Shortest 8 & 16-bit shooters?

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 7:08 am

You know, as a change of pace from infinitely looping or 80 minute Compile shooters.

1. Bio Metal. Just cleared the other day and I think it timed at about 18 minutes.

shiftace · Post by **shiftace** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 8:29 am

I just cleared the normal mode of Recca in 15:50. The game clock read 19:04.92, and my best time by that clock is around 18:02.

it290 · Post by **it290** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 8:32 am

Thunder Force III. Well, at least compared to part IV which is epic. I seem to remember Vapor Trail being fairly short as well. I'd also nominate the Sonic Wings games.

Neo Rasa · Post by **Neo Rasa** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 4:31 pm

NES Life Force can be done in very short order. Giga Wing 2 doesn't take too long either.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 5:01 pm

Alzadick is like 10 minutes, if that. And almost impossible to die within that time. Then again, it's not exactly a full shooter.

EDIT: Now that I think about it, there was a 5 minute time limit in the game. So it's sorta like the Special Version PCE tourney shooters.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 8:16 pm

Neo Rasa wrote:NES Life Force can be done in very short order. Giga Wing 2 doesn't take too long either.

How dare you call GW2 8 or 16-bit. But yes it's about 18 minutes, if stretching out the boss battles.

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 8:24 pm

Magical Chase is very short. About 20 minutes if I remember correctly. Still one of the best PCE shooters though.

IlMrm · Post by **IlMrm** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 11:15 pm

Rob wrote:
Neo Rasa wrote:NES Life Force can be done in very short order. Giga Wing 2 doesn't take too long either.
How dare you call GW2 8 or 16-bit. But yes it's about 18 minutes, if stretching out the boss battles.

And watching all the cutscenes.

FRO · Post by **FRO** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 12:01 am

Legendary Wings for NES is quite short, er, if you only count a single loop that is...

TWITCHDOCTOR · Post by **TWITCHDOCTOR** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 8:14 am

The first loop of Psychosis is quite short.

Download is kinda short too.

How about bringing on the long hauls?
I guess Compile would rule that world!

Neo Rasa · Post by **Neo Rasa** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 5:18 pm

Rob wrote:
Neo Rasa wrote:NES Life Force can be done in very short order. Giga Wing 2 doesn't take too long either.
How dare you call GW2 8 or 16-bit. But yes it's about 18 minutes, if stretching out the boss battles.

Sorry I always mix it up with Sky Adventure.

Andi · Post by **Andi** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 5:49 pm

FRO wrote:Legendary Wings for NES is quite short, er, if you only count a single loop that is...

Ha! All the levels are so similar in that game that I'm never quite sure whether I'm on the first loop or I've looped 8 times already.

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 8:25 pm

I've been playing only 8- and 16-bit games during this break-- esp. Zanac, GunNac, and Twin Cobra. The length of the levels in these can become tiresome, so this topic interests me. (Actually, Twin Cobra is near perfect to my mind in every way, so I guess my complaint concerns more the former titles.)

So which early games have the best short levels? I suppose Life Force would be a strong candidate.

sffan · Post by **sffan** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 8:30 pm

I've been playing Sonic Wings lately, which has very short levels.

ED-057 · Post by **ED-057** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:26 am

Transbot and Astro Warrior were definitely on the short side.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:40 am

2. Thunder Force III - Confirmed, 20 minutes flat.

I'll have to play some of these later. Recca first.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 12:23 pm

This just in:

Thunder Force II cleared in 18 minutes flat. Shorter than TF3!

Andi · Post by **Andi** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 5:39 pm

professor ganson wrote:I've been playing only 8- and 16-bit games during this break-- esp. Zanac, GunNac, and Twin Cobra. The length of the levels in these can become tiresome, so this topic interests me. (Actually, Twin Cobra is near perfect to my mind in every way, so I guess my complaint concerns more the former titles.)

While I'm inclined to agree that Twin Cobra is near perfect, it is quite long. And once you get decent at it, the intensity doesn't seem to really pick up until midway through level 4.

LoneSage · Post by **LoneSage** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:21 pm

I remember Elemental Master being near short, on both difficulties.

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:39 pm

Andi wrote:
professor ganson wrote:While I'm inclined to agree that Twin Cobra is near perfect, it is quite long. And once you get decent at it, the intensity doesn't seem to really pick up until midway through level 4.

I still pretty much suck at it, so this is interesting to hear. I'm still having trouble getting through level 1 without losing a life on the final boss, and my best score is only in the 170,000 range. However, I am improving quite a bit, and am loving every minute of it. I don't think I've had this much fun since Zanac Neo.

Damocles · Post by **Damocles** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 9:14 pm

Does Transbot for the SMS just have one boss? After the AT-ST boss, it seemed like the level looped forever.

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 10:13 pm

Rob wrote:This just in:

Thunder Force II cleared in 18 minutes flat. Shorter than TF3!

god, i can't imagine playing that game for 18 minutes...

Alpolio · Post by **Alpolio** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:02 am

I always thought that Bio Hazard Battle was too short. But that might be because I found it to be really addictive and too easy to master.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:41 pm

Aleste GG is actually pretty short, which is odd for a game from Compile. Solar Striker and Nemesis are also pretty short.

JBC · Post by **JBC** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 10:24 pm

Ah gahd. I could never clear Thunder Force II that fast. The overhead stages are so confusing if you dont have them memorized and not to mention running into the cavern walls in that one towards the end... It mustve taken me nearly an hour to clear that on an emulator using save states. No shit. I suck that bad.

And nobody waste your time with Legendary Wings NES. The arcade is clunky enough as it is without turning to masochism and trying to beat the Nintendo one. This coming from a guy who loves the game lol...