Favorite shooter stage

[Nando]

Doing a little bit informal research here. 

Doesn't matter the console; what is/are your favorite stage(s) for your favorite shooters.

[CrackTiger]

Aeroblasters stage 1. Perfect balance of music, setting and design. Comfortably cruising along until a huge city blows up and then the real game begins.

R-Type stage 1. Probably the most iconic stage of any shooter, but also arguably of any game in general.

Gate of Thunder Dark City(?)/Stage 6. No explanation needed. The best hardcore start of a stage aesthetically.

Super Darius Zone B(?). The music and the "impossible-on-PCE" dual layer backgrounds with close quarters (even for the game itself) action make it the most memorable stage of a game that is very important to me.

[Nando]

Awesome! Thanks guys!

[reson8er]

Rez (PS2) Last stage >  Its bizarre and stunning history of the evolution of man. Stand out stage is a game where every stange is fantastic.

R-Type > Stages 1-3 are incredible. (I'm cheating I know) From the lead up music as the R9 hurtles into the stage to the gradual shift to the enemies mechanized stronghold, Stage 2 takes a drastic departure to an HR Geiger inspired nightmare and stage 3 where the stage is the boss was amazing.

Radiant Silvergun > Forget stage numbers but the stage where everything turns to a wireframe is awesome, also love the stage where its night time and you're flying over the city.

Einhander > The first stage is very cool, setting, music, boss, all of it is awesome.

I could probably list 20 or 30 more easily, let me know if you need

[Otaking]

Last Resort - Neo Geo - Stage 1 & 2 -
I couldn't make up my mind which was more impressive out of stage 1 or 2 so had to pick both.

[Medic_wheat]

I think you should post a pic of your fav stage as well


Pictur is worth a thousand words and all

[esteban]

Blazing Lazers — final stage. Double bass drum rocking music that ramps up as the challenge builds like a pressure cooker. It's a boss rush, but fun, because the early bosses are mostly easy, whereas the sequences between bosses can get really hectic.

Honorable mention: flying brain stage. It's just so fun. Easy, but I love the sound of brains getting hit (FULL OF BASS) and the eventual explosions are very satisfying. Hectic, hectic, blow up all the brains ASAP. Fun!

[Nando]

I think you should post a pic of your fav stage as well


Pictur is worth a thousand words and all

That would be pretty rocking

[roflmao]

R-Type - Level 1 - Such greatness all around.
R-Type - Level 3 - The end boss *is* the level.  What!? So excellent.

Spriggan - The red water(lava?) level with the bi-planes. Those effects shouldn't be possible on a standard CD game.  It puts some SCD games to shame.

Star Parodier - Level 1 - So colorful! And the changing backgrounds!

Too many other favorite stages to list.  I'm cutting myself off there.

[TR0N]

Darius Gaiden:stage one that freaking music.

Pulstar:Stage 3 really it's right out of konami life force.

R-type:Stage 3 i get a kick out of attacking that huge ship.

Speaking of that pulstar stage 
Pulstar : Arcade playthrough [Part 2]

[ClodBusted]

Gradius  (PCE)
Just classic, I could play this level over and over, and over, and over...
The upbeat music rocks everytime, and the enemy formations are just perfect for trying a perfect score on a single level. (plays at 1:00)

R-Type II level 1 (Arcade, X360, PS3)
Comes close. I wish Irem would have ported this game to the PCE SuperCD-ROM². I bet there would be less slowdown and sprite flicker than the SNES' Super R-Type.


Bonus award:

Gokujo Parodius: Level 4 (Arcade, PS1, SAT)
For leaving a bad taste in my mouth. The Moai battleship from Parodius Da! makes a return, and it's still the same shameless rip-off from R-Type's level 3 batteship. Even the small flying enemies are reminding me of R-Type's cannon fodder enemy fighters. How great is that? I love Parodius! (plays at 10:00)

[tggodfrey]

Blazing Lazers Stage 3.  Lots of Power ups and stuff to shoot at.

[esteban]

Blazing Lazers Stage 3.  Lots of Power ups and stuff to shoot at.

Yup, and it is such a welcome relief after borefest stage 2.

BKAZING KAZWRS: another level I like a lot is the second "battleship" level. A lot of neat stuff going on and it actually can be slightly challenging at some moments. Very nice.

None of the bosses in BL are challenging, are they? Nope.

[Tatsujin]

sooooo many, can't decide

[Nando]

sooooo many, can't decide

surely there are stages that come to mind first, more than others.

You guys rock! Thank you all!

[Ninja Spirit]

Fortress stages kick major ass!
Super R-Type Level 4

Last Resort (Final Stage)

[CrackTiger]

Just as I love jumping and platforming, which unfortunately became the least important aspect of platformers from the 16-bit gen onward, I also love constant dodging in shooters. In particular, scenes like the high speed tunnel in Aeroblasters and the similar stage in Gradius II. That kind of stuff is infinitely more thrilling for me than going fast in Sonic games.

[Nando]

I also love constant dodging in shooters. In particular, scenes like the high speed tunnel in Aeroblasters and the similar stage in Gradius II.

YES!

[reson8er]

Just as I love jumping and platforming, which unfortunately became the least important aspect of platformers from the 16-bit gen onward, I also love constant dodging in shooters. In particular, scenes like the high speed tunnel in Aeroblasters and the similar stage in Gradius II. That kind of stuff is infinitely more thrilling for me than going fast in Sonic games.

Agreed, my favorite moments in shooters is when you're so lazer(!) focused that if you took a moment to think about what is going on, you'd be dead. Happens a lot with bullet hell type shooters but PCE games def. have their share of those moments.