Topic: Best Switch Shmups

@bluedogrulez Oh right. lol. Skyforce.

Against my better judgement I impulse bought RXN: Raijin tonight. Still downloading.

Against my better judgement because I like shmups, but I absolutely suck at them (either that or I just pick the wrong ones). Only other shmup I have on Switch is Zero Gunner 2 which I really enjoy, but can't get past level 6 on the default settings (I think I got to level 7 once or twice a long time ago, but always lost early on in it). I did finish it by lowering the difficulty & giving myself more stock just to see the end, but I occasionally play it on the default setting just to see if I can do it.

With all the pivoting you have to do maybe it just wasn't a good choice for someone like myself who isn't well versed in the genre. For what it's worth I was able to beat all the levels in 3D Classics: Twinbee (I'd always die somewhere in the second loop) back on 3DS (as well as in a couple mobile shmups), but I sucked at 3D Classics: Xevious, and while I really, really enjoy Galaga (I used to play the arcade version at a nearby laundromat semi-regularly, as well as the NES version on Wii), I usually meet my end around level 15 or 16.

@RR529 I hope you enjoy RXN: Raijin. I did. Granted, it's not a classic, but the wide screen and the graphics and all the glorious explosions made for a fun experience. There are one or two bosses that can make you want to pull your hair out, but typically its about using the right fighter for that level, and making sure their experience points are sufficiently built up/maxed out.

@bluedogrulez, yeah, I've died a few times so far (and finished many a stage hanging on by a thread), but I've been making good progress.

A better choice for myself than the many unforgiving arcade ports on the system.

Highly recommend Devil Engine if you haven't played it yet. Quickly becoming one of my favorite Switch Shooters.

@D-Funk I missed that one! Looks impressive, though that city level looks EXACTLY like level 1 of Last Resort, a Neo-Geo shooter I love (but doesn't love me, LOL!!). Thanks for the tip!

lol, yeah, Last Resort is brutal! Devil Engine is pretty brutal too but maybe not quite as hard as Last Resort. Devil Engine is fun too because you keep unlocking stuff as you play similar to Radiant Silvergun or Mars Matrix. Stuff like extra continues, different themes to make the game look different and even challenge modes and different difficulties. It starts you on like crushing difficulty then throws easy mode at you right after, lol. Its funny you mention level 2 because the game has a killer soundtrack except for that level. I had to turn the sound down every time on that level because it drove me and the girlfriend nuts. Its like the TGIF/Full House/Family Matters theme song, lol, just a dude on a sax goin nuts! Check out some of the killer tunes though:

So, i bough some Switch shmups since my last post.

My Darius Cozmic Collection Special Edition arrived from Play-Asia, and it's absolutely awesome. However, for people who think the SE is too expensive, i think the regular edition is a legit choice. After all, the highlights are definitely II and Gaiden .

Further, i downloaded Rolling Gunner from the JP eShop (it's confirmed that it'll get a western release soon), and i can strongly recommend that game, too.

Stardust Galaxy Warriors or Sky Force Reloaded? They're both on sale

I got Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha and Bravo recently in glorious physical form.

While I haven't spent too much time in Bravo so far, here's my rankings of the games you can find in Alpha

1. Strikers 1945 II
2. Dragon Blaze
3. Strikers 1945 III
4. ZeroGunner 2
5. Strikers 1945
6. Sol Divide

I'm usually not a schmup guy myself, but man, MUSHA is so good dude. I've only been able to beat the first level but it is fantastic. There's such raw visceral PWOAR as you mow down enemies coupled with amazing music and excellent spritework. It's really fun.

I'm not a huge fan of bullet hells because I suck at them, despite some of them still being fun...

But Crimzon Clover, it's insanity, but at the same time even I'm able to make it far into the game without a single continue. With other games that I like such as Raiden V, even on easy I find myself continuing like crazy the further in I go....ON EASY.

Crimzon Clover's Novice difficulty, I was even able to beat the entire game without a continue, and it's more chaotic than Raiden. lol

So far I was only able to do this on Novice Boost, been messing around with Arrange and trying to beat either Boost or Unlimited. Anyways yeah, Crimzon Clover is a good bullet hell shmup, if a guy that's terrible with these types of games even on Easy but is able to beat this game on Novice despite still being insane chaos, then, you know...it's a good one. xD

I've become a believer. Your niche fandom has found a new recruit. Idk why it took me 10 yrs to finally realize I love these games. Just suddenly got an urge to play shmups, and splurged on a whole catalog of them for Switch, both physical and digital. I also ordered a Flip Grip, and in case it doesn't fit OLED well, a vertical grip from Etsy for Switch OLED.

In the last 48 hrs I've purchased the following (I owned a few from beforehand, but only a couple):

• Akai Katana Shin (preordered)
• Cotton Fantasy
• Cotton Reboot
• Cotton 100%
• Cotton 2 Saturn Tribute
• Cotton Boomerang Saturn Tribute
• Crimson Clover
• Danmaku Unlimited 3
• Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade
• G-Darius HD
• Dariusburst: Another Chronicle EX+
• Deathsmiles I•II
• Dimension Drive
• DoDonPachi Resurrection
• ESP de.ra Psi
• Espgaluda II
• Ikaruga
• Jamestown+
• Konami Arcade Classics Collection
• MushihimeSama
• Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha
• Psikyo Shooting Stars Bravo
• Psyvariar Delta
• Raiden IV × MIKADO Remix
• Raiden V: Director's Cut
• Rolling Gunner
• R-Type Dimensions EX
• R-Type Final 2 + All DLC
• Sky Force Anniversary
• Sky Force Reloaded
• Sol Cresta
• Steredenn

I'm hungry for more. I hear Treasure might announce Radiant Silvergun at TGS? That's probably my #1 most wanted shmup right now that's not on Switch.

Is there anything else that's a must-have I'm missing? Any exciting news of future bangers on the way?

@JaxonH Gleylancer, Blazing Star, and Lightening Force are classics that are also very cheap on the eshop.

@Ralizah
Any of those included in a collection? Or just individually?

@NeonPizza
An NA digital release would be great. I used a 2nd Nintendo Account I made set to Japan, loaded up with a 5000¥ card from Play-Asia and bought digitally from the JP eShop.

@JaxonH Collection? I don't think so. Lightening Force is a Sega Ages release, Blazing Star is Neo-Geo, and Gleylancer is a non-Ages Genesis remaster.

@Ralizah
I already owned Thunder Force AC, Lightening Force (is this Thunder Force IV?), and Blazing Star. Just bought Gleylancer. Of all those, Gleylancer intrigued me the most watching a vid.

@JaxonH Yes, it's Thunder Force IV.

Gleylancer actually has more of an in-game narrative than most shmups of this era did. The music is rad, too. Most importantly, it's fairly simple, and a good difficulty for a dirty shmup casual like me on normal mode.

I hope the rumors of a Radiant Silvergun announcement at TGS turn out to be accurate. It's not only my favorite shmup but also a top-three favorite regardless of genre or platform (Super Metroid is #1 and Panzer Dragoon Saga is #3). If released physically, I'll probably purchase two copies on general principle. September 15th can't come soon enough.

....Jeez, dude, calm down. lol