Why do you like shmups?

[Frizz.Meister]

A mate asked me this today and it was harder to answer than i thought. Of course i said that dodging a huge seemingly impossible bullet pattern always made me smile, and that the simple pick up and play for 1-20mins was great with my lifestyle. But i couldnt seem to express why i find them SO good they just are.

So why do you like shmups?

[GSZX1337]

Why would someone ask why shmups are good/fun? Space ships, space, lasers, giant bossess, what else do you need?

[SegaJunkie]

I like shmups because they are games I can play in a short time. Also they are usually very intense and a great experience to play. Plus like Pokemon you want to collect them all!

[gennss]

short intense and fun. Oh and I like the whole scifi theme on most of them.

[Ivo]

They typically appeal to the "Hard fun". Some people enjoy certain kinds of fun more than others.

http://www.xeodesign.com/whyweplaygames.html

Ivo.

[fvgazi]

They usually have interesting art styles and great music too!

[noiseredux]

I think because they are simple enough to pick-up-and-play without having to really learn anything, but yet they are also quite challenging. They have the ability to make me feel stressed out, and yet relaxed at the same time.

[WrathOskvro]

The easiest answer for me is that it's like having a totally new arcade experience. Since arcades are dead, it's great to have a similar experience especially if you've got a nice arcade stick to go with it. And of course just like everyone else said, pick up 'n play, hard as balls so you keep playing and playing, amazing eye candy and music.

[noiseredux]

that's a good point. When I was young and arcades were more prevalent I never was interested in Shmups. But a couple months ago I saw a Shmup cab at one of those amusement fun zone places and it was the most fun I had on a cab in ages.

[gennss]

cabs are getting a bit hard to comeby these days. I don't think there are any shmup cabs in public places in my area.