga's gun formations). One of the formations is a rotating one, most are fixed in place, but another one is manually controllable (moving forward moves the pods behind you and vice-versa).

[BrianC]

Recca has bullet blocking, rotating, shields.

[MintyTheCat]

Haven't played it myself (yet), but can't you rearrange the pod in Last Resort for protection?

Yes, button B toggles lock/unlock for the pod.

[Xyga]

I kind of like the pods in Varth because they're definitely not fast enough to block everything for you if you don't do a bit of positioning when you need them.
The downside is they can be a bit distracting...

The Claws in TF always rotate at the same speed so no 'pattern-breaking' surprise, but since they don't automatically anticipate where the bullets are coming from it's completely up to you to move the ship to the right place, which can be a pain or even just impossible to do on the moment.

Also somehow I've always liked the semi-randomness of the orbiting balls in MUSHA. While being showered/cornered with bullets (well that doesn't really happen much but heh) despite the variable size and speed, that type of imperfect protection always leaves you wondering if a single bullet will get past it or not, and because you know you cant fully trust it, you still try to move away from the bullets lol.
Adds a bit of drama to the action IMHO.

Which brings me to ask people a question; has any shmup ever featured a soft, rubber-like kind of shield which can only absorb a string/stream of bullets in function of its intensity and duration ? Like you're enveloped by a blob that can be pierced if you don't get away in time.

EDIT: oh forgot to tell I love shields that block only some types of bullets/shots, and you better remember the hierarchy like in Pink Sweets, fun moments.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Which brings me to ask people a question; has any shmup ever featured a soft, rubber-like kind of shield which can only absorb a string/stream of bullets in function of its intensity and duration ? Like you're enveloped by a blob that can be pierced if you don't get away in time.

The shield in Eschatos and Judgement Silversword/Cardinal Sins works like this. Dense patterns will immediately wreck your shield, and even at 50% it is considerably smaller and less effective. Speedy bullets also can't be stopped reliably.

[eebrozgi]

Guxt fits the topic name spot-on. When you get a third shield powerup, you trade your earlier two 1-hit-shields into bullet erasing spheres that orbit around you.

[Squire Grooktook]

...The Claws in TF always rotate at the same speed so no 'pattern-breaking' surprise, but since they don't automatically anticipate where the bullets are coming from it's completely up to you to move the ship to the right place...While being showered/cornered with bullets (well that doesn't really happen much but heh) despite the variable size and speed, that type of imperfect protection always leaves you wondering if a single bullet will get past it or not, and because you know you cant fully trust it, you still try to move away from the bullets lol.
Adds a bit of drama to the action IMHO.

Yeah, this is kind of what I'm looking for. Static defenses that move on their own, but with wide blind spots that force you to manuever around both them and bullets in order to fully exploit their protection.

[Perikles]

Yeah, this is kind of what I'm looking for. Static defenses that move on their own, but with wide blind spots that force you to manuever around both them and bullets in order to fully exploit their protection.

It doesn't quite fulfill your original requirement (regarding the rotation) but Xexex' Flint pod is a magnificent evolution of the R-Type pod when it comes to its utility. Finding the right balance when to deploy it and when to keep it for offensive and defensive purposes allows for great experimentation, especially the vertically scrolling stages (3 & 5) are superb. You will have to use the Flint to its full expediency for the diabolical second loop, the omnivorous companion and its multi-tasking talents are incredibly well executed in respect of the stage design.

Detana!! TwinBee's option barriers also force you to constantly move around so that the silhouettes protect the ship from incoming fire. Game's still incredibly frustrating, though.

[TransatlanticFoe]

So far I got Super Aleste and MUSHA.

More Compile...
Aleste/Power Strike has a similar special weapon to the revolving shield in Super Aleste, only you can't stop it on demand
Power Strike II (SMS version) features the same sort of revolving power ups as MUSHA

EDF/Super EDF has revolving options similar to Thunder Force but it's been a long time and I don't recall if they block bullets. They're pretty fast if I remember right.

Triggerheart Exelica set to auto-swing might count, there are sections where it's useful to use it as a shield but most of the time you're herding bullets/enemies to release and maximise score items

[Squire Grooktook]

^^^ Just remembered Compile's pc-98 title Rude Breaker also has a rotating shield as the alt-fire mechanic on the laser weapon. Pretty nice game too, arguably one their best titles despite being the most obscure.

[BIL]

Recca has bullet blocking, rotating, shields.

Forgot to say earlier - I'm not sure how intentional any of this balancing was, but while their damage output is minimal, Recca's Rotate options do at least offer that dependable orbiting shield. Conversely, Homing is devastatingly strong, but the erratic autonomous movement can lead to tragicomedy if they're used as shields. Gotta laugh when one dodges a bullet just in time for it to nail you! I guess the Forward and Rear types are the middle ground.

[Kaleb Parham]

Varth kinda has something like this with the rotating shields system.