Shoot Em Up
Here we have all the games in the Shoot Em Up Section.
PSP
Shoot Em Up
Konami declares its unrelenting love for gamers from the old school with this bumper compilation responsible for many a blistered thumb. Includes five games on the wee UMD are the organic looking Salamander parts one and two, plus Life Force, Xexex and Gradius II. Konami have enabled the games to fully utilise the PSP’s screen, but they can also be played in their original dimensions for the PSP purists. Also includes a gallery to savour memories of old. The appropriately daunting front cover remains with the Salamander boss – a classic retro image. Yet its Xexex that is the surprise package here with its R Type style detachable pod making for exhilarating gameplay. Sometimes its best not to go back, but this time its good to be back. And Xexex absolutely insists you go back.
XBOX 360
Shoot Em Up
Unusual twist on the shooter genre with G Rev putting a isometric slant on proceedings as two players (or the CPU plus one player) battle it out amongst some huge, spiraling bosses trying to deflect shots onto opponents. Occasion power ups lead to a vast transformation of your ship to unleash the mother of all shooter assaults on a suitably dwarfed opponent. Being Naomi based would have made for a fine DC conversion, as such the 360 takes more DC refugees under its all encompassing wing.
XBOX 360
Shoot Em Up
Unusual twist on the shooter genre with G Rev putting a isometric slant on proceedings as two players (or the CPU plus one player) battle it out amongst some huge, spiralling bosses trying to deflect shots onto opponents. Occasion power ups lead to a vast transformation of your ship to unleash the mother of all shooter assaults on a suitably dwarfed opponent. Being Naomi based would have made for a fine DC conversion, as such the 360 takes more DC refugees under its all encompassing wing.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
The Switch once again steps up as the bastion of all shooters of yesteryear. Alfa System’s very high production values shine through as you once again take to the skies in super human form to battle the Shikigami Castle which is hovering menacingly above Tokyo. Adrenalin fuelled shmup fiends will relish the multiplier opportunities pushing reflexes and retinas to the extreme levels of endurance.
PS2
Shoot Em Up
Competent conversion of the until now Dreamcast exclusive that keeps its arcade roots in the high adrenalin, verticle on screen action. Whilst still lacking the wow factor in terms of visual impact, gameplay has clearly been made the all important goal of the developers for which praise is deserved. Besides you’re not given much chance to admire the scenery as you need your eyes to work independently to avoid the on screen onslaught. Also includes five mini bonus games not found on the DC where you must shoot the right balloons for example with more precision shooting required as well as evasive skills. A sort of training for the main event with high scoring being the goal.
Mega CD
Shoot Em Up
Giddy, on the rails shooting action which works well and looks very impressive on the Mega CD. Unrelenting action as your ship skims the surface of far away planets. Not for those who suffer from motion sickness. Starfox for the Sega CD.
PS2
Shoot Em Up
High production values with fine attention to detail in the landscapes all interlaced with top draw GCI cut scenes adds up to a superlative sapping experience. A strategical element is added to the frantic, frenetic shooter action in that wing weapons must be selected in accordance with the level awaiting. Half way through the level the mother ship will drop in though for a well needed health boost and a opportunity to reconfigure for the intelligent bosses that vary their assaults. As is the way with modern shooters, dicing with death is actively encouraged as the multiplier spirals out of control by shooting the ships when they are really too close for comfort.
Famicom Cart
Shoot Em Up
Highly impressive dog fight game which convinces of depth very well as you lead your squadron into the screen. The cloud formation and perspective combine very cleverly and give a real sense of motion. A beady eye must also be kept on the sea in order to drop a skimming bomb into enemy vessels to give them a few problems to deal with rather than taking pop shots at your fighter plane.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
With the series having started as Moon Cresta, followed by Terra Cresta, we now have Sol Cresta and the outer space galaxy setting looks superb as a background to the frantic on screen blasting action. Vertically scrolling and making fine use of modern hardware to flip around some serious hardware that our vessel must take down. Great to see so many fine shooters being released for all to savour.
PS4
Shoot Em Up
With the series having started as Moon Cresta, followed by Terra Cresta, we now have Sol Cresta and the outer space galaxy setting looks superb as a background to the frantic on screen blasting action. Vertically scrolling and making fine use of modern hardware to flip around some serious hardware that our vessel must take down. Great to see so many fine shooters being released for all to savour.
🥇Game of the Week
Brilliant Mega Drive
Shoot Em Up
Going back to the halcyon era of the crack MD developer Wolf Team and re-releasing this 1992 space-based, side scrolling shoot em up. Genki thought we had mis-spelled its Mega CD sister title Sol Feace all these years, but Sol Deace only made it to North America on cart form apparently. The chip tunes alone are something to behold and the waves of enemy swarms judged perfectly by the developers before the boss rush.
NEO GEO CD
Shoot Em Up
Vertically scrolling shmup with great characterisation to spice up the on screen onslaught. Impressively imaginative interactive backgrounds also add much to the intrigue. The series is known as Aero Fighters in the West.
Brilliant Switch
Shoot Em Up
The legendary 16 and 32Bit shoot em up Sonic Wings gets rebooted for a revival flight in this updated retro reunion with the cityscapes looking superbly rotoscoped. The plane theme is done too perfection with a variety of planes and pilots to add to the explosion excitement, all looking very militaristic in TATE mode.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
The legendary 16 and 32Bit shoot em up Sonic Wings gets rebooted for a revival flight in this updated retro reunion with the cityscapes looking superbly rotoscoped. The plane theme is done too perfection with a variety of planes and pilots to add to the explosion excitement, all looking very militaristic in TATE mode.
Sega Saturn
Shoot Em Up
Vertically scrolling shmup with smashing characterisation to spice up the on screen onslaught. Twelve colourful characters in all to choose from in this very special package.
Sega Saturn
Shoot Em Up
Up there with the best of Saturn blast fests, which is no mean feat. Unique lock on system allows you to unleash untold destruction. Massive bosses. Clever sprite scaling makes for a great looking Tokyo to fly over as enemies scale in and out of range. Lovely attention to detail as shrapnel plummets to earth.
PC Engine HU Card
Shoot Em Up
Genki doesn’t remember any shortage of 100 Yen coins, nor 10 Pence pieces for that matter; just a strange, cigarette burnt machine in the middle of the local toy shop. A must for any self respecting retro heads collection as a true piece of gaming history. Subtitled ‘The Revival Day’, additions include powerups and vector graphics.
PC Engine Super CD ROM
Shoot Em Up
Superb shooter where players get to customise a mean mecha robot instead of relying on power ups to blast bits out of the opposition. Like Assault Suits Valken on the SFC, fellow fighters will come to the players aid as the plot unfolds through the slickly produced cut sequences. Backgrounds are full of inspiration and very well executed with parallax scrolling to put many programmers to shame. A master blaster.
Famicom Cart
Shoot Em Up
Fast and frantic shooting action as the submarine drops bombs and launches torpedoes to try and keep on top of things. The speed the Famicom shifts the non screen action around impresses and the sprite based simplicity keeps the gameplay uncluttered and adds a visual charm. Plus the distinctive underwater locales keep this feeling as fresh as the school of angler fish awaiting.
Famicom Cart
Shoot Em Up
Classic old school shooter from the kings of the Famicom era Hudson that ruled the roost with fast paced, arcade shooting action, to paraphrase from the era. Superb box art and good, wholesome gameplay.
Famicom Cart
Shoot Em Up
Classic old school shooter from the kings of the Famicom era Hudson that ruled the roost with fast paced, arcade shooting action, to paraphrase from the era. Superb box art and good, wholesome gameplay.
Famicom Cart
Shoot Em Up
The Famicom’s answer to Star Wars as pilots take a cockpit view of this shooter to take down a suspiciously familiar looking man-made star. A simple cursor approach with a radar, but due to a lack of license, you’ll have to hum your own theme tune as you take down the enemy hordes.
Famicom Cart
Shoot Em Up
Highly collectable original Famicom version. The graphical limitations made programmers work hard on gameplay where Star Soldier excels. The robotic brain pays a visit at the end of level mutating into a bigger, badder boss as you progress. The whole epic series started here.
Nintendo 64
Shoot Em Up
Enter the Star Wars inspired world of Fox McCloud to nimbling manoevre your Star Wing through obstacles whilst blasting anything that moves. Nintendo magic.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Beautiful gaming world looking straight out of a Miyazaki anime such as Porco Rosso with all manner of flying contraptions that keeps the action fresh. In the Mega Drive version players had two vessels to choose from: the land bombing plane or the air mine depositing Zeppelin each whose advantages must be weighed against the needs of the mission ahead. Lovingly presented in a wartime movie style, the overall package oozes quality of a bygone era now lovingly brought to the burgeoning roster of Switch shooters.
Brilliant Switch
Shoot Em Up
Beautiful gaming world looking straight out of a Miyazaki anime such as Porco Rosso with all manner of flying contraptions that keeps the action fresh. In the Mega Drive version players had two vessels to choose from: the land bombing plane or the air mine depositing Zeppelin each whose advantages must be weighed against the needs of the mission ahead. Lovingly presented in a wartime movie style, the overall package oozes quality of a bygone era now lovingly brought to the burgeoning roster of Switch shooters.
Playstation
Shoot Em Up
Vertically scrolling tribute to the Capcom 194x series but still a refreshing change from the reoccurring outer space theme. Improved aurally and visually over the prequel, with little sign of any slowdown regardless of the relentlessness of the on going aerial assault. A competent conversion of the coin grabbing arcade.
PC Engine CD ROM
Shoot Em Up
Outer space meets the Atlantic Ocean in this vintage series full of robotic aquatic creatures of the deep that appear to be rejected prototypes for Tomy’s latest toy range.
Super Famicom
Shoot Em Up
Conversion of the arcade monolith based on part two with an extra intro level. Tough and unforgiving, but the true shmup fan wouldn’t have it any other way. Never has Genki been so grateful for slowdown to get out of the many tight fixes that must come with trying to contain the expansion of the Bydo Empire in R-Type.
PC Engine Super CD ROM
Shoot Em Up
Hudson have performed a commendable job of converting the Seibu Kaihatsu sprite shooter adding in the CD quality soundtrack over the standard Hu Card release. Only those most grizzled gaming vets need apply – especially if you can keep your eyes on two different areas of the screen at once and have a steady trigger finger when it comes to the surface bombs. (Apologies for the poor cover images – the reflective cover doesn’t scan well.)