Lesser Known Shmups (Part 1 of ?)
Shoot 'em ups, shmups, STGs... Whatever you call them there's a lot of them out there. There's some great ones we all should know and love like R-Type, Gradius, Ikaruga (and Radiant Silvergun), etc. The list goes on.
But, this blog is about informing you of games you may know little or nothing about. That's why I'm going to tell you about a few great shmups that are fairly unknown.
The following games are in no particular order...
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This section on Judgement Silversword -Rebirth Edition- for WonderSwan Color was expanded and now resides at RetroThing.com.
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Battle Chopper ("Mr Heli no Daibouken" in Japan)
Another great game by Irem. (of R-Type fame) This is a much cuter shmup that is more than a bit different than the standard formula. The game features free-roaming play similar to Fantasy Zone at times while fixed-scrolling at others. Crystals can be mined with your weapons to buy upgrades for your cute little helicopter as you blast through a variety of cool enemies and levels.
I don't like to link reviews but the Wikipedia entry is lacking and these contain some good info on the game...
NOTE!: This game first appeared in the arcades and later received a few ports, the best being the PC-Engine (known as the TurboGrafx-16 in the US) version. While the Arcade version is superior in graphics and sound, the PC-Engine version features both a "normal" and "arcade" mode so I recommend the PC-Engine version. The PC-Engine version was released only in Japan but no knowledge of the Japanese language is necessary to play!
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Change Air Blade
Take a shmup and combine it with the 1 on 1 aspect of a fighting game and you get the Japanese arcade-exclusive game Change Air Blade. Two ships duel in a dogfight of sorts while one periodically gains the ability to become a gigantic boss ship. The are several unique ships to choose from each with their own boss ship transformation. The game features both single-player and verses!
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Axelay
Developed by Konami, including an employee that would later go on to help form Treasure Co. Ltd, (makers of Ikaruga) Axelay features a strategy-making choosable weapons system (where weapons are destroyed when taking fire) and beautiful varied levels that switch between overhead vertical scrolling (with mode 7 effects) and side-view horizontal scrolling. A sequel was announced by Konami in the game itself but is, sadly, yet to be seen.
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Phalanx
Another SNES shmup, Phalanx was also later ported to the Game Boy Advance. The game is a horizontal scrolling shmup similar in ways to R-Type but with more focus on visceral blasting and dodging. Such a task is made easier with the selectable ship speed and robust array of firepower in the games varied and powerful weapon system. For example, each of the main weapons also has a unique powerful last ditch attack that destroys the weapon.
NOTE!: It appears the GBA version was updated in a few ways so it may be preferable to the SNES version but I'm unclear as to all of the exact changes/additions.
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RayForce, (also known as "Layer Section", "Galactic Attack" and "Gunlock" depending on region)
RayStorm,
and RayCrisis: Series Termination (also known as just "RayCrisis")
The Ray series of games appeared in the Arcades and were later ported to the PSX (last 2 games only) and Saturn. (first 2 games only) The game is a vertical scrolling shmup that features a lock-on weapon system that allows you to fire at not only enemies at your current altitude but those below as well. This requires a good player to pay attention to several layers of action at once.
NOTE!: The PlayStation version of RayCrisis does not feature co-op play though the arcade version does. So I recommend the arcade version.
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Cosmic Cop ("Armed Police Unit Gallop" in Japan)
An Irem arcade-only shmup, this time actually taking place in the same universe as the R-Type games, Armed Police Unit Gallop (as I prefer to call it) is a horizontal scrolling shmup based on the concept of chasing down and destroying autonomous "mad cars". The main goal is to catch up with and destroy the mad cars as fast as possible. Moving the ship towards the right of the screen causes you to fly faster but also puts you at risk of collisions or being shot. Very hard but thrilling.
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X-Multiply
An Irem arcade shmup very similar in several ways to R-Type's gameplay. This time, the player can acquire flowing tentacle-like appendages for their ship instead of a Force pod. Moving the ship causes the tentacles to flow accordingly acting as both a shield and a weapon.
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Dragon Breed
Yet another Irem Shmup. In this one, the player controls a vulnerable human riding on the back of an invulnerable dragon with a long flowing tail. Both the human and dragon can fire projectiles and the dragon's tail can act as both a shield and weapon. (Similar to X-Multiply's tentacles) The human can even sometimes dismount on to occasional platforms.
---
Part 2 coming... Stay tuned.
If you see any errors in the above information or links therein, please contact me immediately!
But, this blog is about informing you of games you may know little or nothing about. That's why I'm going to tell you about a few great shmups that are fairly unknown.
The following games are in no particular order...
---
This section on Judgement Silversword -Rebirth Edition- for WonderSwan Color was expanded and now resides at RetroThing.com.
---
Battle Chopper ("Mr Heli no Daibouken" in Japan)
Another great game by Irem. (of R-Type fame) This is a much cuter shmup that is more than a bit different than the standard formula. The game features free-roaming play similar to Fantasy Zone at times while fixed-scrolling at others. Crystals can be mined with your weapons to buy upgrades for your cute little helicopter as you blast through a variety of cool enemies and levels.
I don't like to link reviews but the Wikipedia entry is lacking and these contain some good info on the game...
- Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Chopper
- DigitalMonkeyBox review: http://www.digitalmonkeybox.com/mr_heli_no_daibouken_battle_chopper.htm
- SHMUPS! review: http://shmups.classicgaming.gamespy.com/reviews/mrheli/index.html
NOTE!: This game first appeared in the arcades and later received a few ports, the best being the PC-Engine (known as the TurboGrafx-16 in the US) version. While the Arcade version is superior in graphics and sound, the PC-Engine version features both a "normal" and "arcade" mode so I recommend the PC-Engine version. The PC-Engine version was released only in Japan but no knowledge of the Japanese language is necessary to play!
---
Change Air Blade
Take a shmup and combine it with the 1 on 1 aspect of a fighting game and you get the Japanese arcade-exclusive game Change Air Blade. Two ships duel in a dogfight of sorts while one periodically gains the ability to become a gigantic boss ship. The are several unique ships to choose from each with their own boss ship transformation. The game features both single-player and verses!
- Wikipedia entry: None as of writing this article!
- DigitalMonkeyBox review: http://www.digitalmonkeybox.com/change_air_blade.htm
- SHMUPS! review: http://shmups.classicgaming.gamespy.com/reviews/changeairblade/index.html
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Axelay
Developed by Konami, including an employee that would later go on to help form Treasure Co. Ltd, (makers of Ikaruga) Axelay features a strategy-making choosable weapons system (where weapons are destroyed when taking fire) and beautiful varied levels that switch between overhead vertical scrolling (with mode 7 effects) and side-view horizontal scrolling. A sequel was announced by Konami in the game itself but is, sadly, yet to be seen.
- Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axelay
- DESTROY ALL MONSTERS! review: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~bevhome/aisforaxelay.htm
- Classic Review Archive review: http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/snes/axelay.htm
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Phalanx
Another SNES shmup, Phalanx was also later ported to the Game Boy Advance. The game is a horizontal scrolling shmup similar in ways to R-Type but with more focus on visceral blasting and dodging. Such a task is made easier with the selectable ship speed and robust array of firepower in the games varied and powerful weapon system. For example, each of the main weapons also has a unique powerful last ditch attack that destroys the weapon.
- Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_%28video_game%29
- GameSpot review (GBA version): http://www.gamespot.com/gba/action/phalanx/review.html
- IGN preview (GBA version): http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/136/136342p1.html
NOTE!: It appears the GBA version was updated in a few ways so it may be preferable to the SNES version but I'm unclear as to all of the exact changes/additions.
---
RayForce, (also known as "Layer Section", "Galactic Attack" and "Gunlock" depending on region)
RayStorm,
and RayCrisis: Series Termination (also known as just "RayCrisis")
The Ray series of games appeared in the Arcades and were later ported to the PSX (last 2 games only) and Saturn. (first 2 games only) The game is a vertical scrolling shmup that features a lock-on weapon system that allows you to fire at not only enemies at your current altitude but those below as well. This requires a good player to pay attention to several layers of action at once.
- Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RayForce
- Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RayStorm
- Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RayCrisis
- DESTROY ALL MONSTERS! RayForce review: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~bevhome/rayforcerev.htm
- DESTROY ALL MONSTERS! RayStorm review: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~bevhome/raystormrev.htm
- DESTROY ALL MONSTERS! RayCrysis review: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~bevhome/raycrisisrev.htm
NOTE!: The PlayStation version of RayCrisis does not feature co-op play though the arcade version does. So I recommend the arcade version.
---
Cosmic Cop ("Armed Police Unit Gallop" in Japan)
An Irem arcade-only shmup, this time actually taking place in the same universe as the R-Type games, Armed Police Unit Gallop (as I prefer to call it) is a horizontal scrolling shmup based on the concept of chasing down and destroying autonomous "mad cars". The main goal is to catch up with and destroy the mad cars as fast as possible. Moving the ship towards the right of the screen causes you to fly faster but also puts you at risk of collisions or being shot. Very hard but thrilling.
- Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Police_Unit_Gallop
- Hardcore Gaming 101's Irem Post-Apocalyptic Games (featuring: Armed Police Unit Gallop): http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/irem/irem.htm
- dessgeega blog entry: http://blog.dessgeega.com/?p=106
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X-Multiply
An Irem arcade shmup very similar in several ways to R-Type's gameplay. This time, the player can acquire flowing tentacle-like appendages for their ship instead of a Force pod. Moving the ship causes the tentacles to flow accordingly acting as both a shield and a weapon.
- Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-Multiply
- DESTROY ALL MONSTERS review: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~bevhome/imf-xmultrev.htm
- Insomnia.ac review: http://insomnia.ac/reviews/ac/xmultiply/review.php
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Dragon Breed
Yet another Irem Shmup. In this one, the player controls a vulnerable human riding on the back of an invulnerable dragon with a long flowing tail. Both the human and dragon can fire projectiles and the dragon's tail can act as both a shield and weapon. (Similar to X-Multiply's tentacles) The human can even sometimes dismount on to occasional platforms.
- Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Breed
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Part 2 coming... Stay tuned.
If you see any errors in the above information or links therein, please contact me immediately!