I mean, the gameplay isn't amazing. But I wouldn't call it awful. I've played games that are a lot worse... many of which are less fun while also being much less visually appealing. IIRC the sound design for silpheed is good too?

The sound design is amazing! Having the squadron announcing incoming threats on comms in full CD quality was also a unique and fresh experience. I’m sure Wing Commander and others did it earlier on PC, but for a console game it was very immersive. Seeing gigantic lasers take out huge ships and hearing the panic from the other pilots is fun, even if it plays out the same way every time.

7 of the audio tracks are CDDA audio as well. I seem to recall playing those in my discman at the time.

It’s a shmup, they can’t all be Ikaruga.

> I’ve played games that are a lot worse…

These things aren’t mutually exclusive. This can be an awful game (which it is) and not be the worst game ever made. And as with anything, it has its strong points too, just that as a complete package, it can’t be called a good game.