This game is included in Humble Bundle Flash Shmups (11 hours remaining) along with Really Big Sky, Syder Arcade, Aqua Kitty and Crimzon Clover.
Only Syder Arcade on Mac, definately NOT the best platform for gaming.
I'd say the best platform for shmups is the one that has the games that suits you. You can't find a bullet hell on Famicom, you must look for them in other places. I have a fondness for Famicom shooters, for example.
its hard to say since many systems have some awesome shmups but I have to give it to turbo/pc engine. great shmups like lords of thunder, coryoon, toilet kids, blazing lazers, dead moon, soldier blade, and many more made it a must own system for me.
I really like the DC for the Milestone stuff, probably in a minority but I think all those games are wicked fun. Also think the SNES is mad, mad underrated for shooters. PCE is my personal top shooter system though since caravan shooters are my favorite. Honorable mention: X68000
I would definitely have to say PCE/TGX16.
I bought a European TurboGrafx16 about 5 years ago, which came with Blazing Lazers (aka Gun Hed). If you ask me, a far superior pack-in game than for example Keith Courage. Throughout the years, I purchased a PC Engine Duo along with games like Star Soldier, Soldier Blade and Final Soldier. Still on my wishlist are Wings of Thunder and Gate of Thunder.
The best thing of course are the turbo buttons on the PCE controllers - that's really great feature for playing SHMUPs..
Saturn fan here for shmups, although if I couldn't pick Saturn, the PlayStation would be it due to the overlap in games. PCE is definitely next though, and then I think Genesis.
I'm not sure how the obvious answer is not Saturn (J) or PCE depending on the generation of shmups you're looking for. Sure, other systems have their share of quality exclusive titles, but the sheer volume on the aforementioned two outmatches everything imho. I could see an argument for X360 for modern arcade ports too I suppose.
I've gotta give this one to TG16/PCE. Just a fantastic line-up of shmups, there are absolute classics (R-Type, Solider Blade and Super Star Soldier) and even the ones that kind of sucked had tons of character (Psychosis, Dragon Spirit). Plus, it had the turbo setting so you didn't have to mash the fire button.
Second place is too close to call for me. It would either have to be Saturn or Genesis, perhaps even Dreamcast.