My fav shootemups (post your own to)

[eastyy]

1.Psyvarier 1 and 2.I love the buzz system its such a great idea but what i really liked (more with psy 1 than two) is the way the game altered when you got better.

2.Gigawing 2 I really like the reflect barrier and laser.Very satisfying to when you get that gem explosion.Not sure sure why they use such ridiculously high numbers for the score though

3.Progear A very smart game with a indepth score system i really hopes it gets a conversion.

4.Gradius v Most shooters i like because of scoring system this game i like purely because it just feels right satisfying explosions and the fact there is quite a challenge here.

5.Thunderforce 4 Big bosses big explosions great weapons and great graphics and sound.Thats really all i need (also when your ship gets a upgrade its so smart)

[Combination]

Gradius V
I'm at a loss for words, just spectacular all around and borrows from previous Treasure and Gradius games while still remaining a very much traditional shooter.

Super R-Type
Odd choice maybe, I had not played any of the previous arcade games but even this conversion was enough to sell me on the series as a whole.

Salamander / LifeForce
Some of the vertical stages will definately seperate the wheat from the chalf, very intense.

DoDonPachi
CAVE Carnage!

[Walrus]

It still has to be R-Type. Nostalgia plays a large part, but for me (excluding the last level) it's the perfect game and I still play it reguarly to keep my skills (or rather memory) in check. I know there are others, but for me personally R-Type was year zero for shmups and I have fondness for the titles that never seems to wain. I currently have twelve different versions and sequels of the game for home systems, but the PSone port of the orginal is the one I play the most.

I've recently moved house and on the hunt for an arcade cabinet of the original game. My only trepidation is that I won't play anything else.

[butchcvc]

1. gradius v

2. zero gunner 2

3. psyvariar 2

4. ikaruga

5. espgaluda

[Salsa Party Animal]

I am not sure which are the best but I think

my top 5 are

Banshee on A1200 Amiga
Psyvariar 2 on PS2
DoDonPachi DaiOuJou PS2
Gradius V on PS2
Un Squadron on Mame
Chaos Engine on Amiga (Not sure if this count)

[moonwhistle]

My current top choices:

Raiden
Shikigami II
Battle Garegga
Kyukyoku Tiger I & II
Dodonpachi

[Mr Ono]

Gradius V
R-Type
Defender
Thunderforce 3
Xenon 2
Flying Shark

[AlwaysAce]

1, psyvariar 2
2, area 88
3, r silvergun
4, salamander
5, parodius(the original)
6, border down
7, rtype
8, gradius 5
9, ikaruga
10, tiger heli

battle garrega......overrated imo!!

[Kubrick]

Ah, a subject close to my heart...I'm not going to put them in order, but these are some of my faves, not all of them, but just some of the older ones:

R-TYPES (PlayStation)
Edge magazine called R-TYPE the greatest shoot 'em-up ever a few years ago, and it's easy to see why. This game was AMAZING in 1987, and is still one of the best today thanks to it's near-perfect graphic design, playability and attention to detail. The sequel isn't as good, but it's still excellent. Everyone should own this.

PULSTAR (NeoGeo)
Now Imagine what R-TYPE would be like if it was remade for newer hardware with SKY-HIGH production values and attention to detail. R-TYPE Final? Pfft, forget it, that's a mere shadow of the orignal and one of the biggest disappointments in recent years. Pulstar is the one you want. A stunning game in every department.

VIEWPOINT (NeoGeo)
Sorry to continue the R-TYPE theme, but I ****ing love that game, and comparisons are pretty-much unavoidable since this is basically IREM's game tilted 45 degrees for an isometric "viewpoint" (get it? ). Excellent soundtrack, beautiful pseudo-3D graphics and super-hard difficulty make this a classic - If you think something like Gradius V is hard, you haven't played jack-**** untill you've played this.

SALAMANDER DELUXE PACK PLUS (PlayStation/Saturn)
Essentially like Gradius, but with a few horizontal-scrolling levels ("Go Up!") and much better audio/visuals, plus there's a more simplified weapons system. It's not the hardest game (on loop 1 at least ), but it's such a great game to play. The graphics, music, level design & bosses somehow make the game more than the sum of it's parts. I played the AC version extensively in the 80's and I'll always have a soft spot for it.

BLAZING STAR (NeoGeo)
I prefer horizontal-scrollers, and this is another. Pseudo-sequel to Pulstar but totally different in excecution. Like it's predecessor, it features sexy graphics, and an awesome soundtrack, but BS is more of a high-score junkie's game thanks to the varied & deep scoring possibilities available, plus there's also six ships available which make things really different depending on which one you use. If only it didn't cost ?500+!!

RADIANT SILVERGUN (Saturn)
For me, this is still Treasure's greatest achevement. I didn't get to play it untill probably 2002, but I was still blown away by it. Of course, the graphics and epic soundtrack are what immediately impressed me, but upon firther play, it was the amazing depth to the gameplay that really impressed me, and still does. Is it worth ?100? Absolutely.

[venom743]

Being a shoot em up fanatic it's really difficult to list just a few favourites as I have loads!

Anyway here are the ones that spring to mind, in no particular order:

Gradius 3,4,5
R-Type 3
R-Types
R-Type Delta
Psyvariar 1 and 2
Pro gear no arashi
Ketsui
EspGaluda
Do donpachi daioujou
Borderdown
UN Squadron
Shikigami no Shiro 1 and 2
Gigawing 2
Mars Matrix
Parodius (all of them)
Mushihimesama
Esprade
Thunderforce V
Homura
Raiden 1, 2 and 3
Sengoku Blade
Strikers 1 and 2

[Kieran76]

Bangai-o. For me the most satisfying of all Shootemups. Still an absolute joy to play.

[Mad Gear]

My faves in no particular order:-

1.R-Type. Timeless piece of software. I can't see this game ever going out of date.
2.ThunderForce IV. Just about edges out TFIII with it's more abitious design and madder bosses (the final boss is something else).
3.Last Resort. A lovingly crafted R-Type homage with music to die for.
4.Radiant Silvergun. An essential piece of shoot 'em up brilliance.
5.Galaga 88/90. Simplistic genius.
6.Area 88. Possibly the best shooter on the SFC.
7.Souky. Great looking shooter and a great Saturn showpiece.
8.Layer Section. Don't let it's cheapness and availability make you doubt it.A schmup necessity.
9.Parodius series. All have worth. Blasting and smiles, perfect.
10.Garegga. It takes a bit of getting into but once you have it'll keep you hooked.

[evert]

AXELAY

I aint much of a shootemup fan , this game is the only shooter to have really held my attention. From what I can recall it was its inventiveness with the graphics and the music to the very first level which hooked me, I still think it is one of the best game music I've heard. I've ordered Nanostray purely on the basis of reading it is a bit similar to this game, hope it is!

[razu]

I like:


Ikaruga - i've spent more time on this than any other shooter, i'm still not any good, but it is excellent. Everything about it is beyond excellent, (edit: LOL, wordsmith-of-the-day). As with most shooters, there's something warm and cosy about the fact that it's the same every time, (if you do the same things that is with the extra waves and stuff). It's like learning your lines for a school play, only really fast.

Xenon 2 - I have to add this as it was the pinnacle of my home-gaming youth, it didn't get better than this at the time. I remember a magazine cover with a giant screenshot of it, (ACE, ratings out of a thousand, I think), sat in my mates 'gaming-shed'. I'll have to replay on emu to see if it has dated horribly now...

Gradius - excellent, remember playing it in Boots on the demo NES in my summer holidays, every day, (i guess it was called nemesis though). Gradius V is an absolute stunner, get all four rotating satellites on bendy laser mode and you couldn't wish for a better videogaming image. And when you re-press the rotatey button they go the other way, double-ace!!

Raystorm - awesome piece of PS1 gaming. Still not finished it...

[mt50]

Ikaruga- as it's the only one i've really played for for than 10 mins, and looks amazing on the dreamcast via VGA.