THE greatest run n' guns of all time?

[evil_ash_xero]

What would you say are the tip of the top? And if you had a laser gun(or perhaps a spread shot) to your head, what would you say is THE greatest??? And this is just the side scrolling type. Stuff like Sin and Punishment doesn't count.

Mine would have to be(not in order):

Metal Slug 3
Gunstar Heroes
Alien Soldier
Contra 3 and 4

Honorable mention:

Metal Slug
Metal Slug X

My all time favorite would probably be.......Gunstar Heroes. Probably.

[Drum]

Xain'D SleenA
Atomic Runner
Gunstar Heroes
Alisia Dragoon
Thexder 2 Firehawk
Mutant Night
Noitu Love 2
Metal Slug 3
Psycho Soldier
Jump Bug

I will post more when I think of some!

[evil_ash_xero]

Xain'D SleenA

Noitu Love 2


I will post more when I think of some!

Noitu Love 2 is awesome, but I wouldn't consider it a run n' gun. It's more of a run and kick ass.

[EinhanderZwei]

Journey To Silius (the soundtrack kicks fuckin' ass)
Megaman 2
Gunforce 2

Wish I included Rapid Reload/Gunners Heaven, but after Gunstar Heroes it's nothing new

[Drum]

Xain'D SleenA

Noitu Love 2


I will post more when I think of some!

Noitu Love 2 is awesome, but I wouldn't consider it a run n' gun. It's more of a run and kick ass.

It is if you play as *spoiler*!

Other entries:

Toki
Super Return of the Jedi
Cybernator
New Zealand Story
Fatal Rewind/Killing Game Show

Completely off-topic, but: why didn't Taito ever make a side-scrolling Bubble Bobble platfomer in the vein of NZ Story/Liquid Kids? Would that just have made too much sense?

[Heartwork]

Journey To Silius (the soundtrack kicks fuckin' ass)
Megaman 2
Gunforce 2

Wish I included Rapid Reload/Gunners Heaven, but after Gunstar Heroes it's nothing new

If Megaman counts as a run n' gun (I've always considered it a platformer) then Megaman 2 + 3 are the obvious winners of this thread.

[oli_lar]

Abuse and Jazz Jackrabbit (both DOS) are my favs. MS 3 after that, never really got into the other ones.

[Skykid]

Probably Gunforce 2.

Love Assault Suits Valken though.

Crappy stealth edit:

Shattered Soldier - one of the greatest R n' Guns on the face of the planet.
And Psychic Killer Taromaru is ace (Thanks Harlequ1n for the reminder.)

And yeah, Gunstar is a classic too.

[harlequ1n]

Oh the Run 'n gun genre, one of my faves!

Alien Soldier
Assault Suit Leynos 2
Contra: Hard Corps
Gunstar Heroes
Metal Slug 3
Psychic Killer Taromaru
Rapid Reload

[antares]

Since it's not mentioned yet:

Mega Turrican on the MD/Genesis is THE best Run'n' Gun of all time.
Second place probably Turrican 2 / Amiga 500
3rd place Super Turrican 2 / SNES



4th place maybe Contra Shattered Soldier

[Obiwanshinobi]

Tough call. Years ago Metal Slug would be my answer, but these days I prefer more responsive controls. I don't feel qualified to adjudicate which is THE greatest one (plenty of stuff out there looks interesting, but I've yet to play those games to any greater extent). The best I can come up with is a list of those I enjoyed recently:

Contra: Shattered Soldier
Cave Story (terrific gunfights)
Assault Suits Valken
Metal Warriors
Roosters/Midnight Wanderers: Quest for Chariot (part of Wonder 3/Three Wonders)
Act-Fancer: Cybernetick Hyper Weapon (go play it as soon as possible, it's sick!)

Journey To Silius (the soundtrack kicks fuckin' ass)

Raf World has got a punchy soundtrack indeed. Once the arcade stick I just bought arrives, I'm gonna try it out with that game (button config in the PSX version can't be changed and makes playing with a joypad bothersome).

[ST Dragon]

Turrican II (AMIGA)
Turrican II (PC)
Rendering Ranger R2 (SNES)
Super Contra 3 - Alien Wars (SNES)
Super Contra (NES)
Contra (NES)
Mega Man 2 (NES)
Mega Man X, X3, X4, X6 (SNES / PSX)
Metal Slug 3 (NEOGEO)
Alisia Dragoon (Mega Drive)
El Viento (Mega Drive)
Jewel Master (Mega Drive)
Strider Hiryu (Mega Drive)
Mystic Defender (Mega Drive)
Valis Series (Mega Drive / SNES / PC-Engine)
Vectorman (Mega Drive)
Ruff n Tumble (Amiga)
Batman (NES)

[antron]

I guess you guys don't think the 2D Metroid series counts as Run n' Gun

[Mortificator]

It doesn't.

To know if a game's a side-view run 'n gun, just ask yourself if it plays like Contra. It doesn't have to be a total Contra clone, but the essentials of Contra - always fighting your way forward while aiming and shooting stuff in multiple directions - are what make this a sub-genre and not just every 2D game where you can shoot.

Metroid-style games are their own niche anyway. And c'mon, Strider? You don't even have a gun.

Anyway, my favorites are...

Contra
Super Contra
Contra III
Contra 4
Contra: Shattered Soldier
Metal Slug
Metal Slug 2 / X
Gunstar Heroes
Sunset Riders
Midnight Resistance
Super Turrican 2
Super Star Wars trilogy
Jurassic Park II: The Chaos Continues
Mutant Chronicles: Doomtroopers

[Battletoad]

Contra: Hard Corps by far. This game is perfection.

Metal Slug 3 and X also belong to the best, but have some flaws.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Edited my previous post, but I'll say it again: go play Act-Fancer: Cybernetick Hyper Weapon, everyone.

I guess you guys don't think the 2D Metroid series counts as Run n' Gun

I worship Super Metroid, but it hardly ever feels exactly like a great run 'n' gun to me (maybe during the bossfights and that brief escape sequence at the very end). If you ask me, its coolest "weapon" is Screw Attack, which is dreamy, but feels like something I'd expect to find in Chelnov rather than typical run 'n' gun.
Cave Story, on the other hand, has got more outstanding run 'n' gun set pieces and its weaponry is a masterpiece. More traits of a great run 'n' gun all around.

[oli_lar]

Night Slave on PC-98 is good too, also Aquales on X68000, if that counts.

[TransatlanticFoe]

More support for:

Metal Slug 3
Gunstar Heroes
Assault Suits Valken (it makes much more sense as Valken with the translation patch than Cybernator does)
Assault Suit Leynos 2
Super Turrican 2

I actually enjoyed Metal Slug 4 as well as the first three and X, which probably puts me in the minority in liking the game. 5 and 6 left me pretty cold, especially that wretched sewer boss in 6.

Not convinced by the Super Star Wars games. I found the best bits were the non-platformy sections, like the snowspeeder level on Hoth or the Falcon bits on SROTJ. Depending on where you draw the line between platform and run & gun (playing as Luke in SSW games is distinctly not run & gun), I quite enjoyed Robocop vs The Terminator - although I've only really played the Master System version.

Strider though? Even Strider II (Strider Returns in the US), where you get shurikens, isn't close to run & gun. And hell, if that's there you've got to mention Revenge of Shinobi!

[BIL]

Metal Slug X, Metal Slug 3 and Shock Troopers make me want to get into MVS collecting. I can play those three all day. (edit: actually, I'm happy enough with MS3's PS2 port)

On the other hand I kind of played Shattered Soldier to death, but I still love going for speed kills. Cramming in as many charge shots as humanly possible to short-circuit boss battles is fun. I just wish it had more actual running and gunning, ala the start of Mission 3.

I actually enjoyed Metal Slug 4 as well as the first three and X, which probably puts me in the minority in liking the game. 5 and 6 left me pretty cold, especially that wretched sewer boss in 6.

I like MS4 as well, and in one regard (pacing) prefer it to MS3. I put it on when I just want to rip through six short levels' worth of soldiers and tanks - recycled graphics and lack of cool setpieces be damned. Mike Uyama likes it too, so we're not in the worst company.

MS5 is poor, though. The boring level designs make it feel like a generic Mega Man knockoff much of the time.

[louisg]

No love for Cyber-Lip? Come on!

Also, I was playing GunForce 1 on MAME this morning. The game kicks ass.

I don't really consider Jewel Master to be a run n gun. Maybe I need to give it a second chance though since it's good enough that someone put it on their top list.

[ST Dragon]

I don't really consider Jewel Master to be a run n gun. Maybe I need to give it a second chance though since it's good enough that someone put it on their top list.

You should! Its an awesome game! Very traditional Mega Drive feel indeed!

[Bloodreign]

Gunforce 2 oh my!

Vectorman 1 and 2, Metal Slug 3, Contra Hard Corp, Contra 3, Contra SS, yes please.

[Drum]

Why do people like Contra? I am asking this in a seriously-not-trying-to-be-a-dick sort of way, and as a person who put a Super Star Wars game, Jump Bug, Mutant Night, Xain'D SleenA and Psycho Soldier on his own list. I am also typing this while my screen is covered in popup windows from a malware program trying to convince me it's my antivirus program, so that's dedication. Metal Slug I get, because graphix. Contra I do not. Note: I have not put a whole lot of time into Hard Corps, and Shattered Soldier I only have experience with via youtube videos (and I thought it looks like totally bananas fun even though it was still Contra).

Re: Act Fancer Cybernetick Hyper Weapon: Is good, but it is a real bitch to play sometimes.

Re: Super Star Wars: These games are good. Every one of them has some Unbelievably Dumb Shit that brings them down (ie. precision platforming) but they are fun when you learn to deal and they feel like Star Wars as seen through the eyes of the kid who writes Axe Cop.

Re: Gunforce 2: Really?

Re: Turrican. Am gonna go play Mega Turrican now. This better not suck.

[Shelcoof]

Here is my take based on the games I've played

Contra III Alien Wars (absolutely best back in the days)
Contra Hard Corps (This game was tough as nails back when I played it)
Metal Slug 3 (I know there is a lot of hate for this game but honestly I felt this is the best Slug in the series)
Sin and Punishment 2 (Does this game count?)

I'm sure I could go on, there are just soo many good ones out there but I felt these stood out from the rest.

[Skykid]

Metal Slug 3 (I know there is a lot of hate for this game

There is?

[Shelcoof]

Metal Slug 3 (I know there is a lot of hate for this game

There is?

You haven't met many slug fans have you? lol

Yhaa a lot of people complained that killing aliens and zombies was not traditional of a slug game. I believe Aliens and Zombies were introduced in Metal Slug 3 and the previous ones all you battled were soldiers or something.

Doesn't matter to me though because I love Metal Slug 3 the most out of them all

[Dale]

1.Elevator Action(arc)
2.Elevator Action Returns(arc)
3.Contra:Hard Corps(Gen)
4.Metal Slug 3(Xbox)
5.Gunstar Super Heroes(GBA)
6.Metal Slug 5(ARc)
7.Midnight Resistance(Arc)
8.Thunder Fox(ARC)
9.Batman And Robin(GEn)
10.Bionic Commando Arcade(Arc)

I kept this too a very specific type and playing field(no top down). I considered Dick Tracy for genesis but that is a hybrid of Rolling Thunder style run and gun and a Cabal style game. No beat em up hybrids like Robocop 2 or Bucky O Hare.

[Dale]

Oh the Run 'n gun genre, one of my faves!


Psychic Killer Taromaru
Rapid Reload

What platform are these for?

[evil_ash_xero]

I guess you guys don't think the 2D Metroid series counts as Run n' Gun

I don't count it, or Mega Man, or Cave Story a run n' gun. But some seem to.

Oh the Run 'n gun genre, one of my faves!


Psychic Killer Taromaru
Rapid Reload

What platform are these for?

Rapid Reload is Gunner's Heaven. It's on PS1. I THINK that other one is on Saturn.

[GaijinPunch]

Taroumaru is a Saturn game, and is the single most expensive properly released Saturn game these days... one that's not totally gay anyway. The game is fucking awesome, and not too difficult of a 1CC. I posted a pretty meh (but still 1LC) video on Super Play ages ago. It really is a great game. Should buy another one some day. Sorry I sold it.

Gunner's Heaven is awesome but I got stuck somewhere. I have a super play of it that I bought at some minor games show, but have yet to watch it. About as awesome as console only action games get, and dirt cheap.

Doesn't matter to me though because I love Metal Slug 3 the most out of them all

Same.