Retro shoot em ups for beginners.

[CastletonSnob]

I suck at retro shoot em ups. What retro shoot em ups are best for people who are beginners to the genre?

[Reputator]

Galaga

 

 

Not kidding. This is really where it began, and honing your skills in this game helps you play newer shmups from the 90s+.

 

A more direct predecessor is Xevious. Simplistic due to its age, but helpful if you're new.

[X-pert74]

You might have fun with games that have either a health bar, or a shield power-up that lets you absorb a few hits without dying. I'm not a shmup expert, but I've had fun with stuff like Gate of Thunder or Soldier Blade, and both of them feature a shield power-up that can help you out of tight situations.

And yeah, Galaga and Xevious are neat too. Xevious I find to be very atypical as far as shmups go, though - it's still one of the only games I've played where the enemies feel like they're trying to not die, so they constantly swerve out of your line of fire when approaching. You really have to approach that game differently from other shmups if you want to land hits on anyone.

[chakoo]

1942/1943 are fairly forgiving for a classical shmups and are pretty widely available.

[DPCyric]

UN Squadron easily my favorite from the SNES shmups. 

[Rodimus]

I would say without researching it but games that have generous continues. I mean games that when you die you start where you left off and it doesn't start the level over.

[5timechamp]

Dragon Spirit is a nice themed alternate option and features the separate air and ground attack mechanic