PS2 Shmups-What Do You Recommend?

video_disease · Dec 4, 2009

I plan on purchasing a Japanese PS2, and besides fighting games, I wanted to buy some Shmups mainly so I could try 'em out before I decide to drop cash on a vertical cab and PCB's.

So what would you guys recommend for the PS2? I have played a few Shmups via MAME, Dodonpachi, Esp Ra De, and a few others, and I have really enjoyed what I have played so far.

I am also interested in PSX shmups, but I don't know what exactly is available.

I am not looking to kill my wallet, so some games will be out of reach, but I can always keep an eye out for a good deal. Thanks!

Poison Sama · Dec 4, 2009

Dodonpachi Daioujou and Espgaluda are a good place to start.

video_disease · Dec 4, 2009

Hentai Sama said:
Dodonpachi Daioujou and Espgaluda are a good place to start.

Thanks for the input.

I played Mushihime-sama Futari recently at an arcade, and I really liked it, and I saw that the first Mushihime-sama is available for PS2 is it worth picking up?

BigTinz · Dec 4, 2009

Well. Depends on the type of shooter you like.

For a great variety I'd recommend:

1. Strikers 1945 Collection
2. Ibara
3. Thunderforce 6
4. DDP: Doj
5. Triggerheart Excelica
6. Castle Shikigami 2
7. R-Type Final
8. Esp.Galuda
9. Simple Series: The Shooting

If you likey the cave games then Mushisama is a must. If you like the psikyo games, pick up the Gunbird 1&2 collection. If you can tolerate...err, like the G.Rev stuff then go for the Radirigy ps2 release.

There's a gigawing game on the ps2 but's it's total garbage.

If you can find a copy of Mobile Light Force 2 locally(it's 2.99 or less at gamestop) pick it up...I think it's Castle Shikigami 1

video_disease · Dec 4, 2009

BigTinz said:
Well. Depends on the type of shooter you like.

For a great variety I'd recommend:

1. Strikers 1945 Collection
2. Ibara
3. Thunderforce 6
4. DDP: Doj
5. Triggerheart Excelica
6. Castle Shikigami 2
7. R-Type Final
8. Esp.Galuda
9. Simple Series: The Shooting

If you likey the cave games then Mushisama is a must. If you like the psikyo games, pick up the Gunbird 1&2 collection. If you can tolerate...err, like the G.Rev stuff then go for the Radirigy ps2 release.

There's a gigawing game on the ps2 but's it's total garbage.

If you can find a copy of Mobile Light Force 2 locally(it's 2.99 or less at gamestop) pick it up...I think it's Castle Shikigami 1

Thanks for the suggestions, I will try and check that stuff out. I have never played G.Rev, frankly I don't even know what it is. Is any of the Raizing stuff available on PS2? I have been playing Battle Garegga a lot through MAME and it's probably my favorite so far.

Poison Sama · Dec 4, 2009

There are no G.rev games on the PS2. BigTinz meant to say Milestone.

G.rev makes games for the Dreamcast and Xbox 360 (Border Down, Under Defeat, Senko no Ronde, etc).

As for Ibara and Mushihime-sama, the PS2 ports are pretty expensive, last I checked. If you like Raizing-esque games, Ibara might be worth tracking down.

BigTinz · Dec 4, 2009

I thought Radigiry was G.Rev....oops.

Yea, there's very little raizing stuff on consoles, especially the ps2. Ibara though...I mean that's pure raizing gameplay with the cave glitz.

Kiken · Dec 4, 2009

video_disease said:
Thanks for the suggestions, I will try and check that stuff out. I have never played G.Rev, frankly I don't even know what it is. Is any of the Raizing stuff available on PS2? I have been playing Battle Garegga a lot through MAME and it's probably my favorite so far.

If you're a Raizing fan, get a Japanese Saturn. Out of the 4 Raizing shmup homeports, 3 of them are on Saturn (Battle Garegga, Soukyuugurentai, Shippu Mahou Daisakusen) and 1 is on the Sharp X68000 (Mahou Daisakusen). Yeah, there is also Soukyuugurentai Oobushutsugeki on PS1, but it's a less-than-stellar port... stick with the Saturn version. None of their other titles were ever ported (sadly).

The only Raizing-like on PS2 is Ibara.

Also, I would not suggest picking up Trigger Heart Exelica Enhanced on the PS2 (especially if you already own a DC or a 360). It's easily the worst port of the game (half the game is stilted by awkward slowdown).

Moon Jump · Dec 4, 2009

I haven't imported many PS2 games, I got my slide card really late so I only have Gunstar Treasure Box and Twinkle Star, which I would recommend, great game. I do have some US shmups and I know they came out in Japan. So I can only say R-Type Final and Gradius V, but if they do have Japanese ports of the Capcom Classics and Taito Arcade Collection, pick them up, they got a couple of good shmups in them.

cannonball · Dec 4, 2009

Homura is pretty awesome.

video_disease · Dec 4, 2009

Kiken said:
If you're a Raizing fan, get a Japanese Saturn. Out of the 4 Raizing shmup homeports, 3 of them are on Saturn (Battle Garegga, Soukyuugurentai, Shippu Mahou Daisakusen) and 1 is on the Sharp X68000 (Mahou Daisakusen). Yeah, there is also Soukyuugurentai Oobushutsugeki on PS1, but it's a less-than-stellar port... stick with the Saturn version. None of their other titles were ever ported (sadly).

The only Raizing-like on PS2 is Ibara.

Also, I would not suggest picking up Trigger Heart Exelica Enhanced on the PS2 (especially if you already own a DC or a 360). It's easily the worst port of the game (half the game is stilted by awkward slowdown).

I will probably just stick with the PS2 for right now, but thanks for the suggestion, I plan on eventually getting a cab dedicated for Shmups, and I would rather save up towards getting that and Raizing PCB's, though that will take a while.

Actually my girlfriend has a Dreamcast, the problem is it is a US DC and I don't know how to play Japanese games on it. But I would be interested in learning. Again thanks for the input!

BigTinz · Dec 4, 2009

Honestly, I'd say just get an HD loader setup for an American ps2. It would cost under $100 total and you have access to every ps2 game ever made with no region restrictions.

video_disease · Dec 4, 2009

BigTinz said:
Honestly, I'd say just get an HD loader setup for an American ps2. It would cost under $100 total and you have access to every ps2 game ever made with no region restrictions.

I actually don't have an American PS2, I have a 60GB PS3 that is backwards compatible. So I already have a way of playing the US PS2 games, so the Japanese PS2 is the best option for me, I am getting one at a pretty good deal to so I am pretty happy with that. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Neo a_bomb · Dec 4, 2009

It probably doesnt qualify for your requirements but I always found Contra Shattered soldier PS2 One of my favorite games, It ca also be very difficult. It has action explosions challenge and a great plot. This game literally changes my life. If you can find it holla @ that ish.

bVork · Dec 5, 2009

cannonball said:
Homura is pretty awesome.

I concur. I don't think Skonec games get nearly enough love. Psyvariar 2: Ultimate Final is also a fantastic game, and the PS2 version is the best home version out of the three (the other two being on Dreamcast and Xbox). I love the mission mode that they added to the PS2 version, which functions a lot like challenge mode in Contra 4. The missions do a great job of slowly teaching you all the mechanics of the game, which I think is rather necessary since Psyvariar 2's buzz-oriented gameplay is quite a bit different than the typical shmup.

Kyle · Dec 5, 2009

Hentai Sama said:
As for Ibara and Mushihime-sama, the PS2 ports are pretty expensive, last I checked. If you like Raizing-esque games, Ibara might be worth tracking down.

Yep, I spent a while getting a decent priced but minty copy of Mushi ($77). Ibara is extremely expensive, but I don't enjoy it as much as Mushihimesama, Espgaluda or DDP. Those three get my vote. Expect to pay well for any Cave title. I have a second copy of Espgaluda I'm trying to get $50 shipped for on the shmups forums if you need a solid title to get you hooked.

BigTinz said:
Honestly, I'd say just get an HD loader setup for an American ps2. It would cost under $100 total and you have access to every ps2 game ever made with no region restrictions.

Definitely agree with this. I end up playing everything and buying the originals on the games I play repeatedly.

video_disease · Dec 5, 2009

Kyle said:
I have a second copy of Espgaluda I'm trying to get $50 shipped for on the shmups forums if you need a solid title to get you hooked.

PM'ed!

video_disease · Dec 5, 2009

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions, I really appreciate it, I will let you guys know how I like the titles mentioned here.

twalden · Dec 5, 2009

Can't believe no one mentioned Psikyo collection vol 3 for Dragon Blaze :scratch:

The Star Soldier remake is pretty good too.

awbacon · Dec 5, 2009

Both Castle Shikigami II and R-Type Final are good choices for us US ps2 owners. I have them both

Electric Grave · Dec 7, 2009

That's 'cause Sol Divide infected it beyond salvation.

There's way more shmups but teh ones mentioned are all really good.

I personally really liked XII STAG, but that's just me, also Psyvariar 2 was great, if you do not have a DC do yourself a favor and get this version of the game, amazing soundtrack and simple system to learn.

Buro Destruct · Dec 8, 2009

bVork said:
I concur. I don't think Skonec games get nearly enough love. Psyvariar 2: Ultimate Final is also a fantastic game, and the PS2 version is the best home version out of the three (the other two being on Dreamcast and Xbox). I love the mission mode that they added to the PS2 version, which functions a lot like challenge mode in Contra 4. The missions do a great job of slowly teaching you all the mechanics of the game, which I think is rather necessary since Psyvariar 2's buzz-oriented gameplay is quite a bit different than the typical shmup.

GOD FINALLY.

Seriously get Psyvariar 1 and 2, great great games. The buzz scoring system is really addictive and will have you playing in a somewhat unconventional way.

Darkneo · Dec 9, 2009

BigTinz said:
Well. Depends on the type of shooter you like.

For a great variety I'd recommend:

1. Strikers 1945 Collection
2. Ibara
3. Thunderforce 6
4. DDP: Doj
5. Triggerheart Excelica
6. Castle Shikigami 2
7. R-Type Final
8. Esp.Galuda
9. Simple Series: The Shooting

If you likey the cave games then Mushisama is a must. If you like the psikyo games, pick up the Gunbird 1&2 collection. If you can tolerate...err, like the G.Rev stuff then go for the Radirigy ps2 release.

There's a gigawing game on the ps2 but's it's total garbage.

If you can find a copy of Mobile Light Force 2 locally(it's 2.99 or less at gamestop) pick it up...I think it's Castle Shikigami 1

I agree on the Gigawing game for the ps2. I have got it and it is total shit. I like ur taste in that shump list, i need to track a couple of em down for the ps2 :-)

Kaioh · Dec 12, 2009

Not mine but...

Holy crap! Gradius V for $4.99 BIN on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/USED-Gradius-V-...temQQptZVideo_Games_Games?hash=item439c098713

Would get it, but already have it. Someone jump on it QUICK!

speedlolita · Dec 16, 2009

It's great how there's so many decent ports of arcade release on the PlayStation 2 for so little money. I got Gunbird Special for £5. Only really the rarer Cave games that cost big bucks.

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