Kotaku: Shmup

You'll Never Master This Shooter

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 07:00:00 EDT

Really Big Sky is an indie shmup with a twist: it's procedurally-generated. Meaning you'll never play the same game twice. More »

Girly Shoot 'Em Up Otomedius Excellent Still Cute, Still Coming This Year

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:40:00 EDT

Otomedius Excellent Still Cute, Still Coming This Year" alt="Click here to read Girly Shoot 'Em Up Otomedius Excellent Still Cute, Still Coming This Year" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/04/small_image20.jpg"/>

The side-scrolling shmup that's part Gradius, part anime fetish fulfillment, Otomedius Excellent, is coming to the Xbox 360 later this year. Konami reassured fans of Gradius gameplay today that the brightly colored arcade shooter that features girls-as-spaceships is still on the cards with a handful of new screen shots. More »

This Shmup Is $88? Really?

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 05:00:00 EDT

Next week, Japanese game developer MileStone's shoot'em up Radirgy: Noir hits the Xbox 360. The game is not cheap. More »

Take A Break From StarCraft II With Lost Viking

Mike Fahey — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:20:00 EDT

Real-time strategy gameplay got you down? Slip into the cantina for some pleasant conversation, Night Elf dancing, and a little scrolling-shooter action, courtesy of Lost Viking. More »

When Mars Declared Independence From Britain

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EDT

Upcoming title Jamestown has very little to do with the early colonization of North America, and everything to do with four-player co-op on 17th-century British colonial Mars. More »

R-Type Coming to the iPhone "Soon"

Brian Crecente — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EDT

Classic 80's arcade side-scrolling space shooter R-Type is coming to the iPhone soon, Electronic Arts tells us. More »

Don't Use The Word 'Shmup' Around The Creators Of Ikaruga And Sin & Punishment

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:40:00 EDT

Because, believe it or not, the people who designed some of the world's best scrolling shoot 'em ups, including Ikaruga, Gradius V and Radiant Silvergun, claim to have never seen the abbreviated term "shmup" used to describe their games before. More »

RayStorm Reborn Next Week

Mike Fahey — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:30:57 EDT

Scrolling shooter fans have every reason to get fired up over Xbox Live Arcade next week, when Square Enix releases the remake of Taito classic shmup, RayStorm HD. More »

Deathsmiles Limited Edition Is So Very Pretty

Mike Fahey — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EDT

As if Xbox 360 gothic-lolita shmup Deathsmiles could get any more attractive, publisher Aksys reveals the Deathsmiles Limited Edition, packed in a super-sized box with a Xbox 360 and a soundtrack album. Now how much would you pay? More »

Shoot 1Up

Kobun — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:20:00 EST

Mommy's Best Games Shoot 1UP explores the idea of taking a traditional shooter and having the player control a whole fleet instead of a single craft. More »

DeathSmiles Smiles On North America

Mike Fahey — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST

The top-selling shoot-em up of this console generation is coming to North America, as Aksys Games announces a U.S. release for Cave's brilliant Xbox 360 gothic lolita shooter, DeathSmiles. More »

Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype's Lovely Bullet Hell

Mike Fahey — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:40:00 EST

SideQuest Studio's sequel to PlayStation Network exclusive side-scrolling shooter Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer is just as free with the bullets as its predecessor was, as these new screens demonstrate. More »

It's A Good Week To Buy Ikaruga

Mike Fahey — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:20:00 EDT

If you've been avoiding spending 800 Microsoft points in order to let Treasure's beloved shoot-em up Ikaruga kill you repeatedly, then perhaps the Xbox Live Deal of the Week is for you. More »

Microsoft Wants Radiant Silvergun For XBLA

Mike Fahey — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:20:00 EST

In an interview with Gamasutra, Treasure CEO Masato Maegawa reveals that Microsoft has requested the classic Saturn shoot-em Radiant Silvergun for Xbox Live Arcade, but Treasure has yet to say yes. More »

Gradius ReBirth Gives WiiWare Some Options

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:30:58 EDT

While we were hunkered down at the Los Angeles Convention Center last week, wondering "Is that it?" of E3 2008, Konami announced Gradius ReBirth, a WiiWare title that looks to fill the Gradius void in our lives. Like the retro stylings of Mega Man 9, Konami is giving the hardcore what they want — gameplay minus expensive production values — and they're doing it through digital distribution. More »

More Japan Only Games Coming To American Virtual Console

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:00:01 EDT

The ESRB spilled the beans on more than just ASH - Archaic Sealed Heat today, as a bunch of new Virtual Console candidates were given ratings for the Wii. A duo originally released only in Japan, Sega/NCS's side-scrolling, Mega Drive-era shooter Gley Lancer and Konami's Famicom platformer Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa have been cleared for North American release, nabbing E10+ and E ratings, respectively. More »

It's Official: Ikaruga Hitting XBLA This Week

Mark Wilson — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:40:00 EDT

In this week's XBLA update, we've finally gotten official confirmation that Ikaruga, the classic Japanese shoot 'em up (sorry, I despise the term "shmup") is coming to the platform this Wednesday, April 9th. Now in HD, players can enjoy standard leaderboards as well as online co-op and replay/save video support. It'll set you back 800 points. More »

The Gradius III Vic Viper Is A Sexy Space Fighter Option

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:20:00 EST

If you're the type who decided that the Gradius II version of the Vic Viper starfighter should represent but a fraction of your PVC space armada, you may want to hunt down an import retailer for the follow up. More »

Triggerheart Exelica Goes Live Next Week

Mike Fahey — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:20:37 EST

Shmupcrafters Warashi have updated their website to indicate that the arcade to Dreamcast to Xbox Live Arcade translation of Triggerheart Exelica will be hitting Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday! Triggerheart is about humanoid weapons systems that just so happen to resemble cute anime girls, fighting to save humanity from the Ver'mith. You're good, they're bad, shoot them. Both ships have different weapons but both have the power to perform an anchor shot, snagging enemies to use as a weapon or shield. Not sure I am ready for this yet, as Omega Five is still kicking my ass on a regular basis, but I suppose when it comes to shmups, the more the merrier! The only problem? While it will definitely be out in Japan next Wednesday for 800 points, I am seeing now official word on other regions, though Xbox.com did just add a page for the game. Fingers crossed! More »

Omega Five Is Alive

Mike Fahey — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 14:20:04 EST

I've been drooling over it for months, and now it's finally here! Is Omega Five everything I had hoped it would be? Well, yes and no. It has all of the shoot-em up action I was expecting, and it is one of the most beautiful games you're likely to find on Xbox Live Arcade, but the limitations of the format inevitably shine through on the presentation end of things. After playing with the game just about every free moment I've had in the day, I can't shake the feeling that this would have been a truly spectacular game had it just been fleshed out a bit. More »

Omega Five Next Week Confirmed, Priced

Mike Fahey — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:20:05 EST

Now let's just remove that little question mark from McWhertor's post yesterday, as Hudson officially announces Omega Five for the Xbox Live Arcade coming out next Wednesday. Along with the date, they've also announced the price of this lovely little slice of shmuppetry, which will set you back a relatively standard 800 Microsoft points. Along with the release announcement comes information on the last of the playable characters, a female named R.A.D. in a skintight insect-looking suit that allows her speedy maneuverability at the cost aiming speed. Hit the jump for more info on R.A.D. and her various weapons of mass destruction, or to just revel in the fact the this long-awaited game is finally upon us. Yum! More »

Omega Five Finally Coming To XBLA Next Week?

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:20:00 EST

Hudson and Natsume's Omega Five was originally scheduled to hit Xbox Live Arcade sometime in November, but that's obviously come and gone and we're without the game. It looks like Xbox 360 owners may finally get the side-scrolling shoot 'em up as early as next week, as Console Monster indicates a January 9th release date. It was certainly one of my highlights at last year's Tokyo Game Show, so I'll be first in line. No solid word on pricing yet, but the Forgotten Worlds-esque shmup looks like it's worth the scratch. More »

The Otomedius Busty Maid Toys Won't Stop

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 18:20:07 EST

When Konami of Japan announced Otomedius, we quickly realized what it was up to. Konami had little interest in trying to revitalize the shrinking arcade shmup scene or looking in a new direction for the Gradius and Parodius series. No, they wanted to bring more boobs into the Konami family and shill loads of Otomedius toys. And they're making good on it again, with new redemption prizes in the form of 14cm tall toys and, yes, smaller than life-sized inflatable versions of the busty shooter girls. You're either shaking your head, sighing with defeat or whipping our your credit card again, I'm sure—it's been a big week for plastic video game girls. More »

Senko No Ronde 2 Cast Revealed

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:20:00 EST

Shooter specialist G.rev let slip the other day that Senko no Ronde 2 was in the works, revealing two new gender ambiguous additions to the cast of fighters. Now, courtesy of Yahoo! Japan blog Gemaga, we know a half-dozen characters who will comprise a portion of the roster. As fans of the first can see, gender confusion runs amok yet again, as Cuilan returns and a character known as ??? blurs the line between the sexes. Someone at G.rev should be made to pay for this. More »

This Spring, Wii Owners To Dine In Bullet Hell

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:20:00 EST

Aksys Games announced today that it would be bringing hardcore vertical-shmup Castle of Shikigami III to the Nintendo Wii early next year. Loaded with coin collecting and intense bullet dodging, the series has previously come to North America under other publishers as Mobile Light Force 2 and Castle Shikigami 2. This is eyeball drying, twitch filled stuff and the kind of content we certainly wouldn't mind seeing more of on the Wii. Pre-localized screens are in the gallery below, followed by a handy press release for reference. More »

Shoot The Very Small Core

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 04:00:54 EST

　We. Want. These. Next February, Japanese toy maker Yujin is releasing a "Shooting Game History" capsule toy collection that includes the R-9A Arrow Head from R-Type, the 0F-1 Daedalus from Image Fight, the Vic Viper T301 from Gradius, the Metarion from Gradius 2 and the Silver Hawk from Darius Gaiden. Yujin, you had me at R-Type! For those that don't live in Japan (sorry), know that National Console Support is selling complete sets for US $45. But, really, can you put a price on miniature Gradius toys? Survey says "no." More »

Nanostray 2 Masters Shmuppets

Mike Fahey — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 13:30:19 EST

While Nanostray was a solid side-scrolling shooter for the Nintendo DS, it wasn't without its fair share of problems, the most glaring of which was the endless continues, that made the game far less of a challenge than it could of been. Along with requiring the touch screen for weapon selections, these two features bogged down what could have otherwise been the perfect little handheld shmup. Now Nanostray 2 is still a couple of months away, but from my time with the preview build of the game Majesco was kind enough to send my way I can say that it triumphs over the original in every way. More »

Mutant Storm Empire

Mike Fahey — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:40:04 EST

When Mutant Storm Reloaded was launched with the Xbox Live Arcade service, it served as an excellent diversion from hours upon hours of Geometry Wars. While the original from PomPom games might have gotten a bit lost in the GW hype explosion, their new entry into the series breaks from the room-clearing formula of it's predecessor to become a nifty little slice of shooter heaven all its own. More »

Ruby Enters The Omega Five Fray

Mike Fahey — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 13:20:26 EDT

Hudson continues to painfully tease my shmup hunger, releasing bits of information on the upcoming Xbox Live Arcade shooter Omega Five while I continuously refresh my Arcade downloads screen just in case they decide to release the game itself while no one is looking. This week we meet Ruby, the scantily clad vixen who brings sexy to the battlefield, along with a vulcan laser cannon, reflecting laser beam, and a lightning gun. I'll let you decide which of those four is the most important. Ruby also has an alternate attack that sends out a satellite that can latch onto larger enemies, dealing damage as well as providing a lock-on target for her normal attacks. Where she stores this satellite when not in use is not something I really want to think about. Lovely! Game please. More »

Omega Five Is Alive

Mike Fahey — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:20:44 EDT

As a closet shmuppet, Omega Five for Xbox Live Arcade was already on my list of must-have titles simply on the merit of its genre. Seeing it in action in this trailer has only served to put it on the list of games I will bring back in the makeshift time machine I fashion in the year 2037 to make sure I get to play it before everybody else. Seriously, I need this game right now. Why must you tease me Hudson? More »

The Tempest Joins Omega Five

Mike Fahey — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:20:20 EDT

Hudson's Xbox Live Arcade shmup adds another character to its team of spaceship stand-ins as the company reveals a new character for Omega Five. The Tempest is "a hulking, four-armed alien, with no problem plowing through hordes of enemies in Omega Five, thanks to his thick skin", as well as one of William Shakespeare's lesser-known plays. The play might have the character beat by a good four hundred years, but since I don't recall the story including Volcanic Fire, Corrosive Acid, and Molten Metal used as weapons, my money is on Hudson's creation if it comes down to a fight. More »

Nanostray 2 Officially Coming In Early 08

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 19:40:59 EDT

Shin'en's space shooter Nanostray was by no means a hit with critics, but apparently there were enough Nintendo DS owners hip to the first one to warrant a sequel. Today, Majesco officially announced Nanostray 2 will ship in "early 2008" and features some nice improvements over the first. Two-player co-op, two-player versus, traditional and touchscreen control options, even a swell VR Missions-like mode dubbed the Simulator have all been added. More »

Ikaruga For Xbox Live Arcade Hands-On Impressions

Michael McWhertor — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 13:30:22 EDT

A four-kiosk attack of Xbox Live Arcade games was nestled in the middle of Microsoft's Xbox 360 booth at TGS, showing off dozens of titles old and new. Only one contained the XBLA remake of Treasure's black and white shmup Ikaruga in playable demo form. Featuring the first level of the game, the demo station at Tokyo Game Show may not have shown the remake in the best light. While Ikaruga for XBLA looks spectacular in screenshots—and according to Flynn, "really sharp" on a 42" HDTV—seeing it in non-tate mode on a 22" LCD doesn't show off the game's graphical upgrades in the proper light. More »

Omega Five Hands-On Impressions

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 09:00:43 EDT

Hudson's Xbox Live Arcade shooter Omega Five may have been unfairly lost in the noise of the thunderous announcements of Rez HD and Ikaruga for the Xbox 360, but anyone interested in shmups simply must take a moment to learn more about the game. Developed by a five person team at Natsume, Omega Five immediately won me over with one of its playable characters. She's not only sporting some revealing Brazilian cut bustier get up that's apparently perfect for space battles, she immediately cemented the game's similarities to my personal favorite arcade shooter of all time, Forgotten Worlds. More »

Death Smiles, Cave's New Shmup

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 21:00:17 EDT

September's Shooterfest continues as side-scrolling arcade shmup lovers will be pleased to see Cave's new gothic horror effort Death Smiles. Like Tekken 6, it's on display at the JAMMA expo in Tokyo. A much longer, but less clear video of the game on display at JAMMA is available at YouTube. It's a good time to be a shmup fan, no? More »

Exploring Castle Shikigami III

Mike Fahey — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 19:00:32 EDT

The Xbox 360 shmuppage continues as ArcSystemWorks readies Castle Shikigami III for release in Japan. The first Shikigami game was released in horribly neutered form in the states as Mobile Light Force II for the PS2, but the real star of the series so far has been Castle Shikigami 2, which was released with some of the worst Engrish of any last gen game. "Slaves for fashion dislike bulges!" That's for sure. Part of me wants the game released in the US with great voice acting and localization. The other part of me wants to see how bad it can get without it becoming painful. While I eagerly await news of a North American release, enjoy these twenty screenshots of the game in action. More »

Omega Five Comes To Live

Mike Fahey — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:20:47 EDT

As blank Dreamcast disc supplies begin to dwindle, could Xbox Live Arcade become a new haven for scrolling-shooter fans? With games like Triggerheart Exelica, Ikaruga, and this game here, Hudson's Omega Five coming to the platform, shmuppets might have good reason to pick up a 360 in the coming months. Omega Five is a a hardcore side-scrolling shooter featuring 360 degree shooting, five characters with unique special attacks and weapons, and local co-op. It looks gorgeous, and with Natsume working with Hudson it should either end up excellent or inadvertently a farming sim. Welcome to the age of digital-delivery shmuppery! More »

G.rev Shmup Factory Keeps Dreamcast Arcade Hardware, Gender Confusion Alive

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 22:40:44 EDT

Japanese shooter developer G.rev is firing up the Naomi development kits one more time for its latest vertical shmup Mamonoro. The creators of Senko no Ronde, Border Down and Under Defeat, all for the Dreamcast's arcade-only big sister hardware, are co-developing the game with a group called Gulti. According to Arcade Renaissance, some of the boys from Gulti hail from Seibu Kaihatsu, the developer responsible for the vertical shmup staple Raiden series. More »

Dreamcast Shmup Coming to Japanese XBL Arcade

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 07:00:56 EDT

In that wasteland that is Xbox Live Japan, 360 owners have at least one thing to be excited about. Bullet hell Trigger Heart Exelica is coming to Xbox Live Arcade! The shmup is from developer Warashi, the team behind scrolling side SEGA Saturn shooter Shienryu (too many S's). The vertical shooter got an arcade release last year and was even ported to the Dreamcast this past February! Not much info on the game in the Arcadia mag blurb (above) about whether it'll be available outside Japan or when it will hit XBL. It will, and that's all we know! And hey, if Warashi hasn't given up on the DC, like hell it'll call it a day for the Xbox 360 in Japan. More »

Star Soldier R Revealed For Wii

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 20:20:46 EDT

Hudson may be bringing another shmup in the Star Soldier series to the Nintendo Wii, with Star Soldier R making a tantalizingly brief appearance at the company's caravan tour in Japan. While free of Wii-remote gimmicks, it's unclear what new gameplay elements the vertical shooter will bring to the series. Anyone unfamiliar with Hudson's Star Soldier may want to invest in the Virtual Console release of the Turbografx-16 version as the above video isn't exactly clear viewing. More »