Everyone's Shmup preferences?

[Duncan James Waugh]

Would be really interested in hearing people's views on this.

What are people's preferences when buying shooters, what would be the number one thing you look for and the the one thing you avoid like the plague?

How do you feel in general about Euro-shooters verses Japanese?

Do you prefer something that's rote memorisation or has variety on each playthrough?

Any favourite or loathed bullet patterns?

[Colin]

Easily summed up.

Modern shooters - Hate them.

Classic shooters - Love them.

Japanese over Euro in almost every instance.

[speedlolita]

Modern ones feel largely the same to a simpleton like myself. Older stuff like R-Type and Layer Section are to my taste. Oh and Soldier Blade of course.

[Asura]

Duncan touches on something there; "memory" - something which I've never liked in shooters.

I played a lot of 2D shooters during the 16-bit and associated arcade eras, mainly in the arcades. Back then, you'd maybe play a game a maximum of four or five times. It tended to mean that the mechanics were very straightforward and they tried not to throw stuff at you which wasn't feasible except if you'd seen it before and remembered it.

A few years ago I tried to get into Ikaruga; I really wanted to finish it and spent a week or two trying. I eventually got to the point where I could one-credit about half the game (and one-life the first third), but then I got bored, because I realised that it was no longer a game of reactions - it had become a memory test. I knew at that point I could complete it if I spent another few weeks, but would that feel like an achievement? I didn't think so.

That's a very personal thing, though. I'm not saying it isn't an achievement to do that; it's just not the way I like to play games.

[danholo]

I like it all as long as it looks good and the music suits the mood. I really like the music of Cave, Raizing and g.Rev titles. I generally prefer Japanese ones but this new game "Jamestown" is good fun. I recommend it to anyone. Available for Steam and PS4.

[QualityChimp]

It has to be fun to play and something interesting has to be happening in the background.

Currently, for me, that's Gradius V, R-Type Final and Zero Gunner 2.

I love how everything, from trains to submarines transform into giant robot bosses!

[kryss]

Resogun has to be the one I bring up, addictive and challenging but not impossible. The variety of modes helps it, as do the week;y challenges (not that I've done enough of them recently though).
Geometry Wars 3 has been good to me as well.

I think I need something location-restricted/confined with the pressure that dropping all the enemies in the arena brings, along with score targets to beat so you have a goal rather than "get to the end".

[eastyy]

Anything that has a really addictive scoring system for me some of my fav are psyvariar 1 and 2 /Death smiles/Crimzon clover

[CMcK]

I like shooters with a good risk and reward balance stuff like the grazing in Psyvariar or the get in close for a better multiplyer like Ketsui.

Modern shooters have arguably become too hardcore with overly complex scoring systems and too much memorization. I think the genre first attracted me due to the reflex style of gaming it offered in its purest form. I probably still prefer horizontal orientation overall.

I'll echo Colin with regards to Euro shooters there are a few good uns but not many. And I'm not a fan of many twin stick shooters but I'll make exceptions for Geometry Wars and Smash TV.

[eastyy]

Yeah it used to be in the olden days just blowing stuff up was good enough for me but that is not the case nowdays for me anyway.

Was like with ikaruga the way i viewed it and was playing it that it stopped becoming a shmup and almost become a action puzzle game

[jamesy]

Ikaruga was the shooter that got me in to the genre properly. From there I got a Sega Saturn and discovered bullet hell shmups. They're def my favourite but a lot of the newer stuff is too difficult for me to keep up with. Mainly prefer vert orientation as well.
Big shout out to Thunderforce IV aswell for its rockin soundtrack.[emoji2]

[CMcK]

It's weird that the vertical orientation became so popular when our field of vision is wider than it is tall. Maybe it is just the vertical orientation of the screen means focusing on a smaller area in the centre of your vision?

[Colin]

The problem with modern shooters is they're just not fun any more. Though that's a problem with modern gaming in general really. I tried all those latest Cave games on 360 and they were just a chore to be honest, and even the latest Raiden on PS3 left me cold. Bullet hell disgusts me the most, I genuinely despise them and don't see the point. They're more movement games than shooters. I think the last truly great shmup was probably Gradius V, though Sturmwind on DC deserves a special mention in my opinion, though obviously that started life long ago on the Jaguar.

For the record, my personal top five shmups ever are probably -

Soldier Blade (PCE)
R-Type (Arcade/PCE)
Zero gunner 2 (DC)
Spriggan (PCE)
Gunhed (PCE)

I have put an insane amount of time in to all of these. Others that get close are Gradius V, Nexzr, 1943, Sturmwind, V-V, Parodius, Magical Chase and Ikaruga. God I love old shooters!

[replicashooter]

Fully agree that the new shooters just aren't fun - From the Megadrive with Thunderforce to Axelay on the SNES and Einhander on PSX upto Mars Matrix on the DC as well as all the Gradius' Paraodius' R Types and more they used to keep you pumping the virtual 10p in to keep progressing.

Modern shooters just don't have that vibe any more as bullet hell doesn't do it for me either but tight controls, a good layout and that certain something different will always be a welcome addition.

[JazzFunk]

I like shooters that feel like you're getting a full game rather than a scoring system. I don't mind if a scoring system is tacked on but if it's purely about the bullet hell and pattern memorization then it leaves me kinda cold. Gotta be Japanese or far eastern in origin, I can't do stuff like Amiga shooters, Euro or US stuff, just doesn't sit well. I like Sine Mora, that was pretty damn good, it felt like a proper game.

But my heaven is probably the Gradius games. Summat about maxed-out multiples and those beautiful slender lasers, my fave weapon ever. And that swirly blue/red circular laser in R-Type, that's the shizm. Loved Mars Matrix and Layer Section/Galactic Attack. Ikaruga...I could never gel with. Been on Radiant Silvergun tonight, I'm guessing I'll like it eventually, the music alone is epic. Ripple lasers out of Salamander and the Parodius (and some Gradius games). I'm gibbering here.

Dangerous Seed on MD. Pound for pound, it has the best shooter soundtrack I've probably ever heard. Never liked Gaiares not have been a major fan of the Thunderforce games. R-Type Delta on PS1...lush. Such a big subject...soz for being so nebulous!