Interviews with Cave and Grev, lots about Treasure and the other greats
Documentary Link.
It is a genre with many subgenres.
- Verticalscrollers, which are often divided in tactical shooters like the great Raiden series and manic shooter's like cave's
- Donpachi series
- Horizontal shooters
- Fixed Shooters
etc.
The top 25 shoot'em ups according to shmups.com
[01] Dodonpachi (ARC/PS1/SAT)
[02] Gradius V (PS2)
[03] Battle Garegga (ARC/SAT)
[04] Armed Police Batrider (ARC)
[05] Ikaruga (ARC/DC/GC)
[06] Radiant Silvergun (ARC/SAT)
[07] Raiden DX (ARC/PS1)
[08] ESPGaluda (ARC/PS2)
[09] Shikigami no Shiro 2 / Castle Shikigami 2 (ARC/PS2/DC/GC)
[10] Dodonpachi Daioujou (ARC/PS2)
[11] Border Down (ARC/DC)
[12] Thunderforce III (GEN/SAT)
[13] Rayforce / Layer Section (et al) (ARC/SAT)
[14] Gradius Gaiden (PS1)
[15] ESPRade (ARC)
[16] Gunbird 2 (ARC/DC/PS2)
[17] Mushihimesama (ARC/PS2)
[18] R-Type Delta (PS1)
[19] Mars Matrix (ARC/DC)
[20] Giga Wing (ARC/DC)
[21] Batsugun / Batsugun Special Version (ARC/SAT)
[22] Soukyugurentai (ARC/SAT/PS1)
[23] Einhänder (PS1)
[24] Thunderforce IV / Lightening Force (GEN/SAT)
Webzine way of the rodent made a Top 50 in their 50th issue as well, with some lovely hagiographies in the article.
They used a slightly different definition, and made Robotron their nr. 1, as you can read here
- Robotron
- Space Invaders
- Defender
- Tempest
- Rez
- Star Wars
- Galaxian
- Gradius
- Ikaruga
- Asteroids
- R-Type
- Doom
- Centipede
- Missile Command
- Sinistar
- Star Force
- Tempest 2000
- Galaga
- Moon Cresta
- Llamatron
- Uridium
- Metal Slug
- Geometry Wars
- Scramble
- Afterburner
- Jet Pac
- Xevious
- Commando
- Radiant Silvergun
- Juno First
- Phoenix
- Bangai-O
- Drop Zone
- Vanguard
- Viewpoint
- Gunhed
- Gorf
- Delta
- Swiv
- Side Arms
- Thunderforce IV
- Battle Squadron
- Pulstar
- Mad Planets
- Encounter
- Einhander
- Matrix
- Gyruss
- 1942
- Armalyte