List your Shmups!

[Eternal Champion]

I'd say his definition is a bit too open.
This is as far as I would go however. 'Run and gun' games like Gunstar Heroes, Metal Slug and Contra are NOT shmups. Aside from pumelling your enemies with bullets, they have little in common with traditional shmups and are too much of a stretch to include them. I personally classify these titles as 'action platformers', as they are based on the humble platforming game, and add shooting and explosions to the mix.

I wouldn't say that Gunstar and Metal Slug, et al have little in common with shmups, as they do involve an assload of shooting, but I do agree that they are platformers more than anything.

What about Starfox?

[dreamcaster]

What about Starfox?

You can then expand into the 3D Shmup, a genre that is essentially a shmup presented in 3D - primary examples being Panzer Dragoon and StarFox. They employ every convention of a shmup, and merely represent it in 3D.

[AlexKidd]

atari 2600

phoenix
solaris
demon attack
asteroids
space invaders
plaque attack
river raid

nes

star soldier
lifeforce
gradius
gyruss
zanac
sky shark
galaga
millipede
dragon spirit

sms

bomber raid
astro warrior
r-type
cloud master
fantasy zone
space harrier

genesis

thunderforce 2
thunderforce 3
gaiares
fire shark
truxton

turbografx

blazing lazers
lords of thunder
gate of thunder
galaga '90
forgotten worlds
side arms
dragon spirit
aero blasters

snes

gradius 3
super r-type
axelay

psx

einhander

ps2

r-type final
gradius 5

cube

ikaruga

[TurboGenesis]

I'd say his definition is a bit too open.

I define traditional shmups as horizontally or vertically aligned scrolling that is forced, and the player takes control of a vehicle of some description, and is forced to shoot waves of oncoming enemies.

What about Viewpoint :P

Anyways I consider games like Contra and Turrican "platform shooters". It is these types of games that have evolved in to today's FPS. Real simple, take Contra and make it 3D and then put it in a first person perspective. There, now you have FPS Contra. (Note to Konami-PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS)

Games like Thunderblade, Panzer Dragoon and Star Fox are "rail shooters" as in the whole rail effect thing and limited movement.

Interesting games that I really cannot catogorize would be Space Harrier and Cannon Spike. Space Harrier is really unique as it is trully rail free and you have the whole 8 directional thing. I guess it really would be a trully 3D shooter. Cannon Spike basically puts you in a room and has you shoot everything until the boss comes and then upon defeat of the boss you basically go on to the next "room".

[idrougge]

X-out (ZX Spectrum)
Xenon (C64)
Salamander (MSX)
Scramble spirits (Mastersystem)
Exocet (2600)
Zaxxon (2600, Intellivision)
Recca/Summer carnival (Famiclone)

If this seems like little, then that's because I don't mind pirate copies.

[TEND]

How do you guys feel about Pocky and Rocky being classified as a shmup? No fixed scrolling, no vehicle, but it's not really platforming, plus tell me that shooting is not the whole point of the game.

[Eternal Champion]

Real simple, take Contra and make it 3D and then put it in a first person perspective. There, now you have FPS Contra. (Note to Konami-PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS)

I dunno, a 3-D FPS version of Contra could kick some serious ass, but I suppose that particular genre has been glutted. Still could be cool, though.

[Ed Oscuro]

Real simple, take Contra and make it 3D and then put it in a first person perspective. There, now you have FPS Contra. (Note to Konami-PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS)

I dunno, a 3-D FPS version of Contra could kick some serious ass, but I suppose that particular genre has been glutted. Still could be cool, though.

No.

Give us CONTRAVANIA!

[mr_nihilism]

NES:

1942
1943

SNES:

U.N. Squadron

PSX:

Einhander
G Darius

GameCube:

Ikaruga