Psyvariar 2: The Will to Fabricate (2004)

This SHMUP features a 'graze' mechanic that debuted in the original: Buzz. You accumulate buzz by coming close into contact with enemy bullets (and I think destroying enemies as well, but it's really hard to look at the meter while dodging in bullet hell!) When you gain sufficient buzz, you upgrade your ship's weapon to something arguably better. You can do this multiple times, but I could never quite manage to get past the first upgrade level. (It slowly goes back down, at least I think that's how it works.) You can also do a kind of 'spin roll' (jiggle joystick quickly in opposite directions) to create a bigger buzz radius for risky moves that offer more buzz opportunities.

The game overall looks very similar to the first (haven't played but I did look it up and do some research). It also strikes me as much easier because you don't die in single hits (buzz is lowered, I think). The game looks and sounds good, well it looks and sounds like other SHMUP titles on the Dreamcast.

While novel in concept, this isn't really my kind of game. Panic 'contact' shooters like this offer the player an incentive to play with a risky and reckless style for more points, a concept that would appeal more to competitive players or true ace veterans of the genre. Oh, the game also isn't overall that hard for a panic shooter. Levels are short, and few, and in fact not filled with too many enemies or tricky patterns. While it's hard for me to imagine that many people getting really excited enough to play this game over and over and master, it does have some nice features for its arcade roots: different pathways through a level based on performance, as well as a final secret level you can access if you manage to accumulate enough points. 2 player co-op is available.

I managed to complete it (normal ending) in a little over 30 mins maybe using 1 continue. Doesn't grab me enough to play it again.