the shmup-o-meter

i'm not a big fan of giving scores so hopefully the comments made on this site about each game (and in particular in the reviews) give you a fairly good idea as to whether the game is great or pap and why. to help you decide on a shooter, the shmup-o-meter provides a relative gauge of greatness for every game on this site by system.

 

Exceptional - the highest ranking gods in the shmupping pantheon. Consider any means of raising cash to buy these games as you will prize these above all other possessions for years to come.

Blazing Star

 

Metal Slug 2

 

Progear no Arashi

 

Gunhed

 

R-type 1 & 2

 

R-Type Complete

 

Soldier Blade

 

M.U.S.H.A Aleste

 

Super Aleste

 

Battle Garegga

 

Dodonpachi

 

Radiant Silvergun

 

Thunderforce V

 

Dodonpachi

 

Donpachi

 

Metal Slug

 

MetalSlug X

 

Zanac X Zanac

 

Border Down

 

Ikaruga

 

DoDonpachi Dai Ou jou

 

Espgaluda

 

Gradius V

 

Gradius Advance

 

Ikaruga

 
Excellent - games of reassuring quality guaranteed to put a smile on your face every time you boot them up. Again, consider illicit means of procuring sufficient finances to purchase these should circumstances dictate.  

Gradius

 

Sidearms

 

Star Parodia

 

Super Star Soldier

 

Forgotten Worlds

 

Ghouls N' Ghosts

 

Axelay

 

Batsugun

 

Donpachi

 

Gunbird

 

Layer Section

 

Sengoku Blade

 

Soukyugerentai

 

X-Multiply

 

Einhander

 

G-Darius

 

Gradius Gaiden

 

Raiden DX

Gigawing

 

Mars Matrix

 

Zero Gunner 2

 

Gradius III and IV

 

Metal Slug 3

 

Ghouls 'n Ghosts

 

Star Soldier
Very Good - definitely worth a purchase and a lengthy investment of time, but don't get these until you've collected and played a good number of the exceptional and excellent titles. Unless, of course you're flushed with cash or they're going for a song.

Carrier Airwing

 

Galaga 88

 

Gate of thunder

 

Mr Heli

 

Nexzr

 

Salamander

 

Sidearms Complete

 

Tiger heli

 

Thunderforce 3

 

Thunderforce 4

 

Cybernator

Guardian Force

 

Kingdom Grandprix

 

Panzer Dragoon Zwei

 

The Game Paradise

 

Twin Bee Deluxe Pack

 

Raiden Project

 

Ray Crisis

 

R-Type Delta

 

Strikers 1945 2

 

Psyvariar 2

 

Shikigami no Shiro

Psyvariar

 

R-Type Final

 

 

Shikigami no Shiro 2

 
Good - worth a quick blast in between better shooters or an investment of time if you've finished everything else. Save for a rainy day.  

Alzadick

 

Cotton

 

Dragon Spirit

 

Final Soldier

 

Gradius 2

 

Heavy Unit

 

Image Fight 2

 

Parodius

 

Raiden

 

Rayxanber 2

 

Space Harrier

 

Wonderboy 3 - monster lair

 

Gynoug

 

Hellfire

 

Thunderforce 2

 

Zero Wing

 

 

Kaitei Daisensou

 

Layer Section 2

 

Shienryu

 

Thunderforce Gold Pack 1

 

Raystorm

 

Starblade Alpha

 

Viewpoint

 

Xevious 3d/G+

 

XII Stag

Fantasy Zone

 

Shienryu-the shooting double

 

 

 
Average - lacking anything that pushes it above the hundreds of other shooters drowning in a sea of shmupping mediocrity. For ebay addicts and/or shmup-o-maniacs only.  

Download

 

Psychic Storm

 

Violent Soldier

 

 

 

Gekirindan

 

Metal Black

 

 

X2

 

 

Shin Contra

 

Silpheed-the lost planet

 

Iridion 2

 

Phalanx

 
Poor - boring, uninspired and not worthy of your attention. Avoid.  

Daisenpu

 

Darius Plus

 

 

Darius Twin

 

Sonic Wings Special

 

 

 

 

 

 
Shocking - utter utter pap. A festering boil on the botty of the shooting world and an insult to even really stupid people's intelligence.  

Legion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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