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.

[Black Tiger]

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 

[ClodBuster]

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)

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:

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!