Top Five Cave Titles (in order)

[Jonpachi]

i could never get the esprade love.  fo a while, i figured it was the starting place fo a lot of old-timer's pcb collecting, and had a nostalgia value; as well as popular with young guys cos of mame etc.  i loaned the pcb for a week, but just didn't do anything for me     wouldn't even put it in a top 20

That's generally the consensus. I just love shooters that ask you to be aggressive. No need to learn complicated chain patterns (much as I do love DOJ). Just get up on top of every enemy and point-blank them as fast as you can. Heaven is a screen full of gold bricks and X16's.

[Geeb]

At the moment, it doesn't seem to be too different from before. Of course, I have a somewhat small pile to go on.

1. ESP Ra.De.
2. DoDonPachi
3. Progear (no Arashi)
4. Guwange
5. DonPachi

[febas]

I don't have pcb, i play with ps2 and pc...
but i have play with pcb...and my "list"

1.Futari Original
2.Mushihimesama ps2 Original  i love it's.
3.Ketsui
4.Donpachi

and i don't know....maybe esp.rade but this..

[markedkiller78]

1. Futari 1.5 - Maniac
2. MMP
3. Dodonpachi
4. Esp Rade
5. Mushihimesama - Maniac

As EOJ prdicted I've started to miss Futari. I'm going to hold out for BL this time, just need to keep an eye out for one at the right price

[EOJ]

My current top 5. A renewed love for Futari 1.5 Maniac pushes it to the top! Ketsui and DSII also make the list.

1)Futari 1.5
2)Muchi Muchi Pork!
3)Deathsmiles
4)Ketsui
5)Deathsmiles II

Runners up:
Espgaluda II
Futari Black Label
Dodonpachi Daioujou Black Label

[adverse]

It's about that time to do the top 10 yearly poll isn't it?

Re-examining my top 5:

1. Mushihimesama Futari BL
2. EspGaluda II BL
3. Deathsmiles MBL 1.1
4. Mushihimesama Futari 1.5
5. DDP DFK 1.5

Today's list based mainly on what, after a bunch of play, I still consider really fun to play.
In terms of sheer masterpieces, DOJ would have to make the list.

[Monouchi]

After more CAVE experience.

1: Mushi Futari BL
2: DDP DFK
3: Espgaluda 2 BL
4: Ketsui
5: DS MBL

[lmagus]

Ooh my turn

1) Deathsmiles
2) Ketsui
3) Mushihimesama Futari BL
4) DDP Dai-Ou-Jou BL
5) Mushihimesama

I wonder how this list is going to look in 6 months. I'm very excited about DS IIX

[cstarflare]

Well this should be fun

1. Mushi Futari Black Label
2. Deathsmiles Mega Black Label
3. Espgaluda (does arrange get lumped into this or is it separate)
4. Mushihimesama
5. DDP Dai Ou Jou

[brentsg]

In my short time back playing shmups again, it's still hard to put together a list.  I've spent far too much time bouncing from game to game really.  It's been a blast though!

But anyways, so far..

1.  DDP DFK BL
2.  Mushi Futari BL
3.  Muchi Muchi Pork!
4.  DeathSmiles MBL
5.  Ketsui

I haven't put time into the original DS and I hear a lot of folks prefer that.  I also want to revisit Futari 1.5 soon, as I sold my PCB but picked up the port.  And I need to dig back into DFK 1.5 soon, but the autobomb bothers me more now, after playing BL.

[emphatic]

Right now:

1. Ketsui (reign supreme)
2. ESPGALUDA (my first love)
3. DOJ BL (whenever I get stuck in another CAVE game, playing this a bit makes you better at everything)
4. Futari BL (All three modes are excellent in their own way)
5. ESPGALUDA II Omake! (it's just a lot of fun)

[Dale]

1.Dangun Feveron(always feel like playing this,always)
2.Espgaluda2(all time favorite bullet Patterns great pacing)
3.Mushi Futari:Ultra Novice(funnest scoring because your made to win)
4.Espgaluda: (Same reasons as 2)
5. Dodonpachi: (still some of the best bullet patterns and level design Cave has done)

Least favorite Esprade

I got to try a few credits of Daikfutsu 2 days ago. I love it but I need to play more to see how much, I most definitely prefer it too DOJ.

[CRI]

1. Ketsui
2. Mushihimesama Futari 1.5
3. Dodonpachi DOJ BL
4. Ibara
5. Progear no Arashi

if i could vote for one more it would be definitely feveron.

[PsychoDiver]

1. Mushihimesama Futari Black Label (I love everything about this game from the scoring to the music)
2. Progear (my first Cave game, it holds a special place in my heart)
3. Guwange (the bosses are so insane, great game)
4. Deathsmiles MBL (this one re-ignited my love for bullet hells and the world design is very unique)
5. Dodonpachi (really neat bullet patterns in this one)

[necpmf]

1) Futari BL (God mode only, don't like the other 2 modes much)
2) Dodonpachi
3) Futari 1.01 (Maniac only, again don't like the other 2 very much)
4) Dai Ou Jou BL
5) DonPachi

Sweet, my current top 5 consists of 2 series. 

[lam47]

Deathsmiles 1.1
Deathsmiles MBL  1.1
Futari BL Maniac
DDP (got me into cave games)
Ibara

I find espgaluda II just too hard to score in. Would love to try MMP as I think I would like it a lot.

[Joe T.]

Currently:

1. Ibara
2. Progear no Arashi
3. Muchi Muchi Pork!
4. Guwange
5. ESPGaluda II

[NR777]

Current list...this may change once I pick up Deathsmiles:

1. Futari BL
2. Futari 1.5
3. Progear
4. Guwange
5. ESPGaluda II

Dangun is on the short list.

[neomoe]

This is based solely on the ports, i've never played the pcbs...

For the time being...

1) Ketsui
2) Deathsmiles
3) Futari
4) DOJ
5) Mushi

[Van_Artic]

Futari BL
Daioujou
Ibara
Espgaluda II
Dodonpachi

[HVL]

Coming back to Futari ver 1.5 after playing MFBL for months made me realize how fantastic ver 1.5 really is. I couldn't have said I truly love the game, until now.

1. Mushihimesama Futari ver 1.5
2. Deathsmiles
3. Deathsmiles II ver 4.00
4. Ketsui
5. Mushihimesama Futari Black Label

[Vyxx]

Older topic, but I thought I would throw in my 2 cents:

1. Ibara
2. DDP DOJ
3. EspGaluda II
4. Mushihimesama
5. Ketsui

[TimingTripod40]

1. Futari BL
2. Futari 1.5
3. Espgaluda II
4. Futari 1.01
5. Mushihimesama 1.5

[Muchi Muchi Spork]

1. Ketsui
2. Futaris
3. Sama 1.5 Matsuri
4. Akai Katana Limited
5. Hmm undecided, lots of ties

[dan76]

Mushihimesama
Deathsmiles MBL
Akai Katana (Arcade)
Futari BL
Dodonpachi

Haven't played Mushi 1.5 yet

[Chempop]

My favorites fluctuate a bit, but these have either stood the test of time, or knocked my socks off from the get go.

5. Deathsmiles (haven't played MBL enough to evaluate a preference)
4. Dodonpachi DOJ (both versions, as I find them awfully similar)
3. Akai Katana (love all 3 modes of the port)
2. Mushihimesama (maniac)
1. Espgaluda 2 (I've only cleared it once, but it is my greatest STG accomplishment)

[EOJ]

My updated list:

1)Muchi Muchi Pork
2)Mushihimesama Futari 1.5
3)Akai Katana
4)Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu Black Label
5)Deathsmiles

[ookitarepanda]

My updated list:

1)Muchi Muchi Pork
2)Mushihimesama Futari 1.5
3)Akai Katana
4)Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu Black Label
5)Deathsmiles

Wow. While I knew MMP and Futari 1.5 would be on your list, it's amazing to see two horizontal games on there! No Pink Sweets?

Still don't know if I could come up with my own top 5.

[EOJ]

Pink Sweets would fit in my 6-10 slots. As would Deathsmiles II and Espgaluda II. Recently I favor Deathsmiles over Deathsmiles II, but both are great games.

[AweOfShe]

1. Akai Katana Shin
2. Espgaluda II Black Label
3. Mushihimesama Futari 1.5
4. DoDonPachi Daioujou
5. Deathsmiles

I still haven't played MMP/PS yet. I'll probably grab a copy sometime after Mushihimesama HD gets here.