Recently I’ve been looking into expanding the number of shmups in my library.
Which games should I prioritise getting? Any that I should avoid?
Recently I’ve been looking into expanding the number of shmups in my library.
Which games should I prioritise getting? Any that I should avoid?
@bbbhltz, depending on what you’re craving.
Here’s a list of horizontal ones…
Defender-like:
• Aqua Kitty UDX – cute, fun
• Black Bird – dark-cute
R-Type-like:
• R-Type Dimensions EX (and the others)
• Rigid Force Redux – ❤️
Classics:
• Blazing Star
• Thunder Force IV
• Cotton Fantasy
Other hori:
• Azure Reflections – Touhou fan game
• Sine Mora – time-mechanic ❤️ , not for everyone though
• Astebreed – switches orientation flawlessly ❤️
• ProtoCorgi – cute, hard
• Rolling Gunner – ❤️
@bbbhltz, on the vertical side…
Oldskool:
• Batsugun
• Dragon Blaze ❤️
• Gunbird 2
• Anger Force – kinda
• Missile Dancer
• Moon Dancer – ❤️
• SophStar – ❤️
Danmaku:
• Crimzon Clover
• Caladrius Blaze
• Espgaluda II
• Mushihimesama – ❤️
• Danmaku Unlimited 3 – bullet grazing ❤️
with a twist:
• Pawarumi – rock-paper-scissors mechanic ❤️
• Dimension Drive – teleport
• Sisters Royale – ❤️
• Eschatos – ❤️
• Shoot 1UP – multi-ship
• Cosmo Gang the Video – Galaga-like
• (Downwell)
@bbbhltz , oh and on the Switch, several vertical shooters support TATE mode, for which you can e.g. use the FlipGrip.
Here’s a maintained list of the games that are FlipGrip-compatible:
https://www.doesitflip.com/
@bbbhltz and neither hori nor vert really…
• Zero Gunner 2 – proto-twin-stick arcade
• Galak-Z: the Void – strategic zero-G twin-stick, rogue-like-elements ❤️ (not to be confused with Galak-Z: Variant S, which is to be avoided)
• Assault Android Cactus – one of **the** best twin-sticks ever ❤️
• Jet Lancer – like Luferausers, maybe better ❤️
• Nitro Ball – classic proto-twin-stick arcade
Someone is selling Mushihimesama on my local marketplace. I know it is no longer in production or on the Switch estore. Is €55 worth it for this game? It is used of course.
Update: I see that it can be purchased new for 43 on different sites, so I suppose not…
@bbbhltz , it is my favourite CAVE game so far.
That said, personally I am not willing to pay that much for a STG (sorry). But I know others would and do pay even more for a PCB of it.
It is a very quality game and has several modes. If that is worth it for you, it’s up to you.
Several other Cave games (and Crimzon Clover, which is not by Cave, but like a spiritual successor) have similar modes, so perhaps try one of those first.
I was thinking of getting it, trying it, and holding onto it to resell. But, someone might be able to talk the seller down. Judging by the other items they are selling, not just games, it looks like this person caught the “import stuff from abroad” bug and it now unloading loads of merch at rather high and prices. I’m not going to barter though since it is available on play-asia for less.
@bbbhltz so, what did you get in the end and what are your thoughts so far?
I’m tracking sales on dekudeals for the moment but I did get copies of Raiden IV (which is definitely something I enjoy), Ando Dunos II ( still can’t beat the boss rush to unlock the last levels) and GreyLancer.
I’ll probably pick up Strikers 1945 II this week since it is on sale.
I’m just patiently waiting and also considering grabbing some physical copies of games that I’ve seen for sale on local marketplaces (Sophstar and Mushihimesama).
@bbbhltz , some sweet choices. Glad to hear you’re enjoying yourself 😸
I just grabbed Andro Dunos 2 digitally as well. It was just too good of a deal.
Shmupdate:
GreyLancer (oldie but a goodie, too tempting to play on easy mode with rewinds so replay value is lowish, but was still very enjoyable.)
Crisis Wing (love the graphics, good difficulty levels for near-beginner.)
Radiant Silvergun (what the hell were they smokin at Treasure!? Even on very easy this is going to take me at least 25 hours to beat using every life/ship I can get. Probably double that! In the first hour of play I went from “well this is garbage” to "oh, I see, you just need to put in the time and effort and then it’s awesome.)
Still haven’t finished the boss rush on Andro Dunos II so those extra levels will be a mystery to me…
R-Type Dimensions EX is on sale right now, so I’ll probably buy that tomorrow.
@bbbhltz, that’s always an option, yes. I did that with a few other games. I remember Teslagrad not being my jam.
I only have Sine Mora and Pawarumi physically from STGs and am fondly keeping both :)
@bbbhltz Oh, I forgot to mention, the M2 (esp. ShotTriggers) ports of other Cave games have more bells and whistles than the more basic Live Wire port of Mushihimesama. Still a perfectly fine port.