They are basically the same as the second type, save for the change in perspective.Īll of these games have one basic thing in common: a default weapon with unlimited ammunition.
These are all defined by their maniacal action, with unrelenting foes and huge bosses. The side scrolling shooter, like Contra and Gunstar.I am aware that just about everyone has their own definition of what exactly qualifies as a run-‘n-gun, and I believe that there are three basic types of games that fit the genre: Some are great and some are merely decent, but all deserve a place in your collection, because you can never kick too much ass. Yep, the run-‘n-gun is still king after all these years.įor that reason, Sega-16 has compiled a list of the those available on the Genesis. Who would have thought that Konami would have gone back to 2D for Contra: Shattered Soldier or that would try to emulate that legendary franchise with the disappointing Blowout? Even more interesting is Sega’s recent trade marking of the name Gunstar Super Heroes. So popular are these games in 16-bit, that modern consoles have tried their best to mimic them, with mixed results. So what is it about plowing through a stage with guns blazing that’s just so much darn fun? Even after so many years (you do know how old Contra is, right?), the dynamic never gets tiresome, and people still look for the next “one man vs.
In fact, our little black box is home to some of the best ever made, for any console. Mindless action that requires no previous experience is something everyone can relate to, and the Genesis has more than its fair share of these classics. Regardless of how much you’re into RPGS or platfomers, there’s just something about grabbing a big-ass rifle and blowing up everything that moves. Featuring HUGE weapons, massive explosions, multi-jointed bosses, and rocking soundtracks, they’ve carved out quite a place in gaming.