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1
Andro Dunos II (2022)
8.0/10on IGDB
Released
Cycle through four weapons from the start. A laser rewards lining up a shot, while homing missiles let you keep moving while you deal with targets that won’t stay in front of you. Each weapon can be upgraded as you go. This is a good first pick if you want to compare how the same stage feels with different firing patterns.
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Radiant Silvergun (2011)
Released
Seven attacks are available from the start in the standard three-button control scheme, with some triggered by combining buttons. Use the forward shot for enemies directly ahead or the Back-Wide Shot to fire behind you and keep a narrow shot in front. The controls take practice, but you don’t have to wait for a pickup to try a new angle.
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Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar (1992)
6.1/10on IGDB
Released
Thunder Force IV, released in North America as Lightening Force, lets you switch between weapons you’ve picked up. Back Shot makes flying past an enemy a real option. The five-direction Free Way shot gives you wider coverage. A lost ship costs the weapon you had selected if it was a pickup, giving you a reason to think about what you keep in reserve.
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Gleylancer (2021)
Released
Your main gun fires ahead, but the two smaller gunners can cover other directions. In Modern mode in the 2021 release, you can change how the gunners move during a stage or aim them with the right stick. Try it if you like the idea of flying one way while your side weapons look after another.
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Einhänder (1997)
7.5/10on IGDB
Released
The manipulator arm can take gunpods from enemy craft. Try the Endymion Mk. II, which can carry three gunpods and switch between them as you fly. Pods have limited ammunition, so collecting a new one can change what you fire and how much of it you have for the next stretch.
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Earthion (2025)
Released
Carry a wide-pattern subweapon for scattered enemies and a more concentrated one for tougher targets, then switch as the stage calls for it. An Adaptation Pod can take up a subweapon slot in exchange for an upgrade if you finish the stage with it. Pick this if you want part of the challenge to be deciding what deserves space on the ship.
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Hellfire (1989)
7.0/10on IGDB
Released
One button cycles through forward, rear, vertical, and diagonal fire. The vertical shot lets you fly past targets above and below, while the rear shot lets you keep firing after they get behind the ship. This is a good pick if you want a game that makes where you stand matter with just a fire button and a change button.
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Axelay (1992)
7.1/10on IGDB
Released
You start with three weapons and can cycle through them with the shoulder buttons. Later stages give you more options when choosing what to bring. A hit can take away the weapon you’re using, leaving you to make do with what’s left. Choose this if you want a small loadout that doubles as a margin for error.
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Ray'z Arcade Chronology (2023)
Released
Start with RayForce in this collection. The forward shot handles targets on your level, while the lock-on laser reaches enemies below the ship. You’ll spend some of the stage guiding the targeting mark over the lower layer while still dodging the upper one. The split gives each weapon a job the other can’t do.
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Alltynex Second (2010)
7.0/10on IGDB
Released
Use the fighter’s ranged fire while you have space. The armored form brings a short-range blade, so switching changes how close you have to get. It’s a good choice if you want the moment you close the gap to be as important as the button you press.
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ZeroRanger (2018)
9.0/10on IGDB
Released
The Green Orange campaign builds your arsenal as you beat bosses. When the game offers two weapons, you pick which one to take forward. A choice like the focused charge shot or the homing laser gives you a different way to cover the next stage. Pick this if you enjoy making a loadout decision that lasts beyond the next formation.
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Natsuki Chronicles (2019)
Released
The main, sub, and special weapon slots let you take different tools into a stage. Switch your setup between attempts and use the story stages to compare what changed. The bullet-trajectory display can make it easier to see when a different firing angle is worth moving for.
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Crimzon Clover: World EXplosion (2020)
Released
The regular shot covers what’s ahead. With the lock-on attack, you can tag targets within a ring and release a volley at them, so positioning the ship helps you reach things off to the side. In Arrange, the upgrade gauge adds a second choice about how to build the ship as you go.
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Blazing Lazers (1989)
6.9/10on IGDB
Released
Pickups change the main shot, while separate support items change what you have alongside it. The Field Thunder beam covers space differently from the wide Power Wave. Choose this if you want the decision about what to collect next to change your firing pattern for more than a moment.
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Soldier Blade (1992)
9.0/10on IGDB
Released
The pickup color changes your shot, and the pickups you bank also fuel special attacks. A stocked blue pickup can fire a large laser as a bomb. Choose this if you like having to decide whether the next wave is worth spending one of the items you collected.
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