its not a shooter but you cant go wrong with pilot wings
and the ever so obvious star fox
well this is about all of them have fun trying to find them
GAME COMPANY YEAR INFORMATION
1941
Capcom
1990
3rd in series, lots of weapons and great graphics. I like how you can rub the walls and spin your ship!
1942
Capcom
1984
The first WW2 plane style basic shooter. Still very addictive after all these years!
1943
Capcom
1987
2ND in series, much better looking with weapon powerups and a life guage.
19XX
Capcom
1996
4th in series, more akin to Cave's output in gameplay style in later levels, while retaining classic Capcom design, see review.
1944: The Loop Master
Capcom / Raizing
2000
5th in series. Hmm. Not my favourite in the series, but playable enough. Expected a lot more after 19XX.
Acrobat Mission
UPL
1991
Average describes this fairly nondescript vertical shmup.
Aero Blasters (PCE review) / Airbuster
Kaneko
1990
Good fun side scroller with some unusual graphics and difficult sections. Bit of a classic! Got some great MD and PCE conversions.
Aerofighters (snes review) / Sonic Wings
Video System
1992
One of the first shooters to give you a large selection of ships to choose from.
Aero Fighters 2 / Sonic Wings 2
Video System
1994
More of the same…
Aerofighters 3 / Sonic Wings 3
Video System
1995
More of the same…
Airbuster / Aeroblasters
Kaneko
1990
Good fun side scroller with some unusual graphics and difficult sections. Bit of a classic! Got some great MD and PCE conversions.
Air Duel
Irem
1990
Average unspectacular shmup.
Air Gallet
Banpresto
1996
Ajax / Typhoon
Konami
1987
Unique shooter that alternates between overhead helicopter shooter and behindview jetfighter divebombing shooter.
Alcon / Slap Fight
Taito
1986
Great early shmup with loads of powerups and some great level design, poor Megadrive version.
Alpha Mission / Armored Scrum Object
SNK
1985
Destroy ground targets to release special weapons, which can be used when you have enough energy.
Alpha Mission 2 / Armored Scrum Object II
SNK
1991
Sequel to above.
Arbalester
Seta
1989
Vertical plane shooter,
Area 88 / UN Squadron
Capcom
1989
Great manga based horizontal shooter, has health bar and your plane smokes and falls apart as damaged.
Argus
Jaleco
1986
Vertical shmup where screen scrolls slightly to left and right when near edge of screen.
Armed Formation F
Nichibutsu
1988
Vertical format, bio-organic style graphics
Armed Police Batrider
Raizing / Eighting
1998
Decent little 'cut - and - paste from back catalogue' shmup. See if you spot the Allstars!
Armed Police Unit / Gallop
Irem
1996
Despite what some say, I'm 99% sure this is not part of the R-Type family.
Armored Scrum Object / Alpha Mission
SNK
1985
Destroy ground targets to release special weapons, which can be used when you have enough energy.
Armored Scrum Object II / Alpha Mission II
SNK
1991
Sequel to above.
Ashura Blaster Taito
1990
Vertical helicopter shooter, similar to Twin Cobra.
Assault
Namco
1988
Tank shooter: rotating 3d graphics, unique control method. Available on Playstation Museum Pack
Astron Belt
Sega
1983
Laserdisk based shooter, sprites over video footage.
Asuka & Asuka
Taito
1989
Vertical jet shmup.
Aurail
Sega
1990
Tank shooter, free 4-way scrolling
Batsugun (review 1)
Batsugun (review 2)
Toaplan
1993
Hilariously over-manic shmup with massive weapons, also available on Saturn
Battle Bakraid
8ing
1999
Superb shmup, see review.
Battle Chopper / Mr.Heli
Irem
1987
Cute slow paced multidirectional scrolling shooter, loads of powerups to reveal by shooting landscape.
Battle Garegga
Raizing
1996
Old skool style super shmup, WW1 planes, realistic bullets (which are hard to see). Saturn version.
Detana!! Twin Bee / Bells'n'Whistles
Konami
1991
Sequel to Twin Bee, great colorful vertical cartoon shmup with lots of powerups.
Bermuda Triangle
SNK
1987
Bizarre shmup with a rotatable turret on top, when you reach end of level you fly backwards down level again, before flying up for final time.
Black Heart
UPL
1991
Blasteroids
Atari
1987
Asteroids clone with pre-rendered moon rocks as asteroid and end of level bosses
Blast Off
Namco
1989
Vertical shmup, can change firing patterns with button, has bosconian motherships in it!
Blazeon
Atlus
1992
Nice horizontal shmup where you can capture and use enemy ships, also SNES version.
Blazing Star
Yumekobo
1998
Sequel to Pulstar, great pre-rendered neogeo shooter, probably the best on the system.
Blue Hawk
Dooyong
1993
Vertical futuristic jet based shmup.
Bosconian
Namco
1981
Basic 4 way scrolling game. Also available on Namco Museum Pack
Carrier Airwing / US Navy
Capcom
1990
Sequel to UN Squadron/Area 88, anime series scrolling shooter, tanks, planes and stealth bombers!
Change Air Blade Sammy 1999 Unique one-on-one shmup
Chariot, from Three Wonders
Capcom
1991
3-in-1 pack, Chariot is a semi-cute horizontally scrolling game. Also on Saturn
Chimera Beast
Jaleco
1993
Underwater horizontal shmup like
Cotton
Success/Sega
1989
Cute flying witchs on broomsticks shmup.
Cotton II
Success/Sega
1997
Stunning looking sequel to the cutesy flying witch shmup, also available for Saturn.
Cotton Boomerang
Success/Sega
1998
Even nicer looking, kinda like "Cotton II Remix"
Cybattler
Jaleco
1993
Coolest Jaleco game, manga robots the shoot and slice enemies with a sword!
Cyvern
Kaneko
1998
Great looking cyborg mutant dragon shmup, rock hard, see review…
Daioh
Athena
1993
Shmup with special moves and the most buttons of any arcade shooter ever (6!)
Dangerous Seed
Namco
1989
Average vertical shmup with insect-type enemies and bosses.
Dangun Feveron
Cave
1998
Fantastic disco-themed space blaster... manic, insane and even has a Time Attack mode!
Darius
Taito
1986
Massive 3 screen hoizontal shooter, the original fish-blasting shmup! Robotic seafood anyone?
Darius II / Sagaia
Taito
1989
3 or 2 screen side scroller, great mech-fish bosses. Also on Megadrive, Playstation and Saturn.
Darius Gaiden
Taito
1994
Superb single screen effects laden shmup.
Defender
Williams
1980
The original maniac shmup with load of enemys, bullets, good guys and buttons.
Desert War
Jaleco
1995
Detana!! Twin Bee / Bells'n'Whistles
Konami
1991
Sequel to Twin Bee, great colorful vertical cartoon shmup with lots of powerups.
Dimahoo
8ing/Raizing
2000
Dodonpachi
Atlus / Cave
1996
Followup to Donpachi, the first "beserk" shmup that completely filled the screen with bullets and enemys, also on Saturn.
Dodonpachi II
Atlus/Cave
2001
Dissapointing followup, not bad but not the tour-de-force DoDonPachi was.
Dodonpachi Dai-Oujou
Atlas/Cave
2003
4th in the DonPachi series, more manic over the top shmup action.
Dogyuun
Toaplan
1992
Brilliant 2 player vert toaplan shooter
Donpachi
Atlus / Cave
1995
1995, vertical, busy and manic shooter, also on Saturn
Dragon Blaze
Psikyo
2000
Stunningly beautiful shmup, able to jump from your dragon and fight seperatly, superb.
Dragon Breed
Irem
1989
Unusual side scrolling game – you control a dragon rider riding an invincible dragon, and can hop off.
Dragon Saber
Namco
1990
Followup to Dragon Spirit. Available on Namco Encore Pack for Playstation
Dragon Spirit
Namco
1987
Difficult vertically scrolling game, you control a dragon. Also on Namco Museum Packs for Playstation
Dyger
Philko
1989
EDF : Earth Defence Force
Jaleco
1991
Old space game, also on the SNES afaik...
Earth Joker
Visco
1993
Very poor vertical scroller...
ECO Fighters
Capcom
1994
Ecological shmup, where you’re out to stop polluters.
Eight Forces
Tecmo
1994
Equites
Alpha Denshi
1984
Espial
Orca/Thunderbolt
1983
?
ESP Ra.De
Atlus/Cave
1998
Fantastic ESP based shmup, with heavy bullet spray and loads of wicked weapons.
Exed Exes
Capcom
1985
Decent early vert shooter
Exzisus
Taito
1987
Fantasy Zone
Sega
1986
Funny cute'em up action, one of the original side scrollers
Fighting Hawk
Taito
1989
Final Star Force
Tecmo
1992
Finalizer - Super Transformation
Konami
1985
Fire Shark / Same! Same! Same!
Toaplan
1990
Sequel to Flying Shark
Fixeight
Toaplan
1992
Good walking vertical shooter, followup to Out Zone.
Flying Shark
Taito
1987
Hugely difficult yet compulsively playable vertical scroller.
Forgotten Worlds / Lost Worlds
Capcom
1988
A very debatable side scrolling game, like a mix of Robotron, Asteroids, R-Type and Contra...
Future Spy
Sega
1994
Zaxxon clone, but without the up and down element (easier!)
Galaga
Namco
1981
Followup to Galaxian, with a few extra touchs, could link 2 of your ships to double firepower
Galaxian
Namco
1979
The first game were the baddies came down the screen at you.
Gallop / Armed Police Unit
Irem
1996
Despite what some say, I'm 99% sure this is not part of the R-Type family.
Galmedes
Visco
1992
Game Paradise: Master Of Shooting
Jaleco
1995
Gaplus
Namco
1984
Followup to Galaga
G-Darius
Taito
1997
Darius moves into 3D, some amazing bosses, Also on Playstation.
Gekirindan
Taito
1995
A staple shooter, time travel based much like Radiant Silvergun. Also on the Saturn...
Gemini Wing
Tecmo
1987
Semi-cute vertical. Two player mode is excellent.
Ghost Pilots SNK Average war shmup. Drab and basic.
Giga Wing
Takumi / Capcom
1998
Maniac shmup with unavoidable bullets, you have to use the "reflect" power which it introduced to repel them.
Giga Wing 2
Takumi / Capcom
2001
Superb update to the series, looks and plays fantastically.
Gigandes East Technology
1989
Unusual and highly addictive weapon system makes this horizontally scrolling shmup with crap graphics lots of fun
Gokujou Parodius!
Konami
1994
2nd in the series, fantastic and insane shooter, superb soundtrack.
Gorf
Midway
1981
One of the originals, comprised of several mini games and one of the first games with speech.
Gradius / Nemesis
Konami
1985
The grandfather of the scrolling shooter, introduced powerups and the "option". A real classic. Also on PC-Engine, good C64 version, perfect X-68000 conversion.
Gradius II / Vulcan Venture
Konami
1988
Improved graphics and damn hard gameplay. On Playstation, Saturn and PCengine CD and NES.
Gradius III
Konami
1989
Rock hard great looking shooter. released in the home on SNES, and now on the PS2
Gradius IV
Konami
1998
Superb looking 2D shooter on 3D hardware. Also available in the Gradius 3&4 pack for the Playstation 2
Gratia - Second Earth
Jaleco
1996
Gridseeker: Project Stormhammer
Taito
1992
Superb looking and sounding shooter, great powerup system in timing your enemys attacks with yours.
Grindstormer / V-Five
Toaplan
1993
Gulf Storm
Dooyong
1991
Gulf War II
Comad
1991
Gunbird
Psikyo
1995
Vertically scrolling, semi-cute manga style, also on Playstation.
Gunbird 2
Psikyo
1998
Superb sequel, outdoes the original in every way, manic, cute and amusing shmup.
Gun Frontier
Taito
1990
"The Revolver" shmup, all ships look like they’re made of guns, great playing very stylised game, unsure why!
Gunlock / Rayforce
Taito
1993
Great space shooter featuring lock-on Also on Saturn as Layer Section and Galactic Attack.
Gunnail
NMK/Tecmo
1992
Average vertical shooter.
Guwange
Atlus / Cave
1999
Fantastic manic shmup set in a demon filled Feudal Japan. Prepare for some bizarre demon hunting!
Gyrodine
Taito
1985
Very, very poor heli shmup. Avoid like the plague!
Gyruss
Konami
1983
Great old school shmup, superb music for the time.
Halleys Comet
Taito
1986
Ahead of its time old shool shmup with great powerup system and some great effects.
Heavy Unit
Kaneko
1988
Side scrolling space shmup, also on PC-Engine and Megadrive.
Hellfire
Toaplan
1989
Average horizontal scroller, with weird geometric weapon system.
Hishou Same
Toaplan
1987
Alternate name for Flying Shark.
HotDog Storm
Marble
1996
Very average.
Hyper Duel
Technosoft
1996
Also out on Saturn, very difficult to find! Macross inspired ship mechanics with the now famous Thunderforce gameplay...
Ikaruga (DC review)
Treasure
2000
Image Fight
Irem
1991
Vertical scroller, hugely difficult. On PC-Engine and Playstation as part of X-Multiply Pack.
In The Hunt
Irem
1995
Highly detailed side scroller, pilot a submarine with torpedo and anti-air weapons. Also on Playstation and Saturn.
Insector X
Taito
1988
Cutesy cartoon horizontal shooter where you play an insect exterminator.
Juno First
Konami
1983
Maniac old school shooter, worth a play.
Ketsui Cave / AMI Manic Bullet Joy!
Kingdom Grandprix / Shippu Mahou Daisakusen
Raizing / Eighting
1994
Nice little racing - shmup crossbreed... do you blast or do you race?
Kyukyoku Tiger / Twin Cobra
Taito
1987
Helicopter shmup, much like Raiden...
Kyukyoku Tiger 2 / Twin Cobra 2
Taito
1995
Sequel, better graphics and more balanced. Also available for Saturn
Land, sea, air squad
Taito
1986
The Last Day
Dooyong
1990
Last Duel
Capcom
1988
Futuristic shmup where your ship alternates between a car and a spaceship.
Last Resort SNK R-Typeish shmup featuring a long ship and a weapon orb.
Legendary Wings
Capcom
1988
Levels alternates between overhead shooter and side scrolling platformer.
Lethal Thunder
Irem
1991
Irem vertical scroller, weapons get more powerful the faster you fire. Impressive!
Life Force / Salamander
Konami
1986
Sister series to Gradius, organic themed with vertical and side scrolling levels
Lightning Fighters / Trigon
Konami
1990
Vertical shmup, massive lasers of doom and cool dragon superweapon, US version missing stuff.
Lost Worlds / Forgotten Worlds
Capcom
1988
A very debatable side scrolling game, like a mix of Robotron, Asteroids, R-Type and Contra...
Macross II
Banpresto
1993
Horizontal shooter
Macross Plus
Banpresto
1996
Mahou Daisakusen
Raizing/Able
1993
Nice little fantasy shmup, shades of a more macabre Cotton... now available on the X68000 (woah!)
Mars Matrix [REV 1]
Mars Matrix [REV 2]
Capcom / Takumi
2000
Average looking but great fun pre-rendered manic shmup with loads of bullets and things to collect.
Master of Weapon
Taito
1989
Mazinger Z
Banpresto
1994
Megablast
Taito
1989
Meta Fox
Seta
1989
Metal Black
Taito
1991
Good shooter with good powerup system and superb bosses. Also on Saturn.
Metal Hawk
Namco
1988
Fantastic playing, great looking, rotating above view zooming scaling helicoptor shooter with custom cabinet.
Mission 660
Taito
1986
Mr. Heli / Battle Chopper
Irem
1987
Cute slow paced multidirectional scrolling shooter, loads of powerups to reveal by shooting landscape.
Mister Viking
Sega
1984
Overhead runabout style shmup from 1984, fun graphics, basic game though...
Moon Cresta
Nichibutsu
1980
A true classic! non scrolling but with modern shooter elements: powerups, different waves.
Mystic Riders
Irem
1992
Fantastic Cotton/Magical Chase style cute-em-up!
Nebulas Ray
Namco
1994
Very rare coin-op, vertical scroller, pre-rendered graphics.
Nemesis / Gradius
Konami
1985
The grandfather of the scrolling shooter, introduced powerups and the "option". A real classic. Also on PC-Engine, good C64 version, perfect X-68000 conversion.
The Next Space
SNK
1989
Nostradamus
Face
1993
Lovely vert shmup but extremely hard in later levels. So that's how crop circles are made!
Omega Fighter
UPL
1989
Very old vert scroller, like a continuous "destroy the giant battleship" shmup. Very nice!
Omega Fighter Special
UPL
1989
Sequel, minor updates.
Ordyne
Namco
1988
Also on Playstation Namco Museum pack and PC-Engine
Orius / Xexex
Konami
1991
Fantastic "ahead of its time" shmup... all time classic...
Tiger
Taito
1987
Helicopter shmup, much like Raiden...
Twin Cobra 2 / Kyukyoku Tiger 2
Taito
1995
Sequel, better graphics and more balanced. Also available for Saturn.
Twin Eagle
Seta
1989
A rather boring helicopter shmup, but at least it has a 2-players-at-once mode - tries to beatOut Zone
Toaplan
1990
Vertical walking shmup.
P-47 The Phantom Fighter
Jaleco
1988
Great WW2 horizontal shooter with bombs.
P-47 Aces
Jaleco
1995
Sequel to P47, better graphics, gameplay not quite as good.
Parodius Da!
Konami
1990
The original cute'em-up/parody shmup, takes swipes at most older Konami shooters, great game as well.
Phelios
Namco
1988
Similar to Dragon Spirit, you’re a god riding pegasus and have a big sword, no, really.
Phoenix
Amstar
1980
Old school shooter with different style levels, including end of level mothership.
Plus Alpha
Jaleco
1989
Pollux
Dooyong
1991
Polystars
Konami
1997
A bit like Twin Bee crossed with Raystorm
Progear
Cave/Capcom
2001
Amazingly fun horizontally scrolling manic shooter
Prehistoric Isle in 1930
SNK
1989
Side scrolling biplanes vs dinosaurs shmup.
Prehistoric Isle 2
Yumekobo
2000
Nice looking but very average sequel.
Pulstar
Aicom
1995
Above average pre-rendered neogeo shooter, similar to R-Type in style.
R-Shark
Dooyong
1994
Unspecacular derivitive Korean shooter, hard to tell from anything else.
R-Type
Irem
1987
Probably the finest designed shooter in the world! Fabulous PC-Engine version, great Amiga conversion.
R-Type II
Irem
1989
Slightly inferior followup. Available on Playstation R-Types Pack with the first game and for the Amiga, also on the SNES as Super R-Type...
R-Type Leo
Irem
1992
The latest R-Type arcade game with impressive graphics and subtly hidden classic R-Type gameplay.
Radiant Silvergun Treasure The most AWESOME vert scroller ever created. A work of genius, and a must have!
Raiden
Seibu Kaihatsu
1990
One of the all time classics, great gameplay. Home versions on everything.
Raiden II
Seibu Kaihatsu
1993
Improved on original, includes many huge lasers of doom. On PSX as part of Raiden Project Pack.
Raiden DX
Seibu Kaihatsu
1994
Remix of Raiden II, on Playstation.
Raiden Fighters
Seibu Kaihatsu
1996
1st of the next gen Raidens on new hardware, great looking and great gameplay.
Raiden Fighters 2
Seibu Kaihatsu
1997
More of the same, bigger and better though.
Raiden Fighters Jet
Seibu Kaihatsu
1998
Last in series of awesome shooters featuring more selectable planes than any other shooter ever.
Raiga - Strato Fighter
Tecmo
1991
Good fun side scrolling shmup in which you can turn backwards.
Rapid Hero
Media Trading Corp.
1994
Rayforce (review 1)
Rayforce (review 2)
Taito
1993
Great space shooter featuring lock-on Also on Saturn as Layer Section and Galactic Attack.
Raystorm
Taito
1996
3D sequel with good end of level bosses. Also on Saturn and Playstation as Layer Section 2.
RayCrisis
Taito
1998
Latest and one of the best vertical scrollers going. Fantastic gameplay mechanics, manic gameplay and massive bosses...
Red Clash
Tehkan
1982
Regulus
Sega
1983
Average vertical shooter.
Rezon
Alhummer
1991
Excellent R-Type clone, very difficult!
Robotron 2084
Williams
1982
single-screen manic shooter with dual controls. Also available for Playstation and N64
Ryu Jin
Taito
1993
Sagaia / Darius II
Taito
1989
3 or 2 screen side scroller, great mech-fish bosses. Also on Megadrive, Playstation and Saturn.
Salamander / Life Force
Konami
1986
Sister series to Gradius, organic themed with vertical and side scrolling levels
Salamander 2
Konami
1996
10 years later we get a followup, fantastic graphics but slightly poorer gameplay. Also on Saturn.
Saint Dragon
Jaleco
1989
Flying dragon shmup, good music, Very good Amiga port
Same! Same! Same! / Fire Shark
Toaplan
1990
Sequel to Flying Shark
Sand Scorpion
Face
1992
Vertical shooter, nice weapons but not a lot else.
Saturn
Jaleco
1983
Old shmup, defend Saturn, horrible colours.
Scramble
Konami
1981
The original Konami side scrolling shmup, Gradius’s daddy.
Scramble Formation / Tokio
Taito
1986
Vertical scrolling, one of Malc's old favourites!
Scramble Spirits
Sega
1988
Great vertical shmup with super graphics and fancy zooming effects.
Section Z
Capcom
1988
Early multiscrolling shooter like Sidearms, one of the first shmups you could turn backwards in as well.
Sengeki Striker
Kaneko / Warashi
1997
Old fashioned vertical shmup with modern graphics.
Sengoku Ace, also Samurai Aces
Psikyo
1993
Feudal Japan style vertscroller, also on Saturn.
Sengoku Ace 2, also Sengoku Blade
Psikyo
1996
Followup to above, unsurprisingly, also on Saturn.
Sen Jin - Guardian Storm
Afega
1998
Sexy Parodius
Konami
1996
3rd in the mad Parodius series. Lots of semi naked bunny girls straddling missiles (heh heh)
Shippu Mahou Daisakusen / Kingdom Grandprix
Raizing / Eighting
1994
Nice little racing - shmup crossbreed... do you blast or do you race?!
Side Arms
Capcom
1986
multi-scrolling shooter, unusual graphics and hard gameplay.
Silkworm
Tecmo
1988
Play as a jeep or helicopter, excellent Amiga and C64 versions.
Sinistar
Williams
1982
Analog controller shooter, fast paced but thinking mans shmup, also rock hard.
Skull Fang
Data East
1996
Average vertical scroller, good 'chase' theme, fantastic soundtrack. Also for Saturn
Sky Adventure
Alpha Denshi
1989
Sky Alert
Metro
1993
