Introduction to Japanese Indie Shoot-Em-Ups
Postman has written an article at TigSource entitled, "Doujin Shmups: An Introduction." Doujin is a Japanese term for "small publisher," analogous to "indie." And a "shmup" is an abbreviation of "Shoot-Em-Up."

The article is informative, and also goes through his top 10 list of the best doujin shmups. He does mention the "curtain fire" style of game in the style of Mushihimesama Futari. Which still boggles my mind.

I'd only heard of three of his top ten games, which goes to show how woefully out-of-touch I am with the shmup scene. Though at least I knew all the developers and games mentioned in William Swaney's addendum on Western Games (and a few more besides).

Times have changed a bit since the era of Xevious, Galaga, Gyruss, 1942, and R-Type, haven't they?



- posted by The Rampant Coyote @ 11:18 AM (Permalink)