shoot shoot known shooter genre video games shoot player character engages lone assault spacecraft aircraft shooting large numbers enemies attacks consensus design elements compose shoot restrict definition games featuring spacecraft certain types character movement allow broader definition including characters foot variety perspectives shoot ups fast reactions player levels enemy attack patterns bullet hell games feature overwhelming numbers enemy projectiles genre origins traced earliest computer games developed eventually released amusement arcades early 1970s creator generally credited genre space invaders premiered japanese arcades shoot ups popular 1980s early 1990s mid-1990s shoot ups niche genre based design conventions established 1980s increasingly specialist enthusiasts particularly japan definition shoot known common japanese shooting games game protagonist large number enemies shooting fire controlling player rely primarily reaction times succeed critics differ exactly design elements constitute shoot restrict genre games featuring kind craft fixed scrolling movement widen scope include games featuring protagonists robots humans foot including games featuring rails screen run gun movement definition games featuring multiple antagonists short calling games featuring shooting combat games critics described game primary design element shooting shoot later shoot ups specific inward looking genre based design conventions established shooting games 1980s common elements shoot ups shooter game turn type action game games usually viewed view perspective players use ranged weapons action distance player avatar typically vehicle constant attack player goal shoot quickly possible moves threatens games player character withstand damage single hit result destruction main skills required shoot ups fast reactions enemy attack patterns games feature overwhelming numbers enemy projectiles player patterns survive games belong fastest paced video game genres large numbers enemy characters typically featured enemies behave certain way dependent type attack formations player learn predict basic gameplay tends straightforward games offset boss battles variety weapons shoot ups rarely realistic physics characters instantly change direction projectiles straight line constant speeds player character collect power ups afford character greater protection extra life upgraded weaponry different weapons suited different enemies games seldom track ammunition players tend fire weapons damage legitimate targets types shoot ups categorized design elements particularly viewpoint movement fixed shooters restrict protagonist single axis motion enemies attack single direction descending screen level contained single screen games called gallery shooters hybrid player freely movement constrained small area screen game meets fixed shooter definition rail shooters limit player moving screen game follows specific route games feature screen viewpoint action seen player character moves screen player retains control examples include captain light gun games rails shoot category category term applied scripted events person shooters duty tube shooters feature craft flying abstract tube technically tube shooters fixed shooters player constrained left right movement mapped shape tube scrolling shooters include vertical horizontal scrolling games vertically scrolling shooters vertically scrolling shoot vertical action viewed occasionally screen horizontally scrolling shooters horizontal shooter scrolling shooter action viewed horizontally scrolling shooters small number scrolling shooters sega feature point view shooters feature degree movement protagonist rotate direction shooters movement firing direction independent movement called twin stick shooters bullet hell literally barrage bullet curtain shoot entire screen completely filled enemy bullets type known curtain fire shooters shooters style game originated mid-1990s scrolling shooters cute ups feature brightly coloured graphics depicting surreal settings enemies newer particularly japanese cute ups employ overtly sexual characters cute ups tend unusual completely bizarre opponents player fight franchise example run gun run gun describes shoot protagonist fights foot ability jump run gun games use scrolling vertical scrolling viewpoints feature movement arena based shooters area based shooters place single screen history origins rise genre exact origins matter confusion video game journalist earliest computer games shoot later frequently cited original genre developed amusement developers remade times arcade game early mid-1970s game featured combat spacecraft seminal created japan shooter genre prolific space invaders pitted player multiple enemies descending screen constantly increasing rate speed game alien creatures inspired war worlds developers unable render movement aircraft turn aliens replaced human enemies moral concerns portrayal killing humans subsequent shoot ups time game set space available technology permitted black background game introduced idea giving player number lives space invaders massive commercial success causing coin shortage japan gaining mainstream popularity america interactive style gameplay enemies responding player controlled cannon movement video game concept achieving high score save player score aliens return fire protagonist making arcade game targets set template shoot genre influenced shooting games released golden age shooters according ign released use colour graphics antagonists considered strong evolutionary concepts space ship games year saw release debut shoot wars notable action game feature supply energy resembling life bar mechanic common majority modern action games featured vertically scrolling backgrounds enemies defender established scrolling shoot ups offering horizontally extended levels unlike later games genre player direction game use scrolling helped remove design limitations associated screen game feature introduced defender integrated gameplay essential manner scramble released scrolling shooter forced scrolling scrolling shooter offer multiple distinct levels released earliest tube shooters early attempt incorporate perspective shooter games ultimately went influence major rail shooters vertical scrolling shooters emerged time released frequently cited vertical scrolling shooter fact preceded games type considered influential convincingly portray realistic landscapes opposed purely science fiction settings allowed player rotate game spacecraft highly acclaimed influential subsequent multi directional shooters sega space rail shooter released broke new ground wide variety settings multiple levels gave players aim high scores saw release gave player greater control choice weaponry introducing element strategy game introduced need player levels order achieve measure success iconic protagonist defined scrolling shoot spawned series spanning sequels following year saw emergence sega forefront series game game received acclaim surreal graphics setting protagonist time considered sega mascot game borrowed defender device allowing player control direction flight earlier early cute type acclaimed scrolling shoot released employing slower paced scrolling usual difficult levels calling strategies beginning acclaimed enduring series emerge period shoot ups featuring characters foot spacecraft popular mid-1980s wake action movies blood origins type released line established upwards scrolling formula later popularized commando commando drew comparisons contemporary critics considered military themes protagonists similar shoot opposed action adventure game released shooter switched scrolling view outdoor areas fully person perspective inside buildings bosses fought arena style battle game featuring variety weapons equipment square early shooter played person perspective followed later year sequel following year glasses year sega thunder blade switched view person view introduced use force feedback created coin arcade game particularly acclaimed multi directional aiming player cooperative gameplay early 1990s popularity bit consoles scrolling shooter genre developers struggling games stand exception inventive heroes treasure bullet hell niche appeal new type shoot emerged early 1990s variously termed bullet hell shooters shooters barrage games required player dodge overwhelming numbers enemy projectiles called consistent reactions players bullet hell games arose need shoot developers compete emerging popularity games huge numbers missiles screen intended impress players provided template new breed cave formed employees including main creator company collapsed type proper shooter games marked point shoot genre began cater dedicated players games difficult bullet hell games inward looking aimed dedicated fans genre looking greater challenges shooter games featuring protagonists foot largely moved based genres popular long running series continued receive new sequels rail shooters rarely released new millennium achieving cult recognition treasure shoot introduced element narrative genre critical acclaim refined design released outside japan remains sought collectors item successor featured improved graphics acclaimed best games genre later released project series spans nineteen years games listed october prolific fan shooter series genre undergone resurgence release xbox playstation wii online services japan arcade shoot ups retain deep rooted niche popularity geometry wars released particular stood releases casual games available service seen share shoot ups like legend lost colony exceed series despite genre continued appeal enthusiastic niche players shoot developers increasingly financially power home consoles attendant genres
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