The Forgotten Five

[Zebbe]

Melf dubbed these five shmups "The Forgotten Five" in his Genre Spotlight: Shmups Extravaganza! feature. Panorama Cotton was only released in Japan and on the Mega Drive. Undeadline had different versions on the X68k and MSX, but none left Japan. Battle Mania 2, Gleylancer and Eliminate Down were Mega Drive exclusive but were also released in Korea. Those versions are probably even harder to get. Question is, shouldn't Twinkle Tale also be included among these to make a Forgotten Six? An argument against it is the fact that it plays more like a run 'n' gun. Maybe there are other Mega Drive exclusive, Japan only shmups that should be included...

So what are the best and most money-worthy of these titles. I haven't played Battle Mania 2 enough yet, but my rank would probably be this:

1. Panorama Cotton (awesome graphics and a gorgeous atmosphere)
2. Gleylancer (beautiful manga-intro, cool voice samples, rocking soundtrack)
3. Battle Mania 2 (original and funny to play)
4. Undeadline (tough as nails and quite original)
5. Eliminate Down (tougher than nails, quite good graphics and gameplay)

Only the two first are must-buys I think for the casual player. I'd say ED is currently the rarest and most expensive, followed by Panorama Cotton. GL and BM2 are quite equal, with Undeadline last and cheapest.

Here is proof that I am a materalistic collector-whore without life (click on the attachment link).

[Genesis Knight]

I would put BattleMania above Gleylancer, although I doubt my opinion is worth much as I've only emu'd them. But yeah, I'd imagine Twinkle Tale is expensive enough to count. At any rate, I have a suspicion that this thread is an engine to announce that you've bought the Forgotten Five, so I'll play my part and say congrats, Zebbe. They look gorgeous in a row like that. You just need to get that collector's mug...

[Zebbe]

Yeah, you got it right GK, but I don't want to be too self-promotive - I don't even think it is that special to have them all. When someone shows me Tetris in a Neptune and Outback Joey in that grey Genesis I say wow. I wanted to say to people interested in collecting but have budget even more limited than the Genesis colour palette™, that some rarities are just very overrated. Instead for Eliminate Down I'd take Thunder Force IV any day, it is far, far better.

[Genesis Knight]

Instead for Eliminate Down I'd take Thunder Force IV any day, it is far, far better.

There's hope for you yet.

[Alianger]

I'd rank them like this:
1. Panorama Cotton - totally awesome, but not quite worth the money for me.
2. Battle Mania 2 - imo a better choice for the casual player since it's pretty easy and not another space shooter.
3. Eliminate Down - lots of fun but unoriginal and quite hard.
4. Twinkle Tale - great fun and you're supposed to keep it scrolling anyway. Probably would've ranked it higher if I didn't know about the Pocky & Rocky games for SNES.
5. Gleylancer - nice presentation but not enough action, weapon system lacks polish.
6. Undeadline - too hard to be any fun for me..

[mick_aka]

I have to agree, Thunder Force IV kicks Eliminate Down's ass.

[kallbrand]

1. Eliminate Down
2. Twinkle Tale
3. Gleylancer
4. Undead Line
5. Panorama Cotton
6. Battle Mania 2

[Dirt Ball Gamer]

1. Eliminate Down
2. Twinkle Tale
3. Gleylancer
4. Undead Line
5. Panorama Cotton
6. Battle Mania 2

I agree, but i have yet to get eliminate down so im just assuming its awesome based on what ive heard. I pretty much do have all these stacked in this order on my vertical shelf, but throw in alien soldier and a few others. I have my collection going from awesomest mucho dinero games all the way down to nba jam te and then finally the lowest of them all sword of sodan.