Definitely much slower and sloppier with weaker gameplay and stage design than Gate of Thunder, and instead adds lite-RPG upgrade mechanics, a bit similar to UN Squadron. The focus is more on what order you do stages and upgrades, and there is some risk-reward in grabbing all the currency pickup. There are four ships options with different fire patterns, but some clearly outclass others.

I would prefer tighter and more intentional stage and boss design. The focus here is clearly on the music and upgrade system rather than the gameplay and stage/boss design. Everything just feels flat and unsatisfying, and it just feels very sloppy and amateurish. There is poor clarity and what damages you and what doesn't is unclear and everything just blends together, especially with all the currency tokens flooding the screen and enemies just flying in from behind or below you with no notice or warning. Enemies will always just quickly jerk around and smash right into you and deal tons of rapid continuous damage. Just feels like very lazy and sloppy trial and error.

The SEGA CD and Turbo CD versions are similar, but the SEGA CD version is easier with i-frames on hit and no suicide bullets on Super (which makes it much easier)