The Vertically-Scrolling Shooter Thread

[dolson]

Probably my favorite genre above all else, is the vertically-scrolling shooter. I'm not sure why it is so appealing, but I just like it, even if I'm not that great at them.

My favorite games in the genre are Blazing Lazers (TG-16) and Ikaruga (DC, GC, and XBLA).

Some others that I have enjoyed are all the Star Soldier games available on the WiiWare/Virtual Console service, as well as Iridion II for the GBA.

What VSS games do you guys like?

Any recommendations for me? The platforms I own are: PS3, PSP, PS2, PS1, Wii, GameCube, GBA, TG-16, and NES.

I don't like most horizontal-scrolling shooters, for some reason. And I also can't stand the 194X games and similar from Capcom.

[weotch]

Einhander, PS1! Played the shit out of it.

[weotch]

Wait that wasn't strictly vertical I guess.

Still great :)

[tokenuser]

I don't like most horizontal-scrolling shooters, for some reason. And I also can't stand the 194X games and similar from Capcom.Now I am sad. I loved that genre of game at the video arcade.

I guess Spyhunter is out of the question too :) (flash version (http://www.2flashgames.com/f/f-17.htm) ... maybe ... if it ever loads ...)

[talkingorange]

I really dug 1942 back in the day. Not sure what I'd get out of it now.

Ikaruga is JAWSOME. Fucking hard, though. I actually haven't played a VSS (nice acronym) in forever... I'm wondering what all is out there. I know there's a giant indie scene around shooters, including an annual competition. Worth looking into if you need that itch scratched :)

Oh, and by competition I mean for developing a shooter, not just score attacks or some such as players.

[dolson]

Now I am sad. I loved that genre of game at the video arcade.

I guess Spyhunter is out of the question too :) (flash version (http://www.2flashgames.com/f/f-17.htm) ... maybe ... if it ever loads ...)

There are a few exceptions. Notably, Astro Tripper. I love that game. It's not like most other HSS games... And I don't mind Soldner-X. But I can't stand R-Type and pretty much every other HSS I've played.

I really dug 1942 back in the day. Not sure what I'd get out of it now.

Ikaruga is JAWSOME. Fucking hard, though. I actually haven't played a VSS (nice acronym) in forever... I'm wondering what all is out there. I know there's a giant indie scene around shooters, including an annual competition. Worth looking into if you need that itch scratched :)

Oh, and by competition I mean for developing a shooter, not just score attacks or some such as players.

I'd suggest Blazing Lazers for the Virtual Console, as well as Star Soldier R for WiiWare, if you want a couple cheap buys that are some of the best (IMHO).

I've always wanted to code my own VSS, but I've never got around to doing it. I never finish the games that I start [coding]. The closest I got would be Battle Pong, which someone ported to Xbox. Basically, it was just Pong, because I never finished it. It was supposed to have bullets and freeze bullets, and health bars.... Maybe I'll finish it some day. Probably not.

[guagloves]

Blazing Lazers is great. I really like Ikaruga and Triggerheart Exelica.

[samureye]

1942 here. Raiden may have been best though.

[chelidagreat]

Try DoDonPachi. That's fun.

Oh and no Gradius love? Loved Gradius as a HSS, not so much for any others. (Tried DeathSmiles and didn't really like it)

[dolson]

1942 here. Raiden may have been best though.

I have Raiden III for PS2, I liked what I played of it so far, but the ship does move a little slow. Not as bad as Joint Strike or other 194x games, though. I like it, so far.

[sikslayer]

M.U.S.H.A.

I'm a whore for that game.

[dolson]

M.U.S.H.A.

I'm a whore for that game.

Thanks. I actually just saw it listed in Nintendo Power - hadn't heard of it before that (I hated SEGA when I was a kid... dumb kids).

Will check it out.