This was what I came up with for a SHMUP competition. The theme was options, didn't finished it, couldn't find a programmer. It went on the back burner with a lot of other ideas. I've been looking at the art for it, wondering if I should start it up again. ----- The story concept: The powerful spirits that take the form of masks are call Demon Masks. They have incredible abilities on they're own, if they are worn they can grant people special abilities. The Demon Masks were sealed in their home dimension to keep them from causing mischief and to keep powers from being misused. Now the seal has been broken...a hero wears a Demon Mask to stop the others before the chaos they cause grows out of control. The Game concept: It's a nonlinear boss rush shooter. After the first scenario introduction fight you can choose the main battles in any order. The last battle is unlocked after all boss zones are completed. Each boss zone has a different set of rules and obstacles to over come. First scenario: Defeat Demon Mask Inferno. Boss zones: Water Battle Arcade Battle Hive Level Time maze Dark Shrine Frost stage Green house Haunted Mansion Last Battle: Void zone Game Screen Mock Ups:

What you have here seems decent but it's just a tiny part of a shmup. Kind of like a puzzle game concept with nothing but a plot.

The system, level design, weapon design, enemy design are what make a shmup tick. Nice graphics and sound are icing on the cake, but still very important as they'll be seen and heard so many times. Plot is optional.