Hori: Gradius V
Vert: Psyvariar

Gradius V is the absolute king.

Ibara & Mushihimesama are bloody great too but are ports.

Silpheed: The Lost Planet.

For me it's...

Espgaluda
Mushihimesama
DDP: DOJ
Shikigami No Shiro 2
Psyvariar
R-Type Final
The Shooting Double Shienryu (Simple 2000 series)

Neil

Any idea if any of those output at 240p?

Espgaluda and DDP definitely do when set to tate.

I'd choose this bunch:

Gradius V
Raiden 3
R-Type Final
Mushihimesama
Espgaluda
DoDonPachi DaiOuJou
Ibara
Silpheed: The Lost Planet
Dragon Blaze

Gradius V, R-Type Final, and Silpheed: The Lost Planet being exclusives, means I go back to them the most.

Most of the good ones on PS2 I have on other formats such as the 360 or Dreamcast but one that is exclusive and a must PS2 buy is Gradius V as others have mentioned. Don't bother with Thunderforce 6 though. Its pants. It's like a mash together of the other Thunderforce games and not in a good way.

Ibara had a brilliant Arrange Mode. Wish I still had it

Thanks guys. Great lists. Will check them out on YouTube.

So we have Gradius V looking like the potential daddy of the side scrollers.

Best vertical scroller? Psyvariar?

I'd say so. I'm returning to both pretty soon/next weekish (when I find a Psyvariar ISO, that is) if you want to dig up the hi-score threads.

I'm pretty poor at shmups, but I do appreciate them and enjoy them. The rush you get and focus required is concentrated
hit of gaming crack.

Would take part just as fodder

I'll only be playing very casually at the end of each day.

With Gradius V you'll want to unlock the stages for stage select as you progress through the main game. That way you can practice them independently for stringing them all together in a proper run afterwards. This is essential for stages 5, 6 and 7 because they are very hard until you work them out. Don't forget the Konami code in order to tool yourself up right at the start of practice! (Pause menu > up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, L1, R1).

Gradius V
Ibara
R Type Final