Shoot'em up fans, get ready to discover the very best the arcade genre has to offer. This video takes you deep into the fascinating world of shoot'em ups developed by Cave, a legendary studio founded by former members of Toaplan that revolutionized the bullet hell genre. Games that long remained relatively unknown in the West, yet represent the absolute pinnacle of Japanese arcade excellence.

Essential Recalbox setup

Before diving in, a few essential settings are required. These relatively recent games (up to 2012) require a Raspberry Pi 5 or a PC to run smoothly without slowdowns.
You will also need a complete Final Burn Neo romset.

Developer-based sorting tip:
Go to Start > Arcade Settings > Virtual Manufacturer System, then enable Cave.
All your Cave games will automatically be grouped into a dedicated virtual folder.

Vertical mode (TATE)

Most Cave games are tate (vertical). If you can rotate your screen, configure the Tate Settings to enable the Tate virtual system and choose the rotation (left or right).
Your games will then be displayed fullscreen, which is absolutely essential to fully enjoy these shoot'em ups.

The must-play selection

From DonPachi (1995), the pioneer that laid the foundations of bullet hell (maniac shooters), to DonPachi Saidaioujou (2012), the studio’s visual masterpiece, this selection spans 17 years of excellence.

Among the must-play titles:

• ESP Galuda, with its bullet time system
• the colorful Mushihime-sama and its insect-themed universe
• the delightfully unhinged Muchi Muchi Pork with its flying pigs
• and Deathsmiles, an outstanding horizontal shoot'em up featuring bidirectional shooting

Each game offers unique mechanics and remarkable gameplay depth.

Going further

To refine your strategies and explore the subtleties of each ship, be sure to visit schmups.com and shmups.system11.org.