Konami‘s Axelay is considered a cult classic among shoot ’em up fans.
First released on the Super Nintendo in 1992, Axelay cleverly mixes side-scrolling and vertically-scrolling blasting action, and also makes excellent use of the Super Nintendo‘s infamous ‘Mode 7’ scaling technique, to create a weird ‘cylindrical’ rolling effect on some of the levels.
The spiritual successor to Smash TV (in the same way that Smash TV was the spiritual predecessor to Robotron 2084), and a brilliant overhead shooter with 360 degree blasting action.
Ghouls ‘N Ghosts is the amazing 1988 sequel to Ghosts ‘N Goblins.
Although not quite as difficult as its predecessor, Ghouls ‘N Ghosts is another tough horror-themed, fantasy run-and-gun type game, but with much better graphics than the first game, and some great set pieces and boss battles.
Capcom‘s 1985 arcade hit, Ghosts ‘N Goblins, is renowned for its difficulty. It is SO tough that grown adults weep when they play it…
People have their own different ways of naming this game. Some call it Chelnov, others call it Atomic Runner Chelnov. Its full name is actually “Atomic Runner Chelnov – Nuclear Man, the Fighter” but that’s all a bit of a mouthful in my opinion, so I’ll just stick to Chelnov for now.
Williams‘ brilliant 1990 arcade hit, Smash TV, is an insane overhead shooter with a wicked sense of humour.
You play a contestant in a futuristic game show – one in which you must kill to survive. And you have to kill a lot of people, robots, monsters, and snakes, to make it to the end.
Sega‘s 1987 arcade shoot ’em up Alien Syndrome is a difficult game. Even with quicksaves I can only (be bothered to) get to the end of level two. Which must explain why many of the Alien Syndrome videos on YouTube are cheat videos… No one can be bothered to play it properly single-player.
Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 is possibly Japanese game developer Taito‘s finest hour. On any system.
For my money: THE best game on the Sega Megadrive/Genesis.
Sega‘s very own level-grinding RPG franchise comes to full fruition in this fourth instalment of the Phantasy Star series, first released in 1993.
Continue reading Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium, Megadrive/Genesis
Considered by many to be the best game on the Sega Saturn, Panzer Dragoon Saga is a level-grinding RPG set in a world where people fly dragons (so God knows why it is called “Dragoon” – other than bad translation!).
It was first released in 1998 and was in development for two years.
The King of Grabs 