Recently I’ve been looking into expanding the number of shmups in my library.
Which games should I prioritise getting? Any that I should avoid?
I don’t have any recommendations, but have seen a community for these types of games that may be relevant:
I searched but did not see this community, thanks!
Well that depends what you have.
Ikaruga for starters
This is at the top of my list, so it will come sooner or later!
I don’t have anything substantial except fond memories or R-Type and Raiden, and a copy of Raiden IV that I tend to play on loop when I have days off.
Second Ikaruga. A unique way to play a shmup.
I would also give Jamestown+ a try.
Do you have any examples of shumups that you like and any you dislike? That might help give a better idea of what you like.
I mean, if you just want “good shmups”, it’s easy to go to Steam, search for games with the “Shoot 'em Up” tag, and sort by user reviews.
But if you’re looking for something in particular, a list like that might help.
I don’t have much to go on, it has been more than 30 years since my arcade days. I’ve been making a list and am trying to prioritise purchases. I think Ikaruga will come first as soon as it is on sale again (which isn’t very often).
I don’t have a Steam account, but I’ll try your method anyway to see how it compares to what is already on my list.
Thanks.
https://www.nintendolife.com/guides/best-nintendo-switch-shmups has a 5 pages full of recommendations. Scroll down the list just before the comments, to see the list of pages you can open.
Sorry, but this is not what I need. I’ve seen this list and many similar to it. Just want a few names of games. Nintendo Life is a good resource, though.
Okay, but you can just pick a few games that look interesting there. It’s not different than random people recommending random stuff here.
- SEGA AGES Thunder Force IV
- Tengai
- Samurai Aces
- ESP Ra. De. Psi
- Mushihimesama
- Espgaluda II
- Deathsmiles I & II
- DoDonPachi Resurrection
- Dodonpachi DaiOuJou Blissful Death Re:Incarnation
These are pretty good, either from my personal experience or from reading lot of recommendations through forums and friends. The best Shmups on the Switch are mostly ports of existing older games. I’m not sure if you play on another platform too, I just read you have a Switch. I played on emulators on my PC and on Steam, there are a few more games I am not sure if they exist on Switch.
Which system(s) are you playing on?
Switch probably, but emulation is an option.
I always really liked Abbadox on NES.
Crimzon Clover’s really fun. It’s similar to Dodonpachi. Another good one is Ikaruga. It has an interesting mechanic we’re you switch colors to absorb bullets.
Avoid Sine Mora and other “euroshmups”, they just suck to play.
Haven’t heard the term “euroshmup” before. Also haven’t seen Sine Mora on any lists that I’ve been looking at either.
Sine Mora is not for everyone, but those who like it (like I do) _really_ like it. The gameplay revolves around the time mechanic and so does the really messed up story. The audio-visual presentation is great too.
There are several people who do not like it though, as it is a bit outside the box and is quite story-heavy.
I think this review explains it very well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvqWh88I4HM
Warning Forever, but not sure if you can play that on switch
Doesn’t appear that it is… But I’ll look it up anyway.
There is a new game with a very similar mechanic, I think I saw it on Yahtzees new channel. But WF is a real gem
Crimzon Clover, any version’s good but World EXplosion is the most recent. It’s a fairly difficult and chaotic bullet hell, but the novice mode should be reasonably approachable as long as you’re willing to learn, and the design is superb.
Similarly, the whole CAVE backlog. Not all of them have novice modes or the like, and there’s quite a few games not really available outside of MAME. The original DoDonPachi is/was considered the best starter bullet hell for a long, long time and still holds up pretty well, but is more difficult than a lot of modern games on their respective novice modes.
On the indie side of things: Star of Providence (formerly Monolith) is an indie roguelite bullet hell twin-stick-ish shmup with a pretty good amount of depth. ZeroRanger is a much more story-based game that I really enjoyed.
@bbbhltz, depending on what you’re craving.
Here’s a list of horizontal ones…
Defender-like:
• Aqua Kitty UDX – cute, fun
• Black Bird – dark-cuteR-Type-like:
• R-Type Dimensions EX (and the others)
• Rigid Force Redux – ❤️Classics:
• Blazing Star
• Thunder Force IV
• Cotton FantasyOther hori:
• Azure Reflections – Touhou fan game
• Sine Mora – time-mechanic ❤️ , not for everyone though
• Astebreed – switches orientation flawlessly ❤️
• ProtoCorgi – cute, hard
• Rolling Gunner – ❤️@bbbhltz, on the vertical side…
Oldskool:
• Batsugun
• Dragon Blaze ❤️
• Gunbird 2
• Anger Force – kinda
• Missile Dancer
• Moon Dancer – ❤️
• SophStar – ❤️Danmaku:
• Crimzon Clover
• Caladrius Blaze
• Espgaluda II
• Mushihimesama – ❤️
• Danmaku Unlimited 3 – bullet grazing ❤️with a twist:
• Pawarumi – rock-paper-scissors mechanic ❤️
• Dimension Drive – teleport
• Sisters Royale – ❤️
• Eschatos – ❤️
• Shoot 1UP – multi-ship
• Cosmo Gang the Video – Galaga-like
• (Downwell)@bbbhltz , oh and on the Switch, several vertical shooters support TATE mode, for which you can e.g. use the FlipGrip.
Here’s a maintained list of the games that are FlipGrip-compatible:
https://www.doesitflip.com/@bbbhltz and neither hori nor vert really…
• Zero Gunner 2 – proto-twin-stick arcade
• Galak-Z: the Void – strategic zero-G twin-stick, rogue-like-elements ❤️ (not to be confused with Galak-Z: Variant S, which is to be avoided)
• Assault Android Cactus – one of **the** best twin-sticks ever ❤️
• Jet Lancer – like Luferausers, maybe better ❤️
• Nitro Ball – classic proto-twin-stick arcadeSomeone is selling Mushihimesama on my local marketplace. I know it is no longer in production or on the Switch estore. Is €55 worth it for this game? It is used of course.
Update: I see that it can be purchased new for 43 on different sites, so I suppose not…
@bbbhltz , it is my favourite CAVE game so far.
That said, personally I am not willing to pay that much for a STG (sorry). But I know others would and do pay even more for a PCB of it.
It is a very quality game and has several modes. If that is worth it for you, it’s up to you.
Several other Cave games (and Crimzon Clover, which is not by Cave, but like a spiritual successor) have similar modes, so perhaps try one of those first.
I was thinking of getting it, trying it, and holding onto it to resell. But, someone might be able to talk the seller down. Judging by the other items they are selling, not just games, it looks like this person caught the “import stuff from abroad” bug and it now unloading loads of merch at rather high and prices. I’m not going to barter though since it is available on play-asia for less.
@bbbhltz so, what did you get in the end and what are your thoughts so far?
I’m tracking sales on dekudeals for the moment but I did get copies of Raiden IV (which is definitely something I enjoy), Ando Dunos II ( still can’t beat the boss rush to unlock the last levels) and GreyLancer.
I’ll probably pick up Strikers 1945 II this week since it is on sale.
I’m just patiently waiting and also considering grabbing some physical copies of games that I’ve seen for sale on local marketplaces (Sophstar and Mushihimesama).
@bbbhltz , some sweet choices. Glad to hear you’re enjoying yourself 😸
I just grabbed Andro Dunos 2 digitally as well. It was just too good of a deal.
@bbbhltz, that’s always an option, yes. I did that with a few other games. I remember Teslagrad not being my jam.
I only have Sine Mora and Pawarumi physically from STGs and am fondly keeping both :)
@bbbhltz Oh, I forgot to mention, the M2 (esp. ShotTriggers) ports of other Cave games have more bells and whistles than the more basic Live Wire port of Mushihimesama. Still a perfectly fine port.
Touhou series? Some of them are pretty good. The music are also superb.
Like bullet hells?
I really like exceed 1-3.
Gundeadgnline is good.
Kinda can’t get away from Touhou.
