The SNES here in the UK had many arcade shooting games & I enjoyed playing them when I was young! UN Squadron by Capcom was my favorite shooter of all time & played like the arcade version. Thanks for sharing Jim and have a great weekend mate! 😎👍🎮
Thank you. I'm honestly getting tired of being the one correcting all of these people. Another mistake they make is saying that level 4's water is using the systems transparency feature. I am convinced they are actually using the scanline palette swap trick instead.
Rendering Ranger R2 is another standout shooter. It's half run 'n' gun, half horizontal space shooter. It contains some pretty cool bosses, really awesome weapons that you can switch between at any time and each have their own unique super power that runs on a cooldown. The visuals are absolutely insane and are pushing more than you would think is possible on a 16-bit console with great performance. I think you should have also highlighted that the SNES is home to some exceptionally well made 2 player co-op shooters. There is both Aerofighters and Darius Twin (which I'm not sure if you even mentioned the 2 player) but also Pop 'n' Twinbee and Firepower 2000. Bio Metal and Flying Hero are also excellent shooters. I would put Bio Metal above Aerofighters and Darius Twin as the game really takes on a time management element with you desperately trying to recharge your orbiting shield like weapon between waves of enemies. Some of the stuff you can do with it using combinations of the boomerang and wide spin attacks can seriously decimate the constant onslaught of powerful enemies. It takes awhile for the game to click, but once it does it's super addicting.
Cool video as always. The SNES has some good shooters, some of my favourites as well. I think not having all 3 main systems in your collection will limit you to enjoy amazing games on each platform. Just to clarify. The first Aero Fighters game wasn't a Neo-Geo title, only 2 and 3. It was a stand alone arcade board. Also Axelay doesn't use Mode 7 for the vertical stages, that's a different graphical effect. The only places where Mode 7 is used in the game are: - Intro sequence when the ship flyes in the sky the clouds down bellow get farther - Stage 2 Boss - Ending sequence with the ship escaping the big explosion. Technically Mode 7 only function is to rotate and scale a single background layer.
I played 6 shooters on the SNES back in the day and my favs in order from memory: 1- Starwing(Starfox), 2- Pop 'N Twinbee, 3- Axelay, 4- Super Aleste(Space Megaforce), 5- Super R-Type, 6- U.N Squadron. All great at any standard
Great video Jim - your mix of laid back attitude and personal insight into specific games is a winning combo. I like it when you do actual review/ish type stuff like this
The wild mode in Super Aleste needs extra recognition. The game basically becomes a bullet hell before the term even existed, and still runs super smoothly!
The original Aerofighters was NOT a Neo Geo game. In fact, the team left Video System and formed Psikyo because they didn't want to design shooters on the Neo Geo's more horizontal screen size. Aerofighters 2 and 3 were made for the Neo Geo. The SNES version of the original is actually an excellent port with graphics and audio that were only a slight downgrade from the arcade. It also contains the full roster of characters if I'm not mistaken.
I was coming here to post this, and also make another correction: the vertical stages in Axelay don't actually use Mode 7 from what I understand. It's another technique, but Mode 7 is not part of it. Either way, it's a good list. I enjoy seeing more love for Darius Twin because I feel like it's underrated, and often left out of the conversation for SNES shooters.
They are indeed awesome, but I already had Gradius 3 in the video and that's my personal favorite of the bunch, so I thought I'd give the shine to Macross
The Darius games on SNES are what locked me into the shm'up genre as a gamer. Still play them both on a regular basis. I am surprised you didn't mention Phalanx...
Darius Twin might be my favorite in the series! Was just playing it off of the Darius Cozmic Collection (Console ver.) a while ago. it has some great music in it, as well! Gradius 3 and Area 88/UN Squadron are definitely on my hit list as well! a twitch streamer I used to watch (only recently retired for family stuff) used to play UN Squadron SNES all the freaking time, so I've been wanting to revisit it, for sure. some of these others I will have to look up, as well.
Excellent list, Jim! The Space Megaforce/Super Aleste soundtrack is SO good too. I'm happy to say that I own all of the games on the list, but I have the SFC versions for the more expensive titles. Do you like Spriggan Powered? How about a BEST shmups for PC Engine/TG 16 or a Saturn list next? There's so many to choose from on the PCE/TG16!
Well, I looked in the SNES folder of ROMs, found all of these in there. Took a bit to find the Macross one, until I went to Google to download it, upon which I learned of the Cho Jikku Yosai part of the title, looked in the Japan folder in my SNES ROMs and boom, there it was. So since I'm not familiar with any of these, I can at least check them out. Granted on SNES only game of this type I've even played is StarFox, so yeah, for the question, don't have much of an answer.
I've encountered that same problem locating Japanese games, too. I wanted to try Doki Doki Panic for the Famicom and embarrassingly it was years before I realized the Japanese title has extra words in front of it. I had the ROM all along, lol.
@@greenmachine5487 Ah, Yume Koujou Doki Doki Panic, looks like I got that one too in the Translation Folder under NES. Haven't looked for that one until just now, but glad to see I have it.
Have to say this video started out with the most basic picks possible but after the first 3 you really steered it around towards some interesting titles. Aero Fighters was all new to me so gonna have to give it a try. And Super Aleste really deserves it's spot on the top. Cheers!
Aero Fighters is the coolest game on the Snes. This game compares to galaga, galaxian, gaplus, xevious, bosconian, and more shooting games. All five of these games are developed by namco, but aero fighters is not develop by namco. Aero Fighters develop by video system. This game looks pretty damn good and kick ass.
Hey Jim...love your channel over the years. How do you feel about Gradius 5 on PS2? I'm blown away by this game but can't get too far since it's kind of unbalanced with difficulty. I feel like it's overlooked. Cheers from Missouri!
It's a solid game, though I honestly don't care for Treasure's other shooters, I feel they're too reliant on gimmicks or overly complicated gameplay in the case of Radiant Silver Gun, but G5 strikes a nice balance of classic gameplay with a few Treasure style twists.
YES!!! #1 is also what I consider the best shooter for the system. Sure other games may have better graphics. And the main ship just look ugly. But what makes a good shooter in my opinion is the weaponry. And this game blows all other shooters out of the water. The closest one I can think of is Blazing Laser for the turbografx..
Don't have issue with your choices. Surprised Spriggan powered isn't in there as it was a very late release. To tap your brain and wisdom, hidden gems on ps1 and ps2 in japan would be topics I'd like to see. Mostly to see if I've missed any interesting games in my collection. You can add ps3 to the list as well, I only have 1 ps3 japanese game.
Hot DAMN. It's at the end! You what else belongs here? Now ok, the game itself isn't THAT good, but it IS cool and the music is great. Bio Metal. Check it out. Bio Metal.
Nah… Compile's _Space Megaforce_ and *nothing else.* That's the only title that's still worth playing on this list. The SNES is much weaker than the NES / Famicom in this category.
15:23 Bosconian Cameo? ; - ) Never played Space Megaforce because it seemed so generic on the cover and name. Oh well. Parodius was really fun because 2 player silly gradius action!
Axelay surpasses all.
So I'm told
@@MadPanicGaming Was always my personal favorite.
A great game for learning how to play shmups. But not my idea of fun
@@MrLazenby007 Indeed. I also 1CC’d the game on both the first and second loop on actual hardware once.
Yeah right
The SNES here in the UK had many arcade shooting games & I enjoyed playing them when I was young! UN Squadron by Capcom was my favorite shooter of all time & played like the arcade version. Thanks for sharing Jim and have a great weekend mate! 😎👍🎮
My pleasure, thanks for watching!
Believe it or not, but the vertical stages in Axelay don't use Mode 7 at all. RUclipsr Sharoplis has a great video describing how Konami did it.
That's... shocking
Thank you. I'm honestly getting tired of being the one correcting all of these people. Another mistake they make is saying that level 4's water is using the systems transparency feature. I am convinced they are actually using the scanline palette swap trick instead.
Rendering Ranger R2 is another standout shooter. It's half run 'n' gun, half horizontal space shooter. It contains some pretty cool bosses, really awesome weapons that you can switch between at any time and each have their own unique super power that runs on a cooldown. The visuals are absolutely insane and are pushing more than you would think is possible on a 16-bit console with great performance.
I think you should have also highlighted that the SNES is home to some exceptionally well made 2 player co-op shooters. There is both Aerofighters and Darius Twin (which I'm not sure if you even mentioned the 2 player) but also Pop 'n' Twinbee and Firepower 2000.
Bio Metal and Flying Hero are also excellent shooters. I would put Bio Metal above Aerofighters and Darius Twin as the game really takes on a time management element with you desperately trying to recharge your orbiting shield like weapon between waves of enemies. Some of the stuff you can do with it using combinations of the boomerang and wide spin attacks can seriously decimate the constant onslaught of powerful enemies. It takes awhile for the game to click, but once it does it's super addicting.
I LOVE that game! Totally forgot to mention it in my comment.
Cool video as always. The SNES has some good shooters, some of my favourites as well. I think not having all 3 main systems in your collection will limit you to enjoy amazing games on each platform.
Just to clarify. The first Aero Fighters game wasn't a Neo-Geo title, only 2 and 3. It was a stand alone arcade board.
Also Axelay doesn't use Mode 7 for the vertical stages, that's a different graphical effect. The only places where Mode 7 is used in the game are:
- Intro sequence when the ship flyes in the sky the clouds down bellow get farther
- Stage 2 Boss
- Ending sequence with the ship escaping the big explosion.
Technically Mode 7 only function is to rotate and scale a single background layer.
You are correct. Someone else directed me to a video explaining how the vertical stages in Axelay were accomplished.
I played 6 shooters on the SNES back in the day and my favs in order from memory:
1- Starwing(Starfox), 2- Pop 'N Twinbee, 3- Axelay, 4- Super Aleste(Space Megaforce), 5- Super R-Type, 6- U.N Squadron. All great at any standard
Pop'N Twinbee is another great one, that's the flaw of limiting myself to eight games per video
Great video Jim - your mix of laid back attitude and personal insight into specific games is a winning combo. I like it when you do actual review/ish type stuff like this
The wild mode in Super Aleste needs extra recognition. The game basically becomes a bullet hell before the term even existed, and still runs super smoothly!
I think Pop’N Twinbee would have deserved a spot in this list though. It’s probably the best 16bit multiplayer Shmup and a blast to play (even solo)!
@@ChronoMoogle Agreed! Amazing soundtrack too!!
The original Aerofighters was NOT a Neo Geo game. In fact, the team left Video System and formed Psikyo because they didn't want to design shooters on the Neo Geo's more horizontal screen size. Aerofighters 2 and 3 were made for the Neo Geo. The SNES version of the original is actually an excellent port with graphics and audio that were only a slight downgrade from the arcade. It also contains the full roster of characters if I'm not mistaken.
I was coming here to post this, and also make another correction: the vertical stages in Axelay don't actually use Mode 7 from what I understand. It's another technique, but Mode 7 is not part of it. Either way, it's a good list. I enjoy seeing more love for Darius Twin because I feel like it's underrated, and often left out of the conversation for SNES shooters.
I love all your videos, but I LOVE your shmup videos.
Much appreciated
Awesome starting off with Gradius 3 level 3 stage song "In the Wind".
Had to come out swinging
i have almost all of them in my collection..very good pickups indeed
You give the Parodius games a mention, Gokujou Parodius is my favourite shoot em up on the system! :)
They are indeed awesome, but I already had Gradius 3 in the video and that's my personal favorite of the bunch, so I thought I'd give the shine to Macross
The Darius games on SNES are what locked me into the shm'up genre as a gamer. Still play them both on a regular basis.
I am surprised you didn't mention Phalanx...
Phalanx is pretty decent, I'll feature it if I do a sequel video
Darius Twin might be my favorite in the series! Was just playing it off of the Darius Cozmic Collection (Console ver.) a while ago. it has some great music in it, as well! Gradius 3 and Area 88/UN Squadron are definitely on my hit list as well! a twitch streamer I used to watch (only recently retired for family stuff) used to play UN Squadron SNES all the freaking time, so I've been wanting to revisit it, for sure. some of these others I will have to look up, as well.
UN Squadron ha a certain charm to it. The visuals, music, and gameplay are all great, but the characters and details make it endearing.
You are making the most out of your emulation box and we are all the better for it, thanks Jim
Please do NES/Famicom shooters next! 😊
Your voice/narration reminds me a lot of Mark from Classic Game Room, that's a good thing.
I get that a lot lol, thanks for watching. TRUXTON!
R-type 3 and Super aleste
Great Stuff, as always!
Thank you!
@@MadPanicGaming you are welcome!
Amazing top ! Thanks !
For me...
10 - Super R-Type
09 - Gradius III
08 - Starfox
07 - Parodius
05 - Aera 88
04 - Super Dimension Fortress Macross
03 - R-Type 3
02 - Super Aleste
01 - Axelay
Mention honorable ;
- Super Swiv
- Pop'n Twinbee
- Thunder Spirits
- Phalanx
Excellent list, Jim! The Space Megaforce/Super Aleste soundtrack is SO good too. I'm happy to say that I own all of the games on the list, but I have the SFC versions for the more expensive titles. Do you like Spriggan Powered? How about a BEST shmups for PC Engine/TG 16 or a Saturn list next? There's so many to choose from on the PCE/TG16!
Thanks for another great video, full of gems 😊
My pleasure. Thanks for watching!
Well, I looked in the SNES folder of ROMs, found all of these in there. Took a bit to find the Macross one, until I went to Google to download it, upon which I learned of the Cho Jikku Yosai part of the title, looked in the Japan folder in my SNES ROMs and boom, there it was. So since I'm not familiar with any of these, I can at least check them out. Granted on SNES only game of this type I've even played is StarFox, so yeah, for the question, don't have much of an answer.
You've got a lot to play then, enjoy.
I've encountered that same problem locating Japanese games, too. I wanted to try Doki Doki Panic for the Famicom and embarrassingly it was years before I realized the Japanese title has extra words in front of it. I had the ROM all along, lol.
@@greenmachine5487 Ah, Yume Koujou Doki Doki Panic, looks like I got that one too in the Translation Folder under NES. Haven't looked for that one until just now, but glad to see I have it.
Macros full title is - Choujikuu Yousai Macross:
Scrambled Valkyrie
aero fighter (sonic wings) and macross are my favorites on the console. i also enjoyed blazeon SNES as well
Ah yeah, Blazeon is pretty decent.
Have to say this video started out with the most basic picks possible but after the first 3 you really steered it around towards some interesting titles. Aero Fighters was all new to me so gonna have to give it a try. And Super Aleste really deserves it's spot on the top. Cheers!
Super Aleste / Space Megaforce always felt like the sequel to GunNac on the nes
It has a similar feel to several compile shooters, but graphically and especially some of the weapons give me big Blazing Lasers vibes
I got an FX Pak Pro for my birthday and I've been exploring
Biometal in any flavor is really good and low key my favorite.
Yep, Biometal is pretty cool too. If I ever make a part 2 I'll have to include it.
Athena made some bangers.
R type 3 has a great sound track.
I do feel like it's inspired by the thunder force series. Especially thunder force 4.
Axelay is great but does not use mode 7 on vertical scrolling sections. Its uses mode 7 on the head of the robot boss.
Also UN squadron is amazing!!
Snes Shump List
- Axelay
..(end of list)
It'd be nice if Scrambled Valkyrie is re-released for modern consoles for everyone to play 😊😊😊
A whole Macross shooting collection would be EPIC
As much as I've ALWAYS admired axelay, I never had a real chance to actually sit down and give it a real play. Gonna change that real soon.
Turbo graphix 16 shmups should b next of course.
It's only proper
A great list! I would have added - Cybernator - Starfox - Pop n Twinbee
UN Squadron is the best
Great video,as always ❤
THANK YOU!
Have you tried the caravan shooting collection on sfc??
@@TimothyLindley yes indeed, great collection of old school shmups
Hard to disagree with you here Jim. Excellent set of blasters. Super nova aka Darius force and Spriggen powered were also pretty fun if not top tier
They are indeed. I'll have to consider them if I do a sequel video.
SNES time with Jim all good games enjoy the week
Is it me or does he sound exactly like Classic Game Room?
He sounds like Mark's brother, yes.
damn i got hit with nostalgia! 0:51
that music!!!!
Great list and quite a pricey one for us stateside viewers lol
Aero Fighters is the coolest game on the Snes. This game compares to galaga, galaxian, gaplus, xevious, bosconian, and more shooting games. All five of these games are developed by namco, but aero fighters is not develop by namco. Aero Fighters develop by video system. This game looks pretty damn good and kick ass.
Hey Jim...love your channel over the years. How do you feel about Gradius 5 on PS2? I'm blown away by this game but can't get too far since it's kind of unbalanced with difficulty. I feel like it's overlooked. Cheers from Missouri!
It's a solid game, though I honestly don't care for Treasure's other shooters, I feel they're too reliant on gimmicks or overly complicated gameplay in the case of Radiant Silver Gun, but G5 strikes a nice balance of classic gameplay with a few Treasure style twists.
Would like to have seen or at least an honorable mention for S.T.G. Strike Gunner
I should have grabbed Aero fighters when it was going for $300 in 2008
Get Sonic Wings on Super Famicom - same game and not too expensive. That's what I did!
@@FamicomFanatic I do buy imports from time to time. Thanks
@@wantsome-zs5sq You’re welcome! I’ve gone the import route for a lot of games because some US releases have gotten ridiculous.
YES!!! #1 is also what I consider the best shooter for the system. Sure other games may have better graphics. And the main ship just look ugly. But what makes a good shooter in my opinion is the weaponry. And this game blows all other shooters out of the water. The closest one I can think of is Blazing Laser for the turbografx..
missing the Parodius games mate :)
Don't have issue with your choices. Surprised Spriggan powered isn't in there as it was a very late release. To tap your brain and wisdom, hidden gems on ps1 and ps2 in japan would be topics I'd like to see. Mostly to see if I've missed any interesting games in my collection. You can add ps3 to the list as well, I only have 1 ps3 japanese game.
ah 1992 no wonder i did so poorly in my last year of high school with these classics, EDF is good too
Video games may have distracted me from a lot of school work, but they had a hand in making me the man I am today lol
Super Aleste!!!!
Super aleste is actually its name everywhere in the world except america🙃
Jim what's your favorite video game character from sonic the hedgehog 2006?
Hey Jim. How are you?
So help me if Space Megaforce/ Super Aleste isn't here........
Hot DAMN. It's at the end! You what else belongs here? Now ok, the game itself isn't THAT good, but it IS cool and the music is great. Bio Metal. Check it out. Bio Metal.
Nah… Compile's _Space Megaforce_ and *nothing else.* That's the only title that's still worth playing on this list. The SNES is much weaker than the NES / Famicom in this category.
Clark Nancy Clark Shirley Lopez Linda
15:23 Bosconian Cameo? ; - ) Never played Space Megaforce because it seemed so generic on the cover and name. Oh well. Parodius was really fun because 2 player silly gradius action!