I think the 16-bit generation of shmups was my favorite. The shooters of this era feature
the perfect blend of speed and complexity, without feeling overwhelming. The genre really
started hitting it’s stride and there were dozens of classic titles released in the early
90’s. On today’s episode of 5 Games we are going to take a look at 5 great shmups
released on 16-bit home consoles.
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Super R-Type was an early SNES game, released in the fall of 1991. The game is notorious
for it’s slow-down, which is frequent in every stage, and also because of the start-back.
When you die, you start the stage over from the beginning.
However, looking beyond a few minor flaws, Super R-Type is a terrific game. The excellent
Force mechanic returns. This orb like item acts as a shield, with the amazing ability
to absorb infinite amounts of bullets. It can be docked on the front your of your ship,
the back, or be left to float around on it’s own. It’s an awesome gimmick that has withstood
the test of time.
The music has a very early SNES sound and doesn’t blow me away, but I rather like
the graphics. There is a nice mix of organic elements and industrial design giving the
game a distinctly R-Type feel. And of course, Super R-Type features terrific bosses with
challenging patterns.
Super R-Type is a great example of what a great shmup should be. The gameplay, graphics,
and sound all come together to form a cohesive experience from start to finish. You’ll
die a lot, and may be frustrated by the start-back, but you’ll keep coming back for more.
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Steel Empire was developed by Hot-B and released on the North American Genesis in 1992. From
a gameplay standpoint, this one is fairly straightforward. Your primary fire, and secondary
fire, are unlimited and there are no alternate weapons.
However, they can be upgraded a whopping 20 times over. This means through each stage
you are leveling up a few times. What Steel Empire does introduce to the shmup formula
is the ability to fire forwards or backwards. This changes the gameplay quite a bit, as
waves of enemies may come from behind you. It also makes the bosses a bit more interesting,
as you’ll be attacking them from both sides.
The best thing about Steel Empire is its steampunk aesthetic. The entire game is oozing with
steam powered contraptions with a beautiful color palette to match. Everything on the
screen seems to be made of brass, and it gives the game a unique visual style I don’t think
I’ve really seen in another video game. The soundtrack also matches this alternate
reality, with a heavy emphasis on horned instruments matching the Genesis’s strengths perfectly.
Overall, Steel Empire is a great game. The gameplay is a touch generic, but it more than
makes up for it with a ton of style. Steel Empire has always flown under the radar, but
was popular enough for Game Boy Advance release in 2004, and a 3DS remake set to be released
in just a couple months.
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While the Neo Geo is more famous for it’s huge variety of fighting games, the system
also has a fair number of strong shmups. Last Resort was re-released on the Neo Geo CD in
1994 and is one my favorites.
The game is clearly inspired by the R-Type series, and the ship has more than a striking
resemblance to the iconic R9 Arrowhead. Despite the similarities, Last Resort stands on it’s
own.
The option mechanics are completely different. Instead of docking to the front or back of
you, it hovers around you in the opposite direction you are moving. Not only that, it
can be locked into place at any point. This creates some interesting scenarios where you
can really utilize the orb to soak up enemy fire.
As one would expect from a Neo Geo game, Last Resort is a beautiful game. The backgrounds
layers have a ton of a detail, but are somewhat subdued and contrast nicely with foregrounds.
The bosses are also terrific, featuring huge mechanical designs that fit the overall aesthetic
of the game perfectly.
Like all great shmups, the controls are buttery smooth and make playing through the game’s
five brutal levels a real treat. If you’ve got a Neo Geo CD, you definitely need to check
out Last Resort.
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Bio Hazard Battle is a bit of a hidden gem, and not one I often see listed on best-of
lists. But it really should be as this 1992 Genesis release is one of my absolute favorites.
The game play here offers a bit more variety than the game we’ve just looked it. First
off, you can choose between 4 different ships, each varying in power and speed. There are
7 weapons total in the game, with each ship having access to 4 of them. You can switch
weapons on the fly by selecting the appropriate colored power-up.
Like its peers, Bio Hazard Battle also has a helper orb that dishes out fire and soaks
up bullets. This one also moves in the opposite direction of your ship, but cannot be locked
into place.
Like all the great shmups, Bio Hazard Battle has a ton of style. The theme here is water,
and most of the enemies on the screen resemble oceanic creatures, despite flying around in
the air. Its a really unique take on the genre and I love the art direction.
The sound is more of a mixed bag, but again is incredibly unique. It’s not so much music
as it is ambient noise with rhythmic patterns. I rather enjoy it, but I wouldn’t call it
memorable. Still, sound aside, Bio Hazard Battle is a great game that deserves more
attention than it receives.
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BioMetal was released for the Super Nintendo in 1993. Activision decided to completely
redo the soundtrack for its North American release, licensing music from the dance group
2 Unlimited. This odd decision is what BioMetal is most known for.
And that is a shame, because BioMetal is the best shmup on the Super Nintendo. This isn’t
an uneducated statement either, I own all 19 north american shmups released on the system,
and BioMetal trumps them all.
The game actually introduces something new the genre in the form of the GAM. Once engaged,
the GAM forms a shield around you. From here, you can keep using it defensively, or change
it up and launch it at enemies. It’s use is limited however, but it charges at a reasonable
rate when not in use.
The art direction here is amazing, with a wonderful blend of gothic style and a dreary
sci-fi that bares a strong resemblance to H. R. Giger’s work on the Alien film. BioMetal
is also a technical achievement, with a transparency effects, and plenty of parallax scrolling,
all while maintaining a fast frame rate. For those that think the SNES can’t handle a
real shmup, this one shows what can be done in the hands of talented programmers.
BioMetal is truly an underrated gem, and belongs in every gamer’s collection.
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So there you have it, 5 great shmups released on 16-bit home consoles. Now, this is not
a definitive list, nor is it intended to be a best-of, so be sure to leave a comment and
let me know which 16-bit shooters, you enjoy.