Everyone has given great input and I am very grateful for it all. I believe I will start out with something like Rase suggested. I am hoping to get the core gameplay and ideas down and have some playable game working as soon as possible and then I intend to expand upon that. Something like Illusion of Gaia was exactly what I was thinking as far as that goes, so it is funny that you brought it up. IoG was a huge part of my childhood (damn those vampires!). Though, the whole Smash TV type thing seems like it would be the most plausible choice of everything that has been suggested.

So, I believe I have it whittled down to either a Gradius type game or Smash TV type game. Keep in mind it's not going to just be a clone or anything, I will have unique aspects to make it my own and it really just boils down to what my personal preference is as far as those go.

I am going to have 2-3 weeks off of school and am hoping to get a solid foundation for a game set up during that time, so expect an update when I get things in order.