The OCR shmup-thread! [Archive] - OverClocked ReMix Forums

anosou

11-21-2008, 12:00 AM

Shmups. They kick ass and makes your palms sweat. What's not to love?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoot_%27em_up - I mean pretty much everything here but run'n'gun, but I guess that's okay too.

Am I really the only one into this lovely little genre?
Anyone wanna share high-scores or replays, perhaps even give some suggestions on fantastacular shmups do it here, because this.. is.. The OCR shmup-thread!

Personally I've been enjoying a lot of PS2 conversions 505 Games brought to europe without any pressrelease or marketing whatsoever. All Psikyo's titles (Gunbird, Sengoku Ace, Dragon Blaze) are amazing and I can't wait to try the not-so-classic verticals like Homura and XII Stag.

In other news, play R-Type Final or go to hell.

Now.. Discussion.. GO!

11-21-2008, 12:12 AM

I like the Raiden series. Is Raiden 4 ever coming out in the North America? I hope it does.

Now to wait for Coop's Thunder Force post.

anosou

11-21-2008, 12:13 AM

I like the Raiden series.

Now to wait for Coop's Thunder Force post.

Is Raiden III any good? Saw that 505 Games released that one also for the PS2 but it seems harder to get than the other releases..

K.B.

11-21-2008, 12:14 AM

Star Fox!!!!1!1!!

I own an Ace Combat but I still go back and play Star Fox about ten times more often.

EDIT: This qualifies, right?

11-21-2008, 12:18 AM

Is Raiden III any good? Saw that 505 Games released that one also for the PS2 but it seems harder to get than the other releases..

Raiden 3 is good. I haven't played it in a while so I don't remember any specifics but I remember having fun playing it.

Star Fox!!!!1!1!!

I own an Ace Combat but I still go back and play Star Fox about ten times more often.

EDIT: This qualifies, right?

Star Fox - Yes
Ace Combat - No

anosou

11-21-2008, 12:19 AM

Raiden 3 is good. I haven't played it in a while so I don't remember any specifics but I remember having fun playing it.

Good enough for me, gotta hunt it down on SwedeBay

In other news Omega Five for XBLA is a great horizontal. Try it out! Quite easy on the normal setting but on the harder (1 shot, 1 kill and so on) high-score hunts can be insanely addictive. The soundtrack rocks socks too!

Zombie

11-21-2008, 12:19 AM

Any Contra game is amazing.

11-21-2008, 12:25 AM

Any Contra game is amazing.
I believe Contra isn't a Shoot 'em up game...

anosou

11-21-2008, 12:27 AM

I believe Contra isn't a Shoot 'em up game...

Haha, I can't believe I didn't see this when I posted. This thread is going to die a horrible death because of serious genre-mixups :D

Gollgagh

11-21-2008, 12:47 AM

Tyrian, mothafuckas.

it isn't really all that hard (except on maybe Lord of Game mode) but it's great for blowing shit up

Zombie

11-21-2008, 12:58 AM

I believe Contra isn't a Shoot 'em up game...

You shoot things up...

I DON'T UNDERSTAND

What genre does it fall under then?

Edit: Okay, I get it now.

Biohazard Battle is way fun.

11-21-2008, 01:02 AM

You shoot things up...

I DON'T UNDERSTAND

What genre does it fall under then?

Apparently Run and Gun is a sub-genre of Shoot 'em up games(according to wikipedia)...I did not know this. Most people think of Bullet hell or Scrolling shooters when you say Shoot 'em up games.

Xenon Odyssey

11-21-2008, 01:31 AM

This is irony (http://olremix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8498).

Murmeli Walan

11-21-2008, 01:50 AM

My favorites would have to be either 1942 on the NES or the underrated Tiger-Heli, also on NES.

Drack

11-21-2008, 05:46 AM

My favorites would have to be either 1942 on the NES or the underrated Tiger-Heli, also on NES.

If you liked Tiger Heli definitely look into its sequel, Twin Cobra (aka Kyuukyoku Tiger). While it's also on the NES, that was a pretty bad port. Look for the TurboGrafx 16 or arcade versions for a much better experience.

I also love me some Ikaruga. More recently, I have played through Shikigami no Shiro 3. Played through the whole game with a level select, but I run out of lives on the 4-2 boss without. Pretty crazy bullet hell if you're into those

Sobou

11-21-2008, 06:06 AM

I'm a major addict for anything in the Darius series of shmups, but the latest one I've been playing is Ikaruga. It's fun, but I find myself not liking it as much as say Darius Twin, or U.N. Squadron.

Kenobio

11-21-2008, 06:10 AM

<3 Gradius V

halc

11-21-2008, 07:51 AM

Overkill (http://www.classicdosgames.com/publisher/epic.html#Overkill) is kickass

old but kickass

The Coop

11-21-2008, 08:30 AM

Ah, shmups. A genre I've held near and dear to my heart for a long, long time.

I've never considered Run 'N Guns part of the shmup area. We've got Vertical (Ikaruga, Raiden II, Kyukyoku Tiger II Plus, etc.), Horizontal (Thunder Force IV, Border Down, R-Type Leo, etc.), Isometric (Viewpoint, Zaxxon, Raystorm, etc.), 3D (Galaxy Force II, Star Fox, etc.), Arena (Robotron 2084, Geometry Wars, etc.), free roaming (Granada, Time Pilot, etc.), single-screen (Space Invaders, Galaga, etc.), tube (Tempest, Gyruss, etc.), and the bullet curtain/manic sub-genres (along with the "Euroshmup" sub-category too). When set next to them, games like Contra and Metal Slug simply don't feel or play the same. In those kinds of games, you're running on platforms, falling to your death, grabbing on to things, all that kind of stuff. And really, FPSs definitely aren't shmups IMHO. I have no clue how they ever got lumped in with the likes of Gley Lancer and G-Darius.

Sure, there are the occasional oddball titles like Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000 for the 32X, where you can jump onto enemies and take their firepower for yourself, but they're the exception that proves the rule. But since there's no real definition of what is a shmup, what we end up with is a "what is a shmup?" debate that can get pretty anal and volatile at times.

Oh, and yes, Raiden III is good. There's a PS2 and a PC version, and they both have the same music, options, and so forth. I have the PC version, which looks a bit nicer. Now if someone would just port Raiden IV to PC, I'd be stylin'.

anosou

11-21-2008, 10:33 AM

<3 Gradius V

Quoted fror truth!

Oh, and yes, Raiden III is good. There's a PS2 and a PC version, and they both have the same music, options, and so forth. I have the PC version, which looks a bit nicer. Now if someone would just port Raiden IV to PC, I'd be stylin'.

Yeah, Raiden IV looks pretty damn sweet from what I've seen.. Probably an easy converting process too!

11-23-2008, 08:19 PM

I'm playing PCB and I'm starting to http://remod.cakearmy.org/images/smilies/icon_heart.gif this game.

anosou

11-23-2008, 08:30 PM

11-23-2008, 08:47 PM

Xbox live would be good too.

anosou

11-23-2008, 08:56 PM

Xbox live would be good too.

truth.

in other news I'm getting Dragon Blaze for PS2 by Psikyo in the mail tomorrow. That's a good game :3 And I placed an order for Sol Divide even though it's not nearly as good..
Most of all I'm longing for my new TV so I can start playing R-Type Final and R-Type Delta for REAL.

Incronaut

11-23-2008, 09:06 PM

how about fuckin' nemesis?! (i think that counts)

that game is sooooooooooooooooooooo hawt

suzumebachi

11-23-2008, 09:43 PM

I have a hardon for Gradius. Especially Gradius III. I played that game till my fingers bled back in the day. Some day when I am rich and famous and have free time I will make a Gradius III arrange album. Some day.

Ray Falling

11-23-2008, 11:01 PM

Screw sub-genres :D I will still use this as an excuse to mention "The Red Star".

While I absolutely love the 'shmup' *roll eyes* genre, I don't actually have the patience nor the will power nor the potential to be awesome at it ;_;

Ikaruga kicks my ass way too hard, but I still enjoy playing it a ton. My brain just doesn't have enough virtual memory to get me through normal or hard mode in one piece.

I don't always appreciate the one hit kill thing in the genre ;_; but other than that, great stuff :D

Anyone remember Xenon 2? :D

BardicKnowledge

11-24-2008, 01:08 AM

I'm playing PCB and I'm starting to http://remod.cakearmy.org/images/smilies/icon_heart.gif this game.

damn you PC users..
I'm secretly hoping someone will buy a license and release all Touhou Games together for like X360 or PS2 :/

Won't the Touhou games run via Parallels, or some similar solution? They don't take a huge amount of power to process, and the idea of playing Imperishable Night (PCB is good too...but IN is the pinnacle IMO) should motivate you...

As far as non crazy bullet hell shooters, I've always enjoyed the Gradius series best (I haven't played Thunder Force -- should get on that), with Gradius Gaiden (PSX-J) as the highlight of the entire series. I don't have as much experience with vertical shooters, but Strikers 1945 (and the sequels) are great fun via MAME.

Glad to hear that others enjoy crazy, adrenaline-filled games also! There's nothing like a good shmup to really focus your mind on gaming...

Sag Ee Mana

11-24-2008, 01:33 AM

Ok... Being fan for maybe 20 years I had to post ^^

So...
Besides the Touhou Universe I can't leave, I've been playing ALL Gradius/Parodius series on a lot of consoles, R-Type (+ 2+3+Leo+Delta+Final)since the first one in arcade and a version on my dead Amstrad CPC 6128...
G-Darius with the 3D mechanic fishes and other sea creatures is really awesome.
I love Ikaruga, Radiant Silvergun was good too.
Star Fox, aaaah Wonderful Star Fox... The 64 was good too !
1942, 1943... I've played them when they appeared !
Pop'n Twinbee... Too many colours, it was tiring.
Carrier Airwing, UN Squadron, good games too.
DoDonPachi, In The Hunt, Image Fight 1&2, Alpha Mission 2, Last Resort : good and HARD >_<
About hard games, Raiden is a really challenge, I loved the 2nd game for the new laser ^^ But I'm really disappointed by Raiden 3, really copypasta from the old ones imo.
Sigh, I shouldn't read topics like this, I have to hear Touhou music and look at my loved screenshots of the acid pool level in Gradius V <3

Have a good time people and may the shmup live forever !

Oh, and sorry for the ones I've forgotten, there is so much !
(EDIT : Zaxxon, View Point, Sigma 7 are (3D) isometric shmups, I didn't like them a lot because of the view.)

The Coop

11-24-2008, 01:33 AM

(I haven't played Thunder Force -- should get on that)

Yes. Yes you should.

Schwaltzvald

11-24-2008, 04:35 AM

Currently in the Touhou universe myself

Pretty much have played all mentioned titles (original/emulation/port) one time or another. I however always found it funny that Starfox + Star Fox 64 would be counted as a SHMUP but hey I see how they fit.

Also...

God fucking damn it! I can't do it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A0wdgk_SFA

Just yet as I keep messing up.

Also I really can't see the games being released on PS2/3 or the 360. Maybe some hacking that would allow the games to run off the XBox360 but that's it...

11-24-2008, 04:53 AM

I however always found it funny that Starfox + Star Fox 64 would be counted as a SHMUP but hey I see how they fit.
Rail Shooter = Shoot 'um up

Schwaltzvald

11-24-2008, 05:04 AM

Rail Shooter = Shoot 'um up

Yeah that's why I say I can see why it would fit in it; I still find it funny though.

I do wonder though what will the next title for the touhou series will be; assuming it's being continued. The one I haven't played is titled "Concealed the Conclusion" which to my understanding is a spin off of the Touhou series. Gonna have to try it out later in the following week, what with Thanksgiving coming around.

What I've found to match it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKixmugrWRM&feature=related

JAXX

11-24-2008, 07:03 AM

I've played quite a few of these games, some of my favorite games actually, my favorite in the genre (a sub genre maybe?) Tempest 2000

Anyone who owned an atari Jaguar (like myself and very few others) with this game understands. The game showed up again on the Saturn I believe, but the controls were not as wonderful as was on the Jag. This game is easily in my top ten list for games in any genre. I believe this is a rail shooter shmup, if I'm correct.

Some dude made a pretty awesome freeware clone of the game, called Typhoon 2001 (very original), even has the same soundtrack as tempest 2000 (which was incredible for it's time and different from the Saturn version). You all need to download this and play it, it's free.

http://typhoon.kuto.de/

anosou

11-24-2008, 10:14 AM

Won't the Touhou games run via Parallels, or some similar solution? They don't take a huge amount of power to process, and the idea of playing Imperishable Night (PCB is good too...but IN is the pinnacle IMO) should motivate you...

Yeah but parallels is kinda not fun. I might dual-boot eventually but it's a hassle, I don't like hassles :3

Rail Shooter = Shoot 'um up

QFE, Panzer Dragoon Orta and REZ are shmup-prime. Go play 'em!

I've played quite a few of these games, some of my favorite games actually, my favorite in the genre (a sub genre maybe?) Tempest 2000

Yeah Tempest is something.. clones are often good too!
Still, I think Space Giraffe goes miles beyond that because of Jeff Minter's eye for great gameplay elements. Space Giraffe is a bitch to understand but heaven when you do!

K.B.

11-25-2008, 01:51 AM

Question, if I may pick your collective brains. What are some other well-known side-scrolling WWII-1980s aircraft smups? I'm trying to remember what the name of the one that I remember loving (I think from an arcade, but I could be mistaken), I can't quite remember the era planes that were used but I'm thinking it was WWII, I also remember one part where you shoot your way through city buildings, and no it's definitely not Area 88/UN Squadron. Any ideas?

Never did get top-scrollers... it's like playing football/soccer the wrong way! I need more lead time! Arghdeadwaytoosoon...

And in the spirit of showing one's age, I went and dusted off Sky Shark not too long ago (awesome music!). Played it many times actually - even got to the final boss a couple times - then gave up in frustration (with emphatically throwing my controller into the floor!). I remember having way more patience as a kid.

LuketheXjesse

11-25-2008, 02:23 AM

I had a kickass time with 1942 in one specific arcade. That game was FUN.

The Coop

11-25-2008, 03:18 AM

Question, if I may pick your collective brains. What are some other well-known side-scrolling WWII-1980s aircraft smups? I'm trying to remember what the name of the one that I remember loving (I think from an arcade, but I could be mistaken), I can't quite remember the era planes that were used but I'm thinking it was WWII, I also remember one part where you shoot your way through city buildings, and no it's definitely not Area 88/UN Squadron. Any ideas?

WWII side scrollers weren't too common. The ones that come immediately to mind are P-47: The Phantom Fighter, Fire Mustang, and P-47 Aces. There's also Progear, which has a 1940s steampunk vibe to the settings. You might want to check out Carrier Airwing and Armed Police Unit Gallop too.

And Air Buster and Metal Black popped into my head when you mentioned fighting through buildings.

K.B.

11-25-2008, 06:04 AM

Carrier Airwing
That's it! Thanks! Many quarters spent on that one, good times... sure wish it had a port though.

Triad Orion

11-25-2008, 07:08 AM

I'm a big fan of StarFox 64, R-Types of various sorts, and the SNES U.N. Squadron port. I remember Aerofighters Assault or something like that in an arcade back in college and I swear I was the only one who ever touched that cabinet. That game was a blast.

The Shump I'm probably best at is StarFox 64, with my best score being over 1700 going along the Corneria > Sector Y > Aquas > Zoness > Macbeth > Area 6 route. I know that's not nearly anything to brag about amongst the best scores out there on the internet, but I'd like to think it's still pretty good.

R-Type 3 is probably the R-Type I've played the most, and it still wrecks me every time. A great game, but utterly brutal.

11-25-2008, 07:11 AM

I think I've played Raiden X (http://www.crazymonkeygames.com/RaidenX.html) too much. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing.

mattoco

11-25-2008, 07:48 AM

It's been a long time, but I used to play Viper Phase 1 (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7829664512462937420) in the arcade, along with OCR (http://www.ocremix.org/remix/OCR01481/) and PRC (http://remixcompetition.doulifee.com/PrcSong/prc.php?prcid=39) knownRaptor: Call of the Shadows (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYa2g9_5Ss4) on the PC back in the glory days of shareware CD games.

anosou

11-25-2008, 08:42 AM

StarZander

11-25-2008, 08:59 AM

Whoever said Tyrian get my love, and also Raptor has always been one of my favorite games. I only had the shareware demo as a kid, but I played the shit out of it.

EDIT: I just remembered that I got a CD-ROM when I was a kid, which was called simply Shoot-Em-Ups, and was filled with about 50 games or so, for DOS (or sometimes Win 3.1), that I played over and over again. It should still be at my parents house... I have to look for it next time I'm there.

The Coop

11-25-2008, 05:31 PM

I hate that I haven't found a good version of R-Type 3 for console.. I have R-Type Delta, R-Type Final and soon, R-types but there's a gaping hole for Leo!

Good version? There's only the SNES version of R-Type III: The Third Lightning to get (do NOT get the GBA version... it's horribly broken). Or are you're talking about finding an SNES cart that isn't beat to hell, or that's complete?

And don't hold your breath for R-Type Leo. It's never been released for a home system, nor was it released in the US or UK. So the only way to play it is via emulation, or buying the Japanese arcade PCB.

BardicKnowledge

11-25-2008, 06:12 PM

And don't hold your breath for R-Type Leo. It's never been released for a home system, nor was it released in the US or UK. So the only way to play it is via emulation, or buying the Japanese arcade PCB.

Will MAME run it? I realize that it's stealing and all, but this is a situation where you _can't_ pay to play it, and therefore shouldn't feel all that bad. :p

Of course, this assumes that you can find a link to download the necessary files -- not always an easy task with arcade images.

Schwaltzvald

11-25-2008, 06:21 PM

The Coop

11-25-2008, 08:09 PM

Will MAME run it? I realize that it's stealing and all, but this is a situation where you _can't_ pay to play it, and therefore shouldn't feel all that bad. :p

Of course, this assumes that you can find a link to download the necessary files -- not always an easy task with arcade images.

MAME runs it just fine these days. A couple years ago, there was a weird timing issue with the music, making it go off-tempo a lot (though the rest of the game played fine). But that's been fixed, and the newer MAMEs don't appear to have any problems with R-Type Leo anymore.

As for playing it, all you need are the two ROMs. Drop them in the "roms" folder in MAME, start the program, and it'll potentially find the ROMs on its own. If it doesn't, then just go under "View" along the top, and choose "Refresh" (or just hit "F5" on your keyboard). Once it's done searching, select "Available Arcades" from the list on the left, and R-Type Leo should be listed in the window. Double click the game name, and you're off.

Oh, and if you're on Windows, get MAME32. It has a very handy GUI that makes setting things up a lot easier (on the rare occasion you have to set anything up).

BardicKnowledge

11-25-2008, 08:50 PM

While we're on the subject, does anyone know of a way to get Gradius IV running full speed in MAME? Mine has a ton of framerate issues, and I don't exactly know why -- my guess is some proprietary chip that isn't fully emulated. It's the only Gradius game I haven't finished...as long as the much easier SNES version of G3 counts. That arcade cabinet really chews up quarters!

Something on topic: Unless you're a diehard fan of the series like me, I can't really recommend playing Gradius IV -- III and V are both much better, as is the PSX game.

anosou

11-25-2008, 09:50 PM

Good version? There's only the SNES version of R-Type III: The Third Lightning to get (do NOT get the GBA version... it's horribly broken). Or are you're talking about finding an SNES cart that isn't beat to hell, or that's complete?

And don't hold your breath for R-Type Leo. It's never been released for a home system, nor was it released in the US or UK. So the only way to play it is via emulation, or buying the Japanese arcade PCB.

Then I've been missinformed! I've always thought RIII was ported to PSX :/ blergh. Too bad the snes version wasn't released in pal-country but that also means it's one title less that I need to get.

Just found RayStorm (Taito) for PSX, anyone heard anything about it? I'm pretty sure I'll take home that auction anyway but it would be fun if it kicks ass.

The Coop

11-25-2008, 10:07 PM

Then I've been missinformed! I've always thought RIII was ported to PSX :/ blergh. Too bad the snes version wasn't released in pal-country but that also means it's one title less that I need to get.

Just found RayStorm (Taito) for PSX, anyone heard anything about it? I'm pretty sure I'll take home that auction anyway but it would be fun if it kicks ass.

Yeah, R-Type III is on the SNES, and the GBA through a really botched port. If you have a Wii, you can also get it on the VC (just looked it up). However, my understanding is that there is a PAL version of it for the SNES. It's supposed to have been released in 1994.

As for Raystorm, it's a great shmup. It's a sequel to Rayforce/Galactic Attack/Gunlock, and it plays a lot like its predecessor. The graphics are quite nice (for the time), the music is very good, and the challenge is tough, but fair. Get it.

The Author

11-25-2008, 10:30 PM

JETS N' GUNS.

Sadly, I cant install it on my laptop, I need a good free shmup for my laptop, and I morally object to emulation, got suggestions?

11-25-2008, 10:32 PM

I think I've played Raiden X (http://www.crazymonkeygames.com/RaidenX.html) too much. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing.
?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???

Gollgagh

11-25-2008, 10:36 PM

http://code.google.com/p/opentyrian/

openTyrian is a pretty good substitute if you wanna blow shit up

it has a pretty similar weapon store structure as well

anosou

11-25-2008, 10:39 PM

Yeah, R-Type III is on the SNES, and the GBA through a really botched port. If you have a Wii, you can also get it on the VC (just looked it up). However, my understanding is that there is a PAL version of it for the SNES. It's supposed to have been released in 1994.

As for Raystorm, it's a great shmup. It's a sequel to Rayforce/Galactic Attack/Gunlock, and it plays a lot like its predecessor. The graphics are quite nice (for the time), the music is very good, and the challenge is tough, but fair. Get it.

Seems you're right, I found a few auctions for the PAL-version. Wikipedia doesn't mention it and that's why I was a bit puzzled. Thanks coop.

Good, I'll up my bid for RayStorm then! Also, I should buy RayCrisis when I'm on it, eBay here I come! Can't belive these games came out in PAL-country O.O Almost as strange as the feeling I got when Vib Ribbon arrived in the mail today haha

StarZander

11-26-2008, 08:49 AM

http://code.google.com/p/opentyrian/

openTyrian is a pretty good substitute if you wanna blow shit up

it has a pretty similar weapon store structure as well

<3<3<3<3<3 I'm so going to get this for my PSP, if I can. Thanks for the link!

Also...

Vib Ribbon arrived in the mail today

I hate you.

anosou

11-26-2008, 11:35 AM

I hate you.

No you don't, you want to be me!
It was like 300kr ;)

StarZander

11-26-2008, 04:49 PM

No you don't, you want to be me!
It was like 300kr ;)

Lucky you, last time I battled for it (complete in mint condition with poster and everything) it ended at 1100 kr.

I need to get back on the gaming auction scene...

anosou

11-26-2008, 04:58 PM

Lucky you, last time I battled for it (complete in mint condition with poster and everything) it ended at 1100 kr.

I need to get back on the gaming auction scene...

Actually don't, the real deals comes from gaming forums! I got Vib Ribbon from loading.se and I'm also buying Legend of Dragoon + Wild Arms in mint condition for 750kr total :D

Tradera prices always go wild, ebay.co.uk is okay but shipping can be a bitch. Overall forums and private sellers are your best choice if you're sure you won't be hustled.

In other news: Dangun Feveron makes me happy in pants even though I suck at it.

anosou

12-01-2008, 10:07 PM

worth noting - http://shootthecore.moonpod.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=456

anosou

12-07-2008, 02:15 PM

Yes, I'm bumping my own thread, but damn I've been playing a LOT of R-Type Final lately. That game is GOLD! If you haven't picked it up for your PS2 yer, do it or die a horrible horrible death knowing you missed one of the best gaming experienced of the last generation.

I-n-j-i-n

12-09-2008, 08:55 AM

The Coop

12-09-2008, 09:13 AM

anosou

12-09-2008, 09:28 AM

Apparently, the 360 is THE shump console. (http://kotaku.com/5103945/damn-the-xbox-360-has-lots-of-shmups)

Not too surprising since there seems so many. I wish they port Otomedius and other weird shumps though. The same old PS2 situation, except PS2 actually saw a lot of shumps domesticated.

Hopefully they can give the rest of the world all of these games too :/ Some good news is that there are "worldwide leaderboards" for some of the releases which means the games will probably see overseas release :D

It got a good number, but Japan's kicking our ass in terms of a PS2 shmup count. This makes me a sad shmupper.

So true. Still, you can't complain. We haven't got a single Cave shmup for PS2.. All we've got in PAL-country is a few Psikyo titles and some general conversions :/

Maco70

12-20-2008, 12:36 AM

Someone play Aegis wing with me.
While it's free.

anosou

12-20-2008, 08:33 AM

Someone play Aegis wing with me.
While it's free.

Not avaliable in europe. Blasphemy.

Maco70

12-22-2008, 05:31 AM

Not avaliable in europe. Blasphemy.

Ah, so that's why you wouldn't play with me.

I tried the demo for Omega Five.
I dunno, I will need to play it a few more times. I think I missed something.
Is there a tutorial?

anosou

12-22-2008, 07:57 PM

Ah, so that's why you wouldn't play with me.

I tried the demo for Omega Five.
I dunno, I will need to play it a few more times. I think I missed something.
Is there a tutorial?

Check the "how to play" section in the menu, it's mandatory for all XBLA games.
it takes a while to learn the control scheme and get what everything does but when you do it's utterly fantabulous!

K.B.

05-04-2010, 02:20 AM

Why hello, thread.

Calling on the experts once more. Do any of you recall any memorable 4-way scrollers? I have memories of a shmup - more correctly, one level of a shmup - in which I descended and had to navigate both horizontally and vertically around obstacles (I remember stalactite/mite-esque fingers with narrow vertical openings), then scrolled horizontally and had to navigate accordingly, etc. This might be a case of jumbled memories, but it's bugging the hell out of me and I can't seem to google-query appropriately to yield results. I thought it was a Gradius game or clone, but based upon my earlier wikipedia-ing that doesn't seem to be the case. It was definitely for a console: 8-bit or more likely 16-bit. Help is appreciated; my nostalgia would owe you several rounds if you found it.

Regardless, a big thank-you to the shmup community here. This thread, along with the reminders of gameplay and music from a few posters (you know who you are), burned in the back of my mind long enough to force me back into shumpstalgia. StarFox led to UN Squadron let to Sky Shark led to Gradius 3, and it was all downhill from there. Did my research on the decade+ I've missed, penned my lists, made a lucky find, and been at it ever since... with turn-based breaks as needed to lower blood pressure/preserve controller integrity. I doubt I'll ever get into it as much as you all, but I sure as hell appreciate the persistent reminders of what I was missing. I've rediscovered the hardcore gamer inside.

Also: free play, wtf? Ikaruga, you sloot.

LuketheXjesse

05-04-2010, 02:27 AM

I have no answer for you, King Burger.

I am only here to say that Soldier Blade (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNofXgiJ1mY#t=5m57s) is amazing.

The Coop

05-04-2010, 02:49 AM

Why hello, thread.

Calling on the experts once more. Do any of you recall any memorable 4-way scrollers? I have memories of a shmup - more correctly, one level of a shmup - in which I descended and had to navigate both horizontally and vertically around obstacles (I remember stalactite/mite-esque fingers with narrow vertical openings), then scrolled horizontally and had to navigate accordingly, etc. This might be a case of jumbled memories, but it's bugging the hell out of me and I can't seem to google-query appropriately to yield results. I thought it was a Gradius game or clone, but based upon my earlier wikipedia-ing that doesn't seem to be the case. It was definitely for a console: 8-bit or more likely 16-bit. Help is appreciated; my nostalgia would owe you several rounds if you found it.

Hmmm...

The ones that come immediately to mind that feature both horizontal and vertical levels are...

Thunder Force II
LifeForce/Salamnder
Salamander II
Axelay (it's "into" the screen, but...)

Ones that make your ship go in both directions during a stage...

Steel Empire
Sidearms
Gleylancer (I'm not 100% on this one... it's been a while)
Arrow Flash
Whip Rush
Eliminate Down (like Gleylancer, I'm not 100% sure on this one)
Bio-Hazard Battle
Forgotten Worlds
Gaiares
Atomic Robo-Kid
Phelios
Trouble Shooter
In the Hunt

There's also Sub Terrania which is quite shmup-like, but gravity-based.

Tinus

05-04-2010, 09:18 AM

Hey, what do you know, there's a shmup thread.

Shamelessly quoting my own post from the freeware thread, in case you guys missed it:

I just dicovered a new free game named Hero Core (http://www.remar.se/daniel/herocore.php) (trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu_xdCHdSqg)) and played a bit of it. It's kind of a mix of Metroidvania and oldschool bullet hell shmups. So far I like it! It has this weird retro feel to it, even though it doesn't really look like a game from any specific old console. Apparently it was released yesterday.

Especially on the higher difficulty levels this game reminds me a lot of shmups. Not really my genre, but I like this one for the Metroid aspect :)

anosou

05-04-2010, 01:07 PM

Hero Core's hella good. I don't have a PC but I just know it is ;)

In other news I imported Espgaluda II Black Label and Mushihimesama Futari 1.5 for 360. They're bloody godlike. Anyone else playing?

Schwaltzvald

05-05-2010, 03:13 PM

So hey I found out that Death Smiles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Smiles) by CAVE is fortunately (for Xbox gamers only) being localised over in the US via Aksys Games.

Gameplay vid 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQPNPUlYH30)

Gameplay vid 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcqkwN2n7UM)

On the PC front Double Spoiler (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Spoiler), a shoot'em up "photography game" (Much like "Shoot the Bullet") had been out for a while as well.

Gameplay vid 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-hkj63bz1E)

Gameplay vid 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3e8gnuIKvo)

SoloGamer

05-06-2010, 02:04 AM

Geeky Stoner

05-06-2010, 05:59 AM

Shoot 1up (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWFP6kj0RwY) is a pretty cool Xbox Live Indie Game. Instead of controlling one ship at a time, you can control over 30 ships at a time. Pretty cool, especially since it's only a buck.

OOOoooo looks neat

Edit: I can't believe there wasn't more talk of the geometry (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3nXML0SJRE) wars (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcN3uvXbCIM) series (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eikj8tL2y6U&feature=related) in this thread it has to be one of my favorite shmups of all time (i like to call it the tetris of shmups)
the first one is my favorite 360 game period.(my highscore is 2.9 mil at the moment) I've had this game for three years and I still play it every other day.

Double Edit: no one mentioned Einhander (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj8b0ROOI9A) either WTF

Also Maco i will play aegis wing with you :) (actually it's been free for a while) and yeah it's total bullcrap that it isn't available in europe D:(

Triple edit(lol): Also Raystorm HD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X84iB-zIcCw) was just released for XBLA and PSN (Though I'm not %100 on the PSN release can't find concrete evidence of it existing on PSN over the net from what i understand it seems to still be TBA on PSN sorry ps3 owners that sucks if its true :(

Schwaltzvald

05-06-2010, 02:20 PM

OOOoooo looks neat

Edit: I can't believe there wasn't more talk of the geometry (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3nXML0SJRE) wars (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcN3uvXbCIM) series (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eikj8tL2y6U&feature=related) in this thread it has to be one of my favorite shmups of all time (i like to call it the tetris of shmups)
the first one is my favorite 360 game period.(my highscore is 2.9 mil at the moment) I've had this game for three years and I still play it every other day.

Double Edit: no one mentioned Einhander (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj8b0ROOI9A) either WTF

Have you read every single page on this thread or just skipped up to the more recent ones. I believe Einhander as well as geometry wars had been mentioned before; if they were not mentioned before, my mistake.

Geeky Stoner

05-06-2010, 07:21 PM

Have you read every single page on this thread or just skipped up to the more recent ones. I believe Einhander as well as geometry wars had been mentioned before; if they were not mentioned before, my mistake.

ehhh i kinda skimmed
and yea geometry wars was mentioned(briefly by coop) but not really talked about
as for Einhander i might have missed it

Edit: Upon actually reading all of the posts no Einhander
Also my complaints weren't serious I'm not mad about Einhander or anything

K.B.

06-02-2010, 12:03 AM

What type of directional input do you all use? Obviously you're limited in the 16-bit and older games, but now there's analog and even stick input in addition to that of d-pad. Asking because I haven't found a consensus after a(n albeit quick) web search and I'd like to learn it the best way now so I don't have to un/re-learn it later. I've been screwing around on Ikaruga (GC) with both analog and d-pad and I can't tell which is better, and I'm supposing it could be hard to tell the difference until you invest a lot of time on each style - time that could be better spent focusing on one.

If the answer is that a stick or a non-console analog input is best, what brand/model would you recommend?

Might be that there is no answer to any of that but curiosity has the best of me. As always, advice is appreciated and utilized.

On the PC front Double Spoiler (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Spoiler), a shoot'em up "photography game" (Much like "Shoot the Bullet") had been out for a while as well.

Gameplay vid 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-hkj63bz1E)

Gameplay vid 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3e8gnuIKvo)
Have you played that or Shoot the Bullet? The mechanics seem rather unsatisfying, requiring patience and finesse (per the usual) but instead of unleashing a maelstrom of bullets you just sit there and click. Is it better than it looks? Because it looks like Touhou does Fatal Frame, which just seems off.

Also, if I can pick your brain, is it better to start with newer or middle-age Touhou? That is, would it be better/just as well to start with one that can run smoothly on 256k (Pent4 2.4GHz [old]) or wait a while until the new compy is had along with the ability to play one of the newer ones? Don't suppose a definitive answer is possible - being a loaded question and coming down greatly to personal preference, I assume - but insight/commentary is helpful (that paragraph you wrote linking vids of each game some months ago in that one thread was hilarious but not particularly helpful to me!). Especially since I don't even know where to start with reviews (usually use metacritic and gamefaqs but there isn't enough to go on there).

Coop: thanks a ton for listing all those. After scanning through multiple youtubes of each, I can say - with little doubt - that it is none of those (and also none of the other popular SNES ones I found here (http://www.shmups.com/xenocidefiles/snes.html)). So chances are it doesn't exist and I'm now verified crazy.

I did, however, find a copy of Taito Legends 2 and am loving G-Darius. That is, loving it since I came to appreciate the whacked-out bgm. Thanks again for that tip.

anosou

06-02-2010, 12:23 AM

I use a Sanwa-modded Street Fighter IV Standard Edition stick for all my 360 shmups. They say Seimitsu sticks and Sanwa buttons are better for shmups but I'm doing quite well with this set-up.

The Coop

06-02-2010, 12:30 AM

After scanning through multiple youtubes of each, I can say - with little doubt - that it is none of those (and also none of the other popular SNES ones I found here (http://www.shmups.com/xenocidefiles/snes.html)). So chances are it doesn't exist and I'm now verified crazy.

I did, however, find a copy of Taito Legends 2 and am loving G-Darius. That is, loving it since I came to appreciate the whacked-out bgm. Thanks again for that tip.

We always figured you were crazy, now this just proves it ;-)

As for TL2, glad I could help. Don't forget, there's a PC version as well, with four games the PS2 version didn't have... Bubble Symphony, Cadash, Pop'n and Pop and RayForce (the shmup prequel to Raystorm). They're arcade ROMs that you can quite literally drop right into MAME and play on that emulator (just zip up the folders and that's it... they're even already named properly for MAME). It's $4.99 new at Gamestop, so...

K.B.

06-02-2010, 01:59 AM

Thanks AnSo, I'll look into that one.

Hmmm... maybe for RayForce. Noted, and if I dig on RayStorm I'll pick it up. Still have a lot of catching up to do on what I already own, though!

Schwaltzvald

06-02-2010, 11:55 AM

Have you played that or Shoot the Bullet? The mechanics seem rather unsatisfying, requiring patience and finesse (per the usual) but instead of unleashing a maelstrom of bullets you just sit there and click. Is it better than it looks? Because it looks like Touhou does Fatal Frame, which just seems off.

Also, if I can pick your brain, is it better to start with newer or middle-age Touhou? That is, would it be better/just as well to start with one that can run smoothly on 256k (Pent4 2.4GHz [old]) or wait a while until the new compy is had along with the ability to play one of the newer ones? Don't suppose a definitive answer is possible - being a loaded question and coming down greatly to personal preference, I assume - but insight/commentary is helpful (that paragraph you wrote linking vids of each game some months ago in that one thread was hilarious but not particularly helpful to me!). Especially since I don't even know where to start with reviews (usually use metacritic and gamefaqs but there isn't enough to go on there)

Shoot the Bullet, while fun, was technically slapped together by ZUN to go along with something else I forget for an event. Where as Double Spoiler had more time and development put into it. I actually enjoyed both.

As for where to start, all up to you. If you want you can just start off with the PC-98 era games and go from there. I'd recommend T98-Next (http://www.zophar.net/download_file/2143) as the best PC-98 emulator for the PC-98 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEC_PC-9801) Touhou games. Does not necessarily require an incredibly powerful PC to run it but it helps.

As for the Windows games, any decent two to three year old PC ought to suffice, even as far back as six years should be fine to run all the games; so long as you have a decent graphics card as well. I say start with "Embodiment of Scarlet Devil (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySOqMfhzyKo)" only because it's the only one of the windows game where you don't have an indicator of where your hitbox is. In the later games when you use focus shots you'll see a small white orb indicating your hit box, starting at "Perfect Cherry Blossom". By then though you'll have a greater grasp at how the game play is.

There's in fact a fan-made EoSD graphics update that alters the boss sprites and some of the enemies as well to match up the graphics of the later games such as Subterranean Animism. It even throws in the option for you to put in a hit-box indicator if you want. I personally wouldn't use the hit box indicator 8)

Oh yeah I almost forgot, in regards to the windows era touhou games,

DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU AS IT MAY CAUSE INCREDIBLE RAGE (http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=Iiqa8BIlP10)

This kind of mistake seems prevalent enough that there's a doujin manga that comments on this kind of mistake

K.B.

06-03-2010, 10:18 AM

Dang. Thanks for all the advice.

Haha, up to me. Fair enough. I think I would prefer the hitbox (seems handy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypCezU_tbJU&fmt=18)), but I could probably do without it and learn it just as well the hard way. Since I assume they're just as good gameplay-wise as the PC98 games, I'll stick with the windows games since they look and sound better. I'll have to do some more looking before I decide which one to get (at least initially), but EoSD sounds like a good starting place. And my fault for not looking closer at the system reqs - I can't run much of anything past 2005 but it seems compy will be able to handle just about any of the Touhous and easily handle the less recent ones.

Hmmm... yep. I'll definitely be making that mistake. Without a doubt.

Ok the newb is done monopolizing the thread now.

Schwaltzvald

06-17-2010, 11:57 AM

Okay yesterday while checking out the PSN shop I noticed there was a bundle of games that I would have NEVER imagine seeing being sold.

GundeadliGne (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD4ggtKnnDo), Hitogata Happa (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNhekUJh8vU), and Gundemonium Recollection (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZVyWo8PwNA)

I think it's rather interesting PSN is touching on doujin games but it makes me wonder what else would appear...

Oh yeah aside from the japanese voice overs, the text are all patched in English.

BardicKnowledge

06-17-2010, 04:10 PM

Schwaltzvald

06-17-2010, 04:19 PM

Ugh, terrible video link -- i hate HATE HATE getting to the end and screwing it up. For some reason this feels worst when playing Imperishable Night, as your time slowly ticks away during the last fight until you lose.

which video link? Sounds like you're referring to one of the earlier ones I posted like that Touhou heartbreak video.

Gollgagh

06-17-2010, 04:58 PM

dammit I need to get my own ps3 already

Schwaltzvald

06-17-2010, 05:38 PM

dammit I need to get my own ps3 already

If you want you can get them for the pc here (http://www.rockinandroid.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=73&Itemid=93) No mouse pad with boobs though

BardicKnowledge

06-17-2010, 08:14 PM

which video link? Sounds like you're referring to one of the earlier ones I posted like that Touhou heartbreak video.

yeah, the failure vid you posted. Tears all over :(

Schwaltzvald

08-17-2010, 12:51 PM

Okay so there's been a release and a few up coming console ports.

First~! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuX86Wk62RA)

The Great Fairy Wars - TH12.8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JQTh6x8rlU)

Essentially it revolves around particularly notable fairy characters such as Cirno whom declares war on the other fairies. Basically it's a game where Cirno freezes bullets she's suppose to dodge. Not easy as it may sounds though thanks to certain bullets being flaming balls of fire are nearly impossible to freeze; exception seems to be when bombing.

Here are some gameplay vids

Game Play Vid 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVCIpqfsZXQ)

Game Play Vid 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwUG4_WgR3U) (gives more explanations)

Touhou 12.8? not 12.9? ZUN i am dissapoint.

~~~

Coming up exclusively for the 360~!

This November, the studio is porting Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu to the Xbox 360. The other two games are cute-em-ups (Muchi Muchi Pork, and Pink Sweets) and will be appearing on the same disc as a two-for-one kind of deal. It will be released next year in Japan. ~Kotaku (http://kotaku.com/5614629/three-shmups-ready-to-shoot+up-the-xbox-360)

For Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu

Game play Video 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMAWEgY7VmA) (A Decepticon? in my shmup?! CAAAAAAAAAAAAAVVVVVVEEEEEEEE!!!)

Game play Video 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzS3pHem9cw)

The boss at 4:18... wow... I never would have expected that from CAVE and I fucking laughed hard.

~~~

Muchi Muchi Pork (yeah I have no clue)

Game Play Video 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhbpaugpkSc)

Game Play Video 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMkwQLW_7mQ)

~~~

Pink Sweets

Game Play Video 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTr6osYut2c)

Game Play Video 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r813XXV30Zk)

CHIPP Damage

08-18-2010, 10:06 AM

Whoa! I don't know what's happening to me, but it seems like I'm getting hooked on Shmups. I always loved the games Axelay for SNES and Macross Scrambled Valkyrie for Super Famicom. They just had such unique atmospheres in my opinion. Axelay built off of the creepy atmosphere of R-type but they made it with machines instead of aliens and it really appealed to me. Scrambled Valkyrie had Yoko Kanno doing the music (I think) and just felt like it was the "loudest" thing I had ever played.

So with those games on my mind, I recently downloaded a game from the Japanese PS3 store called Gaiaseed. I reccomend it if you like R-Type or Axelay style shooters. It doesn't have the nicest graphics, especially on an HDTV but it has really good music that unfortunately gets drowned out by the explosions and a nice system where you don't die in a single hit. I'll warn you that there isn't much in the way of weapons though. You basically choose between lasers and a spread shot. It's kind of interesting because the spread shot is good for the small enemies in the levels, whereas the laser only shoots straight ahead but is much stronger, thus good for bosses. Each time you pick up the correct power up, your weapon gets bigger up to four levels. I've beaten it on normal mode and have gotten up to level 5 on hard mode and REALLY want to become a pro at the game.

Now I'm thinking that I want to download and master ALL the flying shooting games on PS3!

Gaiaseed Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYbQ7vlnlco

LuketheXjesse

08-18-2010, 01:48 PM

I'm so bad at Gradius III. :(

Dhsu

08-18-2010, 05:04 PM

Scrambled Valkyrie had Yoko Kanno doing the music (I think) and just felt like it was the "loudest" thing I had ever played.
SNESmusic.org says it was Noboru Yamane (http://snesmusic.org/v2/profile.php?selected=15669&profile=set).

CHIPP Damage

08-18-2010, 10:46 PM

Looks like you're right. In that case it was thanks to him that I felt like I was playing the "loudest" game ever. It rocks.

BardicKnowledge

08-18-2010, 11:18 PM

I'm so bad at Gradius III. :(

You should try the arcade version instead of the SNES one! The game is super watered down on SNES to the point of ridiculousness.

The Coop

08-18-2010, 11:33 PM

You should try the arcade version instead of the SNES one! The game is super watered down on SNES to the point of ridiculousness.

So... skip the SNES version he's bad at, and go to the noticeably harder arcade version.

...

Are you trying to make him cry? :lol:

LuketheXjesse

08-19-2010, 12:05 AM

You should try the arcade version instead of the SNES one! The game is super watered down on SNES to the point of ridiculousness.

I've actually heard this QUITE a bit, which scares me. :(

Schwaltzvald

08-19-2010, 03:12 AM

There's always Super R-Type (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_R-Type) on the SNES, shouldn't be too much trouble for Luke...

LuketheXjesse

08-19-2010, 04:59 AM

I've been meaning to pick that one up from my local flea market, actually.

BardicKnowledge

08-19-2010, 06:59 AM

Both Super R-Type and R-Type III (harder) for SNES are amazing if you haven't played them.

Coop: I can't finish G3 arcade (the only gradius game I can't 1cc), but it's still a lot more fun to play than the SNES game because of all the extra stuff. :p

Strike911

08-19-2010, 07:04 AM

Seems like the best place for this:

Suda 51 just announced a horizontally side scrolling shooter called Sine Mora. Exciting.

Also, a personal note completely offtopic from everything else (since I'm in THE shmup thread) ... mad love for Einhander. <3 <3

As far as the SNES, UN Squadron wasn't half bad back in the day. Sure, R-Type was better, but hey, still good fun.

The Coop

08-19-2010, 07:15 AM

Both Super R-Type and R-Type III (harder) for SNES are amazing if you haven't played them.

Indeed. But a warning to you Luke...

-=STAY AWAY FROM THE GBA VERSION OF R-TYPE III=-

Holy shit is it messed up. The got the graphics right for the most part, and nothing else. Music? Horrendous. Sound effects? Meh. Hit detection? Completely and utterly fubar. Screen space for maneuvering? Noticeably smaller. There's a spot that, as far as I can tell, you can't get past normally because there's less space on the screen (GBA's lower reso than the SNES) and the buggered hit detection. It's botched... badly.

As such, stick to SNES version.

Coop: I can't finish G3 arcade (the only gradius game I can't 1cc), but it's still a lot more fun to play than the SNES game because of all the extra stuff. :p

True.

I've 1CCed it twice on my PS2 compilation. Not easy, but doable.

K.B.

08-20-2010, 12:14 AM

A bit off-topic, but speaking of GBA shmups, Iridion II has excellent tunes. Has one of, if not the, most rockin' title music ever. Seriously; Mega Man, eat your heart out. It's interactive, so, unfortunately, no one can be told what the title is. I'll be ecstatic if I can track down a copy for the going gamestop rate of two bucks; I'd pay that for the opening alone (the hilarious intro being a bonus).

The gameplay seems decent/good too, if a bit easy. Isometric top-back to bottom-front scroller, in the vein of Axelay. Music seems good throughout. 80s vibe.

Hat-tip to theX for the scoop on this one.

Dj Mokram

08-24-2010, 04:32 PM

My first encounter with a shmup was on a ...boat actually. It was ThunderCross II, which is Konami's homage to it's own Gradius serie.
It was never ported to console, but the first one was featured later on a PS2 collection. But as one may expect, in japan only. ;)

Had lot of fun over the years with games such as the Life Force/Gradius serie, Area 88, the R-Types, Last Resort, ThunderForce, Raystorm, The Raiden Project, Radiant Silvergun, Einhander, Ikaruga...and others that might have eluded me too.

Thanks to you guys and this thread, I have been enjoying (and re-enjoying) some fine shmup moments as of recently.
That Raiden III was a bitch to get a hold of but well worth the trouble. And I'm also digging quite a bit two Einhander clones that I don't think anyone mentioned: Last Savior and Söldner X.
The latter got ported to the PS3 and even got a sequel, which has to be the most visually stunning shmup I've ever seen.
Plus the music was composed by a guy from the C64 and Kwed remix scene.

And speaking of handheld, anyone tried Nanostray for the DS? I've had the opportunity to try NanoStray 2 recently, and thought it was pretty cool.

Schwaltzvald

08-31-2010, 08:03 PM

So hey probably old news for those that follow the KOF series but...

Staring Athena, Iori, Kula, Terry, Kyo and last but not least Reim-I mean Mai in KOF: Sky Stage! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJO23o4BOXk)

http://a.imageshack.us/img153/3807/kofmai.jpg

Exclusive to XBOX Live...

heard rumors it will also come to the PSN for the PSP; not sure.

Ferret

08-31-2010, 08:23 PM

U.N. Squadron? You mean Area 88? :P

SoloGamer

09-01-2010, 11:47 AM

heard rumors it will also come to the PSN for the PSP; not sure.

Not sure about this, but it had a retail release sequel (http://www.siliconera.com/2010/05/11/neo-geo-heroes-ultimate-shooting-sets-its-sights-for-july/) in Japan named Neo Geo Heroes Ultimate Shooting (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCmXmZquJd8), which also contains a port of Sky Stage. This one didn't limit itself to only KoF characters and added Marco Rossi (Metal Slug), Akari Ichijo (Last Blade), Iroha (Samurai Shodown VI), and SYDIII (Armored Scrum Object).

EDIT 2: Speaking of upcoming XBLA titles, a new Bangai-O (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6274800.html?tag=latestheadlines%3Btitle%3B2) was just announced for this fall called Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury. It's set for a 800 MS point ($10) price point.

SoloGamer

09-17-2010, 12:00 PM

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/7571/msfttgskeynote06581.jpg

Radiant Silvergun coming to XBLA! (http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/radiant-silvergun-shining-on-xbla/)

Also, KoF Skystage and Space Invaders Infinity Gene are out for ten bux each. Space Invaders actually looks pretty fun.
http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-two-shooters-one-quick-look/17-3228/

anosou

09-17-2010, 01:42 PM

Radiant Silvergun for XBLA is news of the forever.

BardicKnowledge

09-17-2010, 02:14 PM

Agreed, that's super hot. Can't wait for it to release!

K.B.

01-04-2011, 02:27 AM

'bout time for a bump. Cave mame update, personal nonsense, and Genetos plug.

Bordering on old news, but Ketsui - that's right, the same Ketsui that has every Cave-fanboy score-player wetting themselves - and DoDonpachi DOJ (and DOJ black label) are now playable in shmupmame. Espgaluda will follow shortly. Or maybe it already has... I actually enjoyed this as an early Christmas present (sorry for not thinking to share earlier), so maybe it works now as well. Don't know about direct-linking it here, but if you want to check this out then google "shmupmame proboards"; I've verified that their links work and that Ketsui and DOJ are playable.

And maybe I've just been needing a good sidescroller in my life, but Progear is hot.

Also, hilaridiocy (http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo161/kewlguy715/1294098332092.jpg) keeps every rivalry fresh. (but they fly planes?!?)

Managed to beat EoSD hard and extra (replays are on gensokyo) and essentially finished my playthrough of shmup history (that is, minus the few doujins and some greats that I still don't own/can't emulate, like Radiant Silvergun [port to PC live arcade please?]) since last post. Teeth are cut, now all that's left is to become good. Any day now. I can feel it. Cough.

Finally, cross-posting for great justice.
Genetos (http://www.tatsuya-koyama.com/software/wg002_genetos_eng.html)

A little freeware shmup. In essence, you battle your way through the various eras of the shmup world, starting at Space Invaders and going up to... well, you'll see if you get to the end. It's pretty quick (about 15-20 minutes), but it's very creative and fun.
This game is a treat. If you play shmups at all, give it at least one playthrough. And that main menu music... yes.

I must be too much of a pansy because it seems I can't get the sword no matter what I do. One time I got graze though... holy crap that was a setup for disaster.

Emperor Charlemagne

09-18-2011, 09:36 PM

I knew there had to be a thread about shmups somewhere on this forum. You don't have a site dedicated to video-games and populated with vgm-geeks without having a bunch shmup fans!

I'll admit that my favorite series in shooters is the Darius series. It may not be as "hardcore" as Gradius or the like (and in all honestly I don't really like the Gradius games), but its zany style, pizazz, and fun enemies really make it enjoyable. Let's face it, it's all about the fish.

Of course, the only games truly worth playing in the series are Darius Gaiden and G-Darius.
Darius 2 is close, but it's way too unfair (at least the arcade/Saturn version)... I've heard that the PCE version (Super Darius 2) is the best, but lot of good that does us.

But man, the music in all of those games is so good. My favorite OSTs for shooters are in the Darius games- someone should really do an arrange album for them around here!

And as an aside, one of my proudest moments in the series was actually managing to 2-credit-clear Darius 1, a game that is pretty damn hard and unforgiving, let me tell you (especially since its entirely bullshit Instant-GameOver if you lose a credit to the final boss). It would have been a 1CC, but Fatty Glutton, that piece of shit piranha robot, always manages to eat up a fucking continue unless I keep myself purposefully underpowered.
Hell I even saved the screencap of my accomplishment. (http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp257/Emperor_Phoenix/Darius1VICTORY.jpg)

---

I've been wanting to get into the R-Type games for a long time. I thought about getting R-Type Final, but the game looks a little boring to me (some of those last levels look kind of lame).

I found a copy of R-Types on ebay for less than $20, and a copy of R-Type Delta for $30. Would those be worthwhile purchases to get me into the series? Supposedly, the best in the series is R-Type III, but I can get that any time on VC (I've played a little bit on emulation and it's all right- I'm just not very good at R-Type games though!). I'd get R-Type Dimensions, but my brother has his 360 with him and he hates shooters.

Super R-Type would be better if it weren't for all the damn slow-down. That alone kind of makes it not worth playing in my opinion.

It's really because of buying a Sega Saturn (and The Coop's helpful recommendations) and Darius Gaiden that I've gotten in to shmups (though I still hate Touhou and bullet-hell/danmaku shooters- they're so boring for me), and I almost kind of wish I was in to these games sooner. Lots of fun they are. :D I'm not particularly good at any of them (aside from maybe Galactic Attack since I've played and beat that one so many times), and I don't care about 1CCs too much (though sometimes I do try to get a good hi-score), but I love challenging games and crazy boss-fights, which is why this has snuggled up right next to my other favorite genre, the platformer.

The Coop

09-18-2011, 09:52 PM

I 1CCed the arcade version of Darius once. Had a small crowd and everything, and did it on my birthday to boot :-D

I've been wanting to get into the R-Type games for a long time. I thought about getting R-Type Final, but the game looks a little boring to me (some of those last levels look kind of lame).

R-Type Final is flawed, but fun. There are a metric fuckton of ships to unlock, and multiple endings. It plays fine, but it's not as intense as the games that came before it. It's cheap these days, and still enjoyable, so it's worth picking up IMHO.

I found a copy of R-Types on ebay for less than $20, and a copy of R-Type Delta for $30. Would those be worthwhile purchases to get me into the series?

Yes. R-Types has nearly arcade perfect ports of the first two games, and R-Type Delta is fantastic. If you let those slip away, I suggest having your head examined.

The Coop

09-19-2011, 05:20 AM

I'll just drop this little oddity here...

http://bullethellponies.blogspot.com/2011/09/release-v150.html

LuketheXjesse

09-19-2011, 05:31 AM

Thunder Force IV.

Schwaltzvald

09-19-2011, 10:39 PM

Thunder Force IV.

what about it?

Also Coop I had a good laugh at the Bullet Hell Ponies (http://bullethellponies.blogspot.com/2011/09/release-v150.html) :lol:

Interesting use of what seems to be using the Danmakufu (http://dmf.shrinemaiden.org/) program. But for a cell phone..?

Wished it was a little more creative on the bullet hell part.

liquid wind

09-19-2011, 11:10 PM

any good shmups on steam? quickly scanning the topic most recommendations seem to be older games, foreign(need to erm, "acquire" through other channels), or XBLA(don't have a 360)

Emperor Charlemagne

09-19-2011, 11:21 PM

Jamestown is a good, cheap shmup- 5 really fun levels, lots of difficulty options, and in general, really fun to play.

I think it was like $5, though it might be $8 right now.

Totally recommend it.

I really want the new Darius game to finally hit arcades here in the States.

I mean, not that there's an arcade nearby me...
But all the same, this DariusBurst Another Chronicle: EX looks like it's a lot of fun.

Mainly, I just want it released in the arcades so we can be one step closer to that sweet, sweet console port (I don't really want the bare-bones PSP port- too expensive, and not enough content).

And I did order R-Types, and will probably be ordering R-Type Delta soon. Looking forward to it : )

Schwaltzvald

09-19-2011, 11:25 PM

For steam there is Beathazard (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkNkMhFDv64), Jamestown (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bWrtwbiuQ0) is fantastic with co-op, then there's also the Gundemonium Recollection (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXzAosB8Ql8) set.

I still fall back on a certain set of games (http://en.touhouwiki.net/wiki/Touhou_Wiki) and it's spin-offs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ1pl1h-M6w)

Even the latest game that came out, while actually made easier to let new players try it out, managed keep it fun (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Itt0BNGd1nk).

Brandon Strader

09-20-2011, 12:24 AM

I played one, I think it was called Death Smiles. Really short, intended to be played through multiple times. I think I played through twice. Then I sent it back cause it was from Gamefly. Pretty fun overall.

Emperor Charlemagne

09-20-2011, 12:32 AM

a shmup is not doing its job if it only makes you want to play once.

EDIT:

And is it really possible to have a shooter these days that doesn't store some loli anime girl?
Where are all the awesome space-ships?

I'm just kind of sick of every modern shooter having to be about some loli witch or something fighting other loli witches.

If you're going to do something like that at least do what Trouble Shooter (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RmXfJqrlp8) and its sequel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjU1ULkwRZ0) did, and make the heroines these bad-ass anime babes!

Schwaltzvald

09-20-2011, 01:42 AM

is it really possible to have a shooter these days that doesn't store some loli anime girl?
Where are all the awesome space-ships?

If you're going to do something like that at least do what Trouble Shooter (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RmXfJqrlp8) and its sequel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjU1ULkwRZ0) did, and make the heroines these bad-ass anime babes!

There's always the gradius series which is available on the PSP from 1 to 4. The fifth game was a PS2 game but it should be easy to find. Also there are plenty of space shooters but the thing is they are often now of the doujin variety rather than corporately made.

Then again regardless if a spaceship or a girl is used, I'd always have fun. Besides Gradius V (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84LVFNLTMGQ) I tend to find most space shooters not as challenging. Hence my propensity to games like Touhou Project where I can find the challenge I search and yearn for.

There are the cave games but they are slow to come out and often squandered to sticking on the 360 only these days; or worse the ipads. Another issue is getting them over here to play rather than relying on localization efforts. At least with Touhou I can just import a game disk and download an english patch, can't say the same for CAVE games.

Emperor Charlemagne

09-20-2011, 02:53 AM

Schwaltzvald

09-20-2011, 05:09 AM

I have Gradius III and IV on the PS2, and I'm honestly not a fan (I've also played Gradius 1).

Maybe it's because I'm a bitch and find Gradius 3 way too hard, but all the Gradius games, it's like you can never sit back and enjoy the game, because it never stops trying to kill you in all sorts of mean-spirited ways. It's always trying to pull a fast one with enemies coming from behind you or that fucking damn bubble level (to use an example in 3). In say, Darius Gaiden, or in other shooters, you get a moment to take in the atmosphere, but not so in the Gradius games. Maybe some people like that but it's too much for me.

I'd much prefer a Darius or RayForce or some other Taito shooter at least to Gradius.
Though since i like treasure and G.Rev, I would like to get my hands on Gradius V. But I can never find a copy cheap enough.

Speaking of CAVE and localization, I really wish more G.Rev games came out stateside. They're made up of all the people that made Taito matter back in the 90s, and like, they only have two games released here, one on XBLA and the other on the 360 called Senko no Ronde.

Has anyone played Strania: The Stella Machina? It looks really awesome- like an old Taito game made for today's world. Ha ha, Taito/G.Rev is where my inner shooter fanboy comes out.

As I said they squander some nice shmups on the 360 when they ought to spread them out to other systems; hell even the Wii could have done something like use the wii-motion as the actual movement option with the traditional controls being optional as well.

As for Gradius, there's always Parodius (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poYXjPoh5G4) if you want something a little lighter. There is also R-Type Final (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyTyEOGZrNs) for the PS2 that is not as mean as Gradius but also offers it's own rather harsh difficulty. I'd say it'd be a good one for ya as well as its earlier titles. I remember it always allowed me some time to relax before a stage and before a boss fight.

Heading for more obscure titles, there's Crimson Clover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJfWvIxAajw) which uses spaceships so check it out.

Dodonpachi & ESPGaluda's are good ones.

BardicKnowledge

09-20-2011, 05:35 AM

Gradius V is well worth your time to track down, incidentally -- it's better balanced than III, and has the fun factor that IV lacks. After you finish the first loop you unlock all of III's weapon options to utilize also :p

Edit: The ways it uses the options is also extremely slick.

Schwaltzvald

09-20-2011, 09:48 PM

Here you go, Gradius V (http://www.amazon.com/Gradius-V-Playstation-2/dp/B0000AHOOG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316551467&sr=8-1), goodluck finding a vendor with a price you like though.

Dj Mokram

09-20-2011, 10:56 PM

Where are all the awesome space-ships?
You should give a try to Soldner X: Himmelssturmer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdiOL38Zb5M) and its sequel Soldner X2 Final Prototype (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ06n20AFbE).
Also, Prismatic Solid (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvAxxH8IUes) is a very original shmup well worth checking.
Lastly, since you've got yourself a Saturn, I highly recommend grabbing Radiant Silvergun (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtxmzZyfL3s&feature=related) (if you haven't already).

All these games offer excellent gameplay, a good challenge, insanely good music and best of all: awesome space-ships. :smile:

Emperor Charlemagne

09-21-2011, 12:53 AM

Ha ha, I'd get Radiant Silvergun for the Saturn, except that people selling it have this queer notion that the game is worth well over $150 dollars.

Though I did download that Crimson Clover game and i must say it is quite fun. Like DonPachi and RayForce rolled into one.

Mirby

09-21-2011, 01:03 AM

a shmup is not doing its job if it only makes you want to play once.

I agree with this. I love replaying shmups, just to blast the crap out of things.

I used to have Raiden Trad; that game was awesome.

Gario

09-21-2011, 01:26 AM

Well, I don't see this baby (http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/566417) in this thread yet. For shame - it's a flash game, it's free, and it's actually pretty good. The graphics are chibi, for better or worse, but the gameplay is pretty solid.

Schwaltzvald

09-21-2011, 05:16 AM

Here are some other ones.

Blue Sabers Operation Orbital Hammer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnoojrryoFE)

Blue Wish Resurrection (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_83vox1SfbE)

Cloudphobia (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moIAq68lKK8) (Mech rather than ship)

Ether Vapor (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqsW2GI9-8w)

Probably have mentioned it before on this thread but...

Galshell 2: Bullet Rain (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0KP48sng3k) NSFW? I suppose it may not be...

Sure as hell a stark contrast to cutem-ups. :lol:

Emperor Charlemagne

09-23-2011, 09:55 PM

naked anime chicks oh my

Oh that crazy Japan.

I did also order (on top of R-Types) R-Type Delta, so I think I'm more or less set on R-Type games for now.

Emperor Charlemagne

10-13-2011, 10:54 PM

Small update.

So yeah, R-Types and R-Type Delta.

All three games are fucking hard as shit. Though I must admit R-Type Delta is much more fun than R-Type 1 and 2. That's not to say they're not fun. Just hard as shit.

I can get to level 3 in R-Type before losing a continue, and fucking level 2 in R-Type Delta. I have continues, but I find those games so draining that I usually don't want to continue playing after using a continue. Ha ha.

I came SO close to 1CCing Darius Gaiden today. I lost it at Great Thing, though I ended up killing him with a credit to spare. I feel that if it were another boss, I MIGHT have been able to pull it off. Then again, every final boss of D-Gaiden is a badass.

Is it bad, shmuppers, that I used the auto-fire cheat to get this far? Usually I don't, but the bosses in Darius Gaiden take SO long to kill with the default firing speed, that the main reason you die is from attrition (because they live so long they live long enough to fuck you over with all their attacks). Hopefully I didn't commit a cardinal sin of STGs and use autofire... Lol like I give a shit :P

It feels great that I can go into Darius Gaiden now, after almost a year, and beat the game in about 20 or so minutes. Feels really good. Maybe I'll run through Galactic Attack again to see if I've gotten better at that. I dunno though, RayForce IS (i feel) a much harder game.

----

Right now my Saturn STG wishlist looks like:

-DonPachi (COME ON KID)
-DoDonPachi*
-Soukyugurentai* (I almost got this TWICE for really cheap on ebay but shiesters fucked me over in the last 30 seconds both times. FUCK)
-Strikers 1945 (holy moly this game is fucking hard to survive in)
-Shienryu*
-Metal Slug*

*Have never played

I kind of wish these games weren't as expensive as fuck.
I get paid tomorrow. If I were to get one of these games, which could any of you recommend? The ones with asterisks are the ones I have not played.

Also, Gundemonium Collection came out on steam, and I'm hearing good things from the folks over at the shmups.system11 forums. Though I'm not sure if the game is totally my thing (outside of that fantasic Crimzon Clover game Schwaltz posted I'm not usually in to doujin shooters), but hey, 10 bucks for 3 games.

LuketheXjesse

10-13-2011, 11:04 PM

Thunder Force IV.
so fucking good

The Coop

10-13-2011, 11:06 PM

Right now my Saturn STG wishlist looks like:

-DonPachi (COME ON KID)
-DoDonPachi*
-Soukyugurentai* (I almost got this TWICE for really cheap on ebay but shiesters fucked me over in the last 30 seconds both times. FUCK)
-Strikers 1945 (holy moly this game is fucking hard to survive in)
-Shienryu*
-Metal Slug*

*Have never played

I kind of wish these games weren't as expensive as fuck.
I get paid tomorrow. If I were to get one of these games, which could any of you recommend? The ones with asterisks are the ones I have not played.

Metal Slug is a run 'n' gun, not a shmup. That said, go for Soukyugurentai. A great Raizing shmup with fantastic music, a sold challenge, great graphics, and it's not quite a bullet curtain shmup, so it's a bit more old school-like and forgiving than the DonPachi series. If that one's not available for a reasonable price, then go after DoDonPachi. Great game, better than the first one, and a fine translation overall (though some find the PS1 version to be better). But it's manic/bullet curtain traits can make it frustrating if you're not that great at such shmups.

Emperor Charlemagne

10-13-2011, 11:30 PM

It's funny how, since buying my saturn, my definition of "reasonable price" has become "somewhere in the range of $40"

x_x

I know I haven't played much of the DonPachi series, but I kind of wished that they kept that same radio guy from DonPachi in all the other games. I don't care what you think about the gameplay, or the challenge, or the bullet patterns, that dude MADE the game what it was.

OOOOHHWEEEE KID
MULTI-ASSAULT TANK COMIN' UP

JUST A FEW MORE SHOOOTTTSSS

ENEMY HQ DEAD AHEAD KID
YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO

ALL RIGHT ROOKIE YOU'RE DOIN' PRETTY GOOD

POWERRRR UP!

Dj Mokram

10-15-2011, 05:34 PM

That said, go for Soukyugurentai. A great Raizing shmup with fantastic music, a sold challenge, great graphics, and it's not quite a bullet curtain shmup, so it's a bit more old school-like and forgiving than the DonPachi series.
^ This.
Good ole Terra Driver is a great action packed yet slightly strategic shmup with an unconventional screen ratio (for the time) and some truly amazing music imho.
The soundtrack is a spiritual precursor to Radiant Silvergun, and showcase I think the first ever collab between Hitoshi Sakimoto and Manabu Namiki.
The soundtrack was recently re-released (http://vgmdb.net/album/23309) as Namiki and Sakimoto now work together at Basiscape Ltd., and it features new arranged versions of some tracks.
Anyway, I'm sure you'll enjoy the game ...if you can get your hands on it at a reasonable price. ;-)

Schwaltzvald

10-18-2011, 03:30 AM

-DonPachi (COME ON KID)
-DoDonPachi*
-Soukyugurentai* (I almost got this TWICE for really cheap on ebay but shiesters fucked me over in the last 30 seconds both times. FUCK)
-Strikers 1945 (holy moly this game is fucking hard to survive in)
-Shienryu*
-Metal Slug*

*Have never played

I kind of wish these games weren't as expensive as fuck.
I get paid tomorrow. If I were to get one of these games, which could any of you recommend? The ones with asterisks are the ones I have not played.

Also, Gundemonium Collection came out on steam, and I'm hearing good things from the folks over at the shmups.system11 forums. Though I'm not sure if the game is totally my thing (outside of that fantasic Crimzon Clover game Schwaltz posted I'm not usually in to doujin shooters), but hey, 10 bucks for 3 games.

First off you can easily get the Metal Slug Anthology Collection on the Wii, PSP, & PS2 (http://www.amazon.com/Metal-Slug-Anthology-nintendo-wii/dp/B000GQ1NK4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318904135&sr=8-1) $19.99/$33.35($20? PSN)/$21.50 respectively.

Second the Gundemonium Collection was actually a series of doujin games as far as I knew as I've played them way before indie games took off. Here's a sample for Gundemonium Recollection (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb9oYeaZOhw) and Hitoga Happa (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNhekUJh8vU) which comes in the Steam/PSN bundle. While I am displaying the hard difficulty modes that doesn't mean the game changes very much on easier modes. You'd just die less, probably.

Even after something like four years when I tried Hitogata Happa and I still can't get the hang of its bombing :lol:. To me its bombing system is wierd but it borrows the special ability mode from Gundemonium Recollection.

Overall I liked the games and they can still be some good fun but I'm even then I would be skeptical many would stick out for it for long; especially if they're gunning for the true ending on HH.

Edit: Funny little thing that is perhaps not important to any one but I honestly believe that for some reason the PSN version was slightly censored; as if something was missing and I can't seem to pin it down as to what exactly. :lol:

Strike911

10-20-2011, 12:33 AM

I don't mean to be a self-glorifying whore, but I'm working with an indie team on a shooter full of non-loli spaceships. Still a work in progress though. :]

Cheers.

http://www.heavenvariant.com/

Emperor Charlemagne

10-20-2011, 09:59 PM

You know, I lurk on the shmup system11 forum, and I have checked out your project for a while, and I think it looks pretty cool (and the music is rad, ha ha).

I've been playing a lot of Gun Frontier on MAME and I'm considering buying it for the Saturn, since i'm having so much fun with it. It's just not often that you play a game with such a fun idea (gold bandits have taken over a planet- you fly a colt-revolver with airplane wings and you have to take them down), and makes me wonder why more mainstream games these days go for the "refuge in audacity" approach.

Emperor Charlemagne

10-23-2011, 01:12 AM

Forgive my double-post, but I have a question:

My copy of Terra Diver/Soukyugurentai came in today, and I'm pretty excited (though I'm at my home and not my apartment, so I can't play it until tomorrow).

I decided to pop in the Sega Saturn CD into my computer to get a taste of the music (especially after hearing good things about it), but it sounds rather different than what is on youtube and such.

Now I don't know what the deal is but all the tracks on the CD sound like they're using the same instrument set as Darius II. You know, those 80s arcade synths.

This is on my CD (http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29072735/05%20%E8%92%BC%E7%A9%B9%E7%B4%85%E8%93%AE%E9%9A%8A SS05.wma)

As opposed to this. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRyduAPorw0)
And the CD case I have is the one in the youtube picture.

Now i haven't played the game yet, so it might be... I dunno what it might be but I'm a little concerned. Unless this is how the music is supposed to sound like in Soukyougurentai, and the orchestral/electronic stuff is in Otuyuko.

The Coop

10-23-2011, 02:10 AM

I have the game, and track three isn't stage three in the game. It's from another game by Raizing, as the disc has music from games other than Soukyugurentai on it (Kingdom Grand Prix and Battle Garegga). The music for Soukyugurentai, if I recall, is either streamed from the disc, or done through PCM (with the exception of tracks one and two I believe).

Emperor Charlemagne

10-23-2011, 03:24 AM

Phew, that's good to know. I thought I got gipped!

And you're right, because tracks 1 and 2 are all orchestral with quality instruments (not that the stuff on there isn't quality- I love 80s arcade synths!).

I'm thinking of using my next paycheck to get DoDonPachi and Gun Frontier. Gun Frontier, because it's loads of fun, and DoDonPachi, because it seems that EVERY SINGLE SHMUP FAN IN EXISTENCE says that EVERY FAN OF SHMUPS needs to play that game. I liked DonPachi (despite only beating it on MAME via credit-feeding), so I'd assume it's more of the same but... better?

With Gun Frontier, it's one of the few games that use checkpoints that doesn't piss me off (mainly because you don't go back to square one with your powerups and its feasible to get powered up again). Also, ZUNTATA is my favorite VGM group in existence, no doubt. Everything they used to make in the ol' days of the 90s-early 2000s was gold.

Evilhead

10-23-2011, 03:26 PM

DoDonPachi is awesome. Get it!

I've been on a serious PC Engine and Megadrive kick these days and bought somewhere around 40 shooters for the PC Engine and Megadrive over the last couple months.

Some recent favorites include Soldier Blade, PC Denjin (Air Zonk), Gunhead, Final Soldier, Panorama Cotton, Gaiares, Granada, Metal Stoker, Atomic Robo Kid Special and many more. I think I've got a game buying problem. It's too much of an addition, but I've bought over 100 games in the last two months!!

Schwaltzvald

10-24-2011, 10:04 PM

it seems that EVERY SINGLE SHMUP FAN IN EXISTENCE says that EVERY FAN OF SHMUPS needs to play that game. I liked DonPachi (despite only beating it on MAME via credit-feeding), so I'd assume it's more of the same but... better?

You're pretty much obligated to play it if you're a fan of shmups. :lol:

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/2025/barrelrollsarenotenough.jpg

Evilhead

10-28-2011, 02:28 AM

Have any of you guys ever played M.U.S.H.A. for the Genesis (Musha Aleste: Full Metal Fighter Ellinor on the Megadrive)? Man, what an awesome shooter!! And it has one of the best soundtracks on a shooter I've ever heard. Basically Genesis speed metal. It's a bit rare/expensive but definitely worth checking out!

Emperor Charlemagne

11-14-2011, 06:31 AM

I've heard things about MUSHA, but I don't have a Japanese Mega-Drive, and I all ready spend too much money on my saturn, ha ha.

I STILL haven't bought DoDonPachi, mainly because my reasoning is

1) What if DonPachi is more fun
2) There is a relatively cheap Gun Frontier, but I'm not sure if it's worth it
3) There is a Cotton 2 which looks interesting
4) There is Shienryu which also looks good

SO MANY CHOICES!!!!

I want to convince my older brother to let me get Strania: The Stella Machina on his 360, but he's not to keen on the idea. He calls my games "those shitty Sega Saturn games that you like" which makes me laugh.

The Coop

11-14-2011, 07:17 AM

I've heard things about MUSHA, but I don't have a Japanese Mega-Drive, and I all ready spend too much money on my saturn, ha ha.

You don't need a MegaDrive. The U.S. version and the Japanese version will play just fine on the Genesis or MegaDrive (there's no region lock on the game).

I STILL haven't bought DoDonPachi, mainly because my reasoning is

1) What if DonPachi is more fun
2) There is a relatively cheap Gun Frontier, but I'm not sure if it's worth it
3) There is a Cotton 2 which looks interesting
4) There is Shienryu which also looks good

SO MANY CHOICES!!!!

1) It's not. DDP looks better, plays better, sounds better, and offers a better challenge.
2) Gun Frontier isn't that good of a game. It's not bad per se, but if you really want to play it, it can be gotten much cheaper on the Taito Legends 2 compilation.
3) Cotton 2 is good, but not as good as DDP.
4) **See 3**

Evilhead

11-14-2011, 12:29 PM

Unfortunately both the Megadrive and Genesis versions of MUSHA are pretty pricey though. Worth it in my opinion though!

And yeah, DoDonPatchi is much better than the first game! There's also a version on Japanese PS2 if you have a modded system. Haven't really gotten into the whole bullet hell thing (there's too many old school arcade style shooters to tackle first) but DoDonPatchi just has the perfect amount of intensity, great weapons, graphics, everything. One of my favorites!

Emperor Charlemagne

12-06-2011, 05:08 AM

Just ordered sexy parodius. Found a copy for $40 and thought "well that's the cheapest I've ever seen it so why not??"

I assume I will be in for a rip-roaring good time.

Because ANY Konami shooter has to be better than Gradius III. Ugggh.

I did a test run of Darius 1 today to see how far i could get, and i got to the sixth stage before losing my first credit. Mainly because the later stages of Darius are overly cheap and kind of crappy. : /
http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp257/Emperor_Phoenix/Shoot-em-up%20Scores/Darius1Score_1.jpg
Of course I still had my autofire option on when I died so I messed up inputting my name which is just dandy. I tried for a while to do Darius "pure" with no autofire, but after enough cramps in my fingers I said fuck it.

I went the entirely upper route, trying to get to Great Thing (or as close as possible), and avoided powering up to the laser until after beating Fatty Glutton (because that son of a bitch is a fucking cheap cock-sucker)... I felt I did pretty well, all things considered.

Playing a bit of GUNBIRDO TEW (GB 2, heh) here and there, and I feel it's like the Saturday morning anime of shootemups - bright, cheery, and all-around pleasant. It's why I've always liked the Gunbird games most out of the Psykio games I've played. I mean, no need to pick favorites since Psykio is all-around quality, amirite? ;p

Psydotek

12-06-2011, 05:48 AM

Favorite schmup: Space Megaforce (a.k.a. Super Aleste)

Favorite recent schmup: Jamestown

First schmup: Life Force

I still play Space Megaforce and Ikaruga every couple of months depending on how much time I have. Currently, I have UN Squadron loaded into my Super Nintendo...

I bought a used Dreamcast just so I could play Giga Wing...

Honestly, I'm not really that good at schmups, I just think that they're one of the purest forms of gaming still around these days.

drake7707

12-06-2011, 08:10 AM

Anyone played or heard of Really Big Sky (http://bossbaddie.co.uk/bigsky/) ?

I've played it for a few hours and like the intensity, reminds me a lot of hard arcade shmups.

As for my favorite, probably Tyrian :)

Schwaltzvald

12-11-2011, 06:57 PM

ANY Konami shooter has to be better than Gradius III.

So does that mean you'll still pass on Gradius V..?

For shame!

Gradius III (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQfNkjEF5f4) was not bad; the SNES port at least. Plus there's always the arcade version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erGzgSegA2U)

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/7595/gradiusmangradius.png

Emperor Charlemagne

12-11-2011, 09:20 PM

It's not that I pass on Gradius V; it's that I don't have a PS2 at this point in time anymore. My older brother took it with him because he wants to not play games on it apparently. (my hyperbole, but that's what it SEEMS like)

I like Treasure, and I like G.Rev a whole lot (I'm hoping G.Rev's newest game for the 3DS (http://andriasang.com/comz24/kokuga_detailed/) gets localized, and I would love to get their XBLA releases, Strania: The Stella Machina and Under Defeat HD), so I think i'd like Gradius V. Just no means (or money, at least right now) to play it.

And the arcade version of Gradius III is what made me so damn frustrated - the game is way too damn hard for its own good. The SNES is better in the sense that it's far easier, but Gradius III is too unforgiving for its own good. And credit limits? Come on, fuck that. Shit was annoying in the 80s and its still annoying (like Darius 1's "If you lose all your lives to the last boss we won't let you enter another credit you go straight to the game over screen mister!).

Evilhead

12-12-2011, 10:29 AM

I dunno, credit feeding pretty much kills the fun of any game for me, although I agree that any limitations are pretty lame. If I have to continue more than a couple times I usually reset the game, and if I'm really serious about scores I'll reset after one death if I'm not at least past the third level or so.

I've been on a huge shooter buying binge these days. Literally, it's hardly a day that goes by that I don't get a new shooter in the mail... Just trying to get all the games I want before I leave Japan, but I'm just realizing how many dozens of shmups I've gotten in the last few months and the fact that I've barely scratched the surface on a pretty big chunk of them. Really looking forward to my copy of Battle Garegga getting here though!

Also, any of you guys have a permanent tate (vertical) TV set-up at your house? I've got a enough Saturn shooters with tate mode to think about doing it but I don't want to bust any TVs in the process. They are a pain to throw away!!