fuchikoma

Ah, the first one. I have a friend who got way into it, but the music on the PC-98 emulator makes my ears bleed. My crazy brain DB of characters, songs, levels and in-jokes pretty much starts at game 6, the first Windows one.

I love 10 and 11 because bombs consume firepower which is easily replaced, and if you lose all your lives, you continue as much as you want, from the start of the level.

I'm partial to the Voitex remixes, but I also don't mind the PC-98 games' music. I think the first one is the only game I've beaten, though. I'm horrible at bullethells.

I'm actually in the same boat... I really like them now, but until I tried Imperishable Night a couple years ago, I wasn't at all into 2D shoot 'em ups. I figured they'd be impossible, but they're easier for me because the bullets are highly visible. I'm still not great at them. Genetos is free, great for lower-skill players and still really fun.