It's a shooter that is not talked about too much on this forum - a search results in less than 80 posts mentioning it, and most of those posts talking about wanting to buy it, or its good graphics. (Perhaps there is a reason for this.)
I thought I would open up a topic of conversation to hear about people actually playing it, and what their opinions of the game are. I've only played it in Ootake, but I've thought about purchasing it... sometimes. It's towards the middle-bottom of my wish list.
There are certainly aspects worth praising, like the aforementioned graphical effects, as well as its soundtrack. It certainly shows off a flair for spectacle beyond other mediocre mid-tier PCE devs (e.g. Right Stuff). Level design has some interesting twists and turns, and each stage feels distinct from the last. While the "turn around" gimmick is one of my least favorite and most boring in shmups, it is at least supplemented by three weapons with their own range and special attacks.
I've only played a few stages, though, and there are some seriously aggravating aspects to the game. Chief among them is how easy it is for enemies to teleport and materialize on top of you with no warning, taking away most of your health in one go. Other frustrations surface: weapons feel weak (especially since it's easy to lose power from a hit), and enemies seem to revel in cheap hits, appearing quickly out of nowhere or firing from off-screen. It makes it hard to persevere in the game when it seems like the deck is stacked against you.
I'd love to hear your thoughts: good, bad, mediocre, and whatnot.
