From: brackney@author.ecn.purdue.edu (Larry J Brackney)
Newsgroups: rec.games.video
Subject: Re: SNES SHOOTERS REAL BEST-OF LIST!
Date: 31 Aug 92 21:37:30 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network

In article <28192@sophia.inria.fr> buffa@sophia.inria.fr writes:
>Well, I got really fed-up when I read all these messages about the SNES
>shooters. Apparently people who post are not professional players. It's always
>the same. When somebody asks 'what is the best shoot'em up for the SNES' or
>for any machine, how can you answer: 'This one is very good' if you only
>played 3 shooters among 10 availables ? What reference do you have ? I played
>A LOT of shooters on the SNES and here is my verdict:

   First, let's all calm down and take a deep breath.  The original poster
specifically requested SNES shooter recommendations - not SFAMI games.  Not
everyone has access to imports, or wants them either.  Many of the follow-ups
were recommendations for UN Squadron, a really great shooter IMHO.  Sure,
it's not the best, but anybody can get a copy easily.  Now the individual
comments...

>1?) To come: AXELEY. I saw a preview. WOW! WOW! WOW! I bet my dollards on that
>one! A Konami game can't be bad. And reviews in magazines said it's the best
>shooter with Super Aleste.

   Axelay has some really nice Mode 7 effects, but I'm a bit concerned about
the length of the game.  I've heard it's a bit on the easy side.  btw - As
I recall, Konami only bought the rights to Axelay.  Anybody know who programmed
it?

>1) Super Aleste by TOHO. No slowdowns. Thousands of sprites on screen. Perfect
>playability. Zooming and rotating effects of background bitmaps + ennemies in
>seome levels. This is a vertical shooter by the authors of Gunhead on the NEC
>PC engine. The first shooter on the SNES with lots of animated objects,
>multiparallax scrolling and NO SLOWDOWNS! And a top game! Same quality as real
>arcade games. 12 levels, 6 difficulty levels, really a lot of fun with arcade
>quality.

   This one will be released as Space Megaforce over here eventually, and
has some innovative features.  I particularly liked level two with the
space platform that attacks you from a distance.  Neat Mode 7 stuff.
This one seemed to have a bit more staying power than Axelay.

>2) Parodius: a Konami horizontal shooter. It takes best parts of R-Type,
>Gradius III, other shooters. A real psychedelic experience with a top game. No
>Slowdowns and LOT LOT of levels. Very funny game, like if Konami said to their
>programmers and designer: do what you want! The most crazy game on the SNES. I
>love it!!!

   Yes!  My number one all time favorite shooter!  This is what Gradius III
should have been.  Excellent graphics, terrific music, and a long and
challenging game! Opinion poll - Who's your favorite boss?  I'm partial
to the Squeeky Clean Octopus critter.

>Gradius III: there are slowdowns but I'm an old fan of the game. Nice but poor
>graphics.

   Yuck!  How can you stand this after playing Parodius?  Lifeforce on the
NES is better than Gradius III!  

>Darius Twin: you can play 2 at the same time but it's got slowdowns and poor
>gameplay. Very hard game. I won't recommend it.

   I don't know why, but this one seems to play a LOT faster than Darius
on my Sega.  Is it just me?

>Thunder Spirits: the SNES adaptation of Thunderforce III from the genesis.
>There are slowdowns but it's not a bad game. Less good than the genesis
>version. Worth trying but not buying.

   This one was a PALE immitation of the Sega classic.  The game controls
horribly, and lacks rapid fire.  (Or did I just miss it?)  It looks about
the same, but feels like a completely different (bad) game.

>Un Squadron (Area 88): Not bad. Not very fast, not very colorful graphics, but
>funny for a while. But compared to Super Aleste or Parodius, hmmmm looks
>pretty bad Hu!

   I thought this one was one of the most visually interesting shooters.
The graphics are realistic.  The planes are well drawn, the backgrounds
are gorgeous, etc.  Not only that, but it has a nice plot, and there
is a significant amount of strategy involved.  It's not a fast shooter,
but it's fairly challenging.

>Syvalion: an horrible Taito shooter. You play a dragon in a multidirectionnal
>scrolling. The animation is not smooth at all and the graphics are UGLY.

   I liked this one a lot, because it was different from all the rest of
the shooters out there.  I disagree with your comments about the quality
of the graphics and animation.  The game was a bit difficult to control
though.  For those that are unfamiliar with Syvalion, you control a
snake-like dragon which moves through a maze.  You kill your opponents
by breathing fire on them.  The game reminded me a bit of Mesopotamia/
Spring Ninja, a PC-Engine/TG16 game that I liked as well.

>Raiden Trap: Looks like it's been written on an Apple II. Avoid!
 Raiden-Trad

   Agreed.

>CONCLUSION: buy Super Aleste and Parodius. Save your dollards for Axeley! Buy
>Phalanx if you want a very good classic one. AVOID ALL THE ONES AFTER THE
>WARNING! 

   I'll agree with your recommendation for Parodius.  As for avoiding
all the ones after the "warning."  I think that's a bit strong.  Individual
tastes differ.  My recommendation is to try ANY game before buying it.
Two or three dollars in rental fees may save you from wasting substantially
more in the long run.  When it comes down to it, folks like Michel, the
staff at EGM, and myself do not know what games YOU will enjoy.  Who
knows, you may be one of the ten people who like Raiden-Trad!  ;-)

   - larry

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