Your Top 3 Genesis Run & Gunners

[Zebbe]

Isn't the run 'n' gun genre a mix between platformers and shooters?

[TmEE]

I would think so too myself

[SpaceFlea]

Sort of... but that is generalizing it a bit too much. Platform Shooters are a similar but slightly different genre which includes the aforementioned Vectorman and others like it. In fact, most everyone here is confusing the two and listing games of both in their list. But there's no need to call anyone out on it and create another genre constitution argument.

[Futureman]

1. Gunstar Heroes
2. Sunset Riders
3. Midnight Resistance

I think Gunstar has to be #1 on this list. It's not even the run 'n gun that I play the most on the Genesis, but it's a tour-de-force on the first few plays through. It's clear when playing that these guys knew what they were doing with the hardware.
Sunset Riders certain isn't perfect, but I really like the look and feel of the game. Probably the one that I play the most.
Midnight resistance makes the list because I can't recall an obvious #3...
I leave off Contra because I just don't like it that much. It looks too cluttered for my tastes. The game isn't really all that hard- it's easy enough to memorize the stages as you play. But the explosions are a bit over the top, and bullets can get lost in the mix. I don't really like the art style or color choices either.

[j_factor]

Isn't the run 'n' gun genre a mix between platformers and shooters?

Would you call Mega Man a run n' gun?

[StarMist]

To me, Vectorman counts as a "platform shooter", rather than a run and gun.

I assent but the problem remains this nor any other name has ever been instituted to distinguish the two. It doesn't seem the effort was made at all back in the day. Myself I'd subjoin games like Vectorman beneath 'platformer' as to me the pertinent aspect of R&G is there's no freescrolling: whether sidescrolling or overhead once you've advanced the screen you'll never be able to retrace your steps; just as I agree with the majority of shmuppers that forced scrolling is part of that definition (and the old single screen stuff would be subjoined under 'shmup' as 'static' shmups or something of that order). Though I also agree with Spaceflea that this discrimination isn't the most compelling subject; it's just the actual Top 3 subject is pretty limited by the number of R&Gs on the console.

[Zebbe]

Good point! No, I wouldn't. It's hard to define the genre and draw a line which serves as a border to which games belong to it. I guess it's a matter of having the shooting element take priority over the platforming. For example, in Gunstar Heroes you shoot most of the time, in Vectorman less than that and in Mega Man even less. I think Vectorman would be placed right on that border, Gunstar Heroes in front of it (where run and guns are) and Mega Man behind it.

[Kollision]

Of course Mega Man is a run'n'gun.

[goldenband]

to me the pertinent aspect of R&G is there's no freescrolling: whether sidescrolling or overhead once you've advanced the screen you'll never be able to retrace your steps

This is a great point, since most folks would agree the charge-forward, don't-look-back aesthetic is what R&Gs are all about.

What's the difference between an "action platformer" and a "platform shooter", I wonder? (What's Amagon?)

[Kollision]

you don't shoot in the action platformer. Melee, slice, punch, it all takes away from the run'n'gun, right?

would that disqualify Galahad?
I haven't played the game in ages, I could've been mistaken when I chose it in my top 3

[Kamahl]

Isn't the run 'n' gun genre a mix between platformers and shooters?

No, because there's no emphasis on platforming on a "pure" Run 'n' Gunner. Were there any tricky jumps in Metal Slug or Contra? No. Was there any element of exploration? No.
Most Run 'n' Gun games are hybrids.

[Zebbe]

Were there any tricky jumps in Contra?

Yes, there were.

[Theretrogamer12345]

Yes, there were.

I agree it seems like the game was full of them.

[QuickSciFi]

This thread is now reminding me of the top three Run N Guns I want to purchase in my "Wish List":

Top 3 Wish List Run N Guns:
1. Midnight Resistance
2. All Turrican games (including Universal Soldier)
3. Alien Soldier

P.S.> What genre would you guys consider the "Top Down Run 'N Gunners" (regardless of whether they're isometric or not)? (i.e.-Predator II, True Lies, etc.?)

[j_factor]

P.S.> What genre would you guys consider the "Top Down Run 'N Gunners" (regardless of whether they're isometric or not)? (i.e.-Predator II, True Lies, etc.?)

I still count them as run and guns. And I like 'em, I just don't think any of them are as good as my top 3. Soldier of Fortune (Chaos Engine) and Skeleton Krew are both very good.