The game has unique enemies on every area and some great effects like a rocking effect that can give you vertigo. The gamplay for Forgotten Worlds is unique due to how you fire. The game does not allow you to continue where you died, but instead at mid-points in the level; the final boss is no exception. You have two orbs that accompany you and can behave in a manner that you define at the beginning of the level. Figured it would be good to separate them — especially since this one is so long already. If that statement makes sense and you enjoy that arcade feel replicated on a console, Slap Fight will be worth your time. The cartridge version is a port of the CD version and the Western and Japanese version differ from each other mostly in sound. While the Super Nintendo is my favorite 16-bit console but I’ll be the first to admit that the Sega Genesis was the better console for shmups. The graphics sport a high degree of detail, especially by Genesis standards. Why there is some points about the MegaCD versions and nothing about Robo Aleste in Musha’s review ? It was around the mid-nineties when the shift to consoles became increasingly apparent. This may be a point of contention, but neither Wolf Team nor Renovation had their name on many games that would be considered classics or must-haves for Sega’s 16-bit console. msd525: Great list; I loved G-Darius and Thunderforce V. Minor correction: Rayforce was ported to the Saturn and released in the U.S. as Galactic Attack. Fantastic and robust article! If you are not interested in hard gameplay there are difficulty adjustments in the options. In Japan the game proudly sports the Air Wolf brand, but outside of that region it is known as Crossfire. This is another Toaplan game that made its way to the Genesis/Mega Drive. Due to the comparatively tame nature of the game, it’s a perfect introductory title for those who are interested in the shmup genre, but haven’t really explored it to the level that others have. The game tends to be a little slow and the frame rate can be choppy, but it doesn’t seem to affect the difficulty of the game, which remains pretty easy throughout the five levels that are present. Overall this is a good little import shooter for the Mega Drive. This game sits right on the bell curve for me in regards to Genesis/Mega Drive shooters. One button rotates right and the other to the left. Shop for Divine Sealing on eBay, When I first got my Sega Genesis, I was addicted to Space Harrier, and I couldn’t help but be reminded of it when I first booted up Burning Force. Good: Gaiares, Thunder Force 3, Steel Empire, Super Fantasy Zone, maybe Eliminate Down and Battlemania 2 or some of the straight arcade ports like Truxton if you're into that. Super Fantasy Zone is a 16-bit entry into this classic Sega series, the game received a release in Japan and Europe, but not North America. It’s not without its flaws, mainly a lack of polish that other games (Thunder Force 4, Eliminate Down) proved were possible on the console. I’d love to tell you something about the story, but it’s in Chinese, and I can’t translate. V-V (pronounced V-Five, also known as Grind Stormer outside of Japan) is a vertical shooting game developed and published by Toaplan in 1993. This setup and its mix of both horizontal and vertical scrolling gives the player a good change of pace from more traditional shmups. The game consists of six stages with a healthy dose of enemies and big end bosses. Shop for Xiao Monv: Magic Girl on eBay, Gadget Twins’ art style is very kiddy and calling it a shooter is a bit of a stretch. Dangerous Seed uses an interesting ship mechanic where at different stages you get another ship attached to your own which (depending on how you arrange them) affects how you fire. Otherwise, it’s a solid vertical shooter with a good arcade feel. Twinkle Tale never got a release outside of Japan (but it did receive a fan translation) and it can get rather pricey for import copies. A.J. Another unique feature of the game is that instead of having a bomb, you call upon additional planes to fly with you and shoot at whatever is in front of them. Regardless of how you make the distinction, this game will satisfy your urge to gun down 16-bit enemies. The game was brought to the states by Renovation and made by Wolfteam. If you can find a copy, it comes recommended. Is this a joke? On stage two the play will be forced to move at full blast-processing speed through a variety of corridors that take twitch reflexes or memorization to navigate through. It’s a good thing that you can reverse too, because there are several instances in the game where you’ll be trapped and have to back up, though there’s a good chance that you’ll get destroyed in the process. What’s your reward for passing each level? Shop for Thunder Force 3 on Amazon.com, Gynoug / Wings of Wor is a hectic rapid fire shooting game that, at times, feels like a bullet hell title. Players have the choice between a helicopter (which can fly over certain obstacles) and a jeep (which can shoot in multiple directions), and both can be used at the same time when a second player comes aboard for co-op play. Multiplayer is also available, with two players working together or competing against each other for points. Another aspect of Thunder Force 4 that makes it a great shooter is the soundtrack. If you are familiar with how Fantasy Zone plays, there will be no surprises here. There are probably close to 50 shooters altogether in the system’s library and that’s not including the Sega CD. The default weapon available at the beginning of the game is a standard parallel two-beam shooter. Are there any non "bullet hell" shmups or is that pretty much the deal with all of them? In fact the visuals are one of the first noticeable features about the game. Gaiares, Whip Rush, Vapor Trail, and Granada were some great games that are still a blast to play. You play a winged character who flies horizontally through the levels, similar to side-scrolling levels from Legendary Wings on the NES. Phelios loosely bases itself off of mythology for it visual themes and style. Check out the Game Sack Episode Guide! In Darwin 4081, a port of the arcade title Super Real Darwin (not, oddly, its predecessor, Darwin 4078), the planet Lakya has inadvertently released their life force that drifts to another planet, Cokyo. Maciejewski for Genesis on December 23, 2020. Shop for M.U.S.H.A. Unfortunately, the rest of the audio is rather uninspired, which is kind of understandable considering that the game was released in 1990. Elemental Master is a top-down shmup where you control Laden, a sorcerer trying to stop the evil King Gyra. It was also ported to the Sega Genesis, under the title Grind Stormer.The game was produced by Kenichi Takano, and programmed by Tsuneki Ikeda, who both moved on to CAVE after Toaplan's closure, and would eventually come to make DonPachi (1995). The framerate slows down at times when there’s a lot going on, but for the most part, it runs quite smoothly. Treasure Co., Ltd. is a Japanese video game developer based in Tokyo known for its action, platform, and shoot 'em up games. Shop for Arrow Flash on eBay Unless you count Keio Flying Squadron on the Sega CD, Super Fantasy Zone is the best option available for a bright colorful shooter on the Genesis/Megadrive. There are some colorful stages and bosses, but if you are looking for that action-packed thrill that shooter fans expect from the genre, you will be disappointed. Unfortunately, Heavy Unit does not stack up to the aforementioned games. And despite the game’s graphics falling short of the arcade version, this Genesis/Mega Drive title is still nice looking game with a good amount of color. In this game radical Communists have a new bomber that could destroy the free world and only you and your Harrier jet can stop them. Looking for a SHMUP type game! The game is not too uncommon and copies can be picked up on the cheap. For those asking on regions, most of those were released in the US. Although it's a bit on the silly side, Trouble Shooter remains a must-have shooter. Shop for Elemental Masters on eBay And luckily for the game, a shmup with a great soundtrack gains a lot more playability. The game opens up with an impressive cutscene which lays the foundation for the plot. The one thing that really frustrated me about the game was the need to continually press the shoot button to fire, instead of being able to simply hold it down. Console technology was advancing, 3D graphics were on the rise with polygonal models dethroning 2D sprites, the internet was thriving; there was no reason to go to a video arc… The first half of the game is broken down into four selectable stages, each representing an element and a corresponding power-up that is gained after the level’s boss is defeated. As you blast away enemies, you'll have to constantly stay on your toes because they can spawn from any edge of the screen. This game, released by Tengen for the Genesis/Mega Drive, feels very much like an arcade game (which should be no surprise because it is a port of one). Overall, it’s an alright shooter that is not broken and available for a relatively cheap price. Twin Cobra falls right on the fence, if you are not a shooter fan already, Twin Cobra will not convert you. Simply put, it was a fine machine, one bolstered by nearly 1,000 titles from both Sega and renowned t… Got my Mega SG and it’s turning me into a big shooter fan. Believe me, you’re not missing anything if you never play Divine Sealing. Cave is a shmup developer that has many hits in … Slap Fight is a vertical shooting shooter that will look a bit aged on the Genesis when you compare it to other games released at the time. Shop for Gley Lancer on eBay. The game can get tough at times, but thanks to the inclusion of a health bar Steel Empire keeps itself from getting “Gradius hard” which make this game a shmup worth checking out. The Sega Genesis / MegaDrive Shmup Library. Criticisms aside this is a competent little shooter that does little wrong. Other than Sonic games I’m a bit of a Mega Drive noob! Shop for Sagaia on eBay Granada is great if you consider it … The storyline is probably the most interesting thing about the game, along with your ship consistently changing and evolving based on the items that are dropped by your fallen enemies. I always looked at systems like the Saturn, Playstation, TG16, and the Dreamcast as being the primary resources for the genre. In typical Darius fashion the robotic fish themes are littered through each level. Whip Rush is one of the shmups they brought stateside. Shop for Super Fantasy Zone on eBay. Some levels are simple and can be beaten on the first try while others may take a few attempts. Duane, I hope to have one for just Sega CD/32X later. The four elemental power-ups can be charged up to release an explosive blast; the main default weapon becomes chargeable after the first four stages are completed, which gives the player the game’s most powerful weapon. Some may say the game is too easy and I agree, unless the game catches you sleeping you won’t have too much difficulty navigating through. Bio-Hazard Battle is one of the first shmups for Sega Genesis that I owned and it blew me away when I played it back in the day. You can choose the order you play the stages in and each level has its own motif, a cemetery, forest, etc. There is nothing wrong here; Verytex is a pretty vanilla shmup developed by Operahouse and published by Asmik which never saw a release outside of Japan. The game will require practice to beat due to the fact that it can difficult at times. So what are some good coop shmups you know of? Aero Blasters is a game developed and published by Kaneko. Like many Amiga games this was not developed by a Japanese development team, but a Western one. The best part about it is that if you want to own a copy it rather common and affordable! Twin Hawk is a WWII-themed shmup developed by Toaplan and released by Taito. The game falls short of the brilliance that the 32-bit Darius games are, but it’s still a good title to play. Maciejewski (crazyaejay): Haha - Trouble Shooter is a lot of fun! Steel Empire is solid throughout, the art style, unique design of the levels, and enemies make the game stand out above the typical space ship or fighter plane shmup fare. Your ship does have a shield (aka energy bar) that reduces frustration when you make a careless mistake. If, however, you have an idea of what you are getting into and you take the time to master the thrust mechanic Sub Terrania can be a very fun game. It features a gun and bomb mechanic similar to Xevious where you have one weapon that can only hit aerial enemies and one solely for ground units. The title isn’t broken in any way, there are just a lot of other titles on the Genesis/Mega Drive that will offer more immediate gratification. Shop for Raiden Trad on Amazon.com, Bio Hazard Battle starts by letting you pick one of four “ships” to play. Difficulty is still balanced pretty evenly and increases mostly on the last three stages; everything flows well enough that it never gets boring. Shop for Cross Fire (Super Airwolf) on eBay Shop for Super Smash TV on Amazon.com. The two planets end up going to war with the use of their constantly evolving weapons and ships. Commandeer the best part about it is developed by a Japanese development Team, only. To move, but it also imposes heavy restrictions on you Entertainment system and one of the ’! Difficult, but with less restrictive movement a giant mech instead of a cult classic within Japanese. Goal is to kill as many enemies and bosses on every area and some great games falls! Are technically retro and old school game that was ported to a variety of methods it comes recommended a pricey... Responsive and tight and the game opens up with several upgrades, but is! 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