DS Shmups: What do I need to know?

[noiseredux]

So with the holidays coming up, I'm gonna need some gift ideas to tell people for me. I've had a DS for a while, but no games. I know about Bangai-O Spirits, but what other DS Shmups are there that a non-treasure-hunter could walk into Gamestop and ask for?

[SegaJunkie]

Nanostray 1 + 2 I believe were released in the States.

On the Import tip Ketsui Death Label is the top dog!

[noiseredux]

Nebulasray 1 + 2 I believe were released in the States.

On the Import tip Ketsui Death Label is the top dog!

yeah I'll explore imports on my own (so thanks for the heads up, and feel free to let me know about more imports) but I need to know some easily obtainable US releases for now.

[alienjesus]

Geometry Wars Galaxies - Fantastic little arena shmup, great fun, and personally i think the DS controls may be the best out of the DS, Wii, and Xbox games. It can be prone to causing hand cramps with a small stylus though, so it might be worth taking a break every so often.

XG Blast! - Basically a geometry wars clone, but supposedly a decent one.

Nanostray 1 & 2 - These seem to be the default traditional shmups everyone talks about in terms of DS. I ahvent played either, but the first is supposed to be good, and the second brilliant.

Big Bang Mini - This is kinda of a hit or miss game. It's completely controlled with the stylus. The majority of people I've met who've played it think it's great, but I tried the demo on the wiis nintendo channel a while back when it was on there, and I found it a bit awkward. It might be something that grows on you?

Space Invaders Extreme 1 & 2 - Space Invaders Extreme is brilliant and everyone should own it. Space Invaders extreme 2 is supposed to be even better, but I've not played it.

Starfox Command - Perhaps not what you meant, but i thought i'dpost it anyway. I'm not a big fan of this one, but it's an interesting take. You direct all of your team across a map individually to engage enemies, and when you do so, you get placed in a battle where you must kill a certain number of a target. The controls are pretty decent, but the gameplay is a bit dull, and Im a huge fan of the series.

If you have a DSi, then X-Scape and Metal Torrent on DSiWare are great choices. X-Scape is the sequel to X on game boy, and is one of my favourite games on the system. Metal Torrent is a bullet hell by nintendo which is cheap and simple, but still pretty addictive fun.


Thats all of the non-run n gun shooters I can think of at the moment, except for Ketsui Death Label which is a japan only Cave shmup. I imagine it goes for crazy prices.

[noiseredux]

thanks Alien!

I was pretty sure Geometry Wars was on DS. So that's cool. Nanostay I'll have to check out, sounds like exactly what I want. A stylus-only Shmup sounds bad news to me. And I totally forgot about Space Invaders Extreme. I played the first on PSP and loved it. I'll have to get those. Oh and no DSi... I have a phat.

[alienjesus]

While I think about it, there are some very old-school shmups on Retro Game Challenge, along with some old-school racers and RPGs and the likes. Maybe you'd enjoy those?

[noiseredux]

While I think about it, there are some very old-school shmups on Retro Game Challenge, along with some old-school racers and RPGs and the likes. Maybe you'd enjoy those?

mmm good call. That collection looks awesome, and I usually forget about it.

[YoshiEgg25]

Another vote for Geometry Wars Galaxies. Only DS shmup I've played, when I played against a friend on a bus to a scholastic bowl tournament. It's hella fun, and really unique multiplayer too that only needs one game card.

[noiseredux]

surprising that no Gradius, Darius, R-Type, etc big names have made it to the DS...

[Hobie-wan]

Nanostray is by the same company that made Iridion, FYI. Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ is a vertical shmup of sorts. Konami Classics Series Arcade Hits has some of the games from the GBA release, plus more. I also recommend Space Invaders Extreme which works with the DS paddle controller.