Cheapest import system?

[dunpeal2064]

If you are only buying the cheap shmups, you'll miss out on a lot of the best games for each console.

The saturn is second easiest to import for, and has some good shmups for cheap.

Darius Gaiden and Galactic Attack (Layer Section) came out here, and are affordable in both regions.

Soukyugurentai is outstanding, and can be found in the $25-$30 if patient.

Kingdom Grandprix, another one by Raizing, well worth the $25-$30

Gunbird is great, and about $20

Then there are compilations, like the twinbee collection, parodius collection, gradius collection, salamander deluxe pack. Those can be had in the $25-$35 range.

There are plenty more in the cheap range too.

And, if you ever decide to get some of the expensive shooters, that will open your library to some of the best console shmups, imo

[k.vlaros]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Right now my video game "collection" is a metric ton of Virtual Console games on my Wii and about 25 retail Wii games. So [re-] starting a new platform is a choice I have to think about carefully. Something that speaks to me about a PS2 is the hardware is still available new and would probably have many years of usefulness to it, as well as the backwards compatibility. Something that draws me to the Dreamcast is it has a relatively small but nevertheless good SHMUP library, and I could 'finish' the collection more easily. Something that draws me to the Saturn is I badly wanted one as a kid and the joypad looks awesome. Plus it is legendary for this genre. And as for the PS1, it has a couple exclusives I like . I've looked at eBay, thanks to the links in the Racketboy articles, for several of these games and they aren't all as expensive as I feared. There is hope!

[Soldier Blue]

Soukyugurentai is outstanding, and can be found in the $25-$30 if patient.

Where? I haven't ever seen it cheaper than like $45

[dunpeal2064]

Soukyugurentai is outstanding, and can be found in the $25-$30 if patient.

Where? I haven't ever seen it cheaper than like $45

I post "wtb" in shmups forum

Ive bought 2 in the last few months, 1 original, 1 otukoyu (or w/e)

Both were $25. Ive also not bought copies but seen them in that range.

[jalvarez82]

I post "wtb" in shmups forum

Ive bought 2 in the last few months, 1 original, 1 otukoyu (or w/e)

Both were $25. Ive also not bought copies but seen them in that range.

You can find some great deals over at the shmups.com forums in their Trading Station. I just picked up Thunder Force Gold Pack 2, myself, for $38 shipped. In great condition, but no obi.

[Breetai]

I would think you would add PC Engine to that list if you're interested in shmups.

Of course he should, but, if looking for the cheapest, the PC Engine isn't the cheapest to start on.

I would say PS1, PS2 or Saturn. They all have a number of affordable shooters ($40 and under, many $25 and under if you look around enough and are patient). I would say the DC shooting collection, when compared to these three, is lacking in numbers. The quality is there, but the quantity is not. That is part of the reason why the shooters on the DC are more expensive overall. The PS2, in all honest, probably has the largest and best selection of shooters. However, for many, including myself, the Saturn is the preferred shooter system. Both have shooters that are affordable, and quite a few that are expensive. The PS1 has a good selection, but a lot of them are also in the Saturn and are quite a bit more expensive than their Saturn counterparts.

As for consoles, the Saturn would be the cheapest to get if you don't want to mod the system (or fiddle with disc swapping or booting). All you need is a Pro Action Replay 4-in-1 cart. You won't need to import a Saturn then. Otherwise, if you do import consoles, I would recommend sea shipping. It is substantially cheaper, although you'll have to wait a month or more and there is no insurance.

[ZenErik]

PS2 is also a good option if you dont mind ripping/downloading and burning your foreign titles. I can provide anyone with a memory card with free mcboot cheap

[k.vlaros]

Thanks to everyone that shared their opinions! Thank you to the couple of members that I wrote with about maybe buying a system from. In the end I decided to start a Japanese Xbox 360 shmup collection. There are a few titles en route now but I'll wait to buy the console for a month or two in case I have a change of heart or there's a dramatic currency fluctuation or price drop. A Japanese PS2 might have been the best choice on the basis of library (including PS1) breadth and variety. But hey, the 360 will eventually be a retro console, too. Thanks again!

[noiseredux]

if you decide you want yet ANOTHER console, I've got a slim PS2 and Swap Magic discs collecting some dust...

[ZenErik]

Thanks to everyone that shared their opinions! Thank you to the couple of members that I wrote with about maybe buying a system from. In the end I decided to start a Japanese Xbox 360 shmup collection. There are a few titles en route now but I'll wait to buy the console for a month or two in case I have a change of heart or there's a dramatic currency fluctuation or price drop. A Japanese PS2 might have been the best choice on the basis of library (including PS1) breadth and variety. But hey, the 360 will eventually be a retro console, too. Thanks again!

360 is an awesome choice. especially if you are a Cave fan. Some great XBLA titles too. And do not look past Child of Eden. It's not a shmup, but it is pure bliss.