...but is it a shmup? - Overhead Run and Guns

[Sugar Rush Games]

Do you consider Overhead Run and Gun games to be shmups?

I do. The big difference, to me, between overhead and side scrolling run and gun games is the lack of platforming in the former. True, they usually lack forced scrolling, but otherwise, they tend to feel just like a shmup.

What do you think?

[Sugar Rush Games]

Examples of this type of game would include Ikari Warriors, Pocky & Rocky / Kiki KaiKai and Mamoru-Kun Curse

[Pretas]

You should probably stop flooding Shmups Chat with these threads.

[Sugar Rush Games]

You should probably stop flooding Shmups Chat with these threads.

Why? I am trying to start an interesting conversation and this is the appropriate forum for this. If you don't like, it don't post in it. I've done nothing wrong.

[MX7]

Except we've had this conversation 100000000 times already. Starting to wear a bit thin now.

[Mortificator]

Do you consider Dogs to be Cats?

I do. The big difference, to me, between dog and cat pets is the lack of claws in the former. True, cats usually lack leashed walking, but otherwise, they tend to feel just like a dog.

What do you think?

[MathU]

I consider In The Hunt to be a shoot 'em up and most overhead games are pretty much the same thing with a bit more aiming ability, so yes.

[Herr Schatten]

Do you consider Dogs to be Cats?

I do. The big difference, to me, between dog and cat pets is the lack of claws in the former. True, cats usually lack leashed walking, but otherwise, they tend to feel just like a dog.

What do you think?

Post of the day! This about sums it up.

/end thread

[Sugar Rush Games]

Do you consider Dogs to be Cats?

I do. The big difference, to me, between dog and cat pets is the lack of claws in the former. True, cats usually lack leashed walking, but otherwise, they tend to feel just like a dog.

What do you think?

Post of the day! This about sums it up.

/end thread

Perhaps, though dogs and cats have obvious, non man made biological differences, so it's of course absurd to call them one and the same.

Vertically scrolling STG and overhead run and gun games like Pocky & Rocky on the other hand are of course man made creations and however we categorize them is ultimately arbitrary. So I still think this topic is a fair question to ask.

[1up]

Does jackal fit here? What about speed rumbler?

[Sugar Rush Games]

Does jackal fit here? What about speed rumbler?

Yes and yes. Jackal rocks!

[KAI]

Is Paperboy a shmup?

[Sugar Rush Games]

Is Paperboy a shmup?

Obviously not. It's also not an overhead run and gun.

[MR_Soren]

I find it funny that people will say overhead run and guns aren't shmups, but those same people will say that Guwange is a shmup. Of course, Guwange has forced scrolling, but I don't think forced scrolling is a requirement for shmups. Otherwise Space Invaders, Galaga, and Geometry Wars would not be shmups.

At the end of the day, a label like "shmup" is just a way to help people associate similar things. Ikari Warriors has a lot in common with more traditionally defined shmups. Some people prefer to maintain a distinction between shmups and O-RaGs, but it just starts arguments when a category system becomes too granular.

[professor ganson]

but it just starts arguments when a category system becomes too granular.

Yeah, if you want the category of shmups to be so fine-grained that Out Zone and its ilk don't count, then you're just inviting pointless argument.

[Mortificator]

Whether a game uses forced scrolling or push scrolling makes a huge difference. It's more than enough to create a meaningfully distinct genre.

It's also the difference between light gun and first-person shooters.

[chempop]

Do you consider Dogs to be Cats?

I do. The big difference, to me, between dog and cat pets is the lack of claws in the former. True, cats usually lack leashed walking, but otherwise, they tend to feel just like a dog.

What do you think?

For me it depends on a bunch of things. Are they forced to walk with you? At what angle are you viewing them? Are you wearing 3D glasses at the time?

[Herr Schatten]

Rule of thumb: If you have to ask yourself whether a game is a shmup or not, it's quite likely that it's not a shmup.

[Sinful]

Except we've had this conversation 100000000 times already. Starting to wear a bit thin now.

So what? I'm new here, it's not old news to me. Pretty rude to shut out the new guys just cause the old guys talked about it enough? Whatever, you guys can just avoid it then. It's a very simple thing to do + topic title it clear enough as to what's it's about. So no need to enter.

[Ghegs]

Except we've had this conversation 100000000 times already. Starting to wear a bit thin now.

So what? I'm new here, it's not old news to me.

You're a new user so you should take a while to look at what we've already discussed at length. The community has been around for quite a long while, longer than our join dates would suggest since we've had to change hosts a few times. We have a fine FAQ which, among other things, covers what types of games are considered as shmups in this forum. We have our Glossary so nobody has to ask "What does [shmup-related term] mean?". In the Threads of Excellence you can find many great threads, including the Top 25 ones which should give a good starting point to the age-old "What are some good shmups?"-question.