16-bit Shmups appreciation thread

[noiseredux]

Okay, so I've been playing a lot of 16-bit Shmups lately. Let me think:

Darius Twin (SNES)
Gradius III (SNES)
Marchen Adventure Cotton 100% (SNES)
Parodius Da (SNES)
Phalanx (SNES)
R-Type III (SNES)
sagaia (Gen)
Space Megaforce (SNES)
Super R-Type (SNES)

and more probably... and y'know, I just think this was a great era for Shmups. Don't get me wrong, the improved graphics and CD-quality audio that would arrive later were welcome. But there's something perfect about this era. They're not quite arcade quality yet, but they're so much better than 8-bit ports. Mmmm. What are yr favorites?

[swiftzx]

Thunderforce III (Genesis)
Blazing Lazers (TG-16)

I should play more 16 bit shmups.

[dsheinem]

The Toaplan games are my favorite from the era, followed closely by the Compile shmups.

And really, even though many of the 16 bit games were great, it was really the 32-bit era that had the best games in the genre. The Saturn and PS1 shmup library easily outclasses even the Genesis shmup catalog, which had a greater percentage of shit shmups.

[noiseredux]

The Toaplan games are my favorite from the era, followed closely by the Compile shmups.

And really, even though many of the 16 bit games were great, it was really the 32-bit era that had the best games in the genre. The Saturn and PS1 shmup library easily outclasses even the Genesis shmup catalog, which had a greater percentage of shit shmups.

oh yeah, I understand that PS1 and PS2 is maybe the best Shmup catalog ever. But I'm just excited to have sort of re-discovered the 16-bit Shmups for real this time. I appreciate them now. I've mostly been plaing SNES ones, obviously. So need to check out more of the Genesis ones.

[dsheinem]

The Toaplan games are my favorite from the era, followed closely by the Compile shmups.

And really, even though many of the 16 bit games were great, it was really the 32-bit era that had the best games in the genre. The Saturn and PS1 shmup library easily outclasses even the Genesis shmup catalog, which had a greater percentage of shit shmups.

oh yeah, I understand that PS1 and PS2 is maybe the best Shmup catalog ever. But I'm just excited to have sort of re-discovered the 16-bit Shmups for real this time. I appreciate them now. I've mostly been plaing SNES ones, obviously. So need to check out more of the Genesis ones.

Yeah the SNES has some decent shmups, but the Genesis is paydirt for the genre. It also handles speed better, which is key in these games.

Of course neither the SNES or Genesis can stack up to the PCE shmup library - but not sure if you are counting that as 16-bit.

Also, my all time favorite shmup is Lords of Thunder, which is a 16-bit title.

[noiseredux]

Yeah the SNES has some decent shmups, but the Genesis is paydirt for the genre. It also handles speed better, which is key in these games.

Of course neither the SNES or Genesis can stack up to the PCE shmup library - but not sure if you are counting that as 16-bit.

Also, my all time favorite shmup is Lords of Thunder, which is a 16-bit title.

mmm. The speed part makes sense. Though I owned both systems in their day, I always enjoyed the SNES more (mostly for its colors). I don't think I know much about Gen shooters. There's an Aleste game. But jeez -- what do I need to check out?

[Breetai]

Of course neither the SNES or Genesis can stack up to the PCE shmup library - but not sure if you are counting that as 16-bit.

Also, my all time favorite shmup is Lords of Thunder, which is a 16-bit title.

How on earth could you not classify the PC Engine library as anything but 16-bit???

Yeah, the main CPU is 8-bit, but the graphics CPU is definitely 16-bit.
As far as I know, the Genesis graphics CPU is 8-bit, while the main is 32-bit (not kidding!). Only the data bus the main CPU sits on is 16-bit. Depending on how you look at it, the PCE/TG-16 has more claim to being 16-bit than the Genesis.
The whole thing about the TG-16/PCE being "just an 8-bit machine" is a load of crap. It has a 16-bit graphics processor, it's in the 16-bit era and the games look 16-bit (as in they fit right in with SNES and Genesis games). It even beats out both the SNES and Genesis in various categories.

Furthermore, what do you classify the X-Box and Intellivision as? The Intellivision has a 16-bit CPU. The X-Box has a 32-bit CPU (not 64 or 128-bit).

I'm not singling you out, dsheinem. I'm just making a point to all those who would even think about classifying the PCE/TG-16 as 8-bit. IMO, the "bits" of a system should go by the era, not the system specs.

*Rant over*

I totally agree that Lords of Thunder (or Winds of Thunder if you're in Japan) is amazing. Awesome music (I like the TG-CD version over the Sega CD), but easily one of the best shooters of all time. Come to think of it, pretty much any 16-bit era shooter with "Thunder" in the title is amazing; Gate of Thunder, Thunder Force II, III, IV... maybe that's it? I guess you could count Thunder Spirits on the SNES as well.

The Aleste games, Blazing Lasers/Gunhed, Soldier series... great verticals! Of course the R-Type games, Gradius III, the three Parodius 16-bit games, TwinBee, UN Squadron, Silpheed, Air Zonk, Axelay... it goes on and on and on. The Toaplan and Compile games, like DSheinem said, are all incredible.

If I were to pick just three, it would probably be Soldier Blade, Gradius III and Lords of Thunder. Maybe Silpheed for the music as a runner-up. They are three completely different shooters with a lot of variety in them.

mmm. The speed part makes sense. Though I owned both systems in their day, I always enjoyed the SNES more (mostly for its colors). I don't think I know much about Gen shooters. There's an Aleste game. But jeez -- what do I need to check out?

Thunder Force III, IV and Herzog Zwei for sure.

If you like colorful shooters, you NEED to get into the PC Engine!!!

SNES- 256 colors at one time.
PC Engine/TG-16- 481 colors at one time

[Droid party]

M.U.S.H.A. for the Mega Drive.

[D.D.D.]

Of course neither the SNES or Genesis can stack up to the PCE shmup library - but not sure if you are counting that as 16-bit.

Also, my all time favorite shmup is Lords of Thunder, which is a 16-bit title.

How on earth could you not classify the PC Engine library as anything but 16-bit???

Yeah, the main CPU is 8-bit, but the graphics CPU is definitely 16-bit.
As far as I know, the Genesis graphics CPU is 8-bit, while the main is 32-bit (not kidding!). Only the data bus the main CPU sits on is 16-bit. Depending on how you look at it, the PCE/TG-16 has more claim to being 16-bit than the Genesis.
The whole thing about the TG-16/PCE being "just an 8-bit machine" is a load of crap. It has a 16-bit graphics processor, it's in the 16-bit era and the games look 16-bit (as in they fit right in with SNES and Genesis games). It even beats out both the SNES and Genesis in various categories.

Furthermore, what do you classify the X-Box and Intellivision as? The Intellivision has a 16-bit CPU. The X-Box has a 32-bit CPU (not 64 or 128-bit).

I'm not singling you out, dsheinem. I'm just making a point to all those who would even think about classifying the PCE/TG-16 as 8-bit. IMO, the "bits" of a system should go by the era, not the system specs.

*Rant over*

Wow... ES+JHS memories flooding back.
I had a friend who tried to play some malarkey on another friend of ours. "Yeah the TG16 is 16bit or rather it's 24bit just like the NeoGeo and the SNES but still not as powerful as the Jaguar, the world's first 164.8bit machine. Do the math."

[noiseredux]

I just found this link that DSH had posted in another thread:

http://www.sega-16.com/feature_page.php ... travaganza

I'm so excited that Sol-Feace was released on the Genesis. I had no idea. Always thought it was an SCD exclusive. I loved that game! It was a pack-in with the SCD launch bundle, which I had.

Apparently you guys were not joking about how the Gen shmup library blows the SNES shmup library away! Wow. Can't wait for the Rackeboy guide on Gen & SNES shmups now!