Big review: Scrolling shooters. Review of scroll shooter games

Scroll shooter, or more simply, classic manic shooters came to the world of Android games from the distant computer past and allow fans of the “fly forward and kill everyone” style to while away a dozen hours in a sudden surge of nostalgia for the times when desktops were much less productive than modern smartphones . What makes these games poor is the casual gameplay, a one- or two-line plot, the ability to install and run on almost any modern (and not so modern) smartphone, and the absence of the need to download hundreds of megabytes of cache. The Play market offers dozens of options for games in this genre, and sometimes it is extremely difficult to find worthy candidates to pass the time. What is worth downloading and what is better to ignore, we will try to figure it out now.

One of the few games in the genre in which the plot is given at least some attention. It is presented in the form of a fairly well drawn comic book. As in most games of the genre, the goal of the game is to fly forward destroying enemy spaceships and asteroids that interfere with your maneuver. There are many enemies, the graphics are unobtrusive, there is unobtrusive humor, it is possible to choose different types of ships, from each destroyed enemy balls will fall on the player, the collection of which brings additional experience points which can later be spent on upgrading the ship and equipment. However, various weapon incriminators and repair kits are showered on the player right during the battle. The ship has a bar showing the remaining HP, the damage of opponents is quite small, which adds casualness to the game. There is a choice of difficulty modes, and there are additional modes after completing the main campaign. Of the minuses, it is worth noting the intrusive pay to win. In general, A Space Shooter is more suitable for entertaining a child than for an Old School gamer who decides to remember his youth. It’s quite possible to download and play through it if you’ve already completed a dozen other games in the genre and want something new.

One of best games genre, the graphics are stylized to resemble PC games from twenty years ago, just the thing to satisfy an attack of nostalgia. The player can expect hundreds of levels, thousands of alien enemy ships, a dozen bosses, three difficulty levels, 6 types of weapons with each one upgraded to level 10, and a classic system for upgrading ship parameters using money honestly won in battle. Updates and money drop out quite rarely, so each of the knocked out bonuses is quite valuable. The player's ship does not have an HP indicator; almost any hit on it takes away the player's life, of which there are only three. From time to time, opponents enter into dialogues adding a dose of humor to the game. The game has only one drawback - it is incredibly addictive and can steal ten hours of your life. For fans of the scroll shooter genre, Radiant HD can easily be classified as a must have.

Another game from the distant past, the first versions of which were created for Dandy consoles. In Air Attack we have to rush forward in one of the three proposed military aircraft and shoot enemy fighters, tanks, anti-aircraft guns, airships and the like. The developers took care of the variety of goals - 64 types of enemies and a dozen unique bosses were announced, one for each level. There are many opponents, their single damage is small, and HP hit bars. However, if you choose the maximum difficulty level from three, you can easily lose your life even after several hits. Destroyed enemies drop a lot of various bonuses: first aid kits, credits, extra lives, shields and weapons. After each level, earned credits can be exchanged for improved weapons and additional lives. The graphics are quite good for games of this genre, the special effects are pleasing to the eye, but do not distract from the gameplay. The game can be played in one breath and this is perhaps its only drawback; completely completing all ten levels will hardly take several hours.

Battleray is an example of how innovative ideas and an attempt to deviate from the canonical laws of the genre can ruin a theoretically good game. The main complaint against this young project, judging by the number of downloads, is the non-standard control system. It seems like a good idea to allocate a separate area of the screen for controlling the movement of the ship, in practice it turned out to be so inconvenient that it kills any desire to play. Although there are plenty of good ideas in Battleray. The plot in the form of a beautifully animated comic book, three different races, as a result of different ships and different combat styles to choose from, bonuses in the form of energy blocks fall out of the opponents as if from a cornucopia, increasing the effectiveness of weapons on the fly. Additional game content, as planned by the game's authors, will be unlocked as the game's fans become more active in social networks, we have not yet encountered such an approach to popularizing the project. The game is currently in beta status, perhaps in the future the developers will improve the control system, but for now fans of the scroll shooter genre should refrain from installing Battleray Starfighter Beta.

A “hello, world” level game among representatives of the scroll shooter genre. There is no plot, there is no campaign, there is only one mode of passage - an endless battle for survival, opponents come in waves, the type of alien ships acting as a target is also the same, only the number of targets and their strength changes. One of the few positive aspects is the presence of an HP bar above each target, although this does not particularly help the overall dull picture. There are 4 types of weapons, each of which can run out of ammunition, which, taking into account the only available firing mode (automatic), causes only bewilderment. But the game is great at showing ads. The general impression from getting to know the game is that the project is not worth the traffic spent on downloading it, even if you have unlimited traffic..

The game is very similar to Air Attack HD, the goals are the same - Nazi ground and air equipment. The player will have to shoot targets over eight missions with a traditional boss at the end of each. There are a lot of enemies, shooting them all is not required, but is encouraged by regularly dropping bonuses in the form of first aid kits, improvements for weapons, allied aircraft and other little things that make the passage easier. Opponents also drop stars and medals, but they cannot be used for anything. There is a choice of three difficulty levels, while passing even the simplest one requires certain skills. The player can choose from 5 types of aircraft with different characteristics, some of which can only be obtained for an additional fee. ifigter 1945 leaves a rather pleasant impression and may well compete with other games in the genre for the right to help you waste a couple of hours of your life. In general, if Air Attack HD has already been completed far and wide, and you prefer to see airplanes as opponents, but not spaceships, then ifigter 1945 is just right.

A continuation of ifigter 1945, everything written about the first part can be fully applied to the second. Six new missions, new backgrounds, instead of tanks you have to shoot ship guns, visual effects have been changed and enemy models have been redrawn, but overall we are still facing the same iFighter. As in the first version, destroyed enemies generously drop various bonuses, both useful and not so useful. If completing the first part did not cause you any particular problems, it makes sense to try the second.

Raiden Fighter Classic 2013

Quite a controversial game. On the one hand, all the elements of a classic scroll shooter are present, we fly forward, shoot enemies, collect bonuses that enhance weapons, and prepare to meet the boss. But all this is presented in some strange manner. The logic in the game ends with the first location, then complete nonsense begins. You have just fought with aliens in space, and the next moment the game throws you into a location with a completely earthly background, alien ships attack you mixed with helicopters and tanks, using the same weapons. You are allocated nine lives to complete each level, but crowds of motley enemies quickly reduce them to zero. The density of enemy fire is such that dodging and maneuvering is practically useless, and this does not fit in with the classic canons of the genre. The situation is aggravated by the inability to select the difficulty level and the lack of a ship upgrade system. You start each next level with basic weapons; bonuses collected at the previous location are canceled. The riot of colors on the screen quickly becomes boring and even a fan of the genre has to force himself to complete the next level. As a result, after the fifth or sixth location, you can continue to play this creation only if you write a review on it) An ordinary player, perhaps, should not start playing this. Fortunately, there are plenty of other worthy projects from more talented developers.

Serpentine

Another example of a game made in one evening. Control of the ship's movement is implemented as in Galactic Shooter by highlighting a separate zone in the corner of the screen, with the difference that in Serptentine the navigation circle is made even smaller, which makes control even more inconvenient. But the Serptentine developers went further and added a shooting control button. As a result, you need to use both hands to control. The game has no plot, there is only one type of opponent, and there is no choice or ability to improve weapons and ships. From level to level the player encounters the same static background. Even the advertising built into the game is static.. In general, a complete Epic Fail, worst game from those presented in the review.

One of the best games of the genre. Almost everything is implemented at the highest level. Perhaps, if you decide to try playing a scroll shooter for the first time, then you should start with this project. A newcomer to shogun will be greeted with a video revealing the plot, an unobtrusive training mission showing the basics of the game, and tips during the passage of missions. You will have to save the Earth from invaders during dozens of missions, clearing the territories of individual countries with the help of five types of weapons. The weapons in the game deserve special mention; everything your heart desires is available, from homing missiles to a light beam that allows you to regenerate the battered shields of your own ship. Each country is assigned its own unique colorful background, so there is no need to complain about the monotony of the background. There are different enemies, there are always many targets, and occasionally they drop regenerators. The gameplay is captivating and, unlike many other games in the genre, does not become boring. The only frustrating thing is the lack of ability to choose the difficulty level; for a beginner, the later levels may still be too much for you.

Behind the simple name lies a fairly solid representative of the scroll shooter genre. Over the course of ten levels, the player will have to save the next galaxy from motley hordes of space aliens, with a difficult boss at the end of each stage. The opponents cannot boast of the variety in Air Attack HD, but even a dozen different opponents are enough for your eyes. Each destroyed enemy ship drops a star, collecting which the player receives credits, which can later be used to buy improvements for his ship. This includes increasing the strength of shields, upgrading guns and additional weapons. The firepower upgrade system is made in a rather original way - first you need to buy an upgrade, then select the appropriate bonus in battle, and only after that it will become easier to destroy opponents. There is only one spare life, fortunately the ship is able to survive more than a dozen hits. There is no plot as such. But there are four difficulty options; completing all levels on each of them opens one additional game location. For those who have gone through everything up and down, a special “Survival” mode is available, when selected, all ten levels will have to be completed one by one without dividing into separate stages. Overall, it’s very good, the only downside is the relatively short length of each of the 10 stages.

Sky force

Another average of the genre. The gameplay is standard, we move forward destroying everything in our path. There are few enemy models, but there are enough means to destroy them. An indispensable condition for passing a level is the destruction of at least 80 percent of opponents. There are eight locations in total, and quite short ones at that. Once in two locations you come across a boss, which you will have to tinker with to destroy. Traditionally, knocked out enemies drop bonuses, most of which are absolutely useless. You cannot select the difficulty level; you will have to be content with the initially set one. The graphics are quite average, but overall the picture on the screen looks more or less decent. As a result, you can play Sky force if you have a dozen or more interesting games the genre has already been passed.

The game is more about the ability to evade quickly flying opponents towards your ship than a classic Scroll shooter. The entire gameplay is reduced to throwing from corner to corner of one single location in order to let the enemy fly past you in crowds; it is not at all necessary to shoot before meeting the boss; you can move on simply using your piloting skills. In order to somehow motivate the player to destroy fast-flying targets, they occasionally drop bonuses in the form of weapon amplifiers or repair kits. Despite the high overall pace of the game, after just a couple of minutes you begin to get frankly bored. Choosing a different difficulty level, and there are three of them in total, does not help the situation. The same types of opponents evoke boredom, which you have neither the desire nor the strength to fight. It’s difficult to call it a worthy representative of the Space War genre; it’s better to pass the time with more interesting games.

Star defender 3, Star defender 4

The series already includes several episodes, each of which consists of hundreds of levels divided into separate locations. With simple gameplay, the game can quietly steal more than one hour of time. There are thousands of enemies, dangerous and not so dangerous, and for shooting them, in addition to useless experience points, amplifiers for the main and additional weapons, additional lives, and so on, pour generously. There are dozens of means of destroying the enemy, and with each episode the developers add new, even more effective ones. Plus, to all this, colorful but unobtrusive graphics, moderately bright effects of using special weapons and an adequate level of difficulty. An ideal game of the genre, with one single drawback - controlling the movement of the ship could have been more comfortable.

Another noteworthy project in the scroll shooter genre. The game is distinguished by the frantic pace of combat and the density of fire from numerous opponents. The variety of targets is impressive - 44 different types of enemies with strikingly different fighting styles and degrees of danger. You can meet them all throughout 15 levels of the main campaign, divided into four episodes. As a bonus, for completing all levels on each of the four difficulty options, an additional location opens with its own unique boss at the finish line. To complete each level, the player is allocated three lives; in addition to its own HP, the ship also has a shield; it is necessary to replenish health and improve weapons during the battle by knocking out bonuses from enemies. Completing the game in one go takes several hours; if all the locations are completed and the impressions are not enough, the same levels are available for completion with a different difficulty option. Overall, Xelorians comes close to the best games in the genre and is well worth attention.

So, we want to dedicate today’s review to games that are made in the popular genre of scrolling shooters. This genre was popular in the late 80s - early 90s. But as soon as computer games began to gain momentum, this genre faded into the background, and more advanced and dynamic games with exciting gameplay and plot took the pedestal.

But still those developers remained mobile games, who have not forgotten about the once popular genre and now it is gaining its former popularity on smartphones and tablets running Android.

So, in today's selection of games you will find products such as: Aces of the Luftwaffe, Sine Mora, Radiant, AirAttack and famous Sky Force 2014.

Aces of the Luftwaffe

Category: Arcade and action
Developer: HandyGames
Version: 1.3.6
Price: Free - Google Play

Aces of the Luftwaffe- a game that appeared in the open spaces Google Play quite a long time ago. The first versions of the game could be found during the reign of Java games. But, despite its considerable age, the popular game series was able to reach modern devices equipped with OS such as Android, Windows Phone and iOS.

The gameplay in the game is pretty standard. We will have at our disposal a plane that will fly from bottom to top and destroy enemies along the way, and all we can do is control its movement and dodge obstacles in time and shoot enemies.

The game also has many bonuses and various improvements that can diversify the gameplay and make it more exciting. The only drawback of the game is the abundance of bright effects, which are expressed in explosions, bright flashes and similar phenomena, which makes it unclear where yours is and where the strangers are. You can download the game for free, but you will have to watch ads and deal with in-game purchases.

Pros:

Beautiful hand-drawn graphics;
Dynamic gameplay;
Simple control (one finger);
Possibility of improving the aircraft;
Boss battles.

Cons:

Advertising banner;
Poor balance of power;
In-game purchases.

Sine Mora

Category: Arcade and action
Developer: Digital Reality
Version: 1.29
Price: RUB 303.57 - Google Play

Sine Mora is a very bright and spectacular game for Android devices, made in the vertical scrolling shooter genre. This game is one of the few that moved to the Android platform from the Xbox 360. Therefore, we get excellent 3D graphics, an interesting plot and high-quality gameplay.

In addition to the nice graphics, I would like to note the rather complex gameplay, which will make even the most skilled users sweat. In addition, there are many dangerous bosses and very convenient control, which is carried out using a virtual joystick on the left side of the display and four additional buttons on the right side. At first glance, a very large space is allocated for the control panel, but over time you realize that it is much more convenient to control a tiny aircraft.

The game is cool and all fans of this genre should try it on their devices. The game is only distributed on Google Play for a fee, but in return you will get an interesting and exciting game with nice graphics, without advertising or donations.

Pros:

Excellent 3D graphics;
Fascinating plot;
Boss battles;
Simple and convenient control;
A full-fledged plot and many interesting missions.

Cons:

High cost.

Radiant

Category: Arcade and action
Developer: Hexage Ltd
Version: 3.19.5
Price:
Free- version – Google Play
Full version for 89.16 rub. – Google Play

Radiant is a modern version of the classic game called Galaga, which was once popular on the Dandy game console. In this toy you have to take control of a small spaceship, which needs to fly across the expanses of space and destroy enemy ships and asteroids that will fly straight towards you.

The developers decided to give the game the simplest possible controls, so the user can only move the ship from the left to the right, and shots will be fired automatically at this time. The game offers us three difficulty levels, each of which differs in the number of lives, enemies and the degree of damage that our ship can withstand.

In general, the game maintains the classic elements of games of this genre, so if you want to plunge into childhood, then perhaps Radiant will be a real gift for you. On Google Play, the game is available in two versions: the free version contains the first 30 levels, and the paid version includes all other packs. There is also a separate version, made in HD, which is practically no different from the above versions of the game.

Pros:

Nice level design;
More than 100 levels and 10 bosses;
Three difficulty levels;
Classic gameplay;
Six types of weapons and much more.

Cons:

AirAttack

Category: Arcade and action
Developer: Art In Games
Version: 1.5.1
Price: Free - Google Play
HD version for 89.41 rub. – Google Play

AirAttack is one of the best games made in the genre of vertical scrolling shooters. In the game you will find high-quality three-dimensional graphics, interesting and exciting gameplay and several “tricks” that the developers have prepared for you.

I would like to immediately say that this is the only game of its kind in which the user can easily switch between portrait and landscape modes without losing picture quality. That is, the developers managed to make a completely three-dimensional game that will adapt to the size of your display.

The gameplay itself is not unique and we still have to control an airplane and carry out various missions to destroy certain objects, enemy equipment and the like.

There are two versions of the game on Google Play: a trial version, which contains only three levels and full version, which is purchased for 89 rubles. The game is worth the money, you should not regret the money and time spent.

Pros:

Realistic 3D graphics;
Changing the type of game;
A huge number of levels;
Several types of weapons;
Three game difficulty modes;
Destructible objects and beautiful effects.

Cons:

There were no visible disadvantages.

Sky Force 2014

Category: Arcade and action
Developer: Infinite Dreams
Version: 1.33
Price: Free - Google Play

Sky Force 2014 is the best scrolling shooter for Android devices that I have ever seen on mobile platforms. The game is a remastered version of a game that was released over 10 years ago. The developers have changed not only the graphics, but also the gameplay itself, which will excite the most avid gamers.

Each level in the game has received an excellent depiction, and each new location will be significantly different from the previous one. In addition to the fact that the location itself will change, you will have to fight more complex enemies, which are made in the form of fast fighters, powerful bombers, cruisers and even tanks. Well, at the end, of course, a colorful boss awaits you.

To open new levels in the game you will need points, which you can get for completing tasks: destroy all enemies, save armored vehicles or people. The game currency in the game is presented in the form of stars, which fall out of destroyed opponents. It is with its help that we can improve the performance of our aircraft.

A game that deserves your attention, no matter if you've played it before or seen it for the first time. You can download it from Google Play absolutely free of charge, but at the same time you will receive pop-up ads and in-app purchases.

Pros:

Redesigned 3D graphics;
Many different locations and missions;
Addictive gameplay;
Simple and convenient controls.

The games presented in this review can be called classics of the scrolling shooter genre. If you want to plunge into the world when consoles and game consoles ruled the roost, then feel free to go to Google Play and download (buy) the game you like. I liked the good old game called Sky Force 2014. Your choice depends entirely on you.

A genre almost as old as video games themselves, scrolling shooters are a source of mystery and speculation. Once accessible and close to any player, today scrolling shooters seem like a mysterious artifact. And uninitiated gamers may be disgusted when looking at the mutations that have occurred with the once simple genre. Of course, modern scrolling shooters can be called a product of time and evolution. Every game genre has gone through a similar process, starting with simple template, which gained in detail as the audience demanded more and more nuance. Simple bitmaps have become a fashion show for stylish combos on the ground and in the air, and role-playing games are increasingly moving into action.

The reason scrolling shooters are foreign to us is the fact that we rarely see them. The original habitat of shmups, arcades, has practically disappeared with the spread of gaming on home consoles and computers. It's hard to say where this migrating genre will appear next. We can ask ourselves: do we care? If this once proud genre dies, will it be missed? Scrolling shooters are not just relics, but part of the rich legacy of gaming that runs deep in our hearts. Although they seem simple at first glance, those players who find the courage to give them a chance will find a purity of gameplay that is rarely matched in other genres. Chasing the top score seems dead, but it's even more relevant now in the era of games with friend lists and online leaderboards.

"You're playing wrong"

Scrolling shooter fans like to remind you that you're playing shmups wrong. Didn't like the game? You're playing wrong. Too hard? You're playing wrong. Didn't order a limited edition from abroad with an alternative cover and soundtrack included? You're playing wrong. In any case, you will play "correctly". You don't have to like every game and you don't have to be good at them. And despite what longtime fans may say, you don't have to have an arcade stick to enjoy these games. They are usually made to order for an arcade setup, but even some world record holders have played on the keyboard. Any setup that suits you is correct. But often new players approach shmups superficially. They start the game, shoot their opponents, die several times and press “continue” when they run out of lives. When they reach the end credits, they feel disappointed.

This feeling is normal, because many scrolling shooters fade when they are played this way. In a natural arcade environment, scrolling shooters are a battle for survival because dying means losing the quarters you can't use to buy a sandwich. When that survival aspect is taken away from you, the original intent of the game design is lost and the gameplay becomes a mess. Fans of scrolling shooters play on 1CC (one-coin playthrough), giving value to every available life and bomb. It may seem strange to refuse to use an unlimited resource available, but studies have shown that this approach increases your enjoyment of the game tenfold.

Of course, many players happily use "continue" after "continuation", working their way to the end with endless coins and loving every second of the game. This is fine. And there is no wrong way to play as long as you get as much fun out of the game as you can. Unfortunately, this behavior often leads to a feeling of wasting time. It's not about whether you play it right or wrong. It's about the joy and feeling of reward from the game process. Genre fans target 1CC because they know it increases the game's appeal and length.

This may sound far-fetched, but I can tell you from my experience that it really works that way. Games that were once skimpy on entertainment become extraordinarily fun, and time spent playing them can lead to a thorough exploration of the game's mechanics. If fans of any other genre gave me the same sure-fire option to increase the appeal of their favorite games, I would do it in a heartbeat. Once you've set your sights on 1CC, start by setting small goals for yourself. Maybe you just want to survive the first boss before you run out of lives. There is no rush to complete the game. Just enjoy the process. You'll get better at scrolling shooters in general faster than you thought. And you will like what is happening.

The next few games focus on the core mechanics that make them fun to play on 1CC. Play them if you can, or look for any other scrolling shooter you'd like to play. Remember that you shouldn't be too upset by failures - sometimes 1CC of the same level is already a reason for celebration.

Gate of Thunder (1992)

Gate of Thunder allows players to change the direction that assist ships fire. How might this affect the attack patterns of enemies you see in the game?

Zero Gunner 2 (2001)

Zero Gunner 2 features helicopters that can rotate 360 degrees, and enemies attack from all sides. Could mechanics like this encourage players to make more use of the available gaming space than in more traditional scrolling shooters?

Metal Slug 3 (2000)

This game, close to the scrolling shooter genre of run"n"gun, focuses on transformations and the use of additional vehicles, which increases replay value. It may be difficult for most players to complete it on 1CC. Try going one coin at a time each level and see what you can beat and what you can't. Explore hidden alternative paths to reduce difficulty and add variety.

Scoring - when playing alone or with someone

Beginning in the mid-1990s, developers began to focus on creating complex scoring systems. Working on 1CC can provide a player with months of effort, but the flexible scoring system can encourage players to play endlessly as their skill increases. For scrolling shooter aficionados, this is a key factor to enjoying the game. The scoring position is often considered one of the main things that confuses players outside the niche. The reasons for the confusion are obvious. Scoring was once an integral part of most games. You achieved the best score and got the chance to write three hooligan letters instead of a nickname at the top of the leaderboard.

But once home consoles became widespread, the situation changed. The games focused more on the passage itself, and scoring was supplanted in favor of plot-orientedness. Scoring in its original form has become atypical for the majority of games. However, the principle of scoring itself has not sunk into oblivion. In multiplayer first-person shooters, the ratio of frags to deaths plays a role. Fighting games keep track of the player's succession of victories over opponents. In racing, the fastest lap is recorded. In scrolling shooters, classic scoring plays a central role. It is a constant reminder of the player's mastery of their chosen game, improving over days, months and years. Each game becomes a challenge for yourself and all those who played this game. Every game is a record to be surpassed.

Accepting the scoring system is the hardest part of understanding scrolling shooters, but it becomes more familiar as you play over and over again. Once you understand scoring, you will discover a world of deep details that were not visible at a superficial glance. Scoring systems are often intertwined with game design, and ignoring them can make the game feel disjointed or unfair. Some games tie the scoring system to slowing down or canceling bullets, combining scoring and survival. Others raise the difficulty when the player gains points and lower it when the player dies or uses a bomb, allowing the difficulty to be adjusted each time during the actual gameplay. One of the things that comes into play when talking about scrolling shooters is that they all look alike. Everywhere you look - dodging bullets and shooting in 2D space. But, as with any other genre, the difference is in the details. Attack patterns, enemy placement, power-up system. Bombs, shields. And endless possibilities for scoring styles: combos and chaining, medals and milking, close kills, cancels and cash-ins.

Try playing and replaying the following games with the goal of beating your score. If you want to learn more about the game's scoring system, watch a replay on YouTube or look for threads on strategy for a specific game.

Star Parodier (1992)

Star Parodier has two- and five-minute fighting modes that focus on finding hidden power-ups to increase your score. Why would anyone choose this over the regular level progression mode?

Twinkle Star Sprites (1996)

Twincle Star Sprites builds on the shmup framework, allowing players to compete side by side in a hybrid scrolling shooter and puzzle game. Is direct competition more visceral than fighting for the lead in the points table? How can scrolling shooters incorporate two-player simultaneous play into more traditional gameplay?

Battle Garegga (1996)

Scoring in Battle Garegga revolves around quickly collecting score-increasing items before they disappear from the screen. As you gain points, power-ups, and lives, the game becomes progressively more difficult to counter your increased skill and weaponry. Could this be a good game to play as you get better at scrolling shooters? How would a system like this affect gameplay if you're trying to reach 1CC?

Trying to understand "bullethell"

Let's say you're a fan of scrolling shooters, and you've been playing them for years. You have a solid set of favorites: Gradius III, Super R-Type and Space Megaforce (SNES). Thunder Force III and IV, MUSHA and Truxton (MegaDrive). Gate of Thunder, Lord of Thunder and Blazing Lazers (Turbografx-16). Many fans of scrolling shooters do not like other games. Bulletheads, aka danmaku, aka “manic shooters”. Waves and spirals of lilac and pink bullets fill the screen. Spaceships supplanted by anime characters. There is so much going on at once that it begins to resemble pure masochism. Often these games contain the most sophisticated scoring systems. Since the birth of the genre, it has continued to evolve with systems of lateral thinking. These are games that fans can play endlessly, gaining more and more points each time. But are they worth it? At first glance, they don't even belong to the same genre. A longtime fan of scrolling shooters could be forgiven for thinking that these games are meant for someone else.

I had the same reaction. But when you stop looking at the pictures and start the game, everything falls into place. The first thing you notice is that they are not as heavy as they seem. Hundreds of bullets pulse across the screen, but many of them will fly past your ship. As challenging as they may be, Bulletheads are tolerant and honest. You dive through the bullets surprisingly unharmed. The character sprite isn't really something the player can reference. The player can only be hit in the hitbox, a small area in the center of the sprite. This allows the developer to fill the screen with action without unbalancing the game. The increased number of bullets allows developers to experiment with bullet patterns. With one bullet or multiple groups, the player must completely dodge enemy shots in large leaps. With hundreds of bullets on the screen, you get fast targeted shots, slow arcing waves and other options limited only by the developer's imagination. While complex, these patterns allow players to find their way if they are skilled enough to carefully maneuver their way through the rows of patterns.

At first, patterns filled the same role as traditional bullet bursts, only in bulk. They were fired in clusters at a given speed and in a given direction. But with the development of bulletheads, bullets finally came to life. The patterns became varied, sometimes resembling the swing of a whip or a blooming flower in its structure. They create new situations, locking you in or forcing you to move forward. Each massive wave of bullets is a puzzle to be solved, a key element of Danmaku's level design. Many fans of classic side-scrollers complain about the lack of obstacles and terrain in bullet hells. But these barriers were there from the beginning. These are bullets: living, breathing obstacles. Often the patterns are visually frightening. Their complexity can be off-putting at first, but breaking through a complex pattern becomes a dance between the lights of a fireworks display. Bullets become artistry in motion, an optical barrier. There is nothing like it in any other genre, and their intricacy sometimes puts the player in a trance.

Bullet game games may or may not look worthy of your attention, but don't be fooled by the pictures. Although initially challenging, bulethellas provide an incredibly rewarding sense of progress. Mastering complex bullet patterns and scoring systems requires both puzzle-solving skills and quick reflexes. Give these games a chance before you write them off. It is quite possible that this genre will become your favorite. When trying out the games below, consider playing on 1CC and collecting points. Some games are better suited to one or the other - experiment and see what you like best. If you find them too difficult, credit-feed a couple of times to get familiar with the levels and try again.

DoDonPachi (1997)

DDP is often called the first bullet game, and it is good start for immersion in the genre due to clearer patterns and a simple chaining system. Try to identify the ship's hitbox as you play. Does the game seem unfair or is it easier than it looks?

Eschatos (2011)

Eschatos has thick bullet patterns, but it's also in a more traditional shmup vein. By focusing the game around the ship's shield and experimenting with traditional enemy placements, Eschatos feels like a classic despite its modern danmaku elements. What are the basic principles of bullethell? Are the key fundamentals shared with classic scrolling shooters?

Mars Matrix (2000)

The Dreamcast port of Mars Matrix can serve as the ultimate example of a game that encourages the pursuit of scoring. Featuring a ship that uses points as currency, bonus levels, and inspiring videos of masters completing the game, Mars Matrix pushes the player to try harder and better. What other ways can scrolling shooters encourage players to strive for 1CC and new scores on the scoreboard? Is it possible to introduce them into the game itself without using external means?

Keep shooting!

We've just scratched the surface of the shoot 'em up genre. If you're interested in further exploring scrolling shooters, you can check out the following Shmup Fan Forum links ( ). But most of all, have fun with the game! Scrolling shooters can be pretty tough, but this is not a reason to be angry and irritated! Rest, and next time you will achieve even better results than before!

Good day to all readers of the site. As usual, at the beginning of the week you will find a new release of the weekly digest of applications for the Android operating system.

In today's Big Review, we decided to look at games in the Shoot 'em up genre. Such projects were most popular in the late 80s and early 90s. But with the development of the industry computer games they faded into the background, giving way to more advanced and dynamic projects.

However, they haven't forgotten about Shoot 'em up. With the growing popularity of mobile devices, such games have begun to take over not slot machines and consoles, but smartphones and tablets. Today you can find quite a lot of such projects on Google Play and the App Store. We will talk about five of them in this digest.

So, in today's Big Review you will find: Aces of the Luftwaffe, Sine Mora, Radiant, AirAttack, Sky Force 2014.

The project called Aces of the Luftwaffe appeared quite a long time ago. The first versions became available during the era of popularity of Java applications. However, the considerable age of the series did not prevent the project from reaching modern “smart” platforms. Today the game is available on iOS, Android and Windows Phone.

If we talk about the gameplay, then everything is quite standard. A plane is waiting for users, which flies from bottom to top and automatically shoots. The players' task is to shoot down enemies and dodge machine gun fire, rockets and other deadly "gifts".

The developers did not forget about bonuses and improvements that greatly diversify the gameplay. True, in some particularly heated battles, due to the abundance of various shells, explosions and aircraft, it becomes very difficult to discern where are yours and where are others. It is also worth highlighting the nice graphics. The game is made in the signature cartoon style of HandyGames.

A game from developers from the Digital Reality studio called Sine Mora was released a few years ago. However, before visiting mobile devices, this side-scrolling shooter first appeared on home consoles and desktop computers.

The game stands out for its very high-quality graphics (which is not surprising) made in a steampunk style. Users can expect dynamic battles, quite complex gameplay, colorful bosses and even a short story. You can also highlight the presence of several abilities in the “main character”.

The disadvantages of Sine Mora include not entirely successful controls, which sometimes add headaches to players and a relatively high price. But, despite some shortcomings, the project definitely deserves attention.

Radiant is a well-known pixel scrolling shooter for mobile devices, similar in style to the legendary Space Invaders. In the game from the developers of the company, users can expect colorful graphics, dynamic gameplay and even a short plot.

The authors decided not to deviate from the classic mechanics, so in Radiant players will control a small fighter that moves around the level and fights a wide variety of enemies along the way. On the way you may encounter either a small alien ship or an impressive ship.

Radiant Free

The game called is well known to fans of vertical shooting games. Despite the fact that the project appeared on Google Play and the App Store quite a long time ago, it is still popular.

A distinctive feature of AirAttack is its graphics. The developers tried to create the impression that the player’s plane was not flying on a flat surface, but seemed to be moving forward towards the horizon. Otherwise, the game follows almost 100% all the canons of the scrolling shooter genre.

In AirAttack, users can expect dynamic battles with a wide variety of opponents (there are even flying saucers in the game), which have their own characteristics and various bonuses. Probably the main disadvantage of this project is small quantity levels.

AirAttack Lite AirAttack

This year, developers from the Infinite Dreams studio decided to revive the legendary classic and re-released the game Sky Force on Android. The new product not only received the prefix “2014” in its name, but also boasts advanced graphics and classic gameplay.

The first thing that catches your eye is the radically updated graphics. Externally, the game has improved significantly. Users will find colorful landscapes, detailed enemies and impressive explosions. However, for all the “beauty” you have to pay. Compared to other scrolling shooters, Sky Force 2014 is quite demanding on the device's hardware. Therefore, on budget devices, slight slowdowns may be observed in particularly “hot” battles. By the way, the game has been translated into Russian. True, this only applies to texts. The characters speak English.

Probably the only serious disadvantage of the Sky Force re-release is the distribution model. The game itself is available on Google Play for free, but it’s worth immediately mentioning the presence of an in-game store in this arcade.

Shoot 'em up(With English - “shoot them all”), also shmup And STG, this name is most often translated into Russian as "run and gun"- a subtype of computer games in the shooter genre. In these games, the player character moves forward automatically and is often a flying vehicle, such as an aircraft or spacecraft, that shoots many enemies while dodging obstacles. There is no generally accepted opinion on the question of which game elements are most characteristic of the “run and gun” genre: for some reviewers, these are the presence of a spacecraft in the game and certain types of character movement, others consider it appropriate to have a broader interpretation of the definition, including in the genre games with characters moving on foot and with different graphical perspectives. Games in this genre are known for their demands on the player's reactions, as well as the need to memorize game levels and sequences of enemy attacks. Features of games like "bullet hell"(eng. bullet hell) is enemy fire with a large number of projectiles.

The origins of the genre can be traced back to the game Spacewar! , one of the very first computer games, developed in 1962 and eventually spreading to arcades in the first half of the 1970s. During the 1970s, games like Space Invaders and Asteroids increased the genre's popularity. The genre's greatest popularity occurred in the 1980s and early 1990s. In the mid-1990s, games in the genre found their niche. Since this time, games have been based on the conventional generic game design created during the 1980s. Experts and enthusiasts, primarily from Japan, are increasingly taking part in the genre.

Characteristic [ | ]

Shoot "em up (variants are also found in the foreign press shmup and, more often in Japanese, STG, where this abbreviation refers to all shooting games) are computer games in which the protagonist fights a large number of enemies by shooting at them, while dodging enemy fire. To succeed, the player must primarily rely on his reactions. In addition, critics distinguish from which game design elements a particular shoot "em up is made. Some limit this genre to games that feature any aircraft with fixed or moving screen. Others expand the genre to games with robotic or walking protagonists, games with on-rails (or in-screen) movement, and run'n'gun. Mark Wolf considers games in the genre to be those that feature a large number of antagonists (that is, "em" is short for "them"). He called "combat" games with one-on-one shooting. Initially, critics considered to shoot "em up any game in which shooting is the basis of the gameplay. However, later shoot "em up" took shape into its own unique genre, which is based on the conventional design developed in shooting games by the end of the 1980s.

Common Elements [ | ]

The shoot 'em up genre is a subset of the shooter genre, which in turn is a subset of action games. These games typically feature a top-down or side-view view, and players use ranged weapons to hit distant targets. The player's avatar is usually represented in in the form of a vehicle that is constantly attacked by enemies. Therefore, the main goal of the player is to quickly destroy any moving object that may pose a threat. In some games, the character can survive several hits, while in others, a single hit leads to his destruction by the Basics. The player's skill in such games is good reaction and the ability to remember sequences of enemy attacks. A feature of some games is the extremely large number of projectiles fired by enemies, the launch sequences of which the player needs to remember for the “survival” of his character. Another feature of games in this genre is that they are very fleeting. gameplay.

Shoot 'em up games typically feature a wide variety of enemy characters. Each of these enemies may follow a specific course of action specific to its type, or attack in formations that the player must learn to anticipate. The basic gameplay of these games tends to be simplified, which Many games try to compensate through boss battles and a variety of weapons. Shoot 'em up games rarely feature realistic physics. Thus, characters can instantly change direction without any inertia, and projectiles move in a straight line at constant speeds. The player can collect a variety of “bonuses” that will improve the character’s defense, give additional “life,” or improve weapons. Often, fighting a certain type of enemy requires you to use a certain weapon, but these games rarely pay the same attention to ammo. As a result, the player can shoot without stopping, while his weapon will only deal damage to suitable targets.

Varieties [ | ]

Shoot 'em up games can be divided into types based on the key design element, viewpoint used, and movement.

Fixed shooter(eng. fixed shooter) - games like Space Invaders. In fixed shooters, the protagonist can move along one axis, enemies also attack from one direction (for example, gliding from the top of the screen), and each level is presented entirely on one screen. These games are also sometimes called “gallery shooters”. Atari's Centipede is a hybrid game in that the character can move freely, but the free movement area is limited to the area at the bottom of the screen. The game does not fully meet the definition of a fixed shooter due to such features.

Rail shooter(English: rail shooter). In these games, the character is limited in movement by the screen, while the viewpoint follows a specific route. A feature of rail shooters is the specific movement of the viewpoint “inside the screen”. The player views the action from behind the playable character, with the viewpoint gradually moving "inside the screen" and the player controlling the character's evasive movements. Examples of such games include: Space Harrier (1985), Captain Skyhawk (1990), Star Wars: Rebel Assault (1993), Panzer Dragoon (1995), Star Fox 64 (1997), and Sin and Punishment (2000). Light gun games are not shoot 'em up games, they are first-person shooters. However, the term is used to describe scripted elements from games like Call of Duty.

Tunnel shooter(eng. tube shooter). A special feature of this variation is the character’s flight inside an abstract tunnel. In fact, a tunnel shooter is a variant of a fixed shooter, since the character's movement is only possible to the left and right, carried out according to the shape of the tunnel.

Scrolling shooter(English: scrolling shooter). This name may be called:

Vertical scrolling shooter(English vertically scrolling shooter, also English vertical scroller): the player watches the action from above, the screen scrolls upward (very rarely - downward).
Horizontal scrolling shooter(English) horizontally scrolling shooter, also English horizontal shooter and English side-scrolling shooter: the player is watching from the side, scrolling horizontally.
Isometric scrolling shooter(English) isometrically scrolling shooter): A feature of a small number of scrolling shooters, such as Sega's Zaxxon, is an isometric view.

Multi-directional shooter(English: multidirectional shooter). A special feature of these games is 360-degree freedom of movement; the protagonist can turn and move in any direction. Multidirectional shooters, in which one joystick is used to move and the second to independently set the direction of fire, are sometimes called twin-stick shooters (with English - “two-stick shooter”).

Bullet Hell(English: bullet hell), from Japanese. 弾幕 - barrage fire, fire curtain. This is a type of shoot 'em up genre in which the game screen is often almost completely filled with enemy bullets. This variation is also known as curtain fire (with English - “curtain of fire”), manic shooter and maniac shooter (with English - “manic shooter”). This type of game originated in the mid-1990s and is an offshoot of scrolling shooters.

Cute "em up". A feature of this direction is the bright and colorful graphic design, depicting settings and enemies in the style of surrealism. Modern games Cute 'em up genres may deliberately feature overtly sexual characters and suggestive imagery. Games in this genre usually feature unusual, sometimes quite strange or eccentric enemies that the player must fight, as exemplified by the Parodius series.

Run and gun(English run "n" gun) is a shoot em up game in which the protagonist moves on foot, sometimes with the ability to jump. Run and gun games can be with vertical or horizontal scrolling, as well as isometric view, they can feature multi-directional movement. Examples of these are: Contra series, Gunstar Heroes, Alien Soldier, Metal Slug series, Cuphead.

Story [ | ]

Origins and formation[ | ]

There is still no clarity on the origin of the genre. Video game journalist Brian Ashcraft calls Spacewar! (one of the earliest computer games) the first game in the shoot "em up genre, but the later Space Invaders, which appeared later, is called the "first" or "original" game in the genre. Spacewar! was developed in 1961 for the entertainment of the developers themselves, nevertheless it was made into an arcade game four times during the first half of the 1970s. The game features a battle between two spacecraft.

The popularity of the genre, however, remained low until 1978, when Taito Corporation released the game Space Invaders, developed by Nishikado. Space Invaders places the player in front of numerous enemies swooping down from the top of the screen at increasing speeds. Alien creatures, whose images are inspired by the novel "War of the Worlds" by H.G. Wells, are used in the game due to the fact that the developers could not implement aircraft movements in the game. Additionally, human enemies are replaced with alien ones for moral reasons (not depicting the killing of humans) and at the insistence of Taito Corporation. Like the later shoot 'em up games of the era, the action takes place in space, as the technology available at the time of its creation only allowed for the display of a black background. This game also introduces the idea of giving the player a certain number of "lives". The commercial success that accompanied the game was so great that against its background there was a shortage of cash coins in Japan, and the game also gained great popularity in the United States. The game introduced the popularity of a more interactive type of gameplay, where enemies respond to player-controlled weapon movements, and also introduced the concept of high achievements for the first time, with the first time the player's scores were saved. In the game, alien antagonists return fire to the protagonist's actions, and this is the first game where such behavior is presented among enemies. Space game Invaders became the benchmark for the shoot 'em up genre, and most of the games subsequently released in the genre were influenced by it.

Golden age [ | ]

It was around this time that vertical scrolling shooters emerged. Namco's Xevious, published in 1982, is often cited as the first vertical scrolling shooter and, despite having several other games released before it, is considered one of its biggest influences. Xevious was also the first to display realistic landscapes quite well, which stood out against the background of games with completely fantastic settings. Although 1979's Asteroids allowed the player to rotate a spacecraft, 1982's critically acclaimed Robotron: 2084 was the most influential in the emerging field of multi-directional shooters.

Further development[ | ]

Rail shooter Rez.

A new direction in the shoot "em up genre was discovered in the early 1990s. These games are called variously: "bullet hell", "manic shooters" (English manic shooters and English maniac shooters ) or “danmaku” (Japanese 弾幕 - barrage fire), force the player to dodge a huge number of projectiles fired by enemies and require an even more refined player reaction. Games like “bullet hell” appeared due to the fact that in order to compete with three-dimensional games, the developers of two-dimensional ones. shoot "em ups were forced to attract attention to their games, and a large number of projectiles on the screen were designed to impress the player. Toaplan's Batsugun (1993) defined this new direction, while Cave (created by former Toaplan employees, including Batsugun's chief creator Tsuneki Ikeda, who joined after the company's demise) solidified the style with DonPachi in 1995. The emergence of manic shooters was further evidence that games in the genre began to adapt to a more dedicated audience. Games like Gradius were more challenging than Space Invaders or Xevious, but the "bullet hell" genre took this even further, focusing primarily on those fans of the genre who were looking for new challenges. Despite the fact that shooters with a protagonist moving on foot began a rapid transition into genres based on three-dimensional graphics, such existing for a long time series like Contra or Metal Slug continued to be replenished with sequels. Rail shooters are released relatively rarely in the new millennium, with the exceptions being Rez and Panzer Dragoon Orta, which have received cult status.

Treasure's Radiant Silvergun brought narrative elements to the genre. The game was praised by critics despite the fact that it was never released outside of Japan and is a very rare collector's item. Ikaruga, which followed it in 2001, featured improved graphics and was again praised by critics as one of the best games in the genre. Both of these games were subsequently re-released on Xbox Live Arcade. As of 2017, the Touhou Project series includes 26 games created over a period of 21 years. The series was included in the Guinness Book of World Records in October 2010 as the "largest fan-made game series." With the release of the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii online services, the genre experienced a kind of “rebirth”, but in Japan, arcade shoot "em ups remain games with good popularity in their niche. The game Geometry Wars, released in 2005 for Xbox Live Arcade: Retro Evolved stood out among the various re-releases of casual games. Games in the genre are also coming to PC, mainly from Japanese non-professional developers, for example, Crimzon Clover, Jamestown: Legend of the Lost Colony, Xenoslaive Overdrive and the eXceed series. occupy its niche and is a product primarily for enthusiasts, financial support has increased significantly thanks to home consoles and their players.

Notes [ | ]

Gornostaev S.V. Paths of penetration and stylistic variation of Anglicisms in the gaming industry in modern Russian (Russian). Cyberleninka. News of the Volgograd State Pedagogical University (September 29, 2014). Retrieved December 11, 2017.
Jonti Davies. The Shooting Never Stops(English) . GameSpy(30 July 2008). Retrieved December 11, 2017.
John Polson. Final Form On Jamestown's Origins, Mechanics(English) . Game Set Watch(5 April 2011). Retrieved December 11, 2017.
Buchanan, Levi. op 10 Classic Shoot "Em Ups"(English) . IGN(8 April 2008). Retrieved December 17, 2017.
Beck, Ian Jets"n"Guns (undefined) . (May 19, 2006). Retrieved July 20, 2008. Archived December 6, 2008.
, p. 70.
Bielby, Matt. The Complete YS Guide to Shoot "Em Ups (English) // Your Sinclair: magazine. - 1990. - July (no. 55). - P. 33.
Prof. Jim Whitehead. Game Genres: Shmups(English) . UC Santa Cruz (January 29, 2007). Retrieved December 11, 2017.
Provo, Frank. Bloody Wolf(English) (unavailable link). Gamespot(7 July 2007). Retrieved December 12, 2017. Archived December 12, 2008.
Mark J. P. Wolf. The video game explosion: a history from PONG to PlayStation and beyond. - ABC-CLIO, 2008. - P. 272. - ISBN 0-313-33868-X.
Rollings, Andrew. Fundamentals of Game Design. - Prentice Hall, 2006.
Parkin, Simon Gradius Collection (undefined) . Eurogamer (21 September 2006). Retrieved February 14, 2009. Archived July 3, 2009.
, p. 66.
Provo, Frank. Galaga "90(English) (unavailable link). Gamespot(10 August 2007). Archived from the original on December 12, 2008.
Goldstein, Hilary. Panzer Dragoon Orta(English) (unavailable link). IGN(10 January 2003). Archived from the original on March 7, 2009.
Kurt Kalata. Space Harrier 3D(English) . Hardcore Gaming 101(23 August 2017). Retrieved December 11, 2017.
, p. 147.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Review (undefined) . Game Rant (November 11, 2010). - “"it becomes a little disappointing when you"re forced to sit there and watch scripted walkthroughs of story moments. Going to the Pentagon is something that should be pretty exciting, but it "s essentially a rail-shooter without the shooting." Retrieved November 27, 2010. Archived November 12, 2010.
Robert Howarth. Call of Duty 4 First Impressions (undefined) . Voodoo Extreme. IGN (November 8, 2007). Retrieved May 7, 2011. Archived November 11, 2007.
Kristan Reed. Gyruss Of historical uninterest.(English) . Eurogamer(19 April 2007). Retrieved December 11, 2017.
Smith, Rachel. Sidewize (English) // Your Sinclair: magazine. - 1987. - October (no. 22). - P. 38.
Onyett, Charles Crystal Quest (undefined) . IGN (February 13, 2006). Retrieved June 17, 2008. Archived July 22, 2016.
McAllister, Graham A Guide To iOS Twin Stick Shooter Usability (undefined) . Gamasutra. Think Services (March 30, 2011). Retrieved March 5, 2014. Archived April 25, 2014.
Yin-Poole, Wesley Microsoft's policy means this indie twin-stick shooter can't launch on Xbox One (undefined) . Eurogamer. Gamer Network (December 9, 2013). Retrieved March 5, 2014. Archived March 5, 2014.
Brandon Sheffield. Q&A: Capcom's Kujawa On Revisiting Classics, Bullet Hell(English) . Gamasutra(22 April 2008). Retrieved December 12, 2017.
, p. 77.
, p. 82.
Jeremy Dunham. FIRST LOOK: ALIEN HOMINID(English) . IGN(27 July 2004). Retrieved December 12, 2017.
Bielby, Matt. The YS Complete Guide To Shoot-"em-ups Part II (English) // Your Sinclair: magazine. - 1990. - August (no. 56). - P. 19.
, p. 72.
The Next Generation 1996 Lexicon A to Z: Shooter (English) // Next Generation: magazine. - 1996. - March (no. 15). - P. 40.
Buchanan, Levi. Space Invaders(English) (unavailable link). IGN(31 March 2003). Retrieved December 12, 2017. Archived December 8, 2008.
Tim Surette. Gaming pioneer passes away(English) . Gamespot(7 June 2006). Retrieved December 12, 2017.
Edwards, Benj. Ten Things Everyone Should Know About Space Invaders (undefined) . 1UP.com. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
, pp. 72-73.
Geddes, Ryan. IGN's Top 10 Most Influential Games (undefined) . IGN (December 10, 2007). Retrieved July 11, 2008. Archived July 23, 2008.
Nishikado-San Speaks (English) // Retro Gamer: magazine. - No. 3. - P. 35.
Kevin Bowen. The Gamespy Hall of Fame: Space Invaders (undefined) . GameSpy. Retrieved January 27, 2010. Archived April 8, 2008.
Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2008 / Craig Glenday. - Record Breaking Games: Shooting Games Roundup: Guinness. - pp. 106–107. - ISBN 978-1-904994-21-3.
Players Guide To Electronic Science Fiction Games (English) // Electronic Games: magazine. - 1982. - March (vol. 1, no. 2). - P. 34-45.
Essential 50: Space Invaders (undefined) . 1UP.com. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
Buchanan, Levi. Galaxian Mini(English) (unavailable link). IGN(21 April 2003). Retrieved December 12, 2017. Archived July 13, 2011.