Shoot Em Ups

Shoot enemies and avoid being shot. This general premise is the basis for a large percentage of video games. In some form or other shoot-em-ups involve shooting things with 'em' being short for 'them' as there is usually more than one enemy to be killed. Its a trend which started early on with Space Invaders and doesn't look like stopping, I guess we just like shooting stuff. Here we look at some of the best from the last 25 years with some important developments in video game history.

Space Invaders

Space Invaders screenshot
Space Invaders screenshot
Platform Arcade
Developer Taito
Released 1978
Number of Players 1
Space Invaders cabinet
Space Invaders cabinet
One of the first and most popular arcade games of all time. It had the first animated sprites and the first game to keep a high score.

Galaxians

Galaxians screenshot
Galaxians screenshot
Platform Arcade
Developer Namco Ltd
Released 1979
Number of Players 1
Unlike Space Invaders, the enemies in this game leave their positions in line and attack in groups of 3 swooping down towards you. This is a basic feature of most shoot-em-up games from then on. Enemies basically get more and more advanced in the way they try and avoid/shoot you.

Defender

Defender screenshot
Defender screenshot
Platform Arcade
Developer Williams Entertainment
Released 1980
Number of Players 1
Defender cabinet
Defender cabinet
Defender was an important milestone in that it was the first side scrolling game. It also happened to be fiendishly difficult to play compared to earlier games such as space invaders due to having not 1 but 5 buttons and a joystick. Not only did you have to move left right and fire, now you had to contend with buttons for reverse, hyperspace, smart bomb, thrust and fire. So good it is found on just about every computer or console ever made.

Battlezone

Battlezone screenshot
Battlezone screenshot
Platform Arcade
Developer Atari
Released 1980
Number of Players 1
Battlezone cabinet
Battlezone cabinet
The first 1st person shooting game. Used wire models on a vector display for a tank battle with opposing tanks, missiles and the occasional saucer. Paved they way for the classic Star Wars Arcade. Supposedly used by the US military in early experiments with training simulations.

Gorf

Gorf screenshot
Gorf screenshot
Platform Arcade
Developer Midway
Released 1981
Number of Players 1
1st game to have multiple levels (five separate missions). The first mission is like Space Invaders. The second mission pits the player against two squads of diving ships, each squad has a special ship that fires long laser beams. The third mission is like Galaxian. The fourth mission has the player fight a number of enemies that spiral toward the player shooting fireballs. The fifth mission has the player fight the Gorfian Flagship. The Flagship's shields must first be battered down, then the player must hit the Flagship in a tiny exhaust port in order to destroy it.

Zaxxon

Zaxxon screenshot
Zaxxon screenshot
Platform Arcade
Developer Sega
Released 1982
Number of Players 1
Zaxxon, took scramble and added another dimension (left or right), it was very similar in concept but with great graphics and a playable game Sega were onto another winner. This was the first isometric 3D game.

R-Type

R-Type screenshot
R-Type screenshot
Platform Arcade
Developer IREM Corp
Released 1987
Number of Players 1-2
A true arcade classic that has been converted onto just about every platform ever, including the spectrum. There are 3 main arcade versions 1, 2 and Leo. Nothing revolutionary about the R-Type series but they are all very polished games with some great end of level bosses.

Raiden DX

Raiden DX screenshot
Raiden DX screenshot
Platform Arcade
Developer Seibu Kaihatsu
Released 1990
Number of Players 2
At first glance Raiden may not seem that special but it is a superb example of a vertical scrolling shooter. Graphics are simple yet superbly detailed. Some classic end of level bosses such as the giant walking tanks on stage one of the DX version. There are a total of 6 games with the last being Raiden Fighters Jet.

Space Probotector

Space Probotector characters
Space Probotector characters
Platform SNES
Developer Konami
Released 1992
Number of Players 2
Space Probotector screenshot
Space Probotector screenshot
Konami produced some of the best games on the SNES and Super Probotector is probably the best of the lot. Up to two players blast through 6 amazingly varied levels of side-on or top down action. Good music really pushes the game along. There are loads of bosses from start to finish making great use of the SNES mode 7. An essential part of anyone's SNES collection. Still plays well today.

Sin and Punishment

Sin and Punishment label
Sin and Punishment label
Platform N64
Developer Treasure
Released 2000
Number of Players 1
Sin and Punishment screenshot
Sin and Punishment screenshot
One of the finest games on the N64 never to make it to the UK other than via import. Its an on-rails shooter much in the vein of Starfox. Very cool Manga style graphics and story line. A classic game from treasure the dev house which brought us Gunstar Heros and Radient Silver gun.

REZ

REZ screenshot
REZ screenshot
Platform DC/PS2
Developer Sega UGA
Released 2001
Number of Players 1
Inventive gameplay, Incredible music, Wonderful visuals, Lots of replayability despite most extra levels to be found being variations on a theme. Shots can be timed with the music.