The SFC gets a lot of stick when it comes to shooters, primarily due to the heavy slow down in the likes of Super R-Type and Gradius 3, but having recently got back into the Super Famicom I don't think the machine gets enough credit for its shooters. I say this as someone who had a Megadrive back in the day and regards Thunderforce IV and Musha Aleste as the two greatest 16-bit shooters ever made.
I present the case for the Super Famicom -
R-Type 3 - Great graphics, great soundtrack, and has the same great mechanics as the original. Minimal slow-down too.
Macross Scramble Valkyrie - Looks and sounds great and has a unique mechanic where you can steal enemy ships to fight alongside you. Not much slowndown here either.
Super Aleste - Yes it's not as good as Musha Aleste, but this is still a great shooter which fills the screen with carnage with very little slowdown.
Area 88 - Fantastic arcade port from Capcom with a unique structure where you pick your next battle based upon defending your base from enemy attackers. Also, minimal slowdown.
Axelay - Fantastic visuals and soundtrack from devs who would go on to form Treasure and write the likes of Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga. It's fantastic.
Parodius - Great port of a great arcade game. Probably the best port outside of the 32-bit ones.
Gokujou Parodius - it's more Parodius, it's wonderful.
Oshaberi Parodius - Even More Parodius, this time with a guy who won't shut up on the soundtrack.
Pop n Twinbee - Wonderful cute 'em up from Konami with great music and cute graphics. Also minimal slowdown.
Darius Twin - Pretty solid entry into the series with nice visuals.
There are others too of course, and I do enjoy Gradius 3 despite the slowdown. Having ignored the SFC for years I see now what I was missing. This is a great system for shooters!
I present the case for the Super Famicom -
R-Type 3 - Great graphics, great soundtrack, and has the same great mechanics as the original. Minimal slow-down too.
Macross Scramble Valkyrie - Looks and sounds great and has a unique mechanic where you can steal enemy ships to fight alongside you. Not much slowndown here either.
Super Aleste - Yes it's not as good as Musha Aleste, but this is still a great shooter which fills the screen with carnage with very little slowdown.
Area 88 - Fantastic arcade port from Capcom with a unique structure where you pick your next battle based upon defending your base from enemy attackers. Also, minimal slowdown.
Axelay - Fantastic visuals and soundtrack from devs who would go on to form Treasure and write the likes of Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga. It's fantastic.
Parodius - Great port of a great arcade game. Probably the best port outside of the 32-bit ones.
Gokujou Parodius - it's more Parodius, it's wonderful.
Oshaberi Parodius - Even More Parodius, this time with a guy who won't shut up on the soundtrack.
Pop n Twinbee - Wonderful cute 'em up from Konami with great music and cute graphics. Also minimal slowdown.
Darius Twin - Pretty solid entry into the series with nice visuals.
There are others too of course, and I do enjoy Gradius 3 despite the slowdown. Having ignored the SFC for years I see now what I was missing. This is a great system for shooters!
Comment