greatest 2D shooters

[jak]

Metal Slug and Contra have their thrones, but surely other games have reached their heights?

Gunstar Heroes and the pseudo remake Advanced Gunstar Heroes. I don't know which is better, they both offer something different from the other. But really awesome shooters.

Earthworm Jim. Masterpiece. Has that level of cool-ness without ever feeling dated, plus it's a genuine challenge, plus quite a few secret lives and guns to find (more so in the Sega CD version) hindered only by a very easy final boss, but this is compensated somewhat by a very difficult final platforming stage. Part 2 was quite different, less of a shooter and almost a puzzler with an emphasis on using strategy to get out of a level, not quite as good as the first but leaps and bounds ahead of the further sequels.

Alien Soldier. I don't view it as great as Gunstar Heroes, but it's almost as good, and that's still impressive. A worthy game in the end.

I don't suppose I can add Shock Troopers? It's of the era but it plays differently enough to not be considered a 2D game. Fun though, especially the first; the second is grossly inferior.

[Raiken]

I honestly hate the gunstar remake. Why would they take out throws? Doom Troopers is a pretty badass shooter for the SNES.

[phry]

I don't suppose I can add Shock Troopers? It's of the era but it plays differently enough to not be considered a 2D game. Fun though, especially the first; the second is grossly inferior.

I would add that. Shock Troopers is an excellent game. I still enjoyed the sequel but didn't think the standard was up to that of the first. To say that Shock Troopers doesn't class as a 2d game would also ignore a range of other classic top-down shooters such as Commando, Guerilla War, Smash TV and Total Carnage.

In terms of side-on 2d platform-based shooters, besides titles already mentioned, of worthy note are the Turrican series, Gunner's Heaven, Rolling Thunder 2&3 and Elevator Action Returns (which is an awesome co-op game).

Earthworm Jim 1&2 were indeed great games. I personally don't think of it as a shooter but they had so many great and unusual gameplay ideas and was very impressive back in the day. That level in the second one when you had to dig underground with the falling soil building up beneath you being particularly unique. (though the puppy-juggling bonus stage on EJ2 got on my nerves)

Doom Troopers is a pretty badass shooter for the SNES.

Not heard of that one before. I must check it out!

[sukotsuto]

Gunstar remake is great, but the old gunstar is still one of the greatest most ultimate shooter in the world.

Of course, Metal Slug and Contra deserves mention as well. Sega's Alien Synfrome is ok too, the 3D remake in the PS2 Sega Classics Collection is a nice remake. Does scrolling shooter count? Like 1945 and Gradius and all?

[dm404]

I'm suprised you fellas left out Metal Slug's predecessor, GunForce 2. Granted it's a little on the easy said, but love the look and style of this game. Really makes me wish Irem would make a GF 3 as fat as chance of that happening.

Another goodie is CT Special Forces 2, which I like to call Metal Slug Lite. =)

[Goemon]

I can't think of much that you haven't mentioned, jak, those are all great games imo. We can't forget Ikari Warriors, being the basis for Shock Troopers.