Link to the review? It'd be nice to have a side scroller on the 3DS but that price man.
Shoot the Core! - Gaf Shoot em Up (aka Shooter/SHMUP) Reference Thread
- Thread starter fatty
- Start date
Link to the review? It'd be nice to have a side scroller on the 3DS but that price man.
sixteen-bit
Member
discoalucard
i am a butthurt babby that can only drool in wonder at shiney objects
Steel Empire feels a lot different from the typical 16-bit shooters, beyond just the steampunk visuals. Enemies take a lot of hits to kill, you have a life bar and the stages are fairly long, so in some ways it feels like a euroshmup. However, it's not as badly balanced as those games tended to be - it's actually pretty easy.
It originated on the Genesis then was ported to the GBA with new graphics, some redesigned bosses and a different power-up system. The 3DS version is based on this version, but the graphics have been redrawn again at a higher resolution, and it goes back to using the Genesis power up system (you keep your weapon level on death, all the way to the end of the game).
It's a pretty good game, but the general consensus is that it's not worth $30. You can get something like Sine Mora, which I'd rank about roughly the same level of quality, for something like a third of the price on the Vita, and that's a brand new game instead of a port of a game from the 90s. The 3DS version IS probably the best version, even though I think the music is a lot worse than the Genesis one.
Give Over Horizon for the Famicom a shot though, it uses a similar mechanic where you can fire both forwards and backwards, it has a cool weapon design system, and the graphics and music are really good.
discoalucard
i am a butthurt babby that can only drool in wonder at shiney objects
Well, it's more like it's one of the few "new" shooters available on portable platforms. They're similar in that they have similar aesthetics and a euroshmuppy feel (being an actual euroshmup), but they play very differently. It gets a bad rap, and while it has its issues, I still enjoyed it.
I don't think Over Horizon made it to any digital DL service.
I enjoyed it for what it was trying to do, but would never try to play it for survival/score. It's sad because as I've said before in the thread you could fix most of its problems with 3 or 4 fixes. As soon as you mentioned that Steel Empires reverted to a system where you keep power ups on death I started shaking my head, because the death system in SM is one of its big and easily fixed flaws.
discoalucard
i am a butthurt babby that can only drool in wonder at shiney objects
Well, the way Steel Empire works (GEN/3DS) is that you begin on weapon level 1, and by grabbing power-ups, you slowly power up all the way to level 20. You even keep it upon continuing. By stage 6 or so (out of 7), you're probably at full strength. In the GBA version, there are only 7 power levels, that are balanced differently, and you lose one every time you die, but gaining them is a little easier.
Playing Steel Empire for survival is trivial because you can probably beat it easily on your first sitting. It was really made for novices.
Playing Steel Empire for survival is trivial because you can probably beat it easily on your first sitting. It was really made for novices.
sixteen-bit
Member
If you're looking for a new PC game with old style flavor, I'd check out Locomalito's stuff. In a world of me-too retro themed indies their stuff feel so authentic for lack of a better word.
TheFightingFish
Member
Since I ditched my 360 to go PC only (farewell sweet Akai Katana) I've been looking for more PC SHMUPs to fill that void. Anyone have some recommendations from the current Japanese Indie Game Festival sale on Steam? Looks like lots of SHMUPs on sale.
http://store.steampowered.com/sale/japaneseindiefestiva
I have Astebreed and Gundemonium collection already. How are the eXceed games? They look very Cave like.
http://store.steampowered.com/sale/japaneseindiefestiva
I have Astebreed and Gundemonium collection already. How are the eXceed games? They look very Cave like.
sixteen-bit
Member
Get Crimson Clover if you don't have it yet.
I'm not a fan of the eXceed trilogy. They're definitely not as polished or balanced as Cave games. I also have the Gundemonium Collection, but none of those games did it for me. Too harsh. That indie pitfall of being to X-TREME for their own good. The only one I'd go back to is Hitogata Happa. While not a shmup, I hear good things about Gunhound EX. And it's not on sale, but you need to get Crimzon Clover.
I'm curious about RefleX. Any one have impressions?
I'm curious about RefleX. Any one have impressions?
If you really want 1942 on your PC... MAME.
Aizo
Banned
I thought the whole eXceed trilogy was crap. But, I don't really like that kind of game, I suppose. It felt too otaku-pandery to me.
J
Jotamide
Unconfirmed Member
You know this one is region-locked and the upgraded version for the PS3 is around the corner right?
sixteen-bit
Member
Great price.
ViewtifulJC
Banned
Get Crimzon Clover if you like Cave games. Shame it isn't on sale, though.
I thought the first two eXceed titles were kind of... not good. I liked eXceed 3rd though, and you can turn cutscene sequences off if the female character designs feel like they pander a little too much.
The ALLTYNEX games are also pretty decent. RefleX is the one in that sale.
HiddenWings
Member
Understand that I'm not an expert in the genre, but RefleX feels really weird. I thought having a shield button instead of a bomb button would be nice, except for the very fast homing lasers that nearly require it. Also the fact that there's "armor" instead of lives takes some adjusting to, since the lack of mercy invincibility means you can lose several hits at once if you're not careful. It feels incredibly difficult as a result.
That said, I think it's a good game. It's just very different from what I was expecting.
Thanks for the impressions. That sounds exactly like a thing I DON'T want. You saved me a few bucks.
SerTapTap
Member
Play on easy mode. The games have very good difficulty settings. Gundemonium 1 is hard as nails but I accidentally 1CC cleared it after just doing Easy with the non-Earl character and not playing it for like a year. They also require some getting used to. And Gundeadligne is almost a joke with Elixirel except if you hit the true final boss or play hard mode or higher.
TheFightingFish
Member
Ahh, thanks for the heads up. I didn't really pay attention to the visual design intitially, and stuff like that does bug me, so I think I'll just skip on eXceed for now and wait for a deal on Crimzon Clover. Thanks for the recommendations.
the right call
Never liked how so much of the Shmup world doesn't just use euroshmup to describe a different approach to making a shmup, but an actively inferior one. This is not a genre in the place to be writing off new approaches given it's well on it's way to becoming the Charles II of Spain of game genres.
I don't think there is anything inherently negative about the term "euroshmup." It's efficient shorthand for a specific sub genre. A sub genre that a lot of shooter fans don't care for, myself included. If you tell me something is a "euroshmup," I'll say no thank you.
I've never seen it used for anything other then at best a backhand insult. "well for a euroshmup it's okay." sort of thing.
While I don't really like the term myself (and think that a lot of the complaints made about those games can be applied to non-European games), I've never bought that I'm supposed to automatically appreciate attempts at bending a genre to reach new audiences. Fans of shooters that are, say, built around arcade design principles have no obligation to like the shooters that prioritize other things that those fans may not care for.
Obviously, but there's a world of difference from "Not for me" to "these are bad games because they are the same as every arcade bullet hell." I see FAR more of the latter Then wondering why the genre is dying out.
Edit: Also, I have never seen it used in a positive :"these are the kinds of Shmups I like" kind of way. How often do you see say a Raptor fan describing it as a euroshmup vs people who don't like Raptor? When it seems almost anyone using a term is suing it for things they are at best neutral towards that is a huge sign that it a term made up by people who don't like it in order to keep it separate from their "real" version. A good example that springs to mind is "roll playing vs role playing" in TTRPG. People who bring it up will swear to high heaven that they don't think lesser of "roll playing" but we totally need to admit game X that they don't like is "roll playing" and not proper "role playing" No one who ever likes game X ever would describe it as "roll playing."
Yeah, I've got a Japanese 360 which I bought strictly for playing shmups - so I'm not really interested in the PS3 version, plus the price is like $50 difference. I ended up buying Ginga Force as well.
Just buy Crimzon Clover now - it is a steal at full price anyway and easily worth the money if your looking for a quality shmup on steam. Yotsubane deserves all the money he can get for this masterpiece.
Fair point. But, I'll counter with why not embrace and start using "euroshmup" as a plain genre descriptor. Hell, the term "shmup" itself, used in the title of this very thread, was once seen as derogatory, until we all realized it's way easier to use than "shooter-no-not-like-quake."
Holy Hell. Megaton? Megaton.
Ikaruga Creator Is Working On A New Shooter For PlayStation 4
For me anyway ;-p
Ikaruga Creator Is Working On A New Shooter For PlayStation 4
SOME-MIST
Member
I think people find it derogatory because a large majority who play the genre dislike that style of shooter (and I don't for the record), but I think it's an easy way to distinguish between the different subgenres as someone else mentioned. I think the term was coined euro shmup because that style of shooter might've originated in europe? but I don't see it any different from "JRPG" - do people find that derogatory as well? there's other subgenres too.. bullet hell, manic, cute 'em ups etc.. while I don't consider any to be a "true" shooter.
is there a better label for the games considered euroshmups?
is there a better label for the games considered euroshmups?
eh.. hopefully this one doesn't have a similar scoring system to the previous games.
Shmup goes much further back then appearing some time after Quake. It's generally held to have first shown up in Zzap 64, a Commadore 64 UK magazine, in 1985 or so.
Just a head's up for those in the DC, Maryland, Virginia area. We are having our quarterly shooter meet this august 16th and it will be at my place in Fort Detrick. Plenty of cabs, monitors, LCDs, PVMs, etc. Most folks are in the shmups thread but I'm putting it out to GAFers if they are not in the know. PM me if you need address, directions, so on.
sixteen-bit
Member
your game room is so gorgeous!
It is the best I can do with government quarters. My other side is pretty cool, too. All the modern, PVMs and living space. Good mix of stuff, methinks. With my Tengoku as my centerpiece, of course.
StarCreator
Member
Do I need to pick up some stools?
Nah, I can go grab some from work today. I'm going to move a few things around today...maybe two machines into the other room and stuff. As it is set-up now it is ideal for two or three people so I wanna open it a bit.
Just a head's up for those in the DC, Maryland, Virginia area. We are having our quarterly shooter meet this august 16th and it will be at my place in Fort Detrick. Plenty of cabs, monitors, LCDs, PVMs, etc. Most folks are in the shmups thread but I'm putting it out to GAFers if they are not in the know. PM me if you need address, directions, so on.
Aw man... same day as the Pokémon World Championships!
StarCreator
Member
Looks like at least one person enjoyed the copy of Bullet Soul Infinite Burst I had out on the Otakon game room floor.
shaowebb
Member
I'ts that time of year again where presents get swapped in my house between me and my wife. This means its time to ask for shmups!
Currently I own a Samsung Tablet, 3DS,Dreamcast, Saturn, US 360 and a US PS3 and a PSP for import enjoyment so in other words...region free or digital only.
I own:
My faves are Akai Katana, Shikigami 2, and a tossup between the Muchi Pork Bundle and Deathsmiles 2x.
Suggest ANYTHING and everything. Imports most welcome. I tend to get hooked on bullet cancel mechanics or crazy stories. I tend to ditch anything Gradius-like.
Currently Considering
Bullet Soul Infinite Burst
Espgaluda 2
Mushihimesama Futari
Dodonpachi Sai Dai Ou Jooooo or however you spell the game with Incessant Moe Blob mode
Cave titles for Tablet if they wont crash (Espgaluda 2 crashes on stage 2 on the Samsung galaxy note ;_
Anything for PS3
Anything like Senko no Ronde (god I need the sequel someday)
Plus I'm open to suggestions. I loved shit like Trouble Witches and Bangai O so lemme know why you think I should go for anything in particular here.
Currently I own a Samsung Tablet, 3DS,Dreamcast, Saturn, US 360 and a US PS3 and a PSP for import enjoyment so in other words...region free or digital only.
I own:
shaowebb's huge list said:Dodonpachi Resurrection
Muchi Muchi Pork/Pink Sweets
Akai Katana
Deathsmiles
Deathsmiles 2x
Crimzon Clover
Crimzon Clover world ignition
eXceed Trilogy for PC
Gundemonium Collection
Super Killer Hornet :C
Astebreed
Armed Seven
Acceleration of Suguri
Danmaku Unlimited 2
Ether Vapor Remaster
Jamestown
Genetos
Gigantic Army
Hellsinker
Ikaruga
Kamui
Pixeljunk Shooter
Pixelboy and the Ever Expanding Dungeon
Satazius
Razor 2 :C :C :C :C
Scoregasm
Sine Mora
Touhou Great Fairy War
Touhou Shoot the Bullet
Castle Shikigami 2
Castle Shikigami 3
Ultimate Shooting Collection
R Type final
Trouble Witches Neo
Chronoblast
Raiden 3
Raiden 4
WARTECH
Mobile Light Force
Mobile Light Force 3
BANGAI O 3ds
Gradius collection
Nanostray1
Nanostray 2
Edens Aegis
Otomedius Excellent
My faves are Akai Katana, Shikigami 2, and a tossup between the Muchi Pork Bundle and Deathsmiles 2x.
Suggest ANYTHING and everything. Imports most welcome. I tend to get hooked on bullet cancel mechanics or crazy stories. I tend to ditch anything Gradius-like.
Currently Considering
Bullet Soul Infinite Burst
Espgaluda 2
Mushihimesama Futari
Dodonpachi Sai Dai Ou Jooooo or however you spell the game with Incessant Moe Blob mode
Cave titles for Tablet if they wont crash (Espgaluda 2 crashes on stage 2 on the Samsung galaxy note ;_
Anything for PS3
Anything like Senko no Ronde (god I need the sequel someday)
Plus I'm open to suggestions. I loved shit like Trouble Witches and Bangai O so lemme know why you think I should go for anything in particular here.
Remembrance
Member
Some options on PS3:
Under Defeat HD
Mamoru-kun Curse (should still be on sale this week)
Raiden IV Overkill
Caladrius Blaze (import)
Under Defeat HD
Mamoru-kun Curse (should still be on sale this week)
Raiden IV Overkill
Caladrius Blaze (import)
shaowebb
Member
Caladrius Blaze? Is that a sequel to Caladrius? I never heard of it...also Raiden IV Overkill? What did they do to it?
Im pretty barren on PS3 so I'm out of the loop on it.
cj_iwakura
Member
It's the PS3 version, I think.
Similar threads
- Featured