Your Top 5 Favorite Shmups?

[dreamakumat]

This is a tough one. I Have to say:

1) Geki-oh shooting king(sheinryu). My first real drive into the genre I paid $3 for it and still have to say it's awesome.
2) Ikaruga. loved the style and last boss really told me the story
3)Lords of thunder(sega CD Ver.). That MUSIC!
4)Border down. I just enjoyed everything about this masterpiece.
5)Tyrian.

[dunpeal2064]

RE: Radiant Silvergun

I think RSG and Ikaruga are very nice, and compliment each other really well (maximalist and minimalist). I also like that I pretty much immediately know how to score big. There is no secret, or need for superplays, to at least know how to get respectable scores. I also really like the boss rush in RSG.

That being said, I definitely sold my Saturn copy. I enjoy it, but I'm not balls-over-heals for the game. It just does not have that arcadey "shmup" feel to it. Its nothing against the game, but more that there are just too damn many shmups that are really good. Even if I only bought and played my top 25 shooters ever, I would knowingly be missing out on tons of great shooters.

I feel bad that I asked this question, but still have not answered it. Such a damn difficult question, and the list definitely changes depending on what I am playing at the moment.

My top 5:

Pink Sweets
Mushihimesama Futari
Ketsui
Muchi Muchi Pork
Battle Garegga

Now... I have played VERY little Armed Police Batrider, Battle Bakraid, Ibara, Esp Ra.De... all games that I know I will enjoy, and will possibly make it onto this list. Also, Dimahoo grows on me every day. Those 5 games are just perfect to me though.


... yes, I realize my list is boringly predictable, but I would have been lying if I changed it up to include other devs.

[ExedExes]

A shmup to me, and to most, I believe, refers to a vertical or horizontal scrolling shooter.

Other "shooters":
Arena Shooters (Cannon Spike)
First Person Shooters (Golden Eye)
Rail Shooters (Rainbow Cotton)
Run 'n Gun (Metal Slug)
Combat/Strategy Shooter (Medal of Honor)

I think there are more than enough releases in those categories that they should not be lumped into the Ikaruga's of the world. That is a shmup.

I can agree with this, but see that too, even though true shmups are great, those off-shoots are just as good. Run n Guns are still a top genre for me, FPS too and those Smash-TV style games are always great. I just like shooting stuff.

Let's also not forget the fine third-person shooters, one that comes to mind is the great MDK2

[dunpeal2064]

Shooting stuff is great fun, the basis of fun in any shoot em up style game.

I thik shmups (forced scrolling kind) tend to be at the top of my enjoyment list because of the emphasis on competitive scoring (At least the more modern shmups).

Most arena shooters either go on forever, or just end. Run N Guns are hard enough to live through on one credit, although if you are a madman you can still play Metal Slug for score.

Still, I agree with you. Shooting unrealistic amounts of bullets at baddies is fun, no matter the perspective or avatar.

[foxhound1022]

So, In The Hunt isn't considered a shmup?

[Bradtemple87]

So, In The Hunt isn't considered a shmup?

Taking a submarine adventure

[AppliCotton]

Anything by Cave, but Cave's utter superiority kinda takes the fun outta threads like this. On top of that it's hard to narrow it down, even a short list would be rather long.

That being said, I'm kinda obsessed with stuff from the late arcade franchise, pre-bullet hell era, say stuff that came out after Raiden but before Dodonpachi, not because any of these games are all that innovative, they just feel cool in a way no shmups before or since do. So:

Cotton Fantastic Night Dreams
Gun Frontier
Star Parodier
Sexy Parodius
Armed Police Batrider

[mjmjr25]

So, In The Hunt isn't considered a shmup?

To me, any game that allows you to "pause" the action, ie, the board doesn't scroll-force you along, can not be a shmup. The elements that allow you to farm, in a game like In the Hunt, put it in the Run 'n Gun camp, which is half shmup, half platformer, imo.

My top 5:
1. Pro Gear
2. Deathsmiles
3. Dimahoo
4. Battle Garegga
5. Mars Matrix

This is something that changes often, but this would be it as of today.

I'd rather do a top 25 to be honest

[dsheinem]

Garegga
Crimzon Clover
Ibara
DoDonPachi
Lords of Thunder

[foxhound1022]

Well, hell.... Now I feel dumb.