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Post by Xeogred on Jan 5, 2018 20:15:23 GMT -5
SHOOT THE CORE! Shooters are a big genre when you include everything. Even shrinking it down to focusing on 8 and 16bit era console releases, it's still pretty stacked. The Genesis alone has a ton! What are some of your favorites and standouts? Thunder Force IV (Lightning Force Quest for the Darkstar... what?) - Definitely my favorite all around so far and just my favorite shmup in general next to Mushihimesama. Thunder Force IV is a technical power house on the Genesis, pushing the graphics and sound to the limits. It's a good challenge too and took me about a week of playing off and on to finally conquer when I did years ago. I like the instant respawning style of Thunder Force, compared to the slower deliberate checkpoint style of R-Type, or the power up stacking of Gradius which can make or break a run at any moment. This doesn't really make Thunder Force IV any easier though, as the combat and action seems faster paced than those in most areas. The game is very beefy too but also not overly long, but there is one level in particular fans probably know about that feels like the final level, then the game keeps going. It's a huge adventure and so rewarding to finish off. Straight up one of my favorite shmups and Genesis titles in general. Everything Technosoft did was awesome. Other favorites: MUSHA Elemental Master Thunder Force 3 / AC (Spirits on the SNES is fine too if you can look at it on its own) Gradius 3 Super R-Type (maybe for nostalgia's sake, I don't play it much anymore) R-Type III seems like the hardest one I've ever played.
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Post by Sarge on Jan 5, 2018 21:30:02 GMT -5
Radiant Silvergun!
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Post by Xeogred on Jan 5, 2018 21:54:52 GMT -5
For how popular that one tends to sound, I wonder why it hasn't gotten ported?
I really dig Ikaruga a lot.
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Post by Sarge on Jan 5, 2018 22:03:37 GMT -5
It did get ported to the 360. It's on XBLA. Anyway, one of my favorite things about it (other than the really nice presentation) is all the death-dealing instruments that you have. You come armed with six different types of shots, triggered by either hitting two of the A through C button together for the fourth, fifth, and sixth types, or hitting the X, Y, or Z button for the combo shots. They all have their uses. Then there's the sword, which lets you attack close range and also absorb the pink-colored shots. "Collect" enough of those and you can unleash a giant polygonal sword of doom. It's just too cool. It's also got a neat mode where your weapons level up. You can throw yourself against the game over and over, and you'll eventually pull it off because you'll be juicing up those weapons every time you make a new attempt. It's pretty neat, honestly.
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Post by Ex on Jan 5, 2018 22:15:48 GMT -5
Top 10 for Ex:1. Blazing Lazers (TG16) 2. Life Force (NES) 3. Astro Warrior (SMS) 4. The Guardian Legend (NES) 5. U.N. Squadron (SNES) 6. Harmful Park (PS1) 7. In the Hunt (Saturn) 8. Steam-Heart's (PCE CD) 9. Vanguard (2600) 10. Divine Sealing (MD) Sadly my all time favorite shmup has never been ported to a console:
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Post by foxhound1022 on Jan 6, 2018 8:16:44 GMT -5
Hell, there are so many. In no particular order:
Battle Garegga Strikers 1945+ Batsugun Donpachi/DDP series Raiden Series Raiden Fighters series Zed Blade Aero Fighters/Sonic Wings series
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Post by anayo on Jan 6, 2018 8:52:03 GMT -5
I'm kind of stand-offish toward this genre cause it's so saturated. However, there's a few I'm really fond of:
MUSHA (Sega Genesis)
The music really gets my blood pumping. There's tons of sprites on screen and lots of action.
U.N. Squadron (SNES)
I played this a lot in 1997, so I'm brainwashed into liking it now.
Axelay (SNES)
I bought this on eBay in 2014 based solely on one screenshot of the melty-lava-man boss. I just thought it looked so cool. It was.
Avenger (Turbo Grafx CD)
I know deep in my heart this Japan-only game isn't very good. The graphics and sound are dreadfully average. I like it anyway, though. The gimmick is that you play as a helicopter and can rotate, angling your gunfire. It's also maddeningly difficult, belonging to that family of games where you lose all your power ups when you die. This makes it nearly impossible to continue after dying. The only way I can see to beat it would be starting over every time you die or using save states (which is how I beat it).
#1 all time favorite SHMUP: Lords of Thunder
Most SHMUPS seem so bland, mechanical, and outer-spacey to me. But in this one you're a wizard in a flying, enchanted suit of armor fighting dragons, sand worms, giant birds, and other wizards. It's a really fresh and unique setting for the genre. The colors are vivid and so appealing. The sound effects are super satisfying. Using redbook CD audio, it has a rock and roll soundtrack that really makes it stand out. There's a currency system where you get to shop for upgrades at the start of each stage (I guess U.N Squadron has that too, but this one is just cooler). On top of that it's challenging and plays really well. I've yet to play a SHMUP I like more than this one.
Shooters I haven't played yet but want to:
Harmful Park, Gate of Thunder
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Post by Sarge on Jan 6, 2018 13:31:06 GMT -5
That soundtrack for Lords of Thunder is so good. I think I like the sound of the Sega CD version a bit better, but they're both awesome.
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Post by Ex on Jan 6, 2018 23:25:55 GMT -5
U.N. Squadron (SNES)I played this a lot in 1997, so I'm brainwashed into liking it now. I've never understood the general malaise against U.N. Squadron from the shmup community. I really enjoyed it, and it was very well made. Maybe it's a bit too easy? I don't know. I still love it. And yeah man, play Harmful Park ASAP. I think it outclasses Parodius at its own game.
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CFFJR
HRG Curious
Posts: 5
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Post by CFFJR on Jan 7, 2018 7:03:21 GMT -5
The Aleste games and their extended family.
Well, probably just easier to say Compile, heh.
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