"Lookie what we got here, a multi-assault tank. Watch yourself, kid!" DonPachi is a PS1 shoot-em-up that I've seen recommended a lot, along with other titles in that franchise. I figured I'd start with the first one. (I play this as a PS1 download on the Vita, with a Japanese PSN account. A great way to play import-only Japanese shmups without paying a fortune.)

It's a good shmup. You have three aircraft to choose from, and five stages to play through (twice). Your goal is to shoot down hundreds of helicopters, tanks, mechs, and so on. A short, but very challenging game, as is typical of this genre. I like the pixel artwork a lot though, and the military march tunes fit the game fine. The sound effects don't sound that great though, and the English-voiced announcer guy gets annoying after a while. (Especially when you keep dying and getting your scattered power-ups back... POWER UP POWER UP POWER UP POWER UP.) Anyways, a good game if you like making tons of explosions.