NES/FAMICOM : which the best space shooters for you (both vertical/horizontal) ?

[fredJ]

Up until recently, I had completely dismissed NES and Famicom shooters, as the hardware just couldn't do a decent job (I thought.) I have the PC Engine, the Saturn, Japanese Xbox 360-all the strong shooter systems, and what I had played on the NES (mainly stuff like 1941, Tiger Heli, etc) had been pretty boring. Many of the shooters that were on the system were obsolete, such as Gradius and Parodius, considering you could play "superior" versions on other systems I had.

Last weekend, I was at a local shop digging through their $4.99 and under Famicom bin that I've never seen anyone but me look at. Among other games, I grabbed Star Solder (I love the PCE series) and Gradius. What the hell, they were 8 bucks total. I get home and pop in Gradius, and it's much better than I remember! I guess emulation didn't do it justice, but the NES version definately has its own charm over the PCE version I'm used to, and despite the limitations I may even like it better. Star Soldier is brutal, but it's fast, with lots of crap going on, and pretty darned fun. I wouldn't have thought it possible on the Famicom without severe flicker/slowdown!

I now have my eye out on other shooters, I've probably unjustly ignored the genre on this system.

I would say there are indeed several good shooters. Just avoid the early ones, like Xevious and .. Argus (sorry).
Many of them manage to deal with the flicker problem suprisingly well.

[GohanX]

Actually, I did buy Xevious while I was there. It was $1.99. I hate it, but I hate the arcade game too. I only got it since it was Namco, and it goes with some of the other Namco games I have acquired.

[jpx72]

Uchuu keibitai SDF is also very nice!

[80sFREAK]

Up until recently, I had completely dismissed NES and Famicom shooters, as the hardware just couldn't do a decent job (I thought.) I have the PC Engine, the Saturn, Japanese Xbox 360-all the strong shooter systems, and what I had played on the NES (mainly stuff like 1941, Tiger Heli, etc) had been pretty boring. Many of the shooters that were on the system were obsolete, such as Gradius and Parodius, considering you could play "superior" versions on other systems I had.

Last weekend, I was at a local shop digging through their $4.99 and under Famicom bin that I've never seen anyone but me look at. Among other games, I grabbed Star Solder (I love the PCE series) and Gradius. What the hell, they were 8 bucks total. I get home and pop in Gradius, and it's much better than I remember! I guess emulation didn't do it justice, but the NES version definately has its own charm over the PCE version I'm used to, and despite the limitations I may even like it better. Star Soldier is brutal, but it's fast, with lots of crap going on, and pretty darned fun. I wouldn't have thought it possible on the Famicom without severe flicker/slowdown!

I now have my eye out on other shooters, I've probably unjustly ignored the genre on this system.

I would say there are indeed several good shooters. Just avoid the early ones, like Xevious and .. Argus (sorry).
Many of them manage to deal with the flicker problem suprisingly well.

It was third on the list So, if i have to choose one - Star Luster

[chazbc24]

Gradius 2

[tonev]

It was in the first post buddy...

Am i blind... or maybe my broswer is blind too  when i search for live in the first page nothing comes up

[Parodius Duh]

Id say Salamander and Gradius and all that, but I prefer the sega saturn versions. Games exclusive to the Famicom Id say Over Horizon definitely, The Unreleased Titan Warriors is bad ass as well.

[L___E___T]

It was in the first post buddy...

Am i blind... or maybe my broswer is blind too  when i search for live in the first page nothing comes up

Just listed as Salamander, but that and life Force are the same game in terms of gameplay.

[Parodius Duh]

It was in the first post buddy...

Am i blind... or maybe my broswer is blind too  when i search for live in the first page nothing comes up

Just listed as Salamander, but that and life Force are the same game in terms of gameplay.

Actually, Life Force has some differences with the gameplay, but its not anything to significant. No multiple endings, only 2 option power ups instead of 3, and it uses the Konami code (which is nice for the beginners) which the Japan version does not.

[L___E___T]

But Salamander has a better name   Sounds like Life Force is the better, updated polished game though.

[OZMA WARS]

uchuu keibitai famicom seem great, both graphics and gameplay (youtube). A pity no one for sale on Ebay.

hey Famifan : if you like to play FrontLine on the Famicom ( better that on Colecovision ) let me have yr. comment on Dough Boy .. I am really curious.

[MWK]

OZMA WARS, I believe I saw SDF at Manuel's Little Shoppe, go and check it out if you're interested :-)

As being an owner of this game all I can say is that I highly recommend it, really unique (in it's style), murky but beautiful, tough but rewarding at the same time, one of my favorite vertical shooters.

Sadly HALken didn't use MMC5 extra sound channels, but that's in my opinion the only downside.

[Oreanor]

My favorite is Blade Buster, though it's new and unreleased one.
Very fast, smooth graphics and smart gameplay.
I wish Famicom had at least one more such game.

[fredJ]

I can never like Salamander (or Life Force)... too little freedom and too much difficulty.
Same reason I never liked R-Type.

However, I find Gradius and Parodius to be a lot more fun.
Better ability to chose powerups, a strategy element I appreciate. Also, music is more lively.  And, there are no suprise deaths like in Salamander.

[NintendoKing]

Argus, is the game on my top as it was first for me to play on Famicom.