2D Shoot Em Up with these specific characteristics?!

[ST Dragon]

2D Shoot Em Up with these specific characteristics?!

I was wondering if there is a 2D Shoot Em Up (Horizontal or Vertical), where you start off with all weapons maxed up and as you progress your primary weapons’ power / ammunition gradually decrease?!
So in this fashion you’re forced to kill off everything fast and complete each level before your primary weapons are completely depleted?!

The closest to this scenario I can think of are 2 Shooters:

Carrier Airwing / U.S. Navy (Arcade/ Mame)
Where your energy bar / fuel tank is gradually decreasing (especially even more if you’re shot)!

Macross 2 (Arcade / Mame).
The levels have a timer pushing you to finish each level and boss fast before it runs out.

I would like to try something different more challenging and more adrenaline oriented than the classic 2D Shmup formula.
It can be on any system, as it’ll do just fine

[Gil_Hamilton]

Not what you're requesting, but the Zanac games have an adaptive difficulty feature that, among other things, ratchets game hostility up with each bullet fired and with weapon level.
Even better, when you pick up a subweapon, you'll start seeing enemy waves designed to defeat that subweapon.

[grinvader]

Ikaruga has a 'prototype' game mode in which your ammo supply is limited to stuff you've absorbed through your shield. Pretty much the only thing close enough to your request I know about.

Well, there's Axelay, but it's not really time-based, weapons only go out of order if you're lightly hit while using them, and come back when you go boom for good (either hit lightly after all weapons are down, or hit strongly whatever state you're in).

[Gil_Hamilton]

Mmmm.... if nothing else, this has prompted me to start playing Zanac again.


I think the best thing about adaptive difficulty is that getting mad at the game becomes a 2-way street.

It's immensely satisfying to watch the game flip out as it starts trying to kill you harder and harder. You can almost hear the NES shouting "FOR FUCK'S SAKE! JUST DIE ALREADY! GOD-DAMMIT!" if you listen REALLY close.

[I.S.T.]