What else plays like Metal Slug / Demon Front / Dolphin Blue ?

For some reason, I find myself in need of satisfying an action game craze. So I started looking at my favorite genre du jour (2D side-scrolling action shooters) and realized that there are not too many quality titles out there. Either that, or I'm completely missing out on some gems. Basically, I'm looking for some recommendations on what I may be missing from this genre. I have played all of the below and will assume all of the following to be 2D side-scrolling action shootersdespite minor differences in game play and seriousness:

Metal Slug series
Contra series
Cyber-Lip
Demon Front
Dolphin Blue
Alien Hominid
Gunstar Heroes

I know I am missing some other games out there, but am drawing a blank. I am sure there are SNES/Genesis/NES games I've played and have just forgotten due to their lack of memorable qualities. Can anyone help out and pitch in with some suggestions. Basically just games that involve (as all of the above) running and shooting s**t. And, I suppose, these games have to be more shooting oriented and fast paced than Top Hunter, Ninja Gaiden, Vice Project Doom, Ninja Spirit, Shinobi, or other action side-scrollers that have some shooting sequences.

I think the last two-three years of the search function don't point out anything else that fits the above mold. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Sincerely,

Mikhail

Alien Soldier?

Gunforce 1 and 2 arcade PCBs

What about Rolling Thunder?

Then there's Agent Armstrong on PSX, not a real top game (and with some debatable 2.5D gameplay elements) but mindless fun.

Another one would be Gunner's Heaven (Rapid Reload outside Japan) but I guess you'd call that a borderliner title by your definition.

Oh, and I almost forgot Green Beret, amazing game, still love it.

Takumaji said:

What about Rolling Thunder?

Then there's Agent Armstrong on PSX, not a real top game (and with some debatable 2.5D gameplay elements) but mindless fun.

Another one would be Gunner's Heaven (Rapid Reload outside Japan) but I guess you'd call that a borderliner title by your definition.

Oh, and I almost forgot Green Beret, amazing game, still love it.

Click to expand...

Gunners' Heaven came to mind for me, also. Cool game that reminded me of Gunstar Heroes and the like.

Turrican saga.

Panzer Bandit is pretty good and like Guardian Heroes

Just get Mario for NES

Midnight resistance?

Turrican?
Turrican 2
Turrican 3

Heh, almost forgot Turrican, excellent series.... have to undust my ol' Amiga sometime and play one of them again.

Another one that hasn't been mentioned: Spinmaster, very colorful and relaxing.

I always like Contra/Probotector in the good old genesis megadrive, you could check it out on many of the emu's out there.

I love those games too, they're a lost art. Like the "walk-down-the-street-an- beat-the-crap-out-of-everyone" genre. How bout the Robocop arcade game. Sunset Riders maybe? I like some over the shoulder style ones like Nam 75, Cabal, Blood Bros and the GI Joe arcade game. The vertical ones are cool too like Ikari, Ninja Commando, Shock troopers and the like.

Well, since you like the NES, maybe Konami’s RUSH’N ATTACK (AKA Green Beret) and Sunsoft's JOURNEY TO SILIUS

Metal Gun III .....a Dojin for PC

There's always Forgotten Worlds...

If you have a Saturn I would recommend Guardian Heroes.

I'd like to thank everyone for their contributions so far. I tell you, nothing pleases me more nowadays than a simple little action shooter that can be played for 15 minutes at a time.

Obviously, it's difficult to narrow the genre so much. Don't ge me wrong, there are so many amazing 2D action games that it's hard to pick out a specific type of sub-genre within this niche. Spinmaster and Top Hunter are amazing colorful fun titles. Vertical shooters such as Ninja Commando and the like also offer quick adrenaline. And there are a number of old-school platform type scrollers like even the original G.I.Joe for Nintendo that are too good to ignore. I do have to disagree with Pep's Rush 'n Attack recommendation. That game becomes incredibly tedious and has a frustrating level of difficulty.

And Ruell, Mario?

Sincerely,

Mikhail

IN THE HUNT.

closest thing to Metal Slug you can get..........just substitute underwater subs and water for the characters of Metal Slug and dry land.

it's a fun game, feels pretty close to Metal Slug, but just short of it.

on a side note, i'm a fan of Stephen Platt's comic work (especially way back on Prophet--i liked the Crypt character quite a bit).

Kiselgof said:

I'd like to thank everyone for their contributions so far. I tell you, nothing pleases me more nowadays than a simple little action shooter that can be played for 15 minutes at a time.

Obviously, it's difficult to narrow the genre so much. Don't ge me wrong, there are so many amazing 2D action games that it's hard to pick out a specific type of sub-genre within this niche. Spinmaster and Top Hunter are amazing colorful fun titles. Vertical shooters such as Ninja Commando and the like also offer quick adrenaline. And there are a number of old-school platform type scrollers like even the original G.I.Joe for Nintendo that are too good to ignore. I do have to disagree with Pep's Rush 'n Attack recommendation. That game becomes incredibly tedious and has a frustrating level of difficulty.

And Ruell, Mario?

Sincerely,

Mikhail

Click to expand...

Hey, you can't say Mario isn't a side action scroller/shooter. Well if you want a few snes titles, pick up Front Mission GH, Cybernator, or Metal Warriors.

Mario is indeed an action side-scroller, but it does not fit in with the rest of the description that I put up matching against Contra, Metal Slug and the other titles. Heck, it does not even fit the action mold of Ninja Gaiden or Shinobi. It's more of a platformer, thus anyone wanting to play a Metal Slug type game would be seriously disappointed in picking up Mario and expecting similar gameplay .

Sincerely,

Mikhail

I'm a huge fan of these games myself. Contra is my favorite old school game. For all you Metal Slug/Contra/Sunset Riders fans...You HAVE to play Blip Blop. It's a tribute game to this genre. The enemies consist of Carebears, Smurfs, Mario, Lara Croft, etc. It's badass... and it's a free, fast download.

http://www.loaded-studio.com/blip&blop.php


-Adam

Here's some comments I made on a few run 'n gunners (I included isometric/top-down shooters for good measure):

Metal Slug Advance -- I like it a lot, for a handheld Slug it does its job.
Apocalypse -- Bruce!
Assault: Retribution -- Mediocre in every sense, worth the $2 I paid for a half hour
Alien Hominid -- Pudding boss was cool, but too many cheap moments
Metal Slug 4 -- Easily one of the worst Neo games out there
Midnight Resistance -- Only played the Genney port; controls were awkward and the Contra rip-offs made me laugh (c'mon, Crimson Head?). Still, it's good fun.
Predator 2 -- isometric shooter on the Genesis; don't judge it on the license, it is honestly fun and very good
Contra -- classic
Contra Force -- not-so-classic
Guerrilla War -- Better than Ikari Warriors, imho
Ikari Warriors -- Better than Commando...
Iron Tank -- Best overhead shooter SNK ever put out, and it's on NES
Atomic Runner -- Often overlooked Genesis shooter, very odd and fun; controls took awhile to get used to
Journey to Silius -- Its Terminator roots are very apparent; tough game but way fun.
Power Blade -- One of the best underappreciated NES games
Power Blade 2 -- Not as good as the original
Super C -- Never beat this one, ashamed to admit
Gunforce -- Fucking terrible (SNES port, at least)
Turrican series -- Can honestly say the Turrican style of games is not my cup of tea
Super Smash TV -- an American classic
Timeslip -- Easily one of the worst SNES games ever
Gunstar Super Heroes -- biggest disappointment of '05 D:

As for my personal favorites:
10. Gunstar Heroes -- overrated, sure, but still a great
9. In the Hunt -- The other reason as to how Nazca made video games an art form
8. Metal Slug 5 -- I really, really like this Slug. Really. cept for the last boss..
7. Contra: Shattered Soldier -- this game gets my blood pumped like no other.
6. Sunset Riders -- Spent countless hours on the arcade, still do today. Stay away from the Genesis port.
5. Metal Slug X -- Slug 2 has the best bosses and level design...but X took out the slowdown.
4. Neo Contra -- I loved Neo Contra; it had the cheesiest shit, granted, but that helped it. The greatest top-down run 'n gunner there is.
3. Contra: Hard Corps -- insanity, and one of the games that defines the Genesis.
2. Metal Slug -- The greatest Neo game, one of the greatest arcade games ever, and art in video game form. I have nothing but respect for Nazca.
1. Contra III -- I'll be honest, this is #1 because my nostalgia for this game makes me love it. I still remember being 9 years old and finally beating it...to this day, I have never beat it on Hard. The bullets are fast as hell on Hard.


It's a damned shame that the run 'n gunner genre is so limited; out of all the video game genres, its library is one of the most miniscule. My love runs deep for it, however.

Hmm damn nobody mention these classic from, Midway.

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=T&game_id=10167
http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=S&game_id=9591

If you haven't already then. Try out ShockTroopers 1 & 2 for the Neo.

gun spike? my first post WOOT!!