Best SHUMP Series

[Tempest]

Lately I've been addicted to SHUMPS (err... that's Shoot Em Ups, not dry humping). I've been going through all my favorite series, but every time I think I've played all the games in that series it turns out there was an obscure console release that I missed and it's been driving me nuts. Anyway, what's everyones favorite shoot series?

 

Mine are (in no particular order):

 

Darius series

R-Type series

Raiden series

DonPachi series (although I think there are only two)

Paradious series

Gradius series

Star Soldier series (just started getting into this one)

Twin Bee series

Radiant Silvergun/Ikaruga (not really a series)

 

Any great shooter series I'm missing?

 

Tempest

[bust3dstr8]

These are some other good series:

 

Aleste

Thunderforce

Ray

Cotton

Cho Aniki

Spriggan

Strikers 1945

Giga Wing

Gunbird

 

DoDonPachi Dai Ou Jou is the third one, for the PS2.

Edited February 25, 2007 by bust3dstr8

[The Eidolon]

There's a pretty active shmups forum with probably a lot more

hardcore shmuppers than here at:

 

http://shmups.system11.org/

 

I'm sure they could name a bunch of series I have never heard of.

Most modern shmups don't make it out of Japan though.

 

A couple other series I can think of offhand:

 

UN Squadron (Area 88)/Carrier Airwing

Section Z/Sidearms/Forgotten Worlds ("Jetpack series")

Sky Soldiers/Sky Adventure

Rayforce/Raystorm/Raycrisis

Battle Garegga/Battle Bakraid

Aero Fighters 1-3

Sengoku Ace/Sengoku Blade

Raiden Fighters series

Cotton series

 

Most Shmups don't really have sequels, and many "sequels" are more in theme than

direct name. It seems like shmup makers tend to go belly-up and then a

bunch of staff will go to a different company and make a new shmup in a similar vein.

 

I made a (now somewhat out of date) list of hundreds of shmups at:

http://www.geocities.com/kienlung/scroll

 

Only the arcade and PS1 sections have significant numbers of entries...

[Michael_]

DonPachi series (although I think there are only two)

 

I´m a huge Cave-fan, so I´ve naturally spent a lot of time with the DonPachi series.

It comprises three official games; DonPachi (PSX/Saturn/Arcade), DodonPachi (PSX/Saturn/Arcade) and DodonPachi Dai-Ou-Jou (PS2 import/Arcade) and one "non-Cave installment"; DoDonPachi II.

 

Seeing that Cave can do no wrong, I recommend that you check out the following if you have the opportunity:

 

ESP Ra.De (Arcade)

ESPGaluda (PS2 Import/Arcade)

ESPGaluda 2 (Arcade)

 

Mushihimesama (PS2 import/Arcade)

Mushihimesama Futari (Arcade)

 

 

Dangun Feveron (Arcade)

 

Ibara (PS2 import/Arcade) Feels more like a Raizing shooter, which is probably due to the fact that Cave now employs a lot of former Raizing staff.

 

Personal favorites of mine are ESP Ra.De and DoDonpachi Dai-Ou-Jou.

[Tempest]

How could I forget the Thunderforce series? Now there was a great series...

 

Tempest

[shadow460]

My favorite SHMUP series:

 

Raiden (Best. SHMUPs. Ever.)

Burai Fighter (NES and classic Game Boy only)

Aero Fighters

1945 Strikers

 

I've been playing Raiden II recently and I've had that song from level 2, Weapons of Hope, stuck in my head for weeks.

The only drawback to Burai Fighter is that you have to have a brick or a Pocket Game Boy for that version--it is incompatible with the Color and later.

 

As for favorite SHUMP game, it's a close tie between the NES Burai Fighter, Raiden II, and the Raiden Fighters. The Beast Arrow rulz!!!

 

Oh, and does Centpiede qualify as a shmup?

Edited February 27, 2007 by shadow460

[CHIP72]

Most of you probably already know this, but according to gamespot.com, Raiden III (PS2) and Radio Allergy (Gamecube) are both scheduled to be released on March 20th.

[Technosis]

Most of you probably already know this, but according to gamespot.com, Raiden III (PS2) and Radio Allergy (Gamecube) are both scheduled to be released on March 20th.

 

Raiden III I'll bet it will be a budget priced release. Hopefully it will get some good distribution or it might be hard to find