Best 2D Side-Scrolling Shoot'em Up (SHMUP)?

[cyberfluxor]

I consider "side-scrolling" to be a game that has a constant flow in some direction. Or in other words, the level moves and you move relative to screen position. It can be at any angle, but most are 0 or 90 degree. At least this is how I interpret it as a programmer. The only thing that matters is what coordinates of obejects being altered due to the movement of the level.

[segagamer]

Ikaruga and Radiant Silvergun are both Vertical scrolling or Top-down scrolling shooters. They cannot be considered as horizontal or side-scrolling shooters simply due to the fact that they were designed as vertical scrolling shooters in the arcades and on the consoles. Having the ability to rotate the screen/controls does NOT make them horizontal shooters.

[DeuZZ]

Metal Slug, Contra, Gunstar and Megaman

[The Shawn]

R-Type Arcade game. Definately
Used to play it at the arcade before work when I was 16.

[B - Mark]

My side scrooling shumps list:

- Metal Slug 1 ( Neo Geo )
- Metal Slug 2 ( Neo Geo )
- Metal Slug 3 ( Neo Geo )
- Metal Slug 4 ( Neo Geo )
- Metal Slug 5 ( Neo Geo )
- Metal Slug X ( Neo Geo )
- Gunstar Heroes ( Mega Drive / Genesis )
- Contra ( NES )
- Super Contra ( NES )
- Gradius III ( Super NES )
- Super R Type ( Super NES )
- R Type III ( Super NES )
- Contra III: The Alien Wars ( Super NES )
- Contra Hard Corps ( Mega Drive / Genesis )
- Gaiares ( Mega Drive / Genesis )
- Gleylancer ( Mega Drive / Genesis )
- Sold Deace ( Mega Drive / Genesis )
- Thunder Force II ( Mega Drive / Genesis )
- Thunder Force III ( Mega Drive / Genesis )
- Thunder Force IV ( Mega Drive / Genesis )
- Battle Mania / Trouble Shooter ( Mega Drive / Genesis )
- Area 88 / UN Squadron ( Arcade and Super NES )
- Aerial Assault ( Master System )
- Aeroblasters ( Mega Drive / Genesis and PC Engine / Turbo Grafix 16 )
- Forgotten Worlds ( Multiplataform )

[bangtango]

Easy answers.

1. Life Force
2. Super C
3. Contra
4. Cloud Master

[segagamer]

Can anyone explain to me the original of the word "shmup"? I guess I am too "old school" to understand where "shmup" came from?

[segagamer]

Also, who coined the term "shmup"?

[MarioMania]

Gunstar Heroes(Gen) ,Super R-Type(SNES) & Contra(NES)

[tom]

1: SUPER COBRA (VCS)
2: THE TAIL OF BETA LYRAE (Classic A8)
3: KATAKIS (C-64)
4: APIDYA (AMIGA)

[ave]

Also, who coined the term "shmup"?

I don't know that, but "shmup" is a shortcut of "shoot'em up". Shmuppers who call shoot'em ups "shmups" are young and haven't got any time to speak in language without shortcuts. K?

My favourites:

1. Gradius (NES+Arcade; PCE is great as well, but the music is rather worse I think)
2. XMULTIPLY (fascinating shooter! Like a mix of Aliens and R-Type)
3. Parodius (any; classic)

[Habeeb Hamusta]

Last Resort (Neo-Geo) is great but a little laggy and very hard.

[TurboGenesis]

some of my favorite horizontals:

R-Type (TG16)
Bio Hazard Battle (Genesis)
Thunder Force III (Genesis)
Gaiares (Genesis)
Terraforming (Duo)
Magical Chase (TG16)
Gleylancer (Mega Drive)
R-Type Delta (Playststion)
Last Resort (Neo Geo)
Blazing Star (Neo Geo)
Border Down (Dreamcast)

[RadiantSvgun]

Hmm.. there are so many great ones, its hard to choose. ESP. RA.DE was one of my favorites, but to keep with the topic, I'll go with Hyper Duel.

[50s Brawler]

For "Shooters" of the side scrolling genre (meaning Jet fighters, flying starships etc.) I'd have to say that my faves are:

Blazing Star
Lords of Thunder
Gate of Thunder
GLEYLANCER
Macross 2036
AREA 88
Carrier Air Wing
Thunder Force 4
Macross: Scrambled Valkyrie
SDF Macross: DYRL


for RGS (Run & Gun Shooters):

Gunstar Heroes
Metal Slug (series)
Super Contra (arcade)
Bloody Wolf
Gunner's Heaven
Sunset Riders

[pragmatic insanester]

yeah, too many mangled genres here.

contra = run 'n gun
megaman = platformer
darius = shoot 'em up

[Technosis]

some of my favorite horizontals:

Bio Hazard Battle (Genesis)

I really like this rather odd title, what with its weird music and backgrounds. It's also very affordable, unlike many other shoot'em ups.

[agbulls]

yeah, too many mangled genres here.

contra = run 'n gun
megaman = platformer
darius = shoot 'em up

I think this is really weird that people still don't get this. Aren't we in a Classic Gaming Forum? The definition of a shmup was given on the first page of this thread. Oh, and by the way, I'm a huge Dondonpachi fan I'll also give some love to Galactic Attack and Salamander Deluxe Pack.

[Technosis]

I'll also give some love to Galactic Attack and Salamander Deluxe Pack.

Galactic Attack is awesome. What makes it better is it has the option for a vertical monitor...I wish that more games would have this option standard...I know that Ikaruga on the GC has it as well

[Three-P]

For me, it'd have to be....

20-Chopper Command by Activision.
19-Cosmic Commuter by Activision.
18-Eco Fighter by Capcom
17-Zero Wing by Toaplan.
16-Section Z by Capcom.
15-Exzisus by Taito.
14-Chariot by Capcom.
13-Area 88 by Capcom.
12-Fantasy Zone by Sega.
11-Zaxxon by Sega. (It's kind of a side-scroller.)
10-Defender by Midway-Williams.
9-Sky Kid by Namco.
8-Karnov by Data East.
7-Bionic Commando by Capcom.
6-Defender II by Midway-Williams.
5-Rolling Thunder by Namco. (Hard as hell, but a good game.)
4-Megaman by Capcom.
3-Megaman X by Capcom.
2-Contra by Konami.
1-Gradius III by Konami.