Full list of arena shooters??....

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 9:57 pm

I just love these types of shooters, so much so that I'm drooling over footage of Blast Factor, despite the fact that I don't even own a PS3!

So, I am looking for a complete list of arena shooters. The ones that I can think of off hand are:

Geometry Wars
Blast Factor
Smash T.V.
Robotron (and it's various remakes)
Sanvein

That's all I can think off, but there's gotta be more out there.

Frederik · Post by **Frederik** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 10:28 pm

Grid Wars. Freeware for PC and Mac, and while I didn´t spend too much time in it, it seemed very well done.

And if you can get over the fact that a certain Stuart Campbell acted like a lunatic prick around our forums, here is his review of it (with lots of pictures):

http://worldofstuart.excellentcontent.com/grid/wars.htm

It has the typical sweet vector style that seems pretty hip these days. Who would have guessed this type of games would get to popular again?

Andi · Post by **Andi** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 10:48 pm

This guy who posts on the forum (or used to) named Magnum Opus was working on an arena shooter site. He might have a relatively complete list.

magnum opus · Post by **magnum opus** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 11:38 pm

okay there's more that i could find but i sort of stopped cataloging them around may so it's not entirely complete

at the moment

Robotron
Robotron x
Robotron 64
Mucade
Sabertron mini
Mojotron
Geometry wars
Ultratron
Puppytron
Evil Invasion
Destruction carnival
Vector infector
Blitzatron
Kill dr cote
Kill monty
Grid wars
r-tronic
Smash TV
Entropy XXIII
Robotron blitz
Mono
Mutant storm
Hero's of ruin
After the end
Crimson land
Black widow
Battle girl
Llamatron
Gearbolt rage
Last sorcerer

have actual levels:
Alien shooter
Cannon spike
Bangai-O
Total Carnage
Zero gunner 2
Vision Sphere
Gunroar
Pteroglider

zinger · Post by **zinger** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 11:49 pm

Nitro Ball / Gun Ball by Data East is a really sweet Smash TV inspired game, check it out!

Fost · Post by **Fost** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:21 am

Alien Shooter 2 is out in German and Russian territories, so hopefully isn't long off release in the West.

Also, everyone should try Ultratron

because it fucking rocks like the gameplay has been honed by ninjas.

Postman has been adding a lot of data so you can search the shoothecore database in this way, but sadly I'm holding him up because I don't have time for a while to implement the final changes he needs to the website. It's going to be cool when it's done though.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:32 am

magnum opus wrote:okay there's more that i could find but i sort of stopped cataloging them around may so it's not entirely complete

at the moment

Robotron
Robotron x
Robotron 64
Mucade
Sabertron mini
Mojotron
Geometry wars
Ultratron
Puppytron
Evil Invasion
Destruction carnival
Vector infector
Blitzatron
Kill dr cote
Kill monty
Grid wars
r-tronic
Smash TV
Entropy XXIII
Robotron blitz
Mono
Mutant storm
Hero's of ruin
After the end
Crimson land
Black widow
Battle girl
Llamatron
Gearbolt rage
Last sorcerer

have actual levels:
Alien shooter
Cannon spike
Bangai-O
Total Carnage
Zero gunner 2
Vision Sphere
Gunroar
Pteroglider

Which ones, in the first list, had console releases? Thanks for your input everyone!

Pirate1019 · Post by **Pirate1019** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:54 am

I've been having fun with Mucade. An offbeat arena shooter from Kenta Cho.

You can't find (or have to look really hard) the orginal GridWars since it was requested to be taken down for legal reasons. However the same guy made a sequal that IMO looks identical, but hasn't been asked to be removed from the internet yet. Best Geometry Wars clones I have seen.

kong · Post by **kong** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 1:03 am

Bullet Candy ($10 pc/mac game and it's fantastic http://temp.macdock.com/charliesgames/p ... age11.html

Xwars

HGE Wars

RIP 2: Rip Strikes Back (great game)

Rainbow Wars

Naac (awesome freeware)
http://www.bloodymonkey.com/

Operation Carnage (old dos game that's freeware now)

Base 2
http://www.simsimgames.co.uk/

D-Bug

Zombie 4

Alien Shooter 2

Polarity -from the creator of Grid Wars. Arena shooter meets Ikaruga color changing. I didn't care for it personally.

Ambush in Sector 9

Survival Crisis Z

In production:
War Angels
RIP 3
Return to Sector 9
Bullet Candy 2

Not an arena shooter, more of a melee arena game but definitely check out Samurai Collossus. http://renderjunkies.com/

I know I'm mising a few more. I'll post them if I remember them.

Here's a nice write up on arena shooters. http://indygamer.blogspot.com/2006/08/g ... lones.html

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 3:27 am

Great stuff; thanks!

So. how's PS1 Loaded? Or is that really an arena shooter? There's a Game Force near me where I can get it for $5.

shinsage · Post by **shinsage** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 4:29 am

Think of Loaded as a shitty Gauntlet with gratutitous violence.

Andi · Post by **Andi** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:18 pm

shinsage wrote:Think of Loaded as a shitty Gauntlet with gratutitous violence.

While, yes, Loaded is much more comparable to Gauntlet than arena shooters, that seems like an unfair judgement of the game. Loaded is much more focused on fast action and gunplay than Gauntlet and includes an easy way to strafe (meaning it plays quite a bit like an arena shooter). Plus, the game is pretty fun and has decent level design and challenge throughout.

I've only played the Saturn version but I recommend it strongly. Plus, it's a hundred times more playable than Gauntlet.

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 1:31 am

What about that PS1 title, Shooter: Sanvein-- or something like that? Isn't that an arena shooter of sorts? (Or am I thinking of Shooter: Space Shot?)

Stormwatch · Post by **Stormwatch** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 3:04 am

.....

Quake 3 Arena .................. Propeller Arena ............... Custom Robo Arena ......... Rayman Arena

OneEyedJack · Post by **OneEyedJack** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 3:43 am

Xyanide has Robotron controls, but not arena based.

Dale · Post by **Dale** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 3:50 am

Apocalyspe for PS1-Great Robotron gameplay except with platforming...And Bruce Willis, great game. Not sure if it's techinically an Arena shooter but if you enjoy Robotron give this one a go.

mannerbot · Post by **mannerbot** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 4:46 am

Stormwatch wrote: ..... ..... .....

Quake 3 Arena .................. Propeller Arena ............... Custom Robo Arena ......... Rayman Arena

beam · Post by **beam** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 11:41 am

Winged Gear
Area 2048, there's a linux version on Source Forge
Kani, this is the third game on the page

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 1:16 am

beam wrote:Winged Gear
Area 2048, there's a linux version on Source Forge
Kani, this is the third game on the page

Thanks man, Winged Gear ROCKS!!

I did download NaaC, but I just don't do very well with the mouse/keyboard controlls for these types of shooters.

Vexorg · Post by **Vexorg** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 1:28 am

While not really a true arena shooter, Assault Heroes on XBLA has a lot of the same game mechanics. There's also Crystal Quest (originally a Mac game, eventually redone for XBLA) that I didn't see listed below.

JoshF · Post by **JoshF** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 1:29 am

No one remembers Midways's The Grid?

Thunder Force · Post by **Thunder Force** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 10:15 am

Moved to Shmups Chat, since these days many 2D arena shooters are on-topic for the forum.

p.s. Not FPSes though, to be clear.

Shocky · Post by **Shocky** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 10:46 am

Wizard of Wor
Ray Hound (or is this game mechanics considered "shooting")?

beam · Post by **beam** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 12:11 pm

dave4shmups wrote:Thanks man, Winged Gear ROCKS!!

Yes it's a great 8 bits type game !
If you liked it you should try Area 2048. There's no screenshot on the page but there's a review in english there and a french one with more screenshots on shmups.com.
Basically this is a souped up Winged Gear in a Kenta Sho style. There are bigger areas and no bonuses (apart from the wide shot) but the game play is very similar.

zaphod · Post by **zaphod** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 8:17 pm

Total Carnage, the sequel to Smash TV.

It counts, barely (it scrools in spots, and stops in spots)

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 8:27 pm

beam wrote:
dave4shmups wrote:Thanks man, Winged Gear ROCKS!!
Yes it's a great 8 bits type game !
If you liked it you should try Area 2048. There's no screenshot on the page but there's a review in english there and a french one with more screenshots on shmups.com.
Basically this is a souped up Winged Gear in a Kenta Sho style. There are bigger areas and no bonuses (apart from the wide shot) but the game play is very similar.

Yep, I downloaded it, and it's great!

I've read that Robotron 64 is better then X; is this true?

zaphod · Post by **zaphod** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 7:13 am

Robotron X FRAMESKIPS. i consider it unplayable because of this.

I can't speak for Robotron 64, but Mr. Minter seems to like it...

Andi · Post by **Andi** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 7:45 pm

Shocky wrote:Wizard of Wor

I don't know if Wizard of Wor would really be called an arena shooter. It plays much more like pac-man but with shooting. It's an awesome game though. The two player cooperative play and the line of sight play mechanic are really outstanding.

LSU · Post by **LSU** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 6:43 am

zaphod wrote:Robotron X FRAMESKIPS. i consider it unplayable because of this.

I can't speak for Robotron 64, but Mr. Minter seems to like it...

I have both and yes, Robotron 64 is markedly better than Robotron X.

I also found Robotron X to be quite broken and unplayable, while Robotron 64 is reasonably fun to pick up once in a while. But be warned - it's way, way too easy. If you're even a barely competant Robotron player you'll just walk though the levels as if there's harldy any resistance at all.

Xexyz · Post by **Xexyz** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 2:45 am

Did anyone mention Zektor or Asteroids yet?