Mahoutskai
09-03-2007, 12:00 PM
Hello.
I am not sure in what part of the forum to post this thread, so if this is the wrong section, please move it. Just as the title suggests, I want to find a complete list of Run-and-Guns for the Super Famicom. If there are no lists available on this topic, please help my create one!
First of all, for this list it is important to be aware of the difference between Run-and-Gun games and platform games with a action focus.
"The run and gun platformer genre was popularized by Konami's classic Contra. Gunstar Heroes and Metal Slug are also among the most popular examples of this style. Side-scrolling run and gun games are an attempt to marry platform games with shoot 'em ups, characterized by a minimal focus on precise platform jumping and a major emphasis on multi-directional shooting. These games are sometimes called platform-shooters. This genre has strong arcade roots, and as such, these games are generally known for being very difficult, and having very linear progression, without backtracking.
There are games which feature a heavy degree of shooting but do not fall into this sub-genre. Mega Man, Vectorman, Jazz Jackrabbit and Earthworm Jim are all platformers with a heavy focus on action and shooting, but unlike Contra or Metal Slug the platform jumping elements, as well as exploration and back-tracking, still figure more prominently. Run and guns are generally very pure and, while they sometimes have vehicular sequences or other changes in style, they stay focused on shooting throughout."
"Side view run and guns combine the platform game genre with shoot 'em up gameplay. As stated previously, side-view games emphasize jumping and crouching as the primary methods of evading enemy fire. These games primarily force scrolling from left to right, but some allow backtracking to previous areas. Because jumping is an essential part of the game, levels often feature pits and crevices which must be carefully jumped over in order to avoid instant death. This can be a big problem in multiplayer games when the screen becomes too busy for the player to notice the hazard. Also, upon respawning, games can place the character right next to or above such pits. Environmental features can often be used to obtain strategic firing positions; these include ladders which can be climbed, rails which can be held onto, etc. Several side-view games, most notably Turrican and Super Star Wars, feature large levels that emphasize exploration. These levels are often five or six screens tall and contain multiple routes to the end of the level. The environments in side-view games are incredibly varied, ranging from warehouse interiors, to jungles and mountains, and even to outer space environments like in Midnight Resistance.
Example side-view run and guns – Contra series, Metal Slug series, Abuse, Soldat, Gunstar Heroes"
"Overhead-view games put less emphasis on platforming aspects, but put additional emphasis on using the environment to effectively shield fire. This is especially important during boss fights, as the massive amount of firepower involved makes it relatively easy for the player to die. It is common to see level layouts composed of sandbag bunkers, boulders, trees, and observation towers – all of which all make useful barriers. In overhead games, there is generally a lesser amount of indoor environments, as normal floorplans would restrict the open-spaces necessary for overhead games. Thus, the majority of overhead games take place in outdoor environments. Like side-view games, there are several titles that put additional emphasis on exploration, such as Zombies Ate My Neighbors and Fester's Quest. These added-depth titles feature levels that scroll in both directions, feature indoor and outdoor environments, and tend to have several objectives like rescuing civilians and finding keys. The majority of these games scroll vertically at an automatic pace. Today, modern overhead games, like Neo Contra, have incorporated three-dimensional graphics, although generally a semi-fixed camera is used to avoid occlusion problems.
Examples of Overhead "Run and Gun" games: Ikari Warriors, Heavy Barrel, Ninja Commando, Jackal, and Guerrilla War."
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platform_game#Run_and_gun_platformers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run_and_gun#Side-view_run_and_guns
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run_and_gun#Overhead-view_run_and_guns
And, now the list. The once I can come up with are:
Hyper Iria
Rendering Ranger: R2
Contra Spirits [NTSC/US: Contra III: The Alien Wars, PAL: Super Probotector]
Sunset Riders
Super Smash TV
Super Turrican
Super Turrican II
Gunforce - Battle Fire Engulfed Terror Island
Operation Logic Bomb
Assault Suits Valken [NTSC/US: Cybernator, PAL: Cybernator]
Zombies Ate My Neighbors [PAL: Zombies]
Ghoul Patrol
Timeslip
Total Carnage
Any help is appriciated!
I am not sure in what part of the forum to post this thread, so if this is the wrong section, please move it. Just as the title suggests, I want to find a complete list of Run-and-Guns for the Super Famicom. If there are no lists available on this topic, please help my create one!
First of all, for this list it is important to be aware of the difference between Run-and-Gun games and platform games with a action focus.
"The run and gun platformer genre was popularized by Konami's classic Contra. Gunstar Heroes and Metal Slug are also among the most popular examples of this style. Side-scrolling run and gun games are an attempt to marry platform games with shoot 'em ups, characterized by a minimal focus on precise platform jumping and a major emphasis on multi-directional shooting. These games are sometimes called platform-shooters. This genre has strong arcade roots, and as such, these games are generally known for being very difficult, and having very linear progression, without backtracking.
There are games which feature a heavy degree of shooting but do not fall into this sub-genre. Mega Man, Vectorman, Jazz Jackrabbit and Earthworm Jim are all platformers with a heavy focus on action and shooting, but unlike Contra or Metal Slug the platform jumping elements, as well as exploration and back-tracking, still figure more prominently. Run and guns are generally very pure and, while they sometimes have vehicular sequences or other changes in style, they stay focused on shooting throughout."
"Side view run and guns combine the platform game genre with shoot 'em up gameplay. As stated previously, side-view games emphasize jumping and crouching as the primary methods of evading enemy fire. These games primarily force scrolling from left to right, but some allow backtracking to previous areas. Because jumping is an essential part of the game, levels often feature pits and crevices which must be carefully jumped over in order to avoid instant death. This can be a big problem in multiplayer games when the screen becomes too busy for the player to notice the hazard. Also, upon respawning, games can place the character right next to or above such pits. Environmental features can often be used to obtain strategic firing positions; these include ladders which can be climbed, rails which can be held onto, etc. Several side-view games, most notably Turrican and Super Star Wars, feature large levels that emphasize exploration. These levels are often five or six screens tall and contain multiple routes to the end of the level. The environments in side-view games are incredibly varied, ranging from warehouse interiors, to jungles and mountains, and even to outer space environments like in Midnight Resistance.
Example side-view run and guns – Contra series, Metal Slug series, Abuse, Soldat, Gunstar Heroes"
"Overhead-view games put less emphasis on platforming aspects, but put additional emphasis on using the environment to effectively shield fire. This is especially important during boss fights, as the massive amount of firepower involved makes it relatively easy for the player to die. It is common to see level layouts composed of sandbag bunkers, boulders, trees, and observation towers – all of which all make useful barriers. In overhead games, there is generally a lesser amount of indoor environments, as normal floorplans would restrict the open-spaces necessary for overhead games. Thus, the majority of overhead games take place in outdoor environments. Like side-view games, there are several titles that put additional emphasis on exploration, such as Zombies Ate My Neighbors and Fester's Quest. These added-depth titles feature levels that scroll in both directions, feature indoor and outdoor environments, and tend to have several objectives like rescuing civilians and finding keys. The majority of these games scroll vertically at an automatic pace. Today, modern overhead games, like Neo Contra, have incorporated three-dimensional graphics, although generally a semi-fixed camera is used to avoid occlusion problems.
Examples of Overhead "Run and Gun" games: Ikari Warriors, Heavy Barrel, Ninja Commando, Jackal, and Guerrilla War."
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platform_game#Run_and_gun_platformers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run_and_gun#Side-view_run_and_guns
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run_and_gun#Overhead-view_run_and_guns
And, now the list. The once I can come up with are:
Hyper Iria
Rendering Ranger: R2
Contra Spirits [NTSC/US: Contra III: The Alien Wars, PAL: Super Probotector]
Sunset Riders
Super Smash TV
Super Turrican
Super Turrican II
Gunforce - Battle Fire Engulfed Terror Island
Operation Logic Bomb
Assault Suits Valken [NTSC/US: Cybernator, PAL: Cybernator]
Zombies Ate My Neighbors [PAL: Zombies]
Ghoul Patrol
Timeslip
Total Carnage
Any help is appriciated!