Underrated Sega Genesis SHMUPS You Should Definitely Play | Johnny Grafx

[@Johnnygrafx]

More GENESIS Hidden Gems: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHjZe2RnncmbmqM

[@triplestar100]

Ironic that you mentioned "Cho-Aniki" in the "Gynoug: Wings Of Wor" portion of the vid, since they were both developed by the same team over at Masaya/NCS, except replacing CA's homoerotic humor for undiluted nightmare fuel... but I've a feeling you knew this already, LOL! BTW, underrated shmups that I'd recommend on the MD/Genesis would be= Arrow Flash, Atomic Runner Chelnov (pretty much Elemental Master but horizontal and futuristic sci-fi), Fire Mustang, Heavy Unit MD Special, Uzu Keobukseon (it's in Korean with no English patch as of yet, but one wouln'd need the language to have a decent time with it) and Whip Rush! hope that helps!

[@brichan1851]

My favorite shooter, and maybe even favorite Genesis game is *Burning Force* . It’s a long forgotten gem from 1989/1990. Great game! Great soundtrack!

[@caseyhayes4590]

Gaiares, especially the music and the powerups where you steal ability from enemies.

[@shiningphantasy1393]

Another good video and game list; I'd add Whip Rush, Eliminate Down, Verytex, and Gleylancer for other Genesis shmups that didn't get noticed much when they were released. With the latter three that I mentioned it is because they were not released in the west. I remember briefly seeing Verytex in magazine previews and figured that it was shelved. Insector X and Wings of Wor are like opposites in the sense that the former has a very large character sprite and hitbox while the latter has a tiny hitbox which makes you feel rather skillful while you navigate between all those (mostly slow and easier to dodge) bullets on the screen.

[@EpicLebaneseNerd]

i have no idea why GYNOUG never had more love in the past, i remember seeing a lot in mags but it never got any rave reviews, i got it on ps5 a few years ago and i think i played it and completed it over 10 times from how fun it is, also the graphics, hard to believe those are early sega graphics, the amount of paralax scrolling in it is insane, the music is amazing alos, other that the ''penis'' looking enemy, it is so good. another great one that i never hear of was GLEYLANCER and OH MY GOD how amazing that game is, with a great story, anime cutscenes, good and bad ending and such amazing weapons, why on earth didn't i ever hear of it, played it as much as GYNOUG if not even more, that game is so amazing.

[@connardman]

In Gynoug (europe and japan), after finishing the game in a second loop on Hyper difficulty, You get the message "fuck you - you are the Dekashita" (in Wings of Wor, it's translated into "congratulations - you are the hero)

[@gtrzdaddy]

Wow! you finished on Hyper difficulty!

[@connardman]

@@gtrzdaddy Yes, and without cheating. All those rumors about me using an Action Replay 2 are pure baseless slander. Trust me bro.

[@nickparsons337]

I was rather surprised that Phelios didn't make this list.

[@southtexasatlatl]

Bio-Hazard Battle I feel is underrated. Great graphics and effects, awesome soundtrack, and challenging.

[@TKUltra971]

Undead Line and Elemental Master were incredibly well hidden gems.

[@fazares]

And twinkle tale

[@oil_moon]

I love how distinctive different game devs were in terms of sound design - could have easily guessed that Vapor Trail was a Data East game because the explosions sound so remarkably similar to the ones in Atomic Runner. I grew up playing a lot of Gynoug/Wings of Wor but most others in this video are games I haven't heard of so will definitely check them out. Good timing since I just loaded up my Miyoo Mini with the Mega Drive rom set :)

[@Lord_Deimos]

The Wings of Wor cover unlocked a core memory

[@darktetsuya]

some great picks! I remember renting elemental master it was quite fun! definitely super tough though. but I love the theme skewing more toward fantasy vs. the usual sci-fi fare. one interesting shmup I discovered in recent years is the import-only verytex. the game itself is alright, pretty standard stuff. but good lord the music goes extremely hard. hitoshi sakimoto and masaharu iwata crushed it with that one!!

[@zajicapp]

I've been playing Eliminate Down for the last 2 months. It's the best Genesis shooter I've played and beaten. Excellent gameplay and weapon design, top notch graphics and music and a great but very fair challenge.

[@overwhelmed-gamer]

Thanks for the vid. I just started trying to get into SHMUPS. These would be a nice addition to the Genesis collection :)

[@Johnnygrafx]

You're in for a treat if you like the 16-bit style of shmups. The genesis has a bunch!

[@overwhelmed-gamer]

@@Johnnygrafx started collecting for the Genesis not that long ago too. So this gives me to wins. 😀

[@AcidforbloodMK]

Yeah, the Genesis definetely rocks in terms of shmups🤘🏻But the thing i can't believe to this day is that the japanese Xbox 360 of all things was king of the shmups for a few years 😂

[@Johnnygrafx]

Yeah that was a weird thing for the 360 to be known for lol. I'll take it though!

[@paxhumana2015]

@@Johnnygrafx , I mentioned three other underrated shooters for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, but two of them are newer releases.

[@retrobeliever]

Great vid! I’ve never tried any of these 🤷🏼‍♂️ I did recognize a couple though in here from Renovation!

[@GAMECLOSET]

I used to demo a couple of these at my favorite (now defunct) gaming store, Flashback Video Games, in Amherst, Ohio. However, I never pulled the trigger and forgot about them which is regrettable. But, if they’re affordable, I may have to go on the hunt! A fantastic video, yet again, and the in-depth analysis of the games makes me want to go on the game hunt even more! Thanks, Johnny! 😎😁

[@Johnnygrafx]

Glad you enjoyed! I don't think these are particularly cheap these days but if you keep your eye out you can definitely find deals on them!

[@GAMECLOSET]

@@Johnnygrafx yeah, I looked… they’re not cheap. I figured they wouldn’t be. But there’s options available though! 😁

[@GenMasterB]

Great video. Thanks. Always loved 16 bit shooters. Especially on the Genesis.

[@danielmccormick700]

Good to see Insector-X getting some love. It seems to get a lot of unfair scorn & derision because it's not Thunder Force.

[@Johnnygrafx]

Yuuuuup

[@adamkane7513]

Great video, 2 new ones for me to try!

[@Shinji-wu1ny]

Power Strike II (master system) is a fast fun shmup that can load on a Genesis Everdrive.

[@jasonblalock4429]

Never cared for Insector-X, but totally agree about Wings of Wor being a hidden gem. Another good semi-obscure one would be Steel Empire. Love its steampunk vibe. And even with a few rereleases over the years, it seems like a lot of people don't know about it.

[@paxhumana2015]

I know that one game that is good that does not get a lot of love that was released on the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, and that is Sagaia/Darius II. Also, its prequel, Darius (which was ported by the same lone individual that also made it available for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Mini 1) got a physical semi-official release for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive as Darius Extra Version (which is also available for the Sony PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Steam, and I think the Microsoft Xbox One as well, and maybe the Sony PlayStation 5 and Microsoft Xbox Series X/S as well, as a part of Darius Cozmic Collection). Now, if you like video games that are like Gauntlet or Robotron 2084, then Xenocrisis, despite being a newer homebrew title for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive (among other retro, and modern, video game platforms), plays like a much better version of Super/Smash T.V. or Total Carnage.

[@MattKhardankov]

I still hate the word shmup, but i have to say your taste is immaculate here. Gynoug/Wings of Wor is incredible, Elemental Master is my second favourite shooter after Hellfire (dont know if that one counts as a hidden gem but it definitely deserves more credit than it gets - and that soundtrack!) and Insector-X is amazing. They're all early Mega Drive too - each of them predates Sonic. EM's dual direction thing is great and the enemy placement is spot-on... even if a couple of the bosses are snoozers. Anyway for a bit of weirdness check out the arcade version of Insector-X - it's all cutesy and bizarre when held up to the far better Mega Drive version.

[@CappsOffGaming]

At least Imma look for Elemental Master, that looks great!

[@paulspopculture5592]

My favourite is gynorg it was one of my first megadrive games still favourite

[@FloridaEbikes]

The Sega Saturn is king of 2D and that includes shmups imo

[@troyshilanski380]

Good video bro.

[@diebesgrab]

I dunno, I’d say the Saturn is easily the real king of shmups. Just to name the standouts I can remember offhand, Battle Garegga, Batsugun, Donpachi, Dodonpachi (even if the PS version might be a bit better), Layer Section, Soukyugurentai, Gunbird, Kingdom Grand Prix, an absolute glut of repackaged older titles like the Parodius and Thunder Force games, and of course the absolute goat that is Radiant Silvergun. Of course, I’ve always preferred bullet hell to the older shmups, but that’s a frigging lineup regardless.

[@keyvanmehrbakhsh4069]

what about the bad seed is it a bad one since no one is bringing it up or the fire shark ?

[@Rolls7]

Bio-Hazard Battle needs more love. It's better than most on this list

[@Johnnygrafx]

Yeah fair, it definitely could have been on here. I love that one.

[@TimothyLindley]

Undeadline,Aero Blasters ,Hellfire...

[@opa-age]

Nice vid! Also want to give a shout out for Bio Hazard Battle and the Trouble Shooter series!

[@Johnnygrafx]

Yes absolutely those two are among the best 👍

[@SpyderBlackOfficial]

There was a Schmup that I cant remember the name of. Wondering it anyone can help. It was for the Genesis & it was top down. It allowed your ship to use a temporary weapon to clear enemies on the screen & it would cover the screen with a flashing White Skull in a circle.

[@Johnnygrafx]

Sounds like Truxton to me!

[@xiaopingbao7664]

Truxton (Tatsujin)👍

[@SpyderBlackOfficial]

@@xiaopingbao7664 Thank You

[@SpyderBlackOfficial]

@@Johnnygrafx Thank You

[@billcook4768]

I’m such an idiot. I played around with Elemental Master for years before realizing it’s just a shmup. Once I grasped that, it was an easier game.

[@bgpixlarn6855]

Insector X sure is a hot take. It always felt a bit rubbish to me. The rest on here is golden tho. Musha will forever be my favorite on the system but of course everyone and their mom knows how good it is by now. Steel Empire and Bio Hazard Battle would probably be my picks for underrated but really cool shooters not mentioned in this list.

[@Sophie-Rose]

Gynoug is my favourite mega drive shooter 🎉

[@Johnnygrafx]

Solid choice honestly

[@mansenclockworx8215]

Gynoug is king. I will check out Insector X

[@inceptional]

First and last, yeah. The other two, not so convinced.

[@troyshilanski380]

Cartier family

[@KarLKoX]

For information, Gynoug is pronounded "Jeenoog" 😉

[@Johnnygrafx]

...really?

[@Dreddtube]

​@@JohnnygrafxYes, that's the japanese direct transcription (Jinōgu). And it is in no way "underrated". One of the best of its time and it was praised back then, at least in Europe.

[@KarLKoX]

@@Johnnygrafx Yes (i can read japanese ^^ )

[@Prizrak-hv6qk]

Elemental Master has an "above average" soundtrack? Dude! It's widely to be acknowledged to be among Genesis' best! All of Technosoft's Genesis audio is well "above average". Elemental Master is also rather well-known among us Genesis fans and is not really "underrated."

[@AirZonkWorldChamp]

I hope someone thinks Elemental Master is underrated and worthless, I want to buy it again cheap.

[@Johnnygrafx]

Somebody out there probably does! 😛

[@aaronko3480]

How DARE you besmirch Thunder Force 5! Sure it’s not as well remembered as 4, nor is it as long of a game, but it is excellent nonetheless. Nearly smashed the unsub button 😤 lol

[@opaljk4835]

Yeah, I’ve been seeing a bunch of shitting on it in the last few years. I adore that game

[@_specialneeds]

There's no such thing as a shmup.

[@Androsynth75]

It’s a shame Elemental Master is so pricey these days. I agree, it’s a great Technosoft game I wish more people got to play. Wings of Wor is is good as well. I think I’d have included Trouble Shooter though. That’s a neat, fun, shooter with a clever gimmick that nobody played, like Target Earth, due to the absolutely terrible box art.

[@Johnnygrafx]

Agreed on both points I forgot all about trouble shooter!

[@Androsynth75]

@@Johnnygrafx That’s why the genesis and pc engine are such great consoles for shooters. There are so many good ones it’s hard to remember all of them.

[@Johnnygrafx]

@@Androsynth75 yep!