Right, After An Hour of solidly playing R-Type on the PC Engine (Ok, The subject was a lie), And performing Abysmally, I have decided that I need to learn to get good. So does anyone have any suggestions for games which are- -Cheap -Good to learn Shooter Techniques -Available for one (or more) out of: PC Engine, Xbox, Mega Drive, Saturn, DC, Gamecube, N64, or at a push PS(Could steal one from downstairs) Just to let you know what games i have, And enjoy but fail miserably at getting anywhere in: Rtype Download (PC Engine game) Ikaruga (GC) And ill probably remember more later - Look in my collection in sig for more games i've forgotten. Also I'm appalling at side scrolling Shooters, And the same Q's and Criteria Apply for those - own Alien Hominid (GC) and Metal Slug 3 (Xbox) in that genre, However also various 2d metroids, which im not so bad at...
I recommend practically anything that's part of the Gradius series by Konami...being Gradius, Parodius, Salamander, etc...
Right now, the only shooters I'm really "into" are Cave shooters. They're hard as balls, but super fun. I highly recommend ESPGaluda on the PS2. It's lovely goodness. If you've got a good joystick, you might want to try ESPRade or Guwange. For the Saturn, Layer Section is dirt cheap, and apparently very good. Soukyugurentai could probably be had for about $20 these days, and is also a great shmup.
I think his problem is terribly difficult shooters. Here's my suggestion. Pick Noiz2sa (there's a DC version). It has a good selection of bullet patterns from classic shooters. Pick Endless Hard, and check how long you can survive. Keep practicing, notice how the bullets have this small trails showing the path they will follow - think ahead, when those lines intersect. Realise most ship hitboxes are smaller than the sprite and that you can "skim" a ship tru the bullet waves. The longer you survive, the better you'll understand what these games throw at you. Finnaly, realize it envolves tedious memorization. Remember ship X will appear next, and move to a favorable position. ...Then again, I can't pass the second level of R-Type Final in "Human" dificulty, so what do I know
Ditto on Gradius and it's spinoffs. Especially Parodius deluxe pack,sexy Parodius,Salamander deluxe pack and Gradius V. Some other good shooters you could pick up on the cheap are Galactic Attack and in the Hunt . -every game I listed is for the saturn minus Gradius V.
You have great choice having Download on PC Engine, great story/music/atmosphere.........I finnished it last year after 10 years huraah! Id recomend Final Soldier (PCE) tbh.
Project X on amiga and pc.(it is damn hard after level 3) and Agony on amiga (shame it has never been released on pc) other than that TYRIAN 2000 Raptor Call Of The Shadows.
Hi there these are some shootemups I always liked: (Side Scrollers) Snes: Area 88/UN Squadron Megadrive: Aeroblasters Thunderforce 3 & 4 Hellfire Bio Hazard (Was the jp name Tears?) PSX: Einhander - like this one a lot, was hooked on it when it came out, I didn't have a Saturn then but this game was comparable to some of the best 16bit shooters. Salamander Pack Vertical Scrollers I prefer horizontal semups for some reason, perhaps because of games like Airwolf on the spectrum back in the dark ages. Snes: Super Aleste PC Engine: Gunhed I tried not get carried away so I only listed some games I really used to play a lot. I know the Saturn has many shootemups but I don't have many of them.
I'd also recommend the Gradius/Parodius/Salamander series, though it looks like you're stuck with the Saturn ports (unless there's some I'm forgetting). Though there is one exception to these series - the MSX versions are DEADLY! Well I've found them the hardest schmups IN THE WORLD anyway. Especially the original Parodius. Even when cheating my ass off (99 lives with Konami's Game Master cart), I can still never get past the 1st stage...
R-Type Final is magnificent. R Type delta for the PSX was magnificent as well. The PSX one is BRUTALLY hard, though. Gradius V is also really cool. Bangai-O for the dreamcast is a whole bunch of stupid fun. Einhänder for the PSX is great - absolutely great, maybe the best PSX shooter. Not very difficult, either. There's also Thunderforce V for either PSX or Saturn (I own the PSX version - it's great, even if it's the inferior one). This one has a really cool soundtrack. Gradius Gaiden for the PSX was pretty retro-cool, and so is G-Darius. There's a version of "Cotton" for every system but stay away from the Dreamcast one. For the DC, There's also Zero Gunner 2, which is passably easy, Armada, which is an american-style RPG with a Shooter engine, and Border Down, which is quite solid. And for the good old SNes, I REALLY love Axelay. It's great, has kick-ass music and playability - plus it's dirt cheap if you find it.
Two games you need to know about: Truxton for the Genesis Raiden 2. enough said. Master those, and you are almost as good as god. then again I only played about 25shooters total.
R-Type is hard as fuck. Axleay is very good, although no where near as difficult as R-type or Ikagura. You'll problably beat that one within a week. Just play the game over and over and over again, eventually it'll be second nature and you'll beat it.
Layer Section on the Saturn is a fine game. And it's damn cheap. Also anything with the words 'Thunder' and 'Force' in the title ;-) . As well as Soukyugurentai, Battle Garrega and Parodius/Twinbee (on any format). Gate of Thunder and Lords of Thunder on PCEngine are also well worth getting, absolutely fabulous games. And of course, the Star Soldier series (Super Star Soldier, Final Soldier, Soldier Blade and Star Paroja). And Cotton, get that. Wooooo shmuppery :smt023
I'm gonna have to go with almost everyone and recommend Layer Section AKA Galactic Attack on the Saturn. I picked my US copy up for $5, JPN copy was 750 yen and saw a PAL copy for 18e so shouldnt be a problem. The game is very good (also in the graphics and music department) and gets progressively harder, I have only once set foot in stage 5 (or was it 6? the one after the bronze robot). Other than that, you shouldn't have any trouble finding G-Darius on the PSX, which is a most enjoyable quirky shooter that somewhat resembles Thunderforce V in graphical style. Of course Thunderforce V on Saturn or PSX is recommended heartily but not as easy to find. For the Megadrive, get Thunderforce III & IV, they look stunning and shouldnt be expensive. Oh and Parodius Deluxe Pack on Saturn or PSX (not released in the US, called simply Parodius in PAL land) is cheap and great quirky fun!
Axelay for the SNES is a reasonably easy game, as Gaijinpunch said. A good intro to shmups. Musha Aleste on the Megadrive is also a decent enough shooter and not too tough. Truxton I'd avoid though, it's a butt-ugly port of a middling at best arcade game (made by the same people who did Zero Wing, incidentally). Ikaruga's great, plus it gets easier the more you play it (the memory card saves how long you've been playing and the more you play, the more credits you get).
Super Aleste for SNES. It was called Space mega force here in the US but I think they jacked up the music for the US release. Simply amazing coding on compiles part...
Hurray! Just completed the first level of R-type on the PCE. got a couple of auctions going on some of the games suggested, And have ordered myself a PS2 with Gradius V. Had some money burning a hole (Not any more!) Just an extra note to any NUS members out there - Looks like although they say they dont, HMV gives student discount on consoles - which was handy when i ordered mine just now, As it saved me £10 on the console!
Well, now that you have a PS2 I recommend you to pick up the following as well: - R-Type Final: cheap, looks good, last in the series - Silpheed: cheap, looks good, made by Treasure, not as good as R-T:F tho - Psyvariar: cheap, havent played it too much so wouldnt know how good it is but worth 10e I suppose
Well i ordered the PS2 on their site - should be here within the week. Will check those out - am also planning on getting R-Types for PS1
You should download Yakumo's shooters special. It has footage and a small review of possibly all Saturn shooters.
