Better than DoDonPachi

[ExedExes]

Toaplan > Cave

Always.

Also, ExedExes

[8bit]

I'll chime in and say that I like the following games better:

Batsugun (just a step beyond dodonpachi with its overall gameplay and music)
Ikaruga (personal favorite of mine b/c it got me into shmups)
Radiant Silvergun (the music really gets me going)
Gates and Lords of Thunder (more awesome music! i see a recurring theme here..)

But right after that though I'd have to put DoDonPachi. Nothing really new does it for me as things have just gotten even more manic and insane as the years go on... With the HD graphics and 50billion objects, its just too much. I kinda liked it when the hardware limited some of the number of objects before some slow down occurs. Admittedly though I am not a hardcore shmuper, just more of a casual fan and collector.

[alienjesus]

I honestly can't say I've played the original DoDonPachi (my only experience with the series is Resurrection, which is awesome), but I'd definitely recommend Blazing Lazers, Raiden, Ikaruga, Lords of Thunder and my personal favourite of late, ProGear.

[fastbilly1]

Raiden II. I wouldnt say it is better, but equally as good.

[Erik_Twice]

I've been getting a lot of recommendations for Battle Garegga and Mars Matrix, who are made by the same ex-Toaplan designer. Perhaps I should try out the first.

What's so special about Blazing Lasers? I see it mentioned a lot.

Lords of Thunder and Gate of Thunder have amazing soundtracks, I should play them again one of these days.

[pierrot]

I've been getting a lot of recommendations for Battle Garegga and Mars Matrix, who are made by the same ex-Toaplan designer. Perhaps I should try out the first.

Not the same. Different groups of ex-Toaplan members: Raizing (Battle Garegga) and Takumi (Mars Matrix).

What's so special about Blazing Lasers? I see it mentioned a lot.

It's a caravan style shooter in the same vein as the Soldier series, but made by Compile. It shares a lot in common with the other Compile shmups, while also feeling like a Soldier game.

[Erik_Twice]

Not the same. Different groups of ex-Toaplan members: Raizing (Battle Garegga) and Takumi (Mars Matrix).

I might be confusing myself. Who designed Battle Garegga? I know Masahiro Yuge designed Mars Matrix but also designed Kuru Kuru Kururin which is a Raizing title, perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself?

It's a caravan style shooter in the same vein as the Soldier series, but made by Compile. It shares a lot in common with the other Compile shmups, while also feeling like a Soldier game.

What was a caravan style shooter? I don't remember.

[pierrot]

Yagawa Shinobu designed Battle Garegga.

Not sure exactly what makes a caravan shooter (maybe time-attack modes) but I generally just think of the Soldier series.

[ExedExes]

What was a caravan style shooter? I don't remember.

From RB's Shmups 101 Guide:

Caravan - Shooters built around brief, action-packed “score attack” sequences, in which the player is tasked with racking up as many points as possible within a fixed-duration course and/or time limit. Relatively few shmups over the years have devoted themselves exclusively to this compressed, “bite-sized” play style, but a more substantial number have included so-called “caravan” modes as extras to complement a more traditional “main” game. The name is derived from a series of “Caravan Festival” tournaments held by Hudson Soft from 1985 to 1992; the most prominently-featured titles at those events, the Star Soldier games, are appropriately the best-known “caravan” shmups.

We had a member named BulletMagnet? He probably knew a thing or two about shmups

[Erik_Twice]

Ah, now I remember! Thanks!


Thanks for the name of Battle Garegga's designer too