What are your favorite shoot 'em up game franchises/IPs?

Hello

My personal favorite shoot 'em up game franchises/IPs are:

• Darius
• R-Type
• Gradius
• Raiden
• Raiden Fighters
• Galaga
• Galaxian
• Xevious
• Spy Hunter
• Aero Fighters/Sonic Wings
• Strikers 1945

You've obviously mentioned some great stuff, personally I'm particularly fond of Xevious.

I think firstly, I'd say Twin Bee. I like the cute 'em up aesthetic and I think that it does some smart stuff. The manic nature of being in the thick of a fight while also trying to keep juggling bells for power ups etc is a really engaging piece of game design.

Ikaruga is super cool.

I'm not really well versed enough in the genre to know what ideas originated where, but Fantasy Zone must have been pretty innovative with the upgrade shop and the early bullet hell nature of the boss fights.

I grew up in the 90s, but I did actually play a fair bit of the 2600 version of Galaxian as well as Megamania. Tempest is also good. I also appreciate weird, dumb stuff like Parodius and Cho Aniki.

I haven't played many shmups but i have to talk about Sine Mora, i love everything about that game, it plays great, the story is kinda shocking and insane and i love the Hungarian voice acting, apparently they had Hungarian as a placeholder for a made up language but it was so good they kept it.
My classic childhood shmup is G-Darius, and a special shoutout to "REVOLVER360 RE:ACTOR".

Some good selections. I'd add U.N. Squadron for SNES. I put so many hours into that game, I can even begin to fathom. It was neat that the game was based on the Area 88 OVA's too.

1942 is another game I played non stop for hours. The music was annoying, but I always wanted to get to the next level.

R-Type at times, but mainly Einhänder.

Battle Garegga is near the top of my all-time list, for sure. Some other favorites of mine:

• Crimzon Clover
• Gradius
• Darius (especially Gaiden, G Darius, and Dariusburst)
• Graze Counter
• Blue Revolver
• Touhou (at least the main-line shooters)

...and at the risk of just listing a bunch of Cave franchises, since they're mostly all really good:

• Progear
• Guwange
• Espgaluda
• Mushihimesama
• DoDonPachi
• Ketsui

Some of my favorites are Lightening Force, Ikaruga, and Gigawing 2.

That's awesome choices of shoot 'em up games

Einhander is very challenging.

I'm terrible at them generally but they are great when they click. Xenon 2, UN Squadron and Ikaruga are probably the ones I put the most time into. Honourable mentions to SWIV, R-Type and Blood Money.

@gtxforza: Thanks. I know some Thunder Force entries may be better, but Lightening Force will always get bonus points for it's mistranslated title :)

Most of my favorites in the genre are one-offs like Section Z or Burai Fighter, but one franchise I've always loved is Silpheed.