Ign Retro's Top 10 Classic Shoot 'Em Ups

[8th lutz]

http://retro.ign.com/articles/865/865346p1.html

 

They only rank Shoot 'Em Ups from 1998 or prior. Here is their top 10:

 

10.) Fantasy Zone

9.) Axelay

8.) Space Invaders

7.) Star Wars: The Arcade Game

6.) R-Type

5.) M.U.S.H.A

4.) Lightening Force

3.) DonPachi

2.) River Raid

1.) Radiant Silvergun

 

I wished IGN Retro did a top 20 Ign Retro's Top 10 Classic Shoot 'Em Ups list. There are a lot of great games in this genre.

 

I own or played most of the games on the list. I don't own DonPachi and Radiant Silvergun. I can't say how good the 2 games are.

 

Here are my thought the 8 game on the list I played:

• Fantasy Zone- great and fun Sms shooter.
  
• Axelay- great Snes shooter. The game is worthy in being the top 10. It is another great Konami Shoot "Em Up.
  
• Space Invaders- Fun shooter, but I like Galaga a little bit more. I see why this game got into the top 10.
  
• Star Wars: The arcade game- I played the 2600 arcade conversion of this game. Fun game. This is a top 10 worthy game.
  
• R-Type- Great, but hard game. It is hard not to put this game in the top 10.
  
• M.U.S.H.A- One of the Greatest Sega Genesis games I ever played and I own over a 100 games for the system. It belongs on the list.
  
• Lightening Force- another great game in the Thunder Force Series.
  
• River Raid- Might have been the best 2600 game I bought at a flea Market in the late 80's or the early 90's. I have a lot of memories of this game growing up. Raid Raid is a great shooter. I don't know if the game deserves its ranking. It is a top 10 game in my opinion.
  

I feel Galaga deserves to be mentioned. There are too many great shooters I played that are not in this list. Those games are Raiden, Raiden 2, Demon Attack, Blazing Lazers, Gate of Thunder, Lords of Thunder, Phoenix, Einhander, 1942, 1943, Gorf, Zaxxon, Xevious, Blaster, Life force, Gradius, Gaiares, Forgotton Worlds, Hellfire, Sagia, After Burner?, Blaster?, Gyruss? Time Pilot?, and Thunder Force 3.

[Reaperman]

shooters always have tight control and goal of absolute perfection. IMO this is the category the 'classics' hold up the poorest in. Shooters in *no* way got worse with improved technology. They just got prettier.

So I really can't understand how the oldies really made the list.

 

not to nitpick, but why r-type over gradius anyway?

 

good games on the list though.

I can see how they picked radiant silvergun over darius gaiden but I had a lot of fun with both.

Einhander needs to be somewhere, but it's only a generation from 'arcade current'--if that. Honestly raystorm was a better game, but einhander was so atmoshperic that it really leaves an impression.

Blazing Star was very good too, it'd probably come close to heading my list. maybe 19xx beat it out.

tyrian 2000 or raptor--pc gaming wasn't bad before the multitasking started.

 

of course I'd include the 'run and guns' before the 'flythrough' shooters, but since they brought up flythroughs, panzer dragoon was good, and (don't laugh) rebel assault 2 had some nice classic starwars action and the FMV did well with the 'on rails' feel.

Edited April 9, 2008 by Reaperman

[thomasholzer]

RR on place two is good, but number one should be Star Raiders (Atari 800). It's not even in the Top ten, are they mad?

[jboypacman]

M.U.S.H.A. is awesome on the genesis! and you cant go wrong with Space Invaders but i look at SI as a "Death of Above" shooter so i dont if it should be on this list.

 

Over all i guess its a decent list but i would think games like Blazing Lazers,Lords of Thunder,and Gates of Thunder would be on this list instead of some of some of these others.

[Atari5200]

I think there are just so many that they couldn't get to all of them??

 

Super Earth Defense Force for SNES is easily a top 10 game.

[vdub_bobby]

Everyone has a favorite, and paring the list of pre-1998 shooters (side scrolling, vertically scrolling, and first-person!) down to just 10 is an impossible task...but if you think another game should be on there, say which game it should replace and give some reasons.

[Atari5200]

I would say Super Earth Defense Force would replace R-Type. I've played the SNES version and the PCE of R-type and yes the game is good, but it's not that good. SEDF has tons for options, fantastic sound track, fantastic graphics, multiple layers of scrolling, it's an amazing game.

[liveinabin]

DonPachi is completely irrelevant compared to it's sequel DoDonPachi. That's a real slice of bullet-hell goodness.

 

And no Galaxian? Shame.

[Tempest]

What, no Truxton? Meh...

 

Tempest

[jboypacman]

Just so many shooters to pick from and everyone has a favorite! Maybe we all should do our own list of favorite shooters and post them.

[mbd30]

What, no Truxton? Meh...

 

Tempest

 

The difficulty in "Truxton" always pisses me off. One of the toughest Genesis games. You need skills even to survive the second round.

 

The frustration factor combined with the relatively primitive graphics might turn some gamers off.

[Atari5200]

how about Gun-nac for the NES, that was pretty decent.

[Tempest]

What, no Truxton? Meh...

 

Tempest

 

The difficulty in "Truxton" always pisses me off. One of the toughest Genesis games. You need skills even to survive the second round.

 

The frustration factor combined with the relatively primitive graphics might turn some gamers off.

 

I was thinking of the arcade version. I had forgotten it's also on the Genesis.

 

Tempest

[mbd30]

What, no Truxton? Meh...

 

Tempest

 

The difficulty in "Truxton" always pisses me off. One of the toughest Genesis games. You need skills even to survive the second round.

 

The frustration factor combined with the relatively primitive graphics might turn some gamers off.

 

I was thinking of the arcade version. I had forgotten it's also on the Genesis.

 

Tempest

 

Yeah, it was originally an arcade quarter muncher, which explains the high difficulty. I almost edited my post to acknowledge the arcade version (which I've never played... I assume that it is near identical to the Genny version).

[jboypacman]

I use to have a hard time with Hellfire on the Genesis i always thought that game was tough.

Edited April 9, 2008 by jboypacman

[AtticGamer]

-Fantasy Zone

Great shooter with a cute visual style

 

-Axelay

Excellent technically, ruined by the difficulty at later levels.

 

-Space Invaders

May be boring in long play sessions but it's a classic and good for 5 minute gameplay.

 

-Star Wars: The Arcade Game

Great.

 

-R-Type

Pile of frustrating shit.

 

-River Raid

One of the best 2600 games and a good shooter, even if simple nowadays.

[Ace_1]

Gradius.

 

Damn right, this game is already on my number 1(actually, it's Gradius Gaiden for the PlayStation). I'm actually pissed(pardon the language) that Gradius wasn't mentioned. UGH!

Edited April 10, 2008 by Ace_1

[jboypacman]

Just got Gradius II for the PC-Engine great game i forgot how much i like these series of games also what about the Pariodus games?

[+Cafeman]

Wow. I agree with much of that list. Here's my thoughts:

 

10.) Fantasy Zone -- actually, I never played it. (NO master system).

9.) Axelay -- I find this overrated, but I didn't play it when it was new.

8.) Space Invaders -- YES. Deserves space on the list. Simplicity and challenge. HOwever, Namco's Galaga is better.

7.) Star Wars: The Arcade Game -- YES. But you had to play it back in the day, in those sit-down cabs in a crowded mall arcade to know just how awesome it was. Remember ... the force will be with you. Always.

6.) R-Type -- not a favorite of mine, but I still enjoy it. Great visuals and mood.

5.) M.U.S.H.A -- YES! This is my #1 Genesis pick shooter or not. This game is utterly fantastic. a must-play. I love vertical shmups.

4.) Lightening Force -- YES! Best 16-bit (erm, Genny/SNES) horizontal shooter.

3.) DonPachi -- I never played.

2.) River Raid -- YEEE HAW! River Raid is my #1 Atari 2600 game of all time! It still holds up just as well today. The balance of shooting down enemies whilst NOT shooting the needed fuel tanks, plus maneuving up that narrow river, is awesome. 5200 / A8 is better though. Carol Shaw you significantly affected my life with all the time I put into your game.

1.) Radiant Silvergun -- it's just darn impressive and awesome. RS haters, go away.

[A Sprite]

My thoughts...

 

10.) Fantasy Zone - Defender with targets to take out, and boss fights...plus no humans to rescue. Licks frogs, but try to look past the eye melting neon pastels - it still holds up today, and can be had on the cheap at KBtoys, in a $30 dedicated portable system.

 

9.) Axelay - Back before there were videogames, mechanical driving games used rolling plastic strips to simulate the scrolling road. The mode 7 effects on display here bring those days back to life. Half the game is a 3D special effect in the same sense of the word as the special Olympics - it gives hope to the underpowered. That said, I admit to listening to the soundtrack even while playing other shooters.

 

8.) Space Invaders - Note to makers of the shooters not making the list - the very first shooting game has a deeper strategy than blow up everyone on the screen while dodging a HR Geiger themed nightmare throwing up every skittle they ever ate.

 

Making the demon cute doesn't count as a creative decision anymore. Neither does making it a triangle.

 

Stop making excuses.

 

7.) Star Wars: The Arcade Game - The vector graphics are fine. It's the sub midi music that dates this game.

 

6.) R-Type - You will die. Often. But here's the brilliant part - the very first power-up you receive makes it safe to run head first into almost every projectile fired, completely against our natural instinct. In this game, you are often your own worst enemy...

 

Bonus trivia: The name of the game refers to the reproductive strategy of creating hundreds of young, in the hopes only a few will survive. Humans use a K-type reproductive strategy - fewer children, but more care given to each. The competition between the two types of reproduction is the theme of the original game - and now you know why there's an alien fetus for the first boss.

 

5.) M.U.S.H.A - This is a great game. Everyone tells me so. I believe them. I have no idea why it does nothing for me.

 

4.) Lightening Force - this is the game to break out when you want to show the differences between an SNES and a Genesis. Visually stunning for the time, and almost as good in level design as the game before it, Thunderforce III. If you haven't played either one, stop now, and make it up to yourself - you're worth the trouble.

 

I mean that.

 

3.) DonPachi - if I describe why this game (or it's sequel) belongs here, I will have to play it. Again. I will get nothing else done for hours.

 

2.) River Raid - Perfectly balanced, on a tightrope. Every move has consequence. There is no wasted space. It's the closest the shooter genre has to a tiny zen garden.

 

1.) Radiant Silvergun - There are no power-ups for your gun. You possess every weapon at the start. But do you know how to use them? There's a theory that says every good idea in the videogame industry will be ripped off until it becomes a standard feature. Radiant Silvergun disproves this theory, and we are all the poorer for it.

Edited April 11, 2008 by A Sprite

[atarian63]

http://retro.ign.com/articles/865/865346p1.html

 

They only rank Shoot 'Em Ups from 1998 or prior. Here is their top 10:

 

10.) Fantasy Zone

9.) Axelay

8.) Space Invaders

7.) Star Wars: The Arcade Game

6.) R-Type

5.) M.U.S.H.A

4.) Lightening Force

3.) DonPachi

2.) River Raid

1.) Radiant Silvergun

 

I wished IGN Retro did a top 20 Ign Retro's Top 10 Classic Shoot 'Em Ups list. There are a lot of great games in this genre.

 

I own or played most of the games on the list. I don't own DonPachi and Radiant Silvergun. I can't say how good the 2 games are.

 

Here are my thought the 8 game on the list I played:

• Fantasy Zone- great and fun Sms shooter.
  
• Axelay- great Snes shooter. The game is worthy in being the top 10. It is another great Konami Shoot "Em Up.
  
• Space Invaders- Fun shooter, but I like Galaga a little bit more. I see why this game got into the top 10.
  
• Star Wars: The arcade game- I played the 2600 arcade conversion of this game. Fun game. This is a top 10 worthy game.
  
• R-Type- Great, but hard game. It is hard not to put this game in the top 10.
  
• M.U.S.H.A- One of the Greatest Sega Genesis games I ever played and I own over a 100 games for the system. It belongs on the list.
  
• Lightening Force- another great game in the Thunder Force Series.
  
• River Raid- Might have been the best 2600 game I bought at a flea Market in the late 80's or the early 90's. I have a lot of memories of this game growing up. Raid Raid is a great shooter. I don't know if the game deserves its ranking. It is a top 10 game in my opinion.
  

I feel Galaga deserves to be mentioned. There are too many great shooters I played that are not in this list. Those games are Raiden, Raiden 2, Demon Attack, Blazing Lazers, Gate of Thunder, Lords of Thunder, Phoenix, Einhander, 1942, 1943, Gorf, Zaxxon, Xevious, Blaster, Life force, Gradius, Gaiares, Forgotton Worlds, Hellfire, Sagia, After Burner?, Blaster?, Gyruss? Time Pilot?, and Thunder Force 3.

Gorf,Galaxian,Galaga,Stargate(Williams),Blasteroids,Phoenix,Tempest,Robotron 2084,Smash TV(sequel),Total carnage (insane amount of stuff on the screen!)

Edited April 13, 2008 by atarian63