Reasonable Shooters for 8/16 Bit?

[FieryReign]

Geez, why do 90% of them have to be so ridiculously hard from the get-go? I like them but always ended up getting pissed by stupid ass game design and quitting before a 3rd level(sometimes before the 1st boss). They just threw the concept of gradually increasing difficulty out the door and made them stupid hard right from the door.

Steel Empire, Axelay, and Trouble Shooter are the only ones I've ever been able to beat, legitimately. Those who say Thunderforce 3 and Blazing Lazers are easy are simply talking out of their ass.

Steel Empire might be the most user friendly shootemup ever conceived. Maybe that's why it's been remade twice? Any other shooters like this fun classic?

I tried Gleylancer, neat gameplay but fuck that game too.

[Mayhem]

Uridium, Armalyte, Katakis, Enforcer, and Dropzone for the C64. Just don't play Io, that really is like the hardest C64 shooter out there heh.

[XYXZYZ]

Life Force for the NES, Soldier Blade and Hellfire S for the PC Engine are the first easy shooters that come to mind. And I managed to finish Lords of Thunder for the Turbografx CD/ PC Engine so it can't be that hard. And Dragon Spirit for the NES isn't so bad when you get the hang of it.

[Tanooki]

I don't believe that 1942 or 1943 on the NES are all that hard. Due to scalper stupidity it's over $100 now, but Gun-Nac is fairly easy to manage. Gradius 1-3 aren't too bad either on the Nintendo systems, though 2 can be a bit harsh compared to the others. Parodius and the 2 SNES sequels, set them on easy, they're totally manageable as well as is pretty much any of the NES/SNES era Konami shooters. I'm no good when it's bullet hell or some lame assed memory match game, but when it just is down to some level of skill I can deal with those. Space Megaforce on SNES you may be alright with as well.

[celerystalker]

Salamander on PC Engine
Gate of Thunder on PC Engine
Gradius on NES
Legendary Wings on NES
Elemental Master on Genesis
Phelios on Genesis
Android Assault on Sega CD
Pop'n Twinbee on SNES
King's Knight on NES

Three others that take some practice:
Download on PC Engine: once you get a feel for its pace and formations, it's very fair, and you don't die from touching walls.
Final Soldier on PC Engine: you just need to have your vulcan powered up and you'll breeze through everything until the last stage.
Blazing Lazers on Turbografx: I know you said it's bullshit, but power up your field thunder and use the shield as your subweapon and you'll find yourself with about 15 lives to take on that bitch of a last level.

Steel Empire is pretty great with its steam punk setting and level up system. I wish more people would try it. I bought Trouble Shooter back in the day for, like, $5 when a friend described its cover art as "those chicks with the '70s banana boobs." Had me cracking up.

[retroman]

Dont forget Truxton for the Sega Genesis. I was hooked on that game.

[Tanooki]

I felt Steel Empire was a bit overrated. I imported it early this year for GBA and played it for a little off and on, but it never really grabbed me. I took it down on easy, but the jump to medium it kind of got annoying versus the reward of it. Maybe it's nicer with a full resolution and larger screen, but I wouldn't know.

[RP2A03]

Gyruss on NES.

[Alianger]

You might be missing the easy mode in TF3? The option menu is hidden in the TF games so you need to press all buttons + start or something to that extent. And Gleylancer should be doable with auto-targeting I think. Stick to it and believe in your power, as the game says.

Other games:
Battle Mania Daiginjou (Trouble Shooter 2)
Panorama Cotton (MD)
MUSHA (MD)
Lords of Thunder (MCD)
Super Aleste (SNES)
Gradius III (SNES)
Gun Nac (NES)
Fire Shark (MD)
Elemental Master (MD)
SCAT/Action in New York (NES)
Burai Fighter (NES)
Life Force (NES)
Crisis Force (IIIRC)

Good to see you're back into games.

[Ogreatgames]

What about Commando for the NES?

[bb_hood]

Those who say Thunderforce 3 and Blazing Lazers are easy are simply talking out of their ass.


Blazing Lazers = very easy.
Thunderforce 3 = hard.

You want a very very very hard shooter play Rayxanbar II.

[Tanooki]

I used to own the Japanese PCE-CD RayXanber3 and that thing was nasty, fair but nasty.


Oh and Commando, NES or not, that damn game is hard.

[Atarileaf]

I suck at shooters and Blazing Lazers was easy for me. First video game I ever "beat". I don't play it anymore because I don't see the challenge now.

[davidbrit2]

NES Gradius is a good one. It's not too hard to one-life it, at least on the first loop. It'll kick your ass once you're a couple loops in.

The NES/SNES versions of Gradius II and III are also great. Tough, but not nearly as absurd as the arcade versions.

[wizardofwor1975]

Uridium, Armalyte, Katakis, Enforcer, and Dropzone for the C64. Just don't play Io, that really is like the hardest C64 shooter out there heh.

I totally agree with you Mayhem. IO is without a doubt the toughest shooter ever programmed for the good old C64 breadbin. However, IO's beautiful graphics draw you in but they are like the sirens call. After your initial enticement by the game's eye candy like graphics you quickly find out that what your in for is a good and proper trouncing. But if your in the mood for a real challenge than I would look no further than IO.

[csgx1]

Star Parodier on the PC Engine is an easy shooter.

[Emperor Megas]

My my old friends and I are the only ones who end Thunder Force III on a single life every time?