Where to start?

[jay_red]

So with recently getting into shooters with the purchase of my Neo-Geo CD, I want to check out some other titles on different systems. I liked the ones on NGCD and I liked the fact that there were't too many (still a bit to choose from) so I didnt feel overwhelmed.

I just read the guide here on Saturn shmups, and it was a little much to take in for sure. I understand that many of those were JPN only and or very expensive titles, but what would be say the top 3 must play on the Saturn? what about other consoles? I also have a MAME arcade cabinet so if there are any that are arcade only, or just plain better there then I am able to replicate those pretty well also.

[MrPopo]

If you have a MAME cab that will cover basically everything on the Saturn/PS1 and earlier. The only thing you would be missing are console-exclusive shmups, and there aren't a whole lot of those that are considered to be must plays. I know there are some, and I'll let someone else list them.

[jay_red]

While I like to use my MAME cab as much as I can, sometimes I really just want to kick back on my couch and play some games, thats why I was looking into certain titles on consoles.

[noiseredux]

do you have a PS1 (or PS2 or PS3)? Einhander is a pretty amazing console-exclusive.

[Jontendo]

Radiant Silvergun (Saturn)
Star Fox (SNES)
Ikaruga (Dreamcast, Gamecube)
Torus Trooper (PC)
Sin and Punishment (N64)

These are all pretty good. Then there's the tangential "Cute 'em Up" genre with games like "Fantasy Zone", "Mr. Heli", "Cotton", "Rabio Lepus", "Parodious", and others that start getting weird...

[noiseredux]

I'm pretty sure that the Cotton games weren't console-exclusive. And I know the Parodius games were in arcades.

I'm also one of those guys that will argue that Starfox is not a shmup.

[dunpeal2064]

My "must try" Saturn shooters. Of course, all opinion, but it may help:

Gunbird (For how cheap it is if nothing else. Its a simple "kill things" manic shooter. $20ish)
Dodonpachi (can be had in the $50 range)
Battle Garegga (My favorite shooter on the system by miles. Just sold mine for $100)
Batsugun (Early manic shooter, last Toaplan game. contains 2 versions. $80)
Hyper Duel (If you like old school. Technosoft classic. Pricey, never bought it)
Radiant Silvergun (For how much it goes for, please buy Garegga instead. Still a great game)
Shienryu (Similar to Raiden, pretty simple but fun)

Then there are tons of compilations from Konami, such as the Salamander Deluxe Pack, along with a nice Irem 2 pack of Image Fight and X-Multiply that is worth checking out.

If you want to ask about any of them, I'll try to go into what they are like. What kind of shmups are you looking for, or do you want all kinds?

I mostly know about vertical oriented score-focused shooters, but I dabbled in most of the saturn shmups.

[dunpeal2064]

I'm pretty sure that the Cotton games weren't console-exclusive. And I know the Parodius games were in arcades.

I'm also one of those guys that will argue that Starfox is not a shmup.

Yeah, and Sin and Punishment too. But, its a thin line.

If we were talking console exclusives, then the Saturn has:

Steam Heart's
Blast Wind
Thunder Force V

That I can think of. Most are definitely arcade ports. However, MAME won't give you the options that the port of Battle Garegga does, including superplays and the coveted "red bullet" option. Plus, of all of them, Garegga is the most likely to give you some trouble in MAME.

Is it apparent that I like Battle Garegga yet?

[Jontendo]

I'm pretty sure that the Cotton games weren't console-exclusive. And I know the Parodius games were in arcades.

I'm also one of those guys that will argue that Starfox is not a shmup.

Yeah, and Sin and Punishment too. But, its a thin line.

S&P doesn't qualify, I must admit but is close enough that I had to recommend it.
As for the SNES StarFox though, where does it go "off the rails" (so to speak)?

[dunpeal2064]

Don't want to go too off topic here, but for a lot of shmup fans its:

2D (can have 3D sprites, but not on a 3D plain)
Horizontal or Vertical Scrolling (or a mix)
constant forced scrolling

I think if a game follows these, its a shmup, but someone might still be able to post something questionable by those guidelines, who knows.

Star Fox still has shoot em up elements, I think its just separated that way because there are already hundreds of shmups that fit that specific detail.

Not to knock Star Fox at all, I loved the SNES Star Fox as a kid.