What are the Top 10 shoot 'em ups for 8/16-bit consoles?

[timewarpgamer]

Yeah, it's top 10 time once again, and I'm looking for a little feedback. My current list can be found here:

http://timewarpgamer.com/top10s/shoot_em_ups.html

I'm going to cover run 'n guns in another list at some point, so that's why you won't see obvious titles like Gunstar Heroes in this list.

[Hateshinai]

Fire Shark on the Mega Drive/Genesis! It was a recent impulse buy, having never even heard of it, and now I am playing it every day.

[marurun]

Well, I didn't realize you were so comfortable with the TG-16. Most lists would exclude it almost completely even though it largely deserves to dominate a list like that.

[J T]

Nice list. There are some I know and love and a few I haven't heard of. I would think UN Squadron (aka Area 88) might get a mention on the list though. I also like Gaiares for Genesis because the ability to steal enemy weaponry was a great idea.

[SinclairVulture]

Nice list. There are some I know and love and a few I haven't heard of. I would think UN Squadron (aka Area 88) might get a mention on the list though.

I was thinking the same thing; UN Squadron was awesome!

There was something that made me happy and confused at once, though; ThunderForce IV (Lightening Force for US) got a really high place on the list. Don't get me wrong, I love that game, and in my opinion it deserves its spot, but most people say that it's inferior to #3

I'm not so keen on the 8/16 bit era, so I'm not up to making a top 10 list (nor would I trust myself if I was) but I do love my Gokujyo Parodius! Who's with me ?

[Original_Name]

Hey, that's a really great list! Very cohesive! I'm gonna have to burn Lords of Thunder and Robo Aleste for my Sega CD, and I REALLY need to get a good TurboGrafx emulator.

Only thing is, you've done something that so many list authors do which confuses the hell out of me: why does your list go from first to tenth?

[marurun]

Hey, that's a really great list! Very cohesive! I'm gonna have to burn Lords of Thunder and Robo Aleste for my Sega CD, and I REALLY need to get a good TurboGrafx emulator.

Only thing is, you've done something that so many list authors do which confuses the hell out of me: why does your list go from first to tenth?

Google "ootake". It's kinda Engrishy but it's a very good emulator and not too hard to use, all things considered. Not quite as accurate as Mednafen but Mednafen is CLI only.

[timewarpgamer]

Hateshinai, I've at least got Fire Shark covered in my greatest Mega Drive game list:
http://timewarpgamer.com/consoles/genes ... shark.html
Great game. Love the music on the first level, too. But what would I drop to squeeze it into the top 10?

marurun, I grew up with a TurboDuo, and it took every once of will power to hold the TG-16 back from dominating the list more than it already has.

J T and SinclairVulture, UN Squadron is a great call. I'm going to be replaying it ASAP and seeing if I can cram it into the list somewhere.

Original_Name, I'm glad I could provide some good tips. Be sure to check out Gate of Thunder, too. As for the sequencing of the top 10...Crap, maybe it should be in the opposite order. That way you're building up to the exciting #1. Great suggestion. I just might do a switcheroo.

[elvis]

Picking a "top 10" is way too hard. So many fantastic titles out there, and so little space.

Gairies and Gynoug are two fantastic ones that immediately come to mind for me, and are missing from the list. Ditto for the great console ports of the various Parodius games. Again, limiting it to a top 10 is way too hard, as there are so may good titles and no real way of objectively saying any one of them are "better" than the next.

[marurun]

@timewarpgamer:

I find that while Lords of Thunder has more "flashy" appeal than Gate of Thunder, I think Gate is the better shooter of the two. I tend to be out-voted, though ; )