Wayoftherodent's Top 50 Shooters of All Time

**Roufuss** · 08 Oct 2004, 01:19 AM

Can Metal Slug really be considered a shooter, in the same vein as other games like Ikaruga and R-Type?

I never really considered it as such, myself.

And Rez is in the list, but no Gradius V???

R-Type over R-Type Delta?

**toxic** · 08 Oct 2004, 02:11 AM

If Galaxian is 7 than Gorf should be 6. Oh well.

Other old games not on the list: Zaxxon, Asteroids.

The problem is the list is too broad .. maybe if it was strictly console or arcade, you could make a better list.

What is the definition of a shooter anyways? Operation: Wolf is a "gun game" or a shooter? Would Moon Patrol be a shooter? Could Gauntlet be considered a shooter?

**James** · 08 Oct 2004, 03:35 AM

It's a small fan-site, people. If I made my list of top-50 games (a stupid thing that I'd never try to do) I expect it'd have exactly the same response from people who don't know me and a lot of near-identical responses from those who do.

I read the list, I enjoyed reading the list, and like, every single other one of these things I've ever read in my entire life, whether it's EGM, IGN, Gamespot, Next Generation, or MyBigGamingBlogOf1337ness.com, disagreed with it on many levels.

I'm good with Doom being on there. I'm good with Metal Slug being on there. Why? Because it's somebody else's list, not mine.

-edit- Snappish because the overall attitude seems to be "Who the hell is Way of the Rodent and what gives them the right to an opinion?" They play games, and lots of them, therefore their opinion is just as valid as the editors of (magazine/web site of choice).

James

**dog$** · 08 Oct 2004, 06:16 AM

Originally Posted by toxic

Other old games not on the list: Asteroids.

Originally Posted by The List

10. Asteroids

And I'm thinking Gradius V was too recently released for them to consider the game at the time of writing.

**Wilykat** · 08 Oct 2004, 02:35 PM

This is what happens when you let those "classic gaming enthusiast" (arcade collectors, C64 obsessives) types create top-50 lists for genres that have had way more innovation since 1981.

**StriderKyo** · 08 Oct 2004, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by James

-edit- Snappish because the overall attitude seems to be "Who the hell is Way of the Rodent and what gives them the right to an opinion?"

That's just it, though. I don't think it is opinion. I think they've seriously only played 48 shooters. There are only 3 games on there from the entire 16-bit era (5 if you count the two Neo shooters).

**James** · 08 Oct 2004, 03:40 PM

This is what happens when you let those "classic gaming enthusiast" (arcade collectors, C64 obsessives) types create top-50 lists for genres that have had way more innovation since 1981.

That was elitist, arrogant, and utter bullshit. Basically sums up most of the thread so far, really. I recommend calling the Internet Police, working in conjunction with the Gaming Mafia, and call in a beatdown on all the writers. They tread in God's domain and were unworthy.

I'm actually pretty familiar with the site and its writers, even made a very small contribution to one of their articles, and I know they've played a ton of stuff. Why they thought Space Invaders was better than, say, DoDonPachi is beyond me, but they did. Roll your eyes and carry on if you have to, but don't question their right to publish.

I mean, 95% of the world thinks Halo is the best thing ever and I've got no idea what on earth they're going on about. Is my gaming license revoked? Can I no longer write for TNL or any other gaming site that may want me?

For what it's worth, the word they used was "shooter". Not "arcade shooter", "vertical shooter", "shmup", or anything like that. I'm pretty sure that's what lets things like Metal Slug and Doom wander into the list.

I've got no complaint at all about the #1 spot, no matter how I'd argue with any of their other choices. I just wish MAME emulated Robotron accurately.

James

**PepsimanVsJoe** · 08 Oct 2004, 03:41 PM

Wank to this kids. I have created a..um..Best 50? errh Top 50? Well..50 of the or...The 50 Best 2D shooters of all time.

This is the greatest list because it is mine.

Okay here we go

Armored Police Batrider
Battle Bakraid
Soukygurentai
Battle Garegga
Sexy Parodius
ESP Ra De
Dodonpachi
Darius 1
Darius Gaiden
Sengoku Blade
Life Force
Salamander 2
Gradius III-SNES
Gradius V
Galactic Attack
Zero Gunner 2
Strikers 1945 II
Cho Ren Sha 68k
Blazing Star
ThunderForce III
ThunderForce IV
Twin Cobra
Wolf Fang
Sonic Wings Special(Aka AeroFighters)
Gradius Gaiden
Varth: Operation Thunderstorm
Pulstar
U.N. Squadron
Einhander
Guwange
Dangun Feveron
Mars Matrix
Eliminate Down
Batsugun
Progear No Arashi
19XX
Gigawing
Mahou Daisakusen
Dimahoo
Kyukyoku Tiger 2 Plus(Twin Cobra 2 I mean)
Twinkle Star Sprites
Steel Empire
Gokujyou Parodius
G. Darius
Gunbird 2
XEXEX
MUSHA
Space MegaForce
Forgotten Worlds
Blazing Lasers

Alright this list is perfect and um..yay yay
Ikaruga, Radiant Silvergun, and fans of shooters made before 1980 are sort of out of luck. Also I didn't bother with listing anything else that has "shooting in it" so Metal Slug, Gunstar Heroes, and Contra fans are out of luck.