Greatest Shoot 'em ups?

[Oh_Mutants]

I've been getting more and more into the shoot em up genre, used to enjoy them back in the glory days of the arcades at Felixstowe but kind of fell out of love with them for a while Having rediscovered my love for them, i was hoping the kind, knowledgable and nerdy folk on here can advise me on the gaps i need filling in my collection. I enjoy both vertical and horizontal shooters, but i really don't do these 'bullet hell' shooters that somehow have crept up in popularity so please don't recommend me any of these as they make me cry and kick my cat.

Particular faves of mine are Tiger Heli/Twin Cobra, Raiden, Gradius series and R-Type, to give an idea of the kind of skill based games i enjoy.
Here's what i have, what do i need??

Saturn;

Gradius Deluxe pack
Salamander Deluxe Pack
In The Hunt
Parodius Da
Sexy Parodius
Radiant Silvergun
Strikers 1945

PS1;

Raiden Project
R Types
R Type Delta
Raiden DX
Einhander
Ray Crisis/Storm
Graduis Gaiden
Tiger Heli/Ultimate Tiger

Dreamcast;

Ikaruga
Zero Gunner 2
Border Down
Gigawing 1 & 2 (Meh)
Mars Matrix
Under Defeat
Gunbird 2
Bangaioh

Others;

Raiden 3
Gradius 3, 4 and 5
Silpheed
R Type Final
XII Stag
Psyvaria
Most SNES, MD ones i'm interested in.

So what greats am i missing, help me plug the gaps

[eastyy]

g-darius for the psone

thunderforce v for the saturn and psone

and most cave games like dodonpachi for the saturn and psone plus the various ps2 games they have done

[qupe]

your missing Harmful Park on the PS1

[crazymadone]

Soukyugurentai + Dodonpachi for sure, Gunbird if you like your cutesy shooters, Layer Section + Darius Gaiden are good budget titles, and you can't go wrong with Psyvariar 2 for DC

[Combination]

Scratch that awful Gradius 4 off the list and add R-Type III and Axelay (both SNES games).

[Oh_Mutants]

Oh yeah, i have Gunbird 2 and Psyvaria (which i liked so i may pick up no.2).

Harmful Park really interests me, is it genuinely good enough to justify the price tag?

I was under the impression Dodonpachi was a 'bullet hell' type of game? is it not then? I like games that require some amount of maneuvering skill but not the type where you can only play by staring at your own ship for the whole bloody game, if you see what i mean

[Baseley09]

Download

Final Soldier

PC Engine

Win



.......and Darius Gaiden for Saturn

[Red or Alive]

Isn't Bangai-O well thought of?

[Mad Gear]

PS1/Saturn

ZanacXZanac
Gaia Seed
Tempest X
Harmful Park
Strikers 1945 II
Layer Section
Sengoku Blade
Silvergun
Donpachi
Dodonpachi
Thunderforce Gold Pack 2
Souky
Shienryu
Garegga
Chatting Parodious




16 bit/Engine

Aeroblasters
Gley Lancer
Thunderforce 2/3/4
Gynoug
Battle Squadron 2
R-Type III
Macross
Gates of Thunder
Lords of Thunder
Spriggan
Nexyr
Galaga 88
Gunhed
Super Star Soldier
Soldier Blade

[Oh_Mutants]

PS1/Saturn

ZanacXZanac
Gaia Seed
Tempest X
Harmful Park
Strikers 1945 II
Layer Section
Sengoku Blade
Silvergun
Donpachi
Dodonpachi
Thunderforce Gold Pack 2
Souky
Shienryu
Garegga
Chatting Parodious
Garegga

Blimey guvnor
Are ALL of those essentials? Which are the real picks of the bunch?

[Mad Gear]

If i was to pick 5 they'd be:-

Garegga
Souky
Radiant Silvergun
Strikers 1945 II
Zanac

[EDDIE M0NS00N]

Probotector/Contra for SNES/MD, Gunstar Heroes

[Destrukticor]

Most of the Cave shoters are bullet hell type of games

Donpachi (PS1 Or staurn)
Dodonpachi (ps1 or staurn)
Espgaluda (ps2 if you have one)

all Jpn releases

all fun.

there are other cave shoters on PS2 but i haven't played them

[Geezer]

My favourite 3:

Battle Garegga (PCB/Saturn)
Espgaluda (PCB/PS2)
Guwange (PCB only)

/Really kicking myself for selling Guwange, it's much harder to find these days and seems to go for quite a bit more

[Klatrymadon]

Blimey guvnor
Are ALL of those essentials? Which are the real picks of the bunch?

Battle Garegga, Soukyugurentai and DoDonPachi have enough depth to keep you occupied for years, so you'll have plenty of time to save for the rest.

I also heartily recommend the X-Multiply/Image Fight pack for the Saturn, but it's quite expensive these days.