Good shoot-em-ups to ease me into the genre?

[GameMasterGuy]

I can beat I Wanna Be the Guy. I can no damage run Megaman games. I've beaten so many RPGs with no armor that you'd think nudity was a new fashon statement. But when it comes to shoot em ups... I flat out suck. I currently have a 2600, Genesis, SNES, N64, DC, PS2 (with PS1 memory card if anyone wants me to use its backwards compatibility), GC, 360, Wii, GBA, DS, and 3DS, something's bound to have a game that can ease me into the genre. It shouldn't be too hard, or at least on its lowest difficulty. It also shouldn't be too primitive, otherwise it won't help with more complex "bullet hell" type ones, so inb4galaga. Any suggestions? I feel like I'm missing out on a chunk of gaming without the genre :/

[BurningDoom]

Raiden games are a lot of fun and aren't too hard. Check them out. The first one is on SNES & Genesis, Raiden III on PS2, and Raiden IV on XBox 360. Raiden II was never released on console, that I know of.

[Gamerforlife]

Deathsmiles seems rather accessible. You have to be really good to play well, but it doesn't take much just to beat it.

It's got a great look and sound to it. Playbing it makes me feel like I'm in an arcade

[GameMasterGuy]

Raiden games are a lot of fun and aren't too hard. Check them out. The first one is on SNES & Genesis, Raiden III on PS2, and Raiden IV on XBox 360. Raiden II was never released on console, that I know of.

Cool, I'll see if I can get the first one cheap.

[dsheinem]

Raiden games are a lot of fun and aren't too hard. Check them out. The first one is on SNES & Genesis, Raiden III on PS2, and Raiden IV on XBox 360. Raiden II was never released on console, that I know of.

Cool, I'll see if I can get the first one cheap.

the problem with the first one is that the only good port - Raiden Project, isn't especially cheap. If you have access to MAME, I'd suggest trying it out there.

Some other newbie friendly ones (especially on the easier settings):

Air Buster (Genesis)
Castle Shikigami II (PS2)
Lords of Thunder (PCE/Sega CD/Virtual Console)
Sol-Feace (Sega CD)
Nemesis (Game Boy)
Raycrisis (PS1)
Raystorm (PS1)
Triggerheart Exelica (DC)
Xevious 3D+/G (PS1)


Keep in mind, even an "easy" shmup will usually take some practice, and almost all of them get progressively more difficult from one level to the next. Don't shoot for 1cc runs to start - shoot for 10cc runs, then 8cc runs, then 6cc runs, etc. My goal is to usually beat a shmup on 4 credits ($1), though even that can be tough on stuff like Cave titles.

[GameMasterGuy]

My Genesis collection is a little lacking, and Raiden Trad looks a little better than Air Buster. I'll probably wind up getting both, but right now I'm hooked on RT's soundtrack, so I'll probably pick that up first.

[dunpeal2064]

Castle Shikigami II is what got me really into shmups, especially bullet hell. Nice patterns moving slowly, and the ability to slow your ship for better dodging, something a lot of danmaku (bullethell) do.

I personally think the Raiden games are quite hard. With the early ones, its more about knowing the levels than.reading patterns.

Deathsmiles is a fun game, and can be taken down pretty easily. However, as most danmaku are verticle, this still wont help improve your game much.

Mushihimesama Futari (region free) can be had for a reasonable price (considering its an import), and is probably the ultimate shmup trainer. The game has 3 modes of varying difficulty, a purchaseable dlc with 3 more modes, and novice mode for the original 3 modes.

Playing Original mode will seem like a good challenge at first, and playing either maniac or ultra modes on novice will get you used to how bullet hell patterns and dodging techs work. At the point Im at, original is a bit easy, maniac is about my skill level, god mode kicks my ass and I love it, and ultra is insane. The amount of modes and in-depth scoring (which changes in each mode) will have you playing this game for years.

I hope you enjoy tryin out the genre, it rewards you greatly as long as you put in the effort. Definitely my favorite genre hands down.

[harper]

Firepower 2000 (snes) is a great game. Start out with the helicopter then advance to the jeep

Also, I haven't played it but Battle Squadron (genesis) looks decent and very similar to Firepower 2000. Both should be very inexpensive

[Hobie-wan]

Raiden games are a lot of fun and aren't too hard. Check them out. The first one is on SNES & Genesis, Raiden III on PS2, and Raiden IV on XBox 360. Raiden II was never released on console, that I know of.

Raiden Project on PS1 contains Raiden I and II. It is also pretty much arcade perfect and better than the SNES and Gen remixed ports.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Firepower 2000 (snes) is a great game. Start out with the helicopter then advance to the jeep

Also, I haven't played it but Battle Squadron (genesis) looks decent and very similar to Firepower 2000. Both should be very inexpensive

Yes!!! I love this game. The fact that the jeep can jump is the best part.

OP,

I too suck at shmups. Horribly. Technically I suck at most every video game, but I have an especially hard time with shmups.

I'm gonna second (or third, or whatever) Death Smiles. So much fun and not too difficult either. Great level design/music/characters.