shmup platform of choice?

[Breetai]

oooh saw ps1 games for psp einhander? dodonpachi? But JP Only release? I totally don't get how all that works.

All of the downloadable PS1 games from the Playstation Network are playable on the PSP and PS3. Just buy them and download them on your PSP. It's really that simple. The PSP is region-free. The only catch is that you can only have one account on your PSP at one time. So, if you are playing Japanese games on the Japanese account you set up, you will need to delete your main account from your PSP while using Japanese stuff, and then do it again to get your main account back running. Other than that (it may or may not matter to you), it's no problem.

You can buy Japanese PSN cards online at places like play-asia.com or even from some of the forum members located in Japan here if you ask nicely.

[EvilRyu2099]

1. PS2 (Japanese console, of course. A lot of the good 16/32-bit shmups have been ported here)
2. Saturn (Hands down, the best pure shmup console. This cannot be argued reasonably.)
3. PS1
4. PC Engine Duo (any PC Engine equipped with Super CD capabilities)
5. Dreamcast
*. X-Box 360 (looks like this system is making a series run at being a decent shoot 'em up system... IF you count X-Box Live)

I agree with this list except I would switch the Saturn and PS2.. Both require imports to get the full library, but I think the Saturn had better arcade ports, especially ones in 2D...

[SegaJunkie]

Currently My Shmup platforms of choice are.

1. Xbox 360 (Lots of good recent stuff , Cave shmups Galore, Few Naomi ports)
2. PS2 (Solid Lineup of Psikyo and Cave shmups , A Few G Net and Naomi ports)
3. Dreamcast (Lots of great Naomi Arcade ports , Few Cps2 and Psikyo games)
4. Ps1 (Alot of great exclusives, Einhander, Raycrisis Etc.)
5. Saturn (Soukyugurentai , Radiant Silvergun, Thunderforce V!)
6. Wii (Mile-Stone's Platform of choice)

[Breetai]

...I would switch the Saturn and PS2.. Both require imports to get the full library, but I think the Saturn had better arcade ports, especially ones in 2D...

I originally had the Saturn first, but then switched it before posting after thinking about it. A very large amount of the "better" arcade ports from the Saturn actually ended up on the PS2 via compilations. Plus, it has a ton of other shoot 'em ups that the Saturn doesn't.

DoDonPachi Dai Ou Jou
Espgaluda
The Gigawing games
Gradius III/IV and V
Ibara
Sengoku and Sengoku Blade (cheaper than the Saturn version)
Dragon Blaze
Bug Princess
Psyvariar
Shienryu and a remixed version
Castle Shikigami games
XII
Raiden III
R-Type Final
All the Sega Ages shoot 'em ups (including the super scaler games)

There are more. Plus you can play all the PS1 shoot 'em ups on it (I didn't really factor that in, though).

I don't know, it's pretty much a toss up. If you take out the compilations then the Saturn totally wins and the PS2 probably falls down a few spots on my list.

For the record, I think ALL the consoles require Japanese games to get the most of out their shoot 'em up libraries.

[EvilRyu2099]

For the record, I think ALL the consoles require Japanese games to get the most of out their shoot 'em up libraries.

I'd say that's pretty accurate except for maybe PC...

[Hatta]

For the record, I think ALL the consoles require Japanese games to get the most of out their shoot 'em up libraries.

I'd say that's pretty accurate except for maybe PC...

Touhou.

[noiseredux]

Having a Saturn as your go to shoot 'em up system makes the PS1 almost redundant, as the majority of good shooters on the PS1 are also on the Saturn with only a few exceptions (Gradius Gaiden and Einhander being the most notable, IMO). The Saturn controller is absolutely perfect, unless you need an arcade stick.

I think you really need both, as some ports are superior on one console or the other. In particular, the PS1 is much better for the DonPachi games. This site has a great article here: http://www.racketboy.com/retro/2006/02/ ... ation.html

woah never saw that article. Even if I don't collect for these systems, I still love reading about Shmups.

[Breetai]

For the record, I think ALL the consoles require Japanese games to get the most of out their shoot 'em up libraries.

I'd say that's pretty accurate except for maybe PC...

Touhou.

Exactly. It very much includes the PC.

[jalvarez82]

Sega Saturn!

Ditto. The Saturn has a vast selection of quality shmups (most were ported straight from the arcade) in it's library. Some Genesis shmups were even ported, and upgraded, over to the console (i.e. Thunder Force II, III & IV).

The Dreamcast has an awesome selection too...and it continues to grow to this day!

[soul_hacker]

1. PS2 (Japanese console, of course. A lot of the good 16/32-bit shmups have been ported here)
2. Saturn (Hands down, the best pure shmup console. This cannot be argued reasonably.)
3. PS1
4. PC Engine Duo (any PC Engine equipped with Super CD capabilities)
5. Dreamcast
*. X-Box 360 (looks like this system is making a series run at being a decent shoot 'em up system... IF you count X-Box Live)

I concur.

This. Except I wouldn't add PS1 because of the PS2.