good GB/GBA shmups?

[noiseredux]

My shmup library is slim. So I'm looking for good shmups for GB/GBC/GBA. Here's what I've tried:

Gradius Galaxies (GBA) - boring. Controls are so freakin' slow.

Iridion II (GBA) - one of the few good ones I've found. It's not perfect, but I do enjoy it.

R-Type (GB) - though I like the bio-look of the enemies, I find the ship to be rather large and cumbersome. I don't think I like the R-Type series.

R-Type DX (GBC) - see above.

R-Type III (GBA) - see above.

So what am I missing out on? Will I like Iridion 3D if I like Iridion II? Is Phalanx (GBA) good? How about the Gradius/Nemesis GB games? Oh, and what's the Darius GB game called? I think of all the shmups I've ever played (with the exception of Ikaruga) Darius is by far my favorite. I'd like to find any/all Darius games for GB/GBC/GBA.

[k.vlaros]

Hey buddy, there's one screaming omission from your list, and it's a real cracker:

Astro Boy Omega Factor. A truly great game.

And if you want to take a slight left turn, I dug playing through and getting 'all golds' on Medal of Honor Infiltrator. Another deviation from the norm would be the Metal Slug series- I want to get the US GBA version eventually.

I agree about R-Type, the ship is rather large - or is it that the tunnels are often confined - but I give it a sentimental handicap as I played it to death on NES as a kid. And eventually I want to find Gunstar Super Heroes, but I'm not sure if it's actually all that great (I just like the screen shots I've found).

[noiseredux]

Hey buddy, there's one screaming omission from your list, and it's a real cracker:

Astro Boy Omega Factor. A truly great game.

And if you want to take a slight left turn, I dug playing through and getting 'all golds' on Medal of Honor Infiltrator. Another deviation from the norm would be the Metal Slug series- I want to get the US GBA version eventually.

I agree about R-Type, the ship is rather large - or is it that the tunnels are often confined - but I give it a sentimental handicap as I played it to death on NES as a kid. And eventually I want to find Gunstar Super Heroes, but I'm not sure if it's actually all that great (I just like the screen shots I've found).

Astro Boy is a shmup? I had no idea. Thought it was a platformer. Hmm.

I have Metal Slug Advance. It's great. But I think of it as a Run-n-Gun (like Contra), which I differentiate from a shmup. (When I think Shmup, I think spaceships.)

I was never into R-Type when I was younger, so I don't have the same attachment. Oh and I actually had Gunstar Super Heroes and got rid of it not that long ago. (Also RunNGun) Just wasn't my cup-o-tea. Again, I had never played the series prior. The graphics were fantastic, but the gameplay made me want to play Contra or Metal Slug instead.

[swiftzx]

I have Gradius for gameboy and it is a fairly balanced game.

[noiseredux]

I have Gradius for gameboy and it is a fairly balanced game.

when you say Gradius for Game Boy, do you mean Nemesis or do you mean Gradius II?

[pepharytheworm]

Check the Hidden Gems GB/C article it list some.
Vattle Giuce - GB

Xenon 2 - GB
http://www.vizzed.com/vizzedboard/gb/th ... on%202.jpg
Aerostar - GB

Solar Striker - GB

Magical Chase -GBC

Steel Empire -GBA

Darius R - GBA

Gradius Advance - GBA


Darius+/Sagaia is the GB darius game.

[noiseredux]

Yeah I have read that article. I REALLY would love Magical Chase. That one looks amazing. Somehow I didn't know about Darius R though. I'll have to hunt that one down. Solar Striker is very common -- has anyone played it personally? Oh, and Gradius Advanced is the same thing as Gradius Galaxies.

[alienjesus]

Dont forget Trax for the classic game boy.


Astro Boy isnt really a shmup though, Its more a beat-em-up.

[k.vlaros]

For what it's worth, Astro Boy Omega Factor is a great game, aside from genre. That said, the levels that stuck in my mind are definitely side-scrolling, flying, laser-shooting shoot'em'uppers.

But I know the memory an earlier faux paux when I called River City Ransom a 'fighter' is still fresh in memory.... I guess I've just never paid strict attention to video game taxonomy.

[noiseredux]

Dont forget Trax for the classic game boy.

Trax you say? Never heard of it. Will look it up.