These are some of the 1980s shoot 'em ups i find myself playing from time to time:
- R-Type
- The ones by Toaplan (Tiger-Heli, Slap Fight, Flying Shark, etc.)
- Blazing Lazers
- Zanac
- Life Force (Salamander)
- Prehistoric Isle
- Galaga '88
- Xevious
And various others that i can't remember right now at the top of my head.
How's this for an 80's shooter: SATAN'S HOLLOW! Shooting enemies while trying to build a bridge to the Land of Satan. This was to me one of the more vicious shooters, especially when you die on an extremely hard level and lose all your firepower. On a factory setting it was hard enough, nearly impossible on its hardest setting.
Another shooter from 1982: the rarely seen Sega vector shooting classic Tac/Scan. Had standard vertical shooting and 3D style shooting. Another feature was you control a formation of ships that range from 1 up to 4. As long as you have extras, you can add to your formation however if the main ship gets hit, you lose everything. Part of Sega's Convert-A-Game system along with Space Fury, Star Trek and Eliminators (the only 4 player vector game made).