GENETOS

Genetos is a beautiful and awe-inspiring trip through time; it is perhaps the best game out there that demonstrates the evolution of what eventually became the 2D bullet hell genre as we know it today.

Each stage is themed around a generation of shooters, starting in stage 1 with Atari-level Space Invaders-type play, and ending with a final stage that tests your reflexes and overall knowledge of how to use the various abilities you gained throughout the game.

Your ship is not exempt from the generational properties of this game; you start off in stage 1 as a Generation 1 ship, and once you collect enough of what I call "genergy" (the little green pickups), your ship gets what basically equates to a really fancy level up when your Generation meter (at the bottom of the screen) fills: it evolves by going through a Generation Shift, granting you new abilities. The game encourages you to shift when you meet bosses (whose appearance is triggered by your Generation gauge being about 4/5 full) in order to see the difference each shift produces.  

Weapons, Bombs & Lock-On Abilities Differ

In normal play, though there are defaults, you can either pick up differently-colored ability DNA or fulfill other special conditions to use alternate weapons, Bombs, and Lock-On abilities.  (Further described in History, on the left.)  Your current Weapon, Bomb, and Lock-On types are listed on the left side of the screen so you know what you're using.

Download link: http://www.mediafire.com/?qqs84ammory3qht (Ace of Hearts)