Shmups

Post by **Pingfa** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:20 pm

Pingfa wrote:Do you know if Red Star also saw an XBox release, by any chance?

Just checked. It did indeed.

Post by **Boaby Kenobi** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:30 pm

Download MAME and you'll have access to some of the greatest shooters ever.
Some classics I enjoy are Dangun Feveron, Strikers 1945, Dimahoo, Guwange, ESP Ra De and Samurai Aces.

Post by **ott0bot** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:41 pm

dsheinem wrote: On the Genesis some of may favorites are:

Gaiares - my first gen shmup and one that helped me get into the genre
Thunderforce series ("Lightening Force" is solid)
M.U.S.H.A. (expensive)

If you have the SegaCD attachment, check out

Lords of Thunder
Robo Aleste

Genesis is a great place for shmups.
I agree with dsheinem, especially MUSHA, Thunder Force III, Lightening Force, Robo Aleste & Lords of Thunder.
and would add...

Genesis:
Elemental Master (more technosoft goodness)
Fire Shark
Steel Empire
Air Buster
Truxton
Wings of Wor
Bio Hazard Battle
Phelios
Hellfire (hard as nails)
Arrow Flash
Whip Rush

Sega CD:
Android Assault
Silpheed

Here's a great article with more!

Post by **Doctor Fugue** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:46 pm

Pingfa wrote:
Pingfa wrote:Do you know if Red Star also saw an XBox release, by any chance?
Just checked. It did indeed.

Are you sure? I think it was cancelled.

Instead of trying to find just one game to get you into shooters, try playing as many as possible. Emulate them if you have to. You may end up liking the genre, or you may just like a couple. At least after playing a lot of them, you'll know what you like.

Post by **Pingfa** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:09 pm

Doctor Fugue wrote:Are you sure? I think it was cancelled.

Instead of trying to find just one game to get you into shooters, try playing as many as possible. Emulate them if you have to. You may end up liking the genre, or you may just like a couple. At least after playing a lot of them, you'll know what you like.

Damn. It was.

I typed it in on Gamefaqs and saw a bunch of screenshots - didn't notice the little note at the bottom.

You're probably right; rather than trying to dedicate time into immersing myself with one Shmup, I should try a range of them. In fact, that might have a lot to do with why my past experiences with Shmups weren't anything memorable. They never seemed to hold my interest for long, but perhaps that's not what they are meant for - rather, they pick up 'n play games you just pop in when you desire a challenge without a second thought. Soon as I start to lose interest, I can pop another in.

Two games that were fairly recently reviewed on Sega-16, Elemental Master and Trouble Shooter, sparked my interest a little. Speaking of which, thank you for the link, Ott0bot, I will definitely refer back to it.

On a side note, Technosoft are known for their quality Shmups, aren't they?

Post by **ott0bot** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 4:01 pm

Techno soft has made some great shumps.
They made Thunder Force II, III & IV(Lightening Force) & Elemental Master (also Herzog Zwei, but thats not really a shmup) for the genesis. Thunder Force V for Saturn(jp) and ps1. Also Hyper Duel & Blast Wind for the Saturn. They are also coming out with Thunder Force VI soon on PS2 in japan. I think they also made some pinball games for the Turbo Grafx 16....Devils Crush or Alien Crush maybe. They made quite a few more, but not sure if there are anymore shmups in the lot.

Post by **Pingfa** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 4:29 pm

Of course, Herzog Zwei! I should be ashamed... think I'll check and see what other great titles they may have spawned.

As for that pinball game, I've heard of it, it's definitely Alien Crush - called so because you are inside some part of an alien, or so I recall reading somewhere.

Post by **Pingfa** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 4:33 pm

Pingfa wrote:Of course, Herzog Zwei! I should be ashamed... think I'll check and see what other great titles they may have spawned.

As for that pinball game, I've heard of it, it's definitely Alien Crush - called so because you are inside some part of an alien, or so I recall reading somewhere.

Well, I looked, and it would seem their great or popular titles are all the aforementioned ones.
Also, turns out Devil's Crush is the sequel to Alien's Crush.

Post by **Hatta** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 4:35 pm

I was once like you, then I played Radiant Silvergun.

I can't really recommend sampling a whole bunch of shmups to get you into the genre. Shmups are hard, there's a lot of memorization needed. You have to train your muscles to react, not just your mind. If you just play one a little bit, you'll get stuck, frustrated and go on to another one and never really figure out what shmups are all about. It takes time to get into the zone.

What I recommend is burning a copy of Radiant Silvergun, turn the difficulty down to low, and the lives up to max. It's still hard, but you have enough lives that you can play for 20 mins or so without dying. That way, you're not constantly restarting and getting frustrated. The more you play, the more you'll learn. You'll find yourself escaping unscathed from spots that cost you many, many lives before. That's when it really gets fun.

Post by **Pingfa** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 4:46 pm

Thanks for the insight, Hatta. It's true that I've never really given the Shmups I've played enough of a chance to get into 'the zone'

Well, my Saturn, admittedly, is dusty. I haven't played it in quite some time. I haven't felt much reason to get it out again. Time to let the Saturn have its moment of glory once more.
Radiant Silvergun shall be the first.