Topic: Arcade SHMUP High Score Thread

@OorWullie Thanks so much, no I wasn't playing it to compete with the Open Rankings, just for fun a few days ago, like I said to you before I had my eye on your 50th spot!!!

@meppi64 Exactly, Danmaku Unlimted 2 was the same way. Once you got near those scores, one right move can be the difference of something like 50 million points. It's crazy.

I'm finally getting comfortable with boss 3. There are still two sections I really hate though that I need to navigate past to have a good run though. We'll see what happens. I'm going to finish my cup of coffee and then push hard right now.

Edit: Hahaha...my last run I finally made it to boss 4 and progressed to the final stage. However, the entire time I'm screaming, "be done! be done! be done! be over! be done! be donnnnnnnee!!" And then it was over cause I lost.

lol.

@meppi64 Ughhh! Now I really don't like that you improved your score. Haha.

So close!!

Holy Crikey! That score is phenomenal. Wish we had online leaderboards for this one, surely that would be in the very upper echelons.

Bravo! 👏

@CaffeinatedGamer Hehe, yep, I know that feeling all too well.
That final phase is so damn hard!

@CaffeinatedGamer
Well today will certainly be interesting as the hours tick down.

@Lroy Thanks!
But I doubt I would be anywhere near the top if there were online leaderboards.
From my time with Cave shooters, I saw some actual crazy stuff from people on my friendslist. Things I couldn't even begin to dream of doing myself.
So I'm pretty sure if they were on here, all of us would be screwed for 1st place.

So.. after carefully studying the pro tips on this thread from @meppi64 and @GrailUK, combined with the use of my arcade stick and Tate mode as suggested by @DashKappei, I will give this game an ultimate go today.
On another note, could some of you guys post your personal 5 favourites smhmup that have been released so far on the switch? Because it is not a genre that I have delved into much, i would definitely do with some help to know which games to purchase.

@Fafounet Remember to play somewhat casually.
Don't try to focus too much on grazing live bullets, unless you're absolutely sure you can do so with little to no risk.
Otherwise focus on ghost bullet and pick those up to fill the meters.
Focusing too much on grazing every single bullet and failing over and over again will really sour you on the game very quickly.
That last high score of mine, believe it or not, was played very casually, just with a bit of strategy sprinkled in to try and keep my combo going.
I was baffled just how easy it played like that to be honest.

As for 5 game, that's always tough one, but I'll give it a shot.
First and foremost, I would pick up
-Dragon Blaze when it comes out next week.
That one will be no surprise to any, I bet.
Besides it being a gorgeous game with a great colour scheme and beautiful graphics, it had the traditional Psykio vertical shooter gameplay, but a bit refined. With more variation in bullet patterns and enemy behaviour. Really a must have.

-Star Force.
Very simple game on first sight, but for it's time it really broke a lot of new ground. Still a ton of fun to play today and a game that doesn't seem to age one bit.

-Strikers 1945 I or II.
You can go either way. The first one being a tiny bit more basic than the second, but not by much, and it isn't actually a detriment. I go back and forth between both and can't pick a favourite even after 20 years.

-Blazing Star.
You can just as well go with Pulstar truth be told. That one if closer to R-Type.
Blazing Star is a lot crazier and plays very differently. It just comes down to what mood you're in.

Galaga 88 on Namco Museum.
First played this on the PC-Engine and fell in love with how the game itself seems to be a love letter to the original. Very classical, but with a twist.
Bonus, when getting Namco Museum, the original Galaga is included.
Sadly no galaxian of Gaplus on this compilation though.
Oh and I'd wait till they do another sale. It's been on sale for 50% off a couple of months ago.

I actually would like to recommend some more games like Last Resort, ASOII and Sonic Wings, but I already broke the 5 game rule with my original top, so I'll try to hold back.

@Fafounet The best modern ones that I own I'd put in this order

1st - Steredenn : Binary Stars
2nd - SkyForce Reloaded
3rd - Danmaku Unlimited 3

I really like them all and they all offer something different.

Retro ones, I'm not sure I can honestly place them in order as there's so many and I love most of them but here goes

1- Tengai (just bought it last night and it's incredible.)
2 - Strikers 1945
3 - Samurai Aces
4 - Gunbird
5 - Strikers 1945 II
6 - Pulstar
7 - Aero Fighters 2
8 - Zero Gunner 2
9 - Blazing Star
10 - Galaga 88
11 - Last Resort
12 - Aero Fighters 3
13 - Heroic Episode
14 - Sol Divide
15 - Galaga
16 - Alpha Mission 2
17 - Zed Blade

Having Blazing Star so low seems crazy as it's phenomenal so that says a lot about the strength of the shooters we have already. I just prefer the Psikyo shooters to the Neo Geo as good as they are. Pulstar is my favourite of the Neo Geo shooters from playing it in the 1st weekly challenge. Before then I'd have said Aero Fighters 2 was my favourite Neo Geo shoot-em-up. Blazing Star kind of frustrated me chasing high scores.You honestly can't go wrong with any of my top 10 or 12,they're all amazing. After playing Tengai for an hour last night I can confidently say it's amazing. It has everything I love about shoot-em-ups and the graphics are superb. It's very likely Dragon Blaze will be taking one of those top places next week though.

Still need to buy Star Force. Just realised I have 20 shoot-em-ups on Switch.

Just realised I forgot to add Moon Patrol to my list. I'm not really sure that can be classed as a shoot-em-up though? If I was to include it it would make the top 12.

@meppi64 Thanks a million for the last but of advice. To be honest I am not in to get the biggest scores (nor am I able to!), but more so for the fun of the challenge. So will keep your sound advice in mind when I am having a go later on this afternoon.
@meppi64 @OorWullie I knew asking only 5 shmup was going to be a struggle for you guys! 😂
Loooking at these two lists, you can see common denominators alright but also different titles. That is really a testament of the quality of the titles that are coming on to switch. Thanks a lot for your help lads, will start purchasing few of these titles and make my way through the lists!

@OorWullie speaking of SkyForce: Reloaded, which btw I like quite a lot and play regularly, is it just me or the weekly tournament high-score board is not working properly? Completed a run today but I can only see my score, nothing else. should this display friend's scores, global scores... or what?

@RetroGamerAndrew I'm sure I read somewhere that you should be able to see your friends scores in the weekend Leaderboards.. But not long after the game was released I emailed the dev asking why there's no leaderboards and they said Nintendo doesn't support online leaderboards for third party devs...

No comment to that eh!! Hopefully they'll update the game to include them sometime...

@Fafounet Wow, cool. What arcade stick do you have? I keep saying I'm looking for one to use with my Switch and just keep holding off on putting down the cash. I'm still to get a stand that supports TATE mode too. Slacking but just can't keep justifying the spend, spend, spend which is all I seem to have done since buying the Switch last March, well according to the better half anyway, lol!

Good luck with DANMAKU today.

Using @Meppi64 's tip of an A, B weapon set-up, I've managed to very narrowly increase my lowly score of 11/12 million ☺️

As for what Shoot-Em-Ups to consider buying for the Switch: @oorwullie and @Meppi64 have given you plenty of sound advice.

On the modern front, I'd definitely add my voice to calls for SKY FORCE RELOADED if you want a modern vertical Shmup. A really enjoyable game with plenty of longevity. I just hope the game gets supported with patches at it needs to have online leaderboards added asap. They are present on other platforms. Indeed, the 'missing' parts from the game present on other platforms is the only criticism I have of the game. It's really, really good.

STEREDENN: BINARY STARS is my pick for a modern horizontal shooter. Be warned it is hard as nails and is a 'rogue-like' if I understand the term, in that you do runs until you die, rinse and repeat with the enemy waves differing on each run and pick-ups varying randomly etc.

On the Switch arcade front you are already spoilt for choice. I don't own every single one them myself... yet.

But from those I do own on Switch, I strongly recommend PULSTAR. Like @oorwullie said, the game was a revelation for many of us on playing it in a dedicated and concentrated manner for the weekly challenge. In the absence of R-TYPE (which is coming to Switch) this is the best horizontal shooter on Switch in my humble opinion. Methodical, maze-puzzle rather than manic, bullet hell shooter. If the latter is more your thing then perhaps BLAZING STAR is a better pick although it does share some similarities to PULSTAR despite its different gameplay. Both top-notch Neo Geo offerings in the genre.

When it comes to vertical arcade shmups on Switch, I'd say grab AERO FIGHTERS 2 because it is hugely playable and fun. Plenty of different aircraft and replay-ability.

Then compliment that with any of the Psikyo games. Their brand of vertical shmups are all very good so just pick one that appeals to you. I'm partial to GUNBIRD myself but also really like SAMURAI ACES and the STRIKERS games.

After all that, if you have the cash. Grab ZERO GUNNER 2 -. As like DANMAKU in this particular respect. It offers something a bit different to the rest of the Switch shooter library at present.

Enough waffle from me. That's probably more than 5 but hey ho. Go play the games.

Note: If you have access to emulation, such as MAME et. al. Give the games a try before you buy. That's how some of us narrow down and prioritise our arcade purchases on Switch. Unless, you're @Meppi64 or @Oorwullie who appear to buy everything and report back for us 👍

@Lroy I wanted to keep my picks to classic arcade shoot em ups, so I didn't mention Sterreden for example, even though I certainly recommend it. Very highly even.
Haven't picked up Sky Force yet, even though the LRG version for Vita is on it's way to me right now.
I hope that since they already did that version with LRG, a physical Switch release will be a no-brainer. So I'm waiting a little longer.

As for arcade sticks.
I highly recommend not picking up the cheapest ones you can find.
You are able to find sticks for 50-60€ but the quality really isn't what it should be.
Responsiveness of the buttons and stick might be a problem or might worsen the more you use them.
These are very cheaply made parts, so there will be problems sooner or later and much sooner than with a slightly more expensive one from a good brand.
Also, the base of the stick might be a problem with the small ones. If it sits on your lap and moves around constantly every time you move the stick, you won't be very comfortable using it and it will hamper the controls as well.

Now that doesn't mean you need to spend 200, 300 or even €400 for a stick.
Because the higher you go in those regions, the smaller the differences becomes between them and the more personal preference comes into play.

I'd say keep an eye out on a good deal for this one:

The Hori Switch RAP (Real Arcade Pro) stick.
You should be able to find it for €115 with a bit of luck. Perhaps even cheaper.
I know it's still quite a bit of money for a controller, but trust me on this one, you're better off getting a quality one instead of a cheaper one, which will end up breaking down and ending up costing you more money in the end.

If it's a bit too expensive right now, hold off a bit, keep an eye on deals and save up for it.
You won't regret it in the end, I promise.

@meppi64 Yes, that is the stick I intend to get.... eventually. 😉For sure 👍

Presumably that is the same stick @fafounet is using?

@Lroy Thanks 🙏 for providing your own list of fave shmups. I don't have access to emulation, but will go with my gut feeling on what I can see for what has been streamed so far. Also will need to be selective otherwise my gaming budget may be considerably affected!
@meppi64 @Lroy For the joystick, I actually use a PS4 fight stick (link below) that I have modded with Sanwa buttons, stick and octo gate with Arcade World.co.uk
I am using a Magic NS adapter to be able to connect it on the switch. I use a Lamicall stand for table mode purposes which I find very sturdy and reliable. All in all a good little config to play retro fighting games or (possibly) shmups.
Will post a pic of my setup later on.

Official Sony PlayStation Licensed 8-Button Arcade Stick (PS4 / PS3) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NHDSINS?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

@GrailUK Oh.. My.. God..!
Have I read correctly?

@Fafounet fraid so!

@GrailUK Well, Moon Patrol's fate it out of my hands it seems...

Holy crap!

@meppi64 It's all good, I'd choose Moon Patrol too! Got the first three levels sorted. Level 4 is bonkers. (How many levels are there?)