Best Shmup of the 16 Bit (console) Era?

[Takumaji]

As opposed to a black one?

Dunno, I just like the og white machine. If I could be arsed somehow to buy a PCE (I won't), it would be a first-run white PCE. The later models and specially the Duo stuff probably would be a much better choice, but still.

 

[Kid Panda]

Plus the white pce is RF only, the later models added the av port for composite.

 

[Atro]

Ghost pilots

We're talking about the best, not the worst. Even tho we all know it's sarcasm. Ghost Pilots ain't that bad, but it's unsarcastic'able

 

[kernow]

At least noone got my other omg it's 24bit! sarcasm

 

[roker]

Soldier Blade
Blazing Lazers
Lords of Thunder
Gate of Thunder
Battle Mania 2
Super Aleste
Thunder Force 3/4
Gleylancer
Air Zonk

UN Squadron would be on here, but once you figure it out, you can kind of blast right through it pretty quick. I think I would have preferred a more straight forward approach like the arcade or the sequel Carrier Airwing

 

[KGRAMR]

I don't know which ones would qualify as the best 16-bit shooters but these would be some of the ones i consider my favorites:

- Axelay
- U.N. Squadron/Area 88
- Thunder Force IV
- Gate and Lords of Thunder
- Blazing Lazers/Gunhed
- Battle Mania Daiginjou/ Trouble Shooter Vintage
- Twinkle Star Sprites

I do not want to throw anything by Toaplan as that would be way too easy, but i really like their shooters a lot. But if i had to choose any of their repertoire outside of Out Zone, that would be Dogyuun.

 

[jro]

Dunno, I just like the og white machine. If I could be arsed somehow to buy a PCE (I won't), it would be a first-run white PCE. The later models and specially the Duo stuff probably would be a much better choice, but still.

Not sure about Germany but in America there's a premium for the darker ones.

I have a modded white Duo R but I somehow have not kicked the idea of a black unit.

 

[Takumaji]

Not sure about Germany but in America there's a premium for the darker ones.

I have a modded white Duo R but I somehow have not kicked the idea of a black unit.

Black units also go for slightly more than the white ones over here, not sure but I guess they made more white than black versions or most people simply prefer the darker ones but I like the original white PCE best, it's so nice and small and kinda, dunno, friendly or summat, totally unlike the other consoles of its time which were either black or gray/beige and much bigger. The Hucards are great as well, maybe not in terms of total data capacity but I like their size and looks. You could put five of them in your pocket, try that with Neo carts

 

[neo_mao]

Is that a homecart in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

 

[Kid Fenris]

My personal favorites are the Trouble Shooter/Battle Mania games, but as much as I love them I'll also say they're not as intense or tightly designed as a lot of other shooters. If you want the best total package...

There are a few that I'd rank above it from a technical standpoint, and there are two, maybe three, that I'd rank above it on pure fun factor. But for overall technical achievement (graphics, sound, level design, gameplay, natural control intuitiveness, et cetera), and fun factor combined in one game, MUSHA takes it for me.

Yeah, it's this. MUSHA just nails it on every level.

Edit: And Seirei Senshi Spriggan would be the runner-up.

 

[terry.330]

Hot take but despite everything they do right Compile’s shmups all feel unsatisfying to control. They have a kind of hollow feel that I can’t quite put my finger on. Like there’s no impact to the shots and everything feels very light and mushy, especially on the PCE.

 

[neo_mao]

Hot take but despite everything they do right Compile’s shmups all feel unsatisfying to control. They have a kind of hollow feel that I can’t quite put my finger on. Like there’s no impact to the shots and everything feels very light and mushy, especially on the PCE.

I don’t know about all Compile games, but I agree something is off with Spriggan. It’s a very good game…but I would not say excellent. One additional issue is some levels definitely feel to meander for too long and just drag. Especially that stage with spiders/snake things.

For me personally that tedium is just exacerbated when jumping between Spriggan and something like Gates of Thunder or Lords of Thunder which are just so tight and just a joy to play.

I didn’t know some of the folks behind the Mega Drive Thunder Force games were also involved with GoT and LoT. what a collection of games.

 

[Kid Fenris]

Yeah, Compile shooters tend to have long levels, and Spriggan is one of the easier ones. It also has more background details that the designers want you to notice (like the green ally robots that can get shot down), so they take time for that. But then that's actually part of why I like it so much.

I think the weapons in Spriggan are mostly pretty cool, but there's one that definitely has that soft feel you're talking about. It's a homing shot that looks like a cloud, and it's hard to tell if it's doing anything.

When it comes to weapons that don't seem right, I always think of Thunder Force IV and the way most of the enemies don't register damage by blinking or flashing. The weapons look neat but it often feels like they have no effect until a boss finally explodes.

 

[neo_mao]

Yeah, Compile shooters tend to have long levels, and Spriggan is one of the easier ones. It also has more background details that the designers want you to notice (like the green ally robots that can get shot down), so they take time for that. But then that's actually part of why I like it so much.

I think the weapons in Spriggan are mostly pretty cool, but there's one that definitely has that soft feel you're talking about. It's a homing shot that looks like a cloud, and it's hard to tell if it's doing anything.

When it comes to weapons that don't seem right, I always think of Thunder Force IV and the way most of the enemies don't register damage by blinking or flashing. The weapons look neat but it often feels like they have no effect until a boss finally explodes.

Yeah not a fan of the blue one. My preferred weapon is some combo of green and yellows.

Just played through it again. It’s a good game but levels are damn long

I’d like to get Spriggan Mark 2 at some point…though the cut scenes/breaks in gameplay seem ridiculous…but supposedly can turn them off (?).

 

[Lastblade]

It is probably Thunderforce 3 or 4. 4 is the better game but 3 was the one that I drooled over on magazines with that fire stage and it did not disappoint, right up there with Last Blade 2's burning house stage.

Everyone loves MUSHA, but what about Robo Aleste on Sega CD?

 

[SNKNostalgia]

Lords of thunder wins!