Thank you so much for all responses and recommendations!! I'll try to answer basically everything of note, which might lead to a big post. I'm new to the forum, so if this is a bother (didn't see anything about post size on rules), please someone tell me so I can reduce/edit it!
There we go!
- Scoring-wise, several of the Cotton games have some unusual setups; the "sealing" system of 2 and Boomerang comes most immediately to mind, though Reboot and Rock n Roll might also be worth checking out. Within the same theme (but different scoring mechanics) there are also the Trouble Witches titles.
I'm going to check the whole of Cotton for sure, it's been on the list! I do have only Rock and Roll on Steam, but it's been sitting in the library, I'm going to check it more thoroughly! I'm waiting for a sale for Trouble Witches, but also really want to dig in! Also, thanks for the other two picks!
I’d take a look at Sisters Royale for a more modern vert cute fix (slightly on the sexy/anime side but very tame with chibi character models).
Ooh, I had forgotten about Sisters Royale!! I have it and loved playing it. In some ways, even more charming than Shiki to me! Thanks for the reminder!
Highly recommend Cotton Reboot and especially Cotton Rock 'n' Roll if you are interested in playing for score. I guess Kiki Kaikai probably counts and the new one is really excellent.
I have Rock and Roll, going to have a deeper look with you being the second to recommend it! Also, super want to get into Kiki Kaikai
Other than that, Gun-Nac might be worth a look. And if you don’t mind my shameless plug and happen to like caravan games, I suggest you check out Flight of Pigarus, too.
I actually just played Gun-Nac, as I was scrolling down the Cute em Ups list on TV Tropes haha Very charming! Also, for sure I'll check your game! I do love me some Caravan stuff
PC Engine Fan X! ^_~
Magical Chase does look fantastic, I'm going to check it out! Shmup Junkie truly sold me on the PC Engine and I have to delve deeper into its games at some point, truly feels like a golden era STG paradise
I don't know if you want such old games, but on the MSX computer you have Famicle Parodic, Famicle Parodic 2 and Rona, all nice vertical cute'em ups.
I think Gemini Wing maybe also qualifies as a cute'em up? And... Game Tengoku / Game Paradise I think it fits more under "weird" than "cute", but maybe worth checking out?
And considering no one mentioned it, I am afraid of being really wrong here, but... Mushihemesama (and Futari) ? I really think they qualify as cute'em ups, have interesting scoring system, are vertical and the also the best games by Cave?
Never heard of any of these games, so that was perfect, thanks!
Well, except for both Mushi, which I did play and love. First Mushi is currently my favorite Cave game, so yeah, I feel you! haha Though for what I have in mind I fear it's not going to help me too much, but yeah, I'd say they are CeU adjacent as well!
Also - there's a couple of nice Space Invaders games that fit the bill. There's SI Dx which has a Parody mode that is just SI with Taito game sprites but there's also Space Invaders '95 which is a full on manic cute SI game.
The later Galaga games were cutified too. Think Galaga '88 meets the mark.
Now that's interesting, I'm totally going to have a look at it!
Space Bomber?
Muchi Muchi Pork?
Tobe Polystars?
Hani in the Sky? Probably wouldn't recommend that one though
I know the first two, and god, I love Muchi Muchi Pork. Wish (well, as with all the others) it was on Steam...
My buddy made Spellpaws, a horizontal Cute'Em up that has a charming art style, and I did some playtesting for the game, the price is name your own price: https://gendgi.itch.io/spellpaws
Very nice!!
I’ll recommend Neko Navy, a cool indie game from a few years ago.
It's on the list, for sure!!
Gotta snatch it on sale. Ended up picking Hazelnut Hex over it some sales ago, but I really want to dive in!!
Now really, thank you so much everyone! I'm annotating all of these games to have a deeper look!! Awesome selection!
