Best Shmup of the 16 Bit (console) Era?

[terry.330]

In another thread Moe mentioned Thunderforce IV possibly being the best of the era and it’s certainly a contender.

I’d also say Lords of Thunder, Musha, Air Zonk…

I dunno, there’s a lot of good ones but only a few are really great. Also not counting the Neo since those are neither ports or console exclusives.

 

[StevenK]

I was never a shmups diehard but I did enjoy Thunderforce IV. I'd throw Hellfire in there, and Gynoug/Wings of Wor for the atmosphere and gory bosses. I don't think I ever played a shmup on the snes come to think of it.

 

[promking]

Genesis -Musha is such an awesome game... But I love Eliminate Down
Space Megaforce (SNES) is my favorite on this system
PC Engine / CD? Sapphire , Download 1 & 2 and Spriggan are my favorites but I think Sapphire takes the cake for me on the Turbo / PC library.

It's hard but I think Eliminate Down takes the best for me.

 

[Burning Fight!!]

 

[nuke sc]

I've mentioned this before but seeing Air Zonk running on demo as a kid at Toys R Us was enough to make me seek out the TG16, not sure I had ever seen something that good. Battle Mania Daiginjou seems pretty special, shame we didnt get that one. I can't get as far as I'd like but that's no fault of the game but also wasn't lucky enough to have any exposure to either of them until years later.

 

[neo_mao]

In another thread Moe mentioned Thunderforce IV possibly being the best of the era and it’s certainly a contender.

I’d also say Lords of Thunder, Musha, Air Zonk…

I dunno, there’s a lot of good ones but only a few are really great. Also not counting the Neo since those are neither ports or console exclusives.

All definite contenders. Love Air Zonk. That stage 2 music

I'd also add Gate of Thunder and Soldier Blade to list as well. Just listen to this

 

[kuze]

MUSHA would have to be my pick.

 

[Hattori Hanzo]

Gynoug > all

 

[Yoshi]

Gynoug > all

You're a regular Gynougologist.

At the time, I definitely played the most Thunder Force III. It was one of the first Genesis games I got. It fact, it might have been the first after the Sonic pack-in.

That generation was the the golden era for the genre before misled developers tried to introduce polygons a generation too early making some great playing games look like ass.

 

[opt2not]

U.N. Squadron/Area 88

 

[sr20det510]

I really had a blast playing Gaiares. When I was only allowed an hour to play, it was possible to to 1CC it and still have 15 min or so to play something else.

Mission 7 was awesome! Having to fight all the bosses again was crazy fun. Sadly, the final boss in the game wasn't too impressive.

 

[sr20det510]

 

[terry.330]

Forgot about Soldier Blade, that’s a good one.

Eliminate Down is also really good. If Gleylancer was more difficult it would also be a contender.

UN Squadron is probably the most fun shmup on the SNES.

A couple underrated ones that don’t get mentioned much are Nexzr, Rayxanber 2 and Verytex. All 3 are hard as fuck though.

 

[LoneSage]

Mission 7 was awesome! Having to fight all the bosses again was crazy fun. Sadly, the final boss in the game wasn't too impressive.

IIRC all the bosses were done by one man, and for some reason the final boss was made by someone else. Yeah it's a pity.

 

[sr20det510]

IIRC all the bosses were done by one man, and for some reason the final boss was made by someone else. Yeah it's a pity.

I had no idea, but you can tell they ran out of creativity on that one.

 

[Johnny16Bit]

I always preferred Thunderforce III over IV, but whatever, the same can be copy-pasted to either title.
That game was a landmark on consoles, and as perfect as a 16bit game can be. It's not just that it doesn't do anything bad - everything about it is top tier, from beginning to end. They didn't even screw up the scoring, which many console shmups do. The OST alone, each and every track of it, is legendary.

I also love R-Type III on the Super Famicom, but wouldn't put it quite on par.

 

[Takumaji]

My experience with TG16 or SNES shmups is limited so I can't really say which one is best but let me throw Robo Aleste and ThunderForce II into the mix.

 

[herb]

View attachment 91889

/thread

 

[Tarma]

I'm probably going to have to go with Thunder Force IV, with an honorable mention to Gate of Thunder.

 

[kernow]

Ghost pilots

 

[pixeljunkie]

Ghost pilots

Game isn't awful if you have rapid fire.

In terms of games I played the most - Lords of Thunder and Gate of Thunder were tops, along with MUSHA. But too many honorable mentions to even go through. PCE is a treasure trove.

 

[neo_mao]

Maybe these are different threads...

but how about favorite developers from that era? Technosoft, Compile, Renovation, Capcom, Konami, Hudson etc etc.? Hot take - I don't really like Konami shmups. Prolly the only Konami shmup one I'd still play today from that era would maybe be Parodius Da on the SFC.

Or how about best shmup console from that era. I mean let's be real, SNES/SFC isn't really even in the running...so really between TG/PC Engine and Genesis/Mega Drive. Been so long since I played alot of these games...but I'd say PC Engine may have more good/great shmups...but the Megadrive has more excellent ones. I dunno. what do you goobs think?

 

[were8kosh]

Truxton Sega Genesis was one i geek on the most​

 

[wyo]

View attachment 91889

^^^Lonesage after he's gone full Chinese

 

[Superfamifreak]

U.N. Squadron/Area 88

This. And it’s not even close.