THE greatest run n' guns of all time?

[DocHauser]

Challenge: explain why Metal Slug 3 is better than its predecessors, without talking about the graphics.

Challenge defied: None of them have great gameplay, so the one with the best graphics wins.

These attempts to wind people up with wildly-exaggerated declarative statements are just a bit too transparent sometimes. If the first Metal Slug doesn't have good gameplay then no game ever made has had good gameplay.

[Drum]

Challenge: explain why Metal Slug 3 is better than its predecessors, without talking about the graphics.

Challenge defied: None of them have great gameplay, so the one with the best graphics wins.

These attempts to wind people up with wildly-exaggerated declarative statements are just a bit too transparent sometimes. If the first Metal Slug doesn't have good gameplay then no game ever made has had good gameplay.

Don't lecture me about hyperbole if you are gonna do worse in the process - I was very careful to put 'great' where you are now attempting to substitute 'good'.

Besides, it was just bluntness, not hyperbole (they are pretty much opposites, Jesus fuck), and I am happy to back up the actual words I wrote: they have good gameplay, but there's nothing much that stands out about it. How is this even debateable? Metal Slug is notoriously solid-but-not-spectacular gameplay-wise - certainly Nazca has done better.

DocHauser, I am detecting a pattern here and I am going to have to ask you to stop replying to my posts. At least PM me first with an early draft to see if it's ok, and I'll look it over and make any necessary corrections, ensure its ready to go prime time.

[DocHauser]

Whatever. You're still trying to wind people up. So I won't get into an argument about it. And less of the name-calling as well. You're capable of discussing games in reasonably intelligent manner, so there's no need to resort to abuse. Which I see you've now edited out.

[Drum]

Sorry, for people wondering what's going on: I called DocHauser a fucking toad in my last post, but thought better of it and edited just as he was replying - in the interests of peace and stability. Now that he is lecturing me on manners, here it is again. You're welcome.

[DocHauser]

Sticking to the game discussion. What games did Nazca develop that were superior to Metal Slug? The same team did In The Hunt, Gunforce 1 & 2 and Neo Turf Masters. They're all good games, but I don't see them being superior to the MS series.

[Drum]

Wait, they didn't develop Cosmic Cop? My bad. In that case, Metal Slug is definitely the best thing they've done.

[DocHauser]

Oh, I forgot about Cosmic Cop. Yeah, I think that was the same team. Undercover Cops is another one.

I haven't played Cosmic Cop enough to judge it, but it seemed pretty good. I'm not sure it has too many fans on this board, though.

[Drum]

Cosmic Cop is a game of many talents.

[wiNteR]

Anyone played Demon's World here? Seems to be fairly well designed auto-scrolling platform game, particularly for its time. And obviously another thing is that there doesn't seem to be many of these type of games. At least I don't know of many. So there is a uniqueness factor to it too. Quite likely, it's also one of the first of its kind?

And what about this game?
http://www.gungirl2.com

It starts off quite slow, but from what I played, seems to pick up pace nicely. Though I haven't played it much as of yet.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Anyone played Demon's World here? Seems to be fairly well designed auto-scrolling platform game, particularly for its time. And obviously another thing is that there doesn't seem to be many of these type of games. At least I don't know of many. So there is a uniqueness factor to it too. Quite likely, it's also one of the first of its kind?

Toaplan's own Get Star/Guardian (1986) autoscrolls, but that's more of a beat 'em up.

[1up]

I recently saw a video for Demon Front (PGM) on youtube. Looked very much like Metal Slug. looked really awesoem.

anyone try it?

[Drum]

Anyone played Demon's World here? Seems to be fairly well designed auto-scrolling platform game, particularly for its time. And obviously another thing is that there doesn't seem to be many of these type of games. At least I don't know of many. So there is a uniqueness factor to it too. Quite likely, it's also one of the first of its kind?

For it's time? Demon's World was released in 1989. And it is very bad. But there is a happy ending, because if you like Demon's World, you are gonna go crazy over: Psycho Soldier, Chelnov Atomic Runner (check out the Megadrive version too, it is amazing), Jump Bug, Cliffhanger - Edward Randy, Rohga Armor Force, Moon Patrol, Son Son, Gumshoe (it counts!).

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

My top 5 run 'n guns are:
Metal Slug 3
Metal Slug X
Metal Slug XX
Metal Slug 4
Metal Slug 6

Yep, that seems about right. Totally varied and not biased in any sort of way. :V

[doctorx0079]

Anyone played Demon's World here? Seems to be fairly well designed auto-scrolling platform game, particularly for its time. And obviously another thing is that there doesn't seem to be many of these type of games. At least I don't know of many. So there is a uniqueness factor to it too. Quite likely, it's also one of the first of its kind?

For it's time? Demon's World was released in 1989. And it is very bad. But there is a happy ending, because if you like Demon's World, you are gonna go crazy over: Psycho Soldier, Chelnov Atomic Runner (check out the Megadrive version too, it is amazing), Jump Bug, Cliffhanger - Edward Randy, Rohga Armor Force, Moon Patrol, Son Son, Gumshoe (it counts!).

Oh sweet Jesus, Psycho Soldier.

I love Son Son though. Love it love it.

[Drum]

Psycho Soldier is a lot better than Demon's World and Son Son. Just sayin'.

[xris]

Wow, not one mention of Alien Hominid yet? This is my pick for run n gun, fast pased, colourful, has allot of charm, and a ton of fun. The vehicles in it aren't too great, but there is a couple of multi-directional shmup levels. There's a ton of levels, and a good amount of challenge to be had. A good selection of boss fight. And, a great game to play co-op. And, on that note, hidden in the mini games, is the PDA games. Which is some of the greatest multiplayer puzzle platforming you can find. I've spent years playing levels with friends.

[louisg]

Did Rambo for Master System (Secret Command) get mentioned yet? I was playing that the other day. I don't know that it has a difficulty curve per-se, but it's pretty hectic and fun in short bursts. Though, I'm not sure I can say it's any better than Blood 'n Bullets from SEUCK

There's also Genesis Rambo III, which is fairly decent. It has some exploration elements though.

[drauch]

Yeah, both of those Rambo games are pretty damn good, but III...god, I love that game. One of my favorite genesis games. The gameplay is stellar, but it gets pretty brutal. I live for Rambo.

[doctorx0079]

Psycho Soldier is a lot better than Demon's World and Son Son. Just sayin'.

Way too easy and that singing drives me up the wall.

[TransatlanticFoe]

Did Rambo for Master System (Secret Command) get mentioned yet? I was playing that the other day. I don't know that it has a difficulty curve per-se, but it's pretty hectic and fun in short bursts. Though, I'm not sure I can say it's any better than Blood 'n Bullets from SEUCK

There's also Genesis Rambo III, which is fairly decent. It has some exploration elements though.

It makes my thumbs hurt because your character is so slow and somehow pushing harder on the pad gives the impression that you're trying to right it. Collision detection from explosions is total balls as well.

Mercs on the Mega Drive is where it's at in the top-down department. The original mode is really good fun, if incredibly easy once you get one character powered up a bit.

[TodayIsForgotten]

Lots of great decisions. I really loved Biomechanical Toy. Loved the art design. Gunsmoke if you consider that run and gun.

[Sumez]

Wow, not one mention of Alien Hominid yet? This is my pick for run n gun, fast pased, colourful, has allot of charm, and a ton of fun. The vehicles in it aren't too great, but there is a couple of multi-directional shmup levels. There's a ton of levels, and a good amount of challenge to be had. A good selection of boss fight. And, a great game to play co-op. And, on that note, hidden in the mini games, is the PDA games. Which is some of the greatest multiplayer puzzle platforming you can find. I've spent years playing levels with friends.

This game is terrible! And for some reason I even bought it twice (PS2 and XBLA). I've tried so many times to play and like it and granted, I rarely make it past the second or third stage, so it's difficult to comment on, but the uninspired level design, enemy snipers and f***ing invisible bullets just completely ruin the experience for me. Oh, also long, tedious boss fights where you only fail because you get tired of repeating the same move.
Basically, it's obvious to everyone that Alien Hominid is a blatant Metal Slug clone, which would be fine if it were a decent Metal Slug clone. But it does nothing new and most things wrong, so I don't see why I wouldn't just fire up Metal Slug instead? That's TONS more fun.

Castle Crashers is twenty billion trillion times better than this.

Also, sorry for resurrecting thread, but it's only a month old, and I tend to stay away from "off-topic" forums.

[evil_ash_xero]

Yeah, I thought Alien Hominid sucked too. And strangely enough, I bought it twice also.

[Sumez]

I'd comment with my own top picks, but I think you already got it covered in the original post, Xero.

I have a crush on Shattered Soldier, too, though it seems most people don't follow me on that. I guess I never had a problem with so called "memorizers", and I LOVE the insane over-the-top action.

[doctorx0079]

Psycho Soldier is a lot better than Demon's World and Son Son. Just sayin'.

Way too easy and that singing drives me up the wall.

I meant the English version.

And a lot of people here like Shattered Soldier. I ought to try it one of these days.

[BIL]

Shattered Soldier is a run and gun with a deficit of running and gunning. Missions 3 and 5 have bursts of free-running action, but they're way too marginalised by bosses. There aren't many of those volatile enough to remain exciting once you know their tricks (Mission 6's jellyfish is a brilliant exception to this - M5's last boss gets pretty devious as it's dissected for the S-Rank, too).

They're still fun to demolish with maximum efficiency, shutting down patterns and forms before they can even start if you're fast enough, but they're not replayable enough to headline an entire game without some tedium setting in. I wanted to use those excellent strafe and lock controls a lot more, the way you do when shooting down flying soldiers while sidestepping mortars and fending off swordsmen in M3's opening.

I still like SS a lot more than Hard Corps, where only one character out of four can demolish snoozy bosses without resorting to what can only be described as electromagnetically groping them.

[ShmupSamurai]

Act Fancer

Gunstar Heroes

Alien Hominid

Alien Soldier

Contra

Megaman 6

Turrican II

Jazz Jackrabbit

[Sumez]

@BIL, really? I used strafing and locking almost constantly through the game. It really works excellent in SS.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Shattered Soldier may not have enough fast killing for somebody's liking. You don't get to mow down pocporn dudes all that often. It's about depleting the bosses' life-bars mostly. Unlike, say, NES port of the first Contra with its high kill rate (which I believe to be one of that game's selling points). I also believe that so many games throw a handful of popcorn enemies at you during bossfights for the exact purpose of feeding you with that fast kill candy.
I for one I'm fine with the game being a boss rush, but Neo Contra had more "ow-ow-ow" killing to it.

[Sumez]

Neo Contra is excellent in a completely different way (but the pacing is a bit off). Seriously, for a moment Konami seemed like they were getting back on track and then what happened? Now it's all dancing games and outsourced franchises.

I love boss rushes like Shattered Soldier, Radiant Silvergun and Gunstar Heroes.