| GAME |
COMPANY |
YEAR |
INFORMATION |
|
1941
|
Capcom
|
1990
|
3rd
in series, lots of weapons and great graphics. I like how you
can rub the walls and spin your ship!
|
|
1942
|
Capcom
|
1984
|
The
first WW2 plane style basic shooter. Still very addictive after
all these years!
|
|
1943
|
Capcom
|
1987
|
2ND
in series, much better looking with weapon powerups and a life
guage.
|
|
19XX
|
Capcom
|
1996
|
4th
in series, more akin to Cave's output in gameplay style in later
levels, while retaining classic Capcom design, see review.
|
|
1944:
The Loop Master
|
Capcom
/ Raizing
|
2000
|
5th
in series. Hmm. Not my favourite in the series, but playable enough.
Expected a lot more after 19XX.
|
|
Acrobat
Mission
|
UPL
|
1991
|
Average
describes this fairly nondescript vertical shmup.
|
|
Aero
Blasters (PCE review) / Airbuster
|
Kaneko
|
1990
|
Good
fun side scroller with some unusual graphics and difficult sections.
Bit of a classic! Got some great MD and PCE conversions.
|
|
Aerofighters
(snes review) / Sonic Wings
|
Video
System
|
1992
|
One
of the first shooters to give you a large selection of ships to
choose from.
|
|
Aero
Fighters 2 / Sonic Wings 2
|
Video
System
|
1994
|
More
of the same…
|
|
Aerofighters
3 / Sonic Wings 3
|
Video
System
|
1995
|
More
of the same…
|
|
Airbuster
/ Aeroblasters
|
Kaneko
|
1990
|
Good
fun side scroller with some unusual graphics and difficult sections.
Bit of a classic! Got some great MD and PCE conversions.
|
|
Air
Duel
|
Irem
|
1990
|
Average
unspectacular shmup.
|
|
Air
Gallet
|
Banpresto
|
1996
|
|
|
Ajax
/ Typhoon
|
Konami
|
1987
|
Unique
shooter that alternates between overhead helicopter shooter and
behindview jetfighter divebombing shooter.
|
|
Alcon
/ Slap Fight
|
Taito
|
1986
|
Great
early shmup with loads of powerups and some great level design,
poor Megadrive version.
|
|
Alpha
Mission / Armored Scrum Object
|
SNK
|
1985
|
Destroy
ground targets to release special weapons, which can be used when
you have enough energy.
|
|
Alpha
Mission 2 / Armored Scrum Object II
|
SNK
|
1991
|
Sequel
to above.
|
|
Arbalester
|
Seta
|
1989
|
Vertical
plane shooter,
|
|
Area
88 / UN Squadron
|
Capcom
|
1989
|
Great
manga based horizontal shooter, has health bar and your plane
smokes and falls apart as damaged.
|
|
Argus
|
Jaleco
|
1986
|
Vertical
shmup where screen scrolls slightly to left and right when near
edge of screen.
|
|
Armed
Formation F
|
Nichibutsu
|
1988
|
Vertical
format, bio-organic style graphics
|
|
Armed
Police Batrider
|
Raizing
/ Eighting
|
1998
|
Decent
little 'cut - and - paste from back catalogue' shmup. See if you
spot the Allstars!
|
|
Armed
Police Unit / Gallop
|
Irem
|
1996
|
Despite
what some say, I'm 99% sure this is not part of the R-Type family.
|
|
Armored
Scrum Object / Alpha Mission
|
SNK
|
1985
|
Destroy
ground targets to release special weapons, which can be used when
you have enough energy.
|
|
Armored
Scrum Object II / Alpha Mission II
|
SNK
|
1991
|
Sequel
to above.
|
| Ashura
Blaster |
Taito
|
1990
|
Vertical
helicopter shooter, similar to Twin Cobra.
|
|
Assault
|
Namco
|
1988
|
Tank
shooter: rotating 3d graphics, unique control method. Available
on Playstation Museum Pack
|
|
Astron
Belt
|
Sega
|
1983
|
Laserdisk
based shooter, sprites over video footage.
|
|
Asuka
& Asuka
|
Taito
|
1989
|
Vertical
jet shmup.
|
|
Aurail
|
Sega
|
1990
|
Tank
shooter, free 4-way scrolling
|
|
Batsugun
(review
1)
Batsugun
(review
2)
|
Toaplan
|
1993
|
Hilariously
over-manic shmup with massive weapons, also available on Saturn
|
|
Battle
Bakraid
|
8ing
|
1999
|
Superb
shmup, see review.
|
|
Battle
Chopper / Mr.Heli
|
Irem
|
1987
|
Cute
slow paced multidirectional scrolling shooter, loads of powerups
to reveal by shooting landscape.
|
|
Battle
Garegga
|
Raizing
|
1996
|
Old
skool style super shmup, WW1 planes, realistic bullets (which
are hard to see). Saturn version.
|
|
Detana!!
Twin Bee / Bells'n'Whistles
|
Konami
|
1991
|
Sequel
to Twin Bee, great colorful vertical cartoon shmup with lots of
powerups.
|
|
Bermuda
Triangle
|
SNK
|
1987
|
Bizarre
shmup with a rotatable turret on top, when you reach end of level
you fly backwards down level again, before flying up for final
time.
|
|
Black
Heart
|
UPL
|
1991
|
|
|
Blasteroids
|
Atari
|
1987
|
Asteroids
clone with pre-rendered moon rocks as asteroid and end of level
bosses
|
|
Blast
Off
|
Namco
|
1989
|
Vertical
shmup, can change firing patterns with button, has bosconian motherships
in it!
|
|
Blazeon
|
Atlus
|
1992
|
Nice
horizontal shmup where you can capture and use enemy ships, also
SNES version.
|
|
Blazing
Star
|
Yumekobo
|
1998
|
Sequel
to Pulstar, great pre-rendered neogeo shooter, probably the best
on the system.
|
|
Blue
Hawk
|
Dooyong
|
1993
|
Vertical
futuristic jet based shmup.
|
|
Bosconian
|
Namco
|
1981
|
Basic
4 way scrolling game. Also available on Namco Museum Pack
|
|
Carrier
Airwing / US Navy
|
Capcom
|
1990
|
Sequel
to UN Squadron/Area 88, anime series scrolling shooter, tanks,
planes and stealth bombers!
|
| Change
Air Blade |
Sammy |
1999 |
Unique
one-on-one shmup |
|
Chariot,
from Three Wonders
|
Capcom
|
1991
|
3-in-1
pack, Chariot is a semi-cute horizontally scrolling game. Also
on Saturn
|
|
Chimera
Beast
|
Jaleco
|
1993
|
Underwater
horizontal shmup like
|
|
Cotton
|
Success/Sega
|
1989
|
Cute
flying witchs on broomsticks shmup.
|
|
Cotton
II
|
Success/Sega
|
1997
|
Stunning
looking sequel to the cutesy flying witch shmup, also available
for Saturn.
|
|
Cotton
Boomerang
|
Success/Sega
|
1998
|
Even
nicer looking, kinda like "Cotton II Remix"
|
|
Cybattler
|
Jaleco
|
1993
|
Coolest
Jaleco game, manga robots the shoot and slice enemies with a sword!
|
|
Cyvern
|
Kaneko
|
1998
|
Great
looking cyborg mutant dragon shmup, rock hard, see review…
|
|
Daioh
|
Athena
|
1993
|
Shmup
with special moves and the most buttons of any arcade shooter
ever (6!)
|
|
Dangerous
Seed
|
Namco
|
1989
|
Average
vertical shmup with insect-type enemies and bosses.
|
|
Dangun
Feveron
|
Cave
|
1998
|
Fantastic
disco-themed space blaster... manic, insane and even has a Time
Attack mode!
|
|
Darius
|
Taito
|
1986
|
Massive
3 screen hoizontal shooter, the original fish-blasting shmup!
Robotic seafood anyone?
|
|
Darius
II / Sagaia
|
Taito
|
1989
|
3
or 2 screen side scroller, great mech-fish bosses. Also on Megadrive,
Playstation and Saturn.
|
|
Darius
Gaiden
|
Taito
|
1994
|
Superb
single screen effects laden shmup.
|
|
Defender
|
Williams
|
1980
|
The
original maniac shmup with load of enemys, bullets, good guys
and buttons.
|
|
Desert
War
|
Jaleco
|
1995
|
|
|
Detana!!
Twin Bee / Bells'n'Whistles
|
Konami
|
1991
|
Sequel
to Twin Bee, great colorful vertical cartoon shmup with lots of
powerups.
|
|
Dimahoo
|
8ing/Raizing
|
2000
|
Great sequel to Mahou Daisakusen |
|
Dodonpachi
|
Atlus
/ Cave
|
1996
|
Followup
to Donpachi, the first "beserk" shmup that completely
filled the screen with bullets and enemys, also on Saturn.
|
|
Dodonpachi
II
|
Atlus/Cave
|
2001
|
Dissapointing
followup, not bad but not the tour-de-force DoDonPachi was.
|
|
Dodonpachi
Dai-Oujou
|
Atlas/Cave
|
2003
|
4th
in the DonPachi series, more manic over the top shmup action.
|
|
Dogyuun
|
Toaplan
|
1992
|
Brilliant
2 player vert toaplan shooter |
|
Donpachi
|
Atlus
/ Cave
|
1995
|
1995,
vertical, busy and manic shooter, also on Saturn
|
|
Dragon
Blaze
|
Psikyo
|
2000
|
Stunningly
beautiful shmup, able to jump from your dragon and fight seperatly,
superb.
|
|
Dragon
Breed
|
Irem
|
1989
|
Unusual
side scrolling game – you control a dragon rider riding an invincible
dragon, and can hop off.
|
|
Dragon
Saber
|
Namco
|
1990
|
Followup
to Dragon Spirit. Available on Namco Encore Pack for Playstation
|
|
Dragon
Spirit
|
Namco
|
1987
|
Difficult
vertically scrolling game, you control a dragon. Also on Namco
Museum Packs for Playstation
|
|
Dyger
|
Philko
|
1989
|
|
|
EDF
: Earth Defence Force
|
Jaleco
|
1991
|
Old
space game, also on the SNES afaik...
|
|
Earth
Joker
|
Visco
|
1993
|
Very
poor vertical scroller...
|
|
ECO
Fighters
|
Capcom
|
1994
|
Ecological
shmup, where you’re out to stop polluters.
|
|
Eight
Forces
|
Tecmo
|
1994
|
|
|
Equites
|
Alpha
Denshi
|
1984
|
|
|
Espial
|
Orca/Thunderbolt
|
1983
|
?
|
|
ESP
Ra.De
|
Atlus/Cave
|
1998
|
Fantastic
ESP based shmup, with heavy bullet spray and loads of wicked weapons.
|
|
Exed
Exes
|
Capcom
|
1985
|
Decent
early vert shooter
|
|
Exzisus
|
Taito
|
1987
|
|
|
Fantasy
Zone
|
Sega
|
1986
|
Funny
cute'em up action, one of the original side scrollers
|
|
Fighting
Hawk
|
Taito
|
1989
|
|
|
Final
Star Force
|
Tecmo
|
1992
|
|
|
Finalizer
- Super Transformation
|
Konami
|
1985
|
|
|
Fire
Shark / Same! Same! Same!
|
Toaplan
|
1990
|
Sequel
to Flying Shark
|
|
Fixeight
|
Toaplan
|
1992
|
Good
walking vertical shooter, followup to Out Zone.
|
|
Flying
Shark
|
Taito
|
1987
|
Hugely
difficult yet compulsively playable vertical scroller.
|
|
Forgotten
Worlds / Lost Worlds
|
Capcom
|
1988
|
A
very debatable side scrolling game, like a mix of Robotron, Asteroids,
R-Type and Contra...
|
|
Future
Spy
|
Sega
|
1994
|
Zaxxon
clone, but without the up and down element (easier!)
|
|
Galaga
|
Namco
|
1981
|
Followup
to Galaxian, with a few extra touchs, could link 2 of your ships
to double firepower
|
|
Galaxian
|
Namco
|
1979
|
The
first game were the baddies came down the screen at you.
|
|
Gallop
/ Armed Police Unit
|
Irem
|
1996
|
Despite
what some say, I'm 99% sure this is not part of the R-Type family.
|
|
Galmedes
|
Visco
|
1992
|
|
|
Game
Paradise: Master Of Shooting
|
Jaleco
|
1995
|
|
|
Gaplus
|
Namco
|
1984
|
Followup
to Galaga
|
|
G-Darius
|
Taito
|
1997
|
Darius
moves into 3D, some amazing bosses, Also on Playstation.
|
|
Gekirindan
|
Taito
|
1995
|
A
staple shooter, time travel based much like Radiant Silvergun.
Also on the Saturn...
|
|
Gemini
Wing
|
Tecmo
|
1987
|
Semi-cute
vertical. Two player mode is excellent.
|
| Ghost
Pilots |
SNK |
|
Average
war shmup. Drab and basic. |
|
Giga
Wing
|
Takumi
/ Capcom
|
1998
|
Maniac
shmup with unavoidable bullets, you have to use the "reflect"
power which it introduced to repel them.
|
|
Giga
Wing 2
|
Takumi
/ Capcom
|
2001
|
Superb
update to the series, looks and plays fantastically.
|
| Gigandes
|
East
Technology
|
1989
|
Unusual
and highly addictive weapon system makes this horizontally scrolling
shmup with crap graphics lots of fun |
|
Gokujyou
Parodius! |
Konami
|
1994
|
2nd
in the series, fantastic and insane shooter, superb soundtrack.
|
|
Gorf
|
Midway
|
1981
|
One
of the originals, comprised of several mini games and one of the
first games with speech.
|
|
Gradius
/ Nemesis
|
Konami
|
1985
|
The
grandfather of the scrolling shooter, introduced powerups and
the "option". A real classic. Also on PC-Engine, good
C64 version, perfect X-68000 conversion.
|
|
Gradius
II / Vulcan Venture
|
Konami
|
1988
|
Improved
graphics and damn hard gameplay. On Playstation, Saturn and PCengine
CD and NES.
|
|
Gradius
III
|
Konami
|
1989
|
Rock
hard great looking shooter. released in the home on SNES, and
now on the PS2
|
|
Gradius
IV
|
Konami
|
1998
|
Superb
looking 2D shooter on 3D hardware. Also available in the Gradius
3&4 pack for the Playstation 2
|
|
Gratia
- Second Earth
|
Jaleco
|
1996
|
|
|
Gridseeker:
Project Stormhammer
|
Taito
|
1992
|
Superb
looking and sounding shooter, great powerup system in timing your
enemys attacks with yours.
|
|
Grindstormer
/ V-Five
|
Toaplan
|
1993
|
|
|
Gulf
Storm
|
Dooyong
|
1991
|
|
|
Gulf
War II
|
Comad
|
1991
|
|
|
Gunbird
|
Psikyo
|
1995
|
Vertically
scrolling, semi-cute manga style, also on Playstation.
|
|
Gunbird
2
|
Psikyo
|
1998
|
Superb
sequel, outdoes the original in every way, manic, cute and amusing
shmup.
|
|
Gun
Frontier
|
Taito
|
1990
|
"The
Revolver" shmup, all ships look like they’re made of guns,
great playing very stylised game, unsure why!
|
|
Gunlock
/ Rayforce
|
Taito
|
1993
|
Great
space shooter featuring lock-on Also on Saturn as Layer Section
and Galactic Attack.
|
|
Gunnail
|
NMK/Tecmo
|
1992
|
Average
vertical shooter.
|
|
Guwange
|
Atlus
/ Cave
|
1999
|
Fantastic
manic shmup set in a demon filled Feudal Japan. Prepare for some
bizarre demon hunting!
|
|
Gyrodine
|
Taito
|
1985
|
Very,
very poor heli shmup. Avoid like the plague!
|
|
Gyruss
|
Konami
|
1983
|
Great
old school shmup, superb music for the time.
|
|
Halleys
Comet
|
Taito
|
1986
|
Ahead
of its time old shool shmup with great powerup system and some
great effects.
|
|
Heavy
Unit
|
Kaneko
|
1988
|
Side
scrolling space shmup, also on PC-Engine and Megadrive.
|
|
Hellfire
|
Toaplan
|
1989
|
Average
horizontal scroller, with weird geometric weapon system.
|
|
Hishou
Same
|
Toaplan
|
1987
|
Alternate
name for Flying Shark.
|
|
HotDog
Storm
|
Marble
|
1996
|
Very
average.
|
|
Hyper
Duel
|
Technosoft
|
1996
|
Also
out on Saturn, very difficult to find! Macross inspired ship mechanics
with the now famous Thunderforce gameplay...
|
|
Ikaruga
(DC review)
|
Treasure
|
2000
|
|
|
Image
Fight
|
Irem
|
1991
|
Vertical
scroller, hugely difficult. On PC-Engine and Playstation as part
of X-Multiply Pack.
|
|
In
The Hunt
|
Irem
|
1995
|
Highly
detailed side scroller, pilot a submarine with torpedo and anti-air
weapons. Also on Playstation and Saturn.
|
|
Insector
X
|
Taito
|
1988
|
Cutesy
cartoon horizontal shooter where you play an insect exterminator.
|
|
Juno
First
|
Konami
|
1983
|
Maniac
old school shooter, worth a play.
|
| Ketsui |
Cave
/ AMI |
|
Manic
Bullet Joy! |
|
Kingdom
Grandprix / Shippu Mahou Daisakusen
|
Raizing
/ Eighting
|
1994
|
Nice
little racing - shmup crossbreed... do you blast or do you race?
:)
|
|
Kyukyoku
Tiger / Twin Cobra
|
Taito
|
1987
|
Helicopter
shmup, much like Raiden...
|
|
Kyukyoku
Tiger 2 / Twin Cobra 2
|
Taito
|
1995
|
Sequel,
better graphics and more balanced. Also available for Saturn
|
|
Land,
sea, air squad
|
Taito
|
1986
|
|
|
The
Last Day
|
Dooyong
|
1990
|
|
|
Last
Duel
|
Capcom
|
1988
|
Futuristic
shmup where your ship alternates between a car and a spaceship.
|
| Last
Resort |
SNK |
|
R-Typeish
shmup featuring a long ship and a weapon orb. |
|
Legendary
Wings
|
Capcom
|
1988
|
Levels
alternates between overhead shooter and side scrolling platformer.
|
|
Lethal
Thunder
|
Irem
|
1991
|
Irem
vertical scroller, weapons get more powerful the faster you fire.
Impressive!
|
|
Life
Force / Salamander
|
Konami
|
1986
|
Sister
series to Gradius, organic themed with vertical and side scrolling
levels
|
|
Lightning
Fighters / Trigon
|
Konami
|
1990
|
Vertical
shmup, massive lasers of doom and cool dragon superweapon, US
version missing stuff.
|
|
Lost
Worlds / Forgotten Worlds
|
Capcom
|
1988
|
A
very debatable side scrolling game, like a mix of Robotron, Asteroids,
R-Type and Contra...
|
|
Macross
II
|
Banpresto
|
1993
|
Horizontal
shooter
|
|
Macross
Plus
|
Banpresto
|
1996
|
|
|
Mahou
Daisakusen
|
Raizing/Able
|
1993
|
Nice
little fantasy shmup, shades of a more macabre Cotton... now available
on the X68000 (woah!)
|
|
Mars
Matrix [REV 1]
Mars Matrix [REV 2]
|
Capcom
/ Takumi
|
2000
|
Average
looking but great fun pre-rendered manic shmup with loads of bullets
and things to collect.
|
|
Master
of Weapon
|
Taito
|
1989
|
|
|
Mazinger
Z
|
Banpresto
|
1994
|
|
|
Megablast
|
Taito
|
1989
|
|
|
Meta
Fox
|
Seta
|
1989
|
|
|
Metal
Black
|
Taito
|
1991
|
Good
shooter with good powerup system and superb bosses. Also on Saturn.
|
|
Metal
Hawk
|
Namco
|
1988
|
Fantastic
playing, great looking, rotating above view zooming scaling helicoptor
shooter with custom cabinet.
|
|
Mission
660
|
Taito
|
1986
|
|
|
Mr.
Heli / Battle Chopper
|
Irem
|
1987
|
Cute
slow paced multidirectional scrolling shooter, loads of powerups
to reveal by shooting landscape.
|
|
Mister
Viking
|
Sega
|
1984
|
Overhead
runabout style shmup from 1984, fun graphics, basic game though...
|
|
Moon
Cresta
|
Nichibutsu
|
1980
|
A
true classic! non scrolling but with modern shooter elements:
powerups, different waves.
|
|
Mystic
Riders
|
Irem
|
1992
|
Fantastic
Cotton/Magical Chase style cute-em-up!
|
|
Nebulas
Ray
|
Namco
|
1994
|
Very
rare coin-op, vertical scroller, pre-rendered graphics.
|
|
Nemesis
/ Gradius
|
Konami
|
1985
|
The
grandfather of the scrolling shooter, introduced powerups and
the "option". A real classic. Also on PC-Engine, good
C64 version, perfect X-68000 conversion.
|
|
The
Next Space
|
SNK
|
1989
|
|
|
Nostradamus
|
Face
|
1993
|
Lovely
vert shmup but extremely hard in later levels. So that's
how crop circles are made!
|
|
Omega
Fighter
|
UPL
|
1989
|
Very
old vert scroller, like a continuous "destroy the giant battleship"
shmup. Very nice!
|
|
Omega
Fighter Special
|
UPL
|
1989
|
Sequel,
minor updates.
|
|
Ordyne
|
Namco
|
1988
|
Also
on Playstation Namco Museum pack and PC-Engine
|
|
Orius
/ Xexex
|
Konami
|
1991
|
Fantastic
"ahead of its time" shmup... all time classic...
|
|
Out
Zone
|
Toaplan
|
1990
|
Vertical
walking shmup.
|
|
P-47
The Phantom Fighter
|
Jaleco
|
1988
|
Great
WW2 horizontal shooter with bombs.
|
|
P-47
Aces
|
Jaleco
|
1995
|
Sequel
to P47, better graphics, gameplay not quite as good.
|
|
Parodius
Da! |
Konami
|
1990
|
The
original cute'em-up/parody shmup, takes swipes at most older Konami
shooters, great game as well.
|
|
Phelios
|
Namco
|
1988
|
Similar
to Dragon Spirit, you’re a god riding pegasus and have a big sword,
no, really.
|
|
Phoenix
|
Amstar
|
1980
|
Old
school shooter with different style levels, including end of level
mothership.
|
|
Plus
Alpha
|
Jaleco
|
1989
|
|
|
Pollux
|
Dooyong
|
1991
|
|
|
Polystars
|
Konami
|
1997
|
A
bit like Twin Bee crossed with Raystorm
|
|
Progear
|
Cave/Capcom
|
2001
|
Amazingly
fun horizontally scrolling manic shooter
|
|
Prehistoric
Isle in 1930
|
SNK
|
1989
|
Side
scrolling biplanes vs dinosaurs shmup.
|
|
Prehistoric
Isle 2
|
Yumekobo
|
2000
|
Nice
looking but very average sequel.
|
|
Pulstar
|
Aicom
|
1995
|
Above
average pre-rendered neogeo shooter, similar to R-Type in style.
|
|
R-Shark
|
Dooyong
|
1994
|
Unspecacular
derivitive Korean shooter, hard to tell from anything else.
|
|
R-Type
|
Irem
|
1987
|
Probably
the finest designed shooter in the world! Fabulous PC-Engine version,
great Amiga conversion.
|
|
R-Type
II
|
Irem
|
1989
|
Slightly
inferior followup. Available on Playstation R-Types Pack with
the first game and for the Amiga, also on the SNES as Super R-Type...
|
|
R-Type
Leo
|
Irem
|
1992
|
The
latest R-Type arcade game with impressive graphics and subtly
hidden classic R-Type gameplay.
|
| Radiant
Silvergun |
Treasure |
|
The
most AWESOME vert scroller ever created. A work of genius, and a
must have! |
|
Raiden
|
Seibu
Kaihatsu
|
1990
|
One
of the all time classics, great gameplay. Home versions on everything.
|
|
Raiden
II
|
Seibu
Kaihatsu
|
1993
|
Improved
on original, includes many huge lasers of doom. On PSX as part
of Raiden Project Pack.
|
|
Raiden
DX
|
Seibu
Kaihatsu
|
1994
|
Remix
of Raiden II.
|
|
Raiden
Fighters
|
Seibu
Kaihatsu
|
1996
|
1st
of the next gen Raidens on new hardware, great looking and great
gameplay.
|
|
Raiden
Fighters 2
|
Seibu
Kaihatsu
|
1997
|
More
of the same, bigger and better though.
|
|
Raiden
Fighters Jet
|
Seibu
Kaihatsu
|
1998
|
Last
in series of awesome shooters featuring more selectable planes
than any other shooter ever.
|
|
Raiga
- Strato Fighter
|
Tecmo
|
1991
|
Good
fun side scrolling shmup in which you can turn backwards.
|
|
Rapid
Hero
|
Media
Trading Corp.
|
1994
|
|
|
Rayforce
(review 1)
Rayforce (review
2)
|
Taito
|
1993
|
Great
space shooter featuring lock-on Also on Saturn as Layer Section
and Galactic Attack.
|
|
Raystorm
|
Taito
|
1996
|
3D
sequel with good end of level bosses. Also on Saturn and Playstation
as Layer Section 2.
|
|
RayCrisis
|
Taito
|
1998
|
Latest
and one of the best vertical scrollers going. Fantastic gameplay
mechanics, manic gameplay and massive bosses...
|
|
Red
Clash
|
Tehkan
|
1982
|
|
|
Regulus
|
Sega
|
1983
|
Average
vertical shooter.
|
|
Rezon
|
Alhummer
|
1991
|
Excellent
R-Type clone, very difficult!
|
|
Robotron
2084
|
Williams
|
1982
|
single-screen
manic shooter with dual controls. Also available for Playstation
and N64
|
|
Ryu
Jin
|
Taito
|
1993
|
|
|
Sagaia
/ Darius II
|
Taito
|
1989
|
3
or 2 screen side scroller, great mech-fish bosses. Also on Megadrive,
Playstation and Saturn.
|
|
Salamander
/ Life Force
|
Konami
|
1986
|
Sister
series to Gradius, organic themed with vertical and side scrolling
levels
|
|
Salamander
2
|
Konami
|
1996
|
10
years later we get a followup, fantastic graphics but slightly
poorer gameplay. Also on Saturn.
|
|
Saint
Dragon
|
Jaleco
|
1989
|
Flying
dragon shmup, good music, Very good Amiga port
|
|
Same!
Same! Same! / Fire Shark
|
Toaplan
|
1990
|
Sequel
to Flying Shark
|
|
Sand
Scorpion
|
Face
|
1992
|
Vertical
shooter, nice weapons but not a lot else.
|
|
Saturn
|
Jaleco
|
1983
|
Old
shmup, defend Saturn, horrible colours.
|
|
Scramble
|
Konami
|
1981
|
The
original Konami side scrolling shmup, Gradius’s daddy.
|
|
Scramble
Formation / Tokio
|
Taito
|
1986
|
Vertical
scrolling, one of Malc's old favourites!
|
|
Scramble
Spirits
|
Sega
|
1988
|
Great
vertical shmup with super graphics and fancy zooming effects.
|
|
Section
Z
|
Capcom
|
1988
|
Early
multiscrolling shooter like Sidearms, one of the first shmups
you could turn backwards in as well.
|
|
Sengeki
Striker
|
Kaneko
/ Warashi
|
1997
|
Old
fashioned vertical shmup with modern graphics.
|
|
Sengoku
Ace, also Samurai Aces
|
Psikyo
|
1993
|
Feudal
Japan style vertscroller, also on Saturn.
|
|
Sengoku
Ace 2, also Sengoku Blade
|
Psikyo
|
1996
|
Followup
to above, unsurprisingly, also on Saturn.
|
|
Sen
Jin - Guardian Storm
|
Afega
|
1998
|
|
|
Sexy
Parodius
|
Konami
|
1996
|
3rd
in the mad Parodius series. Lots of semi naked bunny girls straddling
missiles (heh heh)
|
|
Shippu
Mahou Daisakusen / Kingdom Grandprix
|
Raizing
/ Eighting
|
1994
|
Nice
little racing - shmup crossbreed... do you blast or do you race?!
|
|
Side
Arms
|
Capcom
|
1986
|
multi-scrolling
shooter, unusual graphics and hard gameplay.
|
|
Silkworm
|
Tecmo
|
1988
|
Play
as a jeep or helicopter, excellent Amiga and C64 versions.
|
|
Sinistar
|
Williams
|
1982
|
Analog
controller shooter, fast paced but thinking mans shmup, also rock
hard.
|
|
Skull
Fang
|
Data
East
|
1996
|
Average
vertical scroller, good 'chase' theme, fantastic soundtrack. Also
for Saturn
|
|
Sky
Adventure
|
Alpha
Denshi
|
1989
|
|
|
Sky
Alert
|
Metro
|
1993
|
|
|
Sky
Shark
|
Toaplan
|
1987
|
Alternate
name for Flying Shark.
|
|
Sky
Soldiers
|
SNK
|
1987
|
Rather
bizarre time travelling shooter, and very busy too.
|
|
Slap
Fight / Alcon
|
Taito
|
1986
|
Great
early shmup with loads of powerups and some great level design,
poor Megadrive version.
|
|
Smash
TV
|
Williams
|
1990
|
Sequel
to Robotron in all but name, multidirectional runabout 2 player
gameshow based shmup. Also for SNES
|
|
Sol
Divide
|
Psikyo
|
1997
|
Beautiful
graphics, average gameplay.
|
|
Sonic
Wings / Aerofighters
|
Video
System
|
1992
|
One
of the first shooters to give you a large selection of ships to
choose from.
|
|
Sonic
Wings 2 / Aerofighters 2
|
Video
System
|
1994
|
More
of the same…
|
|
Sonic
Wings 3 / Aerofighters 3
|
Video
System
|
1995
|
More
of the same…
|
|
Space
Bomber
|
Psikyo
|
1998
|
Undoubtedly
the strangest shmup ever, take over enemies to be your comrades.
|
|
Space
Invaders
|
Midway
|
1978
|
The
original shmup!
|
|
Space
Pilot / Time Pilot
|
Konami
|
1982
|
Old
skool multidirection shooter going through the different air war
ages from WW1 to futuristic.
|
|
Stagger
I
|
Afega
|
1998
|
|
|
Star
Force
|
Tehkan
|
1984
|
Early
vertical scroller, fun but basic
|
|
Star
Jacker
|
Sega
|
1983
|
Amusingly
primitive vertical scroller
|
|
Stinger
|
Seibu
Denshi
|
1983
|
Adrenaline
side scroller. Recommended if you like old fast games...
|
|
Storm
Blade
|
Visco
|
1996
|
Little
known straightforward vert blaster thats stupidly easy on normal.
Lots of fun on hard setting though! |
|
Strahl
|
UPL
Ltd.
|
1992
|
Rather
pants Area 88 ripoff...
|
|
Strike
Force
|
Williams
|
1991
|
Remake
of defender, massive amount of weapons and lots of comedy moments.
|
|
Strike
Gunner S.T.G.
|
Athena/Tecmo
|
1991
|
|
|
Strikers
1945
|
Psikyo
|
1995
|
Superb
shmup set in alternate reality WW2 with mecha bosses. also on
Saturn.
|
|
Strikers
1945 II
|
Psikyo
|
1997
|
Superb
update to an already great game, bigger, better and more beautiful.
also on Saturn.
|
|
Strikers
1945 III |
Psikyo
|
1999
|
Strikers
brought into the 90’s era with modern jetfighters, still OTT mecha
bosses tho’
|
|
Strikers
1945 Plus
|
Psikyo
|
1995
|
Terrible
version squeezed onto the Neogeo, vertical on horizontal screen
and horrid slowdown, avoid. [malc: to whoever wrote this - I have
to disagree - I really like this version lots on cart. Mame does
destroy it badly though.]
|
|
Strikers
1999 |
Psikyo
|
1999
|
Alternate
name for Strikers 1945 III
|
|
Super
Space Fortress Macross
|
Banpresto
|
1992
|
Good
vertical shooter based on the famous transforming anime
|
|
Super
Space Invaders '91
|
Taito
|
1990
|
Updated
version of the original, with new graphics, new attack patterns
and new weapons!
|
|
Super
Xevious
|
Namco
|
1984
|
Harder
version of Xevious with more and different enemys.
|
|
Syvalion
|
Taito
|
1988
|
A
very hard one where you pilot a dragon around a maze – timed and
very hard to play...
|
| Tac-Scan |
Sega |
1983 |
Sexy
fast and thrilling vector based shmup |
|
Tatsujin
/ Truxton
|
Toaplan
|
1988
|
Flying
Shark in space, hard and compulsive. Good Megadrive and PCE conversion
|
|
Tatsujin
2 / Truxton 2 (marty review)
|
Toaplan
|
1992
|
Fabulous
vertical scroller, arcade and Marty console releases only (gah!)
|
|
Tempest
|
Atari
|
1980
|
Superb
vector fixed-screen shooter, classic frantic into the screen gameplay.
|
|
Terra
Cresta
|
Nichibutsu
|
1985
|
Great
early vertical scroller with good powerups that attach to your
ship.
|
|
Terra
Force
|
Nichibutsu
|
1987
|
Poor
sequel, very average.
|
|
Thundercross
|
Konami
|
1988
|
Superb
sister shmup to Gradius, US version is rubbish as Japanese and
US versions differ in powerups and options. Great music.
|
|
Thunder
Cross 2
|
Konami
|
1991
|
Sequel,
just as good as 1, great shmup, great music.
|
|
Thunder
Dragon
|
NMK/Tecmo
|
1991
|
|
|
Thunder
Dragon 2
|
NMK/Tecmo
|
1993
|
|
|
Thunderforce
AC
|
Technosoft
|
1990
|
1990,
also SNES conversion (Thunder Spirits), and on Saturn pack, the
only Thunderforce in the arcades
|
|
Tiger
Heli
|
Taito
|
1985
|
1985.
Old school shooter, with smart bombs that visibly dissapear from
ship when used.
|
|
Time
Pilot / Space Pilot
|
Konami
|
1982
|
Old
skool multidirection shooter going through the different air war
ages from WW1 to futuristic.
|
|
Time
Pilot '84
|
Konami
|
1984
|
Sequel,
not as good as original.
|
|
Tokio
/ Scramble Formation
|
Taito
|
1986
|
Vertical
scrolling, one of Malc's old favourites!
|
|
Trigon
/ Lightning Fighters
|
Konami
|
1990
|
Vertical
shmup, massive lasers of doom and cool dragon superweapon.
|
|
Truxton
/ Tatsujin
|
Toaplan
|
1988
|
Flying
Shark in space, hard and compulsive. Good Megadrive and PCE conversion
|
|
Truxton
2 / Tatsujin 2
|
Toaplan
|
1992
|
Fabulous
vertical scroller, arcade and Marty console releases only (gah!)
|
|
Turbo
Force
|
Video
System
|
1991
|
Vertical
shooter in a car, similar to Aero Fighters.
|
|
Twin
Bee
|
Konami
|
1985
|
One
of the first cute shooters in the arcade. Available for the X68000
and PSX
|
|
Twin
Bee Yahoo!
|
Konami
|
1995
|
Even
better looking colorful cartoon vertical shmup, also released
on Playstation with the original.
|
|
Twin
Cobra / Kyukyoku Tiger
|
Taito
|
1987
|
Helicopter
shmup, much like Raiden...
|
|
Twin
Cobra 2 / Kyukyoku Tiger 2
|
Taito
|
1995
|
Sequel,
better graphics and more balanced. Also available for Saturn.
|
|
Twin
Eagle
|
Seta
|
1989
|
A
rather boring helicopter shmup, but at least it has a 2-players-at-once
mode - tries to beat the world record for vertical scrolling speed
|
|
Twin
Eagle 2
|
Seta
|
1994
|
Improves
on the original in every way, looks and plays superb, not emulated
or converted.
|
|
Twinkle
Star Sprites
|
ADK
|
|
Also available for the Dreamcast
|
|
Typhoon
/ Ajax
|
Konami
|
1987
|
Unique
shooter that alternates between overhead helicopter shooter and
behindview jetfighter divebombing shooter.
|
|
UFO
Robo Dangar
|
Nichibutsu
|
1986
|
Malc's
all time favourite arcade shooter!!
|
|
UN
Defense Force: Earth Joker
|
Visco
|
1993
|
|
|
UN
Squadron / Area 88
|
Capcom
|
1989
|
Great
manga based horizontal shooter, has health bar and your plane
smokes and falls apart as damaged.
|
|
US
AAF Mustang
|
UPL
|
1990
|
Cool
WWII pacific shooter.
|
|
US
Navy / Carrier Airwing
|
Capcom
|
1990
|
Sequel
to UN Squadron/Area 88, anime series scrolling shooter, tanks,
planes and stealth bombers!
|
|
Valtric
|
Jaleco
|
1986
|
|
|
Vapor
Trail
|
Data
East
|
1989
|
Arguably
Data Easts first good shooter, good soundtrack. Also available
for the Megadrive.
|
|
Varth
|
Capcom
|
1992
|
Excellent
vertical shooter by Capcom.
|
| Vasara |
Visco |
2000 |
Great
Feudal Japan with mechs style manic shmup |
| Vasara
2 |
Visco |
|
As
above :) |
|
Vastar
|
Sesame
Japan
|
1983
|
|
|
V-Five
/ Grindstormer
|
Toaplan
|
1993
|
Same
game, two different weapon systems. I prefer the weapon bar of V-Five,
more complex and fulfilling to play. |
|
Victory
Road
|
SNK
|
1986
|
Ikari
warriors in space.
|
|
Vimana
|
Toaplan
|
1991
|
|
|
Viper
Phase I
|
Seibu
Kaihatsu
|
1995
|
Raiden
in space!
|
|
Viper
Phase I: New Version
|
Seibu
Kaihatsu
|
1995
|
Bugfixed/tweaked
version.
|
|
Vulcan
Venture / Gradius II
|
Konami
|
1988
|
With
improved graphics and damn hard gameplay. On Playstation, Saturn
and PCengine CD and NES.
|
|
Vulgus
|
Capcom
|
1984
|
|
|
War
of Aero
|
Yeng-Chan
|
1993
|
|
|
Wonder
Planet
|
Data
East
|
1987
|
|
|
Xevious
|
Namco
|
1983
|
One
of the first shooters to scroll!
|
|
Xevious
3D/G
|
Namco
|
1996
|
3D
update of the original, available on a Playstation compilation
pack
|
|
Xexex
/ Orius
|
Konami
|
1991
|
A
fantastic sidescroller, one of the best. Never released on any
other format unfortunately...
|
|
X-Multiply
|
Irem
|
1989
|
Released
after R-Type, not as classy and decidedly average. Also on Playstation
as a pack with Image Fight
|
|
XII
Stag
|
Triangle
Service
|
2003
|
Modern
military style shmup,
|
|
XX
Mission
|
U.A.
Game
|
1987
|
Very
average vertical shooter.
|
|
Zaxxon
|
Sega
|
1982
|
Incredibly
hard shmup with isometric perspective, could go up and down as
well as left and right.
|
|
Zero
Wing
|
Toaplan
|
1989
|
Average
side scroller that plagiarises lots of others, arcade version
doesn’t have "All Your Base" either.
|
|
Zing
Zing Zip
|
Allumer/Tecmo
|
1992
|
|
