Contra's Predecessors

Although the term "run 'n gun" didn't emerge until later, Konami's Contra became the archetype for the sub-genre of platform/shooter hybrids using that name. It was first released as an arcade game in 1987, and rose in popularity with NES and computer ports soon afterwards. I'm sure nearly everyone here has played the game in some form.
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This is a thread devoted to the history of run and gun gameplay prior to Contra's debut. Sometimes purely overhead view games in the Front Line/Commando/Ikari Warriors tradition get called "run 'n guns", too, but I'm sticking to using the term for action-focused side-scrollers for this thread.

Although shooters had been around for a while, platform games were still a new concept in the early '80s, especially scrolling ones. Hoei/Alpha's 1981 arcade game Jump Bug did combine platforming and shooting but given the automatic jumping and lack of humanoid character with a gun, it's not quite a run 'n gun in the Contra sense.

I'm having trouble thinking of other platform-shooters from the early '80s, at least ones that side-scroll. I get the feeling I'm forgetting something obvious.

I found Frogacuda's discovery of Bangai-O's inspiration, the 1984 Sharp X1 game Hover Attack, earlier this year very interesting. http://retro.ign.com/articles/861/861550p2.html

I think this sums it up nicely -

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frogacuda

almost like a primitive Turrican, with graphics that freely scrolled in all directions, and a character that could shoot diagonally as well as straight ahead. It even sported sloping terrain, which wouldn't be common in the genre until much later. It pushed its hardware remarkably well and loaded the screen with enemies and projectiles for a maddening amount of action -- and brutal difficulty

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Game Arts' 1985 PC-88 (later ported to a million other formats) game Thexder was a much more successful platform-shooter. You could also transform into a ship but for the most part, it's a run 'n gun game.

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You can definitely see similarities to Contra in Konami's 1985 arcade game Rush'n Attack AKA Green Beret. Not only does it share the classic Konami art style but it does have similar gameplay. It is side-scrolling with shooting although melee combat is the dominant form of attack which why it is often not mentioned in the sub-genre.

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The game had several home ports as well as imitators like C64/Spectrum game Bazooka Bill.

At the end of 1985 came Nichibutsu's Galivan: Cosmo Police, an arcade game pretty close to what the Contra experience would be a couple years later. As soon as you got your power-up suit, the gameplay was run 'n gun action. It had diagonal shooting and even lifts you could hang on to. When you keep in mind that games like Super Mario Bros. and Ghosts 'n Goblins[/b] had only recently been released, it's impressive and underrated in its context.

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1986 had a few important titles. Konami released the arcade game Iron Horse. It was more a predecessor to Sunset Riders than Contra but I think it's worth noting. You move around in all directions more like a beat 'em up than a platformer, and you can choose to fight with whip or gun.

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Sega's arcade game Quartet was significant in the genre for its four-player simultaneous play. It's not as similar in gameplay to Contra as Galivan because acquiring jetpacks makes it feel like a more traditional shooter but I think it's still a run 'n gun of sorts that helped popularize multiplayer gameplay in the genre.

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Namco's arcade game Rolling Thunder was like a run 'n gun version of Taito's original Elevator Action in that you gunned down enemies but also frequently entered doors for items. Rolling Thunder seems to have influenced Shinobi gameplay-wise more than Contra given the way you leap straight up and down floors.

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Technos' arcade game Solar Warrior AKA Xain'd Sleena was almost Contra before Contra. It didn't have diagonal shooting like Galivan but the more serious tone, and more intense flow of shooting action.

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As for 1987, I'm not sure the months/days individual games came out. Mastertronic's budget C64 game Rapid Fire, Sega's SMS game Zillion II: The Tri-Formation and Capcom's arcade game Bionic Commando could all be considered part of the genre. I don't know if they came out before or after Contra but they're not as similar as some of the earlier games mentioned anyway.

So, let's discuss Contra's predecessors. Please add anything important I missed.

I can't believe you mentioned Bazooka Bill. I thought I was the only one on Earth who knew that one.

Nice thread. I loved Quartet back in the day, especially the music (even though it's more of a side-scrolling Gauntlet than run n' gun).

Yet another awesome history lesson courtesy of Neo. Thanks. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by epmode

I can't believe you mentioned Bazooka Bill. I thought I was the only one on Earth who knew that one.

I've heard of Bazooka Bill, but I've never played it.

Quartet is a great game. I only played the arcade version once, but owned the SMS version. I had no idea that the arcade version was 4 player. Like Sleeve said, great music (I had the level one music as my phone ringer for awhile).

Hopefully the SMS version will find its way onto the virtual console.

The SMS version doesn't make much sense with the name Quartet as it's only two-player. It was called Double Target in Asia. They renamed it for the West as they probably figured it would sell better with the arcade name.

And Bazooka Bill sucks pretty bad. The only reason I remember it is that the music was done by Neil Brennan who did the excellent music for the Exploding Fist series.

Oh I agree. Bazooka Bill is terrible, but as a kid with a new C64 and no money, you take what you can get.

Your very existence amazes me Neo.

How can one man know so much about one thing. I feel like rifts in the goddamn universe open up when you take us through history like this.

Rolling Thunder was the absolute shit. That game had me spending upwards of $3 in quarters when I possibly made $5 in 3 months.
I see RT2 is on the Virtual Arcade, never tried it, is it worth the download?