Where are my Arcade shmup fans at?

[Ikagura]

Yup! Plenty of Galaga games!

But I'm guessing there's a good reason why Galaga is still the most popular of them all.

Galaxian feels a bit too archaic and too much of a Space Invaders-like so that Galaga really evolved the shmup genre before Xevious.

So, a fun fact:
GameBoy Space Invaders has a little secret. If you put it into a Super GameBoy, it has the entirety of the SNES version of the game inside of it.
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A super cool feature that turned what would have otherwise been a standard port into a notable game inside both the GameBoy and Super Famicom libraries.

Wait, how did they manage to put a SNES rom inside a GB cart? That's black magic lol.

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

Wait, how did they manage to put a SNES rom inside a GB cart? That's black magic lol.

File sizes! The game is just really small, so they coded the assets for the SNES version into the GameBoy version as a bonus because they’re had so much leftover cartridge space.

I guess the real Space Invader was the SNES code!

 

[DjQuick2008]

Blasting this right now shooting da bugz

 

[Ikagura]

File sizes! The game is just really small, so they coded the assets for the SNES version into the GameBoy version as a bonus because they’re had so much leftover cartridge space.

I guess the real Space Invader was the SNES code!

I've just downloaded the game to try it and I'm impressed. Pretty solid port and I'm wondering why we don't see a full collection including many entries on PC... I know there's one but not on Steam.

Space Invaders '95 looks like a nice Parodius-esque take on the classic.

 

[DjQuick2008]

Been playing this too

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Will fire this one up tomorrow.

 

[Ikagura]

Space Invaders '95 looks like a nice Parodius-esque take on the classic.

It's a massive shame it never got any console port...

Cute them ups are also quite interesting to play.

 

[Cody34]

Air Buster: Trouble Specialty Raid Unit

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

Xevious may be the more culturally relevant game, but Dragon Spirit is the true greatest from early 80’s Namco.

It will take your money though. It’s HARD. But it feels amazing to play, has satisfying power ups, and has a godlike aesthetic that still rocks to this day. I swear, this game alone is why Namco Museum Volume 5 is so expensive for the US PlayStation, because everybody wants a piece. And the PC Engine version? Amazing.

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Been playing this too

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Will fire this one up tomorrow.

GHOST BLAAAAAADE!
Everyone, please play that game. I don’t care if you don’t rock with it aesthetically: all it takes is one play session to understand that it’s one of the most fun and chaotic shmups on PC right now.

 

[DjQuick2008]

Danmaku unlimited 3 New purchase its so colourful.

Post automatically merged: Sep 14, 2025

Xevious may be the more culturally relevant game, but Dragon Spirit is the true greatest from early 80’s Namco.
View attachment 108392
It will take your money though. It’s HARD. But it feels amazing to play, has satisfying power ups, and has a godlike aesthetic that still rocks to this day. I swear, this game alone is why Namco Museum Volume 5 is so expensive for the US PlayStation, because everybody wants a piece. And the PC Engine version? Amazing.

Post automatically merged: Sep 8, 2025

GHOST BLAAAAAADE!
Everyone, please play that game. I don’t care if you don’t rock with it aesthetically: all it takes is one play session to understand that it’s one of the most fun and chaotic shmups on PC right now.

i love ghost blade HD

Post automatically merged: Sep 14, 2025

I want this ported to switch and possibly some extra levels M2 do your stuff.

 

[Ikagura]

View attachment 110378
I want this ported to switch and possibly some extra levels M2 do your stuff.

I remember it as "Space Megaforce" and I love the first level's theme.

 

[DjQuick2008]

I remember it as "Space Megaforce" and I love the first level's theme.

yes in the USA its space megaforce the music is masterful can get the OST on youtube it chills me out.

 

[Snorlaxbelly]

Absolutely love them, can't say I'm good at them, but damn are they fun. I could make an exhaustive list, but I love Raiden, GUNBIRD, KAMUI, and 1942/1943 games.

 

[Ikagura]

Despite its name this thread isn't strictly about arcade shooters right?

I appreciate the SNES but I think the Mega Drive and PC Engine are the consoles for shmups.

 

[DjQuick2008]

 

[Ikagura]

View attachment 110973

I'm still confused about why they haven't ported it to PC nor the Switch.

I still find it interesting how the PS2 port got canned in favour of the 360 because of one transition towards the end that would've made the console lag.

The DS "semi spin-off" was also cool to see.

 

[DjQuick2008]

I'm still confused about why they haven't ported it to PC nor the Switch.

I still find it interesting how the PS2 port got canned in favour of the 360 because of one transition towards the end that would've made the console lag.

The DS "semi spin-off" was also cool to see.

I play this on my handhelds my gaming PC build has the arcade version too.

 

[Ikagura]

I play this on my handhelds my gaming PC build has the arcade version too.

Someday I'll get an arcade focused machine.

Either way I still find Ketsui Death Label worth trying because it's more of a training simulator.

 

[DjQuick2008]

New purchase im about to play

 

[Ikagura]

Someday I'll get an arcade focused machine.

Either way I still find Ketsui Death Label worth trying because it's more of a training simulator.

I miss the era of superplay DVDs

 

[DjQuick2008]

Another banger picked up in a steam sale.

 

[Ikagura]

Another banger picked up in a steam sale.

This is a trilogy and I need to finish them someday.

 

[Cody34]

One of my favs Capcom's Carrier Air Wing. Starring Sean Connery! (probably) lol

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8 Way Greatness.

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Just for the madness of it...Game Tengoku

 

[Deleted member 881671]

One of my favs Capcom's Carrier Air Wing. Starring Sean Connery! (probably) lolView attachment 111670View attachment 111671View attachment 111672View attachment 111673View attachment 111674

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8 Way Greatness.View attachment 111683View attachment 111684

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Just for the madness of it...Game TengokuView attachment 111685View attachment 111686View attachment 111687

That's cool Sean Connery had a game.

 

[DjQuick2008]

Sci fi after burner

 

[Kobu]

I have always liked these old school SHMUPS but I'm ass at them. One my favorites is Gradius III on the SNES even though I've never made it past the second level. Giga Wing comes to mind the soundtrack is bangin' especially the boss theme. My earliest memories of playing the genre are with Varth: Operation Thunderstorm, which stood out because Ryu makes a cameo as a collectible item that increases your points I think.

I've always wanted to emulate Raiden III and IV but I've never figured it out.