Best Switch Shmups of 2022 (Plus Upcoming Shmups in 2023)

[@tomdugdale1320]

2022 was my first year getting into shmups and this channel has been essential viewing, thanks for all the time and effort you put into the reviews. I think I've picked up everything I wanted from this list apart from Sol Cresta (still not sure if it is worth the relatively high price for me compared to the recent indie shmups at half the price) and Akai Katana (waiting for that to hit the UK eshop). Happy New Year!

[@princegroove]

Glad I discovered this channel to enrich my SCHMUP library on Switch and PlayStation 4 & 5. 👏

[@johngavalas712]

I'm hoping Akai Katana Shin comes to the eshop worldwide i been dying to play it

[@mcspiffy5843]

Sweet! Just in time for lunch! I’ve been loving Hazelnut Hex, Pocky & Rocky, Sol Cresta so far, especially with recent performance patches for Cresta last week. Just snagged a physical copy and it runs beautifully!

[@Crcvmbdfl]

hi, could you please elaborate on the improvements for Sol Cresta on the Switch, can't seem to find a video on that, only reviews of the launch version that was heavily criticized, am tempted to buy the physical, thanks

[@mcspiffy5843]

@@Crcvmbdfl I think they finally fixed some major frame rate issues that the switch had that heavily reduces the input lag overall. Also It feels like they fixed some visual bugs to make things look and run smoother especially in tate (vertical) mode. Plus new ship fighter dlc. It runs great in my opinion, and funnily enough I just ordered the PS4 physical as well to try out too.

[@pacificdash]

How did I not know that you had a blog?!? Love it! There’s too little good readable VG content.

[@ShmupsOnSwitch]

I only just started it literally a couple of days ago. There are often things that don't really work for videos, so I decided to make somewhere for that sort of stuff. Thanks for reading!

[@pacificdash]

Great idea to start one! It has (almost) zero competition in English afaik.

[@pacificdash]

Video is short and sweet and to the point: like a good shmup! Thanks for the list of upcoming wallet drains 😄

[@tatertot64]

I can't wait for the physical of Mecharitz/Dezatopia. I bought Dezatopia soon after watching your review, but luckily held out on Mecharitz to get the physical double pack. Just from the little snippet in this video I can tell it's going to be good!

[@rockrollarc9792]

Just subbed Love your content

[@Crcvmbdfl]

Very nice list, hope all of this eventually get a physical release will you be doing now a video for the end of 2023?

[@franciscor390]

Good year for shmups many good new games and welcomed ports.

[@BinnisRetro]

Good list. Cotton Fantasy was also one that I loved

[@ShmupsOnSwitch]

Same - however, it (just) made last year's list cause it released in Japan right at the end of December.

[@wiskin88]

Great videos. Just starting my shmup journey for Switch. What would you say your top 3 or so are over the last few years are as must plays??

[@johngavalas712]

Layer section and moon dancer are on my to get list

[@ShmupsOnSwitch]

Moon Dancer's great. Watch out for sales, and I'd definitely get it. Layer Section, however, while I consider the game itself one of the greatest of all time, the version released last year was just a prettty simple Saturn port done by City Connection, but...in March, M2 are releasing a whole compilation of all 3 Ray series games, so I'd strongly recommend waiting on that.

[@johngavalas712]

@@ShmupsOnSwitch Rayforce Raystorm and Raycrisis? Whaaaat???

[@johngavalas712]

Raging Blasters and Missle Dancer are also insane also gonna get those when i can and yeah I'm gonna wait for the Ray Z collection

[@JOEmega64]

For a hot second, I thought a Raiden II remake was happening, lol.

[@Misanola]

Thanks for all the reviews. Do you happen to know if the recent Sol Cresta updates addressed the framerate issues in docked mode?

[@mcspiffy5843]

I play mostly on a Switch Lite and sometimes with a flip grip, but the recent mostly undisclosed balance update runs amazingly well for me. Still a casual but it “feels right”. Can’t say anything for docked unfortunately

[@hooksnfangs6006]

Was a pretty good year! There's still titles I need to check out but my personal top 5 has to be: -Cosmo Dreamer -Rocky & Pocky Reshrined -Mecha Ritz: Steel Hondo -Akai Katana -Rayforce

[@CC42_]

Is Akai Katana only available through the Japanese e shop? Can't find it on the switch e shop America...

[@MrPartywithmepunker]

Do don pachi doj is gonna be the one to look out for in 2o23. 2022 was a pretty good Shmup year imho.

[@ShmupsOnSwitch]

I considered sticking it in there, but they haven't actuall confirmed it'll come to Switch yet. I hope it does - and surely it makes sense for them - but so far I think PS4 is the only known platform.

[@Xaero83ZX]

What is the name of the game being played at :36 into the video? An anyone tell me? Wanting to add that to my library.

[@porchka66]

That game is "Gun Frontier". Available as an arcade archives title.

[@Xaero83ZX]

@@porchka66 appreciate it! It was giving me Garegga vibes. Definitely going to add it to the ever growing library of shumps!

[@porchka66]

@@Xaero83ZX Shinobu Yagawa, programmer of Battle Garegga, was heavily influenced by this game and has referred it as one of his favorite titles.

[@gfslamguitar]

Awesome to see Moon Dancer on here. I'm 2nd in the world on Expert! Buffpickle!

[@ShmupsOnSwitch]

Nice job!

[@SolCresta3405]

Let’s hope we get Aleste Branch, Ubusuna, and Radirgy 2 in 2023!

[@tomdugdale1320]

With your username, am I right to assume you would recommend I pick up sol cresta in the current sale??

[@SolCresta3405]

@@tomdugdale1320 Yes, you should.

[@tomdugdale1320]

@@SolCresta3405 What's your favourite thing about it? I've played the demo and enjoyed the short amount of gameplay it gives you, but it just didn't stand out that much to me compared to cheaper options like Sophstar... I'm basically looking for an excuse to justify the price!!

[@SolCresta3405]

@@tomdugdale1320 Probably the story, the formations, the epic boss battles... Hell, the final battle with Mandler is really epic.

[@tomdugdale1320]

@@SolCresta3405 Thanks, sold!

[@awawawaawawawa2321]

i assume you were being metaphorical about the shmup folder but just in case, how do you make game folders for the switch? lmao

[@soratheorangejuicemascot5809]

4:58 I want that ship.

[@johngavalas712]

It doesn't look like ray z's arcade chronology is getting a usa release

[@petewatson8074]

2023 is looking good. I'm waiting for an eshop release of Akai Katana Shin but can't even find it on the Japanese eshop yet. Probably my favourite games of this year were Eschatos and Sophstar. I'm tempted to buy Layer Section but at this stage it might be worth waiting for Ray Z collection instead.

[@dadrising6464]

Its obly physical ao far, but will get an international release digital. Its still aviable on playasia for a reasonable price

[@rafaellima83]

I am the main coder/game designer/director/whatever from Sophstar. Reading a random comment from someone saying it was his favourite game of the year is something that really blows my mind. I never thought I would work on something so many people would enjoy that much. It's a huge honour. Thank you.

[@rafaellima83]

And just to add to it, if you have never played Layer Section.... waiting for the collection may be a good idea since Raycrisis and Raystorm even more are awesome games. Buy Rayforce/Layer Section is just insanely, out of this world, ubergodly good. It's amazing on every level.. graphics, gameplay, music, technical wizardry... it's an amazing game, something you can see it was crafted with a lot of work and care (and a proper budget :D ) . If you never played it, there's no way you willl be disappointed when you get it.

[@petewatson8074]

@@rafaellima83 Thank you for making a great game. I'd never heard anything about it before seeing the review on this channel but it was a nice surprise and better than other games that had been on my wishlist for ages.

[@ShmupsOnSwitch]

I think it'll be worth waiting. Not only will the collection have all 3 games in the series, the porting is being done by M2, who are the masters of that art. The current version's still great, just because RayForce is such an incredible base game, but the new collection will likely have better performance and added features etc.

[@johngavalas712]

What was the very first game in the video?

[@ShmupsOnSwitch]

Yurukill. All the games in the intro are in the video description.

[@sarethums]

Any plans for a pocky & rocky review?

[@ShmupsOnSwitch]

I don't know. It came out at a time when I was super busy with other stuff, and there's already so much new stuff coming out all the time. It's a cool game though, so maybe one day...

[@sarethums]

@@ShmupsOnSwitch I'm a huge fan and you're kind of the go to guy for shmups on switch as your username would suggest I guess lol

[@lazercrotch9839]

Hi! What's the game at the beginning of the video? Thanks!

[@lazercrotch9839]

Nevermind, I just saw your listing under the video. Great work. I love your channel!

[@Mingodough]

Did you play demon throttle? It’s physical only I heard it was fun, not the best but fun

[@ShmupsOnSwitch]

I did. And, yeah, I'd say you heard right. It's quite fun, but not amazing.

[@epistemophobia69]

man sol cresta, i made the mistake of ordering the physical of that from limited run games in february and i'm still fucking waiting edit: hell yes moon dancer, terarin is 100% making some of the best of the genre, consistently putting out absolute bangers

[@epistemophobia69]

also slight correction, hisho same same same is toaplan arcade garage 2 not 3

[@ShmupsOnSwitch]

Oh yeah, good spot.

[@ShmupsOnSwitch]

Yep, especially annoying because I believe the Japanese physical release (which is being handled by some sort of subsidiary of Limited Run) has shipped - despite being put up for sale later. Those guys seem to be actually geting slower as time goes on.

[@mokaandboudica]

I'm in the same boat with Sol Cresta - my only hope is that when it does ship it will arrive with all patches and DLC applied. Great call on the Terarin shooters - I'm hoping that Terra Flame gets ported from PC soon as that's a great little horizontal shooter.