07-15-2008, 02:24 PM
Okay, I have been a shmup fan since I was a kid. I can pinpoint the origin for my love of this niche genre of gaming when I first played Raiden Densetsu and Aero Fighters (AKA Sonic Wings). Ever since, I've been on the lookout for shmup titles and have been following some of the shmup franchises through the years, most notably the R-Type, Gradius franchise and Thunder Force series (which is getting a sequel in October this year after 11 years). As you can see, I grew up in video arcade centers, so I've seen and played shmups as they come and go. My first shmup though was Star Force for the famicom, to which I'm sure that most of you know as it is usually one of those games that came bundled free with the system aside from Super Mario Brothers.
Anyway, I created this thread to see if there are any of you guys who are fans of the genre (since I've been playing R-Type Final quite often recently), as well as to get some recommendations on other shmup titles that you may have encountered and would like to let people to know of its existence.
If I had a list of favorites I've played, it'd be this in no particular order (spans various genres, like side scrollers, vertical scrollers, arena shmups, and run n' gun shmups as well):
Einhander (PS1)
R-Type 3, Leo, Delta and Final (various. The vast number of useable ships in Final makes itworthwhile)
Gradius 5 (PS2)
In the Hunt (Arcade, PS1. Submarine shmup!)
Strikers 1999 (Arcade. AKA Strikers 1945 III)
Raiden II (PC, Arcade)
Raystorm (Arcade, PS1)
Raptor: Call of the Shadows (PC)
Contra III (SNES. Famous run n' gun shmup)
The following game are on my list of favorites, but deserve special mention since they are made by indie companies/people (all of these shmups are for the PC):
Reflex
Galax
Blue Sabers (and its sequel Blue Sabers: Operation Orbital Hammer)
Cloudphobia
Cho Ren Sha
Kamui
Some good freely downloadable shmups so as to keep some of you guys entertained:
Vertical scrolling shooters:
Tyrian 2000: http://members.iinet.net.au/~vannevar/ty...loads.html
Galax (http://www003.upp.so-net.ne.jp/masaHG/glx0830.lzh)
Cho Ren Sha (http://www2.tky.3web.ne.jp/~yosshin/my_w...nload.html)
Side scrolling shooters:
Cloudphobia (http://www.dwahan.net/uki/cloudphobia/CP027b.zip)
So, got other shmups you might want to share?
Go ahead if it be free or commercial, vertical or side-scrolling, let us know what you like/d.
Anyway, I created this thread to see if there are any of you guys who are fans of the genre (since I've been playing R-Type Final quite often recently), as well as to get some recommendations on other shmup titles that you may have encountered and would like to let people to know of its existence.
If I had a list of favorites I've played, it'd be this in no particular order (spans various genres, like side scrollers, vertical scrollers, arena shmups, and run n' gun shmups as well):
Einhander (PS1)
R-Type 3, Leo, Delta and Final (various. The vast number of useable ships in Final makes itworthwhile)
Gradius 5 (PS2)
In the Hunt (Arcade, PS1. Submarine shmup!)
Strikers 1999 (Arcade. AKA Strikers 1945 III)
Raiden II (PC, Arcade)
Raystorm (Arcade, PS1)
Raptor: Call of the Shadows (PC)
Contra III (SNES. Famous run n' gun shmup)
The following game are on my list of favorites, but deserve special mention since they are made by indie companies/people (all of these shmups are for the PC):
Reflex
Galax
Blue Sabers (and its sequel Blue Sabers: Operation Orbital Hammer)
Cloudphobia
Cho Ren Sha
Kamui
Some good freely downloadable shmups so as to keep some of you guys entertained:
Vertical scrolling shooters:
Tyrian 2000: http://members.iinet.net.au/~vannevar/ty...loads.html
Galax (http://www003.upp.so-net.ne.jp/masaHG/glx0830.lzh)
Cho Ren Sha (http://www2.tky.3web.ne.jp/~yosshin/my_w...nload.html)
Side scrolling shooters:
Cloudphobia (http://www.dwahan.net/uki/cloudphobia/CP027b.zip)
So, got other shmups you might want to share?
Go ahead if it be free or commercial, vertical or side-scrolling, let us know what you like/d.
