The 2D Scrolling Shooters Thread

MuToiD_MaN

MuToiD_MaN

The Freeman
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This is a genre I just can't get enough of. I can remember being so enthralled with Sky Shark and Gradius on NES, and I've played all the ones I could get my hands on since. The simplicity of the design, the sheer reflex skill involved ... It really shows what can make a great game, without needing what, say, an FPS or an RPG requires to be good.

I for one really get a kick out of what the genre has become as of late. Every new game brings forth some sort of scoring or save-your-own life gimmick, and most these days go way overboard on the enemy-shots-on-screen-at-a-time count. Which is awesome of course. Everyone needs a good daily white-knuckle moment, IMHO.

Here are my picks, how about yours?

My current favorites:
Mars Matrix (arcade, DC)
Ikaruga (DC, GameCube) <-- a must-play if you haven't!!
Raiden Fighters Jet (arcade)

Classics:
Darius Twin series
Raiden series
R-Type series

Cool, original idea ones that I've only been able to play on MAME:
ViewPoint - The only isometric (3/4 view) shooter I've ever seen. Neo-Geo goodness.
Vasara / Vasara 2 - Guys on hoverbikes? Check. Feudal Japan setting? Check. Giant bullet-deflecting sword attack that sprays blood when you hit enemies? That's a big check!
Dangun Feveron - Good god, this game is so weird! It's got all the glitter and flashiness of a DDR game and a disco fever soundtrack, but it just *happens* to be a shooter.
 
To be honest, I think the only one I've ever played is Zero Wing. A Cookie goes to the person who can identify the reason why.
 
God damn Ikaruga is good, as is Radiant Silvergun :) Treasure own \o/

Did you ever play an old Capcom shooter called 1942? that was excellent in its day.

Oh - and Viewpoint. That game has made me curse many, many times. Fun, but too hard /o\
 
Ikaruga is an amazing 2d scroller, brillant visuals and damn, it can be HARD. Bullet eater mode is and absolutely awesome way to take the games concept and use it to make a possible, but damn near IMpossible gameplay mode.
 
I really do want to try Radiant Silvergun, but it's not exactly the easiest game to get a hold of, being on Sega Saturn and all.
 
kupoartist said:
To be honest, I think the only one I've ever played is Zero Wing. A Cookie goes to the person who can identify the reason why.
Click to expand...

Same reason as I did probably.
Saw it in those All Your Base things.
:rolling:
 
I love Flashback and Arctic Adventure !
Does anybody know this very old games?
 
Polaris said:
I love Flashback and Arctic Adventure !
Does anybody know this very old games?
Click to expand...
I liked Flashback and Another World, and loved R-Type.
 
I Guess it's time to blow the dust off of my dreamcast.

Anway, I really liked Einhander for the PS1 and Galactic Attack for the Saturn....ahh...saturn
 
Metal Slug rules!! How could I forget! It's one of the reason SNK kicks so much ass. Because even though they used a screen resolution that was so low in their games, they made up for it with rich animation, and Metal Slug definitely illustrates that fact.
 
d00d! This game rocks!! I know you saw it on screensavers, but just the same, nice find!
 
If we're going for on foot scrollers then Gunstar Heroes deserves a mention :)
 
What about Bionic Commando?

Or Castlevania: Symphony of the Night?
 
Warbie said:
Strider :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, that game rocked :D

I liked the robotic gorilla boss you fought in an early level.

Man, there's way too many 2D sidescrollers I love. Metal Slug, Turrican, Project X, R-Type, Missing in Action, Alien Versus Predator, Bermuda Syndrome, Abuse and Contra to name a few.
 
I forgot about Turrican :) Top game. Whoever metioned Bionic Commando is a star \o/

How about Ghouls n Ghosts and Ghosts n Goblins? Many a fun hour was had playing those games.
 
Warbie said:
I forgot about Turrican :) Top game. Whoever metioned Bionic Commando is a star \o/

How about Ghouls n Ghosts and Ghosts n Goblins? Many a fun hour was had playing those games.
Click to expand...

YES! Ghosts 'n' Goblins ruled! I loved that game, the monsters and levels were so cool. And the way you had to run around in underwear if you lost your armor :D
 
Alien Storm (arcade version)

Metal slug series (arcade)

Alien Vs Predator (arcade, the good one)

Cadilacs and dinosaurs (arcade)

The punisher (arcade)

Tyrian 2k (pc)

Contra (original, arcade)

micheal Jackson's moonwalker (arcade, the one where you save little kids and pickup chimchim his monkey to turn into cyborg MJ) LOL

and lotsa others.... I used to go to N1 city (an enormous... shopping mall like complex that had like over 1000 arcade machines) when I was a kid in South africa.
good times.
 
Gunstar Heroes! Oh man, I forgot about that one. I *did* originally start this thread for shooters, but any time Michael Jackson's Moonwalker gets mentioned is OK in my book.
 
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