D_Of_Shoreham wrote: ↑February 25th, 2023, 8:01 pm
Really into Shmups on the Switch recently. Downloaded G Darius HD, Mushihimesama, Crimzon Clover.
Keep seeing the Aleste collection high up in ranking lists of shmups on Switch? Is it really that great and worth getting? Not wanting to sound like a snob but they are Game Gear games, and while there's nothing wrong with that but it is an expensive collection for a collection of Game Gear games.
I never played them on the GG but given it's an M2 production, I assume they're perfectly accurate - for better and worse. The highlight of the collection is definitely GG Aleste 3 which is a brand new game by M2, using the GG Aleste engine, to give a shorthand explanation. It's the most exciting, best balanced and fun for me. I wouldn't say it's worth buying the collection for that, though.
Other recommendations from my perspective as a massive shmup and bullet hell fan would be:
Dodonpachi Resurrection - spectacular Cave vert, if you like Mushi, this will be familiar but more intense and there are several brilliant arrange modes including the legendary Ketsuipachi, probably the best shmup on the system in my opinion, until Dodonpachi Daioujou comes out later this year.
Psyvariar Delta - something quite different again, an updated version of a previous Psyvariar release from 2000, very addictive bullet grazing mechanic whereby you power up your ship by flying very close to bullets and the straight line patterns encourage this, great music, range of difficulty routes like Darius, underrated or just not given enough attention.
Rolling Gunner - a gateway bullet hell for me, absolutely loved it at the time, unusual shooting system which is so much fun when it clicks, ex-Cave dev at the helm, very slick gameplay but also feels quite indie with echoes of the PS2.
Here's some other stuff I think is worth checking out, some of my other favourites plus well-regarded entries.
More Cave stuff:
Deathsmiles - very popular bullet hell gateway drug, pretty accessible carnage, 'loli' aesthetic has never sat well with me
Akai Katana - probably a big influence on Rolling Gunner, some people love it but I find it harder to read, still spectacular entertainment
Espgaluda 2 - an amazing game that I've never given enough time to, feels like a B-side but that's not a criticism
More indie stuff:
Neko Navy - cute hori, gets really intense and fun on harder difficulties
Danmaku Unlimited 3 - Cave-style indie, very polished, nice graphics, very readable patterns and cool hyper mode, albeit much less intense than Crimzon Clover
Black Bird - unique audiovisual presentation, basically Fantasy Zone but very fun
Ports:
Darius Cozmic Collection - worth it for Darius Gaiden alone but Darius 2 is also great, albeit old-school
Gunbird 2/Strikers 1945 2/Dragon Blaze - the best of the Psikyo ports, they're a touch laggy but probably not an issue unless you're really familiar and playing at a high level (which I'm not!).
Blazing Star - maybe the best Neo Geo shmup, still looks and sounds great, really fun hori, quite slow, much more fun than R-Type to me.
Ikaruga/Radiant Silvergun - controversial to some because of the chaining 'puzzle' nature of the scoring system, you can skip all that and just enjoy two of the greatest ever shmups but caveat emptor, they're Marmite.
There are absolutely loads of shmups on Switch, many of them absolutely crap indie/mobile but all of these have been well worth my time and money.
