Good list Royce. I have almost all of them, but it'll be fun to look at the ones I don't have on youtube. Space Tripper is not a true shmup, but I would like to mention it since it plays so well on the ipad, and is a blast to play. Maybe you would consider putting it on your list.
Great shmups on the icade core joystick Phoenix HD Danmaku 2 Blazing Star Raiden Legacy Super Crossfire HD Air Attack HD Storm Strikers Space Inversion 2 Bsquadron Shogun Warblade Velocspider Invasion Strike There are many more too, these are the ones I have played so far.
The best ones for me and my favorite iOS shmups: Danmaku Unlimited 2 Phoenix HD Darius Burst Death Smiles Liberation Maiden (non-traditional) Also, i just got Blazing Star for a buck, and all i've heard are good things about it, so looking forward to spending time with it.
In my folders i have.... Best Shoot Apache Overkill Sky Combat SkyForceR Sky Knight Space Inversion 2 Warblade IS Force 2 Toonshooters Raystorm Blazing Star Influx Act of Fury Danmaku: U Vetica Scraptank Shoot H (Horizontal) Cobra Avengine Spirit Chopper 2 Rocket Riot SpaceTripper E.D.F RayForce Darius Burst B Squadron Parallax Parallax 2 Sector Strike Neoteria Shoot V (Vertical) Icaraus-XZ M Striker X3000 Storm Strikers Radiant Buster Spirits Hypership Buster Red Fire Hawk Prince Dragon Shogun Super Laser rRootage GigaForce Alien Fighter Pro 1942 (style games) Air Strike Tokyo Rush Air Forces 1945 Air Attack iFigter iStriker Siberian Strike Pacific Wings Mortal Skies Assault Squadron Bullet Hell DDonPachi BD DeathSmiles Espgaluda 2 Bug Princess Bug Princess 2 TouHou Mythlia Fast Striker Kyoto Shooter A.i Bug Panic Nokog Lite A few above are in the wrong folders and i've probably got others but therye in other various folders. A lot of very good shoot em ups on iOS. Thought i would list most of mine above as i always find it quite fun to have a look on itunes and see what the games like. I've gone often by the name of the app which sometimes is quite different from the full name on iTunes but if theres one you cant find then let me know and i'll fire up the app to get the full name.
Looking for any other good shmups I should have here. IPAD only please. Currently Phoenix HD, Danmaku Unlimited 2, Plasma Sky. Have iStriker 2 but the classic style is not really for me. I am admittedly a graphics snob and don't really go for the throwback arcade style. Should note, I really enjoy these games even though I am completely terrible at them.
I have most cave titles, all the ones you mentioned, Space Tripper (good one btw), etc. The one I always find myself coming back to is Dodonpachi Ressurection. The mechanics and scoring system are perfect for me, not to mention the lovely graphics on my iPad. I know it's expensive but it's the shooter I always end up firing up whenever I feel like playing a shmup.
I don't have a retina iPad - but just out of curiosity, how many shmups/bullet hell titles do support retina on the iPad?
Not a major snob, just not the retro pixel style. Reminds of being a kid when I did not suck so bad at these games lol. Awesome suggestions thanks.