Under Defeat Review (VALIS)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvat3EbkgIE
Just a few weeks ago I happened to play through the original Sega Naomi (2005) and Sega Dreamcast (2006) versions of this game and also played the Japanese Switch version (2024) at that time, while having played both the 360 (2012) and PS3 (2012) versions in the past. So with all these games reasonably fresh in my memory I can say none of these versions are that different from each other -- the Naomi version was the original, the Dreamcast version added a practice mode, then the 360 and PS3 versions from 2012 were called Under Defeat HD, added a new mode, music, and control options, and are very similar to these modern PC/Switch/Xbox/PS versions. And that is my book report on Under Defeat version history.
As for the game itself, it was G.Rev's second shmup after the cult classic Border Down, which unfortunately still hasn't seen a home port since the Dreamcast days. That game already seemed a little more grounded in terms of artwork compared to your average shump, and here they really take that to the extreme -- pretty much every element friend or foe seems inspired by modern military equipment and the backgrounds are very grey and green toned, which is certainly a change of pace from the usual brightly colored sci-fi worlds of shoot 'em ups.
Play-wise, Under Defeat has a mechanic where your helicopter pivots between left, center, and right dependent on a button press. Or, my preferred method, the HD versions and these modern ports added twin stick control for this, which isn't quite what you'd think. The right hand stick doesn't shoot in a 360 degree manner -- it doesn't even shoot in a 180 degree manner -- it still follows the original game's mechanic of shooting at about 11 o'clock, 12 o'clock, and 1 o'clock from your ship front. I just find it quicker to pivot with the stick than a button.
Anyway, it's an excellent game, and a good choice for beginners and newcomers since there's a lot of options here to make the game easier, and it's not a bullet hell that requires some very practiced skills. It may be tagged as a bullet hell here on Steam but it's also tagged as a 3D platformer for some unfathomable reason. Steam tags may stink but this game doesn't. 9/10