Best 2D space shooters/platformers of all time

[Lamont]

Alright people, I'm in another rush of game buying, so I am after 2D space shooters/platformers for these systems:

NES
SNES
GameBoy
DS
DreamCast
PS2
XBox
GameCube
N64

If there are really good ones for other systems, post them as well.

[lesman]

Sonic Series
Mario Series
Darius

My top 3.....

[Bad_Boy]

do you mean both space shooters and platformers? or space shooters and space platformers? im kinda confused. can ya give an example?

[zero002021]

Ikaruga, it's on the GameCube and can be imported for the Dreamcast. Might be kind of hard to find now, but it's worth the trouble.

[Bad_Boy]

ah i see.

well then..
Gradius/Life force and U.N. Squadron are my favorite 2d shooters

as for platformers
gunstar heroes, sonic, mario, megaman, megaman x

[arr4ws]

there is nanostray for the DS

[Lamont]

I got Ikaruga, and quite a few for the NES/SNES. Mars Matrix... some good DreamCast ones.

I just got UN Squadron off eBay.. I totally forgot about that one, but I may have it already.

Gunstar Hero's for the GBA, and a couple of others are being watched. I remember this game called Viewpoint for the NeoGeo back in 95. I just don't have a NeoGeo yet. Did that game come out on another console?

I have every MegaMan, Mario and Sonic to date (Consoles, not handheld) in some form.

[Slartibartfast]

Bangai-O on Dreamcast.

If you haven't played it, you owe it to yourself to do so. Fan-fuckin-tastic shooter.

Gunstar Super Heroes on GBA is very good, btw.

Treasure FTW!

[Lamont]

Bagai-O just came in the mail two weeks ago :)

Keep em coming!!

[Slartibartfast]

Bagai-O just came in the mail two weeks ago :)

Keep em coming!!

Excellent! That is the game that inspired me to get a dreamcast.

[Bad_Boy]

Gunstar Hero's for the GBA, and a couple of others are being watched. I remember this game called Viewpoint for the NeoGeo back in 95. I just don't have a NeoGeo yet. Did that game come out on another console?
Sega Genesis

Just wondering, why all the research on space shooters and platformers?

[Slartibartfast]

Sega Genesis

Just wondering, why all the research on space shooters and platformers?

There's actually a sequel on GBA - Gunstar Super Heroes

[Bad_Boy]

There's actually a sequel on GBA - Gunstar Super Heroes
Yeah I think thats what Lamont was referring to. The sequel is actually better than the first one imo, but it's always cool to go back to the genesis for the nostalgia factor.

They also ported the genesis version to the PS2 but it was never released in NA.


edit:
Under Defeat actually just got released for the Dreamcast even though the console's dismissal was years ago. I'm hearing nothing but good things about it, makes me wish I still had my dreamcast.

Heres some other Dreamcast shooters:
http://www.racketboy.com/retro/2006/03/dreamcast-shmups-library-2d-shooters.html

[Lamont]

Just wondering, why all the research on space shooters and platformers?It's not really research, I just want to finish that genre in my collection and fill it with the best. Then I can say "I got the best games of this genre for this system.".

Next will be 2D/3D action games... Gunstar was re-released by Sega for the PS2 in Japan, part of the 2000 collection. I'll look around at work and see if it's here, then I'll grab it for the PS2 if not.

Keep 'em coming. I just got Viewpoint for the Genisis.

[edit]

Sweet, thanks for that list.

[Bad_Boy]

No problem. Gunstar Heroes is probably my favorite platformer ever.

Under Defeat is on sale at play-asia, but pretty pricey...
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-x-49-en-15-under+defeat-70-15x1.html
graphics are pretty amazing and make you forget it's on a dreamcast
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4718/underdefeatmontage0ca.jpg

really wish i could play this game. maybe ill buy it and a dreamcast sometime down the road.

[Skirrow]

on Snes you have Axelay, Sexy Parodius , and Twinklestar sprites which are cool.
DC has Ikargua, Psyvariar and Border Down (3d but 2d gameplay)
Saturn has Keio Flying Squadron 2 and Thunderforce 5
Genesis has a load of em. Thunderforce 3 and 4, Darius 2, Biohazard Battle, Darius 2,Alien Soldier, Gunstar Heroes, Gynoug, Aeroblasters, Hellfire.
Playstation (1), has Thunderforce 5, G-Darius, Philosoma, Ray Storm. Ray Crisis, Gradius Gaiden, Salamander Deluxe pack,

Played all them and loved everyone of em. I love shoot-em-ups. Favourite genre by far.

[Bad_Boy]

they should really make a sequel to u.n. squadron. my favrorite snes game ever.

[Lamont]

Alright, got Chaos Field, Castle Shikigami 2 and I want to get Border Down, but that mo-fo wants $160 bucks for it. I am sure I can call my sister in law and she can look for it for less than $20 bucks.

Under Defeat on eBay is risky, 90% of the sellers are from HK, and the hell if I am gonna get a game from there. So I'll get that from NCSX... I remember seeing this game on IGN a while ago and plain forgot about it.

[Slartibartfast]

Do you have both versions of Ikaruga? In the GC version things move faster so the game is noticeably harder. However, instead of translating all the text in the DC version, they just cut it out :(

[Bad_Boy]

If you have a psp, Gradius collection is also worth getting.

[Lord Nassirbannipal]

My favorite Genre.

First, there's your regular scrolling shooters.

Gradius
R-Type
Ikaruga
Trizeal
Gunbird
Border Down
Raiden
Axelay
Nanostray
Sexy Parodius
Darius Gaiden
1942
Sonic Wings
Battle Garegga
Sengeki Striker
Radiant Silvergun
Ray Storm
Raycrisis
Twinkle Star Sprites

Beyond this, you have your manic shooters or bullet hells, most developed by Cave.

Donpachi
Dodonpachi
Dodonpachi II
Dodonpachi Daioujou
Batsugun
Chaos Field
Espgaluda
Mushihime-sama
Progear
Psyvariar 2
Gigawing
Toho Series
Guwange

The latter games are very difficult to master. If you think going through an entire level of Gradius without being hit is difficult, it's even harder to go for an entire minute without being hit in a manic shooter. In a lot of the boss fights, you aren't even supposed to kill the boss. You're just supposed to stay alive for a certain amount of time, at which point the boss is considered defeated.

[Lamont]

I know Gigawing was Published by Capcom and Developed by Takumi.

Nice list, noted and looking through eBay.

[prtzlboy]

contra, super contra

[Lamont]

Those were a given ;). I did pass on the 2nd PS2 contra game... muy crappy.

Found this:

http://www.collectorz.com/game/

[Squishead]

R-Type all the way! How many of these games were there? 3 or 4 something like that. Hard as fucking hell, though...at least that's how I remember it being.

And for the platformers, you can't go wrong with the Contra series. I believe that there is at least one on all platforms, save N64.

[Lord Nassirbannipal]

Contra falls more into the category of Run 'n' Gun, a sub-genre of Shoot 'em' ups.

[xerus`]

Donpachi
Dodonpachi
Dodonpachi II
Dodonpachi Daioujou
Batsugun
Chaos Field
Espgaluda
Mushihime-sama
Progear
Psyvariar 2
Gigawing
Toho Series
Guwange

Ah yes, the games designed to devour your quarters at arcades. ;D

[Scream And Fly]

Blazing Lasers on the TurboGraphx 16!

[Joose]

Geometry Wars ownz me...

[prtzlboy]

Those were a given ;). I did pass on the 2nd PS2 contra game... muy crappy.

Found this:

http://www.collectorz.com/game/

True indeed, but someone had to say it :D

[Lamont]

I am thinking of getting Geometry wars for XBL. I played the demo and it was fun. It's like 400 MS points?

[Slartibartfast]

The original Geometry Wars is built in to Project Gotham Racing 2, which can be had for like $10 new.

[Netrat33]

Blazing Lasers on the TurboGraphx 16!

Yeap! firing that up today later :D

[retardedchicken]

BOOGERMAN!

(for SNES)

[Lamont]

Yeah, I'm gonna pass on that game.

[NulloModo]

The Castlevania games are all classics, I think they would count as platformers.

Also, Zelda 2, the side scroller, is way underrated, also not sure if that qualifies.

[omega-x]

tyrian?

[lesman]

Yeah, I'm gonna pass on that game.
OMG!!!one11!one!oneoneleven...
....are you serious?! Boogerman was the shizznit!

In all hoonesty, though, I loved that game. Another game I thought was just awesome was Bubsy Bobcat....uber, uber platforming sweetness!

[GreenMonkey]

Some good games in this list.

I always liked Dragon Power on NES

[K10]

twin bee

[Steve_010]

Gradius
R-Type

The list could have ended with those 2.

[Scream And Fly]

R-Type is one of my favroites. What an amazing game, even today.

I also liked NES Life Force too.

[Slartibartfast]

I can't believe I forgot Silhouette Mirage!

It's a PS1 game, platformer/shooter in the metal slug/contra vein. It was done by Treasure and is a blast to play. The plot is totally f'd ("Won't you buy my flowers!? PRETTY FREAKIN' FLOWERS!!"), your enemies are hilarious, and the gameplay is surprisingly deep. Can be had used for <$10.

Fantastic game.

[CatsGoMoo]

Oh man, so many great games...

Saturn, of course you have to check out Radiant Silvergun if you can find a copy of it somewhere.

Also check out for the dreamcast:

Ikaruga (also ported to the Gamecube. Phenomenal game)
Border Down
Zero Gunner 2 (a super cool helicopter game)

[dreamcast87]

the Contra series was fun to play on the NES, Super Nintendo and the Gameboy.

My favorite was Super Contra...man that was a fun game :D