The shmups thread

[E. Randy Dupre]

I consider Contra to be platform action; though I have noticed a new trend to describe the genre as shmup.

Run and gun. Platform action's another good description, but the common term is run and gun. Difference between them and shmups being that generally shmups are all forced-scrolling, while run and gunners scroll at the player's direction.

[Duk]

I'm playing these at the moment :-

MAME

19XX: The War Against Destiny
DoDonPachi
Strikers 1945

Neo Geo

Metal Slug
Metal Slug X

SNES

Contra III
Wild Guns
Smash TV
The Fireman (Water Shmup )

[Baseley09]

PS1 Metal Slug X is pretty great IMO, even pal version, bar the murky explosions, pretty kol.

PS shmups tho, Ray storm is on the money for me, great gfx, levels & musics. Love it. Still not finnished either

[SharkSkin-Man]

The Neo Geo version is pretty atrocious [as are all the Metal Slug games tbh]. Horrible, loose floaty jumping, no diagonal fire, moments of insane unfairness and comedy slowdown. Pretty graphics, nice animation not much else...

PSX version is quite a good conversion...less slowdown than the Neo Geo if I remember....although been a long time since I've owned either.

16-Bit Contra's are miles ahead IMO and I'm far from a big Contra fan.

[wheelaa]

The Neo Geo version is pretty atrocious [as are all the Metal Slug games tbh]. Horrible, loose floaty jumping, no diagonal fire, moments of insane unfairness and comedy slowdown. Pretty graphics, nice animation not much else...

PSX version is quite a good conversion...less slowdown than the Neo Geo if I remember....although been a long time since I've owned either.

I feel an anal moment coming on..sorry...but if you don't like slug games to begin with you surely can't like 'quite a good conversion' of one. And I'm sure X on the neo has minimal slowdown tbh (its 2 that is a pain to play). (although I heartily agree that all MSs are overrated..much better run and gun games out there such as gunstar)

[SharkSkin-Man]

I didn't say I liked PSX Metal Slug X, its ****, but I think its a very good conversion [technically] of the original game, which is also ****.

[wheelaa]

Ah yes..sorry..wasn't trying to put words in your mouth

All I was saying is that I can't understand how anyone can even compare the 2 versions, is all. (and before anyone says anything of course I appreciate that usually arcade versions of games are superior to home console versions...but obviously the neo is one and the same etc).

Back on topic 3 master system shooters that I loved years ago and as such would recommend are:

R-Type
Cloud master
Bomber Raid

[muse hunter]

-Any metal slug game
-any parodius game
-harmful park
-game paradise

[taurusnipple]

Ah yes..sorry..wasn't trying to put words in your mouth

All I was saying is that I can't understand how anyone can even compare the 2 versions, is all. (and before anyone says anything of course I appreciate that usually arcade versions of games are superior to home console versions...but obviously the neo is one and the same etc).

Back on topic 3 master system shooters that I loved years ago and as such would recommend are:

R-Type
Cloud master
Bomber Raid

R-Type on the Master System is my favourite rendition of it. Got the exclusive secret level on it! Good taste there.

I'd mention Einhander on the PS, my own favourite shooter.

[Leon Retro]

Run and gun. Platform action's another good description, but the common term is run and gun. Difference between them and shmups being that generally shmups are all forced-scrolling, while run and gunners scroll at the player's direction.

Imo Run&Gun is quite a new term as well, and quite a restrictive term; though it does sound good. I have always refered to the Contra genre as platform action, but I think I will start using the R&G term now; it just sounds much better.

[Big Seany]

Had a go on Contra Spirits on my Snes and Probotector I & II on NES last night. Cracking. Would love Contra Hard Corps (Core) so will be looking out for that.

Einhander sounds very good, so think I may go for that as well.

[charlesr]

For something a bit different, and not too tricky on the normal level, try ZeroGunner2 on the DC. It's a top down helicopter shooter, you can rotate your chopper (er..) to fire in any direction. Lock on lets you constantly swivel on the spot. letting go of the lock leaves you facing in that direction. Enemies attack from all sides. The graphics are some of the best ever. Gameplay is a bit easy and with little depth, but it's still on my most played list.

[nightstalker100]

ill second that on zero gunner 2. awesome game. what i like to call a "no bullsh*t" shooter. no hook. no scoring concept to "get". just simply destroy everything in sight and do it in style. grab yourself a vga box too and play it on a monitor and i say this unequivocally - nothing looks as good! the detail on the backgrounds is mindblowing, they look real.

[Jay]

Back on topic 3 master system shooters that I loved years ago and as such would recommend are:

R-Type
Cloud master
Bomber Raid

Good call with R-Type. Also, the MS conversion of Super Space Invaders is aces.

Jay

[phillai]

I have a few favourites but some that I can immediatley think of are Batsugun (quite intense!) on the Saturn, Gynorg on the Megadrive and Smash TV on the SNES.

I also like Eihander on the PS One and Super Contra on the Super Famicom. The latter one was amazing for it's time and you just don't see games like it anymore that show off scaling and mode 7...