best SHMUP on the Genesis (better than Vectorman)
As I mentioned, Gunstar Heroes is a brilliantly crafted game. It's crisp and clean looking, perhaps one of the best looking Genesis games out there. You start off by choosing one of two characters, and one of four weapons. You can either choose a character that lets you run while your shooting, or one that stands still and shoots. They both have their advantages and disadvantages, such as you constantly running off a cliff if you decide not to choose the fixed character. But if you choose the fixed character and the level scrolls... oh boy. The game is also two player, and you're not restricted to just playing as one or the other. You can both be the free-moving character if you want.
The weapons range from a plain ordinary shot, a homing shot, lightning and a flamethrower. What's more interesting is that you can carry two different weapons at a time and switch between them. Even MORE interesting, is that you can combine two weapons and see what you get. You could, for example, have a homing lightning shot. This element just opens up a ton of possibilities.
As you run through the levels, the game is certainly not shy about throwing enemies at you. This is one of the most intense shooters around. Enemies are literally coming from every corner, and surprisingly, there's never a drop in framerate. With how decorative these environments are and things exploding every two or three seconds as well as enemies littering the screen, you'd expect there to be some slow down, there is none and the game itself moves pretty fast only adding to the intensity. It makes the game that much more fun.