Your top 25 favorite SHMUPS of all time? Here are mine

[Japhei]

I have played many a shmup in my life. I consider myself lucky to owned or played almost every shmup ever made. There are many great games spanning decades now of the classic arcade style shooter.


What do you consider some of your favorites?

Here are my top 20

1. Ikaruga 2001 (Sega Naomi, Dreamcast, Gamecube, Xbox 360)
Developer Treasure & G.Rev

-One of the finest examples of getting the most out of a gaming console/hardware I have ever seen with a great combination of Slick scrolling graphics , Pseudo Puzzle gameplay , and the most Amazing enemy and boss designs ever. It is hard to believe that the DC version is 17mb of data and the Sega Naomi version GD rom only 30mb. Incredible polish from the creators of Gunstar Heroes , Guardian Heroes and Radiant Silvergun. Fans are "Frothing With Anticipation" for the Third game in the Project-RS series due sometime this year on Xbox 360.


2. Espgaluda (PGM,PS2)
Developer Cave

-What do you get when you mix telekinesis , fairies . a mythical war fantasy setting? You get one of the best shmups ever made for Arcade or console. Espgaluda mixes a great combination of Manic shmup and strategy that is rare for most shmups. A system called the Kakusei (or Awakening) mode allows you to slow down enemy bullets increasing your multiplier. It is a really cool system and one that I think any shmup player can get into. Just one of many Cave developed games that will be on my list.


3. Ketsui 2003 (PGM, Xbox 360)
Developer Cave

-Ketsui - Kizuna Jigoku Tachi AKA The Bonds Of Hell is a game that many gamers have read about but have not played. That may change soon with the Xbox 360 game being released next month. To me it is a holy grail a perfect combination of Art Direction , Manic Bullet Hell and a Manabu Namiki soundtrack that is as relentless as the bullets you are dodging. A prime example of the ability Cave posseses to keep putting out a quality game that is deep in scoring mechanics. I love this game so much words cannot describe it. It has changed my life in many ways.


4. Zero Gunner 2 2001 (Sega Naomi , Dreamcast)
Developer Psikyo

-The Swan song for the former great shmup team Psikyo Zero Gunner 2 is one of the more unique shmups to ever be released. The game features a 360 degree radius of shooting as you take flight in your Helicopter blasting enemies reminiscent to the Strikers 1945 series. This is one of two games that Psikyo developed with 3d Models and scrolling backgrounds. Definately a game that must be played by all and I highly recommend it.


5. Dodonpachi Dai Ou Jou 2002 (PGM, PS2, Xbox 360)
Developer Cave

-When I go to play a shmup one of the first games that always pops up in my mind is Dodonpachi Dai Ou Jou. Maybe it is because it offers the challenge that I crave and simplicity of the Top Down shmup mechanics that it offers. But if you dig a little deeper you will see that there is more to this game then most others can even offer. Dodonpachi uses a unique form of scoring known as chaining where you Causing an enemy to explode fills a meter, and every enemy destroyed before the meter depletes adds to the current chain and again refills the meter. Holding the laser weapon over a large enemy will hold the meter steady and slowly accumulate hits. In this way it is possible to create a single chain out of any of the 5 stages, although this requires much practice and skill. I have 3 words to say PLAY THIS GAME!


More being added SOON for now here is the rest of my list

6. Mushihimesama Futari 1.5
7. Death Smiles
8. Strikers 1999
9. Terra Diver / Soukyugurentai
10. Thunderforce V
11. Psyvariar 2
12. Border Down
13. Guwange
14. Shikigami No Shiro 3
15. Esprade
16. Darius Gaiden
17. Under Defeat
18. Dragon Blaze
19. Mars Matrix
20. Gigawing 2
21. Radiant Silvergun
22. Pro Gear
23. Rayforce
24. Espgaluda 2
25. Battle Garegga

[aeon]

Very nice list, although I'm surprised at the lack of love for 8/16 bit shooters. Maybe it's because of age? I grew up on the dawn of 16bit, and arcades weren't very plentiful in my hood- so the most enjoyment I get is out of older console shooters.

Heres my top ten:

1: Axelay
2: Ikaruga
3: Soldier Blade
4: Progear
5: Parodius Da!
6: Thunderforce 4
7: Galaga 88/90
8: R-Type 3
9: Mars Matrix
10: LifeForce/Salamander

[Japhei]

Very nice list, although I'm surprised at the lack of love for 8/16 bit shooters. Maybe it's because of age? I grew up on the dawn of 16bit, and arcades weren't very plentiful in my hood- so the most enjoyment I get is out of older console shooters.

Heres my top ten:

1: Axelay
2: Ikaruga
3: Soldier Blade
4: Progear
5: Parodius Da!
6: Thunderforce 4
7: Galaga 88/90
8: R-Type 3
9: Mars Matrix
10: LifeForce/Salamander

I am a huge fan of Lifeforce. I just do not find myself playing it currently.

I love how the scoring systems have evolved and gameplay of the later shmups. Innovation is what keeps the genre alive.

[aeon]

I am a huge fan of Lifeforce. I just do not find myself playing it currently.

I love how the scoring systems have evolved and gameplay of the later shmups. Innovation is what keeps the genre alive.

True dat brother. I don't know where I would be without new material.

That said, we are seriously overdue for another 'Ikaruga', know what I mean?

[ZenLogikos]

How has Ketsui changed your life, Japhei?

[DrCirno]

1. Raiden Fighters
2. Raiden Fighters jet
3. Mushihimesama Futari
4. Progear
5. DeathSmiles
6. Imperishable Night
7. Mountain of Faith
8. Raptor
9. Galaga
10. Blazing Lazers
11. Embodiment of the Scarlet Devil
12. Thunder Force IV
13. PixelJunk Shooter
14. Vamprish Night (or it would have been atleast)
15. Subterranean Animism

[Japhei]

How has Ketsui changed your life, Japhei?

Well I played the hell out of the PCB for years. And I bought and sold a few of them making quite a few dollars in the process.

The last one I sold was a kit complete for $1260 shipped. I used that money to buy a car.

Which allowed me to do the following!
Get my last 2 girlfriends pregnant , have sex with a ton of girls, go buy a ton of stuff off of craigslist and other places. So yeah it has had alot to do with my life.

Thank god for the Japanese 360 port

[shallowgamer]

How has Ketsui changed your life, Japhei?

Well I played the hell out of the PCB for years. And I bought and sold a few of them making quite a few dollars in the process.

The last one I sold was a kit complete for $1260 shipped. I used that money to buy a car.

Which allowed me to do the following!
Get my last 2 girlfriends pregnant , have sex with a ton of girls, go buy a ton of stuff off of craigslist and other places. So yeah it has had alot to do with my life.

Thank god for the Japanese 360 port

Waitwaitwait...years of loneliness, and all I needed was a $1260 car??

[ZenLogikos]

Yeah, I've apparently been doing things all wrong as well...

Back on topic...Japhei: Radiant Silvergun - #21??? To each his own, but...that's a little low...

[Japhei]

Yeah, I've apparently been doing things all wrong as well...

Back on topic...Japhei: Radiant Silvergun - #21??? To each his own, but...that's a little low...

It is a great game but by my standards no longer one of the best.