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2D Shmups - History, Prospects?

Posted by simoniker on from the bydo-empire-delighted-by-press dept.

Thanks to Gamers.com for their article discussing a brief survey of the 2D shoot-em-up (shmup) market. The article summarizes: "Shooters seem to have a very basic appeal, rewarding as they usually do indiscriminate destruction. They're also a pure example of the most basic of videogame challenges - simple, instantaneous, twitchy response... there are still a few gamers who seek classic shooting action, and a few companies willing to support them." It goes on to reference classic Japanese shmup companies such as Irem, Treasure, and Cave, and provide information on their former and current projects.

8 of 21 comments (clear)

  1. 2d shooters for linux? by croddy · · Score: 2, Insightful

    are there any good side- or top-scrollers for linux? FPS are fine, but I'd much rather be playing duke nukem 2.

    1. Re:2d shooters for linux? by patch-rustem · · Score: 2, Informative
      ... are there any good side- or top-scrollers for linux?
      There's plenty.
      Also there's the universe of games that you can play via an emulator.
      --
      Karma: Bad due to google bombing - Robert Watkins woz 'ere.
  2. No Mention of Gradius by mmdurrant · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm surprised that there is no mention of Gradius, my favorite 2D shooter of all time.

    --
    I see my shadow changing, stretching up and over me...
    1. Re:No Mention of Gradius by ASkGNet · · Score: 2

      No mention of the game that was one of the biggest milestones in 'shmups', Tyrian...I believe I wasted at least 50 hours of my life on that game. Starscape borrows from Tyrian heavily as well. It was the one-of-a-kind 'shoot-em-up' and 'upgrade your ship' game that could go on and on for hours. Would you get Dual missile spread or perhaps upgrade your proton guns 2 levels and get the Smart Bomb instead. Or perhaps ditch it all for a Blaster and a heavy-duty photon blast.
      For a 2d shooter, it was deep enough to keep you interested for hours at end...it was also non-linear (progression in the zones) and had a pretty good backstory, with hidden 'Holocubes' that revealed more of it. Too bad it does not run on modern computers, unless VDMSound and MoSlo are both engaged.

  3. real nerds . . . by patch-rustem · · Score: 3, Interesting

    2D Shmups...
    Real nerds write their own.

    --
    Karma: Bad due to google bombing - Robert Watkins woz 'ere.
    1. Re:real nerds . . . by John+Harrison · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Here you go!

      --
      Lasers Controlled Games!
  4. Shmups! by emilng · · Score: 3, Informative

    Just in case you haven't figured it out yet. You can find out a great deal more about 2d shootemups on
    www.shmups.com

  5. Where the hell is COMPILE?! by MilenCent · · Score: 2, Insightful

    No mention whatsoever of COMPILE! Those hep cats made ZANAC, The Guardian Legend, Gun-Nac, Power Strike, Power Strike 2, Blazing Lasers, MUSHA, Space Megaforce (named something else in Japan), ZANAC x ZANAC and others!

    I think they've been bought out recently, and they've been making mostly Puyo Puyo lately, but still...!