Any really good Sidescrolling Shooters out there?

[ShadowTiger]

Anyone know of any really good Sidescrolling Shooters out there? Similar to the Metroid series, I suppose? I've already seen that 2D Zelda Slash'emup game. It was pretty good.

Something like Abuse, or Jetpack, or Jazz Jackrabbit 2, ...

[Modus Ponens]

Well, have you played Cave Story?

[ShadowTiger]

Actually, yes, all the way through. D: It was exceptional.


I think I was looking for something like, ... "freedom" to do a lot of things, very similar to Super Metroid. Those are so few and far between.

I've also seen and played Eternal Daughter. It's a lot like Cave Story.

[MottZilla]

Wait, are you looking for a platform shooter, or a game that's Metroid but slightly different? There are tons of platform shooters on SNES. Many are japanese only but that shouldn't stop you.

[ShadowTiger]

Anything sidescrolling would be marvelous at this point, really. I'm surprised I returned to my base roots of gaming, but it is what it is.

[MottZilla]

Well then download the entire SNES library. :p That's a good starting point.

[KingOfHeart]

Gunstar Heroes for the sega. It's real fun with a two player if you can work together. Tough game to, even on easy mode.

[Cloral]

The only recent platforming game I've played is Wario Land. It's not a shooter by any respect, but if you're looking for platforming, it is a pretty good game.

[Nicholas Steel]

Duke Nukem, Cosmo, Hocus Pocus, Secret Agent, Halloween Harry (Alien Carnage), Earthworm Jim... and others that I forget >.>" all are decent or great.

[Brasel]

Flashback is really good. Its like a futuristic Prince of Persia...the original, not the PS2 revival. I haven't finished it, but I always make an attempt every couple of years or so.

[Skulkraken]

You should play Iji.

http://www.remar.se/daniel/games/iji_screen1.gif

http://www.remar.se/daniel/iji.php

[MANDRAG GANON]

Umihara Kawase (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1RAXcB1rhQ) (snes) is fantastic, the physics are lovely.
Any of the Haggleman games from Retro Game Challenge (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akIvyJS0pbU) (DS) are pretty good, Haggleman 3 you might be particularly interested in.
Exile (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkInczf7RL4) (C64) You Might enjoy if you liked Jetpack.
Blaster Master (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkPSDBlLO_o) (NES) is similar to metroid gameplay.
Jill of the Jungle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qodk4y_tQgo) (DOS) I always loved as well as alot of the games Franpa said
Commander Keen (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdRSDBR-YQ8) (DOS) is just amazing.
Legend of Kage 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GChBx3j7KZc) (DS) was great, it can be fairly linear at times but it was enjoyable.
Layla (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0q40juaLYg) (NES) Something i've been playing lately that's alright
Clash at Demonhead (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhhYtIsjRWQ) (NES) Weird but fun
Kabuki Quantum Fighter (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3RMKE8JeqU) (NES) This game doesnt have shooting really but you headbang people to death.
Little Samson (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PlbExANZM0) (NES) Similar to megaman, you can choose from 4 characters..
Saiyuki World 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmXB68kde_Q) (NES) This reminds me of Dragon ball kind of. You beat people with a staff.
If you like Flashback maybe try Another World (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgkf6wooDmw)
You clearly enjoyed the Zelda Game Konjak (http://konjak.org/) made so you'd probably Enjoy Noitu Love 1 or 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK37gN7kCwQ)
Rocket Knight Adventures (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6PAkzY--ck) (Genesis)
Sky Blazer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvBd_8Lrd8o) (SNES)

I could go on forever. These are fairly obscure as I'm assuming you've played most of the well known games.

[ShadowTiger]

Wow, thank you (all) so much. :) I think I'm good for about a month with these, lol! ^^, I'll definitely be giving Kage 2 a try; I do need something to do on the DS, and my R4 is rarely used to capacity.

[Beldaran]

You should play the Commander Keen games.

[CaRmAgE]

I agree with a lot of these choices, although I'm surprised Bio Menace (DOS) hasn't been mentioned yet. It's a good game to try in case you want the extra challenge.

[ShadowTiger]

Both were definitely very good. :) Played 'em when I was like, four.

[Gleeok]

When I read Side-Scrolling Shooter I for some reason read it as 'Horizontal Shooter' and immidiately thought of Gradius V, which is so good that it cannot really be compared to others like it, that wouldn't be fair, It's more like a God to them.

For side-scrollers I can only think of the usual suspects: Blaster Master, Mario, Contra, Cave Story, Megaman, etc.. all which have been mentioned.

There were some great Neo-Geo games and tons of other arcade hits that probably never made it to a console in America. I do suggest you re-calibrate your M.A.M.E.-o-Meter! It may be due for a tune up.

[Nicholas Steel]

Debris32 by MVP Software is a fantastic comet busters clone, it is a bit hard to come by the game these day though because it infringed on copyright and the company was closed after it was sued. It still is the best Comet Busters clone to this day ;)

[Vagla]

For the NES, try out Ufouria and Gimmick!. Both are fantastic and worth your time, and are relatively unknown because they didn't come out in the US. Neither involve shooting, but Ufouria is very Metroid-like (a massive world to explore, nonlinearity, tons of secrets) and Gimmick! is super polished and a lot of fun. The music for both is really good, too (particularly Gimmick!).

[Beldaran]

Metal Slug is fun.

[Nicholas Steel]

Don't get the PS2 metal slug anthology, the game runs in semi-slowmo.

[Beldaran]

Metal Slug is best played on MAME.

[MottZilla]

Don't get the PS2 metal slug anthology, the game runs in semi-slowmo.

All the time? Because the arcade versions themselves suffer slowdown at certain points. There is a noticable difference in them when running with an overclocked CPU.

[King Aquamentus]

If you're looking for a sideview explorer title, I could recommend Maze of Galious for MSX. This is real MSX though, not La-Mulana (another good one)'s "looks like MSX".

Also, on the subject of Duke Nukem, also get Duke Nukem II.

[Warlock]

How has only one person in this topic mentioned Contra? Contra 4 is especially good.

[Nicholas Steel]

All the time? Because the arcade versions themselves suffer slowdown at certain points. There is a noticable difference in them when running with an overclocked CPU.
All the time, BUT it could be that the games are 60hz and the PAL version runs them at 50hz...

[MottZilla]

How has only one person in this topic mentioned Contra? Contra 4 is especially good.

Because he said "like Metroid" and not Side Scrolling Platform game. Otherwise I would have.

Franpa, I didn't think about that because I don't have to deal with PAL. :p Even in PAL areas, maybe MS Anthology supports 60hz mode. If not you can always import.

[Warlock]

Because he said "like Metroid" and not Side Scrolling Platform game. Otherwise I would have.

Franpa, I didn't think about that because I don't have to deal with PAL. :p Even in PAL areas, maybe MS Anthology supports 60hz mode. If not you can always import.

But then he mentioned essentially a Shoot Em' Up in the same paragraph :P Contra is also a lot like Metroid, only more linear and harder ;) But for sure, it has a lot of the same elements - crazy jumps, vertical platforming, and a variety of weapons ;)

[ShadowTiger]

They're both good. :p Though to be fair, the wall-jumping was the clincher. ;-p Seriously, who doesn't love total freedom in any game.