Even though the vast majority of the popular shooter games nowadays are in 3D, there was a time when 2D shooter games were the bees’ knees. Of course, 3D games offer us a lot more mobility when it comes to shooting enemies, but many of those who are passionate about gaming today have started their journey with 2D games for “ancient” platforms, such as Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis, and more.
The 2D shooter games that we’ll be mentioning in this article have made numerous gamers stuck to their consoles for hours decades ago and have certainly played an important role in the evolution of gaming. Without further ado, let’s dive into detail:
Contra
The iconic “Contra” series pops out in pretty much any discussion about 2D shooters, and for good reasons. The series originally came out in arcades back in 1987, and it rapidly became a major success. As a player, you will be in charge of commandos who battle alien invaders and rogue military forces across side-scrolling levels that are teaming with foes and epic boss fights.
Contra is known for challenging difficulty levels, multiple weapons and power-ups, and more. Probably the best game of the series is Contra III: The Alien Wars for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).
Ikaruga
If you want to play a vertical scrolling shoot ’em-up game, it means you should definitely give Ikaruga a try. This is a game developed by Treasure and first released for arcades in 2001. Ikaruga is known for allowing players to make the change between black and white energy to absorb or deal damage, while the game also offers a unique twist on traditional shooter gameplay.
The level design present in Ikaruga is challenging enough to keep you glued to your monitor if you haven’t been playing 2D shooters before. The visuals also look surprisingly well for a 2D shooter game, which can always be a plus in the book of any gamer interested in such titles.
Cuphead
Cuphead easily qualifies as a game that pays homage to the golden age of animation while it delivers a challenging and visually stunning 2D shooter experience. This game came out in 2017, and it captivated players with its jazzy soundtrack, hand-drawn art style, and punishing difficulty.
As a player of Cuphead, you will have to step in the shoes of either Cuphead or Mugman as you go through the Inkwell Isles, fighting against a colorful cast of anthropomorphic foes in their journey to repay a debt to the devil himself.
The boss fights present in Cuphead are especially exciting, as they were meticulously crafted, while the tight controls surely add an extra level of fun.
Metal Slug
“Metal Slug” is a 2D shooter game series known for its immersive graphics for its time, a high level of action, as well as quirky humor. These games will put you in the shoes of the Peregrine Falcon Squad as they have to fight against the sinister General Morden and his entire army. The series originally came out in 1996, and it’s known for responsive controls, detailed animations, and a chaotic multiplayer system.
“Metal Slug” has won the hearts of many gamers due to its diverse weapons, explosive set pieces, and colorful cast of characters.
2D shooter games will always be rich in timeless classics, each of them having its own role in the evolution of the gaming world. Probably modern shooters such as Counter-Strike or Call of Duty might have looked totally different without 2D games such as those from series such as Metal Slug, Contra, and others.
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