[Recommend On] Bullet Hell for PSP or DS

SlayerVin

I did a good bit of searching and can't seem to find anything on PA to this effect, but I'm looking for a bullet hell type shooter for the DS or PSP. I did some searching 'round the web too and couldn't seem to find much. There's a good possibility that the games just don't exist.

I believe most people responding to this will know what I mean, but for those who don't, examples of bullet hell shooters include DoDonPachi, Ikaruga, Radiant Silvergun, Castle of Shikigami, Touhou, etc. I'm looking for a game like those.

I did find one game called Ketsui for the DS, but the only place I found where I could buy it was eBay for $120. That's a little steep for me...

So bottom line, I want a bullet hell shooter for the DS or PSP, import is fine, and preferably something under $60. Thanks in advance!

Edit: For clarification, I prefer vertical scrolling shooters to horizontal shooters.

urahonky

Well... You said $60 is your limit, but here's that game for $79: http://product.half.ebay.com/Ketsui-Death-Label_W0QQtgZinfoQQprZ66641513

RainbowDespair

Apparently Knights in the Nightmare for the DS is a bullet hell shmup crossed with a Strategy/RPG. I have no idea how that works, but it's been getting good reviews (http://www.gamerankings.com/ds/945018-knights-in-the-nightmare/index.html) and it just came out a week or two ago so it should be easy to find.

cj iwakura

They're not bullet hell per se, but the PSP does have the Gradius and Salamander anthologies, which are excellent shmups.


I've also heard that Touhou can run on the PSP via CFW.

Sebbie

Bangai-O Spritis is bullet-hellish. I thought it was neat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sja2kdbUTZc

freakish light

Space Invaders Extreme?

There's also one on Retro Game Challenge called Star Prince that kicked my ass up and down.

SlayerVin

I'm intrigued by Knights in the Nightmare, and I saw that Atlus was running some tutorial videos for it. I'm not a huge SRPG fan, but I did like Disgaea and the original FFT, and mixed with a bullet hell shooter, I think I could be convinced. I've been kind of burnt out on rpgs lately though...

$80 for Ketsui is a little too rich for my blood.

I probably should have also mentioned that I like vertical shooters more than horizontal, I'll add it to the OP. I'm not too sure why, but I just prefer vertical scrolling to horizontal.

Thanks for the recommendations, keep 'em coming if anyone has anymore!

RainbowDespair

Since you mentioned you like vertical shmups, you might want to check out Big Bang Mini. It's a vertical shmup where you shoot fireworks to kill enemies with the twist being that you have to dodge sparks from your missed fireworks.

cj iwakura

There's also E3: Every Extend Extra. Kind of an arena shmup, you blow yourself up to blow up lots of other things. Bonus: Tetsuya Mizuguchi(Lumines, SC5, Rez) was involved.

Dracil

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As19R741q5Q&fmt=18

SlayerVin

These last 4 recommendations all look awesome (Space Invaders, EEE, Big Bang Mini, Touhou on PSP).

What's the deal with Touhou? From Wikipedia, it looks like more of a series rather than a single game. Quick Google search yields a "Free perfect cherry blossom download!". Are they freeware or can I buy them somewhere?

Edit: Apologies, apparently there's info in your sig Dracil. I can't even see the link at work, I'll check it out when I get home.

cj iwakura

Touhou are a 'series' of shmups made by (mostly) one guy, ZUN aka Team Shanghai Alice. He does the music, programming, art(?), the works.

The first six(?) were on the PC 98, and the newer ones(beginning with Scarlet Devil Mansion) are on the PC. They're sold at comicons in Japan. You can find demos of them online if you look around.

For more info on the series, check this out: touhou.wikia.com

My favorite for gameplay is Perfect Cherry Blossom, the second 'modern' one. The third, Imperishable Night, is just sick.

Supposedly PSP's CFW supports them, but I've never tried it.


That's PCB running on that PSP. There's also fan translations for them.

Dracil

They're not really for the PSP nor DS. The PSP one runs at half FPS and the DS is more like danmakufu. Both require modding.

But if you want to play them on your PC, you can get them at Paletweb and Himeyashop.

SlayerVin

Well, I went to Best Buy to see about picking up Space Invaders Extreme and they only had it for the PSP (I like my DS more, it's more portable) and saw that they had Bangai-O Spirits for $16. Took a look at the back of the box and two things that made me buy it: Screens full of massive colorful explosions and the word "Treasure". Haven't tried it out yet, but I'm sure my bus rides to work are going to be a hell of a lot more interesting now.

I think I'll end up picking up Perfect Cherry Blossom from one of those import sites once I'm done with or sick of all the new console games I just got. Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

RainbowDespair

Keep in mind that Bangai-O Spirits isn't so much a bullet hell shmup as it is a shmup/puzzle hybrid. In many of the levels, figuring out what weapons to use and how to use them is vastly more important than your actual reflexes. It's still a great game though and if you go into it with the right expectations, you should have a blast.

SlayerVin

Yeah, the general feeling I got from everyone's recommendations was that aside from Ketsui (which is way too damn expensive) there isn't really a true bullet hell shmup for the DS or PSP which is OK. I'm a puzzle fan too, so I think I'll be satisfied with it for the bus.

I just ordered Castle of Shikigami 3 from Amazon yesterday, so I'll just have to wait until I get home for bullet hell goodness.

cj iwakura

I assume you have a Wii?, so you should also look into the Ultimate Shooting Collection. Terrible name, but it includes three fun bullet hell shmups, namely Radio Allergy and Karous.

RainbowDespair

Speaking of which, I got the PS2 Castle of Shikigami a few weeks ago in the mail via Goozex and I really enjoy it. Great variety in "ships" and enjoyable gameplay along with atrocious voice acting.

cj iwakura

The third on Wii is even better, and without the atrocious voice acting.

SlayerVin

Yeah, I actually just picked up a Wii and 4 games, and don't have nearly enough free time at home to play them... I watched a couple videos of Ultimate Shooting Collection and, bad title aside, it does look sweet. I'll probably pick it up once I've put a dent in my ever growing backlog.

I found a copy of Castle of Shikigami 2 for $7 sealed back home in Massachusetts (I miss Newbury Comics!) a couple months ago. I bought it without even thinking about it. The shooter itch hasn't hit me until very recently so it's been sitting in its packaging ever since. Now that I just spent a bunch of money on a Wii, I want to put some time into playing that, but I know I'll check out CoS2 at some point.

RainbowDespair

cj iwakura wrote: »

The third on Wii is even better, and without the atrocious voice acting.

That sentence does not make sense.

cj iwakura

RainbowDespair wrote: »

cj iwakura wrote: »

The third on Wii is even better, and without the atrocious voice acting.

That sentence does not make sense.

Well, as in the dialogue is hilarious on purpose.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A-BAsjRlTA

slash000

This thread reminds me I need to pick up Big Bang Mini.


Also shiki3 is an awesome, awesome game. I love that shit.

SlayerVin

I just tried out Bangai-O Spirits and while it wasn't exactly what I was looking for at the outset, there's certainly a lot of crazy stuff flying around all over the screen, and I can shoot stuff, so I think I'll have fun with it. It reminds me a bit of the old Donkey Kong game for the original Game Boy, with the quick, one-shot challenges/levels. Good stuff.

When the RPG bug hits me again, I'll probably check out Knights in the Nightmare too. Thanks for the recommendations everyone!

RichardTauber

Bangai-O Spirits has been intriguing me for a long time. But all the Treasure fanboys have been wrong every other time they've called something the best game ever, so I'm not going to buy into it this time.

LBD_Nytetrayn

Does Contra 4 count as Bullet Hell?

SlayerVin

I guess I would consider it in the same overarching "Manic Shooter" genre, but I already own it and have finished it on Medium. Killer game though, I gotta try it more seriously on Hard one of these days.

SlayerVin

I got to play a little bit more of Bangai-O Spirits this morning and while it wasn't exactly what I asked for, it was exactly what I wanted. Tons of explosions/bullets, cool, interchangeable weapons, tons of difficult levels, great control, easy to play for 15-20 minutes then put away. Seems to have a good amount of depth to it too, and I think it'll be a long time before I've actually "mastered" it in any capacity. Great stuff.

slash000

SlayerVin wrote: »

I got to play a little bit more of Bangai-O Spirits this morning and while it wasn't exactly what I asked for, it was exactly what I wanted. Tons of explosions/bullets, cool, interchangeable weapons, tons of difficult levels, great control, easy to play for 15-20 minutes then put away. Seems to have a good amount of depth to it too, and I think it'll be a long time before I've actually "mastered" it in any capacity. Great stuff.

:^:

I'm glad you're lovin' it. It takes a while to fully grasp the concept and nuances of the game, but once you do, it's a really satisfying cross shmup/puzzle game. Figuring out / strategizing / deciding upon load-outs and then kicking ass in these insane levels is so much fun.

Lots and lots of levels to play. Just remember if you get stumped on a level, to skip it and play more other levels, then come back to it later. That's the beauty of it!


But seriously tons of levels, will keep you occupied for a while.

commathe

I got Gradius Collection for PSP for $5 at ShopKo, if you have those near you.