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Shmups. This gen or MAME

Lovelyman

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Lovelyman

Lovelyman

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Ok, as mentioned in the ESPgaluda thread, some people like shooters but don't know where to start. So I thought it would be nice to put together a thread with some recommendations.

Please don't just post lists, as they are meaningless and cause utter, utter confusion for people that are using the threads to try out recommendations. Keep to one or two of your most loved games and explain what's so great about 'em.

Starters for 10:

ESPrade - Cave (MAME on PC or Final Burn Alpha on Xbox)

Contender for best shooter of all time in my book, and that means it is VERY close to my favourite game of all time. Initially very hard, and with some crazy bullet swarms but this game just gets better and better the better you get at it.

Easy to learn multiplier system based on the measured use of your two main shots. Basically you have a 'b' type shot that fires up to 15 fireballs that have a decay animation once they hit an enemy. If you manage to land all 15 on an enemy, and them before the decay animations die away destroy that enemy with your standard shot, your score for a short period is multiplied by 16X (15 + 1). Amazing 2d graphics and sublime music.

ESPGaluda - Cave (Jap PS2 or Arcade)

Sequel to ESPrade and another wonderfully beautiful 2d shooter from Cave. A totally different gameplay mechanic here, which gives you a limited power to slow bullets down to allow the screen to absolutely pop with the amount, and then you have to gently take out the guys that fired the bullets before your 'kakusei' (slow time) runs out to reap the rewards. This is one of the most flexible Cave shooters - the player can decide to use all the kakusei at a point where he/she knows there is guaranteed rewards, or save it for a different part of the level.

The music is slightly inferior to ESPrade, but that music is perfect so it's not surprising.

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Shoes

Shoes

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The original R-Type better than Leo. It's bloody fantastic. Hard, yes, painfully so. But somehow it urges you to come back, as if it's filled with some sort of magic power that gets released through the Xbox controller port.

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Lovelyman

Lovelyman

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Psyvariar seconded, although it is hard if you play it properly. Not saying that the others aren't.

I find Ikaruga quite the oddity. I like chaining, but the fact that you have to remember sooooo much stuff means that if you take a break from playing it, it can be painful to start playing again.

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Paulando

Paulando

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DoDonPachi is probably my favourite tbh... It's fairly similar to ESPrade (in that it was also developed by Cave), and I find it so fun to play. I love the style of the graphics as well- very clean and colourful. It's great to load up every once in a while to have a quick blast; because it moves so quickly you're straight in there with no farting about.

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Cacophanus

Cacophanus

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The original R-Type better than Leo. It's bloody fantastic. Hard, yes, painfully so. But somehow it urges you to come back, as if it's filled with some sort of magic power that gets released through the Xbox controller port.

R-Type and R-Type II have all received console ports, with R-Types on the PSone being actually better than the arcade originals. Leo never received any ports and, as such, is very much exclusive to MAME.

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Cacophanus

Cacophanus

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Another nomination for Psyvariar Complete and I'd also heartily recommend R-Type Final.

[running in slow motion with hand extended] NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! [/running in slow motion with hand extended]

R-Type Delta is the r0xx0ring best (of the 3D R-Types that is)!

Was Gradius III & IV for the PS2 any good? And did it geta PAL release? I can't find a copy anywhere...

Gradius V [rubs thighs]

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Arctic Feather

Arctic Feather

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Was Gradius III & IV for the PS2 any good? And did it geta PAL release? I can't find a copy anywhere...

Yeh it did get a PAL release I bought it in Game ages ago when they had it in the 2 for £30 deal

I recommend Mobile Light Force 2 on the PS2 (aka Shiro No Shikigami), and Strikers 1945 II on the PSX (haven't played the first one)

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outspaced

outspaced

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Psyvariar seconded, although it is hard if you play it properly. Not saying that the others aren't.

I find Ikaruga quite the oddity. I like chaining, but the fact that you have to remember sooooo much stuff means that if you take a break from playing it, it can be painful to start playing again.

I dunno, sometimes if I play Ikaruga after a long time away I'll beat my high score. It's pretty much the only shoot em up I've ever really got into and loved.

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MDY

MDY

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Radiant Silvergun (Saturn/Mame) - Mame compatiability is getting there now...

Otherwise seconding Dodonpachi, Battle Garegga and Psyvariar2

Border Down and Zero Gunner (DC) are also wonderful.

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Cheeko

Cheeko

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I dunno, sometimes if I play Ikaruga after a long time away I'll beat my high score. It's pretty much the only shoot em up I've ever really got into and loved.

I'm the same, after getting upto about 20million on the rankings board I got seperated from Ikaruga, 4months later I've picked it up and am getting chapter scores higher than ever before.

Ikaruga :)

I've never played Esprade or dodonpachi, need to find the ROMS

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stefmcd

stefmcd

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Glad to see Im not the first to name...............

Starforce.

Possibly the best shmup ever.

It has a truly perfect learning curve and lovely graphics.

1942 and 1943 must also be mentioned for greatness.

Of the 'current' gen Dreamcast provides virtually all the thrills -

Mars Matrix is excellent - a testing game.

Gigawing 2 - absolutely delightful - a visual and aural feast.

The final burn alpha shmups for the xbox are almost all splendid with Dodonpachi getting my A1 vote.

:)

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Gique

Gique

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dodonpachi - i'm totally hooked, though still have problems linking everything (13 mil on one credit so far), its just so.... brash!

thunderforce IV - loved everything about it - total excess

star force - still play it to this day

guwange - stunning to look at - love the hip hop track on the second stage.. very wu-tang - nice bullet slowing system

esprade.. graphically mindblowing, but the point multiplier doesnt grab me..

psyvariar 2 - buzz lunacy!! shame about the DREADFUL rober miles-esque soundtrack

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