Super Fantasy Zone

1 Player

Stand out version - Mega Drive

Super Fantasy Zone feels more like an update than a true sequel, but the gameplay has received some welcome tweaks and the beautiful 16-bit graphics really add so much to the experience that it's still an awesome game well worth buying.

Super Raiden

1 Player

Stand out version - TG-CD

The classic arcade game was done proud by this Turbografx port, in fact many people argue that this version is actually better then the arcade, mainly due to the excellent CD quality sound track. Avoid the horrible, compromised SNES and less than stellar Mega Drive versions.

Terraforming

1 player

Stand out versions - TG-CD

There's some truly amazing high quality presentation in this awesome Turbo game, the artwork was actually designed by the guy who worked on Tron and Blade Runner, and the game really does have a distinct look and feel to it. Game play is fast and frenetic and loads of fun.

Thunder Force III/Thunder Spirits

1 player

Stand out version - Mega Drive

This was the game where the Thunder Force series really started to come into it's own, previous games had their high points but tended to be a little unfocussed at times, not the case with TFIII, The weapon system has been honed to perfection, level designs were interesting and varied and the music fantastic, many fans still prefer this game to its successor which is mentioned below.

Thunder Force IV/Lightening Force

1 player

Stand out versions - Mega Drive

One of the true stand-outs in this list and easily one of the greatest shmups of all time, Thunder Force IV throws more action and impressive set-pieces at you than any other game out there, and it includes some of the greatest graphics and style of any game from the 16-bit era. Classic.

 

Twinkle Star Sprites

2 player

Stand out versions - NEO GEO

I really love this game, and its one of my favourite shmups ever. The game play is very original, playing like a mixture of vertical shmups with the 2 player competitive modes of games like Tetris and Puyo, this design is totally inspired, and creates one of the most fun 2 player games out there.

UN Squadron

1 player

Stand out versions - SNES

This arcade classic was aging a bit by the time it arrived on SNES but luckily Capcom decided to freshen the whole thing up by adding some new shop elements, as well as a much more interesting health system, now it takes two consecutive shots to destroy you, so as long as you back away from danger your health will recharge (though this only happens a limited amount of times). A real shame about the unfortunate loss of the 2-player co-op though but still a very solid effort overall.

Whip Rush

1 Player

Stand out versions - Mega Drive

I tend to think that Whip Rush is quite an under appreciated game as it certainly has a distinctive and unique graphics style (kind of cartoony in look) a similarly excellent and in depth power-up system, and lastly an element of which I feel really stands out are it's excellent, overly elaborate boss designs which usually entail trapping you in a confined area (see pic to the right) for the battle.

Zero Wing

1 Player

Stand out versions - Mega Drive

Great game which garnered a massive cult following due to its dodgy "Engrish" intro. The game play is fun and the unique ability to grab your enemies and use them as shields an interesting feature, the music is also pretty class. So basically what we have here is an all around good game.