30 Essential SNES SHMUPS (From Classics to Overlooked Games)

Though the Sega Genesis was particularly well-known for its shoot-em-ups, these 30 Super Nintendo classics (and overlooked games) were exemplary entries in the genre.
Of all the classic game genres, very few remain as cutting-edge as the automatically scrolling shoot 'em up. While it is true that there are handful of big-name shmup franchises that landed on the Super Nintendo early on that had slowdown, these are actually a minority and the issue can be overblown. However, when you had the right developer, the Super Nintendo was still capable of delivering some fast-paced action.
In reality, the Super Nintendo (and its Japanese counterpart, the Super Famicom) has some top-notch exclusives and a deep bench of respectable shooters that give Sega’s 16-bit shooter lineup a run for its money. Sega’s Genesis might have had the faster CPU to give it that “blast processing” making it more natural for shooter developers to get solid performance, but Super Nintendo programers eventually learned how to optimize their code and creativity to make use of the SNES’s hardware.
In this video we go through the history of Super Nintendo in search of the most extraordinary shooters ever released for Nintendo's 16-bit console, demystifying its bad reputation in this genre and demonstrating that it could compete head to head with consoles specialized in shmups such as the Sega Genesis or the PC Engine.
Intro and Outro Music
Aries Beats "Synthwave Dreams 2020" is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: free-songs.de/synthwave-2020/
Games Featured
0:00 Intro
0:26 1990 Gradius III
1:32 1991 Super R-Type
2:04 1991 Darius Twin
2:41 1991 Earth Defense Force
3:27 1991 Thunder Spirits
4:08 1991 U.N. Squadron
5:04 1992 Phalanx
6:00 1992 Flying Hero: Bugyuru no Daibouken
6:37 1992 Imperium
7:43 1992 Space Megaforce
8:24 1992 Strike Gunner STG
9:50 1992 BlaZeon: The Bio-Cyborg Challenge
10:24 1992 Cosmo Gang: The Video
10:55 1992 Firepower 2000
11:28 1992 Acrobat Mission
11:59 1992 Axelay
12:33 1993 R-Type III
13:05 1993 Pop ‘n’ Twinbee
13:42 1993 Tekkaman Blade
14:15 1993 Aero Fighters
14:50 1993 Super Nova
15:24 1993 BioMetal
15:57 1993 Chō Jikū Yōsai Macross: Scrambled Valkyrie
16:30 1993 Star Fox
17:05 1994 Gokujou Parodius
17:43 1994 Märchen Adventure Cotton 100%
18:32 1994 Kaite Tsukutte Asoberu: Dezaemon
19:08 1995 Jikkyou Oshaberi Parodius
19:51 1996 Spriggan Powered
20:45 Outro
⚠️ All gameplay recording, game curation and opinions included in this video, as well as editing is completely done by me
Bits & Beats creates videos about the history of video games. In this channel you'll find comparisons, retrospectives, technical analysis, but, mostly, game curations with the idea of having an important task of preserving video games, and make them relevant to society at large.
Curation isn't just about digging up neat games, but it's also about preservation, interpretation, and using one's knowledge to make it relevant to people. With my videos I want older gamers to look back and remember the influence of video games on their lives, and new gamers to understand the larger context of the series they're playing for the first time today.
I put significant time and creative effort into each one of my videos, including research, digging into archives, playing video games and recording hours of footage, selecting specific clips, writing reviews for each title, and making a very careful video editing in the way to transmit both educational and entertaining values to my audience. Every video takes a lot of hours to produce, because I strive to give my audience a consistent, high-quality content.
Fidelity and preservation of the video games is essential in Bits & Beats, so the recordings are made with the highest bitrate quality. It is done this way to preserve original game look and sound through modern footage, with no superfluous additions. I recommend you watch the video at 4K and 60 frames per second to get the best possible viewing experience.
I hope you enjoy my videos and find them useful!
#BITSANDBEATS #snes #shmups

[@BitsBeats]

Though the Sega Genesis was particularly well-known for its shoot-em-ups, these 30 Super Nintendo classics (and overlooked games) were exemplary entries in the genre.

[@c.glazercrush3994]

Funny how in blazeon the robot with the jet pack , middle boss looks like arcee.

[@TheTrueBro]

Axelay was a great SHMUP because it was tailored with the SNES capabilities in mind. They favored level design and hazards over the amount of sprites on screen. That's something most developers didn't bother to do.

[@RhythicManRhythm]

The presentation on these videos just get better and better.

[@justrok79]

BioMetal was also most known for its soundtrack since it features music by 2 Unlimited. I was huge into techno back then and reading that tidbit on a game article made me want to check the game out. 2 Unlimited also had their sound ripped off by fellow Belgium artists The Immortals for the Mortal Kombat movie theme.

[@underthepale]

Macross may very well be one of the best games on the SNES, and one of those I am deeply sorry we never got overseas. It was a popular import title for years, from what I could tell, and was one of the first SNES games I emulated. Well worth playing.

[@jordanmartins8199]

I think the music and gameplay sets it apart from any other shooter on snes rtype 3 a very close second

[@NIPKOWtv]

Excelent video! Definitely Axelay was the best example of the power of Super Nintendo in the genre

[@lucimarmartins1022]

Axelay é uma Obra Prima dos 16 bits! Meu Shmup preferido do SNES!!!

[@IgnatiusAlpha]

I LOVE U.N. Squadron so much! I wish Capcom remembered it exists and do SOMETHING with it.

[@Zelinkokitsune]

The issue is really it's a licensed game at it's heart. After all Area 88 is a Manga/Anime and that's what the game was called in Japan and thus comes with alot of extra hoops to deal with. Now the arcade game US NAVY could have been ported, Admiral Sean Connery and all if they felt like it.

[@Petrafiei]

I wouldn't consider 'essential' some of the titles of the list, especially Thunder Spirits. But I'm happy of many included games for people to know. I've only missed 'Parodius Da!' as an essential entry. As absolutely essential (but suffering from hellish slowdown) entries, Gradius III and Super R-Type count on recently released hacks that take advantage of SA-1 chip capabilities for fully getting rid of slowdown (transforming them in very different games ;D ). The author (Vitor Vitela) have also released FastRom hacks for Axelay and U.N. Squadron. Incredible and totally recommendable. Also as a curiosity, I'd try the japanese version of BioMetal, whose OST gives a totally different atmosphere to the game. Thanks for this spectacular video and for giving many of the obscure SNES shmups more visibility.

[@greensun1334]

There are some excellent shmups in the SNES' library, some can definitely compeed with the Genesis shmup elite. The SNES has amazing music as well, like in Space Megaforce/Super Aleste, Gradius 3, Super R-Type, Rendering Ranger R2 and on and on...

[@willisjackson3080]

I loved Rtype 3 from the minute I started playing it. Everything just seemed great. However, I didn't like the spinning boss room very much. I played it a lot through the years. I loved Super EDF too, it was playable and long with interesting backgrounds!

[@SolCresta3405]

Nothing beats Axelay in my opinion.

[@greensun1334]

I just want to mention there are actually no mode7 effects in Axelay! Konami used "just" some clever scanline/HDMA tricks to make the graphics so stunning! Axelay is the best looking 16bit shmup imo, along with the shmup sections of Rendering Ranger R2 and Jim Power.

[@BaddeJimme]

I can see that the background in the vertical sections is using a much simpler effect. However, there is a big mecha about a quarter of the way into the game, with a large, smoothly rotating cockpit section. It's hard to imagine what the developers were doing if they did not use mode 7 for it. It is a very small part of the game though, and you could easily be forgiven for forgetting about it. It's certainly not much of a showcase as the video implies.

[@opaljk4835]

@@BaddeJimme that giant boss on stage 2 is def mode 7, I think they just meant in the backgrounds.

[@greensun1334]

​@@opaljk4835not necessarily, that robot boss could be drawn with some single animation frames as well to create the same effect, because it looks not 100% mode 7 smooth imo... Just an idea, I don't know exactly!

[@greensun1334]

The Genesis may have the faster shmups - but the SNES has the better looking ones. Both systems have a great selection of very good 16bit shmups to offer!

[@derekbuckler9888]

I'm sorry green, but considering I've been gaming since 80 I'd have to disagree. Both systems did some things better than others, games like Axelay, Space Megaforce, or U.N. squadron did show how powerful the super nes was. But the Genesis was a pure sprite cruncher, not only was Thunder Spirits inferior to Thunder Force 3. But Thunder Force 4 is perhaps the best shooter ever made period. I'm also a fan of the R-Type series, but Thunder Force 4 would never have run on the super nes. I was always a huge Sega fan, but the last decade or so I've come to truly appreciate the super nes. It did many things well, but if you look at what Sega did with the Genesis, and Sega Saturn. There is no comparison, granted Axelay to me is one of the best shooters ever made. Either way, you can't beat the 16, and 32 bit era shooters.

[@greensun1334]

​​@@derekbuckler9888erek - the better looking ones. I doubt that the Genesis could run the shoot em up levels in Rendering Ranger R2 for example. Look at the amount of parallax layers (Genesis can do 2 + sprites, SNES can do up to 4 + sprites), and look at the colors alone! There are also many and sometimes huge sprites (the bosses!) but there isn't even a sign of slowdown. Both systems have different capabilities, like I said before. I'm born in '82 and my first console (next to the Game Boy) was a Megadrive btw. (edit: I just want to mention that I'm not a fanboy of either system, both are my all time favourite consoles 50/50!)🤜🏼🤛🏼

[@AndSaveAsManyAsYouCan]

​@@derekbuckler9888incorrect. Galaga was the best shooter ever made. River Raid and Chopper Command tie for second with Demon Attack following up in 3rd place.

[@DaedalosC9]

6:37 Imperium It has the same music composer from Alien VS Predator for SNES (not to confuse with the Arcade one) Tenpei Sato, specially love the theme "Imperium - Space Fleet"

[@varimkadas6068]

My College years were literally Graduis III, Super R-type, U.N Squadron, Axelay & Star Fox! Some of these other games presented I WISH had been part of my 20s ...

[@StrokedGT]

Love your channel, keep'em coming

[@BitsBeats]

Many thanks!!

[@AlphaProto]

EDF was a 49 cent renal at my local Block Buster Video. I rented that game a lot. That game is a lot of fun. I didn't beat that game until earlier this year.

[@Nolasco.]

Love the phalanx cover art 😅👍

[@user-or3xg2id6e]

Amazing! Axelay and Sexy Parodius was on the list, two of my personal favorites on the SNES. Yes, Genesis did had some killer titles and the Neo Geo had like Blazing Star on it (probably one of the BEST ever), but these on the SNES are gems! Amazing list!!!!!

[@wizards-themagicalconcert5048]

Love the filter and scanlines ! Thanks,great games !

[@sammylane21]

I love U.N. SQUADRON but it's missing a 16bit chip tune version of Kenny Loggin's "Danger Zone" and Motorhead's cover song "Shoot'em Down". KZbin search for that last one and you'll love it too.

[@6scar911]

Excellent editing, I'm surprised this channel doesn't have over a hundred-thousand subscribers already

[@BitsBeats]

Working on it!

[@atomictoaster3393]

Some people has weird taste, my friend he dont like this channel because its annoying tk read the text below and watch the screen, he prefer the usual someone speaking I for one like this format though

[@vallaurianv6024]

Great video. The Genesis has the better rep for shmups but to be honest Axelay, R Type III and Space Megaforce are just as good as anything on Sega’s machine.

[@rickvug]

Totally agree with this comment. Three incredible shmups that go toe to toe with the best on Genesis. The problem is that if you take the next 27 best between the two systems Genesis absolutely destroys the SNES. The speed difference is real and being an older console Genesis got more late 80s arcade ports of classics.

[@GamingPlus10]

I don't think any of those compare to Thunder Force 3 and 4

[@rickvug]

@@GamingPlus10 Space Megaforce is pretty damn close. Leave it to Compile to figure out how to build a FAST shmup on the SNES.

[@golions13579]

Macross for the super famicom is right up there with those 3. Well worth an import, repro, or rom playthrough.

[@starsatellite2413]

For the record the shmup games are actually fun and good games to play and they can still out in their own right. Let's not forget that there's another SNES shmup game that's good and fun to play Parodius Da.

[@eduardoraga8590]

What a great sound quality have this video. I'm listening with a regular headphones and the sound is superb.

[@BitsBeats]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@sf4903]

Ahem, I guess you have no idea about how nice these games originally sound. Here the soynd recording is just atrocious, missing some music for games and sound effects that just made my ears bleeding. What a pitiful rendering of masterpieces! 🤮

[@OtakuDeju]

I feel that anyone who has been made aware of "cute 'em ups" should know what Cotton is.

[@futurematt5]

Great video! Saw quite a few titles here for the first time. Very well researched!

[@eyokfla]

Great list! Axelay remains my best.

[@MagisterHamid]

Sega fans can say what they want but SNES had some fantastic shooters. I’ve played through most of them and my favourites are Phalanx, EDFS, R-Type Third strike. The latter is probably one of the hardest on the system. ITS BRUTAL

[@victormcabellor]

Great video as usual, a video from this channel is a insta-click Congrats Great selection and editing

[@BitsBeats]

Many thanks Victor!!

[@xiom71]

Thanks a Lot for this great Inspirations!

[@javierenriquevaldiviesocue7649]

Excelente 😃👌🎮buena lista de juegos de la vieja snes.

[@soulreaver1983]

Outstanding video thanks dude 👍

[@BitsBeats]

You bet

[@MarkoTulio]

man! great video!

[@ivangarcia3182]

Like the video 👍keep up the great work 👏👏

[@BitsBeats]

Thanks, will do!

[@WakandaForever1776]

keep up the great channel....also watching your Deviant Art😀

[@BitsBeats]

Thank you! Will do!

[@NinjaXFiles]

Early gang. 💪🏻 This is a genre I need to get a closer look to personally because there must be so many underrated games I haven't played yet from all kind of shoot em ups. So, very happy with this upload of yours lol keep it up 😛

[@BitsBeats]

Many thanks mate. Enjoy the video!!

[@piratesephiroth]

You forgot to mention STG's two player mode, that allows the planes to get combined

[@BlackBeltGamers88]

Strike Gunner was my first shmup unless you count Air Fortress tor nes. I'll always have nostalgia for it. Music is good, bosses are larger than life, 2 player options, lots of cool weapons to try, it was very versatile and approachable compared to some of the harder shmups on the platform. Tell me another shmup that gives you an omega laser that can 1 shot any boss 😯 the unique features it offers along with 2 player outweigh the few criticisms it gets.

[@Zahir658]

I must try BioMetal right now cause those two music sounds really familiar 😁

[@waynecuff3140]

Amazing games, amazing system, have all of em. Noticed Spriggan powered isn't on here, I don't think. Love to see the Snes pushed like the Megadrive in 2024. The potential is massive.

[@Mike-Eye]

Very nice

[@JohnCharb87]

Biometal uses songs from the techno group 2 Unlimited. Especially the song "Get Ready For This".

[@themblan]

Gradius has such inappropriately happy music, except for Gradius V 🤣

[@evilblader7]

Yes Specially in Mechanical base, too happy music for a hell 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣

[@PRO_GIMANG_1423]

Did You Say Gradius V Is Worst/Bad Game On PS2???!!😠

[@Moondancin]

I’ve been wanting to get into shoot ‘em ups. Starting from NES and working up to GENESIS, SNES, PS1 and eventually MAME. This list will be very helpful. Do you have videos or can you suggest a list of NES & Genesis shoot ‘em ups? 🤔 I just discovered you today! I will subscribe and eventually be watching/liking all your content. Great work and thank you. 🙏🏻

[@lyonkennedy5588]

Really disappointed you didn't include Raiden Trad. It's a great shmup!

[@gpturismo]

PC-Engine(+CD), Genesis(+CD) and SNES all had amazing schmups

[@VisiblyJacked]

PC-Engine>>MegaDrive>>SNES (for shooters)

[@gpturismo]

@@VisiblyJacked Mostly. A fewm gems really shine on SFC/MD. Then Saturn>PS1. MD has my favorite of all time though, MUSHA. I played the mess out of that game.

[@elmadesininternet4418]

Como siempre pura Calidad estos videos son de lo mejor. Una vez te propuse que traigas uno de todos los juegos con la técnica de la rotoscopia desde los más clásicos hasta los más actuales.

[@BitsBeats]

Lo tengo en cuenta ;)

[@ecoterrorist]

At 5:05 the old guy on the box art is playing the bgm

[@skyvipers]

Space Megaforce / UN Squadron / Aero Fighters are superb

[@comicd]

Shout out to BioMetal and the 2 Unlimited soundtrack!

[@theswapmeetflea]

These are always tough on console because 1. You can't input quarters to continue ,duh, gotta rely on making sure you get enough points to get extra lives and 2. Some games, If you die, you don't drop in right away and continue, it leaves you at the last checkpoint, also you don't keep your weapons. So yeah, these are difficult but nonetheless, fun.

[@mopspear]

I'm making my own shmup rpg hybrid so this video is useful research material for me.

[@BitsBeats]

Glad I could help!

[@blackenedheart9592]

I've seen quite a few KZbin channels saying Axelay doesn't actually use mode 7.

[@mleolv426]

Love SNES shooters. If you are anti slowdown there are rom hacks that eliminate it from most of the games.

[@Pholiage]

Seems something was wrong with the sound during E.D.F showcase. The basslines were missing

[@symboltherapper]

I love these types of games. Sky Force Anniversary is a classic on ps4

[@julesgamergourmand]

Oh Axelay my favorite game shoot em up on Super nes.

[@brazilmugenteam]

1:14 Funny thing: the text says "fast action", while the screen shows some slown down :)

[@BitsBeats]

😂

[@guiguisuperG]

Don't forget Parodius Da! (1990)

[@chichiboypumpi]

I also remember Jaleco’s Exerion

[@Bloodreign1]

Also of note for Bio Metal, it's original Japanese release sees the game with an entirely different and superior soundtrack, none of that 2 Unlimited soundtrack BS. This should've been 31 games, since another great shmup was missed, Parodius Da, a fantastic arcade port. Or it could've taken Star Fox's place as that is more a rail shooter than an actual shmup.

[@symboltherapper]

Wow Gradius 3 was the first game I actually owned on my snes

[@luisreyes1963]

I just wish Konami would get off their butts & make us a Parodius collection for the Switch!

[@joaquimneto7607]

Will you do the 30 essential Mega Drive shmups?

[@opaljk4835]

Man, I only had Gradius 3 and Super R type as a kid, and they kicked the shit out of me. Edit: also had Earth Defense Force. For some reason the music wasn’t working properly for its clips in this video

[@markxv2267]

Where is Parodius??

[@cliffchampion5501]

As a kid I always felt regardless of slow downs I enjoyed the snes more because graphics and sound where better most of the time. Sega had grainy graphics and poor presentation and sound. A few games where fun tho.

[@MagmaMKII]

Jikkyou Oshaberi parodius is the fourth entry in the series, not the third.

[@yuvraj01]

Why was there no sequel to Axelay

[@jojojoma3026]

Sorry, man, but something about that Super EDF audio is fully schnookered. It should sound MUCH better than that, as it has one of the BEST shooter soundtracks on the SNES! Something wrong with your emulator maybe?

[@pabloortiz]

Me gustan mucho tus recopilaciones, pero debo decirte que muchos subtítulos están demasiado poco tiempo en pantalla. Apenas da tiempo a leerlos y me creas un estrés terrible eligiendo entre disfrutar las imágenes o leer a toda leche.

[@BitsBeats]

Miraré de estirar un poquito el texto. Gracias!

[@kerbal666]

If anything this reminded me to wipe my tv screen XD

[@isamuominae]

Why skip and exclude the first Parodius? Is absurd.

[@claimhsolais3466]

Most magazines of that era: SNES can't do shmups Bits & Beats: Here's 30. Well done!

[@TROLLING_BOT]

Still not better than pc engine and genesis shmups.

[@lovingvalley]

這個我記得，這個我知道，砂鍋漫蛇，對不對！？

[@XAkumajoX]

No uses Zsnes, gracias...

[@lionfieldfanbase]

Nobody asked.

[@evilblader7]

Yo viendo el vídeo mientras abrazo mi amada colección y los shoot em up que están aquí desde hace muchísimo tiempo 🥰🥰🤗🤗 No sé quejen de la caída de frames, ese "error" les ha beneficiado a pasar varios niveles, no de hagan 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣👌 Mis favoritos de esos son gradius, R-type, super Aleste, U.N Squadron y Axelay, sobre este último muy pronto, tendré uno en mi colección, estoy muy ilusionada por eso. Unos cuantos detalles sobre Super Aleste/ Space megaforce. Lo primero tiene un manga, de hecho fue por eso que me llamo la atención el juego, pero no sé que tan oficial será ese manga. También hay que decir que entre la versión americana y japonesa tiene algunos cambios, en la intro donde salen las escenas en la versión japonesa sale una chera, una tipa, también en el menú de opciones y en la pantalla de continúe creo aparece la tipa, pero en las versiones americanas ella no aparece, realmente desconozco porque ese recorte, pero viendo San Google dice la wiki que por qué se veía mal una mujer piloto, no lo estoy inventando allí en la Wikipedia dice, pero si es bien pendejo el asunto 🙄🙄🤦🤦 Algunos juegos son algo vendedores de humo, quiero decir... No son malos pero para semejante intro que se tiran uno esperaría un juegazo xDDDD Imperium por ejemplo xDDDD o ese blazeon, es lentisimo, una pena por qué a mí me gusta eso de que congela enemigos y la nave se transforma. Super Nova para los burros que no nos damos por vencidos xDDDD La portada de Phanlax 😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣👌pero las armas de ese juego son bien chivas. Excelente vídeo, el super Nintendo me hace feliz 😊😊😊😊👍 me alegro que hayas puesto a Cotton 100% y a Star Fox muchas veces veo que es difícil de clasificar, en otros vídeos no lo toman en cuenta como shot em up.

[@PRO_GIMANG_1423]

This Shoot Em Up Snes Game Is Hardest Than "Touhou Project" Series.

[@mjaminp]

SHMUPS ?! That is a terrible word for these.

[@andrewkaminskas7721]

Literally everyone calls them schmups

[@darinherrick9224]

Having played most of these games I gotta say…yeah most of them suck. Star Fox is great obviously. Thunder Spirits is a laughable port of Thunder Force. The R-Type games are good but better elsewhere. U.N. Squadron is great. I like it. Axelay is wildly over-rated. It kinda sucks. Genesis was better but not much. If you want to play shooters you a turbo graphics and a Saturn. If all ya got is a Genesis get Thunder Force III and IV, Eliminate Down and Gleylancer. If you got a Saturn get Hyper Duel, Blast Wind, Batsugun, Guardian Force, Salamander, Gradius Collection, Thunder Force Collection, Macross, Battle Garegga. If you got a SNES…you have my pity.

[@Kradschneider]

Thunder Spirits, one of the essential SNES shmups ? No it isn't at all, it's a bad port of the excellent Megadrive Thunder Force III with many slowdowns, bad musics and sound effects.

[@yuvraj01]

Clearly the preferences lied with the Mega drive but then why even bother bringing it onto the SNES for it's one and only installment on there?

[@sf4903]

Man, the sound is awful! Some games shown here do not even have any soundtrack while the real games had some beautiful music. And some sound effects play really bad. Not a video I recommend to make a fair opinion on games shown! 🥴👎

[@BitsBeats]

90% of the material shown in this video belongs to the attract mode of the games, without any kind of edition. The recording has been done in OBS at the maximum bitrate possible and the rendering is done in Premiere with very little compression. Greetings

[@handsomeblackman255]

Always thought these games were the worst. Boring. You're not really DOING anything.