2D Shooters your favourite and why?!

[MattyP]

So I was over at the Arcade Club in Leeds at the weekend (highly recommended BTW) and playing plenty of old 2D shooters.

 

So ended up spending plenty of time on Salamander and have to say it is my favourite 2D shooter. A number of reasons.. the speech, great levels and a mixture of vertical and horizontal levels which is not common in shooters. Also love the weapons and the multiples! Oh and to add to all that it's 2 player on screen simultaneously too. Great game.

[Qazimod]

 

For me it's still Iridis Alpha, the Jeff Minter shooter. It has some of the most obtuse "rules" when you're still figuring out what to do (your control jumps to a ship on the other half of the screen after passing through enemies you've just defeated, you can travel to new locations after reaching certain kill counts, each kill manipulates a pointer on the UI determining where you'll travel to, you regenerate energy with kills but can overload and explode, you can't stay in one location for too long or you'll explode, you can land on some surfaces and take off from others depending on where you are), but when you eventually figure out why things happen the way they do it's kind of hypnotic. You're doing so much plate-spinning but it can be quite a zen experience when you get used to things. There aren't many shooters that are that ambitious and still manage to make sense to the player after a bit of trial and error. Modern bullet-hell games can have some pretty crazy systems but most of the time you can just kind of bumble through without knowing optimal strategies. IA needs you to get your head around a few things beforehand otherwise you'll feel like nothing makes sense.

 

It does have annoying bits despite all of this - some enemies can wreck you in seconds before you've had a chance to get used to them, the entropy effect is pretty obnoxious, and the manoeuvrability on the ground can get frustrating - but when you're in the zone it's a pretty good time.

[MattyP]

Oh yes forgot about Iridis Alpha. Love Jeff Minters work on C64 (and his later/est games.)

 

Think Andrew Braybrook also needs a shout too with Uridium too I mean that was better than a lot of arcade games at the time. Running on a home micro.

 

There are a lot of great games out there in this genre really hard to pick one .. but seems I keep going back to Salamander hence my choice. The fact that I can now play it pretty much arcade perfect via MAME at home (stick and all!) Is amazing. 

[Darwock]

Parodius Da! I like most of the games in the series but this is at the top for me, mostly because of the music. For some reason I find it way more accessible than Gradius despite them being effectively the same game.

[beakbeak]

I love the early Cave shooters before they went too far up their own bullet hell arses.

 

stuff like ESP. Ra de, Donpachi, Dodonpachi, dangun feveron are all incredible 

[Paulando]

I much prefer vertical shooters - something in my brain is so much better at the left and right movement than the up/down in a hori shooter.

 

And yeah, the best for me is DoDonPachi. The first game where it really ‘clicked’ for me. Rather than constantly move away from the bullets and ending up cornered, I felt myself looking for gaps and passing back through the path. Absolute revelation for me.

 

I’m still utterly dreadful at them mind, and shit my pants on the later stages, but I find them super fun for a quick blast.

 

 

[fat flatulent git]

All the Parodius games except the very first, but especially Gokujou Parodius.  The artwork appeals more to me than any other shooter and there’s no difficult tactics to remember, just blasting.

[phillv85]

My favourite is still Deathsmiles, I was kinda late to the party and only really got into them big time once I got DS on the 360 (I had played some in the past, Raptor: Call of Shadows was a memorable one). It all kind of fell into place for me because I got into buying arcade cabinets and PCB’s during the late 360 days and bought a Deathsmiles PCB. The game really just clicked with me (although I wish the characters were less Lolita-esque) in that the difficulty was so adjustable and the music is absolutely banging, particularly the last stage music, really gets the blood pumping. The lock shot gimmick in the game was easy enough to understand as well, sometimes the scoring gimmicks are a little obtuse for my brain. It was my very first arcade 1CC and I built up to being able to comfortably do it on max difficulty. It also opened my eyes to the rest of CAVE’s library (many of which I bought the PCB’s of) and then as I naturally like to wander around my hobbies ended up getting into all sorts of shooters new and old.

 

I’ve got a whole load of shout outs as well:

 

Deathsmiles II IIX mode: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, IIX mode is the best CAVE arrange mode I’ve ever played (play on 360 over PS4 if you can)

DoDonPachi Resurrection on 360: Absolutely amazing game and the novice mode is a great way to learn it.

Ketsui on PS4, with all the arrange options is the 2nd best shooter package you can get on PS4 after:

Battle Garegga, the M2 release is the ultimate shooter package

 

and some older stuff: 

 

Fire Shark on Mega Drive, the arcade game is too brutal for me, but the MD version has a lovely balance to it.

Musha Aleste, great music, not too difficult plays wonderfully

Star Parodier on PC Engine, quite easy but also the happiest shooter ever, the music on the first 2 stages brings a smile every time

Soldier series on PC Engine, the games Star Parodier parodies, wonderful output from Compile, always buttery smooth.

 

 

[Wiper]

I hate that it's so inaccessible (as much as I like it, I can't ever recommend buying it due to the wild costs it goes for; emulation is the way with this one), but Battle Mania: Daiginjō on the Mega Drive is my favourite shmup — manageable, characterful and just a blast to play through. A delight.

 

Close second is also on MD; Aero Blasters (née Air Buster); pleasingly frenetic but, like the above game, manageable.

 

I lost interest in the genre as it moved towards massive bullet patterns to manage, sadly — that sort of visual overwhelm just doesn't work for me at all — but I still like to go back to the 16-bit era for the occasional bit of bullet dodging action.

[Colonel Panic]

Super Aleste - pretty well balanced, great weapon system, looks and sounds awesome. 
 

Soukyugurentai. Nice lock on mechanics and just a lot of fun. A reasonable challenge but no bullet hell nonsense. 
 

Layer Section is another lock on shooter I play a LOT. 
 

I’ve also got the Parodius Da arcade PCB. Agreed the colourful graphics make it more approachable. It’s fucking nails hard though. 

[phresh]

Super Aleste (for the soundtrack alone)

Dodonpachi

Galaxian

Progear (I just like the setting, other games are better)

Crimzon Clover

 

[JamesC]

16bit home console shooters are by far my favourites. They look and play great and are generally not too bullet-helly. They generally feel a bit fairer than the coin-op ones too.

 

If I want a straight up spaceship shoot em up it's probably Gaiares. It's difficult and I'm not that good at it but it's just incredibly cool and I love the weapons system.

 

If I want somehting quirky, it's Atomic Runner.

 

(there are too many honourable mentions to mention, but a couple of SNES ones I like are Super Aleste and UN Squadron).

[matt0]

For explosions:

 

Raiden 2, some nicely done main explosion sprites, if not the best, but screen filling clouds of debris and impact effects. Top tier destruction.

 

For soundtrack:

 

Cho Ren Sha 68k, even though a couple of the tunes are barely disguised rip offs of Capcom NES-era soundtracks the arrangements are inspired.

 

 

[spanky debrest]

3D Space Harrier (3DS) - My preferred version of probably my all time favourite game, due in part to the stylus control option.

 

Einhänder (PSX) - A singular, exquisitely designed audio-video feast filled with hyper-animalistic bosses and secrets.

 

R-Type Delta (PSX) - The series peaked right here IMO. Its tight, yet open. The flow of the levels is masterful - there are no lows here, yet it's a cohesive journey. The bio-mechanical theming is mirrored in the musical score, which contains pieces that are the exact time duration of the levels they were written for.

 

Musha Aleste (MD) - I treat this game like a beloved childhood music album. Put it on once in while full blast for a 20 minute head massage. One of these days I'll attempt a Hard difficulty go, but Normal has enough bite (relax too much near the end at your peril) to have stayed satisfying for years.

 

Bangai-O Spirits (DS) - This game is it's own universe.

 

Soukyugurentai (SAT/PSX) - Its aesthetics and balance make it evergreen.

 

Fantasy Zone II (SMS) - M2's 2008 System 16C reimagining of this game was great but didn't render the SMS original obsolete by any measure.

 

Gradius III (SFC) - I knew Nemesis well from the local arcades but this was the one that I had at home, and subsequently played the shit out of. It's a total comfort game and the OST is my favourite from the series too.

 

Assault Suits Valken / Cybernator (SFC) - Just a masterfully made and playing action game with impeccable flow and atmosphere. 

 

Power Strike II (SMS) - Pretty outrageous technical achievement but also a belter of a game, finely balanced and put together.

 

[Camel]

Probably Galaga as I never tire of it, it’s easy to pick up and play without re-learning any complicated systems and it’s just an immediate and fun challenge. The waves are well designed, the ship capture element is ace and the bonus levels are great too.

 

Second is probably Soukyugurentai. 

[yakumo]

 

 

 

May not be the best but its a game me and my brother played to death when we were young. 

[PikaStu]

Another shout out for Soukyugurentai, it’s my favourite Saturn shmup.

 

Mushihimesama is awesome, reminds me of Nausicaa in the Valley of the Wind. 
 

Battle Garegga on Xbone is awesome, a bit more accessible as you can change the colour of enemy bullets so you can actually see them, which is helpful! 
 

All three also have tremendous soundtracks, which is essential for a good shmup. 
 

[Goemon]

My personal Top 4

 

Gaiares (MD) - This will always have a special place in my heart. Original, creative weapon powering system that’s ‘believable’ and not just a case of enemies dropping Ps. Levels look lovely and are pretty epic in their design, great music, full on story (I’m sure the ending is like 7 mins long!) and tough a hell.

 

Gradius V (PS2) - Gradius X Treasure equals a classic shooter that’s chocked full of unique ideas. This game has some of my favourite level design in a shooter, stage 5’s meteor storm as an example is just typical Treasure and absolute genius. Again, amazing graphics and sound and a tough challenge.

 

Nexzr (PC Engine) - I feel like for this game the devs highlighted their favourite bits from previous shooters and then mixed them all together and made an absolute classic. One thing that’s interesting is that they pulled back on things like power ups, bombs etc. it’s like they knew they had something so pure and refined that they just wanted you and your skill to get you through. Like the others it has some amazing graphics and level design with music to die for.

Area 88 (SNES) - So many original ideas in this one. Being able to choose your stage, a whole money system for purchasing new planes and weapons and the need to think about what you take into a stage. The game has some epic multi-screen bosses and amazing music.

 

I feel like there’s a tonne of honourable mentions too AND there’s a load of games that I’ve still not played. While I’m sure there will be classics out there that I’m yet to experience they will be hard pushed to beat one of these in my eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

[Yasawas]

I feel like this is probably a ridiculous choice but GG Aleste 2 - it's approachable, the scoring and upgrades are easy to pick up, and it's a fairly spectacular achievement on the hardware. The sequel is maybe slightly better in all regards but that feels like cheating since it was programmed by actual wizards working with advantages the original devs did not have.

 

Honourable mentions to ESP Ra.De., Thunder Force IV and Ketsui.

[Keyboard Koala]

On 17/02/2023 at 15:46, spanky debrest said:

Bangai-O Spirits (DS) - This game is it's own universe.

 

Is it?

 

I absolutely adored the brilliant N64/ Dreamcast game, but I've never tried the DS game, as I assumed it wouldn't work on such a small screen. Am I missing out then?

[spanky debrest]

I prefer the N64 one to the DC version personally (mainly for the shop mechanic and controls), but the DS game is something else.

 

I love how it's completely open, all the content is unlocked and selectable from initial boot.

 

And how robust the level creation tool is, and how many slots there are for additional user created levels.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the official site still hosts downloadable levels built by community members and other game designers.. which are sharable via data being transmitted with audio (speaker-to-mic transmission). 

 

If you happen to want to build a level to play that takes a lot of skill and patience to defeat, you can do that.

 

You can easily incorporate or improve on parts of stock levels you might have really enjoyed, or spend your stage elements on laying down waves of enemies so thick and huge that half of them need wiping out before the engine is able to run at full speed.

 

Maybe new players would benefit from injecting a save file with all of that sweet semi-official DLC from back in the day. 

 

Having said all that though, I did have one DS-owning mate who I successfully pressured into buying Bangai-O Spirits. Asking whether he'd been bitten by the Bangai-O bug a few week later, his only response was "that game makes my hands hurt". Fair enough.

 

Also, there's a level in it which is a homage to the R-Type stage 3 Battleship. That has to be a fat stack bonus point.

[Skull Commander]

I'm pretty traditional when it comes to my 2D shooter tastes. My all time favourite is U.N Squadron (Area 88) on the Snes. It improves on the arcade version and still plays really well. Tough but not impossible (I really don't like bullet hell games), and some of the best game music around. As others have mentioned the buying of different planes and weapons adds another layer into the game and the ability to choose the order you tackle the levels is something you don't see enough in the genre. Honourable mentions for Super Aleste, the Parodius series and R Type. 

[mwaawm]

Its like asking which is you favourite child.

 

Loved space invaders and spent so much time on it on the Atari VCS back in the day.

Galaga was a bit of a revelation in the Arcades especially the ability  to rescue captured ships back in the day.

It may have been basic and clunky but Harrier Attack was incredibly tense on the CPC and still delivers an enjoyable quick blast

Operation Wolf felt incredible and seemed like an arcade perfect conversion at the time (even though it wasnt and playing with mouse was never as good as the proper gun controller) Lethal Xcess was amazing on the ST with great graphics, sound and loads of on screen action felt like finally having something worthy to compare to console games but for sheer pick up and playability its hard to recommend anything over Llamatron.

Sin & Punishment was unbelievable on the N64 felt like having a full blown cutting edge arcade classic crammed into an N64 cart, even though I could only get about halfway through it (need to dig it out to try and complete it one of these days)

Lots of other memorable  games Raiga -Strato Fighter, SWIV, P47, Dragon Breed, Blood Money, Turrican II, Gley Lancer, Gates of Zendocon, Progear, Gwange, Dragon Blaze, Mushihimesama, Tempest 2000, ...R-Type is one I spent loads of time on both 1 and 2 back in the day but strangely it doesnt draw me back now....too many others that I want to try out

 

This then brings me to my favourite which is based purely on opportunity cost of which I would want to keep playing today in preference to others.....Taoplans Outzone.

This game is just perfect I cant think of a single change or improvement I would make to it. The graphics for the time are astounding, great pallette that really pops and lots of details in the bitmap based art that creates a 'real' feeling vibrant world that trounces the clean sterility of newer game graphics. The soundtrack is absolutely banging creating a sense of urgency and excitement completely in keeping with the on screen action. Then there are the amazing weapons and powerups that need to be utilised cleverly in order to best the various levels and enemies with different sections rewarding use of particular weapon choices. Ideally you play in 2 player and then pick the best combinations to see you through though this could be a recipe for heated debates over hoarding of bombs and the best weaponry though if these got really bad the aggrieved party could simply refuse to budge locking the scrolling while both players energy meter depletes (a clever mechanic that works akin to a time limit). The bosses are also fantastically well designed seeming tough at first till you work out the correct strategy to take them out. Even the occasional sections that exhibit slow down wouldn't benefit from being changed to remove it as the slowdown is intrinsically part of making those bits easier to navigate. Waiting with baited breath for the Nintendo switch version.

[matt0]

On 25/02/2023 at 12:46, mwaawm said:

 

This then brings me to my favourite which is based purely on opportunity cost of which I would want to keep playing today in preference to others.....Taoplans Outzone.

This game is just perfect I cant think of a single change or improvement I would make to it. The graphics for the time are astounding, great pallette that really pops and lots of details in the bitmap based art that creates a 'real' feeling vibrant world that trounces the clean sterility of newer game graphics. The soundtrack is absolutely banging creating a sense of urgency and excitement completely in keeping with the on screen action. Then there are the amazing weapons and powerups that need to be utilised cleverly in order to best the various levels and enemies with different sections rewarding use of particular weapon choices. Ideally you play in 2 player and then pick the best combinations to see you through though this could be a recipe for heated debates over hoarding of bombs and the best weaponry though if these got really bad the aggrieved party could simply refuse to budge locking the scrolling while both players energy meter depletes (a clever mechanic that works akin to a time limit). The bosses are also fantastically well designed seeming tough at first till you work out the correct strategy to take them out. Even the occasional sections that exhibit slow down wouldn't benefit from being changed to remove it as the slowdown is intrinsically part of making those bits easier to navigate. Waiting with baited breath for the Nintendo switch version.

 

There's a place called Flashback Arcade in Bradford which is trying to do the whole Arcade Club thing but with way less resources.

 

They've got some very cool stuff there, two player Outrun 2 setup, Afterburner Climax sitdown cab, Pacman Battle Royal, Darius Burst (the big 4 player sit in cabinet), something called Star Wars Battle Pod which is like a modern version of SEGA's old Star Wars trilogy cabinet but with a giant curved projector screen, air cannons, surround sound etc. Surprisingly great game.

 

But a lot of this stuff is in bad shape or done on the cheap. There's a Ghost Squad cabinet where the gun is held together with duct tape. The Darius Burst cabinet had the volume set up way too loud so it was unpleasant to play. A fair few generic Jamma Cabs with bad LCD screens, a couple of 4:3 games running stretched on 16:9 monitors (some of these might actually have been MAME cabs and not original hardware), wonky controls etc.

 

Anyway, the point of this ramble is there was one cabinet that was immaculate. Really nice high quality buttons and sticks, CRT monitor, everything set up perfectly, to the point where I was 100% certain the game must have been a favourite of whoever was in charge of setting up and maintaining the machines.

 

It was Outzone.

[K]

I'm a huge fan of the original Raiden. Partly - in fact, mostly - this is nostalgia, as there was a decrepit Raiden cabinet in a pub I used to go to a lot when I was a student - the Head of Steam next to Newcastle train station. It's an often frustrating game to play, because if you lose your powerups it becomes ridiculously hard, and the process of collecting the right colour of powerup when they're cycling between red and blue creates an extremely intense risk/reward scenario which usually results in me dying. But it's still a lovely game; the mundane, faded, but pretty style of the urban and rural backdrops reminds me of the illustrations from Ladybird books, and there's something about the synth sound used in this game that gives it the subdued, slightly mournful quality of a lot of Japanese game music of the era.