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?
I always really liked Abbadox on NES.
@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)
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.
@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
@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/
Warning Forever, but not sure if you can play that on switch
Touhou series? Some of them are pretty good. The music are also superb.
Crimzon Clover’s really fun. It’s similar to Dodonpachi. Another good one is Ikaruga. It has an interesting mechanic we’re you switch colors to absorb bullets.
Avoid Sine Mora and other “euroshmups”, they just suck to play.
Haven’t heard the term “euroshmup” before. Also haven’t seen Sine Mora on any lists that I’ve been looking at either.
Sine Mora is not for everyone, but those who like it (like I do) _really_ like it. The gameplay revolves around the time mechanic and so does the really messed up story. The audio-visual presentation is great too.
There are several people who do not like it though, as it is a bit outside the box and is quite story-heavy.
I think this review explains it very well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvqWh88I4HM
