Favorite vertical shooters?

[afureru]

Having played the classic Galaga since I was a child, I've become rather attached to the bullet hell subgenre, getting me through some of the darker times of my life. I feel like just answering the Touhou series, as much as I love it, is a bit of a cop-out, so I'd go with Mushihimesama and it's sequel, DoDonpachi Daioujou close behind. Im very thankful for the more recent steam release letting me go without having to buy into more of Microsoft's BS, check it out if you like challenging games with amazing music :3

 

[Yousef]

My favorite is @Ikagura

 

[Waffles]

Galaga and Galaxian.

God, I can still remember my sheer joy when a multicard I got for my then-newly-adquired Famicom included both.

 

[Dyne]

So many! Here's a few of my favorites

Dragon Spirit (NES) best vertical shooter on the NES imo
19XX (Arcade)
Air Gallet (Arcade)
DonPachi (Arcade) Maybe my favorite on this list
DoDonPachi (Arcade)
Dragon Blaze (Arcade)
Dragon Saber (Arcade) This is a sequel to Dragon Spirit
Gun Bird 1 & 2 (Arcade)
Ikaruga (Gamecube)
Jamestown+ (Steam)
ZeroRanger (Steam) This game has an interesting twist on the genre

 

[Karnik]

Raiden, Sky Shark, Twin Hawk, Toilet Kids [] (PCE)
Guardian Legend, Gun-Nac, Recca (NES)
Pop'n Twinbee, Axelay (SNES)
Aero Fighters series (NG)
DoDonPachi series (psx, arc)

 

[Dyne]

Galaga and Galaxian.

God, I can still remember my sheer joy when a multicard I got for my then-newly-adquired Famicom included both.

There used to be a Galaga machine in the break room at an old job I had.
I spent so much time and quarters on that machine!

 

[JustLooking123]

Galaga and Galaxian.

God, I can still remember my sheer joy when a multicard I got for my then-newly-adquired Famicom included both.

Oh! I used to have a modified version of Galaxian in real console, in it our bullet speed was more than twice faster than original!
Playing it was a joy!

 

[DunkeyKong]

Not sure if it counts but Iridion 2
It was also graphically impressive too even for a GBA game

Also Zeroranger, what a masterpiece

 

[Waffles]

There used to be a Galaga machine in the break room at an old job I had.
I spent so much time and quarters on that machine!

Cool! My break room only had a microwave (so I guess I could have played Doom? XD).

 

[JustLooking123]

Also, PC-Engine version of Galaga was the best for me! my favorite among all shooters!

Edit: reworded it a bit.

 

[Dyne]

Not sure if it counts but Iridion 2
It was also graphically impressive too even for a GBA game
View attachment 4824
Also Zeroranger, what a masterpiece
View attachment 4826

Yeah, ZeroRanger is friggin cool
I've been meaning to grab Iridion II... thanks for reminding me

 

[DunkeyKong]

Yeah, ZeroRanger is friggin cool
I've been meaning to grab Iridion II... thanks for reminding me

That's cool, and yeah Iridion 2 is pretty good, have fun bro!

 

[Aika]

M.U.S.H.A.: Metallic Uniframe Super Hybrid Armor (Sega genesis)

 

[RustySK]

It's either Mushihimesama or Ibara Kuro for me - I'm a sucker for a good visual theme in a shmup and those two are just so fun to look at, I can't help but love 'em despite sucking at them.

Sorcer Striker/Mahou Daisakusen would be up there in my mind as well, but the gameplay is just kind of bland in that one. It's fun the first time around, but it gets old fast.

 

[otogirisou]

Mushihimesama, Mushihimesama Futari, Ketsui, Strikers 1945 II.

 

[Karnik]

Mushihimesama Futari

Futari or Futanari? ....

 

[DunkeyKong]

Futari or Futanari? ....

What?

 

[flushy]

literaly all game from cave
psikyo also had great games, i still prefer cave.
my fav is
- deathsmiles (oops, it didnt count, its horizontal)
- pink sweets
i like how they dont have 'bomb' button
1 button to shot and 1 button to control 'rose hip'

 

[Cu-Neo]

My favorites are Caladrius and Under defeat

And I always laugh a little when I remember that there's also a KOF one

 

[Zemus]

 

[Ikagura]

I have been summoned?

Thee genre has too many good games to choose one but if I had to choose one from Cave I'd probably go for Ketsui (helicopters are cool) as it was my first contact with the company with that one DS game.

It's a close tie for Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga as well.

Also Zeroranger, what a masterpiece

I need to replay this one, I've been a bit stuck on that final boss.


As for this year I really enjoyed Devil Blade Reboot (if it could be qualified as bullet hell).

 

[nachito]

DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou, Mushihimesama, Crimzon Clover, Gunbird.

 

[Karnik]

Check out this PSX game, that no one knows about, derived from the 1980s anime series Yatterman. Time Bokan: Bokan Desu Yo! Incredibly it was only translated into my language. You will also find it here in the Repo.

 

[Dyne]

I forgot, Space Megaforce on SNES

 

[Bonkers225]

Zanac
Raiden
Batsugun
Super Star Soldier
Raystorm
Raycrisis