Everyone's Shmup preferences?

[QualityChimp]

It's a bit of a grey area, I suppose.
Would people class games like Gunsmoke or Commando as a shmup?

Are there certain elements a game has to fulfil to be classed as shoot-em-up?

[nakamura]

What was that recent one on the 360/PS3 that was the same style...I still want to play it but have totally forgotten the name

Honestly have no idea.

[Soundwave]

Honestly have no idea.

Lol I didn't think you would

I just found it again it's called Mamuro Kun

[QualityChimp]

I just found it again it's called Mamuro Kun

Hmmm, looks interesting, Soundwave!

[Soundwave]

Hmmm, looks interesting, Soundwave!

Yeah it was always one I fancied trying but never got round to picking up

[JazzFunk]

Oh well done, Jazzy!

I've not played that, but it's based on the game I was thinking of called Warning Forever. It was amazing!

It's seriously great fun and for such a small download looks and plays amazing! Had a go last night, first time in a couple of years, got to Wave 16 on the first try, not too bad! Don't think the leaderboards are working now though...I was Number 1 in the world all the way through.

I wanna FIGHT for that top spot!!! Without the leaderboards, it does lose a bit of its fun. Because it feels like it might be one of those 'infinite' games, sort of. Play for score rather than completion. But still bloody impressive and the best XBLIG I've ever played.

[dvdx2]

Hmmm, looks interesting, Soundwave!

i always enjoyed this style of shooter were you control a 'person' - some memorable examples i can remember for the megadrive are; twinkle tale and elemental master, the classic arcade 'mercs' and the neo geo shock troopers. Prefer 'spacecraft' shooters though.

[JazzFunk]

And let's not forget Undead Line...kind of a spiritual sequel to Elemental Master...though I don't think they're related.

I just wish I still had it...so I could get ubercash on eBay for it!!!!

[Colin]

what would you call it then? i always thought of it as a shooter. it doesn't have the forced scrolling but it adheres to the genre in every other way

Not sure to be honest, but as already mentioned I wouldn't class things such as Mercs and Shock Troopers as shmups, just arcade action games? Though I suppose they're some sort of sub category.

[dvdx2]

And let's not forget Undead Line...kind of a spiritual sequel to Elemental Master...though I don't think they're related.

I just wish I still had it...so I could get ubercash on eBay for it!!!!

ahh yes Undeadline - 6 stages selectable from the off? loved that

On the subject of MD shooters, i loved Gleylancer, TFIV and steel empire

[nakamura]

Mercs and Shoot Troopers are my kind of arcade game.

[JazzFunk]

I had lots of joy with Guerrilla War. Not the same on PS3 without them rotating joysticks though. Brilliant sense of carnage. Love them multidirectional army shooters.

[QualityChimp]

Hmmm...

I would say Guerilla War, Ikari Warriors, S.A.R., Mercs, Shock Troopers, Gunsmoke, Commando and so on and so on are Shooters, but are part of the sub-genre, Top Down: Run and Gun games. Usually they are people, on the ground, where you control when the screen scrolls.

Shmups, generally speaking, involve a flying vehicle/person/creature that doesn't control the scrolling.

There are always going to be grey areas though.
Are the likes of Granada, Guardian Force and the tank sections of Ikari Warriors or Metal Slug shmups or run and Gun games? Does playing the jeep in SWIV count?
Is Defender a schmup, because you can control when you scroll? Same for Star Control and Space War? Space Invaders doesn't scroll at all!

I think for the likes of Defender, Granada and so on, if it feels like a shmup but doesn't follow the rules of a flying protagonist with enforced scrolling, it's a sub-sub-genre called shoot-em-up: other.

It's pretty confusing, but either way, I think we also need a thread in celebration of everybody's Top Down: Run and Gun preference!

[boxhead]

what about side on run and gunners? stuff like contra?

[Soundwave]

what about side on run and gunners? stuff like contra?

Or the stand at the bottom of the screen & move left or right only like Nam' 75 or Cabal?