TG-16 Shoot ‘em ups

[Ultra Luigi]

What shmups would you recommend? I just got Cyber-Core, my very first shmup for the TG-16 and I liked it. I rarely play these kinds of games so I want to buy some other ones for this system. I have Raiden for the Atari Jaguar so I wouldn't want to purchase it again unless it was completely different. If you guys can give me a list of games that you enjoyed playing I would really appreciate it.

Oh yeah, Stage 8 on Cyber Core was insane. The game goes from easy to crazy. I lost most of my lives but I managed to evade the blue insects at the end and I beat the game. It was a lot of fun. 

[nat]

Do you have CD capability on your console? How about a region converter or mod? That makes a whole lot of difference.

For USA carts, the following are must-owns in my book:

R-Type - Shouldn't need to describe this one.
Sinistron - Futuristic shooter with a biological theme. The going gets really tough the further you get. A great game and a great challenge.
Aero Blasters - Sweet game. Better than the Genesis version (Air Buster).
Blazing Lazers/Gunhed - Awesome vertically scrolling shooter. Some complain about the length of the stages which tend to drag on at times. Killer music.
Air Zonk - Wacky sidescrolling shooter that isn't very hard, but it's nice to look at and a lot of fun.
Psychosis - One of my favorite shooters ever. Great graphics, music and an interesting theme. This one is tough for the unseasoned.
Fantasy Zone - A great arcade port of the SEGA spectacular!

The following also are worth a look:

Deep Blue - Most people don't like this game siting the fact that it's too hard for them. Runinruder and myself are truly hardcore and therefor love this game. It's an underwater shooter where you battle schools of fish mutated by an alien force. Simply awesome. This game should actually be up there in my first section.
Galaga '90 - TurboGrafx port of the arcade classic Galaga '88.
Sidearms Hyperdyne - Capcom classic where you can face either way to shoot. Forerunner of sorts to Forgotten Worlds. For me this game is really hard but I honestly haven't given it a lot of play time.
Dead Moon - An alien probe has crashed on the moon and it's up to YOU to stop them. Pretty cool game, but most of the music isn't memorable. Not bad, but you won't catch yourself humming it later. Not too difficult.

There are more, but that's a start for you. I'm not going to waste time with CD and Japanese games since I don't know if you have the ability to play them.

[OldRover]

Dead Moon - An alien probe has crashed on the moon and it's up to YOU to stop them. Pretty cool game, but most of the music isn't memorable. Not bad, but you won't catch yourself humming it later. Not too difficult.

I disagree. I find myself replaying the music for this game over and over in my head quite often, especially the final boss music and the first level music.

I would recommend Super Star Soldier and Soldier Blade as well. Oh, and if you really want a nightmare...go for the original version of Sinistron, called Violent Soldier. That game is uberhardcore just like Deep Blue. It makes Sinistron look easy, and Sinistron is a real bastard of a game past level 3.

[PhilBiker]

The TG-16 is renowned as a shooter lover's system, now as well as when it originally came out.  I can only comment on the ones I have:

US Carts:

Aero Blasters is awesome, particularly two players, until the "Zero Gravity" kicks in, then it's a complete washout.  What where they thinking?
Blazing Lazers is the best shoot-em-up I've ever played.  Great music, perfect gameplay, great visuals, easy parts, completely insane parts, you name it, this game has it all.
Sidearms is fun but gets very hard very fast.  It's got a manic pace that's a lot of fun for the short time till it gets insane.
Super Star Soldier is fantastic.  Some of the levels are completely impossible unless you go into them all powered up - if you "continue" you may as well run+select and start over.
Soldier Blade is great also.  Lots of fun.
R-Type of course.  TG-16 version has some serious blinking/graphics problems.
Air Zonk is fun if you like "cute-em-up" games.
Deep Blue is an abomination.
Sinistron I can't remember it's been so long since I played it.  I remember it being impossible.
Fantasy Zone I hate it.  Make me an offer.
Psychosis is kind of frustrating, but colorful and can be fun as long as you don't pick up the crappy weapons.  Imaginative visuals and very good music.  This is one of those games where memorization is almost more important than game play skill.
Ordyne is an OK cute-em-up.  Great fun with two player simultaneous play.
Galaga '90 rules if you like the original Galaga.
Dead Moon Really neat backgrounds and ho-hum gameplay.  It's pretty good, but I get the feeling that it could have been a lot better if some of the people designing the backgrounds did some of the sprites instead.  Bosses are just wierd.
Space Harrier Supposedly it's a great port of the arcade version.  I don't particularly like it.

US CDs:
Gate Of Thunder is amazing.  Almost as good as Blazing Lazers in my book.
Lords Of Thunder is very good, about 4/5 as good as "Gate".
Cotton is frustrating and impossible.  Anyone want to make me an offer?  My copy's like new.
Monster Lair is extremely fun with two player simulateous - great music.
Forgotten Worlds has funky controls, but is pretty cool.

Cyber-Core is OK, but not on my list of favorite TG-16 shoot-em-ups.

[Ultra Luigi]

Do you have CD capability on your console? How about a region converter or mod? That makes a whole lot of difference.

I should have mentioned that I was only interested in the US Hucards since I don't have the TurboGrafx-CD or a converter. Thanks a bunch Nat and PhilBiker.

[CrackTiger]

Try Aeroblasters next. 

[nat]

Really, all the games we listed are better than Cybercore IMO. It makes me so happy you're already loving TurboGrafx shooters and you've only played Cybercore, of all things. 

And I have to dispute this statement:

Aero Blasters is awesome, particularly two players, until the "Zero Gravity" kicks in, then it's a complete washout.  What where they thinking?

It's called challenge. The first zero-G stage is one of my favorites in the whole game. Make no mistake, you'd better have your best game face on for this one.

Also, I'd like to add that you should play Blazing Lazers/Gunhed before Super Star Soldier or Soldier Blade. Those games are good, but are kind of sequels to Blazing Lazers and not quite as good.

[runinruder]

I agree with Nat on the zero-G stages in Aero Blasters.  The only part of AB that I felt was BS was the stretch in the final stage with the uneven tunnel and the wobbly screen.  I always lose a good three lives or more on that crap. 

Also, I'd like to add that you should play Blazing Lazers/Gunhed before Super Star Soldier or Soldier Blade. Those games are good, but are kind of sequels to Blazing Lazers and not quite as good.

Yeah, I'd go even further and say don't bother with Super Star Soldier at all, or at least put it off until you've played most of the other games listed in this thread.  It's ugly and antiquated, and too long for its own good.  Blazing Lazers and Soldier Blade are much better.

[VestCunt]

Is Raiden on the Jaguar totally awesome?  If so, don't worry about the hucard; wait until you have a cd system someday and then get Super Raiden.

Cyber-Core is a vertical shooter, so I'd recommend mixing things up with a horizontal title.
If you're willing to try something different, Air Zonk gets my vote.  I'm not a fan of cute-em-ups but I like Air Zonk.  The music and graphics kick ass and you can adjust the difficulty.
If you want something fast and intense (and you're only willing to stare at spaceships), I agree that Aero Blasters is your best bet.
Otherwise R-type is the king of the slow shooters.  If you're sick of R-type, the alternative slow shooter would be Sinistron.

After you pick up the games you're most interested in, try Dead Moon and Galaga 90.

Vertical
1: Raiden
2: Soldier Blade
3: Blazing Lazers

Horizontal
1: Air Zonk/Aero Blasters
2: R-Type

[PhilBiker]

It's called challenge. The first zero-G stage is one of my favorites in the whole game. Make no mistake, you'd better have your best game face on for this one.

IME it's impossible unless you're doing two player simultaneous.  If you are doing two player simpultaneous at that point you can pretty much switch off "flash" bombs all the way through.

Also, I'd like to add that you should play Blazing Lazers/Gunhed before Super Star Soldier or Soldier Blade. Those games are good, but are kind of sequels to Blazing Lazers and not quite as good.

Though they are similar, Blazing Lazers was made by a different company / team than SSS ans SB.  They are all three excellent.

I hate Raiden.  Boring graphics, completely uninteresting sounds, and unbelievably slow movement, you can barely avoid shots.

[nat]

It's called challenge. The first zero-G stage is one of my favorites in the whole game. Make no mistake, you'd better have your best game face on for this one.

IME it's impossible unless you're doing two player simultaneous.  If you are doing two player simpultaneous at that point you can pretty much switch off "flash" bombs all the way through.

It's not impossible. I have gotten through that stage without losing a life before.

Although I won't lie, it didn't happen on my first try and took a while before I could do it. The key is choosing the correct weapon.

[esteban]

I hate Raiden.  Boring graphics, completely uninteresting sounds, and unbelievably slow movement, you can barely avoid shots.

Don't be such a hater . It's a friggin' fun, challenging game that can really hook you if you give it a chance...

The challenge is the best part, if you ask me. I love games that whoop my ass and still leave me wanting to play one more time.

[Tatsujin]

gate of thunder, then long nothing O:)

[SuperDeadite]

Cotton is frustrating and impossible.  Anyone want to make me an offer?  My copy's like new.

Cotton impossible?  I got to the extra loop after a mere 3 nights worth of playing.  I haven't beaten the extra loop yet, but I got to about level 6 before taking a break and started playing a new game.  If you just abuse your shielding abilities most of the bosses are quite easy...

[Ultra Luigi]

Awesome, from what I've read about Aero Blasters, I'm going to get that game next. I'm up for the challenge.

What about Dragon Spirit? I read something about it but I don't trust the guy after I read a few of his reviews. Remember that Nsider guy that I quoted on New Adventure Island, well he does weekly reviews on every new VC game and he loved Dragon Spirit calling it one of the best TG-16 games. He Highly Recommended the game while other games that you guys mentioned were good, like Blazing Lazers got a Not Recommended. He didn't recommend most of the TG-16 schmups except for Dragon Spirit.

Dragon Spirit Review
I remember mentioning that I had a thing against space shooters because they were mostly the same thing over and over again, whether we're talking about gameplay, graphics, music, or any other gameplay feature. Dragon Spirit, however, is hands-down one of the BEST space shooters I have ever played. Maybe it's because I love dragons to death... Nah. Or maybe because of the game's uncanny resemblance to RainbowBell (TwinBee, for all of you people who didn't play Konami Arcade Classics for the DS), a game that I love... No, perhaps this isn't the reason. It's because this game just rocks, plainly and simply. The graphics are some of the best on the TG-16, and the gameplay is fantastic. It's also not as hard as the space shooters usually come by, perhaps due to the fact that your blue dragon can sustain three hits, instead of the usual one-hit-kills dilemma present in the usual space shooters. Of course, we are faced with a different sort of problem... I'm sure that not a lot of you have heard about - or played this - gem of a game. Don't hesitate, though... This is worth it, and one of the best TG-16 games available on the Virtual Console right now. Now, whenever people are going to ask me which shooter they should get, I'm not going to tell them "Gradius III, R-Type III, etc.", but I will tell them to download Dragon Spirit, because that's just how great of a game it is. But don't take my word on it. Just go and download it! Also, I must make a note that after last week's highly disappointing Hudson release of the abysmal China Warrior, it's a relief to see that Hudson actually has great gaming taste. I really questioned their sanity after they released China Warrior, but now, all of those pointless grudges are now long past... For Hudson has redeemed themselves! Highly recommended.

Blazing Lazers Review
Not again. NOT AGAIN. Another space shooter. Not only am I now officially tired of this genre, but I'm even tired of typing about how tired I am. Blazing Lazers might have been good if it had some stand out features. You won't find anything redeeming in this game, it's just another standard space shooter. Sure, everything works, but how much more can we take?! I can't even bear to look at space shooters any more. Well... all except Xevious, because that game rocks beyond anything else. But in all due seriousness, don't get Blazing Lazers unless you want another space shooter (gasp). It's a tired stereotypical formula, and this particular game does nothing to reinvent - or even add on to - an already stale genre. No wonder the space shooting genre has died out... It seems as though no game developers really had any ideas to reinvent the genre! It's just the same old, same old, and I for one shall not stand for something like that. I am just flat-out tired and disgusted. How much more can we take? Obviously not recommended. ...But wait. Don't think that this game is bad in any way. It's actually quite solid all things considered. It's just that it doesn't have any redeeming features. Just thought I'd add this note.

Is Dragon Spirit as good as he makes it out to be?

[Seldane]

Dragon Spirit ROCKS! The graphics are terrible, but otherwise that dood is right on the money. Great game.

[PhilBiker]

If you liked Cyber-Core I think you'll love Dragon Spirit.

Blazing Lazers was groundbreaking at the time of its release.

Another thing about Aero Blasters - it has some GREAT music.  The song in the cave level (level 2) is really cool.  And the bosses actually get easier from levels 1-3.  The Level 3 boss is pretty much a joke IMO.  Fatasy Zone as much as I don't like the way it plays (the scrolling forard to back when you turn around is pretty insane on my 96" screen) the music is great, you'll hum along to this one.

[PhilBiker]

Otherwise R-type is the king of the slow shooters.  If you're sick of R-type, the alternative slow shooter would be Sinistron.

And Psychosis, another great slow shooter.  I'm not big on slow shooters myself but the crazy visuals of Psychosis keep me coming back.

[PhilBiker]

Another site I'd recommend is Shmups.com for reviews.  They do a pretty good job.  Check the "Xenocide Files" for older reviews of some of the games discussed here.

[CrackTiger]

If you liked Cyber-Core I think you'll love Dragon Spirit.

Blazing Lazers was groundbreaking at the time of its release.

Another thing about Aero Blasters - it has some GREAT music.  The song in the cave level (level 2) is really cool.  And the bosses actually get easier from levels 1-3.  The Level 3 boss is pretty much a joke IMO.  Fatasy Zone as much as I don't like the way it plays (the scrolling forard to back when you turn around is pretty insane on my 96" screen) the music is great, you'll hum along to this one.

I find that classic 2D games are much more impressive on a huge screen than modern 3D stuff.

[PhilBiker]

I find that classic 2D games are much more impressive on a huge screen than modern 3D stuff.

Devil's Crush is INSANE at gigantic size.

[nat]

Is Dragon Spirit as good as he makes it out to be?

In a word: no.

Like Selda... I mean FM-77 said, the graphics are horrible. That reviewer's comment that the graphics "are the best the TG-16 has to offer" indicates to me he never played the game, or any other TG-16 game. Either that, or he has some killer fucking drugs he needs to hook me up with. Like I pointed out in another thread, the background for the entire length of stage 1 barely uses 8 colors at best.

The game is not horrible, but the size of your dragon makes the hitbox waaaaay to big. Not to mention various powerups go so far as to INCREASE YOUR SIZE worsening the problem.

You might waste away an hour or so on Dragon Spirit, you might even enjoy some of it, but it's far from the best of what the TG-16 has to offer in the shoot 'em up department. If it was the best, it would have been on the list I posted earlier. 

EDIT: FM-77, don't you dare post that vid clip at me.

[PhilBiker]

the size of your dragon makes the hitbox waaaaay to big. Not to mention various powerups go so far as to INCREASE YOUR SIZE worsening the problem.

Cyber-Core has the same behavior, if anything it's worse on Cyber-Core.  Powered up your bug is GIGANTIC.  Which is kind of cool, except that thing about avoiding shots.  Dragon Spirit plays a lot like Cyber-Core, which, though not one of my favorites, is pretty cool IMO.

[Seldane]

it's far from the best of what the TG-16 has to offer in the shoot 'em up department.

/1182318260269lj6bg0.gif

[Tatsujin]

:edit:

[grahf]

When I was a kid and had a TG16, Dragon Spirit was one of the only games I bought before trading the whole setup in. I thought it was aweful then, since at that point I pretty much hated all shooters. I bought it again after getting into PCE stuff, and I actually really like it now. I like to play it for more than a few games at a time, but I always come back to it.

[runinruder]

Dragon Spirit plays a lot like Cyber-Core, which, though not one of my favorites, is pretty cool IMO.

Dragon Spirit is slow, ugly trash.  It's only similar to Cyber Core in that you can drop "bombs" on ground-based foes.  CC has a much faster pace to it.

[esteban]

Dragon Spirit plays a lot like Cyber-Core, which, though not one of my favorites, is pretty cool IMO.

Dragon Spirit is slow, ugly trash.  It's only similar to Cyber Core in that you can drop "bombs" on ground-based foes.  CC has a much faster pace to it. 

Don't listen to the naysayers: Dragon Spirit can be fully enjoyed if you open your mind. Hitbox too large? Hogwash. Dragon too slow? Hogwash. Why do folks even bother playing different games if they aren't willing to accept variances in game mechanics? Sure, I have my preferences, but I don't let them get in the way of appreciating good games. Get DS cheap and enjoy it. Peace, love and harmony .

[runinruder]

Why do folks even bother playing different games if they aren't willing to accept variances in game mechanics?

Oh, I'm willing.  I just don't consider tediously slow pacing and ugly-as-shit visuals to be acceptable variances.   

[sideshow]

The music in Dragon Spirit is one of the best hucard offerings out there next to Air Zonk.  Cybercore's music isnt too shabby either.  Just stay far away from Night Creatures, Ghost Manor as far as the music department goes.

[runinruder]

Yeah, Cyber Core has some great music.

And I dig Night Creatures' tunes.  All three of them.   

[esteban]

Why do folks even bother playing different games if they aren't willing to accept variances in game mechanics?

Oh, I'm willing.  I just don't consider tediously slow pacing and ugly-as-shit visuals to be acceptable variances.   

Hahahahhahahaa. Yeah.

I also like Daisenpu(PCE) and Tiger Heli(NES), so I'm a lost cause. At least I have fun when I go off on rants about this stuff .

So, have you given the PCE Dragon Spirit soundtrack a second chance? You know you want to....

[runinruder]

So, have you given the PCE Dragon Spirit soundtrack a second chance? You know you want to....

Ugh, that would mean playing the game again.    

Seriously though, I still really like the sixth-stage tune.  And while I don't like the composition overall, I appreciate the bass sound in the stage 2 track (it has that "slapping the strings" sound--I think you noted this when you analyzed all of the tracks in another thread).  I'm still not impressed with the rest, but when I do play through it again, I'll keep an ear out for the good stuff.   

[terrormask]

Blazing Lasers and Super Star Soldier have been excellent shoot'em ups in my opinion of what I have played so far.

[esteban]

So, have you given the PCE Dragon Spirit soundtrack a second chance? You know you want to....

Ugh, that would mean playing the game again.    

Seriously though, I still really like the sixth-stage tune.  And while I don't like the composition overall, I appreciate the bass sound in the stage 2 track (it has that "slapping the strings" sound--I think you noted this when you analyzed all of the tracks in another thread).  I'm still not impressed with the rest, but when I do play through it again, I'll keep an ear out for the good stuff.    

Be a goofball and listen to the mp3's. Do it. You know what I am listening to right now, as I type this.

[nat]

You know what I am listening to right now, as I type this.

Michael Jackson's Beat It?

[Ultra Luigi]

It turns out my next game wasn't Aero Blasters after all, it was Dragon Spirit. I saw an auction on eBay that I had to bid on, the auction was 3 games, Dragon Spirit, Vigilante, and Tiger Road. I didn't have any of those games so I thought I'd give it a shot and I won. The only problem was that the owner had only one feedback so it was kind of risky, but not that many people bid due to that. I won the games for 18$ total and I finally got them today. S/he also gave me a free game, Bloody Wolf, so 18$ for 4 games sounds like a good deal to me. 

So now I have 12 games total and when I joined this place I only had 6. Hopefully I'll get more games soon like Aero Blasters, and the others you guys recommended.

[Turbo D]

thats cool that you got a free bloody wolf; that game is bad ass 

[Tatsujin]

and cost itself double the price nowadawys. gongrats

[esteban]

You know what I am listening to right now, as I type this.

Michael Jackson's Beat It?

Exactly. And THRILLER! Woohoo.

[GUTS]

runin is religiously opposed to MP3s and MPEGs.

[Turbo D]

dodongo dislikes smoke

[esteban]

runin is religiously opposed to MP3s and MPEGs.

goddam!

[Ceti Alpha]

Aeroblasters is amazing. And a perfect arcade port. The version I have for MAME is identical. Any differences, if any, are minor.

As for difficulty in shmups, the harder the better. I love Galaga 88 on MAME, because like its predecessor Galaga, it is extremely difficult. However, Galaga 90 is not nearly as difficult. In fact, when it arrived in the mail I immediately put the game in and beat it in 15 or 20 minutes easily. I have never beat the game before on MAME or in the arcade. But I don't regret buying it as the graphics and music are pretty sweet. But Galaga 90 is missing the weird aliens talking in Japanese sequences. My point is that Galaga 90 would be sooo much better if it was a lot more difficult. 

Raiden is Raiden. If you like tough shooters then this is your game. Kicks my butt everytime, but I still love it.  hehe

Gate of Thunder on Hard or Devil is pretty sweet, heck even Normal gets pretty challenging. I'm still working on it. I've stepped up to Normal and once I beat it on that I'll go to Devil....I'm frightened. 

But right now Summer Carnival 93 Nexzr Special is where it's at for me. Excruciatingly difficult even on the easiest setting. Plus it has plenty of menu options (i.e. "stretching screen" or "acade mode", level select and live select. Though you can only select the level you have actually completed.) Your fighter in Nexzr is my favourite looking ship in any shmup. The pulsating green thrusters are sweet. The Carnival modes are interesting enough, but the real action is in the actual game. The only thing I regret about the Carnival version of the game I have is that it is missing the animated cut-scenes. But at least I have Youtube for that. 

[CrackTiger]

Aeroblasters is amazing. And a perfect arcade port. The version I have for MAME is identical. Any differences, if any, are minor.

Aeroblasters Turbo/PCE's graphics are actually completely redrawn with and the music is remixed with a bunch of changes and a whole new track and the gameplay is altered.

The Megadrive/Genesis version however really is about as close to a perfect port as you can get on 16-bit and I'm guessing that the arcade uses similar hardware.

[Ceti Alpha]

Aeroblasters Turbo/PCE's graphics are actually completely redrawn with and the music is remixed with a bunch of changes and a whole new track and the gameplay is altered.

Yeah, once I read your correction I realized the different music - especially on the mechanized level (level 2 I think). The TG 16 music is actually much better IMHO. I was hasty to say identical, but it's just been soooo long since I've played the TG 16 version that the MAME version seemed like it was identical. 

Thanks for bringing me back to reality. 

[SuperDeadite]

But right now Summer Carnival 93 Nexzr Special is where it's at for me. Excruciatingly difficult even on the easiest setting. Plus it has plenty of menu options (i.e. "stretching screen" or "acade mode", level select and live select. Though you can only select the level you have actually completed.) Your fighter in Nexzr is my favourite looking ship in any shmup. The pulsating green thrusters are sweet. The Carnival modes are interesting enough, but the real action is in the actual game. The only thing I regret about the Carnival version of the game I have is that it is missing the animated cut-scenes. But at least I have Youtube for that. 

I used to have a lot of trouble playing Nexzr, then I realized that the ship extends about 2 pixels past your main lasers on both sides.  When I was playing I would use the lasers to judge my width and kept dieing.  Once I realized those extra 4 pixels were there and adjusted my playing-style the game became significantly easier.

[esteban]

Aeroblasters Turbo/PCE's graphics are actually completely redrawn with and the music is remixed with a bunch of changes and a whole new track and the gameplay is altered.

Yeah, once I read your correction I realized the different music - especially on the mechanized level (level 2 I think). The TG 16 music is actually much better IMHO. I was hasty to say identical, but it's just been soooo long since I've played the TG 16 version that the MAME version seemed like it was identical. 

Thanks for bringing me back to reality. 

Ha! That's pretty neat, I didn't know that. Who here would like to document a thorough 2-way (or 3-way!) comparison between the games. CrackTiger?

[SignOfZeta]

Yeah, once I read your correction I realized the different music - especially on the mechanized level (level 2 I think). The TG 16 music is actually much better IMHO.

The second stage music in Aeroblasters is possibly my favorite chip tune of all time.

[Ceti Alpha]

The second stage music in Aeroblasters is possibly my favorite chip tune of all time.

I just might have to agree completely with that statement.