Ikaruga is a godsend (to me at least). The game looks exceedingly beautiful running on Dreamcast back in 2001. It also has a wonderful soundtrack. Just check out the 1st stage's music. How majestic sounding! Even the 1st boss fight is memorable. The light / dark element is a fresh concept. Even the levels are unique (if short). Ikaruga remains one of my favourite shmups on Dreamcast or any other system.

Anyone here a fan of Sonic Wings (or Aero Fighters)? Despite being relatively easy, I felt the game was a very interesting variation on the shmup formula. In Sonic Wings 2, there were 5 countries you could choose from. Player 1 has access to 5 characters, while Player 2 has access to another 5 characters. I remember playing in the arcades with my brother, and arguing over who got to play Hien (player 1, Japan). I normally give in, choosing to play Mao Mao (player 2, Japan) instead. We made quite a good combination, though. While fighting end bosses, I will use Mao Mao's time freeze bomb, while continuing to pummel the boss with bullets. If we are about to get hit, my brother's Hien will use the big-ass laser to clear the enemy bullets. Ah, nostalgia...

Yup, I also prefer Rayforce (Layer Section on Saturn/PC) over Raystorm. The game had some very impressive sprite scaling and rotation, and was very colourful to look at. I even dig the opening intro, with the chick locking on, then firing the lasers. Layer Section's level design and music reminds me a lot of another Taito shmup, Acrobat Mission. Anyone else remember this game?

I think you're referring to Capcom's 1942. I played this when I was vacationing in Port Dickson back in 1986. This game, along with Terra Cresta, were to be my first taste of shmups, and start a lifelong love of them. Capcom also made 1943 and 1941, but I will always remember 1942 as 'that game with the WWII plane'.

I was gonna ask what was the name of the tile, but then I just googled it and found out myself. The G. Rev shooter is known as Seisou Kouki Strania and is currently on location test. No other details exist so far. I also saw Senko no Ronde Duo 2.0 on G. Rev's website. How did I not know anything about even Senko No Ronde Duo, let alone version 2.0? Not that I'll ever get to play it, unless a 360 port comes out.