Hey Mark! No worries and happy holidays to you as well! Let me know if there’s anything specific you’re wondering about. There are subtleties in this game which can be instrumental but when we don’t know about them, they don’t do us any good. All the best!
hey man, great video as always. But, for some reason, your videos don't have the captions option enabled. Your diction is clear, but a caption helps a lot for non-english speakers.
Hey thanks so much for watching and yeah, I will see about adding that for certain videos. It's more or less time constraints these days but thanks for the heads up. I definitely agree it would be more valuable for non-english speaking viewers. Have a stellar day and we'll seeya next time!
I'll also clarify that having captions requires me to type out everything during specific time stamps since YT doesn't appear to do this automatically for me and that's why I usually don't include it these days since I have 30 or so minutes to work with for recording shmup stuff in the evenings (just my current schedule and responsibilities). But I'll keep this in mind and do it whenever and wherever I can.
@@Shmuptopia Hmm that's interesting, most english language videos have it done automatically, maybe it's a matter of configuration. Of course I was mentioning the automatic caption system, there's no point in you doing it manually for a 30 minutes video, lol!
@@persona83 I'm going to look into this more because if there's an option that I haven't selected that can do this for me, that would be great!! Time will tell!
Interesting, I've never heard of that difference before. Do you know if the hitbox of bullets is actually increased or just the sprite itself? It might be like in Barrage Fantasia or the Vasara games where you can technically touch large, chunky bullets without a collision being detected since the hitbox is sunken deeper in the sprite.
I want to get into shmups but I kinda suck at them. On the Switch or PS4, do you have a recommendation for a few titles that are easy enough to enjoy but also improve my abilities at the same time?
Hey Esperago! Thanks for checking this out. You don't suck at shmups. People just getting into these games often assume this is the case due to jumping in and not performing well but it's no different than anything else. There are fundamentals to establish and skills that are literally starting from scratch, so there's no possible way you could suck. As for titles that may suit you, I usually don't like immediately naming off games until I've had the person narrow things down a little bit first. For example, do you like the idea of vertical scrolling or horizontal scrolling shooters more? Do you want the game mechanics to be simple or straightforward or more complex and engaging? Definitely let me know and I'll see what I can cook up for you! I want to ensure I'm recommending the most suitable games instead of just naming some off and you not being satisfied. Also, are you after something modern or more classic? Thanks again and we'll talk soon! I'm stoked to hear you're getting into shmups!!
@@Shmuptopia Hey, thanks for the reply and interest in making proper recommendations - much appreciated! As a greenhorn, I'd say my tastes in shmups are as follows: horizontal scrolling, straightforward/simple mechanics and a graphical style that is modern, but futuristic looking. I kinda dislike 8/16-bit retro style shooters. I also dislike anything with "airplanes" like the, what is it? The 1942 game? That being said 2D or 2.5D are both enjoyed. I think why I said I suck at shmups is because I am always in awe, watching gameplay video, at how others can spot the safe areas to dodge bullet hell type of moments. Watching those videos, I'm certain there is no way to escape a hit but then the players does a wiggle-dodge out of nowhere and avoids damage. To me, my mind just sees a mess of bullets coming my way. So I'm hoping to get better at that part - to train my mind to spot intricate patterns, but I want to start somewhere easier and not cry frustrated tears of blood from accidentally picking a hard-as-hell shmup just because it looked good or is popular in the hardcore shmup community. Oh, it's also worth noting I have a Switch, PS4 and Stadia. Thanks, man!
Also, subnote about graphical styles: While I like modern graphics and I'm not a fan of 8/16bit styles, I do have a soft spot for two categories of graphics that seem to be increasing in popularity. The neo 1-bit (eg. Spectrum Next) and Gameboy styles of graphics are pretty great. I say "neo" because the new games being released (like Pig Ship) are not anything that the original hardware could handle. I always disliked the original hardware because the games had bad controls and bad graphics. But using modern processors to generate fantasy 1-bit and Gameboy games is an awesome retro trip. BTW... Pig Ship looked amazing until I discovered it has no continues. That's a no-go zone of eternal frustration for me.
@@esperago Hey Esperago, it's no problem at all! While some people will recommend the general go-to titles, I feel a lot more consideration is required and important since everyone has a different taste. What you have specified here is fantastic and super helpful for me to narrow things down. I'll respond to both your main comment and your subnote here. Since I'm exclusively on Switch, I can really only recommend games from what I have, and while I have a vast number or arcade shooters, the bulk of them are either retro titles (like Arcade Archives releases) or vertical scrolling games since that's what I lean more toward. With what you've specified, there's really only one title that comes to mind for horizontal scrolling with fairly straightforward mechanics and a modern/futuristic look and that's Rolling Gunner but there are some things I'll specify and definitely recommend you look into this game before purchasing because not everyone will like it. But essentially you have different ship types, access to screen-clearing bombs and a relatively straightforward hyper system. There are quite a few difficulty modes to access so you can start with the easiest and work your way up if you end up really enjoying this one. It also lets you continue if need be. What may trip up beginners though is the base game controls in such a way where you aim your gun-pod by moving your ship in the opposite direction to where you want to fire (this takes getting used to and isn't really what I'd suggest for someone just getting into it but it's really the only game that comes to mind. That being said, your main guns still fire normally (straight ahead) so you don't need to worry about that. However, the DLC "Overpower" I think it's called allows you to aim your gun-pod with the right stick if you're on a controller. I don't have the dlc personally but this would certainly make it far more approachable for someone less experienced so that's one thing to keep in mind. This may all feel overwhelming but it's not as crazy as it might sound initially and it is a really solid title to be honest. Because I'm limited to Switch and, for the most part, either retro/retro-looking or vertical - I think what I'll do is at least recommend some solid vertical scrolling shooters because I don't want to leave you with just Rolling Gunner but in all honesty, that's really the closest thing to what you mentioned. So, Crimzon Clover looks incredible, is a modern classic and masterpiece, and is easily one of my all-time favorite shooters. It offers a variety of different play modes, difficulties, etc. The mechanics are highly engaging and the game covers fundamentals beautifully but is also perfect for skilled players too (on higher difficulties) and while it will challenge you, it's far too awesome of a game not to get behind. It's one of those games almost everyone will love and appreciate to one degree or another (there are still exceptions of course). Next, this one actually captures the Gameboy vibe but I don't recall if it lets you continue. In any event, Thunder Striker came out last year I think. I did some videos on it if that helps at all. I personally love it since I grew up with Solar Striker on GB and this was an excellent experienced I feel was inspired by SS. DoDonPachi Resurrection and Mushihimesama are both favorites as well. You may really enjoy DDPR's visual style. Mushihimesama is insect-based but it's too good of a game not to mention. If you end up enjoying any of these vertical shmups, then chances are you'll be playing them for the rest of time because unlike many shooters where you lost interest after a while, the quality and longevity is so potent, you'll want to always come back - that's my experience anyway. Ghost Blade HD is another game I personally really enjoy. I don't play it much at all these days, however, it's more than approachable, looks great (but it's vertical again). Has a training mode, continues (if I recall) and is another solid title for those less experienced. Also, this one won't grip everybody but Jamestown+ is easily an experience unlike anything else. It's vertical but full-screen (no side panels like almost every other vertical shooter on Switch). Again, multiple difficulties to work with and JT+ has an insane amount of customization with ship types, weapon selection, etc. I cannot recommend this one enough. Danmaku Unlimited 3 is another vertical scroller - it has a decent look and feel but it's a bullet and even on the easiest mode, it'll present a solid challenge which may not be what you're after so I'll leave you to do some digging and see what you think. I'd like to have more to suggest where horizontal games are concerned but there really isn't anything that fits into what you mentioned. If you end up starting to dip into stuff that looks older, then that will open up to other titles but for now, I'll leave you with this and definitely let me know what you zero in on and if you need anything else! I'm really trusting I've helped and don't just end up having you spend money on games you're not into after the fact. Have a stellar rest of the weekend and we'll talk when we do.
@@Shmuptopia Whoa, what a thorough and awesome list. I've already added them all to my eShop wishlist and will check out the trailers later. It's pretty excellent of you to take the time to make recommendations. If I can ask for one more recommendation, I'd like to ask for your top horizontal and vertical shmup recommendation with only the single qualification of "a good game for shmup rookies to sink their teeth into." Doesn't matter if it's retro, modern, whatever. (BTW... I don't hate any particular graphical style BUT I do have a PC Engine Mini, Neo Geo Arcade Stick pro and Amiga A500 mini, all of which I've added a ton of 8/16-bit shmups, so I kinda am bored of that style. Also, as a kid in the 80s/teen in the 90s, I spent my life dreaming of better graphics... lol... but I don't hate any graphical style, just a little tired of a few particular eras).
![Shikhondo - Soul Eater 1cc Arcade Hard [with commentary]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XnUkMJnBN3s/mqdefault.jpg)
![Shikhondo - Soul Eater 1cc Arcade Hard [with commentary]](/img/tr.png)
This is another game I got within the past few months and want to clear so this is, once again, spot-on help for me! Most appreciated :)
No problem! Definitely enjoy this one, it's fantastic and shines in ways few other shmups do to be honest.
Lol thanks for the link from twitter, gonna check this out after the in-laws leave.
Happy holidays, thank you!
Hey Mark! No worries and happy holidays to you as well! Let me know if there’s anything specific you’re wondering about. There are subtleties in this game which can be instrumental but when we don’t know about them, they don’t do us any good. All the best!
I have played it on iPhone & had alot of "under appreciated" fun
That scream of the Boss👾
The game is certainly one of the most twisted I've played. I wasn't aware this had a phone version, so that's interesting!
hey man, great video as always. But, for some reason, your videos don't have the captions option enabled. Your diction is clear, but a caption helps a lot for non-english speakers.
Hey thanks so much for watching and yeah, I will see about adding that for certain videos. It's more or less time constraints these days but thanks for the heads up. I definitely agree it would be more valuable for non-english speaking viewers. Have a stellar day and we'll seeya next time!
I'll also clarify that having captions requires me to type out everything during specific time stamps since YT doesn't appear to do this automatically for me and that's why I usually don't include it these days since I have 30 or so minutes to work with for recording shmup stuff in the evenings (just my current schedule and responsibilities). But I'll keep this in mind and do it whenever and wherever I can.
@@Shmuptopia Hmm that's interesting, most english language videos have it done automatically, maybe it's a matter of configuration. Of course I was mentioning the automatic caption system, there's no point in you doing it manually for a 30 minutes video, lol!
@@persona83 I'm going to look into this more because if there's an option that I haven't selected that can do this for me, that would be great!! Time will tell!
Moon Dancer in on Switch.
Yeah, I noticed the announcement on Twitter a few days ago. Stoked people can jump onto this!
One thing that is a bit odd, though, is that the PS4 version has larger bullets so there's less space to navigate.
Interesting, I've never heard of that difference before. Do you know if the hitbox of bullets is actually increased or just the sprite itself? It might be like in Barrage Fantasia or the Vasara games where you can technically touch large, chunky bullets without a collision being detected since the hitbox is sunken deeper in the sprite.
@@Shmuptopia Not sure, but that's a really good point. I will have to take a closer look and see. Thanks again.
I want to get into shmups but I kinda suck at them. On the Switch or PS4, do you have a recommendation for a few titles that are easy enough to enjoy but also improve my abilities at the same time?
Hey Esperago! Thanks for checking this out. You don't suck at shmups. People just getting into these games often assume this is the case due to jumping in and not performing well but it's no different than anything else. There are fundamentals to establish and skills that are literally starting from scratch, so there's no possible way you could suck. As for titles that may suit you, I usually don't like immediately naming off games until I've had the person narrow things down a little bit first. For example, do you like the idea of vertical scrolling or horizontal scrolling shooters more? Do you want the game mechanics to be simple or straightforward or more complex and engaging? Definitely let me know and I'll see what I can cook up for you! I want to ensure I'm recommending the most suitable games instead of just naming some off and you not being satisfied. Also, are you after something modern or more classic? Thanks again and we'll talk soon! I'm stoked to hear you're getting into shmups!!
@@Shmuptopia Hey, thanks for the reply and interest in making proper recommendations - much appreciated! As a greenhorn, I'd say my tastes in shmups are as follows: horizontal scrolling, straightforward/simple mechanics and a graphical style that is modern, but futuristic looking. I kinda dislike 8/16-bit retro style shooters. I also dislike anything with "airplanes" like the, what is it? The 1942 game? That being said 2D or 2.5D are both enjoyed. I think why I said I suck at shmups is because I am always in awe, watching gameplay video, at how others can spot the safe areas to dodge bullet hell type of moments. Watching those videos, I'm certain there is no way to escape a hit but then the players does a wiggle-dodge out of nowhere and avoids damage. To me, my mind just sees a mess of bullets coming my way. So I'm hoping to get better at that part - to train my mind to spot intricate patterns, but I want to start somewhere easier and not cry frustrated tears of blood from accidentally picking a hard-as-hell shmup just because it looked good or is popular in the hardcore shmup community. Oh, it's also worth noting I have a Switch, PS4 and Stadia. Thanks, man!
Also, subnote about graphical styles: While I like modern graphics and I'm not a fan of 8/16bit styles, I do have a soft spot for two categories of graphics that seem to be increasing in popularity. The neo 1-bit (eg. Spectrum Next) and Gameboy styles of graphics are pretty great. I say "neo" because the new games being released (like Pig Ship) are not anything that the original hardware could handle. I always disliked the original hardware because the games had bad controls and bad graphics. But using modern processors to generate fantasy 1-bit and Gameboy games is an awesome retro trip. BTW... Pig Ship looked amazing until I discovered it has no continues. That's a no-go zone of eternal frustration for me.
@@esperago Hey Esperago, it's no problem at all! While some people will recommend the general go-to titles, I feel a lot more consideration is required and important since everyone has a different taste. What you have specified here is fantastic and super helpful for me to narrow things down. I'll respond to both your main comment and your subnote here.
Since I'm exclusively on Switch, I can really only recommend games from what I have, and while I have a vast number or arcade shooters, the bulk of them are either retro titles (like Arcade Archives releases) or vertical scrolling games since that's what I lean more toward. With what you've specified, there's really only one title that comes to mind for horizontal scrolling with fairly straightforward mechanics and a modern/futuristic look and that's Rolling Gunner but there are some things I'll specify and definitely recommend you look into this game before purchasing because not everyone will like it. But essentially you have different ship types, access to screen-clearing bombs and a relatively straightforward hyper system. There are quite a few difficulty modes to access so you can start with the easiest and work your way up if you end up really enjoying this one. It also lets you continue if need be. What may trip up beginners though is the base game controls in such a way where you aim your gun-pod by moving your ship in the opposite direction to where you want to fire (this takes getting used to and isn't really what I'd suggest for someone just getting into it but it's really the only game that comes to mind. That being said, your main guns still fire normally (straight ahead) so you don't need to worry about that. However, the DLC "Overpower" I think it's called allows you to aim your gun-pod with the right stick if you're on a controller. I don't have the dlc personally but this would certainly make it far more approachable for someone less experienced so that's one thing to keep in mind. This may all feel overwhelming but it's not as crazy as it might sound initially and it is a really solid title to be honest.
Because I'm limited to Switch and, for the most part, either retro/retro-looking or vertical - I think what I'll do is at least recommend some solid vertical scrolling shooters because I don't want to leave you with just Rolling Gunner but in all honesty, that's really the closest thing to what you mentioned.
So, Crimzon Clover looks incredible, is a modern classic and masterpiece, and is easily one of my all-time favorite shooters. It offers a variety of different play modes, difficulties, etc. The mechanics are highly engaging and the game covers fundamentals beautifully but is also perfect for skilled players too (on higher difficulties) and while it will challenge you, it's far too awesome of a game not to get behind. It's one of those games almost everyone will love and appreciate to one degree or another (there are still exceptions of course).
Next, this one actually captures the Gameboy vibe but I don't recall if it lets you continue. In any event, Thunder Striker came out last year I think. I did some videos on it if that helps at all. I personally love it since I grew up with Solar Striker on GB and this was an excellent experienced I feel was inspired by SS.
DoDonPachi Resurrection and Mushihimesama are both favorites as well. You may really enjoy DDPR's visual style. Mushihimesama is insect-based but it's too good of a game not to mention. If you end up enjoying any of these vertical shmups, then chances are you'll be playing them for the rest of time because unlike many shooters where you lost interest after a while, the quality and longevity is so potent, you'll want to always come back - that's my experience anyway.
Ghost Blade HD is another game I personally really enjoy. I don't play it much at all these days, however, it's more than approachable, looks great (but it's vertical again). Has a training mode, continues (if I recall) and is another solid title for those less experienced.
Also, this one won't grip everybody but Jamestown+ is easily an experience unlike anything else. It's vertical but full-screen (no side panels like almost every other vertical shooter on Switch). Again, multiple difficulties to work with and JT+ has an insane amount of customization with ship types, weapon selection, etc. I cannot recommend this one enough.
Danmaku Unlimited 3 is another vertical scroller - it has a decent look and feel but it's a bullet and even on the easiest mode, it'll present a solid challenge which may not be what you're after so I'll leave you to do some digging and see what you think.
I'd like to have more to suggest where horizontal games are concerned but there really isn't anything that fits into what you mentioned. If you end up starting to dip into stuff that looks older, then that will open up to other titles but for now, I'll leave you with this and definitely let me know what you zero in on and if you need anything else! I'm really trusting I've helped and don't just end up having you spend money on games you're not into after the fact. Have a stellar rest of the weekend and we'll talk when we do.
@@Shmuptopia Whoa, what a thorough and awesome list. I've already added them all to my eShop wishlist and will check out the trailers later. It's pretty excellent of you to take the time to make recommendations. If I can ask for one more recommendation, I'd like to ask for your top horizontal and vertical shmup recommendation with only the single qualification of "a good game for shmup rookies to sink their teeth into." Doesn't matter if it's retro, modern, whatever. (BTW... I don't hate any particular graphical style BUT I do have a PC Engine Mini, Neo Geo Arcade Stick pro and Amiga A500 mini, all of which I've added a ton of 8/16-bit shmups, so I kinda am bored of that style. Also, as a kid in the 80s/teen in the 90s, I spent my life dreaming of better graphics... lol... but I don't hate any graphical style, just a little tired of a few particular eras).