Top 10 Run 'N Guns for 8- and 16-bit Consoles

[Octopod]

I just want to be a jerk and point out that Smash TV is not a Run N Gun, it is an arena shooter.

The top 10 Arena Shooter list I'm working on for the 8/16-bit era is already overflowing with so many games that the only way I could fit in everything was to include Smash TV under the run 'n gun list.

I would have left it with the arena shooters since it is the best one imo

[timewarpgamer]

I just want to be a jerk and point out that Smash TV is not a Run N Gun, it is an arena shooter.

The top 10 Arena Shooter list I'm working on for the 8/16-bit era is already overflowing with so many games that the only way I could fit in everything was to include Smash TV under the run 'n gun list.

I would have left it with the arena shooters since it is the best one imo

I guess my sarcasm slipped under the radar. The real reason that Smash TV is on the run 'n gun list is because I don't think there's any way that there are nearly enough titles from the 8/16-bit console era to properly fill a top 10 devoted to the very specific arena shooter genre.

[Ack]

What all exactly qualifies an arena shooter?

[GSZX1337]

The top 10 Arena Shooter list I'm working on for the 8/16-bit era is already overflowing with so many games that the only way I could fit in everything was to include Smash TV under the run 'n gun list.

I would have left it with the arena shooters since it is the best one imo

I guess my sarcasm slipped under the radar. The real reason that Smash TV is on the run 'n gun list is because I don't think there's any way that there are nearly enough titles from the 8/16-bit console era to properly fill a top 10 devoted to the very specific arena shooter genre.

Isn't Smash TV a top down run-n-gun?

[timewarpgamer]

I was assuming that it's a fixed one-screen shooter where your character is on foot, like Robotron 2084.

[GSZX1337]

I was assuming that it's a fixed one-screen shooter where your character is on foot, like Robotron 2084.

*shrugs* I always put that down under top-down run-n-gun.

[alienjesus]

Bumping this thread a bit to say that I find it very weird that you class Super Metroid as an Action adventure title and Blaster Master (which i al;ways found to be a similar type of game) to be a run and gun.

[GSZX1337]

Bumping this thread a bit to say that I find it very weird that you class Super Metroid as an Action adventure title and Blaster Master (which i always found to be a similar type of game) to be a run and gun.

Hmm, that's a good point.

[timewarpgamer]

Bumping this thread a bit to say that I find it very weird that you class Super Metroid as an Action adventure title and Blaster Master (which i al;ways found to be a similar type of game) to be a run and gun.

Cramming games into a genre classification is definitely the most annoying part of creating top 10 lists, and there's definitely a fine line separating these two titles. Great question, though, let's see how I do...

With Metroid the emphasis on exploration is much greater. You're basically forced to chase down all those extra energy tanks and missile expansions to deal with the later sections of the game, like Link grabbing additional hearts in Legend of Zelda. When you get an additional weapon (i.e. bombs), you also end up making them a fundamental part of the arsenal and using them in many different situations.

Think of how you progress in Blaster Master. Basically, you can take the shortest route to every boss. Each time you acquire a new capability (crusher beam, hover mechanics, etc) they act as little more than a key to the next stage. Yes, you do have to backtrack through large sections of the game, but exploration isn't essential as in Metroid. Furthermore, your character does little puzzle-solving with new capabilities other than using them to open a new route to a new boss. With exploration and puzzle-solving thus minimized, the focus of the game is really platforming and shooting, which gives you something closer to a run 'n gun than an action-adventure title.

[Knowlery]

Here's what I find strange about lists like this. I see a game like the original Contra for the NES on there and it puzzles me, because sometimes I think people confuse "best" with "classic". No one can deny that the original Contra is a classic, but when looking at everything that been done with the genre since, I think it has no business bieng on a top 10 list. Contra Hard Corps is a better game in every regard in my opinion and deserves to be in the list while the original Contra should actually be an honorable mention

Just my opinion. For the most part though, I like this list and I like the site too.

I agree with you completely. Hard Corps blows the original Contra out of the water, and too many of these types of lists put far too much weight into nostalgia and historical significance.

Personally, I go to check out "best" lists like this to see the very best of whatever that genre/system has to offer for me today, and the creator should assume that I the reader have no nostalgic ties to the games chosen. It's the same as when a site or magazine will put together top 10 platformer list and the original Super Mario Bros. will be on there, and more often than not in a high position. No one's saying SMB isn't a good game, but it completely pales in comparison to SMB 3 or Super Mario World, gameplay-wise.

In general though, I do also enjoy the Time Warp Gamer web site and will continue to visit it for new game ideas to add to my collection.