So I'm recently finding myself with an unquenchable thirst for shmups. Despite this, I'm fairly new to the genre and I'm looking for any feedback on some good ones I might be able to get my hands on.
I'll briefly list the ones I have at the moment:
Raiden Fighters Aces
Raiden IV
Ikaruga
War-Tech: Senko no Ronde (I know, I know. It's weird and somewhat terrible, but MAN are those 'chievos easy to get!)
I have a 360 currently, and I'm not morally opposed to using emulators for anything older. I also hear there are some good indie shmups built for PC, which I'm intrigued by. So what do you guys think? I need my Bullet Hell fix!
I Have a Shmup Problem
So I'm recently finding myself with an unquenchable thirst for shmups. Despite this, I'm fairly new to the genre and I'm looking for any feedback on some good ones I might be able to get my hands on.
I'll briefly list the ones I have at the moment:
Raiden Fighters Aces
Raiden IV
Ikaruga
War-Tech: Senko no Ronde (I know, I know. It's weird and somewhat terrible, but MAN are those 'chievos easy to get!)
I have a 360 currently, and I'm not morally opposed to using emulators for anything older. I also hear there are some good indie shmups built for PC, which I'm intrigued by. So what do you guys think? I need my Bullet Hell fix!
If you got a DS, Bangai-O Spirits is something worth checking. It's not a traditional shmup as in vertical or horizontal scrolling, but there's LOTS of shooting.
Plus it's challenging, but personally, it wasn't brutally tough as many reviewers made it out to be, but that's probably because I could pick up the controls and gameplay pretty quick. Once you know how it works, alot of it becomes a breeze.
I'm a collector of games in the genre. Your first purchase should be a Sega Saturn ;)
The sequel to Senko no Ronde - "DUO" looks pretty cool. I've posted details on the game somewhere in the 360 forum
There's a few bullet hell shooters on DS and DSiWare. Here's one: http://www.giantbomb.com/dsiware/60-106/ketsui-death-label-creators-bring-another-shooter-to-dsiware/35-259590/#3
What platforms do you have, including retro one's ?
Senko no Ronde is really interesting, isn't it? It's not great, but the whole 1-on-1 fighting turning to straight up bullet hell action is kind of awesome. Best $2.99 I've ever spent. I didn't know there was a sequel! I'll definitely be looking into that.
Right now I have an SNES, Genesis, and a GBA. Lots of good stuff on the Saturn, then?
Just added the video above dude ;) I agree, it is cool, there's aspects to the original that could be easily improved upon, hopefully the games sequel will do that.
The very best stuff is on Saturn :)..and a choice few on Japanese PS1
There's MUSHA on Genesis.
Don't forget Radiant Silvergun on Saturn. I heard that was badass.
" I'm a collector of games in the genre. Your first purchase should be a Sega Saturn ;)They made another game like War Tech wtf?
The sequel to Senko no Ronde - "DUO" looks pretty cool. I've posted details on the game somewhere in the 360 forum
There's a few bullet hell shooters on DS and DSiWare. Here's one: http://www.giantbomb.com/dsiware/60-106/ketsui-death-label-creators-bring-another-shooter-to-dsiware/35-259590/#3 What platforms do you have, including retro one's ? "
You can get one of the other DonPachi games, dodonpachi dai ou jou black label extra for the xbox 360. Once again... import.
You could always emulate them in MAME or something, but that's not exactly legal or commendable in any way shape or form.
I don't think dodonpachi dai ou jou black label extra is region free.
@JerkFace: No problem. Here you go. http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-br-49-en-70-3cq6.html
get mushihime. great game, but it cost me 70 dollar. it's allso entirely in japanese, and is difficult like hell.
ikaruga is also great, you should prolly get that.
@Wes899:
Oh yes. After watching the videos, definitely buying Mushihime-sama Futari. Thanks for the tip!
Also: This.
Check out the Touhou games, that's a damn fine series that manages to combine crazy bullet madness with a relatively accessible difficulty curve (like the DonPachi games and a lot of other Cave shmups, it's insane to look at but the minuscule hitbox makes the game actually somewhat easier than you'd expect). Anything by Kenta Cho (crap, no Giant Bomb page! Must add that to the wiki to-do list...) is always worth a look. If you're interested in a serious old-school challenge, check out the original Raiden and some other golden oldies like the old 1942 games - people think Ikaruga is tough, but the first Raiden was murder. Slower ship speed, MASSIVE hitbox, and all the enemies are actually aiming for you rather than firing out predictable patterns. That game is hard.
Beyond that, I'm afraid if you're not willing to get into MAME or some other method of arcade emulation, you're going to have to trawl through your import options and still miss out on a whole lot of all-time classics.
Edit: For more Indie goodnes, somewhere like this is a good place to start.
Imperishable Night is from the Touhou series... Only available on the PC.
Touhou is an indie 'curtain shooter', or bullet hell shmup series (made by one guy named Zun), but it's hard to call it an indie shooter when it has a convention dedicated to it every year.
Anyways here's a vid from Mountain of Faith, last boss on Lunatic difficulty.
You'll need to play with a controller on the PC though, there's a focus button that requires holding down to slow down the character movement and it reveals the true hitbox of your character. It overwhelms the keyboard input limit (That's like what 3 buttons?) unless you have those special keyboards that can read more.
I really appreciate all the great feedback, gang. It seems like the Touhou games need looked into, for sure. Anyone know of a good place to find any of them online? I've done a little searching (admittedly a little) this afternoon, and can't seem to find a good spot. The fact that I can't read Japanese may be hindering this, I suspect!
I very much enjoy vertical shooters like Raiden more than bullet hell aka Maze Games, so I can't really help you with those types.
But if you'd like more games that are about blowing up dudes and fighting fun bosses, try Hudson's Star Soldier series.
Star Soldier | Soldier Blade | Blazing Lazers | Super Star Soldier | Star Soldier R
If you like horizontal shooters, try stuff like Gradius and R-Type.
There are also run and gun games like Contra and Turrican.
That kinda reminds me of Omega Five.
Anyone play Omega Five? Is is a very Japanese game...
You could always try Cho Ren Sha 68k. It's free and the first thing I install on any machine I've put together since I was in middle school. It's like breaking a bottle of wine on the maiden voyage.
I have WarTech, no idea why I bought it lol it's not even a great SHMUP. But I couldn't stop playing it for some reason.
I would suggest Espgaluda II for iPhone, it's really great. Ummm, don't really know anymore that are readily available outside of Japan other than some more old classics like R-Type.
EDIT: There's an Xbox Indie title called OneUp or something like that, pretty neat little Shmup for like a dollar where instead of getting extra lives, every time you earn one it flies right onto the screen and joins in.
There's also the Castle Shikigami series for PS2/Wii that's pretty okay. Oh, and there's Triggerheart Excelica on XBLA.
Edit: Oh, and be cool and avoid the Touhou games. Or just play one and be content that they're all the same.
Edit edit: OH SHIT i almost forgot. Not a shmup, more 2D shooter like Gradius or R-Type but duuuude. Einhander. Best PS1 shooter, bar none.
I tried the Touhou games and totally agree. It's incredible what a basically one-man team put together, but beyond that? Meh.
I picked up Triggerheart Excelica. Pretty good stuff. I dig the added mechanic of the crazy grapple beam thing.
And @The_A_Drain: That ' Shoot 1UP' is pretty good. Especially for a dollar!
@Emilio: I'll have to check out the demo of that.
Please Log In to post.
Log in to comment