Shmups

[ImmaculateClump]

The results are in - https://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=68147

 

01. Ketsui ~Kizuna Jigoku Tachi~
02. Battle Garegga
03. DoDonPachi Dai-Ou-Jou / Black Label
04. Mushihimesama Futari / 1.5 / Black Label
05. Ikaruga
06. Crimzon Clover / World Ignition / etc.
07. DoDonPachi
08. Armed Police Batrider
09. Radiant Silvergun
10. Darius Gaiden
11. Gradius V
12. ZeroRanger
13. Dangun Feveron / Fever SOS
14. Mushihimesama / 1.5
15. R-Type
16. ESP Ra.De. / Psi
17. Gradius Gaiden
18. ESPGaluda / Arrange
19. Gunbird 2
20. RayForce / Layer Section / etc.
21. Mars Matrix
22. G-Darius
23. Deathsmiles / Mega Black Label
24. Cho Ren Sha 68K
25. Strikers 1945 II

 

Surprised to see Zeroranger in there. The old guard don't usually bother unless a game is at least 30 years old.

PC indie shmups often don't get a look in.

[Triple A]

I can get behind that list in the main

[Marlew]

I totally forgot about the shmups forum, to be honest, or I would have voted. Cheers for the list. DOJ, Futari, Garegga, Ikaruga and Ketsui are the five shmups I've played most in my life and I think they're 'the best', so I don't have any issues with the top five there.

 

Beyond those, I'd personally have Psyvariar Delta in there and, honestly, Missile Dancer. Rolling Gunner quite possibly if I think back to how much I loved the base game. Raiden Fighters Aces is another I really love and still want to play more. Would defo be in my list. Muchi Muchi, too. This year I'd throw in GG Aleste 3 because it's been so much fun. I don't really like Gradius much for whatever reason but I haven't played those particular versions. One day, I guess.

 

Sod it, here's my list off the top of my head, FWIW:

 

Spoiler

1. Futari 

2. DOJ BL

3. Battle Garegga

4. Ketsui

5. Ikaruga

6. Psyvariar Delta

7. Mushi 1.5

8. Muchi Muchi Pork

9. Raiden Fighters Aces

10. Darius Gaiden

11. Dangun Feveron

12. Crimzon Clover World Explosion

13. Rolling Gunner

14. Missile Dancer 

15. Gunbird 2

 

Beyond those, there are another thirty that are 'just really good' and pointless to try to separate and therefore pointless to list. So I will...

 

Spoiler

DDP DFK BL

Darius 2

Progear

Neko Navy 

BWR+

Dragon Blaze

SDOJ

Espgaluda 1&2

ESP Ra.De. Psy

Strikers 2

19XX

GG Aleste 3

Sorcer Striker

DariusBurst: CS

Tengai

 

 

[Triple A]

At the risk of turning this into a list thread, my 5 are;

1. Garegga

2. Ketsui

3. Mushi (I prefer the original - I know I know)

4. ESP Ra.De

5. Batrider

[ImmaculateClump]

1 hour ago, Marlew said:

I totally forgot about the shmups forum, to be honest

 

Yeah, it doesn't seem to be the mecca of shmupdom it once was. I think most of the community has drifted away, mostly to discord, some on twitter, reddit, others scattered about on different forum megathreads like this one.
Can't blame them, there were a few bad eggs sullying the vibe for everyone else.
It was particularly unwelcoming to new players.

 

Lots of really nice and friendly people on there, to be fair, and some of the arseholes seem to have drifted away now too, though I never really felt relaxed and comfortable  and welcomed enough to post there, personally, to be honest.

 

I felt sorry for one of the mods a while ago he started a thread about mechanical star astra and he was all like "What the hell! Why am I the last to know about this? Particularly since boghog and Charlene are both registered here."

 

I was going to reply because it looked like he was getting blanked but I didn't want to speak for anyone.

I don't think they did it purposefully to shun the forum, I think it was more that they wanted to fly a bit under the radar and work more on the game until they were more confident with what they had to show before they presented it to the ultra-critical eye of the shmup forum regulars.

 

Yeah, It's still in my bookmarks, I still check in now and then. They never really had their finger on the pulse, I'd usually hear most news a few days before I read it on there, but it's a lot worse now, they're on a bit more a satellite delay nowadays. Still lots of decent strategy guides on there and still some groovy cats posting on there now and then.

 

I couldn't be arsed to vote.

[ImmaculateClump]

On 25/02/2021 at 15:51, Triple A said:

struggling to find Cotton Reboot on the Japanese PS Store - any tips?

 

https://www.beep-shop.com/sap/cottonreboot/update.html

 

■ 2021/02/26 News about PS4 download version ■ From 00:00 on March 3rd, "Cotton Reboot! ] PlayStation®4 download version is now available! Price: 4,980 yen including tax We apologize for the inconvenience, and thank you for your understanding.

[Triple A]

Thank you!

[Stoikovich]

Think I’d swap Gradius V and Ikaruga, but that’s a fine list.

 

Anyone able to suggest how to play Mars Matrix?  Presume its DC emulation unless some other version has been released that’s passed me by?  I have fond memories of 2P with a friend, we got pretty good and I’d love to give it another whirl 

[Spoonman]

just saved this beautiful monitor from the trash, playing DC on VGA CRT for the first time in 15+ years. It’s amazing. 

[geldra]

10 hours ago, ImmaculateClump said:

Very strange.

Seems to still be up on the japanese store - https://store.playstation.com/ja-jp/product/JP4771-CUSA25003_00-7514732531047794

You don't do pc, do you? Steam version still up - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1175190/Natsuki_Chronicles/

 

I've checked qute's twitter and there's no mention of it there. Hopefully it's just a glitch or something and it's back up soon!

Very strange.

 

222 days sparkly and bright!
What a beautiful sunny day.

 

edit: Oh, look, there's a bundle where you can buy it with ginga force - https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/product/EP4034-CUSA26074_00-SEVENTIABUNDLE02

 

Look like it's here, but it's not showing the picture. Something weird must be going on - https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/product/EP4034-CUSA26074_00-NATSUKICHRON00EU?PlatformPrivacyWs1=all&psappver=19.15.0&scope=sceapp&smcid=psapp%3Alink menu%3Astore

Thanks for this. Managed to buy it from that last link. 
 

Oosh nice setup @Spoonman

[El Spatula]

That looks brilliant. Will buy on Steam! What's Ginga Force like?

[Dig Dug]

Ghost Pilots is the worst shoot'em up I have ever played and beaten. Happy to be deleting it from my switch.

[geldra]

8 hours ago, El Spatula said:

That looks brilliant. Will buy on Steam! What's Ginga Force like?

Paging @Camel

 

 

[PikaStu]

Nah I can’t agree with that top 25, there’s no mention of Soukyugurentai. 

[Qazimod]

17 hours ago, Triple A said:

At the risk of turning this into a list thread

 

Too late!

 

My personal top 20 off the top of my head. I'm sure I've missed some.

 

1. Iridis Alpha  wait, I probably can't have that. Okay:

Sexy Parodius

Dangun Feveron

Under Defeat

Deathsmiles

Thunderforce III

Ikaruga

Parodius Da!

Layer Section

Salamander

Gradius V

R-Type Final

Strania: The Stella Machina

Psyvariar

Radiant Silvergun

Guwange

DBCS

Border Down

Muchi Muchi Pork

Triggerheart Exelica

[Camel]

11 hours ago, El Spatula said:

That looks brilliant. Will buy on Steam! What's Ginga Force like?

 

It's like game of the year 2013.

[Camel]

3 minutes ago, Qazimod said:

My personal top 20 off the top of my head. I'm sure I've missed some.

 

1. Iridis Alpha  wait, I probably can't have that. Okay:

Sexy Parodius

Dangun Feveron

Under Defeat

Deathsmiles

Thunderforce III

Ikaruga

Parodius Da!

Layer Section

Salamander

Gradius V

R-Type Final

Strania: The Stella Machina

Psyvariar

Radiant Silvergun

Guwange

DBCS

Border Down

Muchi Muchi Pork

Triggerheart Exelica

 

Whoop whoop a Triggerheart fan. Such a great game.

 

I spent a large part of last night playing Zero Gunner 2 on Dreamcast. Any fans here? I've always really liked it; I think partly because of the great pivoting controls but also because it feels manageable for a mortal like myself. It also looks amazing.

[ImmaculateClump]

12 hours ago, Stoikovich said:

Anyone able to suggest how to play Mars Matrix?

 

Shmupmame

 

11 hours ago, El Spatula said:

That looks brilliant. Will buy on Steam! What's Ginga Force like?

 

Ginga force is really, really good, and natsuki is even better, and then eschatos is like super silly-good, it's almost unbelievable! - https://store.steampowered.com/search/?developer=Qute

[englishbob]

2 hours ago, Qazimod said:

 

Gradius V

 

 

The long forgotten great shooter

[Triple A]

It is amazing.  And that Sakimoto OST!

Not far out of my top 5 shmups.

Ahead of its time visually, a HD port would do it wonders.

[ImmaculateClump]

That's fucking gorgeous, spoony!

I really like the graininess in that picture.

I was so upset when my beautiful CRT finally died and I had to buy a disgusting 60hz flat monitor.

I was so happy when that stoopid 3d fad came back and high refresh monitors started getting made again.

 

I spent half hour fighting Action Fish in stage 4 of g-darius last night, big red "fossil" thing. I'm assuming that's not normal and I have to figure out how to do the counter beam thingy?

I'll try tonight but I might come and ask for help if anyone knows how to do that.

I don't think I've got a button set to shot, I just assumed I'd be using rapid shot and capture ball, so I'll set a button for shot, maybe you hold that down.

[El Spatula]

Hah stage 2 boss of Hatsuki Chronicles is kicking my arse. Those green tracking beams are hideous to avoid.

 

Sure I've dealt with them in a Darius game but jesus they're tricksy.

[ImmaculateClump]

Oh yeah, they're easy once you get the hang of them, try going top left and tapping your way forward as they come, you'll go nose to nose with the boss eventually as you're misdirecting off the top of the screen, but you get plenty of time to get away before his next attack.

 

When you move up to hard mode, they turn a corner twice. That caught me out! I was doing my usual trick, inchy pinchying forward and got one right up the arris!

[ImmaculateClump]

2 hours ago, ImmaculateClump said:

I don't think I've got a button set to shot, I just assumed I'd be using rapid shot and capture ball, so I'll set a button for shot, maybe you hold that down.

 

Yeah, that was it, I figured it out.

 

Suck my fat one, fish face!

 

 

Suck my fatter one, you mother!

 

 

Big red lads still putting up a fight, but I'll 'ave 'im.

 

Mark's done a review of that capcom arcade thingy. Might watch that before I go to bed later.

 

 

Oh shit, shmupjunkie too! Dear me, look at the length of it!

 

 

 

[Spoonman]

He raises (Mark) some good points r.e. input lag on Switch.

 

I bought the M2 Aleste Collection on the Switch; lovely game pack and I don't "feel" the lag is bad. I have Darius Cozmic Collection, but not played much yet. It's in "the pile". I actually bought the Shooting library from Psikyo, the Japanese 2-carts, not 3, and thought it was OK, but again haven't played it much. 

 

ESPrade... I bought digital on Switch, and double dipped for a physical copy! Perhaps should have bought the PS4 version, tbh.

 

Then I have blazing star, ikaruga, crimson clover and danmaku 3 all digital. I have two more Switch titles on the way too, actually! I also have Game Tengoku on Switch—the PS4 version is censored... Sony are too "Western" now? Weird.

 

I prefer physical, and like my little Switch library. i do agree about lag and wish it could be reduced. With my Brook board I probably have the best attempt for playing the games on the Switch that I can, anyway. Then, handheld is a nice touch and when i can travel again, it'll be fun to take with me. Not that I have left my apartment in a year

 

Thing is, I feel like I am "getting ok" but I am probably better than the average gamer at these things. I am not one of these people picking up STG for the next 1CC challenge though, I find them damn hard, but satisfying.

 

I'll hold off on Capcom for now. If it comes out on PS4, perhaps I will get it there. Again, I want physical ideally.　But yeah, I should probably move over to PS4 for the "good stuff" like ESPrade, or games which are released on both platforms. Weird thing is, the Switch has quite the number of exclusive shmups, and further, I played DC all weekend and never once thought about input lag. I am sure there is some, but what is it? I only seem to "care" now, in a sense, but perhaps the DC games are all <4-5 frames? Genuinely no idea. I am sure it isn't a new phenomenon, but I'm trying to not let it mask my enjoyment of the Switch.

 

 

 

[Spoonman]

Literally under an hour since my last post.

 

[Triple A]

nice!

I have the original teacup (a pickup from ECTS many moons ago), but alas without the box.

[Camel]

Shcup.

[ImmaculateClump]

1 hour ago, Camel said:

Shcup.

 

I'll allow it.

 

@Spoonman I didn't get a chance to watch yet, but, yeah, if portability is a big factor, then it's a no brainer, unless you've got one of those handheld pcs or whatever, switch is the way to go.

 

Honestly, if the lag truly bothered you in a game, you'd have an instant recoiling reaction to it. If there was no way to fix it, it'd take you ages to get used to it and put up with it and you'd be playing worse because of it.

 

It doesn't sound like you've really had any of that and it's just that other people are talking about it and care about it that's making you think that you should too.

 

Don't let them harsh your vibe, man. If it's not affecting your enjoyment, don't let it affect your enjoyment. Don't even think about it.

 

That CRT you've got will be pretty much 0ms input lag by the way, so you don't have to worry about that!

I don't know how laggy games were on the dreamcast. I know nothing about those. I would have been 22 at the time, that's during the lost years. My gaming wilderness days!

 

Algebra today for home schooling. Such fun

[ImmaculateClump]

46 minutes ago, ImmaculateClump said:

That CRT you've got will be pretty much 0ms input lag by the way

 

Oh shit, I just googled to double check I wasn't talking bollocks and it turns out I was.
It's a common misconception. CRT's do have input lag. Around 8ms at 60hz, though that's still pretty damn good, especially nowadays where monitors are geared for high refresh rates and they don't really care too much about keeping 60hz snappy.

 

edit: Woah, this guy is on the ball! That should save a lot of research if I ever need a new monitor.

 

https://www.aperturegrille.com/

https://www.youtube.com/user/a5hun/videos

 

right, best turn off the internet now before I start spending money